Professional Documents
Culture Documents
In This Issue I
COAST RANGES FIELD TRIP AND GUIDEBOOK 98
GSA ANNUAL MEETING 98
GEOLOGY GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY OF RING MOUNTAIN 99
NEW EYES ON EASTERN CALIFORNIA ROCK VARNISH 107
1991 Eel SYMPOSIUM 115
A PUBUCATlON OF THE
DEPARTIIEN'T OF CONSERVATION
TEACHERS PAGE ON GEOTHERMAL 116
DIVISION OF . . . es
AND GEOlOGY BOOK REVIEWS 117
MAIL ORDER FORM 117
s-.of e - - PETE WILSON
Go~
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY SUBSCRIPTION FORM............................ 118
DMG RELEASES 119
The "--cN ~ DOUGLAS P WHEELER DMG OFR 90-16 MINERAL LAND CLASSIFICATION OF
5(Jcr9lary for ResoutWS
HANNAH RANCH SITE 119
~ 01 Conserva\lOll EDWARD G HEIDIG SP 109 GEOLOGIC EXCURSIONS IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 119
{)rrBClot
GEOLOGIC DATA MAP NO. 7 120
JAMES F DAVIS
Slate Geologlsf
Cover: View from Rmg Mounlaln Preserve across Tiburon and Belvedere toward
CALIFORNIA GEOlOGY Slall
san Franclsco_ Boulders in the foreground are serpenllne. the olliClal slate rock of
TectInIcal Editor
Calilorma A sheet of serpenline IS a cap rodl at RIJ'IQ Mountain. AssOClaled with
Don DupliiS
L_
Lena _
TabllIO
the serpentine afe e:totlC rare rocks. Some rare plants lIVing on the serpenlme are
Assastilnt Ed'IOi
Grapha and DesIgn: only lound here Because 01 liS umque rocks. plants. and archeologICal artIfacts,
PubllcabOnS Supennsor- Jell TlIITQlIt Ring Mountam has been set aside as a nature preserve An article aboutlhls area
starts on page 99 Photo by RICk Yorlr
----
~ W1d.- Mms.-ated 10 !he - ' " _
....,
ea.- .. 1nClI.ded on !he ~ _ e-Ibul«l-"Clet,
pI>c*l\lf/lPhS. _-'_~-.u""""- The annual meeting of the
Geological Society of America
THE CONCl.USIOHS AND OPINIOHS EXPRESSED IN
AATICLIES ARE SOt.E1.Y 1liOSE OF nE AUTl«JAS AHD will be held October 21-24, (,S-\'I'N!
ARE NOT NECESSARl..Y ENOORSED BY TIE OEPART- 1991 in San Diego. The theme
WENT OF COHSERYAnQN
of this meeting is MGIobaI Chal- 1991 ANNUAL MEETING
Cones_nee o.nould De .""•••..cl 10 Ell 10< lenge- and there will be accom-
CAl.FOAN!AG£CJ..OOY. 660 a.o.. 0.-. s.a-, CA ~n !Mgo, CMifotniA. Octoblr 21-24
_14·(1131 panying sessions about natural
~ $10001*,... SonolI_ S'25~ hazards. global change. and the GlDBAL CHALLENGE
5enIS ~ _ n c:!'IInO" 01 dlr_ ............. limits of natural resources. For • T.1l1liell Stuiorls
10 CAl6(lANlA GEOlOGY. P 0 80Jr 2lI8O, sac._, CA
1iI6lI12-2i80 further information contact: • EJ.llibits
Vanessa George. Meetings Coor- • FIIId T""s
dinator, Geological Society of • Short Courus
CGEOA 44 (5) 97-120 (1991) 80301. (303) 447-2020:'><" ......._ .. raIMl. KrUlllEll II
INTRODUCTION
602·fool~high
T he Ring Mountain is
at the northern end of the Tiburon
Peninsula (Photo 1) in south central
Marin County. about 15 miles north of
downtown San Francisco (Figure 1). It
is named for George E. Ring. a county
supervisor who lived near the area al
the lum of the century (Holing. 1988).
The Ring Mountain area is protected
because of the distinctive mineralogy.
flora. fauna. and Indian petroglyphs
that occur there. This area is the natural
habitat of several species of rare and
endangered plants and a unique species
of spider. the blind harvestman spider.
In addition to these rarities. Ring Moun-
tain has a distinctive assemblage of un-
usual rocks and is the type area of the ...
- mineral lawsonite, an important indica-
tor mineral discovered there in 1895
and named for the famed University of
Photol. View of Rmg Mountain looking
southwestward across Corte Madera.
Photo by D.L. Wagner.
Encroaching urbanization prompted
The Nature Conservancy to set aside
this exceptional area as a preserve. It
California geology professor. Andrew was later declared a Scientific Resource
Lawson (Holing, 1988). Zone by the Department of Conserva-
tion's Division of Mines and Geology
===~S~==~'0Miles
Db,
under authority of the Surface Mining
and Reclamation Act of 1975. By 1985
The Nature Conservancy acquired title
to 377 acres and initiated a manage-
Sail 1)(//,10 ment program that provides protection.
Bay VallejO scientific research and education. and
public use of the area (Photo 2). Ring
Mountain is a preserve: collecting
rocks or plants is prohibited.
GEOLOGIC SETTING
I
San Bcr~c1e)' tered basaltic rock (greenstone). chert.
Fr:mC'iM:o
24
<iIII Figure 1. Location map at the Ring
Mountam Preserve. Tiburon Peninsula,
Marin County, Calilornia.
