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Research about Kane County, Utah

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Kane County, Utah.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Characterization of the Sevier/Toroweap Fault Zone in Kane County, Utah, using controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT) surveys

The Sevier/Toroweap Fault Zone is a major north-south-striking fault located in northern Arizona and southwestern Utah. In partnership with the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey conducted two geophysical controlled-source audio-frequency magnetotelluric (CSAMT) surveys that transected the Sevier/Toroweap Fault Zone at Clay Flat, Utah, a potential pull-apart basin, west of a site of proposed groundwater pumping to evaluate the subsurface hydrogeology. The goal of the surveys was to enhance understanding of the interconnectedness of the Navajo aquifer, the region’s primary groundwater source, across two groundwater basins to the east and west of the fault zone, Water Rights Area (WRA) 81 and WRA 85. In the Kane County, Utah, area, the Sevier/Toroweap Fault Zone consists of the Sevier section (to the north) and the northern Toroweap section (to the south). Two survey lines totaling 7 kilometers of CSAMT survey data were collected. The CSAMT survey line SV1 transected both the Sevier section and the northern Toroweap section of the fault zone; survey line SV2 transected only the Sevier section. Although offset of the Navajo Sandstone, the main component of the Navajo aquifer, by the Sevier/Toroweap Fault Zone is generally accepted as the geologic reason that the Navajo aquifer is disconnected in the study area, results of the CSAMT surveys suggest that vertical offset of the Navajo Sandstone of the Glen Canyon Group across the Sevier/Toroweap Fault Zone is insufficient to completely disconnect the aquifer in the study area. The effects of faulting on groundwater north and south of the study area, where offset of water-bearing layers may be greater, requires further study. A clearer understanding of groundwater movement across the Sevier /Toroweap Fault Zone will aid water-resource managers in making informed decisions concerning groundwater rights.

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Geologic characteristics and movement of the Meadow Creek landslide, part of the Coal Hill landslide complex, western Kane County, Utah

The Meadow Creek landslide, part of the Coal Hill landslide complex in western Kane County, Utah, is about 1.7 miles (2.7 km) wide and 1.3 miles (2.1 km) long and contains six smaller historical slides. The upper part of the Meadow Creek landslide is gently sloping and consists of displaced and back-rotated blocks of Cretaceous Dakota and Cedar Mountain Formations that form northeast- to locally east-trending ridges that are separated by sediment-filled half-grabens. The lower part of the landslide is gently to moderately sloping, locally incised, and consists of heterogeneous debris that overrides the Jurassic Carmel Formation near Meadow Creek. Monitoring using a survey-grade Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument detected movement of the southern part of the Meadow Creek landslide between October 2005 and October 2008, including movement of two of the historical slides-landslides 1 and 2. The most movement during the measurement period occurred within the limits of persistently moving landslide 1 and ranged from about 24 to 64 inches (61-163 cm). Movement of the abutting southern part of the Meadow Creek landslide ranged from approximately 6 to 10 inches (15-25 cm). State Route 9 crosses over approximately a mile (1.6 km) of the southern part of the Meadow Creek landslide, including landslide 1. The highway and its predecessor (State Route 15) have been periodically displaced and damaged by persistent movement of landslide 1. Most of the landslide characteristics, particularly its size, probable depth, and the inferred weak strength and low permeability of clay-rich gouge derived from the Dakota and Cedar Mountain Formations, are adverse to and pose significant challenges to landslide stabilization. Secondary hazards include piping-induced sinkholes along scarps and ground cracks, and debris flows and rock falls from the main-scarp escarpment.

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Measured stratigraphic sections of Jurassic San Rafael Group and adjacent rocks in Kane County, Utah

These sections were measured prior to 1960, before adoption of the metric system. Publication was delayed by other assignments of the authors and later by the untimely death of J. C. Wright. They are being released at this time because of the increased interest in the uranium potential of Jurassic rocks. The San Rafael Group is represented by the Carmel, Entrada, Summerville, and Bluff Formations in these sections.

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Coal resources of the Alton, Utah, EMRIA site

The estimated original identified coal resources of the Alton, Utah, EMRIA (Energy Minerals Rehabilitation Inventory and Analysis) site--an area of about 3.6 square miles (9.3 square kilometres)--total almost 49 million tons (45 megatonnes). A larger area that surrounds and includes the Alton EMRIA site proper contains estimated original identified coal resources of almost 309 million tons (281 megatonnes). Of these estimated resources in the EMRIA site proper, almost 27 million tons (25 megatonnes) are in beds more than 10 feet thick (3 metres); these beds are overlain by less-than 200 feet (60 metres) of overburden. In the larger area around and including the EMRIA site, about 88.5 million tons (81 megatonnes) are in beds more than ten feet (3 metres) thick with less than 200 feet (60 metres) of overburden. All the estimated resources are in the Smirl zone in the upper part of the Dakota Formation of Cretaceous age. The coal has an apparent rank of subbituminous B, an average heating value of about 9,560 Btu, an average sulfur content of about 1.0 percent, and an average ash content of 7.2 percent. When compared with the average abundance of elements in the crust of the Earth as a whole, only selenium and boron were present in the Alton area coal samples in amounts an order of magnitude greater than the average crustal abundance. Beryllium, fluorine, nickel, zinc, and zirconium are all present in the Alton area samples in amounts that are about an order of magnitude less than the average crustal abundance.

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Hydrology and hydrogeology of Navajo Lake, Kane County, Utah

Navajo Lake, whose entire outflow disappears underground, is on the high Markagurit Plateau where the average annual precipitation is more than 30 inches. It nestles among the headwaters of several streams that flow into arid regions where competition for municipal, industrial, and irrigation water sup- plies is very keen. Several proposals for additional development and use of the water of Navajo Lake have led to controversies and raised questions in regard to the total water supply and its disposition, and to the effect of the proposed projects on existing water rights. This report summarizes the results of an investigation of the water supply of Navajo Lake and the present disposition of that supply.

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