~.

ALIFORNIA December 1984

GEOLOGY
50¢
ROCKHOUSE BASIN WILDERNESS
STUDY AREA

Understanding California's Geology - Our Resources - Our Hazards

I( l
~ALIFORNIA USGS RESEARCH PROPOSALS SOLICITED
MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF THE ROCKHOUSE BASIN
. 262

6. OLOGY WILDERNESS STUDY AREA

SHASTINA - A VOLCANIC CONE OF MOUNT SHASTA
SHASTINA 1964 - A PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAy
1964 INDEX _.....................
,
.
.
.
..
.
.
.
.
263
273
274
279
NEW BOOKS.... . . 281
MAIL ORDER FORM • . 281
... PUBlICAnON OF THE
OEPARTMENT OF CONSERV,tlnOH
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY SUBSCRIPTION FORM . 282
DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY ROBERT W. WEBB. MEMORIAL 283
PROJECT UPDATE GEOlOGY, ROBERT WALLACE WEBB
MEMORIAL SYMPOSIUM ..•" ,...•,....•...•.•,...••,...•....•..•........• 283
SlIIle or C.MOlroll GEORGE oeUKMEJIAN
Govemot DMG RELEASES . 283
OFR 64-31 SF, INDEX TO GEOLOGIC REPORTS, SPECIAL
The Resources Aqoncy GORDON K VAN VLECK STUDIES ZONES ...•,•....." ...••,... " ...•...•.•....•,...•........•,..•,..•.....•........ 283
Secretary for Resources BULLETIN 202 - GEOLOGY OF THE
POINT REYES PENINSULA, MARIN COUNTy ..
Qoopatlmenl or ~.tOO'\ DON L BLUBAUGH
a..c,~ SP70-MINERAL COMMODITY REPORT - POTASH '"
'"
Drv$l;lIl or I,bnes & Geology JAMES F DAVIS
Stare GeoIogI$l
SP71-MINERAL COMMODITY REPORT - TITANIUM
SP72-MINERAL COMMODITY REPORT - GYPSUM. '"
'"
SP73-MINERAL COMMODITY REPORT - LIME .
'"
SP74-MINERAL COMMODITY REPORT - SULFUR
'"
.---......
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY stall
SP75--MINERAL COMMODITY REPORT - ZEOLITE ......... 264
E"'""·,,,<hoet

EdolORal a556l6nCe
G>apI'oCI af'l(l <lltS9"
r.tar,o

car"",
Woa<ls
51epMf> P BelOte
C_ _
A JoIIMon
c

Mel1 Smotn
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.....
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.....
,
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WOt/J PrOC('SSIt>Q cenlGl'
Oepa"..-, 01 Gttne<,,1 SeMce$
Ort". 01 Sial. Pnrlllt>!l

14'~ ~. '"
Front Coyer, View northward toward Rockhouse Basin, on area along the crest
of the Sierra Nevada in Kern and Tulare counties. The mineral resource potential
of thi5 oreo is described in on orticle beginning on p. 263. Photo by John L.
"
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'OQ ... "
CA ~,. " "' Burnell.
, P
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41~671
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49411
, ." " RESEARCH PROPOSALS SOLICITED

The United States Geological Survey

invites proposals for research contracts

...
CloLIFORNlA GEOlOO¥ IISSN 0026 4~1 os ilUblosI>ed
mor>tNr 111' lJ'oe ~ 01 Coo&ervatoon. 0Ms00n 01 and grants under the continuing Earth-
M"'ft.,.., Geology 1M -"\oOt'I OlI!C<llIS'" tn, 20ltl
Su...,. s..era"""'lO. CA 95814 Second clau POS~" _~
quake Hazard Reduction Program. The
Pall at sa.;."menlO C, Postma.to< proposed research must be directed to-
changes to CALIFORNlA GEOLOGY IUSPS 350 8'l0).
80.2980, 5aer_1O CA~12
ward the goal of identifying, evaluating
Re1KlI1S ~ 0Ms00n lit M<nes and Geoiolw and characterizing the immediate and
scooncet .. CalItOf1"llll .t.
Poto'C" .fI<l ...."Clft .nd ""WS ,tems '~!ed 10 the .,~
oncIuO<'<l '" lhe fnagiUlI'Ie Con
t'otNJle<l art"'.... pI>Q\Ogf'. . . . _ Ilem~_ and geoIogocal
long term seismic ha7.ard. Program objec-
tives and lasks required to achieve those
m(><>1""ola~",._
objectives are described in Proposallnfor-
TN ~o<W:lusoons 'nd _ .... p'BUed a'. _'I' \I'IOse
oJ 1M aoJ''''''s ana atll ne' 'IIl«SSatIfy end<wSC!<! ~ 1M mation Package No. RFP-1586.
Depanment oJ Consenta\lOl'l
Con~8 ~ l)8 _1l'SSQ(l '" E(Iolo.- CAll Wrinen inquiries concerning this pro-
FOP-NIA GEOlOGY, 1416 Nonll> SU_. Room 1:).01 Saoa·
me<l1O CA 95814 gram, and requests for Proposals Infor-
Subw",_ 15 00 Ile< rear
~ copoM 50,' 8aet1 mation Package No. RFP-1586, should be
al DMG oil"" S8na 5\lOSC,,,,loon o.-dolIs ana cna"9" ...
8d<lr~ l<Ilor"",'"" 10 C"'lIF~NI'" GEOLOGY PO 9<>.
addressed 10:
s.c._to
""" CA 95812
Contracting Officer
U.S. Geological Survey
Mail StOp 285
Deeember 196'1IVolume 31/Number 12 345 Middlefield Road
CGEOA 31 \ \21 261-284 (1964)
Menlo Park, California 94025

Proposals will be due early February,

1985. It is anticipated thai funding of se-
lected programs will start on or after Oc-
tober 1, 1985. ~

202 CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY DecemOO' 1964

MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL

Bochhouse Basin Wilderness studu area

KERN AND TULARE COUNTIES

by SEQUOIA

GARY C. TAYLOR, Geologist I

Deportment of Conservation ',-
1-'
Division of Mines and Geology

I
'" ge-ologic, energy, C1nd mine.oh (GfM) .....-
ver of the Rockhouse Ba.in Wilde,n"" Sludy
A,eo was conducted in 1983 10 dele,m,ne i/ the
o,ea wa••uilable 10< inely,io" in II.e Notiongl Wi'·
dernes. P,,, ........o'ion .y.lem. The mine,ol. found
in ,hi. southe,n Sierra Neyoda o.eo 0'" described
in Ihi ..... m"lory I,om Special Repo,I 157, M,,,erol
T
RelOOfc" POlentio! of Ihe Rockhcwle BOlin Wild",·
nen Study Area, Kem and Tulore coun';e., Coli·
10<1'1;0, 1984, p'epored fa, Ihe U.S. 8u.eou 01
land Management (BlM) by California DeporT-
mel'll of Con.ervol;on, Di"i,ion of Mine. olld Ge·
ology IDMGI .1,,11 members G.c. Toylo._ ftc'
loyd, J.T. ,1,110'1, J.L 8urnell, M.e. Stinoon. 11.e.
-_
o,.,.~
........
$CAcf
..u,

(haJ)mon. M.A. Silvo, (.F. 8ocon. ond T.P. Ande,'

son...ecIilor, ",,,~r~ ;0$.
I "UI()N
I
~-
WELDON
SEQUOIA
N. F.

Figure 1. location of the Rockhouse Basin Wilderness Study Area, Kern and
Tulare counties, California.
INTRODUCTION

The Rockhouse Basin Wilderness

Study Area (WSA) is situated near the
southern terminous of the Sierra Nevada
approximately 65 miles northeast of Bak-
ersfield, It covers about 37.000 acres im-
mediately cast of the Sequoia Natiollul
Forest boundary (Figure I).

The area is boundl.:d on the cast by the

precipitous, 4{X)()·foot scarp of the Sierm
Nevada faull and on the west by the 3000·
foot.deep. V·shap,:d canyon of the south
fork of the Kern Ri\'er.

The topography ranges from moderate

slopes (I'hoto 1,2) to barren. predpltous
chITs and steep-walled canyons. The high-
est palIIt 10 the area is an unnamed peak
at an elevation of8315 fCCI. and the lowest
poim is about 3200 feet on the \ alley floor Photo 1. View northwest into Rockhouse Basin from Pacific Crcst Trail. The left
along Canebrake Creek near Highway cenlral half of Ihe photo shows the granitic exfoliotion domes of the adiocenl
178, Domelond Wilderness. Photos by John L. Burnett.

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY Oe<:emDer t984 263

 GENERAL GEOLOGY
GEOLOGIC MAP SHOWING MINES AND PROSPECTS
The Rockhouse Basin WSA encom·
passes an elevated erosional surface of
OF THE
metasedimentary rocks of the Kernville ROCKHOUSE BASIN WILDERNESS STUDY AREA
Series that have been intruded by granitic
plutons of the Sierra Nevada batholith. KERN AND TULARE COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA
Occurring in the area are three distin- Figure 2.
guishable plUloJlic rocks (Figure 2) th;\t
become more felsic with decreasing age
and range in composition from gabbro-
quartz diorite to granodiorite-granite
aplite. These are the Summit Gabbro (Ju·
ra~sic and/or Triassic). the Sacatar
SYWIlOl.S
Quartz Diorite (Jurassic), and the Isabel-
la Granodiorite (Cretaceous) (Miller and ,"
Webb. 1940). The mctamorphic rocks of
the Kernville Series were derived from
fine-grained, arenaceous to argilliferous
clastic sedimentary rocks. with minor cal·
can.:ous and volcaniclastic interbeds that
were deposited in a shallow water envi-
ronment. Subsequent burial. intense fold-
ing, and biotite-subfacies metamorphism
has led to the formation of quartzites.
schists. and phyllites. with minor assem-
blages of marble, slate. and hornfels. I e::;:::o::JOJ ~ _
These metamorphic rocks occur within a I• I'.
J-mile·wide, northwest-striking. steeply
eastward-dipping roof pendant and as
smaller scatlcred ,..;enoliths within the plu.
tonic rocks west of the pendan\. Minor
outcrops of Tertiary olivine basalts occur
along the western border of the area, and
minor erosional remnants of older Qua-
ternary gravels mantle parts of Rock- ~;r~ ~~;~;:t~··
house Basin.
~:.::~i:;- ~~.?i:
The present local drainage patterns 11\ :~':':"'''~.:r :;:';Z;.~.:s..:::::.:::..:-
the study area are largely controlled by
joints developed within the granitic intru· t1
sives and modified by regional uplift and
e,..;tensive erosion.

PLUTONIC ROCKS

Summit Gabbro

The Summit Gabbro is the oldest intru·

sive rock in the area and it also has the
smallest areal distribution. II is e,..;posed
within the northeastern part of the WSA
as two distinct, elongated, north-trending
septa; as a small. detached int rusion along
this same trend; and as a small irregular-
shaped intrusion near the northern
._
0lCl._
'" ·,
.
boundary of the study area. These rocks VICINITY MAP
form Ihe highest topographic elevations
within the area.

Typically, the Summit Gabbro is a

coarse- to medium-grained. inequigranu-
lar 10 porphyritic hornblende gabbro. In , ,
some places, it approaches a pyro,..;eni!e in
composition with a matn,..; of greenish- - ,.
•"
black clinopyro,..;ene (augite). These
small bodies of pyro,..;enite typically show -
a common spatial association to contact
zones and probably reprcsenl small-scale
magmatic differentiation within the Sum-
mit Gabbro. The Summit Gabbro may be
- L
-
~"." ...

an early border phase of the Sacatar .. _ '.. ~. I _ _ ..

Quartz Diorite (Bergquist and Nitkie- _. <_'..' .... ,,, 000.>.
wiez, 1982).
..
.:r~ --""'!.L --'I- """'_--jl- ------....:-:;....

....

BOUNDARY OF THE
ROCKHOUSE BASIN
, WILDERNESS
STUDY AREA
,

,
.
'" •
,n.

