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

Geologic units in Inyo county, California

[Additional scientific data in this geographic area]

Paleozoic marine rocks, undivided, unit 1 (Mojave Desert and Death Valley area) (Late Proterozoic to Jurassic) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area

Undivided Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks. Includes slate, sandstone, shale, chert, conglomerate, limestone, dolomite, marble, phyllite, schist, hornfels, and quartzite

Lithology: limestone; sandstone; dolostone (dolomite); quartzite; marble; schist

Shale, siltstone, sandstone, chert-pebble conglomerate, and limestone (Devonian to Mississippian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

SHALE, SILTSTONE, SANDSTONE, CHERT-PEBBLE CONGLOMERATE, AND LIMESTONE-Includes units such as Pilot Shale, Joana Limestone, Chainman Shale, and Diamond Peak Formation in northern and eastern Nevada and Narrow Canyon Limestone, Mercury Limestone, and Eleana Formation in southern Nevada

Lithology: shale; limestone; siltstone; sandstone; conglomerate; dolostone (dolomite); chert; quartzite

Playa, marsh, and alluvial-flat deposits, locally eroded (Quaternary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

PLAYA, MARSH, AND ALLUVIAL-FLAT DEPOSITS, LOCALLY ERODED

Lithology: playa; alluvium

Devonian marine rocks, unit 1 (Death Valley) (Middle to Late Devonian) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Limestone and dolomite, sandstone and shale; in part tuffaceous

Lithology: limestone; dolostone (dolomite); sandstone; marble; quartzite

Quaternary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 4 (Sierra Nevada) (Quaternary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Quaternary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits.

Lithology: basalt; volcanic breccia (agglomerate)

Silurian and/or Ordovician marine rocks, unit 1 (Death Valley) (Ordovician to Early Devonian) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

Sandstone, shale, conglomerate, chert, slate, quartzite, hornfels, marble, dolomite, phyllite; some greenstone

Lithology: dolostone (dolomite); limestone; orthoquartzite; mudstone

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

Sandstone, shale, conglomerate, and fanglomerate; in part Pliocene and Oligocene.

Lithology: sandstone; conglomerate; siltstone; mudstone; sedimentary breccia; limestone; dolostone (dolomite); chert; felsic volcanic rock (aphanitic); basalt

Limestone, dolomite, shale, and quartzite (Ordovician) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

LIMESTONE, DOLOMITE, SHALE, AND QUARTZITE-Includes units such as Pogonip Group, Eureka Quartzite, and Ely Springs Dolomite. Where Ely Springs Dolomite or equivalent rocks are included in SOc unit, this unit includes only the Pogonip Group and Eureka Quartzite or their equivalents.

Lithology: limestone; dolostone (dolomite); shale; quartzite; chert

Limestone of probable Paleozoic or Mesozoic age (Paleozoic to Mesozoic) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Limestone, dolomite, and marble whose age is uncertain but probably Paleozoic or Mesozoic

Lithology: limestone; marble; dolostone (dolomite)

Quaternary volcanic flow rocks, unit 5 (Coso Volcanic Field) (Quaternary (0-4 Ma)) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Quaternary volcanic flow rocks; minor pyroclastic deposits; in part Pliocene and Miocene.

Lithology: basalt; rhyolite; dacite; andesite

Cenozoic (Tertiary) granitic rocks, unit 1 (Death Valley) (middle to late Miocene) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Cenozoic (Tertiary) granitic rocks--quartz monzonite, quartz latite, and minor monzonite, granodiorite, and granite; found in the Kingston, Panamint, Amargosa, and Greenwater Ranges in southeastern California.

Lithology: quartz monzonite; granite; monzonite; granodiorite; latite; aplite

Breccia (Middle Eocene to Early Pliocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

BRECCIA-Volcanic, thrust, and jasperoid breccia and landslide megabreccia

Lithology: volcanic breccia (agglomerate); tectonite; landslide

Mesozoic gabbroic rocks, unit 2 (undivided) (Triassic to Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Gabbro and dark dioritic rocks; chiefly Mesozoic

Lithology: gabbro; diorite

Plio-Pleistocene and Pliocene loosely consolidated deposits (Miocene to Pleistocene) at surface, covers 4 % of this area

Pliocene and/or Pleistocene sandstone, shale, and gravel deposits; in part Miocene.

