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Mineral Resources > Online Spatial Data > Geology > by state > Arizona Geology

Geologic units in Santa Cruz county, Arizona

[Additional scientific data in this geographic area]

Jurassic sedimentary and volcanic rocks (Jurassic) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Sandstone and conglomerate derived from volcanic rocks with associated intermediate-composition lava flows, breccias, and tuffs. In southern Arizona this unit includes rocks of the Artesa sequence, Pitoikam Formation, Mulberry Wash volcanics, Rudolfo Red Beds, Recreation Red Beds, and Gardner Canyon Formation. In western Arizona it includes the Harquar Formation, rocks of Slumgullion, and related(?) unnamed units in the Kofa and Middle Mountains. This unit is characterized by maroon, brown, and purplish-gray volcanic-lithic sandstone and siltstone, with subordinate to abundant conglomerate, quartz-rich sandstone and sparse limestone. (150-170 Ma)

Lithology: sandstone; conglomerate; argillite; mudstone; siltstone; phyllite; dacite; meta-conglomerate; intermediate metavolcanic rock; meta-rhyolite; wacke; quartz-feldspar schist; rhyolite; schist; sedimentary breccia; pelitic schist; andesite; greenschist; arenite; basalt; granofels; hornfels; latite; limestone; felsic metavolcanic rock; orthoquartzite; quartzite; trachyandesite; alkaline basalt; trachybasalt

Late to middle Miocene basaltic rocks (Middle to Late Miocene) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Mostly dark, mesa-forming basalt deposited as lava flows. Rocks of this unit are widely exposed south of Camp Verde (Hickey Formation basalts), in the Mohon Mountains north of Bagdad, "The Mesa" east of Parker, and at other scattered locations in western Arizona. Rocks of this unit were not tilted by middle-Tertiary normal faulting except in a narrow belt from north of Phoenix to the northwest corner of the state. (8-16 Ma)

Lithology: basalt; alkaline basalt; hawaiite; tholeiite; andesite; dacite; rhyolite; trachyandesite; trachybasalt; conglomerate; sandstone; sedimentary breccia

Early Proterozoic metamorphic rocks (Early Proterozoic) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

Undivided metasedimentary, metavolcanic, and gneissic rocks. (1600-1800 Ma)

Lithology: schist; gneiss; amphibolite; granofels; calc-silicate schist; granulite; greenschist; marble; diorite; gabbro; granite; granodiorite; metasedimentary rock; migmatite; phyllite; quartzite

Jurassic granitic rocks (Jurassic) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Granite to diorite, locally foliated and locally alkalic; includes Triassic(?) granitoids in the Trigo Mountains. This unit includes two dominant assemblages of igneous rocks. The Kitt Peak-Trigo Peaks superunit includes, from oldest to youngest: dark, foliated or gneissic diorite, medium-grained equigranular to porphyritic granodiorite, and small, irregular intrusions of light-colored, fine-grained granite. The Ko Vaya superunit, limited to south-central Arizona, includes texturally heterogeneous K-feldspar-rich granitic rocks. (150-180 Ma)

Lithology: granodiorite; granite; diorite; pegmatite; leucogranite; aplite; granodiorite; porphyry; quartz monzonite; syenite; hornblendite

Mississippian, Devonian, and Cambrian sedimentary rocks (Cambrian, Devonian, and Mississippian) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Brown to dark gray sandstone grades upward into green and gray shale, overlain by light to medium gray or tan limestone and dolostone. This unit includes the Tapeats Sandstone, Bright Angel Shale, Muav Limestone, Temple Butte Formation and Redwall Limestone in northern Arizona, and the Bolsa Quartzite, Abrigo Formation, Martin Formation, and Escabrosa Limestone in southern Arizona. These rocks record intermittent sea-level rise and inundation in early Paleozoic time. (330-540 Ma)

Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; mudstone; shale; chert; dolostone (dolomite); limestone; conglomerate; arkose; orthoquartzite

Middle Miocene to Oligocene sedimentary rocks (Oligocene to Middle Miocene) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Con-glomerate, sandstone, mudstone, limestone, and rock-avalanche breccia (sheet-like deposits of crushed rock) deposited and tilted during widespread normal faulting and basin development. Sediments, mostly conglomerate and sandstone, are commonly medium to dark brown, reddish brown, or brownish gray; younger strata are generally lighter colors. Most deposits are 20 to 30 Ma in southeastern Arizona and 15 to 25 Ma in central and western Arizona. (11-32 Ma)

