EXPLANATION LACUSTRINE L–1 Playa claystone/siltstone L–2 Pebbly playa claystone/siltstone L–3 Freshwater limestone L–4 Tuffaceous marl L–5 Sandy freshwater limestone BORDERLINE LACUSTRINE—FLUVIAL FL–1 Clayey sandstone FL–2 Siltstone FLUVIAL F–1 Boulder conglomerate F–2 Cobble conglomerate F–3 Conglomeratic sandstone F–4 Sandstone, often pebbly ALLUVIAL A–1 Desert alluvial conglomerate A–2 Matrix-rich, clay-rich alluvial or debris-flow conglomerate VOLCANIC V–1 Tuff, ashfall or reworked V–2 Ash-flow tuff, variably welded V–3 Felsic lava V–4 Intermediate to mafic lava MASS WASTING—GRAVITY DEPOSITS MW–1 Rock-avalanche breccia MW–2 Gravity slide blocks MW–3 Sedimentary breccia GROUNDWATER DISCHARGE DEPOSITS GD Travertine and calcareous siltstone 2 1 1 I F I BASE OF BADWATER BASE OF OWLSHEAD rhyolite of Daylight Pass 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 1,100 1,200 1,300 1,400 1,500 1,600 1,700 1,800 1,900 2,000 2,100 2,200 2,300 2,400 2,500 2,600 2,700 2,800 2,900 METERS 3 B 4 NORTHERN COTTONWOOD MOUNTAINS (Snow and Lux, 1999) *22.9 Ma *23.8 Ma *15.1 Ma *15.9 Ma *3.2 Ma *3.7 Ma Zw Mt NAVADU FORMATION PANUGA FORMATION UBEHEBE FORMATION A BASE OF BADWATER BASE OF FURNACE CREEK BASE OF NAVADU BASE OF HELLS GATE BASE OF TITUS CANYON 2 1 SOUTHERN COTTONWOOD MOUNTAINS (Snow and Lux, 1999) B *3.2 Ma *12.1 Ma 3 4 Pd NAVADU FORMATION PANUGA FORMATION UBEHEBE FORMATION *19.6 Ma *20.4 Ma BASE OF NAVADU BASE OF FURNACE CREEK BASE OF HELLS GATE BASE OF TITUS CANYON BASE OF BADWATER L 3 B *11.38 Ma *3.35 Ma *3.7 Ma *4.0 Ma *4.3 Ma *4.37 Ma *5.7 Ma *7.4 Ma provenance change *7.8 Ma Zwl NOVA FORMATION L C BASE OF NAVADU BASE OF OWLSHEAD MILITARY CANYON FORMATION FAULTED OUT SOUTHERN OWLSHEAD MOUNTAINS (this study) *11.6 Ma *14.1 Ma D BASE OF FURNACE CREEK Kg BASE OF OWLSHEAD FUNERAL FORMATION POST- BASIN RANGE FURNACE CREEK FORMATION NORTHWESTERN FURNACE CREEK BASIN (McAllister, 1970; this study) *3.5 - 3.1 Ma *4.7 Ma? ARTIST DRIVE FORMATION E LOWER MEMBER BADWATER BASE OF FURNACE CREEK BASE FAULTED OUT CENTRAL FURNACE CREEK BASIN AT BILLIE MINE (McAllister, 1970, 1971; Wright and others, 1999) 4 2&3 B b FUNERAL FORMATION FURNACE CREEK FORMATION ROCKS OF BILLIE MINE F BASE OF NAVADU BASE OF NAVADU VIRGIN CANYON (Wright & Troxel, 1984) 3 2 base not exposed ktb 3.2 Ma ~4.5 Ma PART ANDESITE OF ASHFORD MILL MISCORRELATED AS FUNERAL FORMATION CHAOS” “AMARGOSA OF G BASE OF BADWATER BASE OF FURNACE CREEK BASE OF FURNACE CREEK BASE OF NAVADU SHADOW VALLEY BASIN (Friedmann, 1999) F L L 2 B *7 Ma *10.8 Ma *11.4 Ma *11.8 Ma *12.0-12.5 Ma *12.9 Ma Zs MEMBER IV MEMBER III MEMBER II MEMBER I (INCLUDES “PRE-BASINAL”) SOUTHERN GRAPEVINE MOUNTAINS, (Reynolds, 1969; Fridrich and Berry, unpub. mapping) H POST-BASIN-RANGE CIMA BASALT BASE OF FURNACE CREEK BASE OF BADWATER BASE OF OWLSHEAD BASE OF HELLS GATE OWLSHEAD HELLS GATE 3 4 2 *6.35 Ma *6.35 Ma ktb ≈7.8 Ma ktb ≈9.9 Ma ktb ≈10.4 Ma ktb ≈10.5 Ma ktb ≈11.3 Ma ktb 11.45 Ma ktb 11.6 Ma ktb 13.35 Ma 1 B ktb 13.5 Ma ktb 14.0 Ma ktb≈14.6 Ma ktb 15.9 Ma b RHYOLITE OF RAINBOW MOUNTAIN TRACHYTE OF DONOVAN MOUNTAIN AMMONIA TANKS TUFF RAINIER MESA TUFF TIVA CANYON TUFF