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

Geologic units in Kern county, California

[Additional scientific data in this geographic area]

Miocene marine rocks (Oligocene to Pliocene) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Sandstone, shale, siltstone, conglomerate and breccia; in part Pliocene and Oligocene.

Lithology: sandstone; mudstone; siltstone; evaporite; conglomerate

Schist of various types and ages, unit 2 (Southern and West-central California) (Late Cretaceous to Eocene) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Schists of various types; mostly Paleozoic or Mesozoic age; some Precambrian.

Lithology: mica schist; mica schist; amphibolite; quartzite; marble; serpentinite

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks, unit 12 (Sam Emigdio) (Tertiary (22-25 Ma)) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks; minor pyroclastic deposits.

Lithology: basalt; rhyolite; andesite; dacite

Paleocene marine rocks, unit 1 (Central and Southern California) (Paleocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Sandstone, shale, and conglomerate; mostly well consolidated

Lithology: sandstone; mudstone; conglomerate

Oligocene nonmarine rocks, unit 2 (Central and Southern California) (middle Eocene to early Miocene) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Sandstone, shale, and conglomerate; in part Miocene and Eocene.

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

Paleozoic metavolcanic rocks, unit 6 (El Paso Mountains) (Devonian(?) and Permian) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Undivided Paleozoic metavolcanic rocks. Mostly flows, breccia and tuff, including greenstone, diabase, and pillow lavas; minor interbedded sedimentary rocks

Lithology: greenstone; andesite

Quaternary sand deposits, unit 2 (inland) (Quaternary) at surface, covers 1 % 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

Paleozoic marine rocks, undivided, unit 2 (Northern Mojave Desert and Southeastern Sierra Nevada) (Cambrian to Jurassic) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

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

Lithology: argillite; chert; phyllite; sandstone; conglomerate; limestone; quartzite; marble; hornfels; slate; dolostone (dolomite)

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

Tertiary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 8 (Northern Mojave Desert) (Tertiary (4-22 Ma)) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Tertiary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits.

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

Precambrian rocks, undivided, unit 2 (Mojave Desert and Transverse Ranges) (Early Proterozoic to Miocene) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

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

Lithology: gneiss; granitoid; amphibolite; quartzite; schist; hornfels; marble; granofels; granite; syenite; carbonatite; chert

Eocene marine rocks (Paleocene to Oligocene) at surface, covers 0.7 % of this area

Shale, sandstone, conglomerate, and minor limestone; in part Oligocene and Paleocene.

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

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

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks, unit 16 (Northern Mojave Desert) (Tertiary (4-22 Ma)) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks; minor pyroclastic deposits.

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

pre-Cenozoic metasedimentary and metavolcanic rocks undivided (Early Proterozoic to Cretaceous) at surface, covers 2 % 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

Oligocene marine rocks (Eocene to Miocene) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Sandstone, shale, and conglomerate; in part Miocene and Eocene.

Lithology: sandstone; mudstone; siltstone

Quaternary alluvium and marine deposits (Pliocene to Holocene) at surface, covers 50 % 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)

Mesozoic granitic rocks, unit 3 (Sierra Nevada, Death Valley area, Northern Mojave Desert and Transverse Ranges) (Permian to Tertiary; most Mesozoic) at surface, covers 26 % 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

Undivided pre-Cenozoic metavolcanic rocks, unit 2 (undivided) (Paleozoic(?) to Mesozoic(?)) at surface, covers < 0.1 % 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

Tertiary intrusive rocks (hypabyssal), unit 7 (Northern Mojave Desert) (Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.4 % 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 0.9 % of this area

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

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

Lower Cretaceous marine rocks (Early Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Lower Cretaceous sandstone, shale, and conglomerate

Lithology: mudstone; sandstone; conglomerate

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks, unit 9 (Caliente) (Tertiary (14-18 Ma)) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks; minor pyroclastic deposits.

Lithology: basalt

Quaternary volcanic flow rocks, unit 7 (Mojave Desert) (Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

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

Lithology: basalt; tephrite (basanite); andesite

Miocene nonmarine rocks (Oligocene to Pleistocene) at surface, covers 0.6 % 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

Ultramafic rocks, chiefly Mesozoic, unit 2 (Western Sierra Nevada and Klamath Mountains) (Late Proterozoic(?) to Early Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Ultramafic rocks, mostly serpentine. Minor peridotite, gabbro, and diabase. Chiefly Mesozoic unit 2

Lithology: peridotite; serpentinite; pyroxenite

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)

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks, unit 8 (Southern California Basin) (Tertiary (8-25 Ma; most near 15)) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks; minor pyroclastic deposits.

Lithology: basalt; andesite; dacite; volcanic breccia (agglomerate); tuff

Plio-Pleistocene and Pliocene loosely consolidated deposits (Miocene to Pleistocene) at surface, covers 8 % 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

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

Sandstone, siltstone, shale, and conglomerate; in part Pleistocene and Miocene.

Lithology: sandstone; mudstone; siltstone; claystone; conglomerate

Mesozoic gabbroic rocks, unit 2 (undivided) (Triassic to Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Gabbro and dark dioritic rocks; chiefly Mesozoic

Lithology: gabbro; diorite

Paleozoic marine rocks, undivided, unit 1 (Mojave Desert and Death Valley area) (Late Proterozoic to Jurassic) 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: limestone; sandstone; dolostone (dolomite); quartzite; marble; schist

Franciscan Complex, unit 1 (Coast Ranges) (Jurassic to Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Franciscan complex: Cretaceous and Jurassic sandstone with smaller amounts of shale, chert, limestone, and conglomerate. Includes Franciscan melange, except where separated--see KJfm.

Lithology: sandstone; mudstone; chert; limestone; conglomerate; greenstone; serpentinite; gabbro; amphibolite; schist; felsic volcanic rock

Upper Cretaceous marine rocks, unit 1 (Upper Great Valley Sequence) (Late Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Upper Cretaceous sandstone, shale, and conglomerate

Lithology: sandstone; mudstone; conglomerate

Schist of various types and ages, unit 4 (El Paso Mountains) (Paleozoic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Schists of various types; mostly Paleozoic or Mesozoic age; some Precambrian.

Lithology: mica schist; marble