Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
(J-EOLOGY
35¢ CALIFORNIA AND PLATE TECTONICS
GEOMORPHIC PROVINCES
OF
CALIFORNIA
G.omo'ohl.o,,,.Tn•• bo"""""
G.olo9lc unll boundo,)
foull
!~j'~'t~~"~~~~~IOO
"0 80 t60 MILES
KtLOMETERS
-
SCALE
!'lJr 'to
1"0~",,1I
w,/I,." ,
Callto.n'a·s p,esent geomo.ph,c p.ov,nces are the 'esult 01 gaotog,c p,ocesS(lS wh,cll
hllva been lIct,ve to! m,II'ons 01 years Some althese processes 1I,e S(ldtme''llal'on. vol-
canosm. plulon,c ,nl.uSlon. melamo,ph,sm. e.os,on. ""d tec!On,sm Fo' it SI.'mmary 01
lhe geOteClo",c developmanl 0' Calliorntll. see Ihe lIrttcle 0" pllge 187
Note: This article summarizes the con- versity of C.tlifomie Los Angeles IUCLA) space scientists. Rubey Volume No.1 enti-
tents of the first Rubey Volume. a new se- and career scientist for the U.S. Geological tled THE GEOTECTONIC DEVELOPMENT
ries in Earth and plenetary sciences. nemed Survey. ElIch volume will present the writ· OF CALIFORNIA describes the plate tec·
in memory of the late W.W. Rubey. Profe. ten product of an annual UCLA colloquium tonic framework of the state and adjacent
lOr of Geology end Geophysics at the Uni- on a tepic of interest to geologists and regions.
AN INTERPRETIVE ACCOUNT
D D
D
o
D D
By
W.G. ERNST. Chairman
••
"
INTRODUCTION
(dl CALlFOONIAN TYPE
The present-day geology of California rifled bc:rde!tlnd
is an intricate lithotectonic collage. Litho-
tectonic belts reflect the complex inter·
play between semicontinuous igneous,
sedimentary, and tectonic constructional
Figure 1 Diagrammatic sketch of the four major types of continental margins showing
processes and the episodic occurrence of cruslal topologies: (a) Atlantic type. divergent margin: (b) Andean type and (cl Japa·
destructive plate motions which have nese type. Both (b) and (c) are convergent margins (nOI shown is oblique subduction
truncated, pulled apart, dispencd, and or possible tectonic removal ollhe leading edge of the nonsubducted slab): (d) Califor-
carried away segments of the continental nian type. transform margin.Lithosphere-asthenosphere contact not illustrated. After Dic-
crust. kinson. 1976.
o'Late
.
Meso- \"';
..
\?
~<;GV
'S'..y
,,,. mafic pluton caused the amphibolitiza-
tion of relict granulites in Mendenhall
Gneiss on the south and southeast mar-
ZOIC granitic \-0
,- gins of the anorthositic complex (pboto
terrane \, 0 c""l~":'i::4~ I). It is not known if an early stage of
metamorphism attending intrusion pro-
dlliJ M'dr MeSOZOIC.
""" Un!'!s \'-\
\?o'\ ~ duced the granulites (Ehlig, in press), or
"
"
"" \
\
Mojave Desert Province
September 1979
California Geology
'"
So=>
allochthon
~ the Coast Ranges, are cb..aracterizcd by served in the lithologic record - the lub-
carbonates and orthoquartzites depos.ited duction zone, the intervening aro-trench
-;:-<\
in flat-lying strata, and lack abundant gap, and the volcanic-plutonic arc. Evi-
do~ics volcanogenic detritus. This widespread dence supports the existence of at least
but relatively thin sequence is thought to one marginal basin. In addition, both
have been deposited on the continental oblique rifting and continental fragmenta-
CRATON shelf and slope (Burchfiel and Davis. tion. large-scale strike-slip faulting. and
1972; 1975). The miogeoclinal units pass probably subcrustal erosion as well. have
to the northwest into a eugcoclinal facies; caused the truncation of pre-existing
fragments of the units are preserved in the structural trends.
Sierra Nevada batholith north of the lati-
tude of the White Mountains and Klamath Mountains Province
throughout the Western Foothills belt as
the Shoo Fly Formation. the exotic Kings The Klamath Mountains mark the site
-Kaweah ophiolite. and perhaps older of a seaward prograding continental as·
units of the Calaveras Formation. sembly. The late Paleozoic process of tec·
Summary - tonic imbrication along east-dipping
Figure 5 Plate tectonic s9nin9 of Califor- thrust faults continued throughout Meso-
nia during the Sonoma orogeny (Permian Tectonic Characteristics
zoic time. with the western Paleozoic and
_ Triassic Period). After various sources.
