Upheaval Dome

Upheaval Dome is an enigmatic geological structure located in San Juan County, Utah, within the Island in the Sky district of Canyonlands National Park. This feature, approximately 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) in diameter, has long been a subject of scientific inquiry, with its origins debated between being a salt dome or a meteorite impact structure. The structure is clearly visible on the surface, characterized by light and dark brown concentric rings.

Geological Interpretation

While salt domes are formed by the upward movement of salt layers beneath overlying rocks, the prevailing scientific consensus now interprets Upheaval Dome as an eroded impact crater. This conclusion is supported by extensive geological studies, including seismic refraction data and rock mapping conducted in the 1990s. Further evidence emerged in 2008 with the announcement of shocked quartz discovery, a mineral formation indicative of high-energy impacts. The structure exhibits anomalous stratigraphy, with some rock strata near the center oriented nearly vertically, including dips of up to 70 degrees measured in the Kayenta Formation. A circular syncline, approximately two miles across and primarily visible in the Navajo Sandstone, surrounds the central dome, with a concentric anticline mapped to its north.

Age and Context

Upheaval Dome is estimated to be less than 170 million years old, placing its formation within the Jurassic period or younger. The oldest exposed rock formation at its center is the Permian Organ Rock Shale, overlain by various Permian and Triassic formations, including the Cutler Formation, Moenkopi Formation, Chinle Formation, Wingate Sandstone, Kayenta Formation, and Navajo Sandstone. The structure's location within Canyonlands National Park highlights its significance as a natural wonder with a complex geological history.