Geologic Map of the Golden Throne Quadrangle, Wayne and Garfield Counties, Utah

GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE GOLDEN THRONE QUADRANGLE, WAYNE AND GARFIELD COUNTIES, UTAH Daniel Holt Martin Department of Geology Master of Science The Golden Throne Quadrangle is located within Capitol Reef National Park, south-central Utah. Geologic mapping of this 1:24,000 scale 7.5 minute quadrangle began in 2003 as the National Parks Service desired to have geologic maps at this scale produced within the park. Stratigraphically, ten bedrock formations and ten Quaternary deposits are exposed within the Golden Throne Quadrangle. Geologic formations range in age from Permian to Jurassic. This map contains details not included on previous geologic maps including; the members of the Carmel, Chinle, and Moenkopi Formations. Additionally, the Page Sandstone is herein mapped as an independent unit. Structurally the Golden Throne Quadrangle encompasses most of the southern quarter of the Miners Mountain uplift. The crest of this southwest verging uplift is cut by the left-lateral strike-slip Teasdale Fault zone. Preparation of a cross-section through the axis of the uplift within the quadrangle has not permitted the use of usual faulting and folding mechanisms (i.e. fault-bend folds and fault-propagation folds) for the creation of the uplift. Two structural models can account for the geometries observed in the field. The first model is a high angle reverse basement fault; the second model is a fold over an inverted basin. The Jurassic Page Sandstone, in the Golden Throne Quadrangle, is composed of the Harris Wash and Thousand Pockets Members, which are divided by the Judd Hollow Tongue, a member of the overlying Carmel Formation It represents an erg deposit and is primarily composed of eolian sandstone. Study of the formation within the Golden Throne Quadrangle helped in the understanding of its local characteristics. Previous research has helped to develop a regional stratigraphic framework for the Page Sandstone. This study cannot be easily incorporated into the regional framework of previous studies. In order to fully understand the sedimentology of the Page Sandstone additional research will need to be accomplished. PREFACE The thesis is divided into two chapters and four appendices. Both chapters are complete with their own illustrations and references. Appendix A, the geological map and legend, will be published by the Utah Geological Survey. Chapter 1 contains a detailed overview of the preparation of the geologic map of the Golden Throne Quadrangle. It contains a summary of previous research conducted in the area. It also contains a description of methods used to create the map, and lists and discusses the important conclusions observed within this process. It includes a list of mappable geologic units which can be found within the quadrangle, and a discussion on the structure of the quadrangle. Chapter 2 is a review of all findings pertaining to the research on the Page Sandstone. It includes an explanation of previous work, description of this study’s meaningful findings, discussion about problems encountered with respect to previous research, and recommendations of future work to be accomplished. Appendix A is a paper copy of the geologic map and legend. Appendix B is a diagram displaying the five digitized measured sections of the Page Sandstone. Appendix C is a data CD containing digital files of the geologic map, map legend, Page Sandstone correlation diagram, and copy of this thesis. Appendix D is a collection of important and interesting photos taken within the Golden Throne Quadrangle. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First of all I would like to thank my thesis advisor Tom Morris for his support and friendship throughout all my time at Brigham Young University; especially for his patience, understanding, and encouragement through the trials I have experienced during the last year of this thesis work. I would also like to thank my parents Kerry and Virginia Martin for the love and support that they have shown to me throughout my life. Dad, thanks for teaching me to love nature and to wonder how the world works, Mom thank you for the wonderful example of how to live a beautiful life. Thanks are also extended to James Eddleman for his insight, enthusiasm, and humor; Ron Harris for his assistance on the subsurface portion of the study; Sam Sorber for his valuable insights and hard work; Grant Willis of the Utah Geological Survey for his assistance in the map preparation and support for publishing this map; Helmut Doelling also of the Utah Geological Survey for his valuable suggestions which have greatly increased the quality of this map; Tom Clark of Capitol Reef National Park for his logistical assistance and mentoring; and the people of the Department of Geology at Brigham Young University for their assistance and instruction. I would also like to thank all the institutions who helped fund this research which include; the United States National Park Service, the United States Geologic Survey, and the College of Physical and mathematical Sciences at Brigham Young University. Lastly, I want to thank my wife Becca Martin for her love, her assistance in the field, and her willingness to let me spend so much time away working on this project. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT.iv PREFACE.vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.vii TABLE OF CONTENTS.ix LIST OF FIGURES.x CHAPTER 1.