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
FIgUre 2. GeologIC map of the Ring Mounlaln area. Tiburon Peninsula Map uMS These peculiar metamorphk: rock
are; sp. serpentine: 1m _ melange; gl • glaucophane sctust. chi. chlOf1le schist;
Is • landslide: x rnar1ts outcropS or blocks too small to map at thIs scale. Geology masses range in size from less than a
after RICe and others. 1976. foot to many tens of feet across. They
are-or I.Wre-embedded in less-resis-
tant sheared melange matrix or in ser-
pentine. Some are partially exposed by
TIle serpentine sheets that cap Ihe dence that highly altered serpentinized erosive processes or the less resistant
two hill cresls in the Ring Mountain mantle rock was thrust over the unmeta· rock surrounding them and appear to
area (Agure 2) are se~raled from the morphosed sedimentary units. In places be In place and partially embedded.
underlying sanqslone and shale units by the melange is only a few lens of feet Others have eroded out and lie as loose
a thick zone composed principally of thick. However. under the main saddle rock masses on the surface of the
intensely sheared Franciscan Complex between the two serpentine crests. the ground. and many have been trans-
melange (Photo 6). The melange repre- melange is much thicker and Is perhaps ported downslope by landslides: some
sents an ancient fault zone and is evi- several hundred feet In thickness. as far as the San Francisco Bay.
thrust faults
/'
~i>6,
WEST EAST
S8fper1bT\lzed peoOollte
Melange 01 Il'\tensety sheared rock matenal that contams dislocated blocks 01 exotIC
0= metamorphic roc::Xs SlJd'I as edogIle. glaul::of)hane sctuslS, and garnet arnphibolites
Ftgure 3. DlagrammalJC cross sectIOn ollhe RIng Mountaln area. Tiburon P8fIU'l$Ula. Mann County, Ca~fon'lla. shoWII'IQ
fault slices of serpenllTl8 and melange thrust
CIVet' steeply dipptng sandstone and shale Aher RICe, J981
This anicle presents findings from recent Investiga1l0ns of how 117' II~'
rock varnish lorms and describes the manner in which thIs unde,-
""rT".,-,---".:.;'---------''I''------,-,
standing can aid researchers. Rock varnish is typically a glossy-
I OV o
brown to black coaling thai commonly develops on rod\; surfaces \
in arid climates. (t may take tens of thousands of years 10 form a
complete coating over rock surlaces.... editor, \ Las "ega5
• '<'7",,"
INTRODUCTION n
---~~-",
•;:
astern California deserts have long been an exceptional
E area for studying rock varnish. Although olten referred CIMA " ,
••
•
to as Mdesert varnish. ~
the same phenomenon has been ob·
served on glacial moraines. periglacial stone garlands.
Bake.
•
VOLCANIC,
FIELD " ,
, ,
~
•
waterfalls in Yosemite. and on rocks in virtually every terres- '" I BarSIO....
trial weathering environment in California. Because this phe-
nomenon is produced by environments other than that of a
--;
I •••
desert. the term ~desert varnish~ is renamed in this article I
Los '
with the broader term ~rock varnish~ (Oorn and Oberlander. Angeles /' Sen Bernafdino
1981b. 1982; Krumbein and Jens. 1981). •
/-<J~
• •
JT
\,
Some of the earliest observations of ferro-manganese coat· I
t"
~
ings on rocks were made near the Salton Sea in southern
Cali/ornia (Black. 1855). Von Humboldt. Darwin. and other
19th century natural scientists realized thaI the major problem
in understanding the rock varnish phenomenon was the de- Figure 1. Map 01 southeastern California Identifying sites dis-
termination of how manganese imparts a distinctive dark col- cussed In the text and figures: Cr. Cronese: JT • Joshua Tree
oration on rocks. National Monument: OV • Owens Valley: LW • Lathrop Wells;
ML • Manlx Lake: MM • Marble Mountains: DV. Death Valley.
A number of hypotheses have been proposed to explain
the occurrence of rock varnish. The following explanations
originated during examination of rock varnishes in the Mojave Four different types of rock varnishes were first recognized
Desert; (1) the role of pollen in providing manganese (White. in the Mo;ave Desert: (I) black surface varnish exposed to the
1924). (2) the role of lichens in somehow catalyzing varnish atmosphere. (2) a shiny ground-line band at the soil-atmos-
accretion (Laudermilk. 1931). (3) physical and chemical phere-rock interface. (3) an orange bottom varnish that covers
changes althe rock surface (Hooke and others. 1969). and the underside of stones in a desert pavement, and (4) crack
(4) the role of bacteria in concentrating manganese (Oorn varnishes that formed in rock crevices and range from black
and Oberlander. 1981a). manganese (Mn)-rich to orange Mn-poor/iron-rich (Engel and
Sharp. 1958: Hooke and others. 1969. Darn and Oberlander.
MOJAVE DESERT 19821.
Researchers who worked in the Mojave Desert proposed
The mineralogy of rock varnish was established primarily
three possible ways rock varnish may form: (1) the constitu-
by work on samples from the Mojave Desert (Figure 1). Potier
ents of rock varnish are derived from the underlying rock
and Rossman (1977. 1979a.b) found black varnishes to be
(Hooke and others. 1969). (2) rock varnish is the result of
composed of up to 70 percent clay minerals (mixed·layer illite-
external sources (Polter and Rossman. 1977. 1979a.b: Oorn
montmorillonite. with some kaolinite) and up to 30 percent
and Oberlander. 1982). and (3) rock varnish is the result of a
combination of the underlying rock and from outside material
(Engel and Sharp. \958). Bolded terms are in Glossary on page 115.
.,.,.,
Sal, Springs. Mojave Dcun' U""'"~ 0-25" 4.40 25." 37.49 1.61 ,.~ 0.80 11.77 14.SO
"' "' "' "' "'
., '2'
., ... .".n '"'' .,., "3 ..'" '" ."'"