To summariz.e, the Paleozoic Era was Triassic belt (North Fork, Hayfork and
including Burchfiel Slid Davis, '972; 1975:
Dickinson. in press.
characterized in much of eastern and Rattlesnake Creek units). the western Ju·
southern California by deposition along a rassic belt (Galice and Rogue Forma-
passive continental margin which became tions), and the Franciscan terrane
metamorphic belt is uncertain; whereas deeper to the north-northwest. Offshore occupying successively more oceanward
Hamilton (1969) regarded it as a mi· island arcs were accreted to the continent positiollJl along the western margin of
crocontinental fragment rafted into the by the (westward?) consumption of inter- North America. Ophiolitic slabs and
subduction zone, others have suggested vening back-arc basins and eastward~ slices, such as the Josephine ultramafic
that it is the remnant of an island arc. In reeted overthrusting along the Roberts complex (possibly correlative with the
any case. it is a relatively thin section of Mountains (latest Devonian-earliest Mis· Smartville block of the northern Sierra
Paleozoic metamorphic rocks tectonically sissippian) and Golconda (latest Permian Nevada and the Great Valley block)
overlying the Calaveru-equivalent -earliest Triassic) thrusts in Nevada. arc obducted remnants of the suture zones
western Paleozoic and Triassic belt, along which these lithotectonic belts have
which locally contains Jurassic strata (Ir. In the Klamath Mountains of Oregon been jw:taposed. The Franciscan Com-
win and othen, 1977; 1978). and northern California, however, the age plex. which is confIned to the Coast
relations andjw:tapos.itiollJl of the various Ranges, lies tectonically beneath the
Paleozoic miogeoclinal-eugeo::linal fa- lithic belts suggest that at the end of De- South Fork Mountain thrust and repre-
cies trends are abruptly terminated on the vonian time the eastern Paleozoic sents voluminous late Mesozoic episodic
southwest by north-northwest trending belt. plus underlying Trinity Ophiolite offscrapings from the subducting slab. as
Mesozoic lithotectonic belts which rough- were. obducted to the west over well as exotic lithologic entities brought in
ly parallel the present continental margin. the subducted and recrystallizing central by oblique convergence (Alvarez and oth·
Because of this profound truncation ofthe metamorphic belt. Effects of the Sonoma ers, 1979). In contrast, the two older,
Paleozoic system, Hamilton (1969) and orogeny are confmed to the ultimate jux- more easterly Klamath Mountains belts
Burchfiel and Davis (1972) have p0s- taposition ofthese two terranes. Renewed each contain telescoped lithic remnants of
tulated a major rifting event at the end of thrusting in Triassic and later time along probable subduction zone, arc-trench
Paleozoic time. The latter authors cor- the east-dipping Siskiyou thrust on the gap. and volcanic island arc regimes (Ir-
related the Klamath Mountains western western margin of the central meta· win, 1972; Burchfiel and Davis. 1975).
Paleozoic and Triassic belt with the Cala· morphic belt apparently reflects normal The entire Klamath Mountains province
veras Formation of the Sierra Nevada, Pacifie--type underl10w and westward has been intruded by discrete, pre-Creta-
and suggested that the rifted margin lay continental growth. eeous calc-&kaline plutollJl. High-pres-
on the continental side of these units. On sure subduction zone recrystallization is
the other hand. Dickinson (in press) indicated by isolated tectonic blocks of
related this pronounced depositional off· MESOZOIC HISTORY 214-223 m.y. old blueschist in the Hay-
set to an original configuration of the late OF CALIFORNIA fork and North Fork terrane, and blues-
Precambrian rifted margin. now some.- chist of unknown age in the eastern
what obscured due to Cenozoic strike slip Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimen· Paleozoic and Triassic belts. Thus. addi-
on the San Andreas transform system. tary rocks of Mesozoic age are widespread tions to the Klamath Mountains conti-
Tectonic erosion is yet another possibility and abundant throughout all portions of nental crust during this time period
as suggested by Scholl and Vallier (1979). the state. In aggregate, the rocks r/XOrd a involved both surficial accretion and deep
very active stage of episodic continental -seated emp1acement.
