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

Geologic units in Esmeralda county, Nevada

[Additional scientific data in this geographic area]

Rhyolitic flows and shallow intrusive rocks (Middle Miocene to Late Miocene) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

RHYOLITIC FLOWS AND SHALLOW INTRUSIVE ROCKS

Lithology: rhyolite; dacite; trachyte

Diorite (Jurassic to Cretaceous) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Lithology: diorite; quartz diorite; gabbro; granite; granodiorite; serpentinite

Sedimentary rocks (Pliocene to Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS-Mostly lake deposits

Lithology: lake or marine deposit (non-glacial); sedimentary rock

Serpentinite (Late Devonian to Early Triassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

SERPENTINITE (Paleozoic)-Mineral, northwestern Nye, and eastern Humboldt counties

Lithology: serpentinite

Granitic rocks, western Nevada (Jurassic to Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

GRANITIC ROCKS, WESTERN NEVADA (Mesozoic)-Mostly quartz monzonite and granodiorite. Inconclusively dated or not dated radiometrically

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

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

Shale, chert, and minor amounts of quartzite, greenstone, and limestone (Ordovician) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

SHALE, CHERT, AND MINOR AMOUNTS OF QUARTZITE, GREENSTONE, AND LIMESTONE-Includes units such as Vinini Formation of north-central Nevada, Palmetto Formation in southern and central parts of Esmeralda County, and Comus Formation in Humboldt County. Locally includes rocks of Silurian and Devonian age.

Lithology: chert; shale; limestone; quartzite; andesite; siltstone; sandstone; chemical; greenstone; dolostone (dolomite)

Playa, marsh, and alluvial-flat deposits, locally eroded (Quaternary) at surface, covers 4 % of this area

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

Lithology: playa; alluvium

Older alluvial deposits (Miocene to Quaternary) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

OLDER ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS

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

Havallah sequence of Silberling and Roberts (1962) (Mississippian to Permian) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

HAVALLAH SEQUENCE OF SILBERLING AND ROBERTS (1962)-Chert, argillite, shale, greenstone, and minor amounts of siltstone, sandstone, conglomerate, and limestone. Includes Schoonover Formation of Fagan (1962) and Reservation Hill Formation in Elko County, Farrel Canyon Formation in southwestern Humboldt County, Havallah and Pumpernickel Formations in Pershing, Lander, and parts of Humboldt Counties, and rocks originally considered a part of the Pablo and Excelsior Formations in northern Nye, northern Esmeralda, and southern Mineral Counties. Assignment of some rocks to the Havallah sequence in the East Range, Pershing County, is highly uncertain. Includes rocks ranging in age from Late Mississippian to Early Permian

Lithology: shale; metavolcanic rock; chert; siltstone; sandstone; conglomerate; limestone

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

Granitic rocks (Middle Triassic to Early Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

GRANITIC ROCKS-Quartz monzonite in northern Esmeralda County

Lithology: granite; granodiorite; quartz monzodiorite

Andesite and basalt flows (Early Miocene to Early Pliocene) at surface, covers 0.8 % of this area

ANDESITE AND BASALT FLOWS-Mostly in about 17 to about 6 m.y. age range. In Humboldt County, locally includes rocks as old as 21 m.y. May include rocks younger than 6 m.y. in places

Lithology: basalt; andesite; shoshonite

Shale and thin-bedded or laminated limestone; also thinly interbedded limestone and chert (Middle Cambrian to Late Cambrian) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

SHALE AND THIN-BEDDED OR LAMINATED LIMESTONE; ALSO THINLY INTERBEDDED LIMESTONE AND CHERT-Includes units such as Preble and Emigrant Formations

Lithology: shale; limestone; chert; siltstone; quartzite; diorite; conglomerate

Rhyolitic intrusive rocks (Eocene to Miocene) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

RHYOLITIC INTRUSIVE ROCKS

Lithology: granitoid

Granitic rocks (Jurassic) at surface, covers 4 % of this area

GRANITIC ROCKS-Mostly quartz monzonite and granodiorite

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

Welded and nonwelded silicic ash-flow tuffs (Early Oligocene to Early Miocene) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

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

Lithology: rhyolite; dacite; trachyte

Alluvial deposits (Quaternary) at surface, covers 45 % 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 alluvium and marine deposits (Pliocene to Holocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % 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)

Siliceous and volcanic rocks (Ordovician to Devonian) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

SILICEOUS AND VOLCANIC ROCKS-Chert, shale, quartzite, greenstone, and minor amounts of limestone. Includes units such as Valmy Formation of north-central Nevada and some rocks mapped as Palmetto Formation in northern part of Esmeralda County and adjacent parts of Mineral and Nye Counties. Locally includes rocks of Silurian and Devonian age.