T1Ili.I Fan. Death Valley Fonner Rod< FfX1U ... bid'" 0.14 23.7439.09 0.49 0.70 3.45 4.87 1.~210-87 13.47 0.13 0.12 0.27 O~
M3ni~ Lal<e, Mojave Dcun
Maunal<a TiU, Ha\O'llii
:> 1m Above Soil 1.10 3M 25.77 32.3~ Ll~
0.30 2.11 1.3~ 12.47 .n .25 '" '" 0.21 0,22 0.14
29.77 0.69 0.20 3.30 4.89
WiLbSilieaSkin 0.62 1.98 21.13 1l.60 2Ll3
"'
0.49 0.98
S;",.; Pntinsula, Esl"P'
p.,,,,glyph. S. A... ,ralia
Ing"';". PeN Desen
Ave.. Roek, AUSlr.olia
• Rcoulu. ~ nonnalized '" 1~
>Im Above Soil
> I m Abov., Soil
A'SoilSurfaoce
From Rod< F"""" ...
0.28
0.17
na·· ..
"'
'3' 22.94
1,21 22.81
2,11 20.4~
'3' 28.77
32.81
33.34 .33
35,69
'" "'
., .,
2.42 2.91
'.19 2.18
4~.88 .33 1.13 2.91 6.22
2.11 1.4~
""
11.97
.,
.,"' '" ., '"
"'
0.16
." •."
'"
0.42
O.ll ."
0.73
0.27
0.22
•• Measu"""".... by PlXE (Cahill, 1986), except forLb., Sail Spring. """,pIe which we... Ollalyzed by el«:l"'" mieNp<'Ol:><'(POIler and Rouman. 1979&).
••• Below Umi\ or detection
•••• NOI available
manganese and iron oxides. The chem- years earlier in the construction of a dirt elements composing the imaged miner-
istry of rock varnish was also deter- road. The controversy was resolved als; higher atomic numbers are brighter.
mined from samples taken from the when it was realized that the pavement
Mojave Desert (Engel and Sharp. 1958; had partially reformed with previously BSE and secondary electron (SE) mi·
Lakin and others. 1963; Hooke and varnished cobbles (Dorn and Oberlander. crographs of cross sections of eastern
others. 1969; Potter and Rossman. 1982: E1vidge. 1982). California desert varnish samples were
1979a). Not surprisingly, the major ele- used in this investigation to address on-
ments of rock varnish (silicon. alumi- Rock varnish can be used as a tool to going discussions concerning (1) the
num. manganese. and iron) reflect its help interpret paleoenvironmental fluc- internal versus external origin of varnish
clay-oxide mineralogy. tuations. Potassium-argon (K-Ar) dating constituents, (2) biological versus abiotic
of volcanic flows in the Coso (Duffield origin. and (3) the use of rock varnish in
Elements in concentration greater and others. 1981) and Cima (furrin and surface exposure dating. SSE is also
than 0.5 percent can be quite variable others. 1985) volcanic fields provided used to identify previously unknown
and typically contain magnesium. phos- age constraints that were used in testing textures. Although a variety of varnish
phorus. potassium. calcium, titanium, innovative rock varnish dating and types are present in the Mojave Desert,
and sometimes sodium. copper, zinc. paleoenvironmental research methods. this investigation concerned only the
barium. and lead (Table 1), Over 30 These methods include cation-ratio dat- most studied and most noticeable: man-
other trace elements have been ob- ing (Dorn. 1983. 1989: Darn and oth- ganese-rich, black-subaerial varnish
served (Bard. 1979; Darn and others. ers. 1990). radiocarbon dating (Darn formed on rock outcrops exposed only
1990). and others. 1989), and micromorphol· to airborne fallout.
ogical and microchemical changes that
The debate over the length of time are indicative of paleoenvironmental INTERNAL VERSUS
needed for rock varnish formation cen- fluctuations (Dorn, 1986, 1988, 1990). EXTERNAL ORIGIN
ters around field observations made in One of the longest lasting controver-
the Mojave Desert. Engel and Sharp The use of rock varnish as a geo- sies in the study of rock varnish is
(I958) proposed that a complete coat- chemical prospecting tool has also been whether the constituents are derived
ing of varnish could form in 25 years, proposed based on research in the from the underlying rock or from exter-
and this hypothesis was passed on in Mojave Desert (Lakin and others, 1963; nal material. Following Walther (189l).
literature (for example, Cooke and War- Dorn and Oberlander. 1981b). the notion of high desert temperatures
ren. 1973). Still, most Mojave Desert "sweating" solutions from the interior of
rock varnish researchers agree that BACKSCATTER ELECTRON the rock has remained an appealing
complete varnish formation takes thou· MICROSCOPY hypothesis (Glennie, 1970: Garner,
sands to tens of thousands of years 1974; Shlemon. 1978; Smith and
(Blackwelder. 1954; Hunt. 1954; Hunt Backscatter electron microscopy
Whalley. 1988). However. most reo
and Mabey. 1966; Hooke, 1972, (BSE) uses electrons rather than light to
searchers find conclusive micromorphol-
Darn and Oberlander. 1982; Elvidge, view minerals in thin section. [t images
ogical and microchemical evidence that
1982). mineral textural (grain to grain) parame-
varnish is an external accretion (Potter
ters such as shape, size, orientation and
and Rossman. 1977. 1979a.b; Allen.
