GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE VALJEAN HILLS 7.5' QUADRANGLE, SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIABy

J. P. Calzia and B. W. TroxelDigital database by

Christian G. Raumann2002

OPEN-FILE REPORT 03-096

CONTOUR INTERVAL 10 METERS

NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM OF 1929

7000 FEET1000 10000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000

.5 1 KILOMETER1 0

SCALE 1:24 0001/ 21 0 1 MILE

NO

RT

H

CALIF.

MAP LOCATION

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORU.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, Valjean Hills, Provisional Edition 1983Universal Transverse Mercator Projection, Zone 11

Geology mapped by J.P. Calzia andB.W. Troxel 1970-2002. Geology of Valjean Hills modified from Heassler and Friend (1986). Digital preparation by C.G. Raumann.

Valjea

n Hills

Dumon

t Dun

es

Siluria

n Hills

Siluria

n La

ke

Kingsto

n Spr

ing

Kingsto

n Pea

k

Horse

Thie

f

Spring

Tecop

a Pas

s

Tecop

a

SURROUNDING 7.5' QUADRANGLES

Tkq

China Ranch beds of Mason (1948) (Miocene)-Conglomerate, lacustrine deposits, and tuffs in the Alexander Hills and southern Death Valley region. The conglomerate includes interbeds of monolithologic breccia of Proterozoic sedimentary rocks and Tertiary magmatic rocks; lacustrine deposits include interbeds of marly limestone and tuff. Sanidine from an altered tuff at the base of the China Ranch beds yields a K-Ar age of 10.3 Ma (Scott, 1985); tuff beds near the top of this formation yield an 40Ar/39Ar age of 8.36±0.24 Ma (Scott and others, 1986). China Ranch beds within the map area include

Fanglomerate deposits-Partially consolidated fanglomerate interbedded with sandstone and lacustrine deposits. The fanglomerate is several tens to 500 m thick and consists of rounded to subangular cobbles and boulders of Proterozoic sedimentary rocks and Tertiary magmatic rocks, including the granite of Kingston Peak, porphyritic andesite, and latite, in a matrix of silt, brown fine- to medium-grained sand, and gravel. Beds are poorly defined and several meters thick. Clast composition varies with location. Along the northern boundary of the quadrangle and the west side of the Kingston Range, the fanglomerate is characterized by boulders, up to 5 m across, of the granite of Kingston Peak; subangular to rounded cobbles and boulders of the volcanic rocks are more abundant than clasts of the Proterozoic rocks. Clasts of Proterozoic rocks, however, are more common than clasts of Tertiary rocks in a large slump block of the fanglomerate north of the Valjean Hills. Interbeds of rounded boulders and cobbles of diabase and gneiss (Tcfd) and landslides of the fanglomerate (Tcfl) are common in the northwest corner of the quadrangle Interbeds of sandstone and lacustrine deposits consist of fine- to coarse-grained sandstone and pebble conglomerate with a matrix of medium- to coarse-grained sand. These interbeds are laterally discontinuous and fine upwards into lacustrine deposits and fine-grained cross-bedded sandstone. The lacustrine deposits consist of alternating beds of resistant light brown pea gravel, brown siltstone, and punky white tuffaceous siltstone. The pea gravel consists of rounded to subrounded clasts of quartzite, volcanic rocks, and brown shale in a matrix of brown siltstone

Lapilli tuff-Pumice lapilli tuff consisting of biotite, hornblende, lithic fragments, and altered glass shards. This tuff is correlated by tephrochronology with a biotite-bearing tuff that yields K-Ar ages of 7.6 to 8.4 Ma (A.M. Sarna-Wojcicki, written commun, 1986)

Quartz porphyry facies of the granite of Kingston Peak (Miocene)-Very fine-grained biotite+hornblende granite porphyry characterized by quartz phenocrysts up to 3 cm across, 6-8 percent mafic minerals, and miarolitic cavities. Stoped blocks of gray monzogranite from the granite of Rabbit Holes Spring are common. The quartz porphyry facies forms gradational contacts with the 12.4 Ma feldspar porphyry facies of the granite of Kingston Peak in the Kingston Range (Calzia, 1990)

