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

Geologic units in Modoc county, California

[Additional scientific data in this geographic area]

Andesite and dacite and sedimentary rocks (Miocene? and Oligocene) (Oligocene to Miocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Lava flows, breccia, volcaniclastic and epiclastic rocks mostly of andesitic and dacitic composition; includes minor amounts of altered basaltic rocks. Joint surfaces and cavities commonly lined with hematite or montmorillonite clay, secondary silica minerals, zeolites, celadonite, or calcite. Andesite and dacite typically have plagioclase, hornblende, and clinopyroxene phenocrysts; some flows aphyric. Platy flow-jointing common. Age, mostly Oligocene; may include some rocks of early Miocene age. As shown, may include some rocks older than Oligocene, correlative with upper parts of unit Tea. One potassium-argon age of about 28 Ma on porphyritic hornblende andesite from Sheep Creek, southwest corner of Union County, indicates in part coeval with unit Tsf

Lithology: andesite; dacite; clastic

Eocene nonmarine rocks, unit 1 (Northern and Central California) (Eocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Sandstone, shale, and conglomerate.

Lithology: sandstone; mudstone; conglomerate; siltstone; coal

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

BASALT FLOWS

Lithology: basalt

Tertiary nonmarine rocks, undivided (Paleocene to Pliocene) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

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

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

Open Water (Holocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

water

Lithology: water

Recent (Holocene) volcanic flow rocks, unit 1 (Cascade Volcanic Field) (Holocene) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Recent (Holocene) volcanic flow rocks; minor pyroclastic deposits; in part Pleistocene.

Lithology: andesite; dacite

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)

Quaternary glacial deposits (Pleistocene) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

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

Lithology: glacial drift

Ash-flow tuffs and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks (Middle Miocene to Late Miocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

ASH-FLOW TUFFS AND TUFFACEOUS SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

Lithology: ash-flow tuff; rhyolite; sandstone; dacite; trachyte

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

Olivine basalt (Pliocene and Miocene) (Miocene to Pliocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Thin, commonly open-textured (diktytaxitic), subophitic to intergranular olivine basalt flows, intercalated with and grades laterally through palagonite breccia and tuff into tuffaceous sedimentary rocks (unit Ts). In places includes flows of platy olivine andesite or basaltic andesite. Several potassium-argon ages ranging from about 4 to 7 Ma indicate unit is mostly of early Pliocene and late Miocene age. Includes Shumuray Ranch Basalt and Antelope Flat Basalt of Kittleman and others (1965), Grassy Mountain Basalt of Corcoran and others (1962), Drinkwater Basalt of Bowen and others (1963), basalt formerly assigned to Danforth Formation by Piper and others (1939) (see Walker, 1979), Hayes Butte Basalt of Hampton (1964), Pliocene and upper Miocene basalt flows capping and interstratified with the Madras (or Deschutes) Formation, and basalt flows interstratified in the Dalles Formation of Newcomb (1966; 1969)

Lithology: basalt; andesite

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

Plio-Pleistocene and Pliocene loosely consolidated deposits (Miocene to Pleistocene) at surface, covers 5 % 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

Silicic vent rocks (Pliocene, Miocene, Oligocene, and Eocene?) (Eocene to Pliocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Plugs and domal complexes of rhyolitic, rhyodacitic, and dacitic composition; includes related near-vent flows, flow breccia, and deposits of obsidian, perlite, and pumice. Locally includes resurgent domes related to caldera complexes. In southeast Oregon many domal complexes younger than 11 Ma exhibit a well-defined southeast to northwest age progression (Walker, 1974; MacLeod and others, 1976) from about 11 Ma to less than 1 Ma

Lithology: rhyolite; latite; dacite

Rhyolitic tuff, tuffaceous sedimentary rocks, and lava flows (lower Miocene, Oligocene, and uppermost Eocene?) (Late Eocene to Early Miocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Rhyolitic to dacitic varicolored bedded tuff, lapilli tuff, and fine- to medium-grained tuffaceous sedimentary rocks with interstratified welded and nonwelded ash-flow tuff and interbedded basalt and andesite flows. Also includes minor rhyolite and dacite flows and domes. Glass in tuff and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks is commonly altered to zeolites, clay minerals, and small amounts of opal, chalcedony, orthoclase, and calcite. Fossil plants and vertebrates indicate an Oligocene and Miocene age. Locally a late Hemingfordian age indicated by mammalian fauna (Woodburn and Robinson, 1977). May include some rocks of middle Miocene age in the area west and northwest of Lakeview. Potassium-argon ages on rocks from unit range from about 36 Ma (Swanson and Robinson, 1968) to about 20 Ma. Includes Pike Creek Formation of Walker and Repenning (1965), originally identified as Pike Creek Volcanic Series by Fuller (1931), and unnamed volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks of southern Lake County, some of which have been correlated with the Miocene and Oligocene Cedarville Formation of northeastern California

Lithology: tuff; basalt; andesite

Quaternary volcanic flow rocks, unit 1, questionably identified (Cascade Volcanic Field) (Quaternary) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

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

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

Quaternary sand deposits, unit 2 (inland) (Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.9 % 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

Oligocene nonmarine rocks, unit 1 (Northern California) (Oligocene to Miocene) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

