Cenozoic geology of Hindu Canyon, Mohave County, Arizona

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Authors Gray, Robert Stephen, 1934-

Publisher The University of Arizona.

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CENOZOIC GEOLOGY OF HINDU CANYON,

MOHAVE COUNTY, ARIZONA

by

Robert S. Gray

A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of theO . /•; •

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Of •: /• <-*\ /'-V

MASTER OF SCIENCE

In the Graduate College

UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

1959

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STATEMENT BY AUTHOR

This th esis has been submitted in partial fulfillm ent of require­ments for an advanced degree at the University of Arizona and is de­posited in the U niversity Library to be made available to borrow ers under ru les of the Library.

B rief quotations from this th esis are allowable without special perm ission , provided that accurate acknowledgment of source is made. Requests for perm ission for extended quotation from or reproduction of this m anuscript in whole or in part may be granted by the head of the major department or the Dean of the Graduate C ollege when in their judgment the proposed use of the m aterial is in the in terests of scholar­ship. In all other instances, however, perm ission must be obtained from the author.

SIGNED:

APPROVAL BY THESIS DIRECTOR

This th esis has been approved on the date shown below:

b afe^JOHN F./p r o fe s so r of Paleontology

; x U - r c r i IL.i C 0 ! " w . : : : : v, r . : . *1 ■ f -: - : \ v : ; L k ' ; -CENOZOIC GEOLOGY OF HINDU CANYON,

. v : MOHAVE COUNTY, ARIZONA ^

V ■ by * . . ; r - ■

Robert S. Gray

ABSTRACT

Cenozoic fluviatile and lacustrine(?) sedimentary deposits in

Hindu Canyon and Lost Manrs Canyon near Peach Springs, Arizona,

are of interest for their possible bearing on the history of the Colorado

River in the southwestern part of the Colorado Plateau. The sediments

blanket the Paleozoic bedrock in the lower parts of the canyon, and oc­

cur as isolated outcrops along the walls.

Hindu Canyon and Lost Mants Canyon represent a segment of a

former drainage system that has been disrupted; possibly, it may rep­

resent an early course of the Colorado River.

In this paper the Hindu Canyon formation and the Buck and Doe

conglomerate are defined as formations in the Hindu Canyon area.

Certain conclusions may be drawn as to the geological history of

the canyon. It was formed during Cenozoic time, possibly after the first

movement on the Hurricane fault, and then filled with Cenozoic deposits.

i i

A combination of climatic changes and/or damming by structural move­

ments could have caused deposition of these sediments. Re-excavation

of the canyon by destructive forces has eroded the deposits. Present

outcrops are only remnants of deposits that formerly filled the canyon.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS: v' s . . ; . . . . f

INTRODUCTION............... ..............

Location and Accessibility . .Previous Studies.....................Regional S ettin g .....................

' : ; Field and Labor atory. Studies Acknowledgments...................

PRE-CENOZOIC ROCKS .............

Precambrian Rocks ................................. . ....................................Paleozoic R ock s..................... - ........................................................Mesozoic R o c k s ................................................................................

F V v - v

CENOZOIC ROCKS ........... ..................................... .................................

Sedimentary Rocks ..........................................................................r ‘ . G v : -;r ' . : i : : n G ; y v " - . ■ ■ ■ -

Formations in Hindu Canyon A r e a ......................................:G. r { ■ y. .;- G': : ::yv ■ ^

Hindu Canyon Formation ..............................................

-G T • r: o Lower Member . . . . . ........... ... .......................: • : ■ Middle M ember.........................................................

Upper M em b er...................................... ..................

Buck 9nd Doe Conglomerate . G.................... ..............

Formations in Adjacent Areas .............................................

Peach Springs Canyon G ra v els ....................................1. G... Milkweed Canyon G ravels. ' . . . . ' . . G. ......................

M Tertiary Gravels of Koons” ........................................2 , C l : ■ 1 o f y - - . : : . f G , ;

Igneous Rocks

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141720

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Page

STRUCTURE . . . . . . . ............. ...................................... ......... ............ 29

Faults . . X '. . . . v . . . . . . . . ; ................... 29Regional Dip . . . — ........... ............... i --------------------- -----------. 30Monoclines .................................... 1.......................................... 30

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY ..................................................................... 33 •

CONCLUSIONS..................... .............. i .................... .............. .............. . 43. ' • 7 - • * • ' . • - -

APPENDIX— DESCRIPTIONS OF MEASURED SECTIONS ........... 44

SELECTED REFERENCES ........ 61

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure l’;:: ............ ............ . . . . . . . Page

1. Index map showing location of thesis a r e a ............................ 5

2. Generalized stratigraphic section in Hindu Canyon ........... 15

3. Sequence of deposition in Hindu Canyon due toclimatic change ....................................................... •............... 37

4. Sequence of deposition in Hindu Canyon controlled by .structural movem ent.................. 40

LIST OF PLATES

Plate Page

1. Geological map of part of the Hualapai;Plateau................... in pocket• '

2. Chart showing location of measured sections in HinduCanyon and Lost Manrs Canyon, Arizona . ................. .. in pocket

3. Chart showing stratigraphy of measured sections inHindu Canyon and Lost ManTs Canyon, Arizona .............in pocket

P late Page

4. Panoramic view of Hindu Canyon ' . ................... ............ .......... 2

5. Aerial photograph of Grand Canyon section of theColorado Plateau near Grand Wash Cliffs . . . . . . . : . . . . . 3

6. Cliff ejqjosure of Cenozoic sediments in Hindu Canyon . . . 13

7. ; Outcrops of Lower member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 16 n

8. Cliff-forming Middle member . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

: 9. Middle and Upper members of the Hindu'Canyonformation .................................................. .............. ................ 21

10. Structures in Buck and Doe conglom erate............................ 24c( : V , v .. V:.'; ■ V : .

11. Cenozoic sediments in Peach Springs Canyon..................... 26

12. Meriwitica monocline ........................................................... .. 31

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vi

INTRODUCTION

Cenozoic fluviatile and lacustrine(?) sedimentary deposits in

Hindu and Lost ManTs Canyons near Peach Springs, Arizona, are of in­

terest for their possible bearing on the history of the Colorado River in

the southwestern part of the Colorado Plateau. The sediments blanket

the Paleozoic bedrock in the lower parts of the canyons, and occur as

isolated outcrops along the walls. Present outcrops are only remnants

of deposits that formerly filled the canyons.

Hindu Canyon and Lost Man*s Canyon are actually a single

arcuate gorge connecting to Spencer Canyon and Peach Springs Draw,

both tributaries to the Colorado River; the gorge wiU be referred to in

this paper as Hindu Canyon. A transverse gravel ridge forms a divide

for intermittent drainage flowing west to Spencer Canyon and east to

Peach Springs Draw (pis. 1 and 4).

Hindu Canyon obviously represents a segment of some former

drainage system that has been disrupted; possibly, it represents an

early course of the Colorado River (pi. 5). The sediments that once

filled the canyon indicate a complex history of drainage change in the

area. The present study was made to determine to what extent the

mapping of the sediments would help in outlining the late Cenozoic drain­

age history of the area.

PLATE 4

PANORAMIC VIEW OF HINDU CANYON

Figure 1. View of valley floor of Hindu Canyon looking eastward to the transverse gravel ridge be­tween Hindu Canyon and Lost Man1 s Canyon.

Figure 2. View of Hindu Canyon on the left and Lost Manrs Canyon on the right from a point on the south rim of the combined canyons. Notice transverse gravel ridge which di­vides the two canyons.

CO

PLATE 5

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH OF GRAND CANYON SECTION OF THE COLORADO PLATEAU NEAR GRAND WASH CLIFFS

4

Location and Accessibility

Hindu Canyon is located in secs. 20-25, T. 27 N ., R. 12 W.,

Gila River and Salt River Base Line and Principal Meridian. Included

in this report are areas in secs. 16, 17, 26-29, 35, and 36 in T. 27 N .,

R. 12 W., and in secs. 26-35 in T. 27 N ., R. 11 W. Peach Springs is

the nearest town and is 18. 5 m iles from the area (fig. 1).

Previous Studies

/ ...■ • , -X •Early studies of the Hindu Canyon sedimentary fill were of a

/reconnaissance nature (Dutton, 1882; Schrader, 1909; and Darton, 1925).

Darton (p. 177) said, "hi the southern part of Township 27 North, Ranges

11 and 12 West, gravel and sand occupy a low valley which extends from

) a branch of Peach Springs Draw to a branch of Spencer Canyon about 500/ . -

feet below the Plateau lev e l." Hunt (1956) mentioned the sediments in

Hindu Canyon as well as the ones in Peach Springs Draw as having a

possible bearing on a former outlet of the Colorado River from the pla­

teau. Twenter (1958) mapped and discussed the sediments in a report

on the geology of the Hualapai Indian Reservation. Plate 1 is a modifi­

cation of his map, showing the geology of Hindu Canyon. Plate 5 shows

the area by means of aerial photograph. '

5

INDEX MAP SHOWING LOCATION

OF THESIS AREA

ARIZONA \

HUALAPAI

INDIAN F la g sta ffP eachSp rin gs

RESERVATION

S ca le in m ile s

F ig u re 1. - - Index m ap show ing lo ca tio n of th e s is a rea .

6

T: ' vvv - Ir'K:' Regional Setting ; V ‘ •:,“o

„. T. < ':.v. i. '.v-; 7 •7 7 :; : : 7Hindu Canyon is a part of the Grand Canyon section of the

;7'7 7 V :'7'7[7: 7;:.: 7 .7 7'77'77' 7777"-, ' 7 i:7- h..7v 7'<7':.77r7' 1\"7'7 .. H :Colorado Plateau (Hunt, 1956). This physiographic section includes:!7; • 7-;. :777777-'';: ’7 7 71 7 77 :tUy 0-17 1777:. T ‘: 7 p.77;7 7;i'V 7.; t hr: Lr' 7777-the San Francisco Mountains and the extensive lava fields to the south,7 • 7 - , ; 7: ' - (.77::: :i -77 ''7' C77 77. -V 77.77 \ .777 77.77:7 7:77 ' f 7.7 7777:77'7:-and the Kaibab upwarp and the faulted blocks to the west, and the Grand77: : 7 77 7: 7 77,7777 *7 V 7 7 V,'-; -'-. 7 7.77 07: .7:: 77.7: i: i- 07V 7: 77 t7; :Canyon of the Colorado River. Along the southern edge of the Grand7 7 — 77 777.7 7 7 \7:7 7 , 77. " ' % - 7:: 7=7:' -7 7 d i .7 7 ’! 7:-7 77: dCanyon section is the transition or mountain zone vdiich separates the

•rd.;;; 7 7.77 ;:K: - .77 7 .7 77;7:.:77'r:i7'-; 7 r 7.777.7 7 :7.77’ v..Colorado Plateau from the Sonoran Desert of the Basin and Range Prov-

' C ,7.077:.::'- V 7 .7 :. ]f 7 ; .7 .'.77 r.i7,, ii;;c7. ■ ■ i 7;. 7 ; 7 7 .7 7 77" .f V 7ince of southern Arizona.77 .77 7 '77 7 . 7 7.'7 -r. 7 ,; '7';. 7 7 ,7 77-7 '77:7 t d c - : ' \ r : d ixyrr o

The dominant local feature is the broad Hualapai Plateau7 7 7- '"'•' 7%; r - 7--:;Vr,: irrrr. : : , CV'dfr- : 1 : :-r; C777 .r:.' 7.77 7 hr :.'-::.7 0'7:7 r-'(Darton, 1925) into which Hindu Canyon is cut and which extends from' : .7 : L'7 h 7.1 7 7 7, f : v:":.: r 7 77 7 ■; : f i (: p!;dv7M 7r:::7 T 7,7 7 7the Grand Wash Cliffs on the west to Aubrey Valley on the east, and' -: ,77 ■' Cnrr 0.) : .C "7 dr.: G 7 7 : " 7 7 .7:7.from the Grand Canyon southward to Truxton Valley. The resistant

" ’7 dr .7. >.-. KCr lc < ‘ rn v7-: ;r: . r.H r-rV: d'.-rRedwall limestone caps the Hualapai Plateau over most of its extent;7 . . ' d v:;.d >7 < - ■ fbv !7'- .v-r. .• c. i ‘G . r- 77:7' . D rvrr ;rr i.r ::rr: rrr,;bedrock is covered in some areas by soil and limestone conglomerate.I;’ 'dr': . 7 .. ! ': 7 7 !j.rr;- ;-I:Or th • i i ' i •■"rr-'.d'.'.rLid d p r r v ; : ; ' r- d 7-f 'The average elevation of the plateau is about 5, 000 feet above sea level;r.f: d- ;r Cd-r ■■:>:: 7 ..r .-: -.."77 ;.d ■. 'dr- '.r.''::.- Iddr.;. 7.c::G: r:d7 v d7...r’ d'T.v.r ■the highest point is Music Mountain with an elevation of 6, 761 feet. The

7 . 7 ' 7 V • : 7 : . : , .' .7 7: 7 " 7 ,, 1 7. 7 7 . " 7..7. ' d 7 ' 7 7 . . 7 d :. :• C O X S f . ^ i - : v i l - , "bottom of the Grand Canyon along the northern part of the plateau is atGv;7 7.:7d.r :d - " :>7 ■ 7:-. ,;u 7 - dd:7 rr ■ .7-.:r d':d\:7 p'7;‘rr'-.r

an elevation of 1,200 feet.