Volcanic rocks (Miocene)-Small round outcrops of trachytic andesite and basalt that intrude the carbonate breccia along the east side of the Valjean Hills. The andesite consists of lath-shaped phenocrysts of plagioclase, 1-5 mm long, and anhedral biotite in a matrix of plagioclase microlites. The basalt consists of plagioclase phenocrysts, 0.5-1.0 mm long, ortho- and clinopyroxene, and minor olivine. These volcanic rocks resemble 13.4 Ma (Fowler, 1992) volcanic rocks in the Resting Springs Formation in the southern Kingston Range

Granite of Rabbit Holes Spring (Cretaceous?)-Medium-grained

monzogranite that is modally and texturally similar to plutons in the Cretaceous Teutonia Batholith. Divided into gray monzogranite and tan monzogranite

Gray monzogranite-Medium-grained biotite monzogranite with rare subhedral potassium feldspar phenocrysts up to 6 mm long

Tan monzogranite-Medium- to coarse-grained monzogranite; generally equigranular but locally porphyritic. Pegmatite dikes and autoliths of gray monzogranites are common

Bonanza King Formation (Cambrian)-Banded gray and black dolomite and limestone overlain by massive dark gray mottled dolomitic limestone. The banded unit contains occasional chert nodules and oolitic dolomite; the massive unit includes thin clayey and sandy limestone beds. The base of this formation is marked by thin-bedded grayish orange silty limestone, dolomite, and shale

Carrara Formation (Cambrian)-Silty or calcareous shale interbedded with thin- to medium-bedded limestone and limy mudstone. The shale included micaceous sand or silt lenses and minor quartzite; the limestone is generally laminated and locally oolitic

Zabriskie Quartzite (Cambrian)-Cross-bedded, pale-red to gray fine- to medium-grained quartz arenite with granules and rounded cobbles of red chert and white quartz. These rocks are overlain by gray fine- to medium-grained quartz sandstone with poorly developed ripple marks and trough cross beds

Wood Canyon Formation (Cambrian and Late Proterozoic)-Massive and cross-bedded medium- to fine-grained feldspathic or micaceous sandstone, medium- to finely-crystalline dolomite, cross-bedded arkosic quartz pebble conglomerate, and purplish-red siltstone. Micaceous siltstone and sandy dolomite lenses in micaceous sandstone become more common up section

Stirling Quartzite (Late Proterozoic)-White to brownish red coarse- to fine-grained quartzose, feldspathic, and arkosic sandstone locally overlain by fining upward cycles of purple, gray, and yellow brown micaceous siltstone and medium-grained feldspathic sandstone. These rocks are overlain by gray and pink medium- and coarse-grained quartz sandstone with thin interbeds of pinkish to greenish siltstone and shale. Rounded to subrounded quartz pebbles are common near the base and top of this formation. Sandstone beds are characterized by planar and truncated cross beds

Johnnie Formation (Late Proterozoic)-Siltstone, sandstone, and carbonate rocks informally divided into upper, middle, and lower members

Upper member-Purple siltstone with interbeds of gray medium- to coarse-grained quartz arenite, orange oolitic dolomite, and fine- to medium-grained quartz arenite. Red-brown dolomite and sandy dolomite mark the base of this member. The oolite is locally separated into two beds by purple siltstone; the lower quartz arenite is locally graded from pebble sandstone to sandstone

Tct

Tv

Krgm

Krtm

Zs

Zju

b�

Zw�

c�

z�

Tbb

DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS

Stream wash deposits (Holocene)-Unconsolidated silt, fine- to medium-grained sand, and rare gravel in active stream channels

Eolian sand deposits (Holocene)

Alluvium (Holocene)-Undeformed silt, fine- to coarse-grained sand, and gravel deposits that form the present-day depositional surface

Stream terrace deposits (Holocene)-Sandy gravel deposits 0.5 to 2.0 m above active stream channels

