About Us
Overview
The purpose of this site is to make Utah's (and the Colorado Plateau's) geology accessible to all and easy
to learn. Utah already has more national parks and monuments than any other state in the nation (save Alaska & California).
This is a direct result of the states very unique geology. Zion, Bryce, Arches, Capitol Reef, Canyonlands, The
Grand Staircase, Glen Canyon, and the Grand Canyon attract millions of visitors every year because these
areas display the earth's strata in a unique and spectacular way rivaled by no place on earth. Inasmuch as mother
nature has seen fit to reveal herself and her geologic past in this area, this site tries to compliment the
incredible geologic exposures of the Colorado Plateau by supplying a database of pictures and information which
will aid those seeking to understand its unique geology.
The Author
This site is being built by me...Lance Weaver, and will be a lifelong project. I have a
Bachelors Degree in Geology and am currently working on a masters degree. I also currently work full time at the
Utah Geological survey working on a variety of projects and web development. I hope to work toward a PhD in
geology or geophysics one day, in hopes that I could teach
on a university level. I will continue to work on this project throughout school and my career. The purpose of
building this site is to make available the learning tools which I wish I would have had as I first applied myself
to master the geology of the Colorado Plateau. It has been my desire to understand the stratigraphy of this area
as well as anyone and, as I work toward that end, I wish to help others understand that which I learn.
Background
I grew up in St George, Utah (located in the southwestern corner of the state). As a high school student I
became captivated by maps. Hiking was my favorite pastime and I began to acquire topo maps in order to fulfill
my goal to hike every canyon in nearby Zion National Park. As I started buying topo maps for Zion, I began to
expand my area of interest. I bought every 7.5 Minute series topo map for Washington County and taped them
together on my wall. They ran floor to ceiling and wrapped around two walls.
I was fascinated by the way I could come to know a place without even being there. I would sit and memorize them
for hours and try to guess what a canyon would look like before I hiked it.
Later I began to acquire aerial photos, satellite imagery and geological maps as well. I am captivated by them.
The more I learn about an areas geology and physiography - the more I
want to know about what makes it the way it is. I believe that the more perspectives we can view an area with, the
more we appreciate what's there. I am also very interested in cosmology, history, religion and in debates such as
evolution and the age of the earth.
I think there is a lot more to this blue marble on which we live than meets the eye, but in the end... I dont really
care about all that stuff as much as I care about
enjoying and having fun with my wife and daughter in this great place thats been prepared for us.
This site is basically a compilation of all the resources I wish I had when I was first trying to learn Utah's geology. And since I still have a lifetime of learning to do, the site will continue to grow, as I pass along the things that help me to view the earth from as many angles as possible.