The Colorado River located about four miles to the north of

Hindu Canyon and flowing in a canyon sub-parallel to it is the only

through-flowing river in the area. This river flows in a deep canyon7 d G: '.ri;; : : : 7.,.::-"7 7:'' >r; ’ : n . ..: • -. -: v: d. 7" 7;-"

whose base is at least 2,400 feet below the bedrock in Hindu Canyon.

The present Hindu Canyon1 is a nine-mile long segment cut into

the Hualapai plateau. The canyon is presumed to have been part of a

longer gorge.cut by aTriver possibly during late Tertiary timeic Its

ancient extensions are not readily obvious. The proximity of the Grand

Canyon has caused deep erosion at both ends which has effectively ob-

scured its former extent. The present canyon is about 1,000 feet deep

with steep walls: It extends in a general east-west direction and is

crescentic with1 the-general appearance of a cut-off meander scar of e,

the Colorado R iverf It is about one mile wide at its mid-point and be-

conies somewhat narrower toward each ’ehd.,: % The C enozoic sediments

are being removed from the center of the canyon and the bedrock is

being incised at both ends. A small limestone-capped plateau separates

Hindu Canyon from the Grand Canyon.

The canyon is some 800 feet higher in its central portions than

at either end because of the Cenozoic fill material. Devonian limestone

is the bedrock which underlies the fill remnants. Spencer and Peach

Springs Canyons are cut into the lower Paleozoic strata near their inter­

sections with Hindu Canyon, but a few miles further downstream where

they enter the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River their lower portions

are in Precambrian rocks.

Field and Laboratory Studies

Field studies were made during the summer of 1958. Field

8

work consisted of making a general geologic reconnaissance of the area

and measuring several stratigraphic sections of the Cenozoic depositsT ■? v v : : " '77 -. ,t 7 — f • - ' ' «.-« : ■ • % " ' . “ V.- ■■ i ..>■

of Hindu Canyon. Samples of these deposits were collected and were

later studied in the laboratory, l c G; 7 1 ; ■ : o ■ U i :• i i v

7:7; 77;;:.'77i7 V"'. 7 7 7:' G - CCi\77u7"::7: ?<G*7V'77.: 77-', 7Acknowledgments

v G ,;7 ::-77.-i V 7 7 77

Acknowledgments are due to Dr. John F. Lance and Dr. Willard

D. Pye of the University of Arizona for their suggestions and guidance.

Thanks are also due to Dr; JohniW. Harshbarger and the Tucson office

of the Ground Water Branch, U. S. .Geological Survey who furnished ;

financial aid, advice;; maps, and field equipment. - The author also ac-:.

knowledges the helpful suggestions of Floyd Twenter. t ; •?. 7 7

7 7 7 7 : 7 7.17*; ;t., 7 ' ; ) : '. iG ;: 7 Y \ 7 ■ r ^ r ! U ' 7 ! j v - e G ; i ; • 7 JV 1 7 7 G ) 7 7 ' :

7 : 7 : ; . 7 : ' ' d 7 i : v r 7 TG. 7 . C 7 a 7 7 ' •„* j G, 7 u ; v 7 V.;---:

r v ,1 7 7 7 7 o f . v o n : i n : i G e a r . ( v . 7 g o ; ; .

r 7 ■f' ' : 771)77. : -v. . ;

I'*'i ’ 7 ''77 ! “ ; 7 ( 7 : ?* G : v ■: . h u R i a - . : : 1 : 7 7,1 7 . ] : . 7 7 .17, I 7 : - • *

'7:7-7 7 7 1 O ' G u G gG ; : ’ V * ! ; 7,77 C 7 * V G 7 ‘ 7 7 G ; 7 7 7 Z G 7 7 h : T h - :

f : - : 7>:G G 7 : 7 ‘7 7.;. 'cl"• r - v ; : . 7 y * '.7, • g a Gg x G G i Z ' - G - i OV

7 7 r . 7 l n - a l * ■■■; ..-T. f ' ■ ■ v -■ - r ' ; r ' ; f ; r ' 7 g , ; : ' i ' Z G o : i i 7 t ' z - I G a . . : , ;

C . 7 : 77771: 7 7 7 : 7 . 7 7 . = 7 7 7 ; i ; . 7 7 a G h : C.7 1 ' 7 7 7 77 ' 7 , 77 p O d P T . ’f l • Gv ;c - a ' o n e

C! ■ : ,7,/-;:;,;; :'7'7. :77 Gv'i 77 i G U 111 77 17 7 r- G-'-vny. 5 Hr 77; ’ 7' Gh.Gd

j 0

■; A:: ; t; V. ; o n ' : o o ii'Z A:':: AC. pVi6 A'.. . ; ;a> aou:

" ■ v l : ' a ' ,ad by a CL: caLx.' ■ x-iAcA-Aa i .% V^o ' n ' ouc 0 ) ■PRE-CENOZOIC ROCKS

' "U'- i a;a:’•• ■'Hca :h-5 nxAAACAA l ormo avV-j :;v '/a-: i :,r;

: >. ; Pre^-Cenoraic rocks in5 the Grand Caa^)% on.the Hualapai Pla-

teau and in adjacent areas are.of Precambrian age, Paleozoic age, and

Mesozoic age.* .- " • i i . • I * / • y - : t

Precambrian RocksvA/A’k::' oi am’Ac :-' : : ; a r c r. V. U' ";.;A'iv Ca-nyc-; ::oa An

*;• ; ' i Precambrian rocks in the immediate area of Hindu;Canyoh are

exposed in the Grand Canyon to]the north and;consist of granite,; gneiss,

and schist. ; The average; elevation for these rocks in the Lower Granite

Gorge of the Grand Canyon is 2, 000 feet above sea level. This eleva­

tion is about 1, 600 feet lower than the lowest elevation of the Hindu Can­

yon formation. These same crystalline rocks outcrop in the lower

reaches of Peach Springs Canyon and Spencer Canyon.

Paleozoic Rocks

Paleozoic rocks in the Hualapai Plateau mid adjacent areas

consist of units ranging from Cambrian through Permian in age. The

Calville(?) limestone of*Pennsylvanian age intertongues with units of

the Supai formation. It is the youngest Paleozoic formation in the Hindu

Canyon area. It forms isolated hills on the broader Redwall limestone

of Mississippian age. The Redwall limestone forms the walls in Hindu9

10

Canyon and the surface rocks on the small plateau to the south, except

where masked by a Cenozoic white conglomerate. A limestone of De-

vonian age underlies the Red wall limestone and forms exposures on the

floor of Hindu Canyon, except where the strearn has cut into the Cam-

brian formations.C c - : ' ] r y rcvh-i v.yy:- ."1 a ' u .vr/yy p-:v -y lay

a : :/', i i vau -a- i .a ti i - M esozoic: Rocks a : ry .acva i ty p es , Iho.-t

yI'P-'ylL'y’ ly ni-.: v a H y y y ry;y canycv:f} ya ‘ 'i-iv-yy ayy . yd o v t yy b a -n P o 'Rocks of Mesozoic age are not found in Hindu Canyon nor on

■a " y y ' d * a v v - r n y V a : ' .; y y r i r . a a - y . h " v ' l . y y - y ' a : :P:y : x - :a -; ’ y c l a y c : -y y y a

the plateau to the south, but they appear as isolated remnants on thea: H =.yd'p P-y-cU P ; ; y y yipKv-aea Cyyyo; tyaPyP dopoyH:; P*eastern side of the Hualapai Indian Reservation. These remnants arecaPe -.mv’ '..•P:c iPay.y^yy; i y::y:o:ycyy;.:r ca laa Pvalay?; rtateau ysutscomposed of the Moenkopi formation of Triassic age.'.•t t'jya: : :y p a,: a ary iuy. y.::; Btaa : uaiaia yrovaly or-

y ayyiyPa of i aa I d j o p y l y y a - vv yyy' P:y Ca Pfyicy-;

y B a o ;,;t n v ;y .

T h e do/Kyhio in r:-:o P " - y-yd r • i; ; I Much; C 'naO;,

P' " O - - a y. i ' . ' c y o r t . aod the : d * i ' l i r u o y i a - a a ' - ' j -yyjaecrruf- y..\ the

y'-:T.y 'P to iha ;y is a y Try:: ::, i ir. .. ya.yyy Omu P..,y yhayy, :O:1-, OT-o

u y :T: vahK*': ha'-yj onl br-'r. fyroyalty n :yneh v d i :y yrTv/oy;;i a.) fry yyo-

yyayhya i . t o r o v ; la-.>:y:i o r o - o n ai : ; acavr

Ay y vc ioTCi'-riap 1 U c v u a ’cv..;-' C o r n zo ic u y y a ah a a r r

:,a? Icror'-oiO;- -.ho H.afA ]:aaA The e -r . read yy ■.=■ :y ajiayy; aaf a. ;a.;a"-

,a. :aa •Vi-rliea the ;Uia:h’ Can; e*i /c. ace: l 'oa u i a a f tdeo a aa :h a AT- oC Toma

T . a n o a . r:oci o: c'lO-'a: o ' o yavva-a- iLr.r* hr-A v a ; :a T he reae:-o a:- ‘va.ioe-.

!

uih^v o' il'!3 h - : - ■ v - v i.;:5 ih:r: :!ir va.^oy-fiH r

CENO ZOIC ROCKSV o ic l in k : r r c L y u- ::vki --nv ,u : - ;c .n tc i l -yrn , v. to ;.?k -

1 h i -:s ;- UIC Sedimentary Rocks; r i ; C -v:! ••••. .-r

IT.':; : I ’iLUn'-u :;r :::h ;;ih;:Ti C.;:Cenozoic sedimentary rocks exposed at several places in the

Hualapai Plateau and adjacent areas are of two general types, those

deposited in the valleys and canyons and those spread out as blanket;T;-' C;;; ;.c r:.-yT:i IT.'T »:: k'-ro'C:' ■}:'0 ■

deposits over plateau surfaces. The valley-fill deposits include thoseBi n , ' ; T T : - T : ; , i; . ; : r.:': - ":Tin Hindu, Peach Springs, and Milkweed Canyons. Blanket deposits in­i'y i , v ; ' . r n ,elude the white limestone conglomerate of the Hualapai Plateau south

of Hindu Canyon and the Robbers Roost and Blue Mountain gravels on

the eastern margin of the Hualapai Plateau and the Coconino Plateau'T:'( TT:-;‘ ; C i l y T : ; iVy'Bc1;" :• y ‘u;- ■: T i ;1 ’h i : T:..v : T:'

(Koons, 1948).or :\ 1 n 1 -i.f i-: ? , ;■ r h T T’l . ’l y • ’.o:1: :" i.! ' T: ’ .; .1. ; T- -

The deposits in Hindu Canyon are designated the Hindu Canyonhi ?r . vn-.: u - I ' lr, Xi;: h:T.c

formation in this report, and the white limestone conglomerate on the' T ' : ' T I p . r , : ; . . 0:10 I - ' T : v . : V T h e ' P k ;- . 1plateau to the south is designated the Buck and Doe conglomerate. Other: " I " i . O'ki P; : ' l l h c h . V if. 1 0 u i yunits which have not been formally named will be referred to by geo-o'v H i-:'. wh xrh; v .1 'rih.' l/i?: v ;-:ugraphical terms based on area of occurrence.;!v . v n .u ;v ,i i -m 01 lUv.-'T::-:1 i ’1 1 v . o k - s o t i c o , ".nh ri..::1’ : v i

Age relationship between the various Cenozoic deposits arelo l r , .:T"-.::. . 'yp . lyh' - T i . ' i " ;• ' " I ' h i i . p TTv

not known for the most part. The Buck and Doe conglomerate, how-U p o h n . : ; . 1; U f v T I T : H h T f ( h i ; : ; - < h i i .. i . p h . ; T . ' . i i v . Cever, overlies the Hindu Canyon formation along the south side of Hinduyo::Tv levhv.n -v vv:= mCanyon, and is therefore younger than that unit. The extent to which

.1 1

12

other of the blanket deposits may be younger than the valley-fill deposits

is not known.

Volcanic rocks, chiefly basalt and andesite flows, are inter-

bedded with the sedimentary units in Peach Springs Canyon and on the

Hualapai Plateau south of Hindu Canyon.

Formations in Hindu Canyon Area

The Cenozoic rocks that are exposed in Hindu Canyon are the

Hindu Canyon formation, the Buck and Doe conglomerate, and Quaterna­

ry alluvium. ’ -

Hindu Canyon Formation

The Hindu Canyon formation is exposed on the canyon floor and

along the walls of the canyon, and is best preserved where it was de­

posited in tributaries of the ancient canyon (pi. 6). The sediments were

deposited on the Paleozoic rocks. At one time sediments filled the can­

yon and were locally more than 1,000 feet thick, but due to erosion only

small isolated remnants remain. These remnants were mapped and

correlated on the basis of lithologic similarity, elevation, and relative

position in the stratigraphic column. Fossil evidence is lacking. The

type locality of the Hindu Canyon formation is in Hindu Canyon. Com­

posite measured sections are given in the Appendix.

The sediments consist of interbedded conglomerates, sandstones,

PLATE 6

CUFF EXPOSURE OF CENOZOIC SEDIMENTS IN HINDU CANYON

Cliff exposure of Cenozoic rocks in a tributary to Hindu Canyon. Cliffs consist of the Buck and Doe conglomerate. Slope in central portion consists of Upper member of the Hindu Canyon formation. Floor of tributary consists of Middle member of Hindu Canyon formation.

14j -

and siltstones of fluvial and possibly lacustrine origin. They interfinger

with the overlying Buck and Doe conglomerate of flood-plain origin. Al-' - . ■ ’ - ' - \ v] r., • , ■ -V 1 i ■■ ■ ; •..; ■■■though the overall lithology is remarkedly homogeneous, the formation

. : Z P ° •’ /. C:.: C ;.r "can be subdivided into three members (fig. 2). The lithologic divisions

: - ?from the base uplare: (1) a lower granitic conglomerate, (2) a middle

1 “ r:>: u r . ^ . r

limestone conglomerate member, and (3) an upper siltstone member.

; Twehter (1958) describes these deposits, as consisting of "semi-

consolidated to consolidated, red to light gray sandstone, siltstone, and

claystone interbedded with well-rounded, locally derived limestone grav­

el. The gravel at the bas e of the lower unit is composed of igneous :O' A(granites and gneisses) material. .r,/ No volcanic sediments appear in the1 ■"; ; ' : ; . . . . . . ' ' j u . v :: jHindu Canyon formation. c - u k k - Ivt; h • . f j

- : \ • i i 1 v . ■ ; a i ( i c i : v r ; :■ : ;

Lower member.> -The Lower member of the Hindu Canyon for-i' !.. O .-r

mation is exposed as mounds or hills along the floor of the canyon at

elevations from 4,200 feet to 4,000 feet. One outcrop is located on the

south side of an elongated ridge in the SE l /4 NW 1/4 sec. 29,. T. 27

N ., R. 11 W. (pi. 7). Crossbedding, although poorly defined, dips 2°q " ' - - - -" "t;,'. -.1,- . f i.3.. ---------- -— —— ; - t. '■ r* *. i l V r;; \ Lf. •, !

to 5 to the west. :;r __ |' * - - • - - • .. . - * • • j. , L' [J ; - ’J .! ■ •’ I l

The Lower member consists of approximately 150 feet of con-i : •:} - ‘

glomeratic sandstone with interbedded zones of conglomerate which

weather from a tan to a light red with local zones of brown. The bottom* ■' - - - ' , . u ' . v , r f . : . i . . n : . - ' . o y - ’ n ,

contact is covered, but the sediments presumably rest on Paleozoic

15

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. a # :y o O c > Q O

o oFlood plain d ep o sit c o n s is t in g

of lim e s to n e b o u ld ers and p eb b les

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F lu v ia l d ep o sit c o n s is t in g of red c la y s to n e -s i lt s to n e with s tr in g e r s of white san d ston e

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F lu v ia l d ep o sit c o n s is t in g of a ltern atin g la y e r s of red co n g lo m era te and red san d ­stone; co n g lo m era te p r e ­dom inatin g . C on g lo m era te con ta in s a high p ercen ta g e of lim e sto n e and ch ert b o u ld ers and p eb b les .

U nconform ity

F lu v ia l d ep o sit c o n s is t in g of in terbedd ed co n g lo m era te and sa n d sto n e . B o u ld ers and p eb b les are g n e is s , g ra n ite , and q u a rtz ite .

-Major u n con form ity

L ow er P a le o z o ic lim e s to n e

F igu re 2. - -G e n e r a liz e d str a tig r a p h ic se c t io n in Hindu C anyon,

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

OUTCROPS OF LOWER MEMBER

PLATE 7

Reddish-white sandstone with thin stringers of conglomerate consisting of weathered gneiss, weathered granite, and quartzite pebbles. Red clay in lower left corner. Outcrop is in LMCB.

Weathered slope in same locality as figure1. Note large granitic, gneissic, and quartzitic boulders.

I

16

^^Gstone., j "'V' :J ! r . l ' r.';:>:d . ' ‘ ■ : - \ :: J

..The fragments in the conglomerates range from 2 cm. to 8

cm. in diameter and are composed chiefly of weathered granite, weath-' ^ ‘ "* • A, ■ .« • ' * * •* ^ ■ -•*' A-- ^ 4 . / .:r T % -m <*w W- r t , »**••%*■ v «

ered gneiss, and quartzite. The granite and pieiss.fragm ents are fairly

well-rounded and are nearly all weathered, some so extensively that they

crumble in the hand. .The quartzite fragments are. subangular and dark ,

to medium color. i f ; - • .V Vv:- f->:' -v : ■ C '''' i ■.:/

.The difference in coloring of the strata is largely due to weath-

ering of the feldspars, mafic minerals, and iron (hematite) particles.....

Those layers containing few granite and gneiss boulders are usually

light in color; Umse with^numerous, granite and gneiss boulders are usu­

ally brown. . Red coarse siltstones closely resembling the siltstone of

the Middle member are inter bolded between the conglomeratic sand-' ' ' ' **' i ’ » ’* - ■ *■ * J ' V ■■ * 4 ~ ' 1 ' .. -- r M L,e * • _ f » ' > * ' .

stone. rr./r: r : >:A C ^ n r : ; u : . i ' c ^

. Considerable transportation is indicated by the well-rounded

pebbles. The granite and gneiss fragments may. be derived from a

source considerably to the east of Hindu Canyon. , , ,• r. ;

v v .;-.v ::u >.m v , ■ o v : ■ . ^ ■ . : / U" r o u :.:v :iMiddle member. —The Middle member of the Hindu Canyon

formation is best exposed high along the walls of the re-entrant channels

of all tributaries. The member is about 500 to 700 feet thick, but no

single outcrop is greater than 150 feet thick.: - h . 1 ; . - -G - .*r ..g :• Gi '' - r./%. 'GGG,

The Middle member consists of massive red limestone con-

glomerate which may be interbedded with thin red sandstone units and

18

The fragments composing the conglomerate beds are predom­

inantly limestone and chert pebbles derived from the Grand Canyon area;

they are poorly sorted, angular to subrounded, etched, and pitted. Lith­

ology of the limestone fragments and the fossils in them indicate that

they have been derived primarily from the Paleozoic limestones in the

immediate area (see Appendix). The predominant fragments are derived

from the Redwall limestone and chert; others are from the Callville

limestone, Kaibab limestone, and Devonian limestone. Sandstone frag­

ments are derived primarily from the Coconino and Supai sandstones,

although some may be derived from beds of Mesozoic age.

The matrix of the conglomerate beds consists predominantly

of quartz particles derived from the Supai formation and Hermit shale.

The cement is primarily calcareous, but ferruginous cement is evident.

Locally, the Middle member consists of thick units of sand­

stone with calcareous cement. These are characteristically red and

contain a high percentage of quartz grains. The color comes primarily

from the ferruginous particles which may have been derived from the

erosion of the Supai formation and Hermit shale. In most places the

sandstone forms lenses and small layers in the conglomerate.

The contact relationship between the Middle and Lower members

m assive red sandstone units interbedded with thin red conglom erate

str in gers. Crossbedding is either obscured or non-existent. This

member usually form s good c liffs and hard led ges (pi. 8).

CLIFF-FORMING MIDDLE MEMBER

PLATE 8

Figure 1. Cliff-forming Middle member in area NA.This section constitutes the largest cliff

i of Hindu Canyon formation in Hindu Can- yon. Dip is probably initial dip deposited directly on underlying Paleozoic limestone. Foreground of picture consists of ledges and slopes of Middle member of Hindu Can­yon formation. Notice dip of beds in upper left. Gray rock is Redwall limestone.

Figure 2. Ledge-forming Middle member in area A.In left background is outcrop of Redwall limestone. Small outcrops of Hindu Can­yon formation cling to the surface of the Redwall limestone.

19

20

is obscure. Generally outcrops consist either entirely of the Lower

member or entirely of the Middle member (pi. 2). However, in the

SW 1/4 NE 1/4 sec. 23, T. 27 N ., R. 12 W. the red limestone con­

glomerate inter fingers with the granitic conglomerate of the Lower

member.

The Middle member is exposed in outcrops ranging in eleva­

tion from 3, 600 to 4, 500 feet. In most outcrops where the base is ex­

posed, the Middle member rests unconformably on Paleozoic rocks.

Upper m em ber.—The Upper member of the Hindu Canyon for­

mation consists of claystone and siltstone that is predominantly red (pi.

9). It is fine grained and weathers to an irregular slope. The beds con­

sist chiefly of rounded to subangular grains of quartz with some calcite

and mica. The unit is medium sorted. The cement is primarily cal­

careous.

Lenses and thin beds of sandstone appear locally in this mem­

ber. They are predominantly white, but have the same lithologic char­

acteristic as the red sandstone.

The Upper member varies in thickness from 5 to 100 feet. It

may be correlated throughout the canyon and is generally at the same

elevation. Generally, the contact between the Middle member and the

Upper member is gradational, although locally it may be unconformable.

Unconformably overlying the Upper member is the Buck and

PLATE 9

MIDDLE AND UPPER MEMBERS OF THE HINDU CANYON FORMATION

Figure 1. Middle member—View of Middle member showing lensing and interfingering of the red limestone conglomerate and red sand­stone. Height of section is approximately 11 feet. In most areas, the red limestone conglomerate is the thicker bed.

Figure 2. Upper member— View of Upper member showing the sloping surface covered with alluvium from the overlying Buck and Doe conglomerate. Handle of small shovel in foreground. The red siltstone-claystone is prevalent throughout the canyon.

