In a first-of-its-kind partnership, the Geological Society of America is teaming up with the Utah Geological Association to offer the UGA Annual Field Trip as part of their selection of trips associated with 2025 GSA CONNECTS. The UGA Annual Field Trip aligns with one of the general meeting themes (Energy and Resource Innovations in the 21st Century) and is one of several excursions that are being offered across the country for local geologists to attend (e.g., Catalina Island; Grand Canyon).
Utah (USA) is naturally gifted with bountiful geothermal energy resources. Located along the eastern boundary of the Great Basin, a physiographic region with abundant geothermal heat close to Earth’s surface, Utah’s geothermal resources are a product of several large-scale geologic processes working together: regional hydrological systems flush water from high mountain ranges through adjacent lowlands, accommodated by heavily fractured bedrock and (still active) crustal-scale faults that bound each valley, and sweep geothermal energy from a nearly limitless supply of deep subsurface heat radiating from a relatively shallow intracontinental mantle and geologically recent volcanic intrusive suites. Intended for students and working professionals alike, this field trip showcases a wide range of geothermal resources that are in different phases of exploration and/or development, from established geothermal power plants operating within traditional hydrothermal systems since the 1980s, to world-class, natural field laboratories where experimental technologies are being developed to engineer efficient closed-system fracture sets within hot rock bodies, to emergent geothermal resource leads at the very beginning of subsurface characterization to assess their true resource potential. Field-trip attendees will explore the Black Rock Desert, visit two different working geothermal power plants, tour the U.S. Department of Energy–funded Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) site for Enhanced Geothermal Systems research, investigate a siliceous sinter deposit at the Opal Mound fault zone, experience scenic drives through Utah’s Renewable Energy Corridor, and learn ways in which geoscientists conduct geothermal energy resource assessments in areas with strong blind/hidden geothermal resource potential.
LAST-MODIFIED:20250701T164320Z SEQUENCE:187 X-ACCESS:1 X-HITS:4448 X-COLOR:3366cc X-IMAGE-INTRO:https://www.utahgeology.org/images/2025_UGA-GSA_Annual_Field_Trip_Flyer.jpg X-SHOW-END-TIME:1 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261001 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261005 UID:06D23B09-ED43-4CD9-8993-8DD7F6AEFC89 SUMMARY:2026 FALL FIELD TRIP - Geology of the Greater Bears Ears Area, Southeastern Utah CREATED:20260814T162341Z DTSTAMP:20260814T162341Z URL:https://www.utahgeology.org/index.php?option=com_civicrm&task=civicrm/event/info&Itemid=1447&reset=1&id=72 DESCRIPTION:Join us as we explore the geology of the spectacular red rock country sandwiched between five national parks, monuments, and recreation areas in southeastern Utah. Bears Ears National Monument was originally designated to preserve tens of thousands of archaeological ruins and artifacts, but its geology would be reason enough. Excellent exposures of a nearly complete Middle Pennsylvanian to Late Cretaceous section, Oligocene laccoliths, Laramide-age anticlines and monoclines, and deep canyons of the Colorado and San Juan Rivers preserve a long history and tell many of the most enigmatic geologic stories of the Colorado Plateau. We will visit jaw-dropping vistas, study the geologic setting of Ancestral Puebloan ruins, and see lesser-known hideaways that tell this geologic story.\NLearn from the trip leaders about mapping the geology of Bears Ears and hear their experience in compiling maps, sorting out stratigraphic puzzles, and creating a final geologic map for their brand-new Bears Ears National Monument chapter in the fourth edition of UGA Publication 28, Geology of Utah’s Parks and Monuments. Topical experts will speak to us about water resources of the Colorado Plateau and their current monitoring networks, discuss mining history of the area, share results of new stratigraphic studies, discuss the oil and gas resources and geology of the Paradox Basin, and update us on active engineering geology and hazards monitoring efforts.\NWe'll meet at the DNR in SLC bright and early on day 1 and aim to be at Hite Overlook for stop 1 (and lunch) by 12:30 PM.NOTE: First and last day lunches will NOT be included! Bring your own lunch for day 1, and we'll stop for lunch at the food truck park in Moab on day 4.\NTransportation from DNR to Blanding, and throughout the trip, will be provided by UGA. (12-passenger vans)\NMeeting Location: Department of Natural Resources, Salt Lake City1594 W North Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84116\NSend questions to keileeann@utah.gov. X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:Join us as we explore the geology of the spectacular red rock country sandwiched between five national parks, monuments, and recreation areas in southeastern Utah. Bears Ears National Monument was originally designated to preserve tens of thousands of archaeological ruins and artifacts, but its geology would be reason enough. Excellent exposures of a nearly complete Middle Pennsylvanian to Late Cretaceous section, Oligocene laccoliths, Laramide-age anticlines and monoclines, and deep canyons of the Colorado and San Juan Rivers preserve a long history and tell many of the most enigmatic geologic stories of the Colorado Plateau. We will visit jaw-dropping vistas, study the geologic setting of Ancestral Puebloan ruins, and see lesser-known hideaways that tell this geologic story.
Learn from the trip leaders about mapping the geology of Bears Ears and hear their experience in compiling maps, sorting out stratigraphic puzzles, and creating a final geologic map for their brand-new Bears Ears National Monument chapter in the fourth edition of UGA Publication 28, Geology of Utah’s Parks and Monuments. Topical experts will speak to us about water resources of the Colorado Plateau and their current monitoring networks, discuss mining history of the area, share results of new stratigraphic studies, discuss the oil and gas resources and geology of the Paradox Basin, and update us on active engineering geology and hazards monitoring efforts.
We'll meet at the DNR in SLC bright and early on day 1 and aim to be at Hite Overlook for stop 1 (and lunch) by 12:30 PM.
NOTE: First and last day lunches will NOT be included! Bring your own lunch for day 1, and we'll stop for lunch at the food truck park in Moab on day 4.
Transportation from DNR to Blanding, and throughout the trip, will be provided by UGA. (12-passenger vans)
Meeting Location:
Department of Natural Resources, Salt Lake City
1594 W North Temple St, Salt Lake City, UT 84116
Send questions to keileeann@utah.gov.
LAST-MODIFIED:20260831T222526Z SEQUENCE:1490505 X-ACCESS:1 X-HITS:315 X-COLOR:3366cc X-SHOW-END-TIME:1 END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR