The Ancestral Rocky Mountains of Utah

The Ancestral Rocky Mountain impacts in Colorado extended into eastern Utah through the same uplift and basins present in Colorado. These uplifts and basins extended across state lines into eastern Utah, consisting of the Uinta aulacogen-Doughnut Trough, Oquirrh Basin, Yampa Plateau, San Rafael Swell, Paradox Basin, Wendover highland, and the Uncompahgre uplift (now buried under younger sediments). The Zuni-Defiant uplift in the southeastern part of Utah also occurred during Ancestral Rocky Mountain time. Discussion of the Uncompahgre was omitted from the Colorado book but is expanded on in this book for both Colorado and Utah segments. The Ancestral Rocky Mountains of Utah supplements the discussion provided in the Ancestral Rocky Mountains of Colorado due to many of the features presented in Colorado which are expressed in eastern Utah.Chapter 1 begins the discussion with the tectonic setting and geologic setting presenting the basement framework, fault rejuvenation, Ancestral Rockies uplift, Uncompahgre-San Luis uplift, Front Range-Wet Mountains uplifts, Paradox Basin, Eagle Evaporite Basin, and the demise of the Ancestral Rocky Mountains. Chapter 2 details the Uncompahgre uplift in Utah but includes discussions of the Colorado segment. The Emery uplift is also presented. Chapter 3 discusses the Ancestral Rockies in the context of load induced subsidence continuing with details on the Early to Late Paleozoic geologic setting, and the Permian history of the core ARM. Geophysical evidence for a crustal load beneath the core ARM is part of the presentation. Chapter 4 explores the paleogeography of the Uinta-Piceance Basin. Chapter 5 explores the Uinta Basin. Chapter 6 closes out with the facies architecture of the Paradox Basin and its stratigraphy.