Lithology: sandstone; conglomerate; claystone; shale; siltstone; limestone; evaporite; coal; sedimentary breccia

Quartzite and minor amounts of conglomerate, phyllitic siltstone, limestone, and dolomite (Late Proterozoic to Early Cambrian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

QUARTZITE AND MINOR AMOUNTS OF CONGLOMERATE, PHYLLITIC SILTSTONE, LIMESTONE, AND DOLOMITE-Includes Prospect Mountain Quartzite, Osgood Mountain Quartzite, and Gold Hill Formation in northern Nevada, and Stirling Quartzite, Wood Canyon Formation, and Zabriskie Quartzite in southern Nevada.

Lithology: quartzite; siltstone; dolostone (dolomite); limestone; phyllite; shale; conglomerate; sandstone

Quaternary volcanic flow rocks, unit 7 (Mojave Desert) (Quaternary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Quaternary volcanic flow rocks; minor pyroclastic deposits; in part Pliocene and Miocene.

Lithology: basalt; tephrite (basanite); andesite

Carboniferous marine rocks, unit 3 (SE California Clastic Assemblage) (Late Devonian to Early Permian) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Shale, sandstone, conglomerate, limestone, dolomite, chert, hornfels, marble, quartzite; in part pyroclastic rocks

Lithology: shale; limestone; argillite; siltstone; conglomerate; chert

Cenozoic (Tertiary) granitic rocks? (Skidoo Pluton) (Early to Late Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Cenozoic (Tertiary) granitic rocks--quartz monzonite, quartz latite, and minor monzonite, granodiorite, and granite; found in the Kingston, Panamint, Amargosa, and Greenwater Ranges in southeastern California(?)

Lithology: peraluminous granite

Alluvial deposits (Quaternary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS-Locally includes beach and sand dune deposits

Lithology: alluvium; mass wasting; dune sand; lake or marine deposit (non-glacial)

Tertiary intrusive rocks (hypabyssal), unit 7 (Northern Mojave Desert) (Tertiary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Tertiary intrusive rocks; mostly shallow (hypabyssal) plugs and dikes. Includes some Mesozoic rocks.

Lithology: rhyolite; basalt; dacite; trachyte

Tertiary nonmarine rocks, undivided (Paleocene to Pliocene) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Undivided Tertiary sandstone, shale, conglomerate, breccia, and ancient lake deposits.

Lithology: conglomerate; sandstone; sedimentary breccia; volcanic rock (aphanitic); mudstone; limestone; siltstone

Mesozoic volcanic rocks, unit 3 (Mojave Desert, Death Valley area, and Eastern Sierra Nevada) (Triassic to Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Undivided Mesozoic volcanic and metavolcanic rocks. Andesite and rhyolite flow rocks, greenstone, volcanic breccia and other pyroclastic rocks; in part strongly metamorphosed. Includes volcanic rocks of Franciscan Complex: basaltic pillow lava, diabase, greenstone, and minor pyroclastic rocks

Lithology: felsic volcanic rock; intermediate volcanic rock; basalt; clastic; limestone

Granitic rocks (Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

GRANITIC ROCKS-Mostly quartz monzonite and granodiorite

Lithology: quartz monzonite; granodiorite; granite; monzonite; quartz diorite; peraluminous granite

Quaternary glacial deposits (Pleistocene) at surface, covers 0.7 % of this area

Glacial till and moraines. Found at high elevations mostly in the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains.

Lithology: glacial drift

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks, unit 16 (Northern Mojave Desert) (Tertiary (4-22 Ma)) at surface, covers 7 % of this area

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks; minor pyroclastic deposits.

Lithology: rhyolite; basalt; tuff; ash-flow tuff; ignimbrite; dacite; trachyte; trachyandesite; trachybasalt

Carboniferous marine rocks, unit 7 (Bishop) (Mississippian to Early Permian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Shale, sandstone, conglomerate, limestone, dolomite, chert, hornfels, marble, quartzite; in part pyroclastic rocks

Lithology: hornfels; marble; conglomerate

pre-Cenozoic metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks undivided (Early Proterozoic to Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

Undivided pre-Cenozoic metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks of great variety. Mostly slate, quartzite, hornfels, chert, phyllite, mylonite, schist, gneiss, and minor marble.

