Abstract

Rock Canyon near Provo, Utah is an ideal outdoor laboratory. The canyon has been known and explored for many years by scientists and students for its fascinating geology, biology, and botany. It is also a favorite location for rock climbers, hikers, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Facilities near the mouth of the canyon including parking, restrooms, a lecture amphitheater, and a covered pavilion with picnic tables provide an ideal location for visitors. Geology is the focal point of this beautiful canyon with a history that stretches from the Precambrian (about 700 million years ago) to the Wasatch fault and Lake Bonneville, which covered much of western Utah at its peak roughly 18,000 years ago. Excellent exposures of the rocks allow visitors to see features clearly and piece together the history of the canyon. The oldest rocks are glacial deposits of the Mineral Fork Tillite. The tillite is overlain by a thick section of Paleozoic rocks of Cambrian to Permian age, all of which have been deformed into an asymmetric, overturned fold formed during the Sevier orogeny, a roughly 140 to 50 million year old mountain building event. The upper reaches of the canyon were sculpted by glaciers during the Pleistocene and deposits of the Provo and Bonneville levels of Lake Bonneville are found at the mouth of the canyon, now cut by a recent alluvial fan. Also, at the mouth of the canyon are excellent exposures of features associated with the Wasatch fault.

Highlights

  • Rock Canyon near Provo, Utah is an ideal outdoor laboratory

  • Geology is the focal point of this beautiful canyon with a history that stretches from the Precambrian to the Wasatch fault and Lake Bonneville, which covered much of western Utah at its peak roughly 18,000 years ago

  • The rocks exposed in Rock Canyon range in age from Neoproterozoic to Recent

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Summary

Utah Geosites

Headline and part of the article from the Provo Daily Herd, 29 July 1936, p. 1, reporting on the flood out of Rock Canyon e previous day. Rain had begun in the mountains in the early af-. Lewis Richards, who was at his hoCmoveesrtIemaadgei:nLotohkiengcdaownnyRoonck Canyon to the west toward Utah Lake. Eard the roaring of the flood at about 2 p.m. and reported that, “It oked like the whole mountain had begun to move.”. Eard the roaring of the flood at about 2 p.m. and reported that, “It oked like the whole mountain had begun to move.” Flooding

Presidents Message
INTRODUCTION
Parking Area
Major roads Streets Hiking trails
EARLY CANYON EXPLORATION
Lake Bonneville deposits
REGIONAL UNCONFORMITY white dolostone in Rock Canyon
Co Cm DMf Mg Md
STAGE Sea
Ice Land pebthat
Figur Devo Pinyo oFtihgeurr Devo Pinyo other
Shale increased subsidence developed on the continental shelf margin in
Front Range asin B irrh u q
COLORADO a le g
NEW MEXICO
The Wasatch Mountains and Wasatch Fault
Covered Slope
SUMMARY

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