Doe conglomerate wMch appears-to be of flood-plain origin,: and there­

fore is not here considered a part of the Hindu Canyon formation^ :

' • 1 The Hindu Canyon formation fl'o f flntial^rlgihv T%e aedi- '

meats were presumably deposited in Hindu Canyon from east to west. r

A large diastein appears between the Lower member and the Middle

member. No part of the sequence Of the Hindu Canyon formation is :

exposed at an elevation lower than 8; 600 feet; Below this elevation, v-r

in the canyon, Paleozoic rocks are exposed where the stream has in­

cised into the Paleozoic formations. ’ Apparently, the Hindu Canyon

formation was deposited in a canyon whose lowest elevation was approx­

imately 3,600 feet and whose canyon rim was about 4•; 700 feet. Similar

deposits are known to exist in the head of Peach'Springs Canyon at an

elevation of 3/600 feet/ - ; v ; : ::.r

ir- ■ Vr : CV: - m. Ti vBuck and Doe Conglomerate

■... . . . . - ... . . . . r . ' : v v u : - y , •• : v -

' c The only other Cenozoic deposit, except for recent alluvium,

in Hindu Canyon is the Buck and Doe conglomerate. It is predominantly• F v - ' i 1 A y i . ' ; '.".-m . A v : ' . : v

white, but locally may be pink to light red and consists of angular to

subrounded limestone and chert fragments of ah average size of 4 cm.

Locally it contains boulders up to a foot in diameter. - Most of the frag­

ments are derived from the Red wall limestone. Cementation is calcar­

eous. The type locality of the Buck and Doe conglomerate is in section

A in the SE 1/4 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 sec. 27, T. 27 N ., R. 12 W., hi Hindu

22

23

Canyon. Composite measured sections are given in the Appendix.

The conglomerate varies in thickness from 40 to 100 feet and

may be even thicker on the plateau to the south. It rests unconformably

on the Upper member of the Hindu Canyon formation, and in some places

a very clear and distinct break is recognized (pi. 10). In some places

the conglomerate was deposited unconformably on the Paleozoic rocks.

The conglomerate forms the outcrops, cliffs, and ledges in many places

on the plateau to the south of Hindu Canyon. The sediments show good

crossbedding with a trend to the southwest. The deposit blankets a

wide area of the plateau between Peach Springs Canyon on the east,

Grand Wash Cliffs on the west, Hindu Canyon on the north, and Truxton

Valley on the south. The conglomerate probably represents a flood-

plain environment and overlaps the finer siltstone from the northeast

to southwest and was deposited on an irregular surface. The conglom­

erate is interbedded with basalt in some places on the plateau to the

south of Hindu Canyon.

Formations in Adjacent Areas

Cenozoic sedimentary rocks in areas near Hindu Canyon con­

sist primarily of gravels in Peach Springs and Milkweed Canyons and

on the Coconino Plateau and the eastern edge of the Hualapai plateau.

PLATE 10

STRUCTURES IN BUCK AND DOE CONGLOMERATE

Figure 1. Crossbedding in Buck and Doe conglomer­ate. Crossbedding is tabular to the south­west. Notice size of limestone boulders.

Figure 2. Contact between Upper member of Hindu Canyon formation and overlying Buck and Doe conglomerate. Sharp unconformable contact zone located in ravine of area A (pi. 6).

25

Peach Springs Canyon Gravels

A general reconnaissance of Peach Springs Canyon near its

head shows a variety of conglomerates and sandstones (pi. 11). A red

conglomerate appears on the northwestern slope of the canyon; the lith­

ology, induration, and elevation of occurrence are so similar to those

of the Hindu Canyon formation, Middle member, that it is probably part

of the same formation. Overlying this conglomerate is a limestone con­

glomerate which may correlate with the Buck and Doe conglomerate on

the plateau to the west.

Conglomerates exposed near Peach Springs in the southern

part of the canyon consist of granitic, gneissic, and especially volcanic

fragments. The conglomerates show crossbedding to the southwest and

may have been deposited in a stream flowing south through Peach Springs

Canyon. Sandstone lenses are interbedded with the conglomerates. Near

the bottom of the section, the conglomerates consist almost entirely of

gneissic, granitic, and quartzitic fragments. The conglomerates have

been faulted and locally are tilted to a low angle. Volcanic flows and

tuffs locally overlie the conglomerate. In the eastern and northeastern

parts of the canyon, the section consists mostly of red, gray, green,

and white sandstones and siltstones.

PLATE 11

CENOZOIC SEDIMENTS IN PEACH SPRINGS CANYON

Figure 1. Cenozoic deposits at the head of Peach Springs Canyon. In the background, looking north, the Paleozoic limestones have been faulted by the Hurricane fault. Right side is up approximately 300 feet. Black lines show same horizon. Middle left section is composed of the Middle member of the Hindu Canyon formation.

Figure 2. Looking westward at faulted Cenozoic sediments. Cliff consists of basalt underlain by tuff and conglomerates. Sediments in foreground consist of sandstones and conglomerates.

k Tl> ***!!***» *

27

Milkweed Canyon; Gravels ; V :L

A general reconnaissance in Milkweed Canyon shows a con-v v J1-'!'. X or:. v;, i;. r , ' i ; , : \ - r n r :: . c:: ^ ■

glomerate consisting of angular fragments of lava and pink granite out-' ? v : : ir::- '. X' ' . V . v v.: C f , O r j ’ ' V-v v::-.cropping near the head of the canyon along the Buck and Doe Road. The

conglomerate is well indurated, with calcareous cement, which in some

places is coarsely crystalline. The pink granite fragments, some places

up to 4 inches in diameter, were deposited in this canyon at an approxi-

mate elevation of 4, 900 feet. Granite of this type outcrops in the Cerbat. ■ . v - i-;-. V. ‘ : .;v: ,v :V ■: :

Mountains to the west, but the Hualapai Valley intervenes between the4 /

Grand Wash Cliffs and the Cerbat Range.

"Tertiary Gravels of Koons" i c

■ 5 ; :'

Koons (1948) describes gravels of Tertiary age which consist

of two units which are restricted;to the eastern part of the Hualapai

Plateau and the Coconino Plateau..'" 'c ' cv;:":r-i:-t ]uor*b' o:: ; v;v ■

One unit, the Robbers Roost gravels, is "composed of sand-.v; . ' v-": xV1;, V:’ a r c v. ' ; " :a. ' . astone that resembles lithologically the Coconino sandstone; rounded to

; cr : x a . ' .v cOa.: au .v -vn ta aa u'-;r . - .-a - a •" , * •angular chert fragments probably derived from the Toroweap and Kaibab

: : -a . ; < . a ; axi : - x i:- r : '.7a c i ^ , a. . x aformations and fragments of limestone. It appears that the Robber's- .a: 1 'a :a - x . . c i -- x, ("aa X a axal aa : :xRoost gravels are locally derived" (koons, 1948, p. 58). The other unit,-i' .X-Xva a-xr- x, , a;,x ;va a- .-a' - .. : .. v: t h' - • v r , a-. ;-:-xa •. , , ,the Blue Mountain gravels, contain "bedded deposits of well-rounded peb-XarT;. a a ■ara-;:a:' a. , x i a : aa, 1 aXa:bles and cobbles of granite, gneiss, schist, and red and white quartzite,

type is in the Prescott area to the south, so that the direction of deposi­

tion of the Blue Mountain gravels was toward the north from the Prescott

area. v-.Xk - .■■rX;;.- x x , r .: T-rh^' y i T; y;

The Hindu Canyon formation resembles the Robbers Roost

gravels in lithology mid is also locaUy derived in part from the Grand

Canyon section. Although the Lower member of the Hindu Canyon for -

mation resem bles the Blue Mountain gravels in lithology, differences

are recognizable between the two formations. The Blue Mountain grav­

els are more rounded, have a higher amount of quartzite pebbles, have

a higher concentration of gneissic conglomerates, have possibly under­

gone more weathering, and are at a higher elevation.1 ; r - - •

up to 20 inches in the long diam eter” (Koons, 1948, p. 59). He men­

tions that the n earest exposure, at the presen t tim e, of rocks of thisvr:

Igneous Rocks

Cenozoic igneous rocks consist mostly of lava flows. Although

no volcanic rocks are present in Hindu Canyon, lava flows are interbedded

with the Buck and Doe conglomerate on the plateau area south of Hindu

Canyon. -Lava flows also exist along the Grand Wash Cliffs; near the

head of Peach Springs Canyon, and in the Grand Canyon where the flows

extend d o w to the Colorado River; Most of these flows consist of ba­

salts or andesites (Maxony 1950). x ' ' -

\

i v. v ■' I/.-:',l \ f ' - ' ' ' '

: U v.. . : •> i v,. ' h . V - j - ■' " ■STRUCTURE

- vvrw..:^.. v1;..: • ■ - ' :

According-to Hunt (1956), the Colorado* Plateau "was a com­

paratively stable area of low relief before Tertiary time. It was part

of the shelf of the Cordilleran geosyncline during Paleozoic time. Dur­

ing Mesozoic time, the area was moderately stable, but in places shal­

low depressions formed. This pre-Cenozoic structural history con­

trolled the Cenozoic structural history (Hunt, 1956, p. 59). Hunt re­

lates the development of the large block faults of the Colorado Plateau

to the late Tertiary structural history. Cliffs such as Grand Wash,

Hurricane, and Aubrey, and troughs such as the Grand Wash, Peach

Springs, and Prospect were formed along the longitudinal north-south

faults. V -

Faults

The Grand Wash fault is a normal fault with the downthrown

block to the west (Hunt, 1956, p 61).' The fault WunA the western

side of the Hualapai Plateau^ ahd,r near the Colorado River, it has a

maximum displacement of about 4,000 fe e t .; The Toroweap and Hurri­

cane faults occur along the eastern border of the Hualapai Plateau and ‘

are also normal faults. The Hurricane fault has h displacement of about

- ■■ - i ' : ' .c .i gg ' v : {':a- Un “r ; JO-;. /•-

\

500 feet at the junction of Lost Man's Canyon with Peach Springs Can­

yon. The northern extension of this fault in Utah has a displacement of

2, 000 feet in places. Renewed movement along the Hurricane fault has

occurred in Peach Springs Canyon. The fault appears to die out at the

head of Peach Springs Canyon or is obscured by the overlying lavas in

the area. It is possible that the fault may extend further south under­

neath the lavas.

30

Regional Dip

Paleozoic formations dip from 2° to 5° northeast along the

southern and western margins of the Hualapai Plateau. The tilting

probably occurred simultaneously with, or prior to, movement on the

Grand Wash fault (Hunt, 1956, p. 61). Dips in the Cenozoic rocks in

Hindu Canyon are confusing, and probably reflect local slopes of depo­

sition rather than regional dip.

Monoclines

The other larger structural feature of the Colorado Plateau,

the monocline, is apparent in Meriwitica Canyon and has been named

the Meriwitica monocline (pi. 12). The displacement of the monocline

at Spencer Canyon is 300 to 500 feet, the downwarp is eastward (Twenter,

1958, p. 65). The monocline borders the west end of Hindu Canyon and

may have affected the deposition of the Hindu Canyon formation. A

PLATE 12

MERIWITICA MONOCLINE

View looking north in Meriwitica Canyon showing Meriwitica mono­cline.

31

32

smaller monocline exists near the town of Peach Springs (pi. 1). Mono­

clines farther east in the plateau have been dated as of Late Cretaceous:: v.". • • .•

or Early Tertiary age, but the age of those in the Hualapai Plateau is

not known. ; : ■. !; ' y ?•; i:. - C

L % :i- • , c

' ‘

- ; ; ' : l ' 0 ■y : %i.Ti r b a ,

- * I V . i ; c : • ' a a . . ,

■ » v r ' : *:■. - : i " ; : : v ' - 11 ■ a h a a a r a a a : • - b O /

' ^ l :?■: : i , V • r . ; ' v a j * •.; ■.? \ a : : : : :

i \ * l 5. ,i ) ; ■ : ... Vi y v ' ; L x : . a a J h i ,■ - (. V -

; V , ; U r T h ' a . : . r. i . a a- / ' 1' t.. » : ; > a

V i f y r ' ' Y , / : ' - a . f f r a i h v V O ' - :V. 1 ;: - r ' r . n

r - y y b • -, r , . - .• > ; •' " V O - ' b f ■f a - a ; *

' ' ; r h - / », : s ; ...

- :' ■' ■ : v-' : : ' ' / e r a - : . V. V - V . J •: •

r - :o ; a : : 1. : l a a i v a :■ V 0 j.-.v-.: •: ■ I V - ' ■

i a • : J 1 . > : -v ■ f a . : a n . r ■ •: ; a :V. a a I v v - ' - ' ' . L o ' :

y y : > V U . ' , ' a 0:i.