Younger alluvial fan deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene)-Undeformed alluvial fan deposits that are locally dissected and topographically higher than alluvium (Qa). The fan deposits consist of subrounded to subangular cobbles and boulders of Tertiary lacustrine deposits, Miocene granite and volcanic rocks, and Paleozoic and Proterozoic sedimentary rocks in a matrix of silt, fine- to coarse-grained sand, and gravel. Boulders within the fan deposits are up to 2 m in diameter

Granite boulder fan (Holocene and Pleistocene)-Similar to younger alluvial fan deposits (Qyf) but consists almost exclusively of subrounded boulders derived from the granite of Kingston Peak

Older alluvial deposits (Pleistocene and Pliocene?)-Faulted and dissected alluvial fan and lacustrine deposits that are topographically higher than younger alluvial fan deposits (Qyf). The alluvial fan deposits consist of conglomerate, pebbly sandstone, and fine- to coarse-grained sandstone. The conglomerate consists of subrounded to subangular cobbles and boulders of the granite of Kingston Peak and lesser amounts of Tertiary volcanic rocks as well as Proterozoic sedimentary rocks in a matrix of silt and fine- to coarse-grained sand. Layers of pebbly sandstone and sandstone are 1 to 3 m thick and become finer grained up section; the sandstone is locally cross bedded. Bedding is locally well developed and expressed by alternating layers of conglomerate and sandstone The lacustrine deposits consist of poor- to moderately-consolidated fine-grained sand and silt with rare lenticular gravel beds. Beds of sand and silt are generally less than 5 cm thick and well developed; sand beds are locally cross bedded. The lacustrine deposits occur within a single stratigraphic horizon and grade laterally into the alluvial deposits

Older alluvial fan deposits (Pleistocene and Pliocene?) -Faulted and dissected alluvial fan deposits that occur at approximately the same elevation as the older alluvial deposits (Qoa). Older alluvial fan deposits consist of cobble and boulder conglomerate in a matrix of silt, fine- to coarse-grained sand, and gravel. Subangular to subrounded conglomerate clasts are predominately granite with lesser amounts of Paleozoic and Proterozoic sedimentary rocks as well as Tertiary volcanic rocks. Bedding is poor to nonexistent; where exposed, bedding is horizontal to subhorizontal

Breccia (Miocene)-Breccia units consisting of a heterogeneous mixture of allochthonous blocks and fragments derived from various formations in the Kingston Range just east of this quadrangle; the geology of the Kingston Range is described by Calzia and others (2000). Chaotic stacking of heterogeneous breccia into short linear or lens-shaped ridges suggest that the breccia units are landslide breccias that formed with uplift of the Kingston Range

Granite breccia-Breccia derived predominately from granite of Kingston Peak with lesser amounts of the granite of Rabbit Holes Spring. Includes rare cobbles and boulders of gneiss

Diabase breccia-Breccia derived from diabase, granite, quartzite, siltstone and sandstone from the upper member of the Crystal Spring Formation, and volcanic rocks. These breccias are interlayered with lacustrine deposits of the China Ranch beds and include a lens of breccia derived from a rhyolite dike (Tbt)

Noonday breccia-Breccia derived predominately from the Noonday Dolomite with lesser amounts from the upper member of the Crystal Spring Formation and unidentified quartzite

Kingston Peak breccia-Breccia derived from diamictite from the upper member of the Kingston Peak Formation as well as fragments of green siltstone, dark laminated sandy mudstone with relatively thick beds of fine- to medium-grained sandstone, and medium brown and black dolomite and limy dolomite. Modern landslide deposits (Tbkl) are locally developed along oversteepened fault scarps within this formation

Beck Spring breccia-Breccia derived from the Beck Spring Dolomite and other unidentified carbonate rocks

Mixed breccia-Breccia consisting of fragments of 1) brown carbonate rocks, 2) red brown and black massive and laminated dolomite, 3) graded beds of green fissle shale, purple fine-grained arkosic sandstone, and brown medium- to coarse-grained arkosic sandstone with quartz pebbles, and 4) conglomerate with angular cobbles of red brown and black limy dolomite, mudstone, and red coarse-grained sandstone in brown medium- to coarse-grained sandstone matrix