Lithology: conglomerate; sandstone; sedimentary breccia; siltstone; limestone; mudstone; landslide

Middle Miocene to Oligocene granitic rocks (Oligocene to Middle Miocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Granite to diorite representing solidified magma chambers that were the likely source of overlying and nearby volcanic rocks of map unit Tv. The granitic rocks are typically equigranular and fine- to medium-grained. (14-26 Ma)

Lithology: granodiorite; granite; diorite; porphyry; quartz diorite; aplite; gabbro; pegmatite; hornblendite; hornfels; gabbro

Paleozoic sedimentary rocks (Paleozoic) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area

Undivided Paleozoic limestone, dolostone, quartzite, shale, and related sedimentary rocks. (248-544 Ma)

Lithology: limestone; sandstone; marble; gneiss; granofels; schist; gypsum; phyllite; quartzite; quartz-feldspar schist; schist; pelitic schist

Early Tertiary to Late Cretaceous granitic rocks (Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary) at surface, covers 6 % of this area

Porphyritic to equigranular granite to diorite emplaced during the Laramide orogeny. Larger plutons are characteristically medium-grained, biotite +/- hornblende granodiorite to granite. Smaller, shallow-level intrusions are typically porphyritic. Most of the large copper deposits in Arizona are associated with porphyritic granitic rocks of this unit, and are thus named 'porphyry copper deposits'. (50-82 Ma)

Lithology: granodiorite; granite; diorite; porphyry; quartz diorite; aplite; gabbro; pegmatite; skarn

Middle Miocene to Oligocene volcanic rocks (Oligocene to Middle Miocene) at surface, covers 14 % of this area

Lava, tuff, fine-grained intrusive rock, and diverse pyroclastic rocks. These compositionally variable volcanic rocks include basalt, andesite, dacite, and rhyolite. Thick felsic volcanic sequences form prominent cliffs and range fronts in the Black (Mohave County), Superstition, Kofa, Eagletail, Galiuro, and Chiricahua Mountains. This unit includes regionally extensive ash-flow tuffs, such as the Peach Springs tuff of northwestern Arizona and the Apache Leap tuff east of Phoenix. Most volcanic rocks are 20-30 Ma in southeastern Arizona and 15 to 25 Ma in central and western Arizona, but this unit includes some late Eocene rocks near the New Mexico border in east-central Arizona. (11-38 Ma)

Lithology: dacite; rhyolite; andesite; basalt; porphyry; diorite; granite; granodiorite; latite; trachybasalt; trachyte; conglomerate; sandstone; sedimentary breccia; serpentinite

Early Pleistocene to latest Pliocene surficial deposits (Late Pliocene to Early Pleistocene) at surface, covers 9 % of this area

Coarse relict alluvial fan deposits that form rounded ridges or flat, isolated surfaces that are moderately to deeply incised by streams. These deposits are generally topographically high and have undergone substantial erosion. Deposits are moderately to strongly consolidated, and commonly contain coarser grained sediment than younger deposits in the same area. (0.75-3 Ma)

Lithology: gravel; sand; mud; silt

Middle Proterozoic granitic rocks (Middle Proterozoic) at surface, covers 0.7 % of this area

Mostly porphyritic biotite granite with large microcline phenocrysts, with local fine-grained border phases and aplite. Associated pegmatite and quartz veins are rare. This unit forms large plutons, including the Oracle Granite, Ruin Granite, granite in the Pinnacle Peak - Carefree area northeast of Phoenix, and several bodies west of Prescott. (1400-1450 Ma)

Lithology: granite; granodiorite; quartz diorite; quartz monzonite; pegmatite; aplite

Pliocene to middle Miocene deposits (Middle Miocene to Pliocene) at surface, covers 30 % of this area

Moderately to strongly consolidated conglomerate and sandstone deposited in basins during and after late Tertiary faulting. Includes lesser amounts of mudstone, siltstone, limestone, and gypsum. These deposits are generally light gray or tan. They commonly form high rounded hills and ridges in modern basins, and locally form prominent bluffs. Deposits of this unit are widely exposed in the dissected basins of southeastern and central Arizona. (2-16 Ma)

Lithology: conglomerate; sandstone; gravel; sand; gypsum; limestone; mudstone; siltstone

Holocene river alluvium (Holocene) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Unconsolidated to weakly consolidated sand and gravel in river channels and sand, silt, and clay on floodplains. Also includes young terrace deposits fringing floodplains. (0-10 ka)

Lithology: sand; gravel; mud; silt

Jurassic volcanic rocks (Jurassic) at surface, covers 10 % of this area

Massive quartz-feldspar porphyry, generally interpreted as thick, welded rhyolitic tuffs, with locally abundant lava, and sandstone and conglomerate derived from volcanic rocks. Rare eolian quartzite units are interbedded in southern Arizona. Includes Ali Molina Formation, Mount Wrightson Formation, part of the Canelo Hills Volcanics, Cobre Ridge tuff, Black Rock volcanics, Planet Volcanics, and equivalent rocks. (160-200 Ma)

Lithology: rhyolite; felsic metavolcanic rock; metarhyolite; conglomerate; dacite; felsic metavolcanic rock; quartz-feldspar schist; sandstone; arenite; arkose; granite; porphyry; meta-conglomerate; orthoquartzite; quartzite

Quaternary surficial deposits, undivided (Quaternary) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

Unconsolidated to strongly consolidated alluvial and eolian deposits. This unit includes: coarse, poorly sorted alluvial fan and terrace deposits on middle and upper piedmonts and along large drainages; sand, silt and clay on alluvial plains and playas; and wind-blown sand deposits. (0-2 Ma)

Lithology: sand; gravel; mud; silt

Permian to Pennsylvanian sedimentary rocks (Pennsylvanian to Permian) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

Interbedded sandstone, shale, and limestone usually characterized by ledgy outcrops. Orange to reddish sandstone forms cliffs near Sedona. This unit includes Supai Group and Hermit Shale in northern Arizona and Naco Group in southern Arizona. It was deposited in coastal-plain to shallow-marine settings during time of variable and changing sea level. Rocks of this map unit in southern Arizona may be in part equivalent to Permian rocks of map unit P in central and northern Arizona. (280-310 Ma)

Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; gypsum; mudstone; orthoquartzite; siltstone; sedimentary breccia; dolostone (dolomite); limestone; conglomerate; shale; calcarenite; evaporite

Cretaceous to Late Jurassic sedimentary rocks with minor volcanic rocks (Late Jurassic to Cretaceous) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Sandstone and conglomerate, rarely forms prominent outcrops; massive conglomerate is typical near base of unit and locally in upper part. These deposits are nonmarine except in southeastern Arizona, where prominent gray marine limestone (Mural Limestone) forms the middle of the Bisbee Group. Sandstones are typically medium-bedded, drab brown, lithic-feldspathic arenites. Includes Bisbee Group (largely Early Cretaceous) and related rocks, Temporal, Bathtub, and Sand Wells formations, rocks of Gu Achi, McCoy Mountains Formation, and Upper Cretaceous Fort Crittenden Formation and equivalent rocks. (80-160 Ma)

Lithology: conglomerate; sandstone; arenite; argillite; limestone; mudstone; sedimentary breccia; shale; siltstone; wacke; andesite; dacite; intermediate metavolcanic rock; meta-conglomerate; metarhyolite; phyllite; quartz-feldspar schist; rhyolite; schist; landslide; calcarenite; evaporite

Early Tertiary to Late Cretaceous volcanic rocks (Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary) at surface, covers 8 % of this area

Rhyolite to andesite and closely associated sedimentary and near-surface intrusive rocks; commonly dark gray to dark greenish gray or greenish brown. In the ranges west of Tucson, this unit includes thick welded ash-flow tuffs. Volcanic rocks of this unit are inferred to be derived from vents and volcanoes above magma chambers that solidified to form the granitic rocks of map unit TKg. These rocks are restricted to southeastern Arizona except for a small outcrop near Bagdad. (50-82 Ma)

Lithology: andesite; dacite; basalt; latite; rhyolite; conglomerate; siltstone; volcanic breccia (agglomerate); wacke