T - y ; : / i ■ , n ' ; c ■ . ; iv v " i r - V v v .': t i i

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY

An interpretation of the geological history of the Hindu Canyon

area is based primarily on structural relationships and on lithologic

characteristics of the Cenozoic sediments. To date no fossils have

been found in the Hindu Canyon formation, and sediments that contain

Cenozoic fossils in nearby areas bear no resemblance in lithology to

the Hindu Canyon sediments.

Some of the sediments in Peach Springs Canyon appear to be

lithologically equivalent to the Hindu Canyon formation. The canyons

probably formed during the same time. Later, sediments filled these

canyons. A possible age of the sediments in Peach Springs Canyon can

be based on the structural relationships found in this valley.

The results of the Hurricane fault are readily noticeable in the

formation of the Peach Springs Canyon (pi. 1). Whether or not a stream

existed in Peach Springs Canyon before the major movement on the Hur­

ricane fault, the present stream has incised deeply into the Paleozoic

rocks (pi. 10) as a result of movements along the Hurricane fault. De­

posits like the Hindu Canyon formation are at elevations from 1,000 to

1, 500 feet below the rim of the canyon.

The age of movement on the Hurricane fault is not known with

34

certainty, but Haht (1956) and Effinger (1936) have attempted to date the

movements by relating them to fossiliferous Cenozoic sediments, and

have assigned: the first large movement as Middle Miocene to Early v i:

Pliocene. Koons (1943) lim its the time of faulting to post-late Miocene

to pre-Iowan on the basis of supposed age relationships of lava flows of ;

the Unikaret,field; Movement 1ms apparently taken place throughout late

Tertiary and Pleistocene time (Koons, 1943). -Hunt (1956) and others

have considered that the major movement on the" Grand Wash fault oe- ;

curred during the same time. Mackin (1959) has stated that this fault

and other Colorado Plateau faults have had continuous movement, r .

The Hindu Canyon formation and equivalent conglomerate in-

Peach Springs Canyon were probably deposited after the first major

movement on the Hurricane fault and prior to the lava flows in middle •

to late Pleistocene (Maxon, 1950). The first major movement on the

Grand Wash fault could have occurred slightly after the major movement

of the Hurricane fault. - : rrc : /7r-i " , n ;• c

Roundness, sphericity, size, surface texture, and overall

structure of the conglomerates and sandstones In the Hindu Canyon for­

mation and its equivalent in peach Springs' Canyon reflects a fluvial sy s­

tem for deposition. Sbme poorly developed crossbedding dips to the

west arid may indicate a depbsitibri frdm the east or flow>to the' west.

The nature of the drainage pattern at tiie time of actual cutting

of the canyon and the later deposition of the sediments is completely

35

unknown, r But, the sim ilarity between the present couirseiof the Colorado

River from Diamond Creek to Spencer Canyon (pi. 1) and the.abandoned

channel through Hindu Canyon is noticeable. The two channels are sim ­

ilar in curve and direction; Chie explanation for the relationship would

be that a river, possibly the Colorado River, flowed westward into Peach

Springs Canyony through Hindu Canyon, .and out through Spencer Canyon.

The elevation of the river bottom was 3, 600 feet, more or le ss . Later,

headward erosion of tributary streams north of Hindu Canyon beheaded

this section of the fiver system and formed the present course of the

Colorado River from Diamond Creek to the mouth of Spencer Canyon.

The presence of the Muddy Creek formation in the Red Lake

area west of the Grand Wash Cliffs would limit the time during which

such a drainage system existed westward across the Grand Wash Cliffs.

Longwell (1928) states that the Muddy Creek formation represents a

playa lake deposit consisting of sand and siltstone interbedded with

saline and gypsum deposits. No Colorado River deposits are present ;*•;

in .the Muddy Creek sediments and therefore the Colorado River did not

flow west of the Grand Wash Cliffs during the time of accumulation of

the Muddy Creek formation. The age of the Muddy Creek formation is

not known, but Longwell (1946) considered it to be either Miocene or

Pliocene. The drainage system would be pre- or post-Muddy Creek '

formation. It may be possible, that during the deposition of the Muddy

Creek formation, the sediments in Hindu Canyon and Peach Springs

were deposited and that the channel was formed prior to this time.

One concept of depositional control by climatic change has been;

advanced by Quinn (1957) and might account for the deposition of the

Hindu Canyon formation. This control requires no intermittent or con­

tinuous diastrophism and no effects of changes in sea level transmitted

upstream. According to Johnson (1900), alluviation or aggradation or

deposition of channels takes place under arid conditions which is in ac­

cord with Quinn's theory. . r ,.;:

Chaney (1940) and Blackwelder (1943) have said that climate :

in southern North America changed from humid to arid between middle

Miocene and Pliocene time. Such a change would produce a decrease

in plant cover, increase in stream load# and decrease in stream volume,

all of which would result in aggradation. Under this concept, the sedi­

ments in Hindu Canyon might have been deposited as a result of climatic

change alone. At the end of the deposition in Hindu Canyon, the canyon

was completely filled. During a later time, when the climatic conditions

were different, the Buck and Doe conglomerate was deposited over the

entire area (fig. 3). ' / .

: . The concept that the Colorado River flowed westward through ;

Hindu Canyon and deposited the sediments as a result of climatic changes

is a matter of speculation, because any evidence presently available is

too meager to affirm any hypothesis. As any course of the Colorado

River during late Cenozoic time is a matter of conjecture, it is

36

37

L FORMATION OF HINDU CANYON

P a le o z o ic r o ck sE leva tion

3600

2. LOWER M EM BER STAGE — D ep o sitio n during a p eriod of ar id ity

L ow er m em b er-?

_M l _______ I o e o / ^— a ° & o & O O a .ZT1 y e>o o o o o( e o o o<c O Oo/*

3. E ro s io n of lo w er m em b er during a period of sem ia r id ity

P a le o z o ic ro ck s

XX

4. MIDDLE M EM BER AND U P P E R M EM BER STAGE — D ep o sitio n during p eriod of arid ity ; p o ss ib le dam m ing by str u c tu r a l m o v em en ts

_ o L c ' % e ^ o o o

5. FL O O D -PL A IN CONGLOM ERATE STAGE. D ep o sited during P le is to c e n e t im e on e r o s io n su r fa c e of Hindu Canyon fo rm a tio n .

O o£°o oo Op OO 2 0o°o°c?g P° X o

cPo0Q0o0o<> S ^0/

ZZL6. PR E SE N T -D A Y SURFACE

P a le o z o ic r o ck s

F igu re 3. Sequence of d ep o sitio n in Hindu Canyon due to c lim a tic change.

38

conceivable that the Colorado River, as presently known, did not exist

in this area during the cutting and filling of Hindu Canyon. Instead, the

drainage through Hindu Canyon might have been from west to. east, and

that through Peach Springs Canyon from north to south. Milkweed Can­

yon and Hindu Canyon would have been a tributary to Peach Springs x -

Canyon. ov : x.

The sediments in Milkweed Canyon: may help to support this

hypothesis. Although not much work was done in this area; a recon-.

naissance showed that the sediments in the canyon consisted of angular

fragments of fresh pink granite, quartzite, basalt, and calcite and were

at an elevation roughly equal in height to the Buck and Doe conglomerate.

If the source of these sediments were from the east, they would probably

exhibit the rounding and weathering exhibited by the sediments in Hindu

Canyon. The angularity and freshness of the sediments probably indicate

a nearer source area. A source area that contains granite and quartzite

exists to the west of the Grand Wash Cliffs. This area includes the

Cerbat Mountains, Hualapai Mountains, and Black MpunWns. : L ; ; x

If the sediments in Milkweed Canyon came from the west, they

would have been deposited when the area west of the Grand Wash Cliffs

fault was higher than the western edge of the plateau.; The western .

block adjacent to the Grand Wash fault is downthrown; under the hypoth­

esis being discussed, the movement would have occurred after deposi­

tion of the sediments in Milkweed and Hindu Canyons. - : . , : r

Hunt (1956) suggests that, drainage.may. have left the plateau at• Ni . r/vi, / , : " ■ j"' _ !

one time by way of Peach Springs Canyon. A river could have flowed!

into Peach Springs. Canyon and out through.the Truxton Wash, south

; through the Big Sandy Wash with Milkweed Canyon-Hindu Canyon as aj:■ /

possible tributary. If such a drainage system did exist; its present ex-

' vtensions have been completely changed, altered, or destroyed

} '■ 'K r Figure 4 represents a ixissible' sequence of events in the for-

mation of Hindu Canyon and deposition of the sediments in the canyon, ir.U’.v.YV'V-..:-.-.;;: V j '' !

Movement on the Hurricane fault could probably have occurred slightly■ . — — •" • >“ a . 4 v .. A • v •' ' j

prior to the movement on the Grand Wash fault. The drainage system: . . • ' iexisted through Peach Springs Canyon with a tributary channel from the

Cerbat Mountains and Hualapai Mountains area eastward through Milk-

weed Canyon and Hindu Canyon,,A-'- .Si A . DR.-V:

i „ , Movement continued on the Hurricane fault. A; northeastward; A A : . , ■ <. - , .r ; U - ' • ^

tilt of 2/000 feet proposed by Hunt (1956) may have caused aggradation

to take.place. Damming by this moyement occur red in the southern :

part of Peach Springs Canyon and in Hinthi Canyon. Sediments derived

from the Cerbat and Hualapai Mountains area were deposited in Milk- ' A *. i , %. * : /. : !... , I

iweed Canyon 'because of the damming of Peach Springs) Canyon. r . v |' •* •••*“•' '>'r ../ 1 1! : Then the first major movement on the Grand Wash fault occur-■ . \: \ fred, cutting off the western Cerbat and Hualapai Mountains source area.

More movement occurred along the Hurricane fault causing continual ;

damming in the Peach Springs Canyon and Hindu Canyon area. Sediments, -i

40

F igu re 4. - -S eq u en ce of d ep o sitio n in Hindu C anyon co n tro lled by s tr u c tu r a l m o v em en t.

/ / r

41

completely filled up Hindu Canyon ami probably Peach Springs Canyon; •

also, later, streams spread across the area depositing the Buck and

Doe conglomerate. Volcanic activity continued through this time as

shown by the interbedding of volcanic rock and conglomerate.

Later a series of small drainage system s that existed (Peach

Springs Canyon was a part of a drainage system) could have linked to­

gether, due to headward erosion and structural movement, into a larger

river system that became the present Colorado River. Drainage in

Peach Springs Canyon was reversed and canyons such as Spencer and

Bridge Canyons developed as insequent tributaries of headward erosion.

This hypothesis requires that the cutting and filling of Hindu and Milk­

weed Canyons occurred before the major faulting that formed the present

Grand Wash Cliffs, and before the present westward course of the Colo­

rado River across the western edge of the plateau. The most likely exit

for drainage of the western part of the plateau, under this scheme, was

by way of Peach Springs Canyon. This concept has one chief merit in

that it accounts for the granite pebbles in the upper part of Milkweed

Canyon.

Cenozoic sediments east of Peach Springs Canyon, such as the

Blue Mountain gravels and Robbers Roost gravels, have been considered

by Koons (1948) to have been derived from highland areas south of the

present plateau. Deposits in Peach Springs Canyon and Hindu Canyon

could have had a similar source area, but the Milkweed Canyon gravels

42

seem to require the existence of highland areas west of the present pla­

teau.

* . • . ' ; ‘ ‘ .. - '•»• v xu C n m n

■ • ; • > : ' y ... •

*V .V*' • • - " T - / ' ;.'r h ' f u r l : y-

:U u. 1 i : .

• ' ' \ - V ’ ' - • *>; ; c : -U < ■: ■ v - o i : . :

- • \ ■ • • r V; n • :' ; * ■; ' -

r : • V :"';1 : v : . o f U ‘ , - " l . n c v

• ■ : ' ■’ ‘• - . o r • n - ' o ; C n o

............ ' C : , : -o ' : : ; v n o o n : . • <Cr 1 - ♦ *

i ■' - : : • ' * ' * ;' • : ■; " .: ': :r r ' ' « i f jo ;• ? ■; - y *— .«.... L * i < i ■’ / Of % r l y

: z.‘ ^ : ' V- : " T " n : '.. u n f r - b ..: C.'O' ’ ’ r-T-, ;

' • ' . -• ' r ■. .. ' 0 i : ' ' • : n t '

v 1 vh- ■ ' f n n n n n I l v v : • C " : n ; . : o - v C

. " ■ v :;- v : . ' u C m ' v -: i :

CONCLUSIONS

A final solution to the problem of the origin of Hindu Canyon. •- •; ■ ' £ - ’[ 1 / : / c s;-.:. i, T.

and the sediments in it is not possible with the information at hand.

