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EXPLANATION
LACUSTRINE
L–1 Playa claystone/siltstone
L–2 Pebbly playa claystone/siltstone
L–3 Freshwater limestone
L–4 Tuffaceous marl
L–5 Sandy freshwater limestone
BORDERLINE LACUSTRINE—FLUVIAL
FL–1 Clayey sandstone
FL–2 Siltstone
FLUVIAL
F–1 Boulder conglomerate
F–2 Cobble conglomerate
F–3 Conglomeratic sandstone
F–4 Sandstone, often pebbly
ALLUVIAL
A–1 Desert alluvial conglomerate
A–2 Matrix-rich, clay-rich alluvial or debris-flow conglomerate
VOLCANIC
V–1 Tuff, ashfall or reworked
V–2 Ash-flow tuff, variably welded
V–3 Felsic lava
V–4 Intermediate to mafic lava
MASS WASTING—GRAVITY DEPOSITS
MW–1 Rock-avalanche breccia
MW–2 Gravity slide blocks
MW–3 Sedimentary breccia
GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE DEPOSITS
GD Travertine and calcareous siltstone
2
1
1
I
F
IBASE O
F BADW
ATER
BASE OF OWLSHEAD
rhyolite ofDaylight Pass
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1,000
1,100
1,200
1,300
1,400
1,500
1,600
1,700
1,800
1,900
2,000
2,100
2,200
2,300
2,400
2,500
2,600
2,700
2,800
2,900
METERS
3
B
4
NORTHERN COTTONWOOD MOUNTAINS(Snow and Lux, 1999)
*22.9 Ma
*23.8 Ma
*15.1 Ma
*15.9 Ma
*3.2 Ma*3.7 Ma
�Zw Mt
NAV
ADU
F
ORM
ATIO
NPA
NUG
A FO
RMAT
ION
UBEH
EBE
F
ORM
ATIO
N
A
BASE OF BADWATER
BASE OF FURNACE CREEK
BASE OF NAVADU
BASE OF HELLS GATE
BASE
OF T
ITUS
CANYO
N
2
1
SOUTHERN COTTONWOOD MOUNTAINS(Snow and Lux, 1999)
B
*3.2 Ma
*12.1 Ma
3
4
Pd
NAV
ADU
FOR
MAT
ION
PA
NUG
AFO
RMAT
ION
UBE
HEBE
FORM
ATIO
N
*19.6 Ma*20.4 Ma
BASE OF NAVADU
BASE OF FURNACE CREEK
BASE OF HELLS GATE
BASE OF TITUS C
ANYON
BASE
OF
BADW
ATER
L
3
B *11.38 Ma
*3.35 Ma
*3.7 Ma
*4.0 Ma
*4.3 Ma
*4.37 Ma
*5.7 Ma
*7.4 Ma
provenance change
*7.8 Ma
Zwl
NOV
A
FO
RMAT
ION
L
C
BASE OF NAVADU
BASE OF OWLSHEAD
MIL
ITAR
Y
C
ANYO
N
FORM
ATIO
N
FAULTED OUT
SOUTHERN OWLSHEADMOUNTAINS(this study)
*11.6 Ma
*14.1 Ma
D
BASE
OF F
URNA
CE C
REEK
Kg
BASE OF O
WLS
HEAD
FUN
ERAL
FO
RMAT
ION
POST-BASIN RANGE
FURN
ACE
CRE
EK
F
ORM
ATIO
N
NORTHWESTERN FURNACECREEK BASIN
(McAllister, 1970; this study)
*3.5 - 3.1 Ma
*4.7 Ma?