Lithology: schist; gneiss; quartzite; argillite; phyllite; metavolcanic rock; slate; hornfels; marble; chert; sandstone; mudstone; conglomerate

Quaternary alluvium and marine deposits (Pliocene to Holocene) at surface, covers 40 % of this area

Alluvium, lake, playa, and terrace deposits; unconsolidated and semi-consolidated. Mostly nonmarine, but includes marine deposits near the coast.

Lithology: alluvium; terrace; lake or marine deposit (non-glacial)

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks, unit 18 (San Joaquin-Kings Canyon) (Tertiary (3-4 Ma)) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks; minor pyroclastic deposits.

Lithology: tephrite (basanite); trachybasalt; trachyandesite; trachyte

Andesite and related rocks of intermediate composition (Late Miocene to Middle Miocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

ANDESITE AND RELATED ROCKS OF INTERMEDIATE COMPOSITION-Flows and breccias

Lithology: andesite; latite; trachyte; dacite

Undivided pre-Cenozoic metavolcanic rocks, unit 2 (undivided) (Paleozoic(?) to Mesozoic(?)) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Undivided pre-Cenozoic metavolcanic rocks. Includes latite, dacite, tuff, and greenstone; commonly schistose.

Lithology: intermediate volcanic rock; mafic volcanic rock; felsic volcanic rock; greenstone; amphibolite; gabbro

Mesozoic granitic rocks, unit 3 (Sierra Nevada, Death Valley area, Northern Mojave Desert and Transverse Ranges) (Permian to Tertiary; most Mesozoic) at surface, covers 16 % of this area

Mesozoic granite, quartz monzonite, granodiorite, and quartz diorite

Lithology: granodiorite; quartz monzonite; tonalite; quartz diorite; diorite; granite; monzodiorite; quartz syenite; quartz monzodiorite; gabbro; trondhjemite; alkali-granite (alaskite); pegmatite; monzonite; aplite

Tuffaceous sedimentary rocks (Early Oligocene to Early Miocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

TUFFACEOUS SEDIMENTARY ROCKS-Locally includes minor amounts of tuff

Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; limestone; conglomerate; mudstone; debris flow; landslide; tuff

Carboniferous marine rocks, unit 2 (SE California Carbonate Assemblage) (Mississippian to Early Permian) at surface, covers 0.9 % of this area

Shale, sandstone, conglomerate, limestone, dolomite, chert, hornfels, marble, quartzite; in part pyroclastic rocks

Lithology: limestone; mudstone; sandstone

Precambrian granitic rocks (?), (Death Valley) (Miocene) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

Precambrian granite, syenite, anorthosite, and gabbroic rocks in the San Gabriel Mountains; also various Precambrian plutonic rocks elsewhere in southeastern California(?)

Lithology: diorite

Welded and nonwelded silicic ash-flow tuffs (Middle Miocene to Late Miocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

WELDED AND NONWELDED SILICIC ASH-FLOW TUFFS-Locally includes thin units of air-fall tuff and sedimentary rock

Lithology: rhyolite

Quaternary large landslide deposits (Quaternary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Selected large landslides, such as Blackhawk slide on north side of San Gabriel Mountains; early to late Quaternary.

Lithology: landslide

Quaternary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 2 (Long Valley Caldera) (Quaternary (0-1 Ma)) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area

Quaternary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits.

Lithology: rhyolite; ash-flow tuff; ignimbrite

Recent (Holocene) pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 2 (Mono Craters) (Holocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Recent (Holocene) pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits; in part Pleistocene.