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

Lithology: sandstone; conglomerate; mudstone; coal; pyroclastic

Lacustrine and fluvial sedimentary rocks (Pleistocene) (Pleistocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Unconsolidated to semiconsolidated lacustrine clay, silt, sand, and gravel; in places includes mudflow and fluvial deposits and discontinuous layers of peat. Includes older alluvium and related deposits of Piper (1942), Willamette Silt (Allison, 1953; Wells and Peck, 1961), alluvial silt, sand, and gravel that form terrace deposits of Wells and others (1983), and Gresham and Estacada Formations of Trimble (1963). Includes deltaic gravel and sand and gravel bars, in pluvial lake basins in southeastern part of map area. In Rome Basin, includes discontinuous layers of poorly consolidated conglomerate characterized by well-rounded, commonly polished pebbles of chert and pebbles and cobbles of quartzite. In places contains mollusks or vertebrate fossils indicating Pleistocene age; mostly deposits of late Pleistocene age, but locally includes some deposits of early Holocene age. Includes Touchet Beds of Flint (1938), deposits of valley terraces of Newcomb (1965), and, in southeast Oregon, basin-filling deposits that incorporate Mazama ash deposits (Qma, Qmp) in the youngest layers

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel

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

Sand, gravel, and silt forming flood plains and filling channels of present streams. In places includes talus and slope wash. Locally includes soils containing abundant organic material, and thin peat beds

Lithology: sand; gravel; silt; peat

Quaternary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 1, questionably identified (Cascade Volcanic Field) (Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Quaternary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits.

Lithology: andesite; rhyolite; basalt; tuff; ash-flow tuff; ignimbrite

Quaternary volcanic flow rocks, unit 1 (Cascade Volcanic Field) (Quaternary) at surface, covers 36 % of this area

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

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

Rhyolite and dacite (Pliocene? and Miocene) (Miocene to Pliocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Ash-flow tuff, lava flows, pumice-lapilli tuff, coarse pumicite, flow breccia, and domal complexes of rhyolitic, rhyodacitic, and dacitic composition; in places includes peralkaline rhyolite and some andesite and andesite breccia. Locally porphyritic with phenocrysts of alkali feldspar, plagioclase, and minor augite, ferro-hedenbergite, hornblende, hypersthene, or biotite. Commonly flow banded; locally glassy. Many of the ash--flow tuffs exhibit flow features and only obscure vitro-clastic textures. In places includes interlayers of silicic volcaniclastic rocks and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks. Includes rhyolite at Owyhee Dam, Jump Creek Rhyolite, and Littlefield Rhyolite, all of Kittleman and others (1965); Dooley Rhyolite Breccia of Gilluly (1937), radiometrically dated at 14.7 +/- 0.4 Ma by potassium-argon methods (Fiebelkorn and others, 1983); resurgent domal masses in McDermitt caldera area; and extensive unnamed flows and ash-flow tuffs in the central and southern part of the Owyhee Upland. Also includes isolated masses of dacitic and rhyodacitic flows, breccia, and ash-flow tuff along eastern slope of Cascade Range that are lapped by flows and sediments of the Madras (or Deschutes) Formation. Potassium-argon ages on rocks in unit from southeast Oregon range from about 13 to 16 Ma; lenses of interbedded tuffaceous sedimentary rocks locally contain a Miocene (Barstovian) vertebrate fauna

Lithology: rhyolite; dacite; andesite

Tertiary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits, unit 9 (Cascade Range) (Tertiary (2-24 Ma)) at surface, covers 12 % of this area

Tertiary pyroclastic and volcanic mudflow deposits.

Lithology: andesite; rhyolite; basalt; tuff; ash-flow tuff; ignimbrite

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks, unit 17 (Cascade Range) (Tertiary (2-24 Ma)) at surface, covers 20 % of this area

Tertiary volcanic flow rocks; minor pyroclastic deposits.

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

Quaternary alluvium and marine deposits (Pliocene to Holocene) at surface, covers 14 % 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 intrusive rocks (hypabyssal), unit 1 (Cascades Volcanic Field) (Tertiary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

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

Lithology: andesite; basalt; rhyolite; dacite

Basalt (upper and middle Miocene) (Middle to Late Miocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Basalt flows, flow breccia, and basaltic peperite; minor andesite flows; some interbeds of tuff and tuffaceous sedimentary rocks. Basalt is aphyric to moderately porphyritic with phenocrysts of plagioclase and olivine and exhibits both subophitic and diktytaxitic textures. Includes Picture Rock Basalt of Hampton (1964), radiometrically dated by potassium-argon methods as middle(?) and late Miocene in age (see Fiebelkorn and others, 1983), flows of Deer Butte Formation of Kittleman and others (1967), and extensive unnamed flow sequences in the Basin-Range and Owyhee Upland Provinces of southern Lake, Harney, and Malheur Counties that are younger than Steens Basalt, dated at about 15 Ma (Baksi and others, 1967) and the Owyhee Basalt, dated at about 14 Ma (Bottomley and York, 1976; see also Fiebelkorn and others, 1983), and older than 7 or 8 Ma. Partly coeval with the Saddle Mountains Basalt of the Columbia River Basalt Group (Swanson and others, 1979)

Lithology: basalt; andesite; tuff; mixed clastic/volcanic

Quaternary large landslide deposits (Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

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

Lithology: landslide