ARTI
ST
DRI
VE
FOR
MAT
ION
E
LOW
ER
MEM
BER
BADWATER
BASE OF FURNACE CREEK
BASE FAULTED OUT
CENTRAL FURNACE CREEKBASIN AT BILLIE MINE
(McAllister, 1970, 1971; Wright and others, 1999)
4
2&3
B
�b
FUN
ERAL
FORM
ATIO
NFU
RNAC
E CR
EEK
FORM
ATIO
NRO
CKS
OF
BI
LLIE
M
INE
F
BASE OF NAVADU BASE OF NAVADU
VIRGIN CANYON(Wright & Troxel, 1984)
3
2
base not exposed
ktb 3.2 Ma
~4.5 Ma
PART
ANDE
SITE
OF
ASHF
ORD
MIL
LM
ISCO
RREL
ATED
A
S
FUN
ERAL
F
ORM
ATIO
NCH
AOS”
“AM
ARGO
SAOF
G
BASE
OF
BADW
ATER
BASE
OF
FURN
ACE
CRE
EK
BASE
OF
FURN
ACE
CRE
EK
BASE OF NAVADU
SHADOW VALLEY BASIN(Friedmann, 1999)
F
L
L
2
B
*7 Ma
*10.8 Ma
*11.4 Ma
*11.8 Ma
*12.0-12.5 Ma
*12.9 Ma
Zs
MEM
BER
IVM
EMBE
R III
MEM
BER
IIM
EMBE
R I (
INCL
UDES
“PR
E-BA
SIN
AL”)
SOUTHERN GRAPEVINE MOUNTAINS,(Reynolds, 1969; Fridrich and Berry,
unpub. mapping)
H
POST-BASIN-RANGE
CIMABASALT
BASE OF FURNACE CREEK
BASE OF BADWATER
BASE OF OWLSHEAD
BASE OF HELLS GATE
OWLS
HEAD
HELL
S GA
TE
3
4
2
*6.35 Ma*6.35 Ma
ktb ≈7.8 Ma
ktb ≈9.9 Ma
ktb ≈10.4 Ma
ktb ≈10.5 Ma
ktb ≈11.3 Ma
ktb 11.45 Ma
ktb 11.6 Ma
ktb 13.35 Ma
1
B
ktb 13.5 Ma
ktb 14.0 Ma
ktb≈14.6 Ma
ktb 15.9 Ma
�b
RHYO
LITE
OF
RAIN
BOW
MOU
NTA
INTR
ACHY
TE O
FDO
NOV
AN M
OUN
TAIN
AMM
ONIA
TAN
KSTU
FFRA
INIE
R M
ESA
TUFF
TIVA
CAN
YON
TU
FFBU
LLFR
OG
TUFF
TRAM
TU
FFRH
YOLI
TE O
F PI
CTUR
E RO
CKRH
YOLI
TE O
F DA
YLIG
HT P
ASS
GREE
N C
ONGL
OMER
ATE
TITU
S CA
NYO
N F
ORM
ATIO
NBA
SALT
RHYO
LITE
OF
SARC
OBAT
US F
LAT
BASA
LT
SPEARHEADTUFF
rhyolite ofSarcobatus
Flat
BASE
OF F
URNA
CE C
REEK
BASE O
F BADW
ATER
BASE OF NAVADU
BASE
OF
HELL
S GA
TE
BASE
OF
TITU
S CA
NYO
N
Zwl
NORTHERN FUNERAL MOUNTAINS(Fridrich and Berry, unpub. mapping)
*7.5 Ma
ktb 7.5 Ma
<11.45 Ma
*14.6 Ma
L
2
B
*8.3 Ma
GREE
N
CON
GLOM
ERAT
ETI
TUS
C
ANYO
N
FOR
MAT
ION
J
BASE OF FURNACE CREEK
BASE OF NAVADU
BASE OF POST-BASIN-RAN
GE
BASE OF OWLSHEAD
BASE OF HELLS GATE
OWLS
HEAD
HELL
S GA
TE
BASE OF TITUS CANYON
B
BAT MOUNTAIN,SOUTHEASTERN
FUNERAL MOUNTAINS(Cemen and others, 1999)
*13.5 Ma
*22.6 Ma
*24.7 Ma (ktb 27 Ma)
Dl
*21.2 Ma
AMAR
GOSA
V
ALLE
Y
F
ORM
ATIO
NKE
LLEY
SW
ELL
BAT
MOU
NTA
IN
F
ORM
ATIO
N
CON
GLOM
ERAT
E
MEM
BER
CON
GLOM
ERAT
E M
EMBE
