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Olivine basalt (Pliocene and Miocene)

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)
StateOregon
NameOlivine basalt (Pliocene and Miocene)
Geologic ageMiocene to Pliocene
Original map labelTob
Primary rock typebasalt
Secondary rock typeandesite
Other rock types
Lithologic constituents
Major
Igneous > Volcanic > Mafic-volcanic > Basalt (Flow)
Minor
Igneous > Volcanic > Mafic-volcanic > Andesite (Flow)
Igneous > Volcanic > Mafic-volcanic > Basaltic-andesite (Flow)
Igneous > Volcanic > Mafic-volcanic > Basalt (Pyroclastic)
Map references
Walker, G.W. and MacLeod, N.S., 1991, Geologic map of Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey, scale 1:500,000.
Unit references
Walker, G.W. and MacLeod, N.S., 1991, Geologic map of Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey, scale 1:500,000.
Newcomb, R.C., 1966, Lithology and eastward extension of the Dalles Formation, Oregon and Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 550-D, p. D59-D63.
Newcomb, R.C., 1969, Effect of tectonic structure on the occurrence of groundwater in the basalt of the Columbia River Group of the Dalles area, Oregon and Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 383-C, p. C1-C33.
Corcoran, R.E., Doak, R.A., Porter, P.W., Pritchett, F.I., and Privarsky, N.C., 1962, Geology of the Mitchell Butte quadrangle, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Geologic Map Series GMS-2, scale 1:125,000.
Piper, A.M., Robinson, T.W., and Park, C.F., Jr., 1939, Geology and ground-water resources of the Harney Basin, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 842, 189 p.
Kittleman, L.R., Green, A.R., Hagood, A.R., Johnson, A.M., McMurray, J.M., Russell, R.G., and Weeden, D.A., 1965, Cenozoic stratigraphy of the Owyhee region, southeastern Oregon: Eugene, University of Oregon Museum of Natural History Bulletin 1, 45 p.
Kittleman, L.R., Green, A.R., Haddock, G.H., Hagood, A.R., Johnson, A.M., McMurray, J.M., Russell, R.G., and Weeden, D.A., 1967, Geologic map of the Owyhee region, Malheur County, Oregon: Eugene, University of Oregon Museum of Natural History Bulletion 8, scale 1:125,000
Walker, G.W., 1979, Revisions to the stratigraphy of Harney Basin, southeastern Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1475, 35 p.
Prostka, H.J., 1962, Geology of the Sparta quadrangle, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Geologic Map Series GMS-1, scale 1:62,500.
Hampton, E.R., 1964, Geologic factors that control the occurrence and availability of groundwater in the Fort Rock Basin, Lake County, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 383-B, p. B1-B29.
Walker, G.W., 1977, Geologic map of Oregon east of the 121st meridian: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map I-902, scale 1:500,000.
Wolff, E.N., 1965, The geology of the northern half of the Caviness quadrangle, Oregon: Eugene, University of Oregon, Ph.D. dissertation, 214 p.
Bowen, R.G., Gray, W.L., and Gregory, D.C., 1963, General geology of the northern Juntura Basin, in Shotwell, J.S. and others, The Juntura Basin: Studies in earth history and paleoecology: Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, New Series, v. 53, pt.1, p. 22-34.
Ferns, M.L. and Ramp, Len, 1989, Geology and mineral resources map of the Grassy Mountain quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Geological Map Series GMS-57, scale 1:24,000.
Ferns, M.L., 1989, Geology and mineral resources map of the Owyhee Dam quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Geological Map Series GMS-55, scale 1:24,000.
Swisher, C.C., Ach, J.A., and Hart, W.K., 1990, Laser fusion 40Ar/39Ar dating of the type Steens Mountain Basalt, southeastern Oregon, and the age of the Steens aeromagnetic polarity transition [abs.]: EOS, Transactions of American Geophysical Union, v. 17, no. 43, p. 1,296.
Ferns, M.L. and Urbanczyk, K.M., 1990, Geology and mineral resources mao of the Mitchell Butte quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Geological Map Series GMS-61, scale 1:24,000.
Ramp, Len, and Ferns, M.L., 1989, Geology and mineral resources map of the Double Mountain quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Geological Map Series GMS-58, scale 1:24,000.
Brooks, H.C., Geology and mineral resources map of the Vines Hill quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Geological Map Series GMS-63, scale 1:24,000.
Ferns, M.L. and O'Brien, J.P., 1992, Geology and mineral resources map of the Harper quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Geological Map Series GMS-69, scale 1:24,000.