Certain conclusions may be drawn,' and these must .be taken into ac-. hv crir;. -725 1, r 1.

count in any satisfactory explanation. Hindu Canyon and Peach Springs" * f V.

J*. i i B ... • 6... . ?

Canyon were formed during Cenozoic time, possibly after the f ir s t :

movement on the Hurricane fault. If they formed before the major

movement on the Grand Wash faulty they were probably in part earlier,; 7 ' ; r . 7 " 7 Y ..7 v.7 ; ; ; c ' . V . ' C j7' 77 ' l j . - . l ' , . ; 7 : 1 7 7

but in part may have overlapped in time the deposition of the Muddy

Creek formation, which is Miocene or Pliocene. If they formed after

the Grand Wash fault, as a part of the Colorado River drainage system,

the erosion of Hindu Canyon may have bem earlier than the Muddy Creek.7 7 7 V: ': V ;.: 7-;-. c.llC': 7.:

formation, and then the Hindu Canyon formation would:be contemporane-7 . .... : 7 7 7 ; . : ; : 7 : 777 . - -

ous with the Muddy Creek formation as suggested by Hunfs theory that

tilting of the edge of the plateau stopped the Colorado River from flowing

west of the Grand Wash Cliffs during Muddy Creek time.7 . , 7 ; 7 ; 7 7' .7' 2 . 7 7 7 7 2; 7 v : i - 7 ; . c i : 7 : 2 7 0 7: 77777 2 7 . V

7.7 ;. 7 7 7 7 : : ,7: 7 :7 7 7 7 7 ’ 7 2 . : . ‘7 7 7 . . . r - ': 7 7 7 7 . 7 7 7 . ; .;.7,-7. 7 ' 7 7 , - 7 . 7 7 y v. . ; : t f 7 -7 V-

7 7 7 7 ' 7 •vl. : ->_7 r r ; : - i 77 . : / . ; - . 7 7 7 7 7- 7 ' 7 7 7 7 - r

: 7 ' 7 - . . : j '7 .7 : v y : . . . ' ' . 7 : . 7 7 7 ..-. 7 7 I. ' V ' 7 : ; :

43

APPENDIXDESCRIPTIONS OF MEASURED SECTIONS

Measured section A in SE l / 4 SW 1/4 SE 1/4 sec. 27, T. 27 N ., R. 12 W. in Hindu Canyon, Mohave County, Ari­zona. The area is located approximately 15.8 m iles from the intersection of Buck and Doe Road with U. S. Highway66. Elevation at top of the section is 4725 feet.

Unit ThicknessNo! Description in feet

Erosion surface:

5. Alluvium: weathered to gray-white; poorly sorted; 27.9loose limestone gravel with chert fragments; base is concealed.

Buck and Doe conglomerate:

4. Conglomerate: weathered gray-white; angular to 126.0subrounded; poorly sorted; structureless; limestone and chert fragments with quartz grains, composi­tion stained slightly red; medium calcareous cement; splitting massive; forms irregular slopes, hard ledges, and vertical cliffs; crossbedding tabular oriented south to southwest; fluvial environment; basal contact sharp and unconfor mable.

Hindu Canyon formation:

3. Siltstone: weathers red; consolidated; subrounded 45. 6 calcareous and quartz grains; weak calcareous- ferruginous cement; moderately sorted to well- sorted; splitting m assive and shaly; slope irregular and some places covered; environment fluvial; base gradational.

44

45

Unit Xv a. - . *■;. . • , ; -r n:; -V 1 ThicknessNo. Description : - : in feet

2. Conglomerate: vweathers red; consolidated; poorly 39.0sorted; limestone and chert fragments; angular to

' i subrounded; medium calcareous-ferruginous(?) ce- T’ : r: ! ment; structureless; coarse-grained quartz; ledge ; * v

hard and slope irregular; splitting massive and crumbly; environment fluvial; base unconformable with underlying Paleozoic limestone.

1.

Total thicknessibv. v.;-;- , v : : /Paleozoic limestone.i .n-:; r., v-

•> .

' 1 ,

\ ’ ; ‘

E lev.,

238.5

4,486. 5

T ? .

.VC. b'

Oy ,U:.:y. - r - ir.j-

. • .

: •■. ' ' r . u ; t : c -

O ' , o b ’ ! ■ - •" ' - o ' '■ V V; : V -- C v . o . = - n o

■ *■ ‘i : ■■ o: -;l i

; o ’ ■'! ; ; i ; . - v r b o i .o r :: O ' ' ' . ' O i , . - i l ; r t ' v r C b ■■t :.o- ' - -t — *, k

f : V - . r f ■ ■ • r o b , : b . ' , i b . O ’ -

: o ' : ' ; . b ; v : i b - b - f - ' . b - V ; : : - L , . b; ;

b o . ' , • o • : ; b V : r o o - : b . . ‘ o o - .• ' ' • . 1 j - o'

/ ; •,•: - b v o b o . o o .

b o ' . : o o - o v r b b : v 1

46

Measured section B in Hindu Canyon in SET/4 SW 1/4' sec. *26, T. 2T N. > R. 12 W. in Mohave County, Ari- a zona; Elevation at the top of the section is approxi­mately 4610 feet. U.,-- .'f -v-;- y u X y

Unit ThicknessNo. Description iin feet x* 1 ' : vvx i-i i

Erosion surface:Buck and Doe. conglomerate:Puck :v;u iroL- ' x n : : - • x;

4. Conglomerate: weathers gray-white; consists of 53.5limestone and chert fragments; poorly sorted; o f " ; .O. sstructureless; medium calcareous commit;" split­ting massive and crumbly; forms vertical cliffs,! hard ledges and gentle covered slopes; weathers to a pitted surface; crossbedding tabular to the x southwest; flood-plain environment; base uneoh- formable and covered. • - r: . r ; v >:

: : '•x-;-; c :x': xx x'iM.;; c;iHindu Canyon formation:

3. Siltstone: weathers red; loosely consolidated, 108.5fine grained to clayey; contains a high percentage of quartz-grains; medium calcareous-ferruginous l ' 0cement;: numerous small white sandstone stringers interbedded in with the siltstone; medium to well sorted; forms covered and irregular slopes; sp lit-; ting crumbly and massive; fluvial and lacustrine(?) environment; base gradational and covered. y

■ •: : ' -■ ... XX •; - , .) ■2. Conglomerate: weathers red; consolidated; coin- 96.5

sists of limestone and chert fragments from Pale­ozoic limestone and sandstone pebbles from Coconino

• sandstone; poorly, sorted^ medium calcareous ce­ment; interbedded zones of redisandstone consisting of a high percentage of subangular to rounded quartz grains; forms vertical cliffs, hard ledges, and ir- >. 0regular slopes; splitting massive; structureless; fluvial environment; base unconformable on Pale­ozoic limestone.

Total thickness 258.5 1

1. Lower Paleozoic limestone.

47

Measured section C in Hindu Canyon in NW 1/4 NE 1/4 NW 1/4 sec. 36, T. 27 N ., R. 12 W. in Mohave County,

* Arizona. Located 15 yards north of Bridge Canyon - Road. Elevation at the top of the section is approximately 4655 feet.

UnitNo.

3.

2.

1.

ThicknessDescription in feet

Erosion surface: :' .Buck and Doe conglomerate:

Conglomerate: weathers g ra y -^ ite ; consists of 140.0 limestone mid chert fragments; poorly sorted;x structureless; medium calcareous cemmt; caliche zones are evident throughout the section; splitting massive and crumbly; forms vertical cliffs; ledge hard; weathered to a pitted surface; crossbedding tabular to the southwest; flood-plain environment; base is unconformable and covered. Slope covered and irregular.: - v : XXX - XX-'X, ;.vXX'. :x; J XHindu Canyon formation:: x: ; ;x .. x -

Siltstone: weathers.red; loosely consolidated; con- 120.0 tains a high percentage of angular to subrounded x. quartz grains; fine grained to clayey;. numerous : clay layers interbedded with siltstone; well sorted; structureless to flat bedding; forms gentle slopes that are covered; splitting crumbly;and shaly; medi- . ■>um calcareous-ferruginous cement; fluvial and , lacustrine(?) ^ivironment; base undefined with . underlying Paleozoic limestone and is covered. l

Paleozoic limestone: top is unconfor mable and undefined with overlying siltstone.

Total thickness x x 260.0, x-.xx. X c;X:;. 'x:;. X- .; ■ ■ : :x,..• v-ix: x xx’x'xx .. -r- x r : :

48

U n i t •- .. 1 r T M c k n e S SNo. Description : , ; \ in feet

Erosion surface: : : : 1 . ’ ■ : 'Buck and Doe conglomerate:

10. Conglomerate: weathers gray-white; angular to sub- 40. 5rounded; limestone and chert fragments; poorly -v sorted; structur e le ss ; medium calcar ecus c ement; . splitting massive; forms irregular, slopes,: ledge . ’ • hard, and vertical c liffs; strong caliche cement. : noticeable; crossbedding tabular to the southwest; fluvial environment; base irregular and covered.

Hindu Canyon formation: c f r. I . G

9. Siltstone: weathers red; subangtilar to rounded 34.5quartz grains; accessories biotite and muscovite ; - flakes and heavy minerals; medium calcareous-fer- ruginous(?) cement; local m assive clay stones layers; splitting massive and shaly; slope irregular and covered; fluvial and lacustrine(?) environment; base covered andunconformable. . -G G

8. Sandstone:, weathers white; angular to subrounded 8.5quartz grains with accessory grains of feldspar, ;: mica flakes, and clay, particles; weak calcareous cement, forms irregular and covered slopes; good sorting; splitting crumbly; stained red by overlying siltstone; environment fluvial; base sharp and un­conformable. G: - - r-;: '■» . v..:;. f-G:; iG;-. 0

7. Siltstone: weathers red; medium-grained to fine- 56.5grained siltstone; local red stained clay layers; G contains quartz grains and mica flakes; sorting is good; medium calcareous-ferruginous(?) cement; splitting m assive and crumbly except for-clay : . layers; fluvial environment; base unconformable : r and Covered. . GC vG.;: ■■ re---' v :’vu:v

M easured section E in Lost Manrs Canyon in NE 1 /4NE 1 /4 SW 1 /4 se c . 31, T. 27 N ., R. 11 W. inMohave County, Arizona. Elevation at top of sectionis approxim ately 4630 feet* . 0

49

UnitNo.

6.

5.

4.

3.

2.

Thicknessin feet

6.0

Description

Sandstone: weathers white; medium-grained rounded to angular quartz sandstone; contains ac­cessory mica flakes and feldspar grains; fair sort­ing; splitting crumbly and friable; weak calcareous cement; slope irregular and covered; bedding mas­sive; environment fluvial; base unconformable and covered.

Siltstone: weathers red; consolidated; angular to sub- 20.5 rounded quartz-grained siltstone; medium calcareous cement; accessories mica flakes and heavy minerals; local zones contain clay stone; splitting crumbly and friable; medium sorted to well sorted; forms irregu­lar and covered slopes; fluvial environment; base gradational to unconformable.

Conglomerate: weathers red; consolidated; angular 13. 5 to subrounded limestone and chert fragments; poorly sorted; contains quartz grains; medium calcareous- ferruginous^) cement; local thin resistant sandstone layers are present; forms hard ledges and irregular cliffs and slopes; bedding structureless; fluvial en­vironment; base irregular and unconformable-

Siltstone: weathers red; more sandy than unit no. 80; 56; angular to subrounded quartz grains; well sort­ed; medium calcareous cement; thin hard resistant medium-grained sandstone layers about 1 foot thick occur throughout the siltstone section; splitting mas­sive to fissile; bedding structureless to flat; en­vironment fluvial; base unconformable.