BULLFROG TUFF TRAM TUFF RHYOLITE OF PICTURE ROCK RHYOLITE OF DAYLIGHT PASS GREEN CONGLOMERATE TITUS CANYON FORMATION BASALT RHYOLITE OF SARCOBATUS FLAT BASALT SPEARHEAD TUFF rhyolite of Sarcobatus Flat BASE OF FURNACE CREEK BASE OF BADWATER BASE OF NAVADU BASE OF HELLS GATE BASE OF TITUS CANYON Zwl NORTHERN FUNERAL MOUNTAINS (Fridrich and Berry, unpub. mapping) *7.5 Ma ktb 7.5 Ma <11.45 Ma *14.6 Ma L 2 B *8.3 Ma GREEN CONGLOMERATE TITUS CANYON FORMATION J BASE OF FURNACE CREEK BASE OF NAVADU BASE OF POST-BASIN-RANGE BASE OF OWLSHEAD BASE OF HELLS GATE OWLSHEAD HELLS GATE BASE OF TITUS CANYON B BAT MOUNTAIN, SOUTHEASTERN FUNERAL MOUNTAINS (Cemen and others, 1999) *13.5 Ma *22.6 Ma *24.7 Ma (ktb 27 Ma) Dl *21.2 Ma AMARGOSA VALLEY FORMATION KELLEYS WELL BAT MOUNTAIN FORMATION CONGLOMERATE MEMBER CONGLOMERATE MEMBER LIMESTONE MEMBER RED SAMDSTONE MEMBER SANDSTONE MEMBER LIMESTONE K BASE OF POST-BASIN RANGE BASE OF NAVADU BASE OF OWLSHEAD OWLSHEAD HELLS GATE BASE OF TITUS CANYON NYE COUNTY DRILL HOLE–2DB (Murray, 2002) F 2 1 B ktb 12.8 Ma ktb 13.5 Ma Dl QT ALLUVIUM ROCKS OF PAVITS SPRING ROCKS OF WINAPI WASH (RV–15.9 Ma) (RV–26.0 Ma) L BASE OF NAVADU BASE OF HELLS GATE BASE OF NAVADU (RV–Rhyolite of Daylight Pass - ktb 14.6 Ma) *6.2 Ma UPPER MEMBER MIDDLE MEMBER *12.7 Ma *13.7 Ma ktb 12.7 Ma NOVA BASIN (Snyder and Hodges, 2000) B B ktb≈11 Ma ktb 27 Ma 40 Ma (Fossil) 40 Ma (Fossil) *≈13.3 Ma ktb ≈ 6.2 Ma ktb≈6.2 Ma *13.2 Ma _ > REPRESENTATIVE CENOZOIC STRATIGRAPHIC COLUMNS FROM TWELVE LOCALES IN THE DEATH VALLEY REGION By Christopher J. Fridrich and Ren A. Thompson 2011 ktb≈6.2 Ma Twelve representative Cenozoic sections from different parts of the Death Valley region, with a lithologic key, an index map showing locations of sections, and Argon ages, where known. The majority of sections are measured, whereas the others are approximated from map data or constrained by GPS readings. The sections are mainly compiled from the sources cited. Modifi- cations from, and additions to the original data are based on new field work in this study. Depositional environments indicated are interpretive. All sections are hung on the ≈12.5 to ≈11.5 Ma regional unconformity (base of the Navadu assemblage). This horizon, along with the bases of the other tectonostratigraphic assemblages show correlations between sections. Argon ages following asterisks were determined from samples taken from the sections themselves, whereas ktb (known to be) indicates ages of widespread, easily recognizable volcanic units that are well dated elsewhere. In the furthest right section alone (Nye County well 2DB), RV signifies determined Argon ages of tuffs found in equivalent stratigraphic locations in Rock Valley, several kilometers east of this well (data from James C. Yount, retired USGS). Unconformities are basal (B), numbered oldest to youngest by the tectonic reorganization in which they formed, or are local (L). SIERRA NEVADA NORTHERN BASIN AND RANGE Avawatz Range Avawatz Range Amargosa Desert E White Mountains Inyo Mountains ARGUS RANGE SLATE RANGE MOJAVE Cottonwood Mtns Owens Valley Panamint Valley NEVADA TEST SITE DEATH Pahrump