Southern and Southeastern accretion which evidently accompanied
California lithospheric plate convergence. Oblique Sierra Nevada Province
subduction. possibly at a low angle of con-
Upper (?) Paleozoic strata of southern vergence, seems to have been the domi- Farther to the southeast, the Sierra Ne-
and southeastern California, including al- nant process in central California. Three vada and White-Inyo Ranges are domi-
leged equivalents in the Salinian block of principal tectonic environments are pre- nated by coalescing granitic plutonll
NG"'" 11>,
rI: .:
".
.;
'.,. ........
:',; (,;
ment as crystal mushes - hence it is dif- thospheric plate convergence (figure 6). .~-/ . . ";.
ficult to see how the magmas could The Sierra Nevada foothills suture consti-
represent uncontaminated, high-temper- tutes the contact between Mesozoic accre- ... -:::::.->
ature liquids derived directly from the tionary terrane and the more easterly
mantle. Paleozoic basement terrane. The Klamath
Mountains and the Sierra Nevada are cor·
Remnants of the volcanic country rock relatable in terms of their petrotectonic
into which the plutons were intruded, histories (Davis, 1969); but the Sierra
such as the rhyodacitic Ritter sequence, Nevada terrane probably represents expo- Figure 7 Plate tectonic setting of Califor-
are confined to central and eastern Sierra sure of somewhat deeper structural levels nia during tha Cordilleran orogeny (Creta-
Nevada roof pendants. Eastward-dipping than the Klamath Mountains. Westward ceous-Early Tertiary Period). After vBrious
reverse faults in the Western Foothills movement of the Klamath Mountains sources, including Dickinson. in press.
belt have juxtaposed oceanic crust against complex relative to the Sierra Nevada belt
the continental margin (Saleeby, 1978; appears to have begun by the end of Early Much of the Franciscan Complex has
1979; Saleeby and others, 1978). This tec- Cretaceous time (Jones and Irwin, 1971). been thoroughly tectonized in contrast to
tonic regime, the Logtown Ridge-Mari- Total left-lateral strike slip displacement the rather orderly Great Valley sequence.
posa-Smartville complex, contains on this series of tear faults was approxi- The two terranes are juxtaposed along the
subduction zone olistostromes, ophiolites, mately 100 km. generally east-dipping Coast Range
calc-alkaline volcanic island-arc rocks thrust and related faults (Bailey and oth·
(andesites and dacites), and eugeoclinal Coast Ranges Province ers, 1970) (photo 3). Movement along
sedimentary rocks. The Logtnwn Ridge- this system may have OCCllITed at various
The Great Valley-Franciscan couplet times in the Cretaceous and early Tertiary
lies on the Pacific Ocean side of the Klam· Periods subsequent to initiation of the
ath-Sierran volcanic-plutonic belt. Al- subduction zone about ISO m.y. ago. Prior
though its plate tectonic setting has been to the westward movement of this junc-
recently reinterpreted as a striko-slip col- tion, the convergent lithospheric plate
lage (Jones and others, 1978), this pair of boundary lay roughly 100 kIn to the east
lithologic belts has been widely recog· in the vicinity of the Sierran western
nized as a classically developed arc- Foothills bell. The time of step-out
trench gap section and trench milange, must have followed generation of the
respectively (Dickinson, 1970; Page, Great Valley ophiolite at 155 ± 5 m.y.
1978). Both assemblages consist chiefly of ago (Lanphere, 1971; Hopson and others,
poorly sorted, flrst-cycle clastic sedi- t 975), but before deposition of the overly-
ments derived in large part from the adja- ing Tithonian cherts 140 m.y. ago (Pes~
cent calc-alkaline volcanic-plutonic arc sagno, 1973). Alternatively, Schweikert
(Dickinson and Rich, 1972; Jacobson, and Cowan (1975) have suggested that
1978). At least the Cretaceous portion of the ophiolite represents oceanic crust
the Great Valley sequence represents a flooring a marginal basin which lay im·
miogeoclinal wedge laid down on the wes- mediately to the west of an east-facing
ternmost Sierra Nevada, Klamath Moun- western Sierran island arc. Although
tains, Salinian block, and Peninsular large components of northward move-
Range basement and immediately sea· ment of the oceanic lithosphere have been
Figure 6 Plate tectonic setting of Cali- ward oceanic crust-all generally regard- postulated (Jones and others, 1978), the
fornia during the Nevadan orogeny (Late ed as portions of the North American contrasts in deformation and in inferred
Triassic-late Jurassic Period). After VBr- lithospheric plate. In contrast, the Fran- pressures of metamorphic recrystalliza-
ious sources. including Dickinson in press. ciscan coherent turbidites and sedimen- tion across the Coast Range thrust system
.r "
to date. These maps may be seen at the S'~ 1100 1
,.,.,."