The disagreement over the length of grain boundaries. SSE also exhibits
1978: Perry and Adams, 1978; El-
time it takes to form rock varnish arose chemical contrasts between minerals.
vidge, 1979: Dorn and Oberlander.
because Engel and Sharp (1958) ob- and these contrasts show up on micro-
1982).
seJVed varnished cobbles in a desert graphs as various shades of gray. de·
pavement that had been disturbed 25 pending on the atomic number of the
In the 1970s the face of one of the large blocks of meta- Dudley, P.P., 1969, Glaucophane schists and associated rocks of
morphic rocks in the Ring Mountain area was found to have the Tiburon Peninsula. Marin County, California: Ph. D. thesis,
University of California. Berkeley, 116 p.
several ancient Indian petroglyphs (Photo 9) carved on it
(Hotz and Clewlow, 1974). These were the first petroglyphs Dudley, P.P., 1972, Comments on the diSlribution and age of the
high'grade blueschists and associated eclogites, and amphi·
reported in the San Francisco Bay area by archaeologists. bolites from Tiburon Peninsula, California: Geological Society
The carvings are in chlorite schist. a very soft rock, but one of America Bulletin, v. 83, no. 11, p. 3497-3500.
with a greater resistance to weathering than many other kinds Hill, A.J.. 1973, A dislinctive new Calochortusfrom Marin County
of rock types. Since their discovery, other petroglyphs have California: Madrono, v. 22, no. 2, p. 100,104.
been found in the Ring Mountain area and all are carved in Holing, Dwight, 1988, Calilornia wild lands, a guide to the Nature
similar chlorite schist. Some may be 2,000 years old (Holing, Conservancy preserves: Chronicle Books, p. 53·60.
19881. Holway, A.J., 1906, Eclogites in California: Journal of Geology,
v. 12, no. 4, p. 344-358,
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Hotz. V" and Clewlow, CW.. Jr.. 1974, First report of the petro·
glyphs: Master Key of Los Angeles County Museum, v. 4,
We greatfully acknowledge the assistance of Gail Newton. p. 148.
DMG plant ecologist. and the manuscript reviews by Don
Murdoch, Joseph, and Webb, R.W.. 1966, Minerals of California,
Dupras, Cynthia Pridmore, and Mary Woods. DMG Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division of Mines
geologists. and Geology Bulletin 186, 560 p.
Penalosa, J., 1963, A flora of the Tiburon Peninsula, Marin
County, California: The Wasmann Journal of Biology, v, 21,
no. 1, p. 1·74.
Ransome, F.L., 1895, On lawsonite, a new rock·forming mineral
from Tiburon Peninsula, Marin County, California: University of
California Publicaltons, Bulletin 01 the Depanment of Geology,
'0',1, no. 10, p. 301·312.
Rice, S.J., 1964, A trip to the lawsonite type locality: California Di·
vision of Mines and Geology Mineral Information Service, v. 17,
no. 6. p. 96·98.
Aice, S.J., Smith, T.C., and Strand. A.G., 1976, Geology lor plan·
ning, central and southeastern Marin County, California: Cali-
fornia Division of Mines and Geology Open-file Aepon OFR
76-2·SF.
Rice, S.J" 1981, Field trip guide, Stops 1, 2, and 3 (Marin Head·
lands, Ring Mountain, Pillowed Greenstone) in Kleist, John A.,
editor, 1981, The Franciscan Complel\: and the San Andreas
fault from the Golden Gale to Point Aeyes, California: Ameri-
can Association of Petroleum Geologists Pacilic Section, p, 13.
Smith, J.p", 1906, The paragenesis of minerals in the glauco-
phane bearing rocks of California: American Philosophical
SOCiety Proceedings. v. 45, p, 183·242.
Switzer, G.. 1951. Mineralogy of the California glaucophane
schists: California Division of Mines Bulletin 61, p. 61-70,
Talialerro, N. L., 1943, Franciscan·Knol\:vilie problem: American
Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v, 27, no. 2,
p,109-219
Glossary
amphibollle: A dark-colored metamorphic rock composed
01 minerals of the amphibole group,
eclogUe: A high.grade metamorphic rock chiefly composed
of garnet and pyrol\:ene.
harz:burglte: A dark plutonic rock chiefly composed 01 otivine
and enstatite.
Photo 9. Indian pelroglyphs carved into chlorite schist. ophiolite suite: A group of rocks including serpentine. gabbro,
Photo by S. J. Rice. basalt and chert that commonly occur together.
rodingite: A massive dense rock composed mainly 01 garnet
associated with serpentine; formed by chemical alteration.
schist: A rock composed of aligned platy minerals: the major
constituent mineral is used as a modifier {e.g. chlorite SChiSt),
CALlFORNIA GEOLOGY
"" MAY 1991
Figure 4. Continual deposition withoul ero-
sion is one o! the charactenstics necessary
to successfully date lock varnish. Figure 4d
illustrates a sample that will yield a reliable
dale. The other figures illustrate problems
that are identified using BSE (4a-4c) and
secondary electron microscopy (4e-41). For
scale 4a. 4d. and 4e ., 130 micrometers.
4b • 15 mICrometers. 4c • 60 micrometers.
4f • 35 mICrometers.
Fe-oxidizing organisms: (3) the geo- Mn and Fe can be concentrated by Backscaller imagery of Mojave Des-
graphic distribution of varnish; (4) meas- slight Eh-pH fluctuations, according ert rock varnish provkles new indirect
urements of varnish alkalinity (pH) that to the abiotic model presented by Hooke support for the biological hypothesis.
are unsuitable for the physical and and others (1969), Elvidge (1979), and Bacteria that concentrate manganese
chemical oxidation of manganese: (5) Smith and Whalley (1988). Change to occur as rods. cocci. and filaments (PIQ-
the lack of varnish at micro-sites that are slightly more acidic conditions would be ure 3b. 3d). Micron-scale deposits of
conducive to the physical and chemical expected to mobilize more manganese manganese-rich material could be fossil-
oxidation and reduction of manganese: than iron from source material. Subse- ized bacteria casts (FIgure 3e). Krinsley
(6) findings that Mn-Fe accretions in quent drying or a change to a more alka- and others. (1990) and Jones (1991)
soils. caves. springs. lakes. ore deposits. line condition would be expected to re- observed stromatolite-like features that
and oceans are due to microorganisms $l.llt in the precipitation 01 manganese. they allributed to a biological growth
(Khak-mun. 1973; BoIOlina. 1976; Although this mechanism is theoretically process. The authors also find these
Dean and Ghosh, 1980: Ghiorse. 1984: possible. no data have yet been pre- structures in eastern California (FIgures
Peck, 1986; Cowen and others. 1986: sented 10 support this hypothesis. Also. 2a and 2b) mimicing, at the micron
Chandramohan and others, 1987; Hein the only experimental data on the physi· level. megascopic structures that have
and Koski. 1987). and (7) the experi- cal and chemical hypothesis indicated by been described as stromatolites.
ments of Jones (1991). this mechanism do not concentrate Mn
(Jones. 19911.