RLI
MES
TON
E M
EMBE
RRE
D S
AMDS
TON
E M
EMBE
RSA
NDST
ONE
MEM
BER
LIM
ESTO
NE
K BASE OF POST-BASIN RANGE
BASE OF NAVADU
BASE
OF O
WLS
HEAD
OWLS
HEAD
HELL
S G
ATE
BASE
OF
TITU
S C
ANYO
N
NYE COUNTY DRILL HOLE–2DB(Murray, 2002)
F
2
1
B
ktb 12.8 Ma
ktb 13.5 Ma
Dl
QT
ALL
UVIU
MRO
CKS
O
F
PA
VITS
SPR
ING
ROCK
S
O
F
W
INAP
I
W
ASH
(RV–15.9 Ma)
(RV–26.0 Ma)
L
BASE OF NAVADU
BASE
OF H
ELLS
GAT
E
BASE OF NAVADU
(RV–Rhyolite of Daylight Pass - ktb 14.6 Ma)
*6.2 Ma
UPPE
R M
EMBE
R M
IDDL
E
M
EMBE
R
*12.7 Ma*13.7 Ma
ktb 12.7 Ma
NOVA BASIN(Snyder and Hodges, 2000)
B
B
ktb≈11 Ma
ktb 27 Ma
40 Ma (Fossil) 40 Ma (Fossil)
�
*≈13.3 Ma
ktb≈6.2 Maktb≈6.2 Ma
*13.2 Ma
_>REPRESENTATIVE CENOZOIC STRATIGRAPHIC COLUMNS FROM TWELVE LOCALES IN THE DEATH VALLEY REGION
ByChristopher J. Fridrich and Ren A. Thompson
2011
ktb≈6.2 Ma
Twelve representative Cenozoic sections from different parts of the Death Valley region, with a lithologic key, an index map showing locations of sections, and Argon ages, where known. The majority of sections are measured, whereas the others are approximated from map data or constrained by GPS readings. The sections are mainly compiled from the sources cited. Modifi-cations from, and additions to the original data are based on new field work in this study. Depositional environments indicated are interpretive. All sections are hung on the ≈12.5 to ≈11.5 Ma regional unconformity (base of the Navadu assemblage). This horizon, along with the bases of the other tectonostratigraphic assemblages show correlations between sections. Argon ages following asterisks were determined from samples taken from the sections themselves, whereas ktb (known to be) indicates ages of widespread, easily recognizable volcanic units that are well dated elsewhere. In the furthest right section alone (Nye County well 2DB), RV signifies determined Argon ages of tuffs found in equivalent stratigraphic locations in Rock Valley, several kilometers east of this well (data from James C. Yount, retired USGS). Unconformities are basal (B), numbered oldest to youngest by the tectonic reorganization in which they formed, or are local (L).
