Utah’s Geologic History

Shaping the Land Geologists are scientists that learn about the history of the world by studying rocks and land formations. Wind, water, earthquakes, floods, cold, and heat have shaped Utah’s landscape over billions of years and it is still changing.

Geological Eras Precambrian era The earliest known era Precambrian rocks can be found in the Great Salt Lake and Antelope Island Paleozoic era The beginnings of fossil fuels Uinta Mountains formed

Geologic Eras cont. Mesozoic era The time of the dinosaurs The Rocky Mountains began to take shape Cenozoic era Large mammals replaced the dinosaurs Earth’s surface was a lot colder Glaciers began to shape the Earth’s surface

Utah Dinosaurs video!

Ancient Seas and Sandstorms Utah has many sedimentary rock formations Sandstone and limestone

Natural Forces Shape Mountains and Plateaus The Rocky Mountains were slowly lifted up from the Earth’s surface over time. Over time, wind and water erosion cut through cliffs and canyons to expose more rock. Faults Cracks in the earth’s surface All three of Utah’s major Universities are on faults Underground volcanic activity have pushed up on the Earth’s surface to create some mountains like the La Sal and Abajo ranges. This volcanic activity is also responsible for most of Utah’s mineral deposits

Utah’s Rocks and Minerals Utah has enough salt to satisfy the worlds need for a thousand years. Building stones, such as granite, limestone, sandstone, and quartz are abundant in the state Utah’s state rock is coal.

Utah’s state gem is topaz.Utah’s state mineral is copper.

Natural Forces Affect the Environment Today Mudslides and floods currently cause the most damage in Utah. Utah experiences many earthquakes, but they mostly go unnoticed and cause minimal damage. Many older buildings have gone through renovations to protect against natural forces.