Well-defined breaks between the var- supports field·based suggestions that derived from sources external to the
nish and different rock minerals--clearly rock varnish may form a coating that rock (Palter and Rossman. 1977.
indicating an external origin for rock can preselVe the original rock from 1979a.b: Allen. 1978: Perry and
varnish-are shown in Figures 2a and eroding (Butler and Mount. 1986). Adams. 1978: Elvidge. 1979: Darn
2b. Figures 2c-2e also illustrate an ex- and Oberlander. 1982).
ternal origin for most varnish constitu- Given the complexity of the varnish-
ents as well as indicating ways in which rock interface displayed in Figure 2. it is
BIOlOGtCAL VERSUS
pieces of rock can become incorporated easy to see how an original rock source ABIOTIC ORIGIN
into varnish: rock particles may fall into for lhe varnish continues to be postu-
depressions created by varnish growth lated (Smith and Whalley. 1988). Some There is considerable ongoing con-
and organisms that erode the varnish rock detritus can become incorporated troversy over how iron-and especially
(Hgure 2d). Rock material may also be- into the varnish. as the process of var- how manganese-are enriched in rock
come mixed into the developing varnish nish accretion and rock weathering con- varnish. The manganese concentrations
during sequences of rock weathering tinues. However. it is well documented in black varnish are typically 50 times
and varnish collapse Into underlying that the clay. oxide. and trace element higher than in the underlying rock or
voids (Figures 2c. 2e). Such evidence constituents thaI make up varnish are desert dust (Oorn and Oberlander.
Eh-pH nuctuaUons: For chemical reactions in which electrons are transferred from one ion to an-
other. the oxidation potential of an aqueous solution is called Eh and is measured in volts. Oxidation
potential is directly measured by a meter. A positive value indicates that the solution is oxidizing; a
negative value indicates that it Is chemically reducing. When the pH and Eh of a solution aTe known.
the stability of the minerals In contact with the water can then be detennined.
thin .section: Nearly all rocks are transparent when ground sufficiently thin (the standard thickness is
0.03 mm). When placed under a polarizing petrographic microscope with a rotating mounting stage,
the optical properties and textures of the constituent minerals and clasts reveal how the rock formed.
A thin section viewed under crossed polarized light resembles stained glass in color.
periglacial stone garlands: Tongue-shaped mass of fine sediments on the downslope mass of stony
embankments found in cold climates. such as arctic and alpine regions. Note: often found atop west-
ern Ranges not high enough to be glaciated~
• • • • • • • • • Announcement. • • • • • • • •
1991 EEZ Symposium and activities within each of the EEZ effort to assess the geology and seafloor
subregions (east coast, Gulf of Mexico. processes around the Farrallon Islands
The 1991 Exclusive Economic Zone west coast. Alaska and islands) and to off central California; the Pacific Map-
(EEl) Symposium will be held Novem- identify ongoing mapping and research ping Program at the University of Ha-
ber 5-7. 1991 in Portland. Oregon. programs in these geographical areas. waii: the development of a comprehen-
The theme of the meeting is ~Working sive digital surficial sediment and
together in the Pacific EEl" and will The Symposium will include approxi- bathymetric data base for the west
focus on results of ongoing seafloor mately 30 individual presentations and coaSt. Hawaii. and Alaska. and the on-
mapping and research in the western poster displays from scientists and or' going work of individual western states
United States. The meeting is cospon- ganizations active in the EEZ of the to map and assess the resources of their
sored by the U.S. Geological SuJVeY western United States (California. Ore- coastal waters.
(USGS). National Oceanic and Atmos- gon. Washington. Alaska. and Hawaii).
pheric Administration (NOAA) Joint Subject matter will focus on the seafloor For more information contact,
Office for Mapping and Research and will include an overview of ongoing
Millington Lockwood
(JOMAR). the American Association federal and state activities. results of
USGS-NOAA Joint Office for
of State Geologists, and the Oregon seafloor research projects, uses and us-
Mapping and Research
Department of Geological and Mineral ers of the EEZ. applications of data and
915 National Center
Industries. information. and technological ad-
Reston. VA 22092
vances. Symposium sessions will discuss
17031 648~6225
the relationship among federal. state.
This is the fifth in a series of biennial
academic, and private sector activities in 0'
symposia held since the issuance of the
mapping. research. and determining the
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZl Procla- Gregory McMurray
resources of and providing information
mation in 1983. Previous symposia Oregon Department of Geology
in the EEZ. technological advances. and
have been held in the Washington. D.C. and Mineral Industries
computer modeling of seafloor proc-
area and have focused on EEl mapping 910 State Office Building
esses.
and research from a national perspec- 1400 SW Fifth Avenue
tive. The intention of the 1991 Sympo- Case studies will be presented Portland, OR 97201
sium is to refine the specific interests describing the results of a cooperative (5031229~5580~
MAY 1991
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY
'"
A Page For Teachers
Geothermal Energy
(Adapted in part from ~Steam Press.- published by lhe Geothennal Education Office. v Ln. 1. 1988.)
