Quaternary geology of the Black Rock Desert, Millard County, Utah (SS-73)

By: C. G. Oviatt

Surficial deposits in the Black Rock Desert of west-central Utah, in an area encompassing 12 7.5-minute topographic quadrangles, were mapped at a scale of 1:100,000. The Black Rock Desert is the southern extension of the Sevier Desert between the Cricket Mountains and the Pavant Range, and lies mostly between altitudes of 4650 feet and 6000 feet. Surficial deposits in the map area consist of fine-grained lacustrine deposits of late Tertiary to Quaternary age (including deposits of Lake Bonneville), deltaic and alluvial deposits of the Beaver River, and coarser-grained lacustrine and alluvial deposits in piedmont areas. Thin deposits of eolian sand are present throughout the map area, but are concentrated in dunes in favorable localities. The map area also contains Tertiary and Quaternary basalt lava flows, rhyolite lava domes, and volcanic vents. Quaternary faults cut deposits of all ages.

The purpose of this report is to describe the Quaternary geology and Quaternary history of the Black Rock Desert in southeastern Millard County, Utah.

Other Information:
Published: 1991
Pages: 23 p.
Plates: 1 pl.
Scale: 1:100,000
Location: Millard County
Media Type: Paper Publication