INTERACTIVE, VIRTUAL GEOLOGIC MAP AND FIELD TRIP OF THE PANGUITCH 30' X 60' QUADRANGLE, IRON, GARFIELD, AND KANE COUNTIES, UTAH―A BETTER WAY TO VISUALIZE GEOLOGIC MAP INFORMATION

The UGS recently completed new geologic mapping of the Panguitch 30´x60´ quadrangle in southwest Utah, which encompasses the geologically diverse, scenic landscape between Cedar Breaks National Monument and Bryce Canyon National Park. The map area straddles the Basin and Range–Colorado Plateau boundary and includes the distal, southwestern Marysvale volcanic field, and as such offers an ideal outdoor classroom for understanding the geology of southwest Utah.

In addition to a traditional paper geologic map, we are creating a virtual geologic field trip and geologic map overlay that can be draped over virtual globes such as Google Earth. Using built-in navigational tools, users will be able to view the landscape and geology at any angle and at any scale. This “bird’s-eye view” will dramatically show the relationship between geology and topography, making it easier for non-geologists to understand what the geologic map portrays, hopefully stimulating interest in getting people outdoors to observe and appreciate the rocks, landforms, geologic resources, and geologic hazards in the region. Placemarks will present geological highlights of the region, and point, line, and polygon hotlinks will identify geologic map attributes. This interactive geologic map will be useful to a much wider audience than normal, much like our virtual geologic map of the St. George 30' x 60' quadrangle (http://geology.utah.gov/geo_guides/st_george/index.htm). That map remains a popular UGS web page and a top-ranked internet search result for virtual geologic maps.