Geothermal resources are an Impol'1ant poIIutm because nothing IS burned publtshed annually to further educate
source of energy for both the United Slates TIle steam IS produced COllrt~ of youth and other interested readers about
and the 1OoOrid. Right now in the Umted Mother Nature, geo(hermal energy and its Vital role In
States there is enough electricity generated helping to ~ain a healthy and dean
from geochermal to &JPpIy ~r three mU- Like solar and wind. geothermal Is a re- I.lIOTk:I Class sets of "5l:eam Pres.s~
newable energy source. which means that are available for a nominal charge.
lion households with electricity; thats
enough electricity to supply the needs ....'C won't run oot of It Geothermal. as
wen as these other renev.table energy .About Geotherma[ Energy. ~ Geotl1er
of Oregon and Washington combined,
sources. has no fuels that must be trans· mal EducatiOn Office. 664 Hilary Dove.
ported. so there are no chances of acci· Tiburon. CA 94920. (SOO) 866·4GEO
What is geothermal energy? dents like oil spills. This booklet is in a cartoon format and
provides an introduction to geothermal
II \s heal energy that comes [n contrast energy.
Irom the interior 01 the Earth to other
and is transferred to the crust renewable "Geothermal Energy in California.~ text
Geothennal energy becomes energy by S,F Hodgson, Illustrations by J
hydrothermal energy when it resources. Spnggs 1988, California Department of
converts water to hot water gcothennal Consel\lation. Division of Oil and Gas.
and/or steam. is a very 1416. Nll1th Slreet. Room 1310. Sacra-
reliable mento. CA 95814 22 p. This booklet
Visible forms of geo- source of provides an IntroductiOn to geothermal
thermal energy include: elec1ricity. energy In CalifotTiia It Is designed lor
It is avail- students in fourth through ninth gr<ldes
HoI spnngs. geysers. or natural and readers .....ho u.'ant a revIeW of the
~e.am that occurs ....flen Wilt('\'" .bIo "'"
lime. day sub,ect IndMduaJ and classroom sees
comes In contad UoiIth hot rocks and mght are available free-of-<harge.
UoiIthln the crust and rises to the
surface of the Earth 0.::-',>- "
TIle follou.,ng are availab£e al the re-
gIOnal DMG Publkalions and Informa-
Volcanoes......hich OCCUl'" .....hen tIOn offICeS: Los Angeles (213) 62Q.
magma Itself surfaces as \ava 3560. P1eas.ant HiD ('lIS) 646·5921.
and Sacramento (916) 445-5716
How is geothermal energy
used to produce electricity? "Geothermal Re$OUrces in Cahfor-
."
'> nia. - by S Bezore 1984 CAU-
FORNlA GEOLOGY. v. 37.
n 6. p. 115-118 This
the Earth's CnJ5t. --- ", article explains the origin
To release the steam and water from the ~
• " ' \ and characteristics of
geothermal resources
reservoir a deep hole is drilled and a pipe G2
in CalifOrnia and
•
is inserted. highlights commu-
1be sleam is used to tum the blades 01
a turbine and generate electricity. -- ...... ""-5rlI __
. . - r000l7"-
•
? nities in California
that utilize this
resource
•
.
The hot water is used to heat another GEOTHERMAL
od.:i... , ~ -Geothermal
liquid that has a lower boiling point
The liquid turns into a gas and is used
to tum .a turbtne.
RESOURCE
AREAS .:;-- ~
---
_ ::::-
,-
~ Resources 01 Cali-
lomla (Geologic
Data Map No 4).
The angLlli'l1 hot wat('\'" Is returned 10 compiled bo; C T
the Earth Solar energy is only available when the HlQ9lns. 1980. Department of C0nser-
stnl IS shining and UoiInd energy only u.hen vatiOn. OMsion of Mines and Geoiogy
Why is geothermal energy there is a UoiInd bkJwIng This Willi SIZe map is a compilallon of aI
important? the thermal spnngs and u.oeIIs on record
Natural steam is one of the least expen- in California
Geothermal Is a clean. reneu.oable. reh sive ways of aD the fuel) to generate eIec·
able. and economical energy source that trielty. In fad. the cost of dnnmg a natural -Technical Map of Geothermal
produces electricity ....'thout burmng steam u.'CU pays lor It.5"11 in a few years. Resources of California {GeologIC
which makes the fuel free alter that. Data Map No 51.- compiled bo; H H
TraditJOl\i'lI pou.-er plants bum fossllfuels MaJmundar 1983 Department of
to make steam that turns the turl:lIl1eS to Sources of Information: ConservatIOn. Division of Mines and
make electricity. The burning of fossil Geology. This Willi :;ize map shows tne
fuels produces large amounts of carbon "Steam Press. Geothermal Education relatlOllship of tectonic features. such as
dioxide and other pollutants. In contrast. Office. 664 Hilary Dnve. Tiburon. CA faults and volcanoes. to the occurrence
at a geothermal power plant there Is hllle 94920. (SOO) 8664GEO ThIs journal is of geothermal resources."'"
continued.
EngIneering Geology California produces nearly half of the bores its way through the Earth's crust.
oil it consumes every year. In 1989. the drill bit chips off rock, which drilling
CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN OF this state produced 337 million barrels fluki carries to the surface. At the sur-
CEMENT GROUTING: A guide to of oil while consuming 706 million bar- face. the ground-up rock pieces as well
grouting in rock formations. By A. Clive rels. Oil and gas exploration in Califor- as formation gases and fluids are ana-
Houlsby. 1990. Available from: John nia is continuing. Since its inception in lyzed by g"ologists commonly called
Wiley & Sons. Inc .. 605 Third Avenue, Mmud loggers.· This book introduces
the 1930s. the oil exploration service
New York. NY 10158.442 p. $74.95, known as ~mud logging~ has expanded the types of data bases acquired by mud
hard cover. Price does not include sales to encompass several geoscience. pe- loggers and explains how this informa-
tax. shipping, or handling. troleum, and engineering disciplines. tion is interpreted and utilized. It is de-
This volume is another in the Wiley Although there has been a plethora of signed to accompany profeSSional mud
Series of Practical Construction Guides. new high-tech oil and gas exploratory loggers in their analyses of subsurface
Alling open cracks in rock foundations techniques in recent years, the only way geologic information. The author as-
with grout made of cement and water to find out exactly what lies under- sumes the reader has a fundamental
requires experience and skill. After ground is to drill a well. It remains a understanding of modem petroleum
placing. the cement grout sets and pro- tried and true way to accurately under- technology. chemistry. physics, and
vides a permanent filling Ihal strength- stand the subsurface geology. As it geoscience.
