Geologic Surveys and Site Hazards
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Wyoming is blessed with countless unique and awe inspiring geological features.
These same features, however, are testament to the geological activity of the region.
The processes that shaped our wonderful landscape are active and on going. These
processes can result in anything from minor inconveniences to catastrophic failure of
man made structures and render land useless
for development. Landslides, avalanches, soil
creep, earthquakes, and flooding are just a few
of the processes which are possible, or even
probable, in areas currently under development
or being considered for development in Wyoming
and surrounding states. In addition Wyoming is
rich in mineral wealth. The same wealth that
attracts companies and their employees to our
state can cause problems for those buying property or homes in these mineral and oil
rich areas. Radon has been shown to pose a significant health risk to those exposed
to elevated levels of the gas. Radon gas is a naturally occurring by product of the
decay of uranium daughter products (click on Radon Gas for more information on the
health risks of radon) and Wyoming is our countries leading producer of uranium ore.
Wyoming is also underlain by large deposit of other metals, some of which have been
shown to pose health risks. This
material can often be transported
large distances from their source area
by geological process such as wind and
water erosion, or along ground water
flow paths when dissolved in aquifer
water. In addition one of the principal
ways in which land found its way into
private ownership was through the
mining claim patent process. Claims
patented a hundred, or more, years ago
were often mined out, or found to
contain only sub-economic ore deposits,
and subsequently subdivided for residential
development. Building on or developing subdivided mining claims carries its own
unique risks such as land subsidence do to collapsing underground workings and
contaminated drinking water.
Who Would Benefit from a Geologic Hazard Survey
There is an ever increasing trend of people wishing to build homes or develop land in
the remote, and often beautiful, out of the way corners of our state. If you are
considering buying land in an undeveloped or sparsely developed region, on which to
built your dream home or vacation home, you should consider a geologic hazards
survey. Even if you are considering buying an existing home in such a region a survey
could help alert you to obscure hazards and be invaluable for the purposes of risk
assessment.