•
"

"'
.. •

BOUNOARY OF THE
ROCKHOOSE BASIN _ _..<
WILOERNESS
STUDY AREA

" "

_......... _-
•.•.Ir.---,=_="''''=="'''=--------~-----------------!_----"'''=_======="',....
.__.l_'_....
:;'. . . . . . _ .... _ ........, <1
u __"
-_ ..- .
_, .. __~ .....
__
.-
Socotor Quartz Diorite
The Sacatar Quartz Diorite includes
medium- to line-grained equigranular
mesocnllic hornblende quartz dioritc
(tonalite) and equigranular leucocratic
hornblende granodiorite. This laller rock-
type occurs principally in the northern
part of the study area where it is in con-
tact with the Kernville Series. Summit
Gabbro. and with the YOunger Isabella
Granodiorite. The grallodiorite. the most
fdsic rock-type within the Sacatar Quartz
Diorite, is sometimes difficult to distin-
guish from mafic phases of the Isabella
Gnanodiorile. Substllntial areas of mixed
rocks occur between the Sacatar Quartz
Diorite alld the Isabella granodiorite
where contact zones are transitional (Fig-
ur(2).
A discordant hornblende-biotite mill-
eral pair yielded a mean potassium-argon
(K-Ar) age of 145.4 million years (m.y.)
for the Sacatar Quartz Diorite (Bergquist
and Nitkiewiez. 1982). This date is older
lhan other K-Ar ages reported for south-
ern Sierra Nevada and nearby Tehachapi
Mountains (Evernden and Kistler. 1970:
Ross. 1980, 1983) and it confirms theJu-
rassic age of the Sacatar Quartz Diorite
assigned by Miller and Webb (1940).
The Summit Gabbro. which is intruded
by the Sacatar Quartz Diorite. is probably
of Jurassic or Triassic Age. Contacts
between the two plutons appear to be ver-
tical. are typically very sharp, and usually
provide clear evidence of the intrusive na-
ture of the &leatar Quartz Diorite into the
Summit Gabbro. The Sacatar Quartz Dio-
rite is commonly foliated along these con-
tacts. However. areas that contain an
assemblage of mixed rocks exist along
some of the contacts. Where a gabbroic
phase of the Sacatar Quartz Diorite exists
and is highly contaminated with inclu-
sions and schlieren of the Summit Gabbro
or fine-grained diorite, it becomes difficult
to distinguish the intrusive relationship.
Isabella Granodiorite
The Isabella Granodiorite. which is
composed of granite. quartz-monzonite.
and quartz-diorite occurs throughout the
study area and is almost continuously ex-
posed in the southern part of the area.
Typically. specimens of the Isabella
Granodiorite arc medium- to coarse-
grained. inequigranular, leuocratic rocks.
However. texture may vary locally from
equigranular to coarsely porphyritic with
prominent phenocrysts of potassium feld-
266
spar. An additional faek'S of the Isabella
Granodiorite is a coarse-grained. foliated
granite in which layers of quartz alternate
with layers of feldspar. This facies occurs
commonly along the margin of the pluton.
A single age date of 81.1 m,y. was deter-
mined from biotite for a sample of Isubella
Granodiorite from the Domel:llld area
west of the Rockhouse Basin WSA (Berg-
quist and Nitkiewiez, 1982). This Late
Cretaceous minimum age is in close
agreement with olher K·Ar biotite ages of
the Isabella Granodiorite and equivalent
ullits in the vicinity of Rockhouse Basin
(Ross. 1980, 1983: Evernden and Kistler.
1970).
The Isabella Granodiorite, the most fel-
sic intrusion within the study area. lypi-
cally exhibits sharp contactS with both the
Kernville Series and the Sacatar Quartz
Diorite. However. transitional mixed rock
zones do exist in certain areas: such a zone
is located immediately west of Big Pine
Meadow. Here, randomly sampled speci-
mens of ISllbclla Granodiorite cannot be
distinguished from Saeatar Quartz Dio-
rite.
Aplite, Pegmatite, and Mafic Dikes
The Sacatar Quartz Diorite and the Isa-
bella Granodiorite show extensive devel-
opment of aplite. pegmatite. and 8ranodi-
orite dikes. especially in the southern part
of the area. Immediately west of the Bu-
Photo 2. Pinon pine covered slopes of Chimney Peak, elevation 7990, with la-
mont Meadows in foreground. lamont Meadows is the eoslern boundary of the
Rockhouse Basin Wilderness Study Area.
CALlFORNtA GEOLOGY December 1964
reau of Land Management's Long Valley
campground. numerous large granodior-
ite dikes have intruded the Sacatar Quartz
Diorite along a northeasterly trend. These
dikes have low-dip angles and near paral·
leI strikes. and the dikes can be lraeed
southward to the Isabella Granodiorite.
In turn, the Isabella Granodiorite has
been intruded by late-stage aplite and peg.
matite dikes thai arc particularly perva-
sive in parts of the area, A large pcgmlllite
dike with a width in excess of 30 fect is
located just outside of lhc study
area at upper Chimney Meadows. This
dike is composed of almost pure pot-
ash feldspar and quartz and has been
mined commercially as a source of silica
(Webb. 1937), Moderate-sized (2·5 foot)
p.:gmatite dikes are numerous around
Long Valley and typically eon lain large
feldspar crystals, quartz. and books ofbi-
ollle.
Aplite dikes are found in both the Saca-
tar Quartz Diorite and Isabella Granodi-
orite. Typically. the dikes are leucocratic.
finc-grained to coarsely granular, and in
the area west of marker VABM Long.
Section 31. T23S. R36E. show an abun-
dance of pink- to ruby-colored garnet
crystals disseminated within a matrix of
white feldspar. A coarsely crystalline
quartz-feldspar pegmatite dike forms a
prominent. northwest-trending outcrop
near the Ulmont Mcadow-Long Valley
Road.
 Crosscuning these late-stage felsic
dikes within the Isabella Granodiorite are
mafic dikes. These mafic dikes are well
exposed at the upper part of Lamont
Meadow. They exhibit a microcrystalline
texture and appear to be basaltic in com-
position.
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
The metamorphic rocks within the
study IIrea belong to the Kernville Series
(Miller, 1931). In this report, they are
separated into two map units: (1) a mas-
sive, light-gray to black quartzite that oc-
curs in the northern part of the study area,
and (2) an undifferentiated unit that con-
tains quartz.mica schists, quartzites, and
phyllites, with minor assemblages of mar-
ble. slate, hornfels. and metavolcanic
rock. In addition. due to economic and
metallogenic considerations, both the bar-
ite-bearing sedimentary horizons and
tungsten-bearing calcareous interbeds
that occur within undifferentiated Kern-
ville Series rocks were mapped (Figure
2). This sequence of metasedimentary
rocks may be, in part, the lateral equiva-
lents of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks east
of the Sierra Nevada, or they may be cor-
relative with Mesozoic metamorphic roof
pendants to the north (Bergquist and
Nitkiewiez, 1982).
The metasedimentary rocks exposed in
the northern part of the area consist large-
ly of a gray to black, massive quartzite,
with minor interbeds of quartz-mica
schist and phyllite. Quartzite ranges in
texture from massive to thinly laminated,
and from coarsely crystalline to crypto-
crystalline; it typically exhibits an iron·
stained, weathered surface. In places. the
quartzite is very micaceous and shows
development of chlorite schist lenses
along contacts with granitic rocks. Con-
tact zones vary from extensive zones of
mixed rock exhibiting large subparallel
septal masses to narrow zones measumble
in inches. Allhough the most extensive
cross-sectional e;o;.posure of undifferentiat-
ed Kernvillc Series lies outside of the
study area, there is a well exposed section
along the Rockhouse Basin.Chimney
Meadows Road.
Quartzites within thc study area typi-
cally are light gray to bluish-gray, me-
dium grained, thinly laminated, and range
from nearly pure quartzite to micaceous
quartzite. Quartzites are exposed
throughout the roof pendant. Collectively
they are several thousand feet thick and
are also present as thick beds within larger
areas of the Kernville Series. Quartzite is
intercalated with thin calcareous lenses
(marbles) in both the area of the Rock-
house tungsten property known as Kern-
Sierra and in the area of the barite mine
(T23S. R36E, Section 34).
Interbedded with the quartzites are
well-foliated, greenish-gray to dark gray,
fine.gmined schists that range in compo·
sition from quartz-rnuscovite-biotite-gar.
net schists to quartz-mica schists.
Phyllites, typically massive and very dark
in color. and exhibiting good cleavage, are
well exposed in the area of the barite
mine.
Several zones of calcareous sediments
and marbles up to 100 feet thick occur in
the area. Marbles are white- to bluish-
gray, thinly bedded, fine-grained to
coarsely crystalline, and range from near-
ly pure calcite 10 dolomite varieties. Mar-
ble beds are associated with and contain
interbeds of barite. Silicification of the
marble commonly occurs near intrusive
contacts and, locally, zones of quartz-epi-
dote-garnet skarn have been developed
along the contacts. Metamorphosed vol-
canic rocks occur within Ihe Kernville
Series as minor intercalated beds within
the metasedimentary sequence. Metavol-
canic rocks typically e;o;.hibit equigranular
and uniform composition, light-gray col-
or, and appear massive in outcrop. All
metavolcanic beds, commonly tens of feet
thick, are subparallel to the enclosing
metasedimentary rocks and probably are
hypabyssal intrusions.
VOLCANIC ROCKS
Tertiary volcanic rocks do not occur
within the Rockhouse Basin WSAj
however, these rocks do occur immediate-
ly adjacent to the western border of the
area. Due to this nearby location, these
rocks were mapped and field checked.
A northeast trending ridge immediately
west of marker VABM Long is capped by
an olivine-augite basal! now. Flow rocks
are typically dark gray to black on a fresh
surface and light gray where weathered.
Thc rocks exhibit a microcrystalline
groundmass and isolated xenocrysts (2-
40 mm) of gray, glass)' quartz. The basalt,
which measures less than 100 fect thick.
shows minor developmcnt of columnar
jointing. Extensive fmcturing and land-
sliding has resulted in the accumulation of
disjointed rubble piles downslope. This
flow, underlain by Cretaceous Isabella
Granodiorite. is of Tertiary age and is
probably contemporaneous with an oli-
vine basalt from Black Mountain, located
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December 1984
about 4 miles westward. which yielded a
whole-rock Miocene age of 12.3 m.y.
(Bergquist and Nitkiewiez, 1982). Other
olivine basalts from the Kern Plateau
have yielded dates of 3.6 m.y. (Pliocene)
and younger (Moore and Dodge, 1980).
UNCONSOLIDATED QUATERNARY
DEPOSITS
Unconsolidated deposits of Quaternary
age in the study area consist of extensive
colluvial veneers of slopewash and talus
aprons at the base of steeper slopes and
broad alluvial fans.
Slopewash deposits mantle most gra-
nitic slopes and some slopes underlain by
resistant metamorphic rocks. Stream
channels are filled with coarse, poorly
sorted gravels with minor deposits offiner
grained sediments occurring where
stream gradients deerease:. Thinly lami-
nated, organic-rich alluvial sediments on
the order of tens of feet thick occur within
Big Pine, Lamont, Chimney, and seveml
other smaller intermontane meadows.
Highly resistant metamorphic rocks,
principally quartzites, have developed ex-
tensive talus aprons in areas of high relief.
Large disjointed granitic blocks and rub-
ble piles are present along Chimney Creek
and occur predominantly at the base of
the cliffs along the southern border of the
study area.
Broad alluvial fans have developed
along the lower drainage of Chimney
Creek. within Rockhouse Basin WSA,
and in the area immediately north of
Highway 178. An older. partly eroded,
alluvial gravel sequence underlies Rock-
house Basin.
STRUCTURE
The metamorphic rocks that fonn the
roof pendant at Chimney Peak have a
gcneral structural trend of N4S·W and a
vertical to near-vertical eastward dip. As-
suming that the sequencc is not over-
IUrned or isoclinally repeated, the oldest
rocks occur along the western margin Ilnd
become progressively younger in an east-
ern dir«tion. No evidencc of regional
folding was found during the field investi-
gation. Locally, large blocks of meta·
morphic rocks have been disjointed and
rotated along plutonic contacts by mag-
matic stoping. The roof pendant rocks can
be chllracterized as an eastward-dipping
homoclinal sequence of metasedimentary
rocks.
26'
 Individual intrafonnational metasedi-
mentary sequences show intense small-
scale deformation. Calc-silicate rocks,
carbonale lenses, and quartzites common-
ly show isoclinal folds with venical plung-
ing-fold axes and development of
boudinage structure. These small-scale
structures 3re common throughout the
roof pendant rocks and become very pro-
nounced adjacent to contacts with pluton-
ic rocks.
On a regional scale. the most important
structures in the area are a group ofcircu-
lar granitic intrusions. Part of the Dome-
land Wilderness to the west is underlain
by one of these intrusions, and sc\'eral
more have been identified to the north-
west. A truncated circular intrusion was
mapped at Lion Meadows in the Hockell
Peak quadrangle (Burnett, 1963). These
structures are most obvious on high-alti-
tude photographs and lANDSAT satel-
lite imagery. They are the eroded tops of
granitic plutons, and the circular bands
arc alternating layers of malic and felsic
intrusive rock.
The eastern edge of the circular struc-
ture beneath the Domeland Wilderness
underlies the western edge of the Rock-
house Basin WSA and has innuenced
drainage development within the study
area. The granitic rocks typically exhibit
a prominetll nonheast and subordinate
northwest SCt of joints. However. the
northwestern part of the study area is
dominated by circular jointing associated
with the Domeland Wilderness circular
structure. Toward the southeast. the cir·
cular jointing gives way to joints with a
strong east-west orientation. Analysis of
LANDSAT satellite imagery suggests
that most of the surface drainage and the
orientation of peaks and ridge.~ arc con-
trolled by these regional joint panerns.
The metamorphic rocks exhibit moder-
ate jointing. lineament development, and.
in places. minor faulting, all of which
probably represent structural adjustments
that occurred during emplacement of the
Cretaceous plutons. Structural evidence
for minor faulting exists within the barite-
bearing horizon. which appe:lrs to have
been offset by small nonheast-trending
strike-slip faults.
Several prominent northeast-trending
lineaments occur in Quaternary sedi-
ments within and along the eastern mar-
gin of Rockhouse Basin. These lineaments
exhibit definite tonal color dilTerences on
color air photos, which suggests the pres-
ence of a ground water barrier. In places,
268
these lineaments are coincident with lUI
erosional surface developed on older allu-
vial gravel. However, probably, the linea-
ments do not indicate Quaternary
displacement along faults. As they are on
trend with a prominent northeast joint
sel, these lineaments probably reneet bur-
ied bedrock structures.
The study area is bounded by two ma-
jor faults. The Sierra Nevada fault zone.
which is located immediately to the east
of the area. shows several thousand feet of
post-Pliocene vertical displacement. The
Kern Canyon fault is a major pre-Quater-
nary north-trending structure that is
located about 18 miles wcst of the study
area. Several pre-Quaternary faults trend
into the study area (Jennings. 1975).
However. no evidence was found during
this study 10 indicate Quaternary move-
ment along any of these faults.
MINERAL DEPOSITS
Mining History
There are no patented mining claims
in the Rockhouse Basin WSA. County
and DlM records indicate that 43 claims
are currently located wit hin or close to the
study area. Although the area was un-
doubtedly prospected during the middle-
to-late 1800 s and the early 1900 s when
gold placers along the South Fork of the
Kern River were active. no records exist
of any mining claims during this period.
Photo 3. Do Good hmgsten prospect which occurs in 0 smoll detached septo of
Kernville Series metosedimentary rock surrounded by Socotor Quort:t-Oiorite.
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December 1964
The first claim of record is that of the
barite property discovered by William
lyle Skinner in 1920. The property re-
mained undeveloped until 1930 because of
its isolation and inaccessibility. Develop-
ment of barite propenies by Paso Baryta
Mines and other operators continued
through the 1930s and 19405. The last
recorded shipment of barite was by the
Drilling Mud Division of Maceo Com-
pany to their Rosamond Mill in Decem-
ber 1951 (Kundert, 1953).
Tungsten claims were filed in the late
1930s, and demand spurred by World
War II price supports Jed to Olher tung-
sten discoveries. Recorded tungslen pro-
duction began in 1942 with construction
of a 50-ton gravity concentrator at the
Kern·Sierra mine, which was worked in-
termitlently in 1942 and 1943 (Kraus-
kopf. 1953). Tungsten prices underwent a
rapid decline at the end of the World War
11. and all production ceased until U.S.
Government price support was reinstated
in 1951 during the Korean War. Minor
tungsten production was recorded for
both the Western No. I and the Do Good-
Humbug properties during the early
1950 s, but all operations had ceased by
1956 when the federal government tung-
sten purchase program was suspended.
Currently, there arc no active mines with-
in the area.
Of the three properties that have re-
corded tungsten production, only the Do
Good·Humbug claims (Photo 3) are
within the Rockhouse Basin WSA. Pro-
duction from the Kern-Sierra mine began
in 1942 (Krauskopf, 1953); however, ex-
amination of the underground and surface
workings reveals only minimal stope
development and minor actual produc-
tion. The Western No. I mine, developed
by a short adit and minor stoping, pro-
duced several shipments of hand-cobbed
ore in 1953 (Lawrence Fox, personal
communication, 198]). The Do Good-
Humbug mines are developed by an open·
cut/shaft and caved adit, respecth·ely.
Surface workings at the Do Good mine
indicate minor production. but infonna-
tion on actual tonnages produced is not
available.

