Geology Field Trip The image is a geologic map of Salt Lake Valley. The different colors represent different kinds of rocks exposed to the surface. What do you notice about the rocks exposed to the surface? Can you locate any places you’ve been on here? About where are you now? What sort of trends do you notice?

How do we know about Earth’s past? Geology is important not just because it is an interesting science. An ability to read the rocks that surround you can give you insights into Earth’s deep history. Rocks tell a story about Earth’s past, including the types of environments that used to exist here. Salt Lake City’s past includes oceans, glaciers and more. Knowledge of these past environments can give us important insights into soil types, ground stability and help us predict natural occurrences such as earthquakes.

View of the Wasatch Mountains from the downtown library View of the Wasatch Mountains from the downtown library. What do you observe in this image? Observation will be very important during our field trip.

Utah’s Geologic History http://geology.utah.gov/utahgeo/geo/geohistory2.htm Utah’s Geologic History http://geology.utah.gov/utahgeo/gsl/flash/lb_flash.htm Lake Bonneville First link shows a sequence of images illustrating Utah’s past geologic landscapes to help give students a sense of the immense changes that have happened here over time. The second link provides a similar interactive display of the history of Lake Bonneville. The third link is to a news story covering recent work in exploring the history of seismic activity along the Wasatch Fault. Utah’s Geologic Future? http://www.ksl.com/?nid=&sid=10930717

Illustrates process by which the Wasatch Mtns were formed granitic intrusions, eroded thrust sheets, and the older sedimentary rocks

Basin and Range – Normal Faulting and sediments Aerial view of the Basin and Range, which we will see from road level.

This should be an animation illustrating how stretching of the earth’s crust resulted in the Basin and Range province. If the video does not play through the presentation, it is attached the UEN lesson.

Animation showing processes that cause earthquakes along the Wasatch Fault.

Route of our trip laid over the geologic map.

Route down is via the interstate and belt loop.

Route back is via Wasatch Blvd and downtown.

Preparation Use this moment to make students aware of what they will need for the trip. They will need something to write with and on (such as a book or clipboard). They should also be prepared for outdoor conditions, such as with suglasses and a jacket.