ens the rock foundation and reduces
seepage flow. Foundation grouting re-
duces the permeability under dams. ,-----------------------------
MAIL ORDER FORM
strengthens weak rock foundations. and
Complete address 10flTI on nexl page.
significantly aids In mining construction,
IndICate nvrnoer 01 copies. Pric::e iTl(:luOes
tunnel construction. and placing subsur- ., postage and sales lax.
face shafts. This guide describes the BULLETINS
equipment used in grouting, how to 8189 MJnerals 01 Calilornia. 1966 .. _59.00
_B202 Geology 01 the Point Reyes Peninsula. Mann CounJy, Calilornia. 1977 57.00
assess a proposed grouting site. how to
design grouting Jobs. how to prevent a SPECIAL REPORTS
shoddy grouting }ab, and suggests de- _ _ SR97 Geolog>e and engll1eenng aspects 01 San FraTlClSCO Bay fill. 1969 55.00
tails for contract specifications for a suc' _ _ SRl54 Supplement: a catalog ot strong mollon accelerograph records 18COV8Ied by
the othce 01 Slror.g mollon sludies during 1982. 1983 ..$4.00
cessful grouting job. The term grout is _ _ SR157 MII1&ra!.esource potential ollhtl Rockhouse Wilderness slUdy area
derived from the old English word (Kern and Tvlal9 counties. CaJ,lofl'lIaj. 1987 .. 51 J.(lO
*gruC and originally referred to coarsely
MAP SHEETS
ground meal. Later. by analogy. it was
_M$4 Geology or the Reddlng 17 S'l quadrangle. Shasta County. California
used to describe a liquid mortar of simi- (scale 1:24.000). 1965................ . 53.00
lar consistency. Since ancient Roman __ MSS Geology of Jne weslarn Valleolos syTl(:hne, San Benl10 CounJy, California
times through the middle ages and into (scale: 1:31.250). 1965.. .. $3.00
_MS8 Geology 01 the Palo Alto quadrangle. Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.
the present. grout has been used to Cahfornla (scale. 1:62,500). 1966 54.00
strengthen walls. bridges. aqueducts. _MSll Geology or a po!1lOn of wflStern Mann County. Cahlorn,a (scale: 1:48.000). 1969 5HIO
and (or numerous engineering projects. _MSJOGeology 01 11le southeast ql.laner 01 the Oal Mountain quadrangle,
los Angeles County. Cahtom,a (scale: 1:12.000). 1979..... .. $8.00
Geologists commonly come into contact _ _ MS33 Geology or llle southwaSlern part 01 the Oat Mounla,n quadrangle.
VJith grouting practices when placing Los Angeles Counly, Calilornla (scale" :12,000). 1978 .. 51.00
down-hole casing, stabilizing founda-
tions. and lor mining and tunneling GEOLOGIC DATA MAP NO.7
_ _ GOM7 lsostati(: resiclual graVIty map 01 Cali!ornia and offshore southern Cahlol'llia.
construction. 199\ (scale: 1:750.000) (NEW) .. 512.00
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY
_ 1 year (12ISSlH1S) ............................................................ 510.00
ExplorallOn Geology _ 2 yea,s (24 Issues) . .. $20.00
Each back issue .. ............................. .. 51.25
MUD LOGGING HANDBOOK. By Speaty volume and month ,................................... .. .
Alun Whittaker. 1991. Available from: List 01 Available Publications F,"
Prentice Hall Inc.. Prentice Hall Building,
Englewood Cliffs. NJ 07632. 530 p. TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED ................•, - -
$64.00. hard cover. (Price does not in-
clude sales tax. shipping. and handling).
L PAYMENT MUST BE INCLUDED WITH ORDER _
GEOLOG[C EXCURSIONS IN NORTH- prctallon of the geology and tectonic hislory laSI 5 my. there have been both large·scale
ERN CAUFORNIA SAN FRANCISCO TO of California The concepts of seafloor strike slip and thrust faulting along the Hay-
THE SIERRA NEVADA. Ediled by Doris spreading. subducTion. forearc basins. arc- ward. Calaveri'lS. and other aclive faults In
Sloan and DaVId L. Wagner. 130 p. $10.00. related magmatism. and transfonn faulting the region.
Special Publication 109 contains guides were applied to the fonnerty enigmatic and To the southeast. in tne Diablo Range
and explanatory text for II field trips con- contradictory relationships of the Franciscan
[Trip 9). evidence is presented that indicates
ducted in associatiOn with the 87th Annual Complex. the Great Valley sequence. the
that the Coast Range ophiolite was the sile
Meeting of the Cordilleran Section of Ihe Salinlan block. and the Sierra Nevada batho- of a volcanic arc during the latest Juri'lSSic
Geological Society of America (GSA) and the lith. Application 01 plate-Tectonic models to
and that the well-exposed low-angle fault
Seismological Society of America. held in nonhem California made it the type ex-
that fonns the present boundary betv.leen
San Francisco. March 25-27. 1991 ample of an active continental margin. lhe ophiolite and the underlying Franciscan
This volume was planned by the TechOlcal The field guides in Speclal Publication metagri'lywacke. is probably a normal fault.
CommlUee 01 the 87th Annual Meeling and 109 provide all up·to-date application of formed during uplift of the Franciscan sub-
organized by a subc:ommillee consisting of these current models and concepts to Cali- dllCliOn complex.