GEOLOGY OF MINERAL DEPOSITS

Geological environments considered to

have potential for the development of Photo 4. View southeast along eastward dipping barite-bearing metasedimen-
mineral resources were examined in detail tary sequence within the Kern...iIIe Series at Barite Prospect No.2. Ferruginous schist
during the course of this study. All areas and organic slote comprise the footwall.
underlain by metasedimentary rocks of
the Kernville Series were extensively field
checked and mapped at a I:20,000 scale.
Particular emphasis was given to igneous
contact zones and calc-silicate horizons
within the Kernville Series.

Potential Mine.al Re.aurcu. RlKkhou.e 8a.;n.

Numbe, Ioco,ian keyed to figu.e 2

00 COMMODITY

,,,
N"ME
Do Good pto'II«'
s..... 1",ng """II«' ....
",nil"""

,
,
•
--,
Humbug pro_I
lIock"",,,o,e ·I:.,n Slerro

UnkllO..n (""'lI".n
claim No. 11
'~ng"""
'''''11,,-
'''''II".n
.. /
~/
•, Di.;. O,,"n <101m
GoId.n S'ock
'-'
'-"
_.~

No.• 1"0'1'"'<'
• Unk""wn lbo",.
pro'II«' No. 11
bo"l.

• 1'longltt I I"o'l'"'<t bor".

bo",.
" Unl"" ..n (bo,ite
pto'PO'C' No. J)
borrl.
" Unl""wn lboti'.
1"""'fH<' .... 0. 11
Photo 5. View northwest. Triangle B barite prospect. High-grade, white crystalline
"" N... Py"•• ",0'11«'
T.rong$e C I"o'J'O'C'
W....'n No. 1
bot".
bo"l.
'~nll".n.
barite has been selectively mined from this open cut since the 1930s.
" bo",.

"" llue Gem 1"0_'

Wh". era..
~ 1 f>'O'f'O'Ct
'-""'"
1e-ld.J'O'. '1"0'"

unkllO.. n
"" Unk""..n
Unkno..n
lie<! Knob No.1 ....
~nk"o .. "

" and No.2 1"0'1'"'<'

(Photo 4). The barite lenses range from
less than I fOOl to ]0 feet Ihick and the
Records indicate Ihal the thickness of
barite lenses that were mined was highly

"'"
Sly II.... pro'I'"'<' gold. 110"""""
Sidewinde, No. I lung""" bedding is near-vertical 10 vertical (Photo
5). The metasedimentary sequence in·
Sarite c1udes organic-rich slate. melasiltslone.
micaceous quartzite. ferruginous schist
Barile occurs as discontinuous lenses (Photo 6). and coarsely crystalline, fetid
wilhin a bedded metasedimentary se- marble beds. Barite also occurs in discrete
quence of the Kernville Series along a gray- 10 brown-stained beds or as barilic
strike distance of approximately] miles marble.
variable. Farly-nine measured thicknesses
which averaged 28 feet with a maximum
of 68 feet were recorded (Busey. 19]6).
One adit. for example. was driven "several
hundreds of feet along a 4- to G-.foot wide.
granular bed of barite" (Kundert. 195]).
The sizes oflhe pits examined during this
study are consistent with Ihese figures.

CALIfORNIA GEOLOGY Decembe. 1~ 2"


Photo 6. Open cut on Triangle C barite prospect. Small discontinuous lenses and
veinlets of white crystalline barite are visible within the dark colored ferruginous
schist (seen across the cenler of the photo).
Open pit and open cut mining exploited
local areas of high specific gravity barite.
Samples from selected zones would pro-
duce specific gravities of 4.2 to 4.4
(McNeil, 1934), with wallrock averaging
3.2 to 3.9. However. Kundert'S 1953 reo
port cites Maceo Company as stating the
"Nine Mile Deposit was of substandard
grade and averaged 3.6 to 3.75." Due to
sloughing of pit walls. most pits reveal
linle in·situ barite available for examina·
tion. Very lillIe information has been de·
veloped for evaluation of down.dip
extension of exposed ore zones. Contact
with Maceo Drilling and Mud Division
and other operators revealed that no
evaluation of down-dip ore extensions by
drilling was ever performed. However, it
is reasonable to infer that the barite lenses
are distributed over a vertical distance of
at least 1200 feet. This is based on the
vertical distribution of open cuts in the
barite lenses, 6950 to 8186 fect in eleva-
tion; reports of a tunnel that was driven
400 feet below the highest surface expo-
sure and that ellposed an ore width of 6 to
10 feet (McNeil, 1934; Busey, 1936); the
vertical to near-vertical bedding of the
barite lenses: and the absence of major'
fold structures or faults.
Earlier workers interpreted these
deposits as epithermal veins. However,
evidence developed during this study indio
cates that these deposits originated as syn-
genetic sedimentary barite. Evidence
supporting this COnclusion includes: (I)
270
all barite lenses are parallel to bedding;
(2) there are no crossculling veinlets or
apophyses of barite into wallrockj (3)
there is a lack of associated epigenetic sul-
fide mineralization; (4) very discrete,
sharp, and uneroded intergrain bounda-
ries exist between calcite-barite minerals;
and (5) metamorphic fabric is developed
in the barite.
Feldspar
An extensive zone of pegmatite and
aplite dikes exists between the southern
part of Long Valley and the nonhern part
of Lamont Meadow. This zone represents
late-stage magmatic activity for the gra·
nitic intrusives. Pegmatite dikes are com-
posed of large potash feldspar crystals,
quartz, and coarse books of biotite.
Aplites are line grained and light colored.
They contain medium·sized crystals of
feldspar, quartz, muscovite, and locally
abundant red to pink garnets. Typical
thicknesses of the dikes range from I to 4
feet. all hough thicknesses of g to 10 feet
were nOled. Within Section 32, T23S,
R37E, located immediately east of the
WSA. a large pegmatite dike 30 to 40 feet
in thickness was mined for its high quality
feldspar and quartz during the 1920s.
Gem Stones
Turquoise occurs 111 a small prospect
pit (Blue Gem Claim) located on the east
slope of a hill immediately southeast of
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December 1984
the BLM campground in Long Valley.
Turquoise appears as small (I to 4 0101)
disseminated veinlets and larger irregular-
shaped blebs within a weathered pegma-
tite and granodiorite that is overlain by an
iron-stained. micaceous quartzite. Very
lillie turquoise was visible in-place and
this was found only within a small cavity
at the base of the pit wall. However, small
fracture· and vug-filling material appears
10 be of gem quality_ Color ranges from
greenish.blue for oxidized dump material
to dark sky-blue for vein material. X-ray
diffraction pallerns confirmed the materi-
al to be turquoise (Dr. James POSt. Cali·
fornia State Unive:rsity. Sacramcnlo,
personal communication).
Turquoise, a basic copper aluminum
phosphate (CuAI.(PO.).(OH)· SH,O),
is a secondary mineral formed from the
weathering of pre-existing primary miner-
als. In this case, geologic and mineralogic
relationships indicate that minerals of the
apatite group, contained either within the
granodiorite or pegmatite, were: the prob-
able: source for calcium phosphate. Cop-
per was contributed by oxidation of
sullides contained in the metamorphic
quartzite or within the pegmatite.
Morble
Two discrete beds of calcareous sedi-
ments containing intercalated beds of
marble and several smaller detached pods
of marble occur along the margins of the
Kernville Series roof pendant. The tellture
of marble ranges from coarsely crystalline
to lindy laminated. Thickness of beds is
highly variable, but does not exceed 60
feet; the marble beds pinch and swell
along strike.
Ouorlzite
Quartzite is the most elliensive rock
type in the Kernville Series. It locally at-
tains thicknesses of several thousand feet.
Large areas in the northern part of the
study area are underlain by massive: to
thinly laminated, gray-colored quartzite
(Figure 2). Extensive beds of quartzite,
intercalated with other metamorphic rock
types. occur in the barite mine area. AI·
though quartzite is abundant, relatively
lillIe is pure, most is micaceous. iron-
stained, or mixed with other metasedi-
mentary rocks.
All tungsten deposits occur either along
plutonic-metamorphic contact zones or
within detached xenoliths of metasedi·
mentary rock close 10 plutonic contact
zones. Wilh the exceplion of the Western
No. I prospect and an unnamed prospect.
both of which appc':ar to be associated
with the barite-bearillg calc-silicate hori-
ZOIl. all prospects occur along a narrow
zone or wilhin detached septa of a calc-
silicale horizon near the western bound-
ary of lhe sludy area adjacent to Long
Valley and Rockhouse Basin.