SIERRA NEVADA
NORTHERNBASINAND
RANGE
Avawatz
RangeAvawatz
Range
Amargosa DesertE
White M
ountains
Inyo Mountains
ARGUS RANGE
SLATE RANGE
MOJAVECottonw
ood
Mtns
Owens
Valley
Panamint Valley
NEVADATESTSITE
DEATH
Pahrump Basin
BareMountainClark M
ountains
NEVADA
CALIFORNIA
NEVADA
CALIFORNIA
Spring Mountains
CDVR
Grapevine–Funeral Mountains
BOUNDARY OFDEATH VALLEY
REGION
KR
SVB
Indian WellsValley
Eureka Valley
SALINE
RANGESaline
Valley
LVVSZ
NORTHERNBASINAND
RANGE
Avawatz
Range
116˚117˚118˚
37˚
36˚
Garlock
fault
0
0 50 KILOMETERS
50 MILES
NORTHERNCOTTONWOOD
MOUNTAINS A
SOUTHERNCOTTONWOODMOUNTAINS
B
NOVABASIN
C
SOUTHERNGRAPEVINEMOUNTAINS
I NORTHERNFUNERAL
MOUNTAINS
J
NYE COUNTYDRILLHOLE
2DB
L
NORTHWESTERNFURNACE CREEKBASIN
BAT MOUNTAIN,SOUTHWESTERNFUNERALMOUNTAINS
K
CENTRALFURNACECREEK BASINAT BILLIE MINE
F
SOUTHERNOWLSHEADMOUNTAINS
SHADOWVALLEYBASIN
H
VIRGINCANYON
GBlack M
ountains
Nopah Range
RSR
VALLEY
D
20
20
30
30
40
40
10
10
NEVADA
CALIF
MAP AREA
0
5
10
15
20
30
40
0
3
6
1112
1516
19
27
Age (Ma) Volcanism
Very low rate basaltic;except low-rate true
bimodal in Owens Valley
Desert alluvium >lacustrine (all playa clay)>> fluvial/much gypsum
Moderate-rate true-bimodalbasalt > to >> felsic;
no intermediates
Desert alluvium > fluvial >lacustrine: (playa clay >>
freshwater limestone)
Fluvial _ lacustrine:(limestone > claystone)
minor gypsum
Gypsum, but rare;mammal fossils common(limestone > claystone)
Very high rate quasi-bimodal: felsics > basalt
> andesite and latite% basalt increases up
Desert alluvium = fluvial >lacustrine: (claystone >
limestone) gypsum common,rare fossil plants, mostly palms
Moderate–rate andesite-rhyolite association:
Fluvial = lacustrine:(claystone _�limestone) >>
non-desert alluvium, moderategypsum, fossil metasequoias
nondeposition
No local volcanism butabundant distal tuffs
Fewer and more distalvolcaniclastics + rare tuffs
Very rare tuffs, trivialvolcaniclastics
Extremely rare or no tuffsor volcaniclastics
Basal percussion-marked boulderconglomerate on ultra-weathered
moderate-relief basal unconformity
~1 m.y. volcanic hiatus Abundant basal breccias
Lithology
FURNACE CREEK
19-16 Ma Lacuna
Cenozoic Stratigraphy of Death Valley Region
TITUSCANYON
NAVADU
BADWATER
OWLS-HEAD
HELLSGATE
W E(Owens Valley) (Pahrump Basin)
Isolated paleocanyon fill
~
~
>
>
Stage 4:
Stage 3:
Stage 2:
Stage 1:
Age (Ma)
POST–BASIN–RANGE
PRE–BASIN–RANGETCFS
SYN–BASIN–RANGE
POST-BASIN-RANGE
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORU.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1783Plate 1
Suggested citation:Fridrich, C.J., and Thompson, R.A., 2011, Cenozoic tectonic reorganizations of the Death Valley region, southeast California and southwest Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1783, 36 p., 1 plate.
For more information concerning this publication, contact:Center Director, USGS Geology and Environmental Change Science CenterBox 25046, Mail Stop 980Denver, CO 80225(303) 236-5344
Or visit the Geology and Environmental Change Science Center Web site at:http://esp.cr.usgs.gov/
Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes onlyand does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also contains copyrighted materials as noted in the text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items for other than personal usemust be secured from the copyright owner.
Publishing support provided by: Denver Publishing Service Center andRolla Publishing Service Center
This and other USGS information products are available athttp://store.usgs.gov/U.S. Geological SurveyBox 25286, Denver Federal CenterDenver, CO 80225
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This report is available at:http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1783
Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000-scale map
PANAMINTRANGE
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