Interim Geologic Map of the Duchesne 30' x 60' Quadrangle, Duchesne and Wasatch Counties, Utah (OFR-689)

By: Douglas A. Sprinkel

The interim geologic map of the Duchesne 30' x 60' quadrangle represents the final year of the project to map and compile the geology of this quadrangle. The quadrangle is located mostly in the western Uinta Basin with the northwest corner of the map extending onto the southwest flank of the Uinta Mountains; the quadrangle is approximately centered on the town of Duchesne, Utah (county seat). Bedrock map units include the Cambrian Tintic through the Oligocene-age Bishop Conglomerate. Paleozoic and Mesozoic formations are exposed in the northwest part of the geologic map, but Tertiary formations dominate that area. The map area includes a variety of surficial deposits that range from Pleistocene to Holocene (Quaternary) and includes glacial deposits and piedmont, fan, and stream alluvium. Structural geologic features include the axis of the Uinta Basin syncline (and associated folds), the Uinta Basin-Mountain boundary fault zone (located near the axis in the northern part of the map area and has evidence of movement in the Quaternary), and the Duchesne fault zone (located in the southern part of the map area). Progressive unconformities in the Upper Cretaceous-age Mesaverde through the Eocene-age Duchesne River Formation record the Laramide uplift of the Uinta Mountains and the coeval Sevier orogeny. Energy resources within the Duchesne 30' x 60' quadrangle are the most significant geologic resources as it contains the prolific Altamont-Bluebell and Monument Butte oil fields. Other exploited and potential geologic resources include phosphate, sand and gravel, and gilsonite.

Other Information:
Published: 2018
Pages: 37
Plates: 2
Scale: 1:62,500
Location: Utah
Media Type: Paper