M.C. Blake. Doris Sloan. and D.L. Wagner. fornia geology. Trips I. 3. 4. 5. and 8 em· Fanher to the easl. in the Sierra Nevada
Twenty-eight authors. representing govern- phasize the Quatemary tectonics of the San
rrrip II). detailed structural i'lnd isotopic
ment (12). universities {lZ}. and industry (4) Andreas transform system and its role in
studies indicate that the development of
conTributed to the publication. There are recent sedimentation. Trips 6 and 10 em- cleavage and metamorphism along the Foot-
abundant tables. photos. and illustrations phasize Neogene and Quatemary volcanism. hills suture zones was taking place at the
throughout tne volume, lhought by some to be related to passage of same Ume as deposition of the older pan of
the triple junction rather than to subduction
In the past. meetings oflhe Geological the Great Valley sequence and early meta-
Society of America have provided impetus for [n the Santa Cruz Mountains near lorna morphism of the Franciscan Complex
the Division of Mines and Geology to release Prieta rrrip 5). and in Marin County [Trip
Thus. nearly every manifestation of plate
publications describing the geology of Califor- 2}. paleontologic and paleomagnetic data in-
tectonics can be seen in nOrlhem California.
nia Bulletin 190. Geology of Northern Cali- dicate thaI Franciscan terranes east of the
and Ihe geologic features described in (his
fornia. was published in conjuncllon with the San Andreas faull have been translated guidebook provide an excellent introducTion
1966 GSA meeting held in San Francisco. IlOrlhward from near-equatorial latiludes.
10 the geologic and tectonic history of the
II contained guides for seven field trips in lhe reqwring that large-scale transform faulting
region.
Bay area. the northem Coast Ranges. the took place prior to the development of the
San Andreas system. Trip 2 also presents Special Publication 109 is available for
Sacramento Valley. and the Sierra Nevada
eW:lence that the Sahnian block has been reference or purchase at the Division of
Now. 25 years later. the gUides in Special
offset about 90 mi (ISO km)ln the last lO- Mines and Geology olflces in Los Angeles.
Publication 109 cover much of the same
IS million years (my) by the San Gregorio Pleasant HIll. or Sacri'lmento. It may be or-
ground. but the geology is interpreted from
faull. dered by mail from, Division of Mines and
a profoundly different perspective.
Geology. P.O. Box 2980. Sacramento. CA
The advent of plate tectonics in the late Trip 7. in the Berkeley HiUs of the cen·
95812-2980.
196& h<'ld an enormous impact on the inter- tral Coast Ranges. suggests lhat during (he
MAY t991
CALIfORNIA GEOLOGY
'"
SlAlE Of CAlIFORNIA SECOND ClASS POSTAGE PAID
THE RESOURCES AGENCY AT SACRAMENTO, CAUfORNLA
DEPAAlMENT Of CONSERVAlION
CAUFORNIA GEOLOGY
DMSlONOf
MINES AND GEOlOGY
P.O. BOX 2980
SACRAMENTO, CAUFORNIA 95812·2980
USPS JSO 840
ADOltESS CORRECl1ON REQUESTED
ISOSTATIC RESIDUAL GRAVITY MAP OF CAUFOR- detached thrust sheet within the western Klamath Mountains,
NIA AND OFFSHORE SOUTHERN CAUFORNIA. By Car- and (2) a gravity low caused by Iow-density sedimentary rocks
ter W. Roberts, Robert C. Jachens, and Howard W. Oliver. in the Ventura basin modified by the associated mantle up-
scale 1:750.000, $12.00. warp accompanying isostatic compensation 01 the basin lill
(Jachens and Griscom. 1985).
TIle isostatic residual gravity map of California effectively
separates gravity anomalies caused by geological variations in The gravity map is printed on the wall-size colored geo-
the crust from large &uguer gravity anomalies that result logic base map of California (scale 1:750.000). Approxi-
from isostatic compensation of the topography. By removing mately 65.000 land gravity stations were used in the compila-
the isostatic effects of mountain roots, the smaller geologic tion; an increase of several thousand stations since the
anomalies are better defined. This map should be useful for Bouguer compilation of Oliver and others (1980).
oil and mineral explorationists as well as for anyone inter-
ested in the interpretation and extrapolation of subsurface Copies of Geologic Data Map No. 7 are available for refer-
geology. ence at Division of Mines and Geology offices in Sacramento.
Pleasant Hill. and Los Angeles. Copies may be purchased
This regional-residual separation reveals important features from lhese offices for $12.00.
that are not easily recognized on the Bouguer gravity map
and converts others Ihal are difficult to interpret into anoma- REFERENCES
lies that can be readily analyzed. Major residual anomalies
Jachens. R.C" and Griscom. A.. 1985. An isostatic reSidual gra'lIly
that are now more easily recognized include (l) a gravity map or Calirornia: a residua! map for interpretation 01 anomalies
anomaly caused by the Gorda plate sulxlucted beneath north- Irom intracrustal sources. in Hinze. W.J.. editor. The ulility 01 re-
ern California. and (2) a pattern of linear gravity highs along gional gravily and magnetic anomaly maps: Society of Explora-
tion Geophysicists, Tulsa. Oklahoma. p. 347-360.
the western margins and gravity IOVJS in lhe eastern parts of
both the Sierra Nevada and Peninsular Ranges batholiths Oliver. H.W., Chapman. R.H.. Biehler. S., Robbins. S.L. Hanna.
W.F.. Griscom. A., Beyer. LA., and Silver. EA. 1980. Gravity
(Jachens and Griscom, 1985).
Map or California and its continental margin: California Division
of Mines and Geology. Geologic Dala Map No.3, scale
Prominent anomalies that now are more amenable to 1:750.000.""
quantitative analysis include (l) gravity highs defining a major