BLM Utah GSENM Paleomagnetic Survey of Cretaceous Rocks, Kaiparowits Plateau Region, Southern Utah | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is this funding opportunity about?

This Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cooperative agreement opportunity focuses on improving geologic age control for fossil-bearing Cretaceous rock units in and around Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM), with an emphasis on the Kaiparowits Plateau region of southern Utah. The goal is to better determine the ages of the rock layers that contain important dinosaur and other vertebrate fossils.

Why is better age control important for GSENM fossils?

GSENM has internationally significant paleontological resources, including many dinosaur and other vertebrate discoveries and more than 20 newly identified species over roughly the prior 15 years. Knowing the ages of the fossil-bearing rocks more precisely strengthens scientific study (for example, comparing fossil horizons across locations) and improves public interpretation and education by providing clearer time context for museum displays, publications, and outreach.

Which area and rock units does the project emphasize?

The work is centered on Campanian-age (Late Cretaceous) strata in and near GSENM, particularly within the Kaiparowits Plateau region. Rock units specifically mentioned as having age-control gaps include intervals of the Straight Cliffs, Wahweap, and Kaiparowits formations.

What problem is the project trying to solve?

Existing geochronology in the monument has often relied on radiometric dating, but radiometric methods cannot be applied everywhere. Some stratigraphic intervals lack materials that can be dated reliably using radiometric techniques. This opportunity targets those gaps by using a different approach to refine the ages of key fossil-bearing layers.

What method is proposed to fill the radiometric dating gaps?

The opportunity is built around paleomagnetism, specifically measuring the magnetic reversal record preserved in sedimentary rocks. Earths magnetic field has switched between normal and reversed polarity through time, and those reversals are recorded in global reference timescales. By measuring remnant magnetization in local rock layers, researchers can correlate local strata to the global reversal record and tighten age estimates where radiometric dates are unavailable.

What is the stated objective of the project?

The stated objective is to identify a partner capable of documenting paleomagnetic signatures in Campanian-age strata within and near GSENM. The anticipated outcome is clearer age relationships among fossil-bearing units, helping determine where dinosaur-bearing horizons fall in time relative to each other and relative to other fossil sites across western North America.

What work activities are envisioned under this cooperative agreement?

The work described includes standard field sampling of appropriate rock units, followed by laboratory magnetometer analysis. The intent is to determine polarity patterns and related paleomagnetic characteristics that can be used to correlate the sampled sections to the established global magnetic reversal timescale.

How does this project benefit the public?

The public benefit is tied to stronger interpretation and education. Better constrained rock ages provide clearer context for fossils displayed in museums, discussed in publications, and interpreted through field experiences and monument-related outreach. Improved age relationships also support clearer storytelling about how the GSENM fossil record fits into Late Cretaceous history.

How does this project benefit scientific research?

For researchers, resolving uncertain age relationships in the Kaiparowits dinosaur record enables more rigorous comparisons with other Campanian faunas across western North America. That, in turn, strengthens broader research on evolution, paleoecology, and biogeography during the Campanian.

What agency is offering this opportunity?

The opportunity was issued by the Department of the Interior (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

What type of funding instrument is being used?

The instrument is a cooperative agreement. This signals that BLM expected substantial involvement or collaboration during the project, rather than a hands-off relationship.

Is this a discretionary funding opportunity?

Yes. The opportunity was listed as a discretionary funding action.

What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is associated with CFDA 15.224.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility was described as unrestricted, meaning it was open to any type of entity, subject to any additional eligibility notes contained in the full announcement.

What is the funding opportunity number?

The funding opportunity number is L16AS00115.

When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?

It was posted on May 13, 2016, and the closing date was July 13, 2016.

What is the maximum award amount?

The listed award ceiling was $4,000. This suggests a small, targeted award intended to support a defined set of sampling and analytical tasks rather than a large multi-year research program.

What kinds of deliverables are implied by the opportunity description?

The description implies deliverables related to documenting paleomagnetic signatures and polarity patterns from field-sampled rock units, supported by laboratory magnetometer analysis. The practical deliverable for BLM and the research community is improved age relationships among key fossil-bearing units, particularly where radiometric dating cannot be applied.

How does this effort relate to fossil protection?

Fossil protection is described as a core management concern at GSENM. The opportunity emphasizes that accurately determining the ages of fossil-bearing rocks is a shared priority with universities and other research partners because it supports scientific study and strengthens public interpretation, complementing broader monument management goals.