These deposits are typical Sierra Ne-

vada type contact mclasomatic deposits.
J>re-existing sedimenlary rocks were ther-
mally metamorphoSt."<I by intrusions of
plutonic rocks, and calcareous sediments
were altered to form garnet-epidote-py-
roxene taetite (Photo 7). Typically.
scheelite (calcium lungstate) was
melasomatical1y introduced into these
taclile zoncs to fornl disseminated grains
and veinlets wilh associated minor sulfide
minerali1.3tion.
Tungsten production from the area has
been minor. Production records and field
examinations reveal thai only the Kern-
Sierra. Do Good. Weslern No. 1 and.
possibly, the Humbug properties had mi-
nor production. The Kernville Series of
metasedimentary rocks within the study
area arc predominantly compost."<I of
metamorphosed clastic and argillic sedi-
ments. Calcareous sedimenls necessary to
form scheelite-bearing taclite zones are
mlllor.
Overall. the taclite zones can be charac-
terized as follows: verlical to near-vertical
bedding; measured widths to a maximum
of 20 feet; formation of small lenticular or
podiform ore-bearing bodies; disseminat-
ed scheelite mineralization within tactite
7.ones. although high-grade blebs and
vein lets were Iloted: and limitl'<l down-dip
extension. Only two prospectS offer struc-
luralmsight into thc vertical dIstribution
of taClite zones. The Kern-Sierra proper-
ly. developdl by a shaft and two adit!>.
exposes a vertical sectIon of approximate-
ly 200 feet. From a width of 12 to 15 feet
in Ihe discovery pit. the tactile decreases
to a width of 3104 feet in the lower adil.
The Do Good property. developed by a
14- to 16-foot open cut/shaft. reveals an
apparenl marked decrease or truncation
of the lactite zone over a vertical distance
of 60 feel.
Uranium-Thorium
Balh DMG geochcmical analysis of
stream sediments and Department of En-
ergy (DOE) airborne radiometric surveys
and water-sample data confirm the pres-
ence of modes I uranium enrichment with-
in the study area. Analysis of these data
•
fM'
Photo 7. Tungsten prospec.t odjoc.ent to Rockhouse Basin Rood. The prospect was
developed along a 20-foot wide gornetiferous-toctite zone which comprises a small
detached septa of Kernville Series within Socotor Quartz Diorite. Remnant bed-
ding, which is visible directly over the odit opening, has been preserved by the
selective replacement of limeslone by granular garnet and epidote.
reveals that anomalous values arc areas containing ba!>e metal sulfides arc
predominantly associated with the occur- rare within the study area.
rence of pegmatite dikes, .....hlch represent
late-stage magmatic aClivity of the gran- Tactite zones usually contain mlllor
itic intrusives. sulfides (pyrite, chalcopyrite. pyrrhotite_
molybdenite) and minor secondary cop-
Optical examimllion of Stream sedi- per minerals (azurite. malachite, chryso-
ments with anomalous uranium-thOrium colla). Sulfide mineralization occurs
values and hand-held scintillomcter sur- along sc\'eral small veins exhibiting P) rite
veys of collected pegmatite samples reveal box-works \.5 miles south of marker
the presence of radioactive minerals. Ra- VABM Canyon. Section 6, T23S, R36E_
dioacth'e point source emitters within Baxworks are present in samples taken
pegmallle hand samples appear as black. from the Dixie Queen claim, and dis-
vitreous opaque minerals which, without ~eminated sulfides (pyrite) occur 1JI
confinnation by X-ray diffraction plll- quartz diorite and quartzite. 0.5 mile
terns. have been tentati\'e!y identified as north of the BLM Long Valley camp-
allanite. Optical examination of the hc.wy ground.
mineral split-stream sample. collected
during the study. reveals an abundance of GEOCHEMICAL SURVEY
metamict 7ircons (qrtolite) in which
The main objective of lhe geochemIcal
crystallatlice disruption due to radiatIon survey was to identify areas that possibly
damage is readily apparent. Both of these contain undiscovered or concealed min-
minerals. as well as thorite. are common
eral deposits. Stream-sediment S<1mplcs
minor accessory minerals of pcgmatltes.
represent a composite of the material up-
It would appc':aT that uranium·bearing
slream from the sample site. Sampling
minerals were concentrated in the late-
stream sl-diments can be an effective and
stage pc':gmatites. rapid mel hod of mincral exploration, as
anomalous quantities of metallic elements
Mineralized Zones in the sediment may signal the occurrt'nce
of concealed or unknown deposils of pros-
The Kern\ilk $cries of metamorphic pecting interest (Huber and others, 1982.
rocks ubiquitously conlain minor p. 22).
amounts of disscminaled sulfides. typical-
ly pyrite. which upon weathering have im- SedIment samples were taken from all
parted iron-oxide staining to most roof the major streams and tributaries. includ-
pendant rocks. Howe\·er. mineralized ing some samples from streams oUlside

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December 1984 271

the study area that headed within the
study area. At each of 294 sample sites.
two samples were collecH.'d. One sample.
weighing between 1 and 20 pounds. was
collected and later dried and sieved. and
a 100 gram or larger fraction finer than 80
mesh (minus 0.18 mm) was retained for
analysis. The other sample was a heavy
mineral concentrate that was concentrat-
ed, where possible, by panning at the site.
Each sample was composited from active
alluvium collected from scveral locations
within an area that may extend out as
much as 100 feel.
Several hundred rock samples were col-
lected for petrographic examination. and
of these, 13 from claims, prospects, and
other obviously mineralized areas were
chemically analyzed.
SUMMARY
Barite appeared in most heavy m1l1eral
concentrate samples, including those col-
lectt'd from granitic terrains. Most of the
areas in the northern two-thirds of the
Rockhouse Basin WSA with anomalous
barite concentrations are associated with
roof pendant rocks of the Kernville Series,
which is known to contain scdimentary
barite. However, samples from the south-
ern one-third of the Rockhousc Basin
WSA, which ""ere collected from streams
draining granitic terrain. also had anoma-
Be,gq... i~t. J.R., and Nitkiewin, A.M .• 1982. Geo-
logie mop of the Dome land Wildernell and
'Of\tiguou~ 'oodlell o,eo~, Ke.n and Tulo,e
'ountie~. Coli/ornio: U.S. Geologi,ol Survey
Mi«:ellone-ou1 Field Studie. Mop Mf·1395A.
«:ole 1,48.000.
Burnell. J.L., 1963, Re,onnoillon,e geologic mop
0/ port of Ihe Hod,ell Peak quodrongle: Coli-
/omio Div;sion of Mine. and Geology, F,uno
l' ~ 2' Sheet 0/ Ihe Stale Geologic Mop.
B...rnell. J.l., 1976, Koweoh Peak. PMOf\ and its
'elot;on~hip to Ihe age 0/ the Ke'n Canyon
/oult, Tulofe County: Colifornio Oiv;~ion of
Mi~~ ond Ge-ology Mop Sheet 35••cole 1:-
62 •.500.
Bu~ey, A,P., 1936, Untitled con~ ...hing report (,on.
fidentiol ,e/e,ence).
Evemden, J.F., and K"'le,. R.W" 1970, Ch'Of\ol·
ogy of emplo,ement 0/ Me.ozoic batholithic
,omplen. in Colifo,nlo ond we.le,n Nevodo,
U.S. Geologi,ot Survey P,o/ellionol Pope,
623, 42 p.
Hube" N.K., Oher. H.W" Boiley, R,A" Thurbe,.
H.K., Mille" M.S., Hillman, C.T., Lind ... y, D.S.,
and Mo"i •. R,W .• 1982. Mine'DI rnOurCn of
lous harile concentrations. The presence
of anomalous barite here is problematical,
but it could represent vein-type introduc-
fion into the granitic rocks.
Trace amountS of the tungsten minerals
sheelitc and powellite appeared in many
of the samples examined under fluores-
cent light. Most of these samples are from
drainage basins that are underlam entirely
or in part by metamorphic rocks of the
Kernville Series with known skarn depos-
ifS.
Heavy mineral concentrate s:.tmpks
with measurablc radlOaClivllY normally
contained common to abundant grains of
zircon, lIlany of which were metamict.
Rarc allanitc grains in combination with
zircon werc found in radioactive s.amples
collecled from the southcrn margin of the
area.
Obscr\'oo sulfide mlllerals III heavy
mineral concentrate samples were limited
to pyrite which, whcn present, occurred in
trace to rarc amounts and usually altered
to limonite.
The geochemical survey revealed
anomalous concentrations of metallic ele-
ments in several areas that previously
were not known to contain mineraliza-
tion. An area immediately northwest of
I3ig Pine mC'ddow contains IlIne: sample
REFERENCES
Ihe Minereh Wildemeu ond odiocent o,eo~,
Modefo and Mono ,o...ntie., Colifornio, U.S.
Geologi,ol Su,~ey Bulletin 1516 A·O, 159 p.
Jenning., C.W., 1975, fault mop 01 Coli/ornio,
Colilo,nio Di~i.iOf\ of Mine. and Geology,
>cole 1:750,000.
Krou.kopl, K.B., 1953, T...n.g.'en depo.ill of Mo·
dero, fre~no. and Tulare 'aunlie" Colilornio
Divi.ion 0/ Mine. ond Ge-ology Spedol Repo,'
35, p. 10-11.
K...nde". C.J., 1953, Preliminory field reporl_
Nine Mile Conyon ba,ile depo.it (con/iden.
liol.e/e,ence).
McNeil, C.T., 1934, Po.o Bo,ylo depo.il-Con·
....h,ng and onolyticol ,epo" (,on/idenliol ,ef·
erencel,
Miller, w.J., 1931, GeologIC .eclion. 0"011 Ihe
.0... lhe,n SIerro Neoodo 0/ Colilo,nlo, Uni~e,'
~ity of Coli/orniD, Berhley. Deportment 0/
Geologicol Sden,e. P...blkolion, o. 20, no. 9,
p.331·360.
Miller, W.J., ond Webb, R.W., 1940. Oe~"ipt;ve
geology of Ihe Kernville quodrongle, Colifo"
nio, Coli/ornio Journol 01 Mine. and Geology,
v. 36, no, 4, p. 343·378, plole 2. ~cDle 1:125,·
000.
CALIfORNIA GEOLOGY December t984
sites, ovcr an areal distribution of I mile,
that show anomalous concentrations of
Cu, Mo, Au, Ag. Sb, and U. All samples
represenf small, independent, subparallel
drainages that head immediately west of
the: Rockhouse Basin WSA boundary. Six
samples show coppc:r-molybdenum ano-
malies. No samples are anomalous in
tungsten, although small garnctiferous
tactite bodies containing visible sulfides
were noted within the area. These: base
mctal anomalies arc associated with a bar-
IUm anomaly which, 111 thc absence of
tungstcn values, may indicate the pres-
ence of an overprinting hydrothermal sys-
tem of mincralization.
An anomalous concentration of rung·
sten coincident with a discrete magnctic
high in Section 2, T24S. R36E may mdi-
calC an unexposed tungsten-beanng tac-
me zone,
Geochemical anomalies recorded for
As, Ag, Au. and Sb along the northwest-
ern boundary of the Rockhouse Basin
WSA may indicalc the presence of hydro-
thermal mineralizution. Also, al the
southern end of the Rockhouse Basm
WSA anomalous base metals and gold-
silver values may indicate an area of hy-
drothermal mincralization. However, the
geochemical anomalies are of relatively
low magnitude. and there is a lack of cor-
roborating evidence.
Moore. J.C., and Dodge. f.c.w.. 1980, Late Ceo
nOIoi, vokoni, roch 01 Ihe ""uthe", Sierra
Neva do, Colilornio, Po,t I, Geology and pe-
!,ology, Ge-ologicol Society 0/ Amerko Bulle-
lin, v. 91, nO. 9, p. 1515·1518.
Ron, D.C., 1980, Re'Of\noillon,e ge-ologi, mop
of ba>ement ,och of the ""ulhernmo.1 Sierto
Neoodo (norlh 10 35" 30'N), U.S. Geologicol
Su'~ey Open·File Repo,1 80-307, 23 p., mop
",ole 1:125,000.
Ron, D.C., 1983, Generalized geologic mop 01
the ~outhem S;erro Nevodo Coli/ornio ~how.
ing .omple locotion./or K·Ar ond Rb·Sr dote.,
U.S. Ge-ologicol S... '~ey Open_file RepO<I 83·
231.
T...cke" W.B., and Somp.on, R.J., 1931. feld.po"
~itico, ondolu,ile and kyonite deposits of Coli_
lo",io in Twenly-.evenlh Repo't of the Stole
MineroIO{li.t. Coli/o,nio Stale Mining B...reo....
p. 414-6.
Webb, R.W., 1937, Geology 0/ a portion 01 the
""uthern Sie"o Nevodo of Coli/ornio-The
northern Kernville quodrongle, Colifo,nio In,li.
lule of Te,hnology, ...npubli.hed Ph.D. the•••. ~
Geologic Note