Conglomerate: weathers red; angular to subangular 128.0 limestone and chert fragments; some sandstone fragments possibly from Coconino sandstone; poor­ly sorted; medium calcareous cement; interbedded zones of fine- to medium-grained red sandstone and thin-bedded siltstone zones up to 2 or 3 feet in local areas; quartz grains predominate; bedding irregular to structureless; forms resistant ledges, irregular slopes, and sharp vertical cliffs; base unconformable and covered.

50

Unit : ; % -v: I : ' :'' A. . A' h'- A ANo. Description a ; . r - o: •:

r ' G - V , A G ;' . V ;1. Bottom covered with recent alluvium. ' r ■ ;

Thickness in feet

V5 > V; Total thickness

:nv ■:>388. 5

v-

,.v' Ar. ■A 0

:s ’ •:A: gA;:,.'' nAn; A: vovndGA..AAliiA;; CaA , ;.v - 0 :G; r Cul-!

tA.’.r, vi A ■; -Aore : sp lf t-1 i , : •; C; A A ’ . 1 : 7 : . A r V d:> A g ; : ' ; ! .

A; Fi

: a-agaA-v: a: ' ,:v a:a -': :ai v A. : ; ; A : .11' G A A

Gjd'-- A Ad: :b,iAA-?:AGU 3.cAGrlz i,vnh;.'

I- a a a: ; ■ a 1 b : a : .av g - .g axgI a : v r-- , v a . H'dA _ G'uiA/rdA.-v Ai' v: ax i Ai aa .. v : v t . . a;;a ; ■: vt :.? ' AA. rdv -rid d r x :%, a -a-ga r<-n:nAi' -; vivxaa- K;::r;v'a" .

d ' G . x r - . A - ; A ' : ' ; s V ; AA - .dr AAAA-Cd to A"-AiX'i ■ : At v;: ;aa j

A A d r - ! : a - ' > - v r : A ' i , = : A . i A o r o ; a a a : A A d r r fIAi r " / ' r ; A - ' ' Av: f : • '•v,- r «1 • .

A- vi.r/-Aid" .r :; . C ' . r d dAAA. :'A OAiAviA TAALA ;: ,v’'AA: AitAA: !... ao

A A" AXAi-XX'dA

:% i;

ST "-bb AOi. '.!.f -;A; AA A d . ' v ' V A ; X X : A A X X ' - : - A ; "Ai AA

xr.xAAA: dr.A X. ; r. - r\ r - d ; 1 x AAA 0 AAA XX A A A A AAA y AA'A-AAi' r,. AA!: .aA v Aak. -a . A A..d d. AAA GAit -X ^A IhdAXXv X ' i d c x A . a . a a a a a : ? ’ - ‘ . a ;x . x X ' . d x d A A C " i ' : n b ! y A n d : r i ~

idv A: :g a jS haAv;tx:Aa a xy .aa: x A A d x i ; . v ; ao n r x A i d :

:>.o

51

: Measured section HCVA in Hindu Canyon in NE 1/4 - . SW 1/4 sec. 25, T. 27 N ., R. 12 W. in Mohave

County, Arizona. Ridge faces south. Elevation at top of the section is approximately 4330 feet. <:C ' . - i V V - ' : ' -V; ■■ 1 , .V;' ,:.. : V '.V •

Unit ■ ; ThicknessNo. Description . * : ■ in feet

Erosion surface: • ;rHindu Canyon formation: <• -- V

8. Alluvium. r . nr 9 .0i':T ev .. ; .r , v1 .'r vrnr

7. Siltstone: weathers red; subangular to rounded , 4 .5quartz grains; medium calcareous cement contains thin zones of sandstone; forms irregular slope; split­ting crumbly; fluvial environment; base gradational.

6. Sandstone: weathers white but stained red; subrounded 3. 5 to angular coarse-grained sandstone; quartz grains >1 predominate; accessory minerals are mica flakes and argillaceous material; weak calcareous cement; split­ting crumbly and friable; fluvial environment; uncon- formable base.

5. Sandstone: weathers to tan color; subrounded to an- 2 .5gular to coarse-grained sandstone; quartz grains predominate; accessory minerals are mica flakes and clay(?) particles; forms irregular slopes; weak calcareous cementation; fluvial environment; base unconfor mable.

4.* Sandstone: weathers brown; comprised of a large 5.0percentage of subrounded quartz grains; accessory minerals are decomposed feldspar and mica flakes; weak calcareous cement; splitting crumbly and fri­able; forms irregular slopes; fluvial environment; base gradational.

52

Unit > . ; ThicknessNo. Description . : in feet

3. Sandstone: weathers yellow; loosely consolidated; 5.0contains weathered pebbles and gravels of granitic origin; minerals consist of subrounded to angular quartz grains, decomposed feldspar grains, and .mica flakes; weak calcar eons- silica( ?) cement; forms irregular and covered slopes; poor to fair sorting; fluvial environment; base gradational.

2.. Sandstone: weathers to a light red; contains grains 2. 0of quartz, feldspar, chloride, and mica; subangular to sutirounded grains; forms irregular slopes; base ,■covered. ■ ^

1. Stream bottom: coverW. ' . ; :

. , Total thickness ; ' > • l - - 31.5

- - * ■ • .. - • . _ • i

. v ' - : , ' ‘ ■. , /

53

M easured section HCYAj in Hindu Canyon la SE 1 /4 -N W :l/4 :s e c . 25, T. 27 N ., R. 12 W. in Mohave V:, iCounty, Arizona. Elevation at top of section i s ap­proxim ately 42S0 feet. :

Unit . ThicknessNo. Description in feet

Erosion surface:Hindu Canyon formation:

5. Alluvium. 7.5

4. Conglomerate: weathers red; contains a high per- 5.0centage of limestone fragments, but also contains well-rounded granitic and gneissic pebbles; poorly i sorted; weak calcar eous- siliceous( ?) cement; split­ting crumbly and friable; limestone fragments may be incorporated from overlying alluvium; well weath­ered; forms irregular and covered slopes; fluvial en­vironment; base gradational.

7. ■,::: ^ - '7 ; ..: 7 v ' ' -7'.\ r - : : - f-3. Siltstone-claystone: weathers red; fine-grained silt- 2 .0

stone consisting of subangular to rounded quartz grains; weak siliceous-calcareous(?) cement; splitting friable; forms irregular and covered slopes; fluvial environ­ment; base unconfor mable. .. :

2. Conglomerate: weathers white with red streaks; com- 10. 0 prises well-weathered well-rounded granitic pebbles

7. mid boulders; some gneisses, quartzitic, and lim e- [ . ■ stone fragments; weak silica cement; small zones of caliche cement; small layers of sandstone comprising subrounded quartz grains with mica and decomposed feldspars; forms irregular and covers! slopes; fluvial environment; M se covered.: ^ 1

1. Stream;bottom:: covered. :: : u ■ v _____• r r v>7.U' ' -;-v7: < . ; ; Total thickness ; , 24.5

54

M easured section LMCB in Lost Manrs Canyon in ap­proxim ately SE 1 /4 NW 1 /4 se c . 29, T. 27 N ., R. 11W. in Mohave County, Arizona. Elevation at the topof the section is approxim ately 4280 feet.

Unit ; : • ThicknessNo. Description . . ^ v in feet

Erosion surface: ’ (• r ;Hindu Canyon formation: ;

9. Alluvium. . : : '■ t .;1;'":::-: :.vb - 15.0

8. Sandstone: weathers to an orange color; small r :. 4 .0lenses of limestone conglomerate, showing good ■ e : brachiopods in the limestone fragments;: subrounded - to angular quartz grains; some mica flakes and de­composed feldspars; weak silica cement; medium : ■ sorting; forms irregular and covered slope; fluvial : environment; base gradational. • : v .1 : i u l

7. Sandstone: weathers white to streaks of red; con- 35.0i . tains .small zones of decomposed gneissic and - o. )

granitic gravels which are well rounded; and quartzitic gravels which are angular; subrounded to angular quartz grains (may be an upper part of unit below); weak silica cement; forms irregular j . and covered slopes; fluvial environment; base gradational. *: : : ■ v: -• ■ ■, .'."v-iv ; r v ; - ; : / v/-' ^ i:;,:

6. Sandstone: weathers white with red streaks; sub- 15.5rounded to angular coarse-grained sandstone; con­glomerate approximately rl foot thick at base con­taining decomposed granite pebbles; sandstone con­tains high percentage of subrounded quartz grains; other accessory minerals are decomposed feldspars,

’ chlorite, and mica flakes; small lenses of red silt- stone in middle of section; weak silica cement; forms irregular and covered slopes; splitting crumbly and friable; fluvial environment; base unconformable.

Description in feet

Siltstone: weathers broimish red; fine-grained 8.5siltstone consisting of quartz grains and mica flakes; subangular to subrounded grains; crossbedding ap­proximately 2° to the west; weak silica cement; forms irregular and covered slopes; ledge soft; well sorted;•fluvial environment; base gradational (color of silt­stone may be from decomposition of granite gravels).

Sandstone: weathers white with reddish streaks; sub- 16.0 angular to subrounded quartz grains; accessory min- ’: . v erals are decomposed feldspars, chlorite, and mica flakes; red stain comes from decomposition of acces­sory minerals and the addition of ferruginous particles; weak silica cement; contains thin conglomerate layers composed of decomposed granite and fresh quartzitic gravels and pebbles; basal conglomerate is 3 feet thick; forms irregular slopes; ledge soft; poorly sorted; fluvial environment; base unconformable.

Sandstone: weathers to tan color; coarse-grained 28.0 sandstone with numerous thin conglomerate layers containing well-rounded decomposed granitic and angular quartzitic pebbles and gravels; basal con­glomerate is 5 feet thick; subangular to quartz grains in sandstone; accessory minerals consist of decom­posed feldspars, chlorite, and mica; splitting crumb­ly and friable; crossbedding approximately 2° to the west; weak siliceous cement; fairly sorted except for conglomerate layers and pebbly sandstone layers; forms irregular slope; fluvial environment; base gradational (sandstone in this and other like units may be the result of weathered granitic and gneissic conglomerates).

56

Unit . _ ThicknessNo. Description in feet

2. Siltstone: weathers brown to red; fine grained 14.0near base grading upward into a coarse-grained siltstone; contains angular quartz grains; weak silica cement; forms irregular and covered slopes; ;. '

: splitting crumbly and massive; fluvial environment;base covered.

1. Stream bottom: coverM. _____

- C — Total thickness ‘ 126.0

'! ■

> - 1 ^ : ■:

:i 5 ■ .>■ v o ; r v :

f u :;'-v^. . . . ■ ' : M > (■: ' ; V " ■ : ; - ’■ — ” '

;» . - V

: ■ — ; r . ( " r :

: ■ ■ \ rM'-':- V ;

. . - ' ' v ; i v 7 / ' v . ' :

. : " • •• -■ ' > : ' •- ‘ • ; vv ,*7-

). i :

V v '' . : ,•• _ r • ; -• . f

> i Mr ::. - a 5

57

Measured section NA in SW l /4 NE 1/4 sec. 17, T. 27 N ., R. 12 E. Measured on northern slope of Hindu Can­yon, Mohave County, Arizona. Elevation at top of section is approximately 4620 feet.

Unit ThicknessNo. Description in feet

Erosion surface:Buck and Doe conglomerate:

13. Conglomerate: weathers gray-white; consolidated 50. 5angular to subrounded fragments; poorly sorted; medium calcareous cement; contains limestone and chert boulders; quartz sand grains predominate; bedding irr egular; crossbedding tabular to south­west; splitting massive; weathered pebbles rounded and etched; slope irregular and covered; ledge hard; : base sharp; environment fluvial; caliche cementation strong. :

Erosion surface: .Hindu Canyon formation:

12. Siltstone: weathers red; consolidated; subrounded to 25.5 angular calcareous and quartz sand to clay size grains; weak calcareous-ferruginous cement; slope irregular and covered; moderately sorted to well sorted; splitting massive to shaly; some zones consist of claystone; bedding irregular; base gradational; environment fluvial.

11. Conglomerate: weathers red; consolidated; angular to 34.0 subrounded limestone and chert fragments; angular quartz grains predominate; poorly sorted; medium to strong calcareous-ferruginous cement; bedding irregu­lar and structureless; splitting massive; forms vertical cliffs; hard ledges; slope irregular and covered; base unconformable and sharp.