Carbonate breccia-Breccia derived primarily from the Bonanza King Formation and lesser amounts from the Anchor member of the Sultan Limestone. Breccia derived from the Bonanza King Formation consists of angular to subrounded fragments, 0.5-20.0 cm in diameter, of dark to blue gray finely crystalline massive dolomite with local interbeds of white chert and dolomite nodules, laminated silty carbonate rock, and fine- to very fine-grained sandstone. Larger fragments consist of alternating wavy bands of dark gray micritic limestone and gray to reddish brown dolomite; these fragments resemble the Papoose Lake member of the Bonanza King Formation. Near the Valjean Hills fault, this breccia consists of angular to subangular pebbles and cobbles of coarse- to very fine-grained sandstone, dolomitic sandstone, and dark gray carbonate clasts in reddish brown matrix. The sandstone clasts were derived from the underlying Johnnie Formation

Qw

Qa

Qyf

Qoa

Qof

Qst

Qgf

Qs

Tbn

Tbg

Tbx

Tbc

Middle member-White to pale gray, fine- to coarse-grained quartz arenite, purple to gray shale, and red-brown finely crystalline dolomite. The quartz arenite is locally graded or cross bedded and includes subrounded pebbles at the base

Lower member-Quartzite and dolomitic sandstone overlying fine- to coarse-grained quartz arenite

Johnnie Formation-Undivided. In cross section only

Ibex Formation (Late Proterozoic)-Maroon to purple fissile siltstone and shale, medium- to coarse-grained arkosic sandstone, and brown to gray finely crystalline limestone

Noonday Dolomite (Late Proterozoic)-Well-bedded finely crystalline light purple dolomite; locally cross bedded

Kingston Peak Formation (Middle Proterozoic)-A siliciclastic sequence informally divided into upper, middle, and lower members.

Upper member-Turbidite deposits, diamictite, and breccia consisting of diabase clasts in the Kingston Range, and interbedded shale, siltstone, and red-brown fine- to medium-grained arkosic sandstone in the Valjean Hills. The arkosic sandstone becomes more common up section and includes interbeds of red to purple siltstone and pebble to boulder conglomerate. The conglomerate consists of gray dolomite and quartz arenite clasts. Lenses of megabreccia derived from the Beck Spring Dolomite (Ykub) are common

Middle member-Diamictite consisting of rounded to subangular cobbles and boulders of Beck Spring Dolomite, Crystal Spring Formation, and 1.1 Ga diabase in matrix of dark medium-grained sandstone and limy mudstone. In cross section only, no outcrops within the Valjean Hills Quadrangle

Lower member-Massive to thinly bedded green siltstone and fine-grained arkosic sandstone. Siltstone locally includes laminated shale

Beck Spring Dolomite (Middle Proterozoic)-Gray medium- to coarse crystalline laminated dolomite. Truncated algal mounds are common

Crystal Spring Formation (Middle Proterozoic)-Conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, shale, and carbonate rocks locally intruded by 1.1 Ga diabase. In cross section only; no outcrops within the Valjean Hills Quadrangle

Gneiss (Early Proterozoic)-Coarse-grained granitic gneiss cut by 1.7+ Ga pegmatite dikes and milky quartz veins. In cross section only; no outcrops within the Valjean Hills Quadrangle

Ykl

Yb

Zi

Contact-Dashed where approximately located

Fault-Dashed where approximately located, dottedwhere concealed, queried where uncertain. Ball and baron downthrown side

Valjean Hills Fault-Tick marks on upper plate

Anticline-Dashed where approximately located, arrow in direction of plunge

Syncline-Dashed where approximately located, arrow in direction of plunge

Dike

Unconformity (shown only in cross section)

Facies change (shown only in cross section)

Landslide-Arrows in direction of down slope motion

Strike and dip of bedding

Horizontal bedding

REFERENCES CITED

Calzia, J.P., 1990, Geologic studies of the Kinsgston Range, southern Death Valley, California: Davis, University of California, PhD dissertation, 230 p.