Lithology: rhyolite; pumice; cinders; volcanic mudflows

Paleozoic marine rocks, undivided, unit 3 (Eastern Sierra Nevada) (Late Proterozoic(?) to Mesozoic(?)) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Undivided Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks. Includes slate, sandstone, shale, chert, conglomerate, limestone, dolomite, marble, phyllite, schist, hornfels, and quartzite

Lithology: hornfels; quartzite; conglomerate; phyllite; schist; marble; chert; argillite; sandstone

Quaternary sand deposits, unit 2 (inland) (Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area

Extensive marine and nonmarine sand deposits, generally near the coast or desert playas

Lithology: dune sand; lake or marine deposit (non-glacial); alluvium

Precambrian rocks, undivided, unit 1 (Death Valley) (Early Proterozoic to Mesozoic) at surface, covers 8 % of this area

Conglomerate, shale, sandstone, limestone, dolomite, marble, gneiss, hornfels, and quartzite; may be Paleozoic in part

Lithology: sandstone; mudstone; dolostone (dolomite); limestone; conglomerate; gneiss; granitoid; metavolcanic rock

Basalt flows (Miocene to Quaternary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

BASALT FLOWS-Locally includes maar deposits

Lithology: basalt; andesite; trachybasalt; latite; andesite

pre-Cenozoic granitic and metamorphic rocks undivided (Early Proterozoic to Late Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Granitic and metamorphic rocks, mostly gneiss and other metamorphic rocks injected by granitic rocks. Mesozoic to Precambrian.

Lithology: plutonic rock (phaneritic); gneiss; metasedimentary rock; metavolcanic rock

Limestone and dolomite, locally thick sequences of shale and siltstone (Late Cambrian to Middle Cambrian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

LIMESTONE AND DOLOMITE, LOCALLY THICK SEQUENCES OF SHALE AND SILTSTONE-Includes units such as Pioche Shale, Eldorado Dolomite, Geddes Limestone, Secret Canyon Shale, Hamburg Dolomite, Dunderberg Shale, and Windfall Formation of northern Nevada and Carrara, Bonanza King, and Nopah Formations of southern Nevada.

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

Tertiary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 8 (Northern Mojave Desert) (Tertiary (4-22 Ma)) at surface, covers 0.6 % of this area

Tertiary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits.

Lithology: rhyolite; dacite; andesite; basalt; volcanic breccia (agglomerate); tuff; ash-flow tuff; ignimbrite

Precambrian granitic rocks, unit 4, (Death Valley) (Miocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Precambrian granite, syenite, anorthosite, and gabbroic rocks in the San Gabriel Mountains; also various Precambrian plutonic rocks elsewhere in southeastern California

Lithology: diorite

Quaternary volcanic flow rocks, unit 6 (Sierra Nevada) (Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area

Quaternary volcanic flow rocks; minor pyroclastic deposits; in part Pliocene and Miocene.

Lithology: basalt; andesite

Cambrian marine rocks (Late Proterozoic to Middle Devonian) at surface, covers 8 % of this area

Sandstone, shale, limestone, dolomite, chert, quartzite, and phyllite; includes some rocks that are possibly Precambrian

Lithology: sandstone; dolostone (dolomite); mudstone; limestone; quartzite; conglomerate; chert

Quaternary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 5 (Coso Volcanic Field) (Quaternary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Quaternary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits.

Lithology: rhyolite; tuff

Permian marine sedimentary rocks, unit 1 (Death Valley and Mojave Desert) (Pennsylvanian to Triassic) at surface, covers 1.0 % of this area

Shale, conglomerate, limestone and dolomite, sandstone, slate, hornfels, quartzite; minor pyroclastic rocks

Lithology: limestone; sandstone; hornfels; conglomerate; marble; mudstone

Tuffaceous sedimentary rocks (Late Eocene to Late Miocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

TUFFACEOUS SEDIMENTARY ROCKS-Locally includes minor amounts of tuff

Lithology: sandstone; limestone; siltstone; conglomerate; mudstone; dolostone (dolomite); felsic volcanic rock; intermediate volcanic rock; mafic volcanic rock; tuff

Triassic marine rocks, unit 1 (Death Valley area and Mojave Desert) (Early to Middle Triassic) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Shale, conglomerate, limestone and dolomite, sandstone, slate, hornfels, quartzite; minor pyroclastic rocks

Lithology: mudstone; limestone; sandstone; hornfels; quartzite; conglomerate; dolostone (dolomite)