Utah Friends of Paleontology Meeting

Assist. State Paleontologist Dono DeBlieux will be talking about 5 years (seasons) of paleo-exploration in Canyonlands next week in the DNR auditorium. The should be of wide interest to the UGS and perhaps others in DNR?

This month's UFOP meeting will be held on Thursday, February 19th at 7:00 pm. We have been able to regain our in-person meetings at the DNR building located at 1594 West North Temple, SLC, UT 84116. Parking for the meeting is in the front of the main building (entrance is on North Temple) and park in any of the spots near the front door. Give yourself a couple extra minutes if you aren't familiar with parking here for a meeting, the Trax line in front requires you enter our parking lot from the north side of North Temple. If you are coming from the freeway just drive past the building entrance on North Temple and do a U-turn at the first available first left turn light. Inside the building we should have someone available to help you find your way to the main auditorium where our meeting is located. 

On the topic of our speaker for February, this month we have a great one. Our very own Don DeBlieux. Here's a talk summary and bio from him.

Don's talk

More Moenkopi Madness! Exceptional tracksites in the Early Triassic of Canyonlands National Park. Don will present an update on paleontological surveys conducted over the last five years by the Utah Geological Survey in Canyonlands National Park. This research has revealed a remarkable trace fossil record within the Early Triassic Moenkopi Formation, documenting over 100 new fossil localities. These sites feature terrestrial tetrapod tracks, fish and tetrapod swim traces, and horseshoe crab tracks. Since many of these findings were recorded using photogrammetry, Don will also provide a brief introduction to the art and science of this technology.

A little about Don

Don has been a paleontologist with the Utah Geological Survey for the last 24 years and is the Utah Assistant State Paleontologist. Don oversees the UGS lab and field program. He has discovered well over 500 new localities while doing field work throughout Utah, including in all of the National Parks, in rocks ranging from Permian to Miocene in age. Don has been a regular UFOP meeting presenter.