Calzia, J.P., Troxel, B.W., Wright, L.A., Burchfiel, B.C., Davis, G.A., and McMackin, M.R., 2000, Geologic map of the Kingston Range, southern Death Valley, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-412, scale 1:31,680

Fowler, T.K., 1992, Geology of Shadow Mountain and the Shadow Valley Basin: Implications for Tertiary tectonics of the eastern Mojave Desert: University of Southern California PhD dissertation, 160 p.

Heassler, M.J., and Friend, L.D., 1986, Geology of the Valjean Hills, southeastern Death Valley region, San Bernardino County, California: California State University, Sonoma, senior thesis, 56 p.

Mason, J.F., 1948, Geology of the Tecopa area, southeastern California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 59, p. 333-352

Scott, R.K., Wright, L.A., and Drake, R.E., 1986, Thrust fault-related monolithologic breccias and cyclic playa-lake deposits in the Miocene China Ranch basin, Death Valley region, California: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program, v. 20, p. 229.

Zjl

Zj

Zjm

Ykm

Yc

Ygn

45

?

Tbk

Zi

Zn

YkuYkub

Tbkl

Tcf

TcfdTct

Tcfl

Tbd

Tbt

CORRELATION OF MAP UNITS

Unconformity

Unconformity

Unconformity

Unconformity

Unconformity

Qw

Qa

TbbTbk

Tbn

Tbg

Tbx Tbc

Tv

Tkq

Krgm Krtm

Zs

Zju

Zjl

Zi

Zn

Yku

Ykl

Ykm

Yb

Zjm

Ykub

Tbkl

Qyf

Qoa

Unconformity

Unconformity

Qs

b�

Zw�

c�

z�

CEN

OZO

ICM

ESOZO

ICPA

LEOZO

ICLATE PR

OTER

OZO

ICM

IDD

LE PRO

TERO

ZOIC

CA

MB

RIA

NC

RETA

CEO

US

TERTIARY

QU

ATERN

ARY

Holocene

Pleistocene and Pliocene?M

iocene

Qgf

Qst

Tcf

Tcfd

Tct

Tcfl

Qof

Zj

Yc

Xgn

Tbd

Tbt

METERS

SEA LEVEL

500

1000

SEA LEVEL

500

1000

METERS

Zn

Yku

Zn

Qs

Ykm

Ykm

Yku

Ykl

Yku

Ykm

Ykm

Ykl

Ykl

Ykm

ZnQs

Qoa Qw

YbYb

YbZj

Zi

QsTbc

Zs

Qs Qa

Yc

Tcf

Qs

Krtm

Krtm

Krgm

Tkq

Qw QwQyf QyfQofQof

B'B

QwQyf

Qyf

Qoa

SEA LEVEL

500

1000

METERS

SEA LEVEL

500

1000

METERS

Qoa

Tbk

Tbn

Yku

TbgQw

Tcf

Ykm

Qoa

QfQoa

Tct

Zj

Zi

Tbb

Tbb

Tbd

Tbt

Yku

Xgn

Tcf

QoaTcfd

A A'

VERTICAL SCALE = 1.22 HORIZONTAL SCALE

Qs

?

??