Studies ZDnes Act arc described in
CDMG Special Publication 42. Fault -.-, Ptll<lo Oem
Who'.w....
Woldome.
Mu'''lle
Monumenl Peel<
Ague C.I..nl. S4:1"ngs
Hazard Zones in California. This publica-
tion may be purchased OYCT the counter at
-,-, oe.,! HOI $ptlngt
s...... Pelm. "'.Ilev """ Temecula
Pech.nge
"'''ovo Tap,lI<Io
S_nav P " .
Call1zo Min
any CDMG District Officc or ordered by -,, San JactnlO
Heme, "" Pala
M.... G••nde "
-" 8,.wl6y
mail from California Division of Mines Corona Soult> W •• ne.. Rel\Ct> -" AlamollO
'"" -'"
Lake Malh"""s Ranch", HoltVIlle We"
and Goology, P.O. Box 2980, Sacramento,
"
CA 95812, for $I.OO.... Eari W. Hart. , ReVIsed rone map
"
California Geology september 1979
'"
1977 1978
CALIFORNIA MINING REVIEW
Thelollow,ngUKcerptsaretakenlrom MINERALS IN THE ECONOMY OF CALIFORNIA. Slate Mineral Profile 1979. by
John McWilliams, Slate Liaison Ofheer, U S Bureau of Mines: James F DaViS. State Geolog,st. California DiVISIon of Mines and Geology:
and William B. Clalk, Geologist. California Division 01 Mlnesand Geology. SMP was published by the BUfaau of Mines. U.S. Department
of the Interior. in cooperation with California Department of Conservation. ,Editor
A total of 34· non-fuel mineral com- ue. Non-metallic minerals comprise 90% (95%) located in District 6 which com-
modities are produced in California (ta- of the total value of non-fuel mineral pro· prises the area north and east of San Fran-
bles I and 2). California leads the nation duction in California. Preliminary pro- cisco Bay. In 1978, 313 billion cubic feet
in the production ofasbestos, boron, Port- duction data for oil and gas show a slighl of natural gas were produced, a decrease
land cement, diatomite, sand and gravel, dedineofO.6% and 1.3% respectively ac· of 1.3% from 1977.
rare earths. and tungsten. It is third in the cording to the California Division of Oil
production of crude petroleum and is a and Gas.
major source of natural gas, salt, clay, GOLD
stone, magnesium compounds, sodium Metallic Minerals
compounds, gypsum, iron ore and talc. Troy Gold Industries of Alberta, Can-
The important metallic minerals are ada, reopened Ihe Blazing Star Mine in
iron ore. which declined in production in the Mother Lode country near West
MINERALS PRODUCED 1978 but maintained its ovcrall value; mo- Point, Calaveras County. Up to 165 tons
lybdenum. which declined sharply in pro- of ore per day can be processed by the
Non-Metallic Minerals duction but increased substantially in combination gravity and notation mill to
value; tungsten. which increased strongly yield I to 1.5 ounces' of gold per ton.
Excluding natural gas, natural gas liq- in quantity but only slightly in value; and Tungsten, copper, and silver arc also pro-
uids, and crude petroleum, mineral pro- rare earths which increased in both quan- duced. The mine was first located in 1857
duction in California increased 6% in tity and value. These four minerals com- and worked in the oxidized zone to a
1978 to reach $1.4 billion and rank third prise 99% of the value of metallic mineral deplh of 400 feet.
in the nation. Cement was in the lead with production or $138 million.
