Timpanogos CaveNational MonumentUtah |
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Geologic Setting
he Timpanogos Cave system is located high in the south wall of the American Fork Canyon, about 16 km (10 miles) northeast of the town of American Fork and 24 km (15 miles) north of Provo. The American Fork Canyon area is one small part of the deeply dissected Wasatch Front (the western face of the Wasatch Range) of northern Utah. The Wasatch Front is one of the steepest mountain ranges on earth
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Geologic History
The rocks and geologic structures and features present in Timpanogos Cave National Monument record a vast span of Utah’s geologic history from the time before plants or animals existed, through episodes of mountain building and extension of the earth’s crust, to formation of the caves, and excavation of American Fork Canyon
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Geologic Features and Processes
An important structural feature in the southern Wasatch is the Charleston Thrust Fault system. It forms the boundary between rocks of the thick and thin facies of the Carboniferous (a name referring to the Mississippian- Pennsylvanian Periods) for many kilometers northeast and east of Mount Timpanogos. The overriding block moved so far eastward
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For information about topographic maps, geologic maps, and geologic data sets, please see the geologic maps page.
A geology photo album for this park can be found here.
For information on other photo collections featuring National Park geology, please see the Image Sources page.
Currently, we do not have a listing for a park-specific geoscience book. The park's geology may be described in regional or state geology texts.
Please visit the Geology Books and Media webpage for additional sources such as text books, theme books, CD ROMs, and technical reports.
Parks and Plates: The Geology of Our National Parks, Monuments & Seashores.
Lillie, Robert J., 2005.
W.W. Norton and Company.
ISBN 0-393-92407-6
9" x 10.75", paperback, 550 pages, full color throughout
The spectacular geology in our national parks provides the answers to many questions about the Earth. The answers can be appreciated through plate tectonics, an exciting way to understand the ongoing natural processes that sculpt our landscape. Parks and Plates is a visual and scientific voyage of discovery!
Ordering from your National Park Cooperative Associations' bookstores helps to support programs in the parks. Please visit the bookstore locator for park books and much more.
Information about the park's research program is available on the park's research webpage.
For information about permits that are required for conducting geologic research activities in National Parks, see the Permits Information page.
The NPS maintains a searchable data base of research needs that have been identified by parks.
A bibliography of geologic references is being prepared for each park through the Geologic Resources Evaluation Program (GRE). Please see the GRE website for more information and contacts.
NPS Geology and Soils Partners
Association of American State Geologists
Geological
Society of America
Natural
Resource Conservation Service - Soils 
U.S.
Geological Survey
General information about the park's education and intrepretive programs is available on the park's education webpage.
For resources and information on teaching geology using National Park examples, see the Students & Teachers pages.