FROM HORSE & BLOWPIPE TO SUVs AND COMPUTERS: THE GOLDEN FAULT WEST OF DENVER – INTERPRETATIONS PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE (?)

A review of the development of ideas about the Golden Fault in the Golden – Morrison area provides a glimpse of the growth of geologic science, a hint at some of the economic factors driving research, and a possible future field of investigation. From the earliest Surveys, the generally eastward-dipping sedimentary sequence overlying the basement rocks of the core of the Rockies was recognized to be anomalous in the Golden – Morrison area. Hypotheses concerning this anomaly grew and developed, as did the transport and tools in common use over the 150 years of study, and the questions in need of resolution.

During the “Horse & Blowpipe Era” (ca. 1870-1920), the key problem, of interest to mining efforts, was to determine whether the anomaly was an unconformity or a fault. Key contributors of the time were Marvine, Eldridge, and Ziegler. The “Model A & Air Photo Era” (ca. 1920-1955) investigated the dip direction and amount, important to the hydrocarbon exploration interests. Van Tuyl, Osterwald, and Berg were among the chief contributors. The “Jeep Wagoneer & Brunton Era” (ca. 1956-1986) brought clarification of the surface geometry of the Front Range structural features through extensive mapping and stratigraphy, and supported urban planning needs. Debate centered on whether fault dips steepened or flattened downward. Among key contributors were Boos and Boos, Van Horn, Scott, Tweto, and Weimer. The “SUV & Computer Era” (ca. 1986-present) introduced application of computer-generated data and tectonic models. Questions pursued were of provincial scale, and structure was related to various aspects of the Cordilleran Orogeny. Among the noteworthy contributors were Hu, Erslev, and Stern.

While these mainly deductive approaches have hardly been exhausted, it may be stimulating to apply inductive considerations. Possibly thereby a new “era” of investigation may be initiated. A sketch is offered to suggest a new approach to unraveling remaining questions.