SHASTINA-A VOLCANIC CONE

OF MOUNT SHASTA
Siskiyou County

Shaslina is one of four cones that com-

poses Mount Shasta. The Sargents Ridge
cone. the oldest. developed around a cen-
tral vent high on the south side of lhe
present Mount Shasta. The Misery Hill
cOile is centered jU~1 soUlh of the present
summit. The youngest cone. Hallum
cone, ronns the summit of Mount Shasta.
Shaslln:l stands apart from the other three
con,--s as a parasitic cone centered 2.5 km
west of the summit.

If II stood alone, Shastina would be a

major volcano of the Cascade Range. The
bulk of Shastina is composed of pyrollcne
andesite lava flows, but the summit area is
a complex of at least four hornblende da-
cite plug domes. The emplacement of
these domes, approximately 9400 years
ago, was accompanied by clIplosive erup-
lions of pyroclastic flows that raced down
the west side of Shastina. These pyroclas-
tic flows produced a fan of debris that
extends 17 km from the summit of Shas-
tina and covers an area of 6S km 1 includ-
ing mOSt of the land underlying the town
of Weed.

In July 1984, Ernest Carter, who gave
us an accounl of his climb of Whitney
glacier (CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY,
January 1984), returned 10 Mt. Shasta for
a final climb on Ihe mountain. This time,
he climbed Shastina to photograph the
volcanic features of the summit area. The
following photographs are a few of the
many pictures he took of the climbing
party at Shastina, and the Whitney Gla-
cier.
Aerial view of the north ~ide of Mount Shasta. Shastina is the parasitic cone on
the west (right) shoulder of Mount Shasta (January 1962). PhOtO by Ernest S.
Carter.
REFERENCES
Chriltiorl$en, R.t, 1982, Valconic hOlord po/en_ Miller, CD•• 1978, Holocene pyrocloSl;C flow
tiol in the Colifornio CooeDdes in SIO/UI of depolill f,om ShOltino ol'ld 8lock Bulle, west
volconic prediction ond emergency response Mount ShOltino, California, U.S. Geologico!
copobilitiel in valconic hOIOrd lonel of Coli- Survey Journol of Reseorch, v. 6, p. 611-62...
'orn;o, Coli'omio Depor/menl of Conservo- Miller, C.O., 1980. Polen/iol hOlords from fulure
tion, Division of Minel ond Geology, Sper;iol eruptions in the vicinity of Mount ShollO vol·
publicotion 6:1. p. "1·j9. con<>, nor/hem California, U.S. Geological
Survey Bullelil'l 1S03 • ..3 p. • •

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December 19601 27J

 SHASTINA 1984
A PHOTOGRAPHIC ESSAY
By

Erne" Carl•• ond four climbing porlne" 0$·
~end.,dSho.tina Qnd Mount Sho,to in July 1984.
Corle, look photograph. 01 Sho,tino and 'Uf-
,oundi"i!" The climb bKome (I phYlicol ordeal 10.
him d"", to Inow blindnen i"'lIfted beCCI"'", it woo
","c.no')' to toke the photograph. without sun
goggle> and because 01 0 le<;l injury. We .incerely
thonk Ernest Corle. for pr'''''I;'''' !hi, un","uol
phol"9,aphic t<lcQ,d ond hi, ob...... olion. of ,now
condition. on Mount Shalla fa, publication in
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY.... ~ifor.
ERNEST S. CARTER, Photographer
Mountain View, California
To fI.och It>e Summit
p.oceed "om comPllt" 10 camp.it.;
a.for. ,ell,ng out 0\loin, prepo,. rhe
ploce for tho... who co..... ohe••
At lent we mUll de.tend to po.. on
Our knowledge to olh......
On the first day of the climb we gained
4000 feet of ahitude in 8 hours of toiling
up the boulder filled Cascade Gulch.
Higher up. the steep scree-slopes are in-
terspersed with hard snow banks, but the
snow has melted in the gulch. At 9500 feet
we put on crampons and ascended the
icefield leading to the campsite al JO,SOO
feet.

Photo 1. Aeriol view of Shostino covered with winter snow (1962). The oreos pictured in Photos 4-9 ore identified.

,,, CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY OecemtHIr 1964

 Early on the second day, we divide into
11010 teams-one pany of three to ascend
Mount Shasta. I and my climbing part-
ner ascend up a 6O-degree ice and rock
ridge leading to the summit (Photo I-
II). This route was chosen to take photo-
graphic advantage of the position of the
sun ri.sing behind the crest of Mount
Shasta. As we reached the top of the spur.
Shastina was bathed in early morning
light.
•

The weather was ideal for photographic

work and it continued to be absolutely
perfect. To the west, the valley below was
revealed in detail in the clean morning air,
(Photo 2). To the north. the snow-capped
Cascade peaks of Oregon rose like white
pyramids into the blue sky.

Photo 2. Climbing Mt. Shada above the Shoslino col. The community of Weed
lies in the valley in background.

Whitney Glacier has lost its snow cover

which was present in August 1983. The
exposed ice is now sculptured into bizarre
and beautiful shapes. On Mount Shasta.
1984 has been the dryest winter and hot-
test summer for many decades. The ero-
sion on the steep-lava-scree slopes
confining the iceflow of the glacier has
been severe. The scree is loose because the
snow and ice have melted. The spectacu-
lar seraes that were on the lower part of
Whitney Glacier in 1983 (Photo 12) have
nearly vanished. Those that remain are
covered with black lava grit. These lava
dust layers will provide evidence of cli-
matic conditions decades, perhaps centu-
ries, from now.

At noon these<:ond day, the col became

a veritable furnace because the sun reflect-
ed from the surrounding ice walls. The
valley. 8000 feet below, was now covered
Photo 3. View of the summit orea of Shostino looking wesl ocross the col. The with a dense layer of haze. caused by the
e:llplosion croler (snow covered area in front of Shastina) is occupied by Sisson IClO-degree heat and by the smoke of a
loke. In July 1984, the lake (hidden by the croler rim) was dry. In 1983 Sisson forest fire which was raging about 40
lake was filled with snow. miles to the southeast.

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December 1984 215

 Photo 4. South slope of Shostino. The highest point on Photo 5. Trough between the southeast crater rim and
Shostina is a plug dome within the large summit croler. the summit of Shostino.
The southeast crater rim is marked by the horizontal snow
patches just below the highest point.

Photo 6. Snow covered ridge leading to the summit of Photo 7. Plug domes within the croter of Shostina, north
Shostina. of the summit.

At the Shastina col, the flow of Whit-
ney Glacier changes direction from
roughly southwest to northwest. The en-
suing pressure and friction creates the
spectacular icefalls and crevasses. The in-
crease in steepness fonns the bergschrund
when the glacier "peels" away from the
ice flow,just as a stream cascades over the
edge ora cliff (Photos lOand II). The ice
at the bergschrund varies in color from
dark blue to pale green. The rims of the
crevasses sparkle like diamond-studded
tiaras.
The glaciers on Mount Shasta are re-
treating toward the IO,5QO.rOOl level.
Above this level the ice cover has re-
mained stable; the movement of ice ap-
pears to have inereased as evident in the
spectacular bergschrund and the long and
deep crevasses of the upper Whitney Gla-
cieL Above the IO,5QO.foot level evapora-
tion takes place but it docs not effect the
size of the ice flow.
Sisson Lake is dry (Photo 3). In 1983
it was filled with snow. We climb up the
steep scree slope to the rinl or Shastina.
The Shastinacrater, dry in 1960and 1962.
was under a heavy snow and ice pack in
1983 and 1984.

"6 CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December Ill&(

 Photo 8. Clarence King lake lies in the
deepest part of the crater between the
~ black, craggy plug dome (left) and the
northern rim of Shostino crater (right).
The lake was fronn in July 198-4.

Photo 9. Northern rim of Shastina. ~

Photo 10. View of the upper Whitney

Glacier from Shastina. The bergschrund
~ at the Shastina col oppears in the lower
, left. The northeast rim of the explosion
................:-_ crater containing Sisson lake appeors
.. in the lower center of the picture.
•

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December 1984 277

 At 4:30 p.m. on Ihis second day. the
photographic work is compleled. We de-
scend 10 the Shastina col and from Ihere
down Ihe icc:field 10 the campsite.

The summit party arrives at the camp-

site also. We are all tired but jubilant and
satisfied al the achievement of our goals.

photo 11. 8ergsehrund ot the Sho$tino

col and the ice fall between the upper ~
and lower Whitney Gloeier.

Photo 12. Lower Whitney Glacier. A

..11983 climb 01 Whitney Glacier is de-
., scribed in CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY,
January, 1984.

So il i. lIle Maunlai ....e.. bond togelh...