10. Siltstone: weathers rW; consolidated; angular to 5.0subrounded quarto and calcite. sand-size grains; basal mica flakes; weak calcareous cement; slope covered; well sorted; splitting shaly; base sharp and unconformable.

58

Unit ThicknessNo. Description in feet

9. Sandstone: weathers red; very coarse-' to fine- ' 6 .0grained quartz sand-size grains; medium to strong. calcareous-ferruginous cement; resistant hard ledge; moderately well sorted; splitting massive; environ­ment fluvial; base sharp and unconformable.;• w ' .■ ' : . : ■ o'.v^r. f i - ■-"'‘f V . ' b:’

8. Conglomerate: weathers red; consolidated; angular 38.0to subrounded limestone and chert fragments; quartz sand-size grains predominate; mica flakes present; * ' r - medium calcareous-ferruginous cement; forms good, vertical cliffs and hard ledges; local sandstone layers; bedding irregular and structureless; poorly sorted; splitting m assive and crumbly; environment fluvial; base unconformable.

7. Sandstone: weathers red; consolidated; angular to 16.0rounded quartz sand-size grains; interbedded silt- stone layers; conglomeratic la ises; ledge hard and resistant; calcareous cementation; moderately well

. sorted; base unconformable and sharp.

6. Conglomerate: weathers red; subangular to sub- 66.5rounded limestone and chert fragments (locally derived); fragments i /2 inch to 1 foot in diameter; predominantly 1 to 2 inches in diameter; local quartzitic sandstone, red in color, and siltstone layers; medium calcareous cement; poorly sorted; splitting massive to blocky; environment fluvial; base unconformable.

5. Sandstone: weathers red; consolidated; predomi- 274.0nately medium-grained quartzitic sandstone with mica flakes, chert fragments, feldspar grains; an­gular to subrounded grains; interbedded layers of fine siltstone and thin-bedded claystone; thick con­glomeratic lenses up to 15 feet in middle of section; hard resistant cliff-former sandstone, 19 feet thick near top of section; fragments of conglomeratic lenses are limestone and chert of local origin; slope is ir ­regular and covered; forms hard ledges; moderately sorted predominately; splitting massive to shaly; base unconformable.

59

UnitNo.

4.

3.

2 . '

1.

ThicknessDescription in feet

Conglomerate: weathers red; consolidated; angular 63.0 to subrounded limestone and chert fragments of local origin; local sandstone and siltstone layers; slope ir ­regular and covered; forms hard ledges and vertical cliffs; splitting m assive and blocky; quartz sand-size grains predominate; medium calcareous cement; base unconformable. : :

Sandstone: weathers red; consolidated; medium well- 10. 5 sorted quartzitic sandstone; interbedded layers of fine to medium siltstone; local thick conglomeratic lenses; medium calcareous cement; slope irregular; forms small but hard ledges; environment fluvial; base unconformable.

Conglomerate: weathers red; consolidated; angular 29. 5 to subrounded limestone and chert fragments (some ' : : noticeable yellow sandstone fragments— Coconino sandstone) of local origin; local thin red sandstone layers; base unconformable. v : .

Paleozoic limestone. r •

; Total thickness : 555.5

Univ. of Arizona Library

60

Measured section BC-2 in Hindu Canyon in SW 1/4 SE 1/4 sec. 15, T. 27 N ., R. 12 W. in Mohave County, Arizona. Elevation at top of section is approximately 4120 feet.

This area was not measured but the outcrop, which ■ £■; consists of red conglomerate, exists at an approxi­

mate elevation from 3980 to 4250 feet. A well was drilled at SW 1/4 SE 1/4 sec. 15, T. 27 N ., R. 12

nL W. in early 1940. This core shows that the first : . 120 feet consist of a red conglomerate; the rest of the core consists of a limestone sequence.

i , ' - . ' :v. . • ■ ■ • ' . "v ■Unit ' .No. DescriptionI , v:..:',. .-.'t . . - . - - :

Erosion surface: ; ; - Hindu Canyon formation:

2. Conglomerate: weathers red; consists of lim e- ..stone and chert fragments from Paleozoic lim e-

i:x stone and sandstone pebbles from the Supai sand­stone and the Coconino sandstone; poorly sorted; medium calcareous cement; ferruginous particles

: are probably from weathering of Supai formation (undiff.); interbedded zones of red sandstone con­sisting of a high percentage of subangular to round -

- ed.quartz {grains; forms vertical cliffs; hard ledges;irregular and covered slopes; splitting massive; structureless; fluvial environment; base unconform- able on Paleozoic limestone. . : ;v ;

1. Lower Paleozoic limestone.

Total thickness

Thickness in feet

i , . . V. u - . p

120.0

U.

120.0

SELECTED REFERENCES

Blackwelder, E ., 1934, Origin of the Colorado River: Geol. Soc. America Bull., v. 45, p. 551-566.

Blissenbach, E ., 1952, Geology of Aubrey Valley: Plateau, v. 24, p. 119-127.

Chaney, R. .W., 1940, Tertiary forests and continental history: Geol. Soc. America B ull., v. 51.

Darton, N. H ., 1925, A resume of Arizona geology: Ariz. Univ. Bull. 119, ser. no. 3, 298 p.

Effinger, W. L ., 1935, The geology of the Southwestern United States: U. S. Dept, of Interior, Nat. Park Service, 52 p.

Hunt, C. B ., 1956, Cenozoic geology of the Colorado Plateau: U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 279, 99 p.

Johnson, W. D ., 1900, The High Plains and their utilization: U. S. Geol. Survey 21st Annual Report, v. 4.

Koons, E. D ., 1943, The Unikaret volcanic field of Arizona: Plateau, v. 15, p. 52-59.

1948, Geology of the eastern Hualapai Reservation: Plateau, v. 20, p. 53-60.

Longwell, C. R ., 1928, Geology of the Muddy Mountains, Nevada:U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 798, 147 p.

1946, How old is the Colorado River?: Am. Jour. Sci., v. 244, p. 817-835.

Mackin, H ., 1959, Timing of post-orogenic uplift in the Rocky Moun­tains and Colorado Plateau: Abstract, Geol. Soc. America, Cordilleran Section, 55th Annual Meeting.

X

61

62

Maxon, J. H., 1930, Lava flows in the Grand Canyon of the Colorado River: Geol. Soc. America B ull., v. 61, p. 9-16.

McKee, E. D ., and Schenk, E. T ., 1942, The lower canyon lava and related features of Toroweap, Grand Canyon: Jour. Geomorph­ology, v. 5, p. 245-273.

Quinn, J. H ., 1957, Paired river terraces and Pleistocene glaciation: Jour, of Geology, v. 65, p. 149-166.

Schrader, F. C ., 1909, Mineral deposits of the Cerbat range, Black Mountains and Grand Wash Cliffs, Mohave County, Arizona:U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 397, 226 p.

Twenter, F. R ., 1958, Geology and probable areas of ground-water development in the Hualapai Indian Reservation, Arizona:U. S. Geol. Survey preliminary report, 95 p.

U. S. Department of Agriculture, 1941, Climate and man: U. S. 77th Cong. 1st Sess. House Document No. 27, p. 77.

PLATES P E N C E R

C A N Y O N/

nS E P A R A T I O N

/ C A N Y O N

r.r.'f, >Vx\vdyi \i:T

P ’-A R.I2W.

\/

B R I D G EC A N Y O N

AR.ll W.

\

Cb^ c

l : S r

13 5

— ^ ^ r ^ //Crr

I - .

'V // \

r \N

</>i /

/->

7

" B S j r y

% ^ O U J $ A k Y W '\_ 1

M r " "

» ),x v ^

> 3^ ; 'x ! ! ^ T , . ° V > ^

LOST

0Tv—r j/ oe r {r^Op

OTf x 7 ;; nN ) II ^

7

EXPLANATION

Q a I - Alluvium

g I QTv - Volcamcs

J I QT f - Fluvial

^ 1 The - Hindu Canyon fm.

f PfPu - Supai, Hermit undiff,

P I - Limestone

Mr - Redwall limestone

D I - Limestone

€ m - Muav limestone

-Cb - Bright Angle shale

-G f - Tapeats sandstone

"j^pCg - Gneiss

Strike and Dip

S C A L E I N M I L E S

Geology by Twenter,l958

Modified by Gray, 1959

w■D.

' " H r .

7Ci 6 / • ;

I Mi

L7-i i/

\Mr

-/

V t o 9

x

i o .

v

y x V

X

X

/ 7 . ^

//

P e a c h S p r i n g s (4794)(Cr3

Z

<r

\N T.26N.

/ z :

5 2 8 3

Qo I PPu

f v

yP E A C H S P R I N G S M O N O C L I N E L ~ PFu

3 * CmN E L S O N

D O M E

N e l s o n

GEOLOGIC MAP OF A PORTION OF THE HUALAPAI PLATEAU

Hin

du C

anyo

n fo

rmat

ion

E979/; i ; y yniv UbrayLATE 2

HI NDU C A N Y O N L O S T MAN' S C A N Y O N -------------------- » "

N-AI I

1 7 iI___i

3 0 2 9

3 1 3 2 33

E X P L AN ATI ON

A bsen t

A lluvium

B uck and D oe c o n g lo m era te (w hite lim e s to n e co n g lo m era te )

U pper m em b er(red c la y s to n e -r e d s i l t ston e with so m e w hite san d ston e s tr in g e r s )

M iddle m em b er(red lim e s to n e co n g lo m e r a te and red san d ston e lo c a lly w ith red san d ston e and red co n g lo m era te s tr in g e r s r e s p e c t iv e ly )

L o w er m em b er(buff sa n d sto n e , red sa n d sto n e , w hite sa n d sto n e , red co n g lo m e r a te , brow n co n g lo m e r a te co m p o sed of g n e is s ic , g r a n itic , and q u a rtz it ic p eb b les)

P a le o z o ic lim e s to n e

1-300

D a t u m p l a n e : 4 6 5 0 f e e t

a b o v e s e a l e v e l

CI a r t SHOWING LOCATION OF MEASURED SECTIONS IN HINDU CANYON AND LOST MAN S CANYON, MOKAVr, COUNTY, ARIZONA.

£ 9 7 9 ! 1959 / <b___

U n r v of Arizona LibraryPLATEPLATE 3

HI NDU C A N Y O N L O S T M A N S C A N Y O N

D a t u m p l a n e 1 4 6 5 0 f e e t

a b o v e s e a l e v e l» c o 0

O • °,0 0 c «

o O ° o r 0 Feeto o

o o °

o O 0

0 0 0 0

0 o 0 0c o o

C o o o •O ° 00 0 t h ~ — -

• 0 « «O 0 0 o

O 0 0V O Oo O o

O O

0 » fL M C B

H ualapaiIndianR eserv a tio n

B C - 2

c o o

In set

HC VB

°

o__o

Index m ap show ing lo c a tio n s of m ea su red

s e c t io n sB C -2

o 0 O o HC VBo o o

LCMB

HCR

In setr . .i _ : ii

E X P L A N A T I O N

Absent

A lluvium

W hite lim e s to n e co n g lo m era te

ua>xjSo> W hite san d ston e

uyaa5

-3—_-zr^

Red s ilts to n e — c la y sto n e

c

o•H

suac -<KctflU3 T3 C•HX

u a>s03

s <0)

r —i'O 13

UX)EE <L,OO

* 0 o o c o o o o o. . O JO & 0

Red lim e s to n e co n g lo m era te

Red sa n d s to n e -so m e tim e s ilty

yr o o o o or e o o o »

B uff co n g lo m era te

BEEB uff san d ston e

o O ° 6 0 O o o o o 0 oo g o O O 0 g

L ow er white co n g lo m era te

» O ° o 9 0 O O o © 0 c

O range- white co n g lo m era te

O range - white san d ston e

® O OyO O O mo o o O o °

» o o

R ed -w h ite co n g lo m era te

R ed- white san d ston e

XI

P a le o z o ic lim esto n e

•CHART SHOWING STRATIGRAPHY OF MEASURED SECTIONS IN .H IN D U CANYON AND LOST MAN S' CANYON, MOHAVE COUNTY A ll'7ZjVNA