The Permian in Utah
299 - 251 Ma
This period includes an ice age, the forming of Pangea and the largest, most devastating mass extinction in Earth’s history. It is said that about 90% of marine species and about 70% of land animals became extinct during that time. A geologist named Murchison coined the term “Permian” in 1841 after touring Eastern Europe. The name “[refers] to the Perm plains on the Western plains on the Western flanks of the Ural Mountains” (Stokes 95). As the Permian period began the Earth was still in the middle of an ice age that started during the Coniferous period. As the Permian reached its midpoint, the ice age came to a close and the climate changed dramatically. This climate change resulted in extremes that went from blisteringly cold to scorching desert heat. In fact, reptiles that emerged during this period, Therapsids, are believed to have become warm-blooded for just this reason; they were able to find a permanent solution for both keeping warm at night and cooling down during the day. Over time, Therapsids are believed to have evolved into many different species, including mammals.
During the Permian Period, Utah was mostly submerged in marine waters. However, Eastern Utah was not. The topography of Utah was mainly taken up by the Uncompaghre Uplift. Debris from the Uncompaghre filled the Paradox and Oquirrh Basins, where thousands of feet of Permian rock settled. As a result of debris settling in these two basins, the Cutler Formation was created. The Cutler Formation is a breathtaking red rock unit stretching from northwest New Mexico, through southern Utah and into southwest Colorado. It is said that during this time Utah endured a very warm and dry climate.
Major formations in Utah include the Cutler and Kaibab Formations. The Cutler Formation (also known as the Cutler Group), “is a rock unit that is spread across the U.S. states of Arizona, northwest New Mexico, southeast Utah and southwest Colorado” (Wikipedia 1). The Cutler Formation is broken down into smaller formations, namely the De Chelly Sandstone, White Rim Sandstone, Organ Rock Shale, Cedar Mesa Sandstone, Elephant Canyon Formation, and the Halgaito Shale formation. The Kaibab formation is a large Permian formation that stretches across the south western states of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California. The formation, which is seen in the rim of the Grand Canyon, is composed mainly of sedimentary rocks such as limestone, sandstone, dolomite, and chert. The name came form the flat Kaibab Plateau, which originated from a Southern Paiute word meaning, “mountain lying down” (Grand Canyon Natural History 1).
During the Permian Period, Utah was mostly submerged in marine waters. However, Eastern Utah was not. The topography of Utah was mainly taken up by the Uncompaghre Uplift. Debris from the Uncompaghre filled the Paradox and Oquirrh Basins, where thousands of feet of Permian rock settled. As a result of debris settling in these two basins, the Cutler Formation was created. The Cutler Formation is a breathtaking red rock unit stretching from northwest New Mexico, through southern Utah and into southwest Colorado. It is said that during this time Utah endured a very warm and dry climate.
Major formations in Utah include the Cutler and Kaibab Formations. The Cutler Formation (also known as the Cutler Group), “is a rock unit that is spread across the U.S. states of Arizona, northwest New Mexico, southeast Utah and southwest Colorado” (Wikipedia 1). The Cutler Formation is broken down into smaller formations, namely the De Chelly Sandstone, White Rim Sandstone, Organ Rock Shale, Cedar Mesa Sandstone, Elephant Canyon Formation, and the Halgaito Shale formation. The Kaibab formation is a large Permian formation that stretches across the south western states of Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and California. The formation, which is seen in the rim of the Grand Canyon, is composed mainly of sedimentary rocks such as limestone, sandstone, dolomite, and chert. The name came form the flat Kaibab Plateau, which originated from a Southern Paiute word meaning, “mountain lying down” (Grand Canyon Natural History 1).