10' IhOJ a,duaul climb. and dOJ.cenll,
willt guiding hondo g,o.ped and
~lpi"ll hand. oUllt..lche<:l.
weOkneUtll, erro... mi.unde..fondingl
Ofe IIltl wo'p 01 0 ho,d opprOJnliulhip.
aul lor Iho.tI who do not Io.e heo'l.
Ihere glHm. f,om lime 10 time,
ot the bottom 01 0 (fua"e or
on 0 vettigJou. ,idge,
IhOJ p,icele.. ctyllal_lhe tnOm<tnl af Ittl,h.
{)Qumol ~

"8 CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December 1984

Jonuooy
Febtl,lo,y
p.
p.
1·20
21·..a
INDEX TO VOLUME 37 July
Augu.'
p.
p.
137· 160
161 - 184
Morch 1" 41 - 64 Seplember p. 185 - 212
April p. 65·88 1984 OClobe. p.
p.
213 • 236
237 _ 260
Mo, p. 89· 112 No~embe,
June p. 113 - 136 Compiled by Corole R. Johnson Decembe, p. 261 - 284

Morgon Hitl eorlhquol<e couled "Kord
-A- .hoking force, 8:163
Surfoce loulling. Mo<gon Hill eOllh
Aeromognelic Survey. in Colilorn,o, 1979· B3, 1:9 quoke. A.pril 84, 8<168
A.llu~'ol micro",ol1grophy.Mojo~e De.erl, 7:139 50n Lui. Obi,pa. Geolhe,mal ,e'OUfCe, 01
po.o Roble" hi"orical u,e of, 6: 119
• B- Si.kiyou, Sho.lo Volley, 4:67
5ho.l1no, 12:273
Boiley, Edgor H.. memo.iol, 1: 19 Tulo'e, Rockhou,e Bo.in. 12,263
80lemon. Poul C. 5:91 Yolo, Copay Hill" geologic .Iruclu,e, 2:23
Buo.e, Slephen, 6: 115 Courlrighl Inl,u,,~e Zone, 5:91
Block Gho.1 01 Sil_erodo, 2:29
Book Re_iew.
C'omer, Chri., 3:54
Geolhermol ,e.ource., Po.o ~oble•• 6: 119
Gold ond Sil~e, cou"e, 4:66
Gold mines of Gro" Volley. 3:43
Gold mining londocope. 01 Ihe Wesl, 10,224
Goldbell Sp"ng. choy,olile o.be.,o, depa,il.
Oeolh Volley, 10,221
G,oduole Iheses & di"erlolion. on Colilornio gO'.
alogy, index 1979·B2, 5:99
G'on Volley gold mine., 3:43
G,oy. Clifflon H., 8:171
Guidebook guideline. for geologic field I.ip., 6,·

. D.
'" - H-
1:16; 2:37; 3:61; 4:87, 5:111, 6:133: 7:157;
B:184: 9:210; 10:231; 11:258; 12:2Bl
Bullel'n 202, geology of Po,nl Reyn, 12:284 Deolh Volley, choy.orile o.be,'o. depa.il, 10:221 Hor!, Eo,1. 8,168
Burnell, John l., 10:215 DeGroH, Je,ome V., 5:91 Highwoy 1 10n<:hlide, 6:130

- c-
CALIFORNIA. GEOLOGY plice increo.e, 8:162
Compion, Lindo f., 6:1\9
Conn, Low.ence, 8:173
Copay Hill., geologic .Iruclu,e in, 2:23
Corlx>ndo1e, CA, 2:32
Coree" in geology, 9:205
Corler, Elne,' S., 1:3: 12:274
Cenoloic ~olconic ,'roligrophy of ShOllO Valley.
4,67
Chole, Ga,dan W., 1:9
Che,'e,mon. Charie., 4:67
Chhreau~. Joe, Jr., 11:255
Chino
In~ilalian 10 gealogi'h, 11:251
Geologic ucuuian. in (hina. 11:252
Clark, Williom B., 3:43
(ounlin
Fre.na. Courlrighl Inl,u.i~e Zone, 5:91
Inyo, fo"il. & formOlion., lower
Combrion Type Woucoban Seetion,
7,149;
Ch'y,olile A.be"o, Depa.i1. Deolh
Volley, 10,221
Kern, Rockhou,e Bo.;n, 12:263
lo. Angele •• Sonro COlalino, 11:239
Mo,ipa.o. Lo.1 arrow. 3:58
Monlerey, Lond.lide on 51010' Highway I,
6:130
Ne~odo, Gold Mint! of Gron Volley, 3:43
Oronge, Verde Conyon lond.lide, 8:173
Place" lake Combie ,ond., g,o~el,. 11:255
Ri~er,ide, Jo.huo Tree NOlionol Monumenl,
4:75
Son Bernardino. Jo.huo Tree NOlionol Monu
menl, 4:75;
Allu~iol miCrOOI<Oligrophy, Moio~e
De,e",7:139
Sonlo Clo,o, Morgon Hill eorlhquoke, Ap.i1
1984,7:146
Di.lribul'on 01 minerol ,e'OU"e. in CA., DMG
Nole 40, 9,193
DMG M'nerol Commodily P,ogrom., 10,236
-,.
DMG Nole 40, D;,'ribulion 01 mine,ol relOuren Inde~, 1984 Colilo<nio Geology. 12:279
in CA, 9:193 Inde~ 10 groduole Ihe.e. ond di.lerlolion. on Col·
Don'l coli il dirl, 8:177 ilornio geology, 1979·1982, .5:99
Dupro" Don, 1':255 lMilolion 10 g.,ologi'h, Chino, 11:251
- E- - J-
EOrlhquokn, 9:194 John., ~ichord H., memo'iol, 3:63
Eorlhquokn Jenkin., Olof P.• memo'iol, 1,19
Mo'gon Hill Jo,huo Tree Nolionol Monumenl, 4:75
Mo,gon Hill eo,thquoke, 8:168 Julio Pfeifle,·8urn. Slale Pork, 6: 130
Mo,gon Hill eorlhquoke 01 Ap.il 1984,
7:146 - K-
Morgan Hill eo,'hquoke cou.ed ,eco,d
.hoking force, 8:163 Ki.lle" Ronold W., .5:91
fureko .ond dunn, 3:42
• L-
- F-
Lolce Combie ~pec'olry .ond~ ond gro~el~, 11,255
field "ip, lB97, G,eol Foil. of Ihe POlomic, Mooy· Lond.lide hOlo,d., 8: 171
lond, 1:14 Lond.lides
field re.eoreh fund, 2:22 Slole Highwoy 1, Julio Pfeiffer·Burns SIOle
field Irip-guidebaolc guideline., 6:129 Pork,6:13O
file, Donald l., 10:221 Ve,de Conyon, hiuo,y of, 8:113
Focal mechoni.m .Iudie., 3:54 Learned, fleono, M., ,eli,e•• 10:23.5
fo"il. ond lormolion., lower Comb,ion Iype, Leighlon, F. Beoch, 8:173
Woucobon .eetion. 7:149 Life Ihrough geologic lime, 9,211
Fouits and paleon'ology. 9:201 Lisr 01 o~oiloble publicolion., oddendo, 7: 159
Lloyd, Jon, 6:123
-G- Lo.' A."ow. 3:SB
Goy, Thomo. E., J, .. 8,163 -M-
General Williom T. Sherman, eue'ph, life of,
6:123 Mop.
Geologic od~enlu,e in Ouler Hebride., 7:154 Foull. ond foull ruplu,e, 9:200
Geologic Slrueture in Copay Hill., 2:23 Mop .heel 32, 5:110
Geomo,phic p,a~incn, principal foull., 9,\B6 Geomorphic pro_ince., principolloull., 9:186
Geologic Ho.ord Wo,ning Cr'lerio. USGS. 6: 118 Geolhermol re.ource. of Colilo,nio, 6: 11.5
Geolhe,mol ,e,ource. council mee'ing, 7:138 Mineral re.ourcu, 9:193
GeOlhermol relOurCn of CA _ new lechnicol Prelim. ,e~iew, propa.ed Spedol Sludie.
mop, 6:115 Zone•• 8,183