Lithology: chert; quartzite; shale; greenstone; limestone; conglomerate; siltstone; chemical

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

Mesozoic granitic rocks, unit 3 (Sierra Nevada, Death Valley area, Northern Mojave Desert and Transverse Ranges) (Permian to Tertiary; most Mesozoic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % 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

Andesite and related rocks of intermediate composition (Late Miocene to Middle Miocene) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

ANDESITE AND RELATED ROCKS OF INTERMEDIATE COMPOSITION-Flows and breccias

Lithology: andesite; latite; trachyte; dacite

Conglomerate, sandstone, shale, and dolomite of Diablo Formation below and shale, sandstone, and conglomerate of Candelaria Formation above (Early Permian to Early Triassic) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

CONGLOMERATE, SANDSTONE, SHALE, AND DOLOMITE OF DIABLO FORMATION BELOW AND SHALE, SANDSTONE, AND CONGLOMERATE OF CANDELARIA FORMATION ABOVE (Lower or Upper Permian to Lower Triassic)-Mineral, Esmeralda, and northwestern Nye Counties

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

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

MORAINAL DEPOSITS

Lithology: glacial drift

Intrusive rocks of mafic and intermediate composition (Miocene to Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

INTRUSIVE ROCKS OF MAFIC AND INTERMEDIATE COMPOSITION

Lithology: andesite; rhyodacite; basalt; sedimentary rock

Intrusive rocks of mafic to intermediate composition (Eocene to Miocene) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

INTRUSIVE ROCKS OF MAFIC TO INTERMEDIATE COMPOSITION

Lithology: diorite; monzodiorite; quartz diorite; quartz monzogabbro; tonalite; gabbro

Rhyolitic flows and shallow intrusive rocks (Early Oligocene to Early Miocene) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

RHYOLITIC FLOWS AND SHALLOW INTRUSIVE ROCKS

Lithology: rhyolite; dacite; trachyte

Andesite and related rocks of intermediate composition (Early Oligocene to Early Miocene) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

ANDESITE AND RELATED ROCKS OF INTERMEDIATE COMPOSITION-Flows and breccias

Lithology: andesite; trachyte; dacite

Welded and nonwelded silicic ash-flow tuffs (Middle Miocene to Late Miocene) at surface, covers 9 % of this area

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

Lithology: rhyolite

Granitic rocks (Cretaceous) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

GRANITIC ROCKS-Mostly quartz monzonite and granodiorite

Lithology: granodiorite; quartz monzonite; granite; peraluminous granite

Dunlap Formation (Early Jurassic to Middle Jurassic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

DUNLAP FORMATION (Lower and Middle Jurassic)-Conglomerate, sandstone, greenstone, felsite, and tuff. Locally contemporaneous with folding and thrusting. Mineral County and adjacent parts of Esmeralda and Nye Counties

Lithology: sandstone; conglomerate; volcanic rock (aphanitic); limestone; siltstone; shale

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

Phyllitc siltstone, quartzite, and lesser amounts of limestone and dolomite (Late Proterozoic to Early Cambrian) at surface, covers 7 % of this area

PHYLLITIC SILTSTONE, QUARTZITE, AND LESSER AMOUNTS OF LIMESTONE AND DOLOMITE-Includes Reed Dolomite; Deep Spring, Campito, Poleta, Harkless, and Saline Valley Formations; and Mule Spring Limestone

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

Landslide deposits (Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area

LANDSLIDE DEPOSITS

Lithology: landslide; colluvium; sedimentary rock

Basalt flows (Miocene to Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.8 % of this area

BASALT FLOWS-Locally includes maar deposits

Lithology: basalt; andesite; trachybasalt; latite; andesite

Tuffaceous sedimentary rocks (Late Eocene to Late Miocene) at surface, covers 5 % 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

Wyman Formation (Late Proterozoic) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

WYMAN FORMATION-Phyllite and phyllitic siltstone and minor amounts of limestone, dolomite, and sandstone

Lithology: siltstone; limestone; sandstone; dolostone (dolomite)