32% of the total value. Boron, with 19%,
and sand and gravel, with 18% of the Gold declined 20% in production but GEOTHERMAL
total mineral value were next. These three registered a 4 % increase in total value RESOURCES
commodities aecount for $%3 million or because of higher unit prices. In 1978, sil-
69% of the total mineral value and 94% ver increased 5% in quantity and II % in Union Oil Company of California re-
of the increase in value in 1978. value compared with 1977. Copper in- portedly has proven geothermal reserves
creased 18% in quantity and 17% in val- equivalent to 165 million barrels of oiL
Production of cement declined 282,000 ue over 1977. The company is operator and half owner
Ions (3%) in 1978 but ils overall value of The Geysers operation in northern
increased 10% to $445 million because of Oil and Gas California, the only commercial geother-
higher unit value. Production of boron mal operation in the Uniled States and the
was up 4% to 1.5 million tons and its California continues to be a major largest in the world. The steam is used by
value was up 10% to $260 million. Sand source of oil and natural gas (table la). Pacific Gas and Electric to power 12 elec-
and gravel production remained essential- Oil was produced from 234 active fields in trical generators with a 10lal capacity of
ly unchanged (up less than 1%) and val- 16 counties at a rate of more than one more than 500,000 kilowatts. The cost of
ue was up only slightly (2.8%) to $258 million barrels per day. Approximately geothermal sleam purchased by Pacific
million. 50% of the state's total oil production was Gas and Electric at The Geysers increased
from Kern County. During 1978 com- from 14.18 mils per kilowatt hour to 16.02
Other significant changes in non-me- bined State and Federal.off-shore fields mils per kilowatt hour but remains the
tallic mineral commodities include asbes- accounted for 17% of the oil and 7% of cheapest source ofenergy for PO &E other
tos, which declined 10% in quantity and the natural gas produced in California. Ihan hydro-electric power. For compari-
5% in total value, and lime, which de- Most of the State off-shore production son, electrical energy from oil costs 45
creased 13% in quantity and 20% in val- came from the Wilmington and Hunting- mils per kilowatt hour. Geothermal ener-
ue. Feldspar, lithium' compounds, ton Beach fields. All of the Federal off- gy provides 6% of the electrical energy
magnesium compounds, sodium carbon- shore production came from Carpi:nteria used by the company's 5.7 million cus-
ate. sodium sulfate, clay, diatomite, gyp- and Dos Cuadras fields. About 50% of tomers in northern and central California.
sum and stone all declined in quantity but the natural gas production in 1978 was The tOlal Geysers project is expected to
only lithium compounds, feldspar. and so- associated with oil production. The rest eventually achieve a capacilY of 2 million
dium sulfate declined significantly in val- came from natural gas fields largely kilowatts.
,-
Min...1 Ou.n"ly Vllu. OUln",y V.lu.
Ilhou ..""11 (thou.""11
"'_"0.
B",on 1.4,,,,,,.,......
on"" 'on•. 76.207
• HUn A.m
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th"", .."" ...."" lOn' .. ~'m ~
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9.271
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•
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O'm."",o" .. do _....
• ,=
hlc: ..._
Zinc: ('00"".,.1>10 oon,."l ot ",... "0 I
""",I,on.
00
~", "n, 109.816
Comb'.......Iu. 01 o.lc:,um ohl",id•. O"bon diox"'•• I.ld....,. ~o" "". W"um oompo,,,,,, •• m.g ....·
....m oompound •. molybd.num. 1'00" p.'IU•. phosph.,. 'oot ('9771. po.....um .. II.. "''''
... 11, m.,.1 oono'n".'''. "". """"um eo,bono'., """,oum ...It.'•. 'ung",,,, oonc.nll.,••""
i'.m. indio.,... by Symbol W 241. '33
To'" 1.-ooo.'1!;g
I' P••limln.. y. Nil. No' •••,I.b" W W,'hlHlld '0 •• o'" <lIOClOoing incll.,"u.1 oomp.ny OO/lhd.nti.llnlo,m.,ion: ••Iu. Inc"""" wun ,·V ..... ot u.m. ,n.1 eoMolM ",OClOud·
XX Hol .pplk.t>lO I
• P,oduotlon •• m..... 'fI"
by m,n. "'''pmfln,., ..I... ", ml,tl"blo p.oduotlon I 'fIO"'ding con..,mp'io" by p.oduo.'11
Table
". Oil and Gas PrOduction ,n California'
19711"
1971 1976" "17
C,ud. 0,1 N.,u,.1 G..
On_ohor. 'hou .."" 12 s.lIon 1>1I..... 266.965 m.= On_ohor. m.lhO/l cubic I. .' 297,767
Olt_....",. O,.
OU_ ....
S,.,. 00 11I,196 15.000 S,.,. 00 11.237
F...... I 00 12.3lXl
"..... FOd ...1 00 .~
-,
Cyp"",,",
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''''' _-_...._._._._.-
IIftCW1 ,an.