Qs

Tcf

Tcf

Tcf

Qyf

Qa

Qw

Qw

Yku

Yku

Qw

Qyf

Qoa

Krtm

Qs

Qa

Qs

Qs

Qw

Qa

Tcfl

Qa

Qyf

Tcf

Qw

Qs

Qa

Tkq

Qa

Qyf

Yku

Qs

Qyf

Qyf

Tcf

Krgm

Qs

Qw

Qa

Qoa

Tcf

Krtm

Krgm

Yku

Qa

Yb

Qyf

Yku

Zju

Qs

Qoa

Qa

Qs

Qw

Krtm

Zn

Qoa

Tbd

Tbx

Qs

Tcfl

Zi

Tbk

Tcf

Tbbk

Tcf

Zn

Qyf

Qa

Yku

Qa

Qyf

Qs

Tcfl

Qs

Qyf

Qa

Yku

Qyf

Zju

Zn

Yku

Tcf

Qa

Zn

Tcf

Qoa

Tcf

Zs

Qyf

Qyf

Tcf

Ykl

Tcf

Qyf

Yb

Qyf

Qw

Zi

Qa

Qst

Yku

Qyf

Tcfd

Qa

Ykub

Qw

Zn

Qs

Tcfl

ZjuZju Zju

Yku

Qa

Zju

Qw

Qs

Qs

Qs

Tcf

Tcfl

Qs

Yku

Zn

Zju

Qoa

Tcf

Tbd

Qa

Tbx

Yku

Tbx

Zjl

Tcf

Qoa

Zi

Tcf

Qa

Qw

Tbb

Tcf

Qs

Qyf

Qa

Zju

Tcfl

Tcf

Yku

Yku

Zs

Tbg

Qa

Tbx

Qs

Zju

Tbb

Qw

Tv

Zju

Zju

Qa

Tv

Qa

Qa

Qyf

Tcf

Zn

Zi

Yku

Yku

Qa

Qs

Qoa

Qw

Qoa

Zi

Qw

Tcf

Tcf

Qs

Qs

Qyf

Zn

Tcf

Yku

Qs

Zi

Qs

Qs

Tct

Yku

Qs

Tbn

Qyf

Yku

Tbt

Yku

Ykub

Tcfd

Tbd

Zs

Krtm

Tcfd

Yku

Qw

Zn

Tbkl

Zn

Zn

Zs

Tv

Tbb

Yku

Qw

Zju

Tbk

Qs

Tcf

Tct

Yku

Zju

Qs

Zn

Tbg

Qw

Yb

Zs

Qw

Qoa

Zjm

Yb

Qyf

Zn

Zn

Tcf

Qw

Tbn

Qw

Tbt

Tbb

Tcf

Qoa

Qoa

Qoa

Qoa

Qoa

Qyf

Qyf

Qoa

Qoa

Tcfd

Tcfd

Tcfd

Qyf

Qyf

Qyf

Qyf

Qyf

Tcf

Qoa

Qoa

QoaQoa

Qoa

Qoa

Qoa

Qoa

Tbg

Tbg

Tbg

Qoa

Qoa

Qoa

Qoa Qoa

Qoa

Qyf

Qyf

Qyf

QyfQyf

Qyf

Qyf

Qyf

Qoa

Qoa

Qgf

Qyf

Qyf

Qyf

Qyf

Qyf

Qoa

Qoa

Qyf

Qyf

QaQoa

Qa

Qa

Qoa

Tbd

Qyf

TbdTbd

Tbd

Tbd

Tbb

Tbn

Tbb

Tbx

Qa

TbbQa

Qa

Qa

Qyf

Qa

Qoa

Qa

Qa

Ykub

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Tbb

Tbn

Qa

Qa

Yku

Yku

Qst

Qyf

Qyf

QyfQyf

Qyfg

QyfQyf

Qyf

Qa

Qa

Yku(b)

Qa

Tbc

Zju

Tbc

Qoa

Tbc

Tbc

QaQa

Qa

Qa

Qyf

Tbc

Qs

Qs

Qw

Qyf

Qoa

b�

b�

b�

b�

b�

b�

Zw�

c�

z�z�

c�

Zw�

Qst

Qst

Qgf

Qgf

Qgf

Qgf

Qgf

Qyf

Tbc

Tbc

Tbc

Tbc

TbcTbc

Tbc

Tbc

Tbc

Tbc

A L E X A N D E R

HI

LL

S

V A L JE

AN

HI

LL

S

B

B'

A

A'

Qof

80

20

18

28

17

3432

17

28

43

10

5

10

30

50

45

40

38 45

25

40

58

55

20

55

33

25

40

60

45

22

80

82

60

55 30

24

22

25

53

72

52

55

40

46

45

824040

80 60

45

74

60

49

61

26

30

20

35

3943

50

3050

10

47

35

30

35

70

45

65

15

25

25

20

20

35

35