OF-08-02 Geologic Map of the Delta Quadrangle, Delta and Montrose Counties, Colorado

The purpose of this map is to describe the geologic setting, mineral and ground-water resources, and geologic hazards of this 7.5-minute quadrangle located to the southwest of Delta in western Colorado. Staff geologists Matthew L. Morgan, David C. Noe, Jonathan L. White and summer intern geologist Shannon M. Townley, completed the field work on this project during the spring and summer of 2007. Matt Morgan was the principal mapper and author of this report and utilized the maps and field notes generated by all four investigators. Some unit descriptions were coordinated between this area and both the Olathe NW (Noe and others, 2008) and Hoovers Corner quadrangles (White and others, 2008). Digital ZIP/PDF download. OF-08-02D

From the Author’s Notes:

This quadrangle is located in Delta and Montrose Counties, Colorado. The City of Delta, with a 2005 census population of 8,135, is located in the north part of the quadrangle at the junction of Federal Highway 50 and State Highway 92. The Uncompahgre River runs through the eastern and northern halves of the quadrangle and flows northward to join the Gunnison River northwest of Delta. The city is named for the “delta” on which it was built, at the confluence of the two rivers. The highest part in the quadrangle (elevation 5,507 feet) is on the dip-slope of the Uncompahgre Uplift in the southwestern corner of the quadrangle, and the lowest point is in the Gunnison River valley bottom (elevation 4,888 feet) in the northwestern part of the quadrangle.