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY Decem be, 1984 279

Matt"ews, William 1"1., Ill, 9,2Q$
Memariah
Bailey, Edga. H.• 1:19
Ja"ns, Ric"a.d H., 3:63
Jenkin., 0101 1"., 1: 19
Webb, Robe.t W.• 12:283
Mille•• Daniel N., J•., 9:205
Mineral Commodify p.og.om, 10:236
Mineral Re.ource Potential. Rockhouse Ba,in Wil.
ck!rneu Study Area, 12,263
Mineral Resou.ce Quiz, 9:212
Mines and Mine.ol produce" in CA (Sp 671. 6:·
136
Mining and Geology Boa.d, State. 11:257
Mining re~iew, 1983, 10:215
Moio~e Desert. ollu~iol mic.o,l,oligrophy, 7:139
Morgan Hill eo.t"quoke surloce loulling, 8:168
Mo,gon Hm eO""quoke 01 Ap,iI 198". 7:1"6
Mo.gon Hill eo.t"quoke, cou.ed record s"oking
Io<ce, 8:163
Morgonthaler, J. Oo~id, 5,99
Mo...nl Shalla, W"itney Glacier climb, 1,3
Vokonic conu, 12,273
-0-
Oil and go' well drilling, 10:231
Open·lile reporh
OFR 83·29 SAC, Mine,ol Iond doni/icolion.
Ploce,..ille quod., EI Oo<ado Co., 1:15
OFR 83-31 SF, WOlenhed., Inglenoak quod.,
Mendocir>o Co.• 6,13$
OFR 83·32 SF. Wote....eds. Weslport quod.,
Mendocino Co., 6: 135
OFR 83·33 Sf, Wole""eds, Dutc"mon', Kr>otl
quod., Mendocino Co., 6:135
OfR 83·3.. LA, Block Star Canyon, s""lh ..all,
quod., O,onge Ca., 1:1$
OfR 83-3$ SAC, Mineral land clo"ificalion,
Georgetown quod .• EI Dorado, Plocer COlOn·
ties...:88
OfR 83·38 Sf, WOlenhed" S"erwood Peak
quad., Mendocino Ca., 6: 135
OfR 83-39 Sf, Wole,,"ed•• Co"Io Peak
quod., Mendocir>o Co., 6,135
OFR 83,"0 SF. wole""eds. leggett qliOd.,
Mendocino Co.• 6,135
OFR 83-'" SF. Wole,,"eds, Noble 8ulle
quod., Mendocino Co., 6:135
OFR 8<1·1 LA, Geology 01 Colobo,os·Ago....o·
Eastern Thou,ond Oak, area, los AngellO',
Venlu,o counlies, 10:232
OFR 8"·2 LA, Mine,ollond classification, Mel
col Range quod., Son Berno.dir>o. 10:232
OFR B"·3 LA, Mine.ol land donilicolion, Kel
«> quod., Son Bernardino, 10:232
OFR 8...5 SAC, Cala~e.os Big T.ee, Stale
Park, Cala~e'a" Tuolumne counlies. 6: 135
OFR 8"-6 SAC, Big Bo,in Redwood, Stale
Pork, Santa C.\I1 Co" 6:136
OFR B"·7 SAC, WOle••hed., C.. ild. Hill quod.,
Mendocir>o Co., 10:232
OFR B"·8 SF. Woter,"ed •• Req...o q...od.. Del
Norte Co., 10:232
OFR B.·9 SF. Wote....ed,. l"Io"i, qliOd .• Hum
boldl Co., 10,232
OFR 8"·10 SF. Wole""ed •• B.icelond quod.•
Humboldl Co., 10:232
OFR 8"·11 SF. Wolenhed., Honeydew quod••
Humboldt Co., 10:232
""
OFR 8.·12 SF, Woterlheds, Elk quod., Men
docino CO., 10:232
OFR 8..·1. SF, Watersheds, lincoln Ridge
quod., Mendocino Co., 10:233
on 8<1·18 SF, Wolerll1eds, lon9~0le quod.,
Mendocino Co., 10,233
OFR 8.·22 SF, Eo.le," Morin Co. slope loi'
u'es, JonliOty 3·... 1982 s'o.m, 10:233
OFR 8..·2) SAC, Mic,oeort"qliOke. geop"y,i
col geodelic su,..eys, eo,lern San Gob.iel
Mtns.. Upper Pomona Volley. Son Be.no,·
dino Co., 10:233
OFR 8..-2. LA. En~i'onmentol geology, lo Ho
b,o, Yo,bo lindo, P.odo Oom q...od •• Or·
anglO Co•• 10,23.
OFR 8.·26 SAC, Sei.micity near Aswon High
Dam, Egypt, wit" application 10 induced
sei.micily in Colifornio, 10,23..
OfR 8..·27 LA, Inoenlory and analysis 01 re
cenl damaging .lape loilures and debri.
flooding, So. Orange Co., 10:235
OFR 8.-28 LA. Engineering g&Ology, no.t"
"01'0' EI Toro q...od.. Orange Coo, 10,235
OFR 8.-31 SF, Inde. to geologic repo.u lor
sites within Spe-ciol Sludie. lone •• 12,273
OfR 8..·..9 LA, Newhall q... od.. norlheoSl
q...a,le', los Angeles Co.,11,2$9
OfR 8"·50 SAC, Geol"ermol ene'gy at long
Beach no~ol .hipyord and noool station,
and 01 Seal Beoc" no~ol weapon. "olion,
11:2$9
Our dependence on mineral ,es""rees. 9: 188
Ouler Hebride., geologic od~enture, 7:15..
- p-
Pestrong, Raymond, 8,177
Poormond, Iroi, 8,173
Precious metals s"ort c"""e, 1:2
Project update geology, .ymposium, 12:283
Publicalion. in Pren, OMG, 8:176
Publications releo.e., .1010 DMG Nole Serie>,
Open·lile reporll, Special Repo,", Special
Publications, Bulletin.
- R-
Ropp, John S., 9:188
Regi.l.otion e_ominotions, 1,2
Retiremen"
leo",ed, Eleanor "I., 10:235
Rhodes, 8everly "I., 3,62
Woonon, Tom M., 3:62
h~iews, see book reoiew.
Rhodes. Beoerly "I.••eli,es. 3:62
Rock"ouse Bo.in Wilde.nen Study Area, mineral
'eS""rce potential, 12,263
Rohe, Randall E., 10,22.
Rowland. Slep"en "I., ":239
- s-
Son Froncioco Boy area, ollice move. 7,138
Santo COlolino Island, geology, 11:239
Saucedo. George J.• 2:23; .:67
Seiple. Eric, 7,1<19
Shokol. Anthony, 8:163
Sharp, Robe'l 1"., 7: \39
Shasta Volley. Cenozoic volcanic "'otig'ophy.
.:67
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December 1984
S"o.lino-o photographic enoy, 12:27"
SIWlllina-o oolconic cane of Moun! ShOIIO, 12:
27l
Sherburne, Rager W., 3:5-4; 8:163
Sierra Notional Fore.!, C"".lright inlrusive lOne,
5:91
Significant eo.thqliOh •• 1983, USGS, 6:132
SMAIlA,. r>onu.bon onn""ncement, 8,176
Special Publication.
SP 6$, SMIP rKords, lmpe,ial Volley Earth
quake of OClober 15, 1979. 1:15
SP 66, Coalinga, California eo.tl\quOkel,
1983,3:63
SP 67, Minel and mineral produce•• ocli~e in
California, 6: 136
SP 69, Annololed bibliograp"y. geOlhermol
inlo.molion by OMG lIolI. 1960·8•• 10,235
SP 70. Mine.ol Commodify Repo.T~otoS",
12,28..
SP 71, M;nerol Commodity Reporl-Tilanium,
12:28..
SP 72. Mineral Commodity .eport-Gyp.um,
12,28"
SP 73. Minerol Commodity Report--lime, 12:·
,S<
SP 7... Mineral Commodify Reporl-Sulfu••
12,28..
SP 75. Mine.ol Commodity Repo.T-Zeolites,
12,28..
Special Repor"
SR 1$3, Minerot land clossificolian, ogg.egote
moleriol. in western Son Diego Co. p·C re-
gion, 2:39
STOle Mining and Geology Boord, 11,257
Slrong Malian Instrumenlotion Program, 8: 165
Surface loulling, Morgan Hill eo,thqliOh, B: 168
- T-
Toylo<, Gory C" 12:263
Theses and dissertations on Califo.nio geology,
1979·1982, index 10 groduole, 5,99
Trent, D.O., .:"75
Toppozodo, TOUlson, 7:1<1.6
- U-
U.S. Geological Survey
Geologic hOIo,d warning crilerio, 6: 118
Re.eorch p'Opo'Oll solicited. 12:262
Significont eort"quokes, 1983, 6,132
- v-
Verde Canyon Iondslide, hi$lO<y 01. 8:173
Voices from the po.t, e_cerpTl. General William
1. S"e,mon, 6,123
-w-
Wagner, David L, 2:23
Wong Gong Gue. P,olesso., 11:251
Webb, Robert W., memorial, 12:283
Wehtoge, Edwo.d F., 2,']9
William. CraIe•• Oregon, 2:28
Wood •• "lory C., 3,58; 7,15.; 11:252
Woollon, Tom "I., retire., 3,62
Wo<~s. By.an. 6:\30
nEIIJ BOOll5 All 1>Oo~. ,"".... ed .. tho. """bon .re on 101" ,n 'he
D....,.. on l,br.'V ,n P1H.anl H,~. 3CI7 C....,c D<,~ The IlOOtlI
ere Nor evo,lllble for pure""''''' I,om DMG

Geochemistry

APPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL OED-
C~IEMISTRY. Edited by lain Thornton. 1983.
Academic Press Inc.. III Finh Avenue. New
York.. NY 10001, SOl p. S70.00. hard cover.
Geochemistry is concerned wilh understand-
ing how lhe dements and their isotopes arc
dislnbuled in the atmosphere. water, and lhe
solid parts of lhe Earth. Throughout history,
modification orthe Earth's surface. wilh result-
ant rapid alteration of the nalural distribution
of elements. has been II hallmark of human
activity. With the spread of industrialiullion
and a growing population's increased demand
on resources, human impact on the environ-
menl intensified. At the !l;lmc time. research
has led 10 increased appreciation of the many
and often subtle ways that bi08eochemical cy·
cles impact humans. Environmemal geochem-
istry has evolved as the slUdy of compJc~
chemical interactions in the biosphere. It has
broad interdisciplinary ties to soil science,
agriculture, hydrology, geomedicine. and e~­
ploration geology.
The remainder of the book is devoled 10 ap-
plications of geochemiSlry. The roles of numer-
ous C5SCntial macro- and micronutrients and
lrace elements in human. animal. and plant de-
~elopment and heallh are still incompletely un·
derslood. Inlcractions between elemenlS are
oflell complex: one may inllibit tile body's ablh-
ty to usc: another. Many elements ~m to be
CSS('nlial in small amounts. show a broad range
of physiological responses in moderate
amounts, and are potentially toxic in large
amounts.
Especially in lhe industrialized nalions. met·
als pollullon of loOlJ. air. and waler is now a
major concern. Three chapters deal with
MAil ORDER FORM
Indicole number of copieJ Complete odd,en fo.m on ned page.
•
BUllETIN
sources of metal pollution, biogeochemical
pathways, models 10 predict speciation pal-
terns of metals in natural media. and assess·
menl of pollulion. These chapters are likely to
be of special interesl to Californians. The final
chapteTS deal with effects of pollulants from
coal development. and with natural en~iron­
memal radioaclivily.
The book's comprehensive treatment and e~­
tensive references lists will be useful. Regional
discussions and many, though by no means all,
examples are drawn from or direcled 10"'ards
lhe United Kingdom. but the information is
broadly applicab!e....Gai/ Wiggett.
p.ice includeJ
postoge and JOles te,.

_ _ _ B202 Geology of ,he Pail'll Reyu PeninJulo, Mo.in County, CA.. 1977. Rept"int....... $6.00
Twenty-one authors from the U.S., U.K.,
SPECIAl REPORT
Wales. West Germany, and Norway contribut-
ed sixteen chapters 10 this book on lhe princi· _ _ _ 51170 Sond and lI.avel.eoourceJ of lhe Ke.n Rive.
pies. scope. and applicalions of environmental r>e<I. Bake.dield, Kern Counly. 1961 ... ............... $1.00
geochemistry. The book is directed towards in-
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formed readers and specialists; nearly all chap-
ters assume basic knowledge of geology and _ _ SP70 Mine.ol commodity ,epo•• - PotoJh. 1984 $1.00
chemIstry. An elemenlary overview of the fun- _ _ SP71 Mine.ol conlmodity ,,"pot' _ TiIClnium. 198.. . $1.00
damentals of the subject is offered In the first _ _ SP72 Mine.ol commodify ,,"pott _ GypJum. 198<1. . $1.00
chapter. with discussions of the primary dislri- _ _ SP73 Mine.ol commodity 'epo<l - lime. 1984, $1.00
bUlion of elements in rocks. redistribution of _ _ SP7" Mine.ol commodity report - Sulfu•. 198<1 $1.00
elements by weathering, and the roles ofsolu- _ _ SP75 Mine.ol commodity 'epo.t - Zeolile. 1984. S1.00
lion chemiSlry. Eh, pH. small particles. and GEOLOGIC ATLAS Of CALIfORNI .... Scole 1:2.50,000
colloids In surfiCIal reorganiution of elements
inlO secondary phases. _ _ _ LOJ Angeleo. 1969 ........ $2.50
COUNTY MAPS
___ Ke<n. 1962. Geology in colo•. .............................. . SO.SO
Chapters Two and Three compnse Up-IO- ___ Kern. 1962. Mines and P'OlpectJ. . $0.50
date discussions of methodologies of regiollal ___ Tula.e. 1958. MineJ and p'OSpe<tl. ..................... . SO.SO
geochemical mapping and laboratory analyti·
cal methtxls. COUNTY REPQIlT5
___ (Ill Kern Counly, mine. and mine.al .elou"e. of, 1962. $8.50
___ Clio Sha.ta counly, mine. and mine.al ,e,ou.ce. of, 1974 $7.50
Four chaplers deal further "'ith pnnciples of
chemical reactions in soil (wilh emphasis on MAP SHEET
trace metals) and water, and wUh the interac-
_ _ _ MS. Geology 01 Ihe Redding lX·minute quod.ongle,
tIons of soil with waterborne elemenlS, mi_
Sha'lo County . ...... SI.5O
cr0be5. plams. animals. and humans. The
chapt"r 011 waler quality includes a discussion CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY (Jee inst.uclion. on nl!~1 pogel
of the effccts of such chemical treatme11lS as _ _ _ , yeo. 112 inueJ) . . $5.00
chlorination. softening. and pH adjustment. _ _ _ 2 yea'J (2<1 '..ueJ) . ...... S10.00

.'---
tllat are commonly dOlle on natural walers
before they are distributed for human con- LIST Of AVAlLA8LE PU8l1CATIONS ........ f.ee
sumplion. Sucll trealmems may rcmo~e natu- TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED .
rally-occurring lrace elemellls or add otller PAYMENT MUST BE INCLUDED WITH ORDER.
elements.