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<-
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"'or, u'n. _ _..• 1t1.393.QXl
S2.tifi1.QXl
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,,,,,. -_... _- ".8'$.(0)
C""_ _ _ _
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--,-
To'"
Tung".n Co"",.n,.... ''''''''' SS.s:».1X:O
-,
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,~
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send ...., Cro".1
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$ond .nd G....., l.IS9'(o) ....or""".
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CAIAVEIIAI
A_ ..o ..._____ To"'l
33.512 111.5OII.QXl
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To'''' P3.2!;e'(o) .. AlliN
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CONTIIA COITA
'O~ $0"" ."" G....I ~= shon 'onl
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m""
,-
Cloy....._ ..__...... '91.(0) "'or' ,on.
"'Ot' 'on•.
~''''' MAIIIPO'A
S.nd .nd G••••I .. ,,= "'on ton. ~=
$ofId .n<! Gr....1
Stone ="" 12.9llO.QXl
5101'• .
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TOIOI MENOOC.NO
DEL NOIlTE S.nd..., G,....I ~ 1',2'6.1X:O
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"'ort ,on.
1511.000
~'''''
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To'.. ,,=
1".o:JQ
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,,-
$0"" .nd C....... 112.QXl
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1"1l.CX1O
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$ond..., G.....I ~
16.000
sho" ,on.
sho" 'onl
To,.1
11.13BJXXl
~
11. 'lIS.(O)
Tole 'ooop ..onel MODOC
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A_",ol '""" ......, 'on. m""
"."
,~ IIoy"""",oo 11lll1.000
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<,- """
-= ....,;., tOl'l' 1711.(0)
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$0"" .nd G..vel '"
3.019.QXl shor' 'on ••___
"""""
MONO
CIoV'
To..'
T""9"en Copp.,
OLENN
To'.' $9-01l1.CX1O '0.
~~
L,m' PumlC.
$ond .nd Grov.I __.. ,= m""
,-
$ond.tId G.....
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California Geology 5eptembel" 1979 201
Summary of Activities
REASSESSING
THE EARTHQUAKE HAZARD
IN CALIFORNIA
By
BRUCE A. BOLT. Commissioner
California Seismic Safety Commission
There are a number of connicting quakes in California. There was a large Paleoearthquakes
stands and interests that go into reassess- earthquake in 1836, centered on the Hay- Thirdly, trenches recently excavated
ing the present earthquake hazards in ward faull. From what we know these days, across the San Andreas fault in southern
California, such as the improved con- it would probably bec1assed as"great". An California have revealed evidence of past
struction of public schools and hospitals earthquake in 1838 was felt strongly in great earthquakes. The liquifaction effects
as opposed to the multiplicity of designs San Francisco. It opened a great crack of paleoearthquakes have been preserved
and materials of new structures. These many miles in length along what is now in beds of sand and peat. They indicate
conflicts become more difficult to quanti- called the San Andreas fault. that the average recurrence interval of
fy as the population continues to grow In 1868 there was again an outstanding great earthquakes on the San Andreas
and society becomes more complex. There earthquake on the Hayward fault along fault in southern California is aboul 200
are two seismological aspects of these con- the base of the hills to the east of San years - sometimes more, sometimes less.
flicting ingredients of risk evaluation. The Francisco Bay. This earthquake produced This recurrence interval extends back at
first is the earthquake occurrence proba- destruction in San Jose, Hayward. and least one thousand years. Therefore. given
bility itself, lind the second is the pre- downtown San Francisco. Until 1906 it the time that has elapsed since the last
paredness of California to respond effec- was referred to locally as "the great earth- great earthquake, we should. as a working
tively to an earthquake when it occurs. quake". A group of laymen got together hypothesis, expect a great earthquake
and wrote a report on that earthquake, somewhere in California within the next
EARTHQUAKE OCCURRENCE but the report seems to have been su- 10 years. The odds are about even that
PROBABILITY pressed because no copy has been found in this will be the case. and for every year
this century. However. in 1906 some per- that goes by now these odds will grow
We must now say that time is running sons who had gone through the 1868 steadily.
out so far as the next big earthquake of earthquake were asked to give their recol- If more specific earthquake predictions
magnitude 7 or greater is concerned. The lections - these will be referred to later. could be made they would help in pre-
late Professor Perry Byerly, my predeces- And then there was the great earth- venting loss of life from collapse of struc-
sor at Berkeley, said that when he first quake of 1906, with no major rupture of tures. but seismology has not yet
had the job of keeping track of earth- active faults in northern California since advanced to the stage of practical precise
quakes in northern California he never that time. In southern California the great earthquake forecasting. Even if valid
closed the door of his garage. He felt that Fort Tejon earthquake occurred in 1857, earthquake prediction were possible, the
perhaps any night the next great earth- and apart from the Kern County shock of hazard to vulnerable buildings in Califor-
quake in the Bay area would come and he 1952. again there has not been an earth- . nia, and the resulting economic loss,
would have to hop into his car. and go quake of major size near metropolitan would remain.
