U.S. Geological Survey Home AASG Logo USGS HOME CONTACT USGS SEARCH USGS
National Geologic Map Database
Geologic Units: Alta
Search archives
Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Alta shale
  • Modifications:
    • Original reference
  • Dominant lithology:
    • Shale
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Wasatch uplift
Publication:

Hintze, F.F., Jr., 1913, A contribution to the geology of the Wasatch Mountains, Utah: New York Academy of Sciences Annals, v. 23, p. 85-143.


Summary:

Pg. 104. Alta shale. Black or dark micaceous, sandy shale, 150 to 200 feet thick, unconformably underlying Maxfield formation and conformably overlying Brigham quartzite. Walcott collected Middle and Lower Cambrian fossils from this formation, which is named for its prominence at little town of Alta, central Wasatch Mountains, central northern Utah.

Source: US geologic names lexicon (USGS Bull. 896, p. 38).


Map showing publication footprint
  • Usage in publication:
    • Alta shale†
  • Modifications:
    • Abandoned
  • AAPG geologic province:
    • Wasatch uplift
Publication:

Wilmarth, M.G., 1928, [Selected Geologic Names Committee remarks (ca. 1915-1930) on Cambrian and Ordovician rocks], IN Wilmarth, M.G., 1938, Lexicon of geologic names of the United States (including Alaska): U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin, 896, pts. 1-2, 2396 p.


Summary:

Replaced with Ophir formation, "Alta" being preoccupied.

Source: US geologic names lexicon (USGS Bull. 896, p. 38).


For more information, please contact Nancy Stamm, Geologic Names Committee Secretary.

Asterisk (*) indicates published by U.S. Geological Survey authors.

"No current usage" (†) implies that a name has been abandoned or has fallen into disuse. Former usage and, if known, replacement name given in parentheses ( ).

Slash (/) indicates name conflicts with nomenclatural guidelines (CSN, 1933; ACSN, 1961, 1970; NACSN, 1983, 2005, 2021). May be explained within brackets ([ ]).

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

USA Gov U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
Supported by the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program
Page Contact Information: Personnel
Page Last Modified: Wed 12 Mar 2025 03:09:03 PM MDT