CALIfORNIA GEOLOGY December 196'1 2"

 Guidebook

AN OUTDOOR GUIDE TO THE SAN

Geography
PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY. a Landscape
Appreciation. By Tom L. McKmght. 1984.
Prenuce-Hall. Inc.. Engle""ood Cliffs. NJ
07632. 487 p. S32.95. hard cover.
Geo-grdphy, as derived from lhe Greek Ian·
guage. means "eanh descripllon.'· GCQgraphy
IS a general discipline with a viewpoint of brood
understanding. Geographers basically arc con-
cerned ""ith lhe spallal (distributional) aspecls
of phySical and cultural c1emenls of the eanh.
The author defines geography as "landscape
appreciation." Wllh this definition in mind lhls
volume presents a summary of the vanous
components of the nalural environment. the
physical elemenls and processes involved In de-
\eloplng the environment. the distribUlion of
lhe components o"er the earth. and theIr oosle
relationships.
ADDRESS FORM FOR ALL ORDERS
Please p',nt
PAYMENT MUST 8E INCLUDED WITH ORDER
NAME
ADDRESS
CITY
STATE
TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED'
FRANCISCO DAY AREA. bploring with
boots. bIkes. backpacks, buSt'S. boats. books
and DART. FOlmh Edmon. By Dorothy L.
Whllnah. 1984. Wilderness Press. 2440 Ibn·
croft Way. Berkeley, CA 94704. 364 p. SI1.95.
paper cover.
With thiS glJldebook, discover and enjOy the
secluded nature traIls, the popular recreational
areas. exciting redwoods. bike trails. camp-
grounds. old minlllg Sites. and much. much
more-all wllhin 70 miles of lhe Golden Gale
Bridge!
ThiS very thorough book provides directions
for your excursion. describes the facilities-
campsites. trails. fees. boatlng-describes typl'
cal climate. bus routes. nearby attractions. and
even hsts recommended readings.
The eJlpenenced backpacker or the occasion· Mine.ol Slotislics
al stroller IS sure to find an DUling that is appro-
priate for a wonderful nalure experience ARIZONA MINERAL INVENTORY
LIST SYSTEM (MILS). By Dictzand Associ.
ates. For infonnation write to Dietz and As-
sociates. 4706 North 31s1 Drive. Phocni~, AZ
85017
0< type
MILS provides current data on land Slatus.
litle research. literature research. and assess-
ment filings indexed alphabelically. numerical-
ly, and geographically. Data presented is for all
counlies in Arizona, and is gathered from U.S.
Bureau of Mines and Arizona Department of
Mines and Mineral Resources.
Disk copies have replaced printed copies of
"p MILS. Disks of the indices arc available for
most iBM·PC's and compatible systems.
5

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY SUBSCRIPTIONS

o I yr 55,00 o 2 yr $1000
1983 ONTARIO MINERAL SCORE.
NEW SUBSCRIPTION Allow 60 days for delivery of ftrsllssue Compiled by G.L. Wcatherson 1984. MmISlr)'
of Naturol Resources. Pubhc Senlce Centre.
RENEWAL In order 10 receive your magazine conllnuously. send In your renewal 2 10 Whltnc) 8Iock. 99 Wellesley Streel West.
J months before expnatlon date shown on your address label (Example ToronlO. Onlario M7A IW3. 242 p. .510,00.
EXP8512 means that lhe subscnptlon expires on receipt 01 December 1985 male chech pa)able to Treasurer ofOnlariO:
Issue Please enclose address label 'rom pasl Issue MaJ(!mum prepaid p.a)·ment must acromp.an) order. Paper cover.
SUbSCflp(lon IS two years
~"'l • coR"', ...
-, • pa.. I'
;E( QGV",.,_.., '"v ',II", "'or" .' '·om ¥t ~ , ThiS publication IS:I ~latislical Tt.'Cord of the
Ontano Imneral Industr)' wllhlll the w'orld
mark!:l SCORE al"O qand~ for Screen Co-or-
10. = EXPIR. DATE ACCT = dmllled Resource E"alualloll. the l'Omputcr
program used 10 produce tillS 3rd pubhcallon
0 GIFT: (Gift cord from in the Video Cen~us Scritj;

o ADDRESS CHANGE, Send us on old oddress label and your new address.
The mmeralmduMr)' ofOmano has 40.000
employees O\<er 30 different minerals arc pro-
Allow 60 days for address change. dU<:l'd for a .'alue of.58 billion annually. These
mlllerais :Ire ""alto the ""ell being of the people
Your order .ub,c,ipho" cOMol be p,ocened unlen cor.ect omou"! i••em,ned. All r",eig" o"d (0"0 ofClInada In addilion 10 pro\'idmg lhe coun-
d,on orde's muSI be poid w,lh on Inte,no"onol Money O,de, or O,oft ooyoble 'n Un,led Slote. fund, lr). o\er 90% of the minerals are exponcd to
Add,e .. oil o,de" 10 DIVISION Of MINES AND GEOLOGY, PO 8", 1980, Soc,o",en!o. olher countries. Among thc mmerals produced
(ol;lo,nio 95811. lIrc slone;, for pa"lng. gypsum. sulphur, '>alt.
l."<lppcr, meh!. UraniUm, platinum. and gold ~

282 CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December 1984

 MEMORIAL
PROJECT UPDATE GEOLOGY
Rober1 Wallace Webb
Memorial Symposium
Roberl W. Webb February 9, 1984
1909-1984 8:30 a.m. - S:30 p.m.
Sponsored by
University of Califomia. Los Angeles
,"d
National Association of Geology
Teachers-Far Western Section

Seven leading geologists in their fields will be addressing the

ROBERT W. WEBB
Robert W. Webb. Professor Emeritus in the Department of
Geological Sciences at the University of California, Santa Bar-
bara (UCSB). died suddenly while hiking with UCSB students
near Mammoth Lake on Friday, May 4. 1984. Webb. 75. was
participating in the annual departmental geology field trip when
he was stricken.
Although he retired in 1975 from VeSB, Webb continued to
serve pari-time, advising students and conducting field trips. AI
retirement, Webb had been with the University of Califomia 43
years - 27 at UCSB and 16 at UCLA.
He was the first recipient oflhe Robert Wallace Webb Award
of the Far Western &<:Iioo of the National Association of Geol·
ogy Teachers. established in his honor in 1973 for "sustained
excellence of earth science teaching and sustained exceptional
service to the geological teaching profession:'
current state of the ar1S and technology in geology. All the
speakers are successful former students of Rober1 Wallace
Webb.
For more information contact:
Dorothy L. Steller. Cypress College,
9200 Valley View Street.
Cypress. CA 906]0. 714-826-2220
While at VCSB, Webb also sen-ed in several administrative
posts and was head of the geology department for seven years.
Dr. Webb was a member of many professional organizations.
He wrote numerous profcssional repor1s. papers. and texts. He
was co-author of three DMG Bulletins on Minerals of Califomi a
(BI36. BI73. and 8189).

In 1973, Webb received the Neil Miner Award of the NAGT
for "exceptional contributions to the stimulation of interest in
the ear1h sciences:' II is the highest honor that the geological
teaching profession in the United States can confer upon one of
its members.
At the time of Webb's retirement, two of his former students
summarized his contributions to education: "Total involvement
with his students. challenging course work, high expectations.
good humor and unforgettable field trips."...Jouma/ arOe%gi·
ca/ Educarion. ~

Dl'1G RELEASES
OFR B4-31 SF

INDEX TO GEOLOGIC REPORTS
FOR SITES WITHIN SPECIAL STUD-
IES ZONES. By Perry Wong. 1984. Two
platcs (1:1.000.000 & 1:100.000 scale)
with explanation.
Under the Alquist-Priolo Special Stud-
ics Zoncs Act, the State Geologist cstab-
lishes regulatory zones in order to
mitigate the hazard of surface fault rup-
ture. Sites proposed for development
within these zones arc required to have
geologic investigations before develop-
ment permits are issued by cities and
counties. Copies of these investigative re·
por1S arc filed wllh the California Depart-
ment of Conservation, Division of Mines
and Geology. as well as with various cities
and counties.
Since 1974, a tOlal of \,694 site-invcsti-
gation reports have been filed as of July I,
1984 and arc available for review at the
Bay Area Regional Office of DMG. Most
of the sites investigated are in the San
Francisco Bay and Los Angeles regions.
Much information on the presence or ab-
sence of recently active faults is contained
in these reports, which may be of general
interest.
This open-file report identifies the ap-
proximate local ions of the invesligated
siles and facilitates the use of the DMG
report file.
OFR 84·31 SF is available for reference
at the Sacramento, Ray Area (Pleasant
Hill). and Southern California (Los An-
geles) Regional Offices. Also. it may be
purchased from the Bay Area Regional
Office (New address: 367 Civic Drive,
Pleasant Hill) at the cost of reproduclion
(approximately 53.00 to 54.00).
• •

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY December 1984 28J

 STATE OF CALIFORNIA
THE RESOURCES AGENCY
DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY
CALIFOANIA DIVISION OF
MINES AND GEOLOGY
P.O,BOX 29BO
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA 95812
USPS)SO &to
ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED
BULLETIN 202
GEOLOGY OF THE POINT REYES
PENINSULA, MARIN COUNTY.
CALIFORNIA. By Alan J. Galloway.
1977. 72 p.. I plate (scale 1:48.000). Re-
prin!. Now available. S6.00.
The Poinl Reyes Peninsula is a triangle
of land about 100 square miles in western
Marin county. California. It is bounded
on the east by the valley of the San An-
dreas fault zone and on the remaining
sides by the Pacific Ocean.
The structure of the area is dominated
by the San Andreas fault zone. which IS
about a mile and a half wide. It cuts
through Ihe Franciscan assemblage. Mio-
cene sedimentary deposits, and granitic
rocks. The Peninsula is underlain by up-
per Cretaceous granitic rocks. whieh con-
tain roof pendants of schist and marble
that crop out principally along Iverness
Ridge and Pomt Reyes. The granillc
rocks are overlain by Tertiary and Qua-
ternary <>edimentary rocks west and south
of the InvernL'Ss Ridge. Rocks of the
Franciscan assemblage are found east of
the San Andreas faull.
Bul1etm 202 is designed to be both a
comprehellsive report for the geologist
and a source of information for Ihe inter-
ested layman. This report describes the
lithology. geography, structure. geomor-
phology, geologic history, and L'Conomic
geology of the Point Reyes Peninsula. A
colored geologic map prlllted on a topo-
graphic base (scale I :48,000) and one
geologic cross seclion arc included in the
report.
284
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1984 $1.00
51'11 MINERAL COMMODITY RE-
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SP12 MINERAL COMMODITY RE-
PORT - Gypsum. By John L.
Burnett. 1984. $1.00
SP73 MINERAL COMMODITY RE-
PORT - Lime (quicklime, hydrat-
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dolomite). By Marjorie M. Bush-
nell. 1984. . $1.00
5P74 MINERAL COMMODITY RE-
PORT - Sulfur. By Melvin C.
Slinson. 1984 $1.00
SP15 MINERAL COMMODITY RE-
PORT - Zeolite. By Melvin C.
Stinson. 1984 51.00
The Mineral Commodity Report
(MCR) series was developed in response
(0 increased public awareness and interest
in non-renewable resources. The minerals
industry in California produces about $2
billion of non-fuel mineral products annu-
ally, and is one of !.he largest and most
diverse minerals industries in the United
Slates. MCRs and other industry-oriented
Department publications are used by the
private seclOr to assess mineral and indus-
trial markets and mineral resource poten-
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CALIfORNIA GEOLOGY December 1984
SECOND CLASS POSTAGE PAID
AT SACRAMENTO. CALIFORNIA
• • •
The MCR series will make mineral eco-
nomics and mineral resource inrormation
generated by the U.S. Bureau of Mines
and by the Depanment ofConservation's
Division of Mines and Geology readily
available to the general public and the
mining industry. Each MCR focuses on a
particular mineral commodity and, in 10
to 20 pages, presents an up-to-date eco-
nomics and resource summary. Data re-
lates to California as well as the nation
and the world.
More than a dozen MCRs will be pub-
lished by the Depanmelll of Conservation
this year.
Copies of Mineral Commodity Reports
will be available at a nominal charge of
$1.00 per copy from the Calirornia Divi-
sion of Mines and Geology, P.O. Box
2980. Sacramento. CA 95812. Copies may
also be purchased or examined at any of
the Division's regional infonnation of-
fices. For infonnation, please call: (916)
445-5716. ~
78898-650 11/84 12M osp WA