down to the University and lead the stud- areas for more than 100 years.
ies of its aftermath. But when the earth- EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS
quake had not come after 30 years he Tectonic Movement
closed the door of his garage. In the 16 Secondly, the geodetic survey that has The need to reduce earthquake hazards
years since I have been at the University gone on in the San Francisco Bay area for must be balanced against other social de-
of California, there has been no great about a century and a half indicates that mands. The effort to mitigate against
earthquake in California and for various the Farallon Islands, Mt. Tamalpais. and earthquakes must be expressed in terms of
reasons, each year, it has seemed appro- MI. Diablo continue to move relative to jeopardy to life and cost benefit so that
priate to think of an occurrence in the one another at a rate comparable to thaI people can make reasonable decisions on
next 10. or 20 years. observed prior to the 1906 earthquake. what is an adequate level of earthquake
We can no longer keep pushing this The Farallon Islands are moving north safety for society.
time window forward for a number of relative to MI. Diablo at the rate of about Consider the two words "earthquake
reasons. The evidence now is much stron- 2 inches a year and there can be no doubt risk". An equation between the occur-
ger than 30 years ago or even\16 years that strain is building up in the crustal rence of great earthquakes, and the risk
ago that a large earthquake is imminent. rocks like the tightening of a watch they produce must be considered. A
spring. The level of strain that was steady state situation in California should
EARTHQUAKE EVIDENCE reached prior to fault rupture in 1906 is be the goal. The steady state situation
known from geodetic measurements of would be one in which the citizens,
Historical Record the last century, and a comparison sug- through the tax base, allocate a certain
The first line of evidence comes from gests that a sudden slip will have to occur amount of resources toward maintaining
the historical record. In the last century along one of the main faults in the area to the status quo of adequate earthquake
there were a number of very large earth- relieve the present strain before too long. preparedness. In other words, the pUblic
I ~z~
BULLETINS COUNTY REPORTS
I~
~ B 125 Manganese in California $2.00 _ _ CR' Trinity County. California. Mines and mineral ra·
• B 174 Pumice. pumicite. and volcanic Cinders in Califor- sources 01 $3.50
nia $2.50 _ _ CR 5 Monterey County. California. Minesand mineral re-
I~==: :~
Geology of northern California $9.00 sources of $5.00
Mineral resources of California $3.00 _ _ CR 6 Shasta County. California. Mines and mineral re-
~ _ _ B '''' The mineral economics of the carbonate rocks. sources of $7.50
limestone and dolomite resources of California _ _ CR 7 Imperial County. California. Mines and mineral re-
I~ __ B '96
"00
San Fernando. California. Earthquake 019 February _ _ CR.
sources of sa.50
Alpine County. California. Mines and mineral re-
I~
1971 $13.00 sources of $3.50
B 197 L,mestone, dolomite. and shell resources of the
" B "B
Coast Range Province. California $6.00
Urban geology master plan for California $2.50
IgQ m
B '"
B 200
8asic geology of the Santa Margarita area. San
LUIS Obispo County $7.50 SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS
Geologyof the San Diego metropolitan area $12.00
I~<
_ _ SP 39 Earthquakes: Be preparedl $0.35
___ SP 41 Basic Placer mining $0.35
_ _ SP42 Fault hazard zones in California with supplements
I~ SPECIAL REPORTS
___ SP 45
$1.00
Meeting the earthquake challenge $2.50
_ _ SP49 California jade $2.00
; SR 55 FranCiscan chert in California concrete aggregate
_ _ 5P 50
- $050 Colemanite deposits near Kramer Junction. San
1~ SR S6 An annotated bibliography 01 California Creta-
_ _ SP 51
Bernardino County. California $1.00
State Policy lor surlace mining and reclamation
I ceous microfOSSilS $1.00
I~
~z - - - SA 87 E>:pansible shale resources of the Sen Jose-Gilroy
_ _ SP 52
praClice FREE
area. Santa Clara County. California $1.50 Earthquake calalog of CalifornIa. January " 190:>-
SR 88 Geology 01 the Queen of Sheba lead mine. Death December 3t, 1974 $3.00
0 Valley. 'nyo County. California $1.50
1~ SA 98 Natural slope stability as related to geology. San
Clemente area. Orange <Ind San Diego Counties.