Basin Bare Mountain Clark Mountains NEVADA CALIFORNIA NEVADA CALIFORNIA Spring Mountains CDVR Grapevine–Funeral Mountains BOUNDARY OF DEATH VALLEY REGION KR SVB Indian Wells Valley Eureka Valley SALINE RANGE Saline Valley LVVSZ NORTHERN BASIN AND RANGE Avawatz Range 116˚ 117˚ 118˚ 37˚ 36˚ Garlock fault 0 0 50 KILOMETERS 50 MILES NORTHERN COTTONWOOD MOUNTAINS A SOUTHERN COTTONWOOD MOUNTAINS B NOVA BASIN C SOUTHERN GRAPEVINE MOUNTAINS I NORTHERN FUNERAL MOUNTAINS J NYE COUNTY DRILLHOLE 2DB L NORTHWESTERN FURNACE CREEK BASIN BAT MOUNTAIN, SOUTHWESTERN FUNERAL MOUNTAINS K CENTRAL FURNACE CREEK BASIN AT BILLIE MINE F SOUTHERN OWLSHEAD MOUNTAINS SHADOW VALLEY BASIN H VIRGIN CANYON G Black Mountains Nopah Range RSR VALLEY D 20 20 30 30 40 40 10 10 NEVADA CALIF MAP AREA 0 5 10 15 20 30 40 0 3 6 11 12 15 16 19 27 Age (Ma) Volcanism Very low rate basaltic; except low-rate true bimodal in Owens Valley Desert alluvium > lacustrine (all playa clay) >> fluvial/much gypsum Moderate-rate true-bimodal basalt > to >> felsic; no intermediates Desert alluvium > fluvial > lacustrine: (playa clay >> freshwater limestone) Fluvial _ lacustrine: (limestone > claystone) minor gypsum Gypsum, but rare; mammal fossils common (limestone > claystone) Very high rate quasi- bimodal: felsics > basalt > andesite and latite % basalt increases up Desert alluvium = fluvial > lacustrine: (claystone > limestone) gypsum common, rare fossil plants, mostly palms Moderate–rate andesite- rhyolite association: Fluvial = lacustrine: (claystone _ limestone) >> non-desert alluvium, moderate gypsum, fossil metasequoias nondeposition No local volcanism but abundant distal tuffs Fewer and more distal volcaniclastics + rare tuffs Very rare tuffs, trivial volcaniclastics Extremely rare or no tuffs or volcaniclastics Basal percussion-marked boulder conglomerate on ultra-weathered moderate-relief basal unconformity ~1 m.y. volcanic hiatus Abundant basal breccias Lithology FURNACE CREEK 19-16 Ma Lacuna Cenozoic Stratigraphy of Death Valley Region TITUS CANYON NAVADU BADWATER OWLS- HEAD HELLS GATE W E (Owens Valley) (Pahrump Basin) Isolated paleocanyon fill ~ ~ > > Stage 4: Stage 3: Stage 2: Stage 1: Age (Ma) POST– BASIN– RANGE PRE–BASIN–RANGE TCFS SYN– BASIN– RANGE POST- BASIN- RANGE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1783 Plate 1 Suggested citation: Fridrich, C.J., and Thompson, R.A., 2011, Cenozoic tectonic reorganizations of the Death Valley region, southeast California and southwest Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1783, 36 p., 1 plate. 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Publishing support provided by: Denver Publishing Service Center and Rolla Publishing Service Center This and other USGS information products are available at http://store.usgs.gov/ U.S. Geological Survey Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 To learn about the USGS and its information products visit http://www.usgs.gov/ 1-888-ASK-USGS This report is available at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/1783 Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey 1:100,000-scale map PANAMINT RANGE