Evans, J.G. and Binger, G.B., 1998, Geologic map of the Little Black Canyon quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-493, scale 1:24,000.
Evans, J.G. and Binger, G.B., 1998, Geologic map of the Alder Creek quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-484, scale 1:24,000.
Evans, J.G. and Binger, G.B., 1999, Preliminary geologic map of the Skull Springs quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-381, scale 1:24,000.
Evans, J.G. and Binger, G.B., 1998, Geologic map of the Shumway Reservoir quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98-138, scale 1:24,000.
Evans, J.G., 1996, Geologic map of the Monument Peak quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2317, scale 1:24,000.
Prostka, H.J., 1968, Geologic map of the Ironside 15' quad, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, scale 1:62,500.
Cummings, M.L., 1993, Geologic map of the Sourdough Springs quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Report O-93-11, scale 1:24,000.
Evans, J.G., Rytuba, J.J., Binger, G.B., and Hooper, P.R., 1999, Preliminary geologic map of the Star Creek Reservoir quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-583, scale 1:24,000.
Ferns, M.L., 1992, Preliminary geologic map of the Cedar Mountain quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Map O-92-05, scale 1:24,000.
Brooks, H.C., 1992, Preliminary geologic map of the Avery Creek quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Map O-92-16, scale 1:24,000.
Brooks, H.C., 1992, Preliminary geologic map of the Rufino Butte quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Map O-92-17, scale 1:24,000.
Brooks, H.C., 1993, Preliminary geologic map of the Copeland Reservoir quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral industries Open-File Map O-93-3, scale 1:24,000.
Brooks, H.C. and O'Brien, J.P., 1992b, Geology and mineral resources of the Little Valley quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Geological Map Series GMS-72, scale 1:24,000.
Ferns, M.L., 1992, Preliminary geologic map of the Sacramento Butte quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Map O-92-13, scale 1;24,000.
Ferns, M.L. and Evans, J.G., 1993c, Preliminary geologic map of the Rinehart Canyon quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Map O-93-5, scale 1: 24,000.
Ferns, M.L.1992, Preliminary geologic map of the Downey Canyon quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Map O-92-07, scale 1:24,000.
Ferns, M.L., 1992, Preliminary geologic map of the Hooker Creek quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Map O-92-8, scale 1:24,000.
Ferns, M.L. and O'Brien, J.P., 1991, Preliminary geologic map of the Keeney Ridge quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Map O-91-3, scale 1:24,000.
Ferns, M.L. and O'Brien, J.P., 1992, Geology and mineral resources map of the Namorf quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Geological Map Series GMS-74, scale 1:24,000.
Ferns, M.L. and Urbanczyk, K., 1990, Preliminary geologic map of the Kane Spring Gulch quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Map O-90-03, scale 1:24,000.
Ferns, M.L. and Williams, C.P., 1993, Preliminary geologic map of the Burnt Flat quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries Open-File Map O-93-2, scale 1:24,000.
McMurray, J.M., 1962, Geology of the Freezeout Mountain area, Malheur County, Oregon: Eugene, University of Oregon, master's thesis, 87 p.
Plumley, P.S., 1986, Volcanic stratigraphy and geochemistry of the Hole in the Ground area, Owyhee Plateau, southeastern Oregon: Moscow, University of Idaho, master's thesis, 161 p.
Camp, V.E., Ross, M.E., and Hanson, W.E., 2003, Genesis of flood basalts and Basin and Range volcanic rocks from Steens Mountain to the Malheur River Gorge, Oregon: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 115, no. 1, p. 105-128.
Vercoutere, T.L., Vander Meulen, D.B., and Minor, S.A., 1987, Geologic map of the Diamond Butte quadrangle, Malheur County, Oregon: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1901, scale 1:24,000.
Weeden, D.A., 1963, Geology of the Harper area, Malheur County, Oregon: Eugene, University of Oregon, master's thesis, 94 p.
Beeson, J.H., Geology of the southern half of the Huntington quadrangle, Oregon: Eugene, University of Oregon, master's thesis, 77 p.
Berry, N.J., 1956, Geology of the northeast quarter of the Huntington quadrangle, Oregon: Eugene, University of Oregon, master's thesis, 78 p.
Waters, A.C., 1968, Reconnaissance geologic map of the Madras quadrangle, Jeffereson and Wasco Counties, Oregon" U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geological Investigations Map I-555, scale 1;125,000.
Geographic coverageBaker - Crook - Deschutes - Grant - Harney - Jefferson - Klamath - Lake - Lane - Malheur - Wasco

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