I5
~ California $2.00 MISCELLANEOUS PUBLICATIONS
~ SR 118 San Andreas lault In southern California $4.00
I
~
III
---
SR 121 Sand and grovel 01 Sacramento area $1.50
SA 122 Englneefing Geology 01 The Geysers geothermal
resources area. lake. Mendocino. and Sonoma
___ The Elephant as they saw it $2.00
___ Fabncas $2.00
___ B 190 TRIP G Mineralogy of the Laytonville Quarry. Men-
m Counties. California $3.50 docino County $0.50
IQ m~ ___ SR 123 Character and recency of faulting. San DIego met- ___ A walker's gUIde to San Francisco. California $0.50
ropolitan area. California $4 00
SR 124 OrovIlle California earthquake. 1 August 1975 $3 50
n --- SR 125 MInes and mineral deposits In Death Valley Na-
Io lional Monument. Callforn,a $3 50
~ SR 128 K-feldspar in Upper Mesozoic sandstone umts
'0'" near Atascadaro. Santa Lucia Range. San Luis PRELIMINARY REPORTS
/ ObISpo County. California $1 50
' SR 130 Indax to gaologlc maps of CalifornIa, 1969-1975 _ _ PR 22 Compllauon of strong-motlon fecords recovered
I~ ~e~ncy
from the Santa Barbara eatlhquake of 13 Augusl
SR 131 and character of faulting along the Elsl- 1978 $1.00
2) nore fault zone in southern Riverside County. Call- _ _ PR 23 Processed data from the parlial Slrong-mOlion
l ::u
~
~
SR 133
SR 134
forma $2 50
Clay mineralogy and slope stability $1.00
Erosion along Dry creek. Sonoma County, Calif Of-
records of the Santa Barbara earthquake of 13 Au-
gusl 1978. preliminary results $1.00
m nia $3 00
~
1g SR 135 SeIsmicity of CalifornIa 1900-1931 $250
SR 137 San Gregono-Hosgri faull zone $2.50
ECONOMIC MINERAL MAPS - 1'1.000.000 plan,metric base.
I~c __ EMM Quicksifver $1.50
I~•
__ EMM 3 Chromlte $060
__ EMM 7 lead and -zInc $ 1 25
PRICE INCLUDES SALES TAX ON CALIFORNIA DELIVERIES __ EMM B Gold $1 50
I~
- California Geology september 1979
~
~I
MAIL ORDER fOAM
t
~\
•
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MAP SHEETS GEOLOGIC DATA MAP SERIES. Scale 1:750.CXXI.
~I
o
_ _ MS21 Geology of the BOdie quadrangle $4.50 ___ Map No. I. Fault map of California with locations of vOl-51
_ _ MS 22 Geology of the Matlerhorn Peak quadrangle $4.50 canoes. thermal springs. and thermal wells 1975 w
~
_ _ "'. 23 Maximum credible rock acceleration from earth-
o
~I
quakes in California S1.!50 Rolled $6.50
~_MS 25 Carbonate rock resources of the Striped Moun-
tain area. California S1.7S o FOlded $5.00 o
_ _ MS 26 Offshore surficial geology of California Rolled. "
mailed in sturdy tube Sg.OO; FOlded. S7.50
_ _ "'. 29 Geology of National City. Imperial Beach and
___ Map No.2. Geologic map of California t977
~I
~I
Otay Mesa quadrangles. southern San Diego met-
ropOlitan area. California $6.00 Colored
_ _ MS31 Geology of the Willow Creek quadrangle. Hum- o ROlled $9.50 •
bOldt and Trinity Counties. Calilornia $4.50
_ _ "'. 33 Geology of the southwestern part of 1I1e Oat o Folded sa.OO 81
MountaIn quadrangle. Los Angeles County. Cali- "
~j
fornia $4.50 Uncolored
_ _ MS 35 Kaweah Peaks plUlon and its relationship to Ihe o Rolled only. in a tube 55.50
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_ _ "'. J6 Geology of the southem Mother Lode, Tuolumne
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MISCELLANEOUS MAPS
Inyo County. Califofl'lia $3.50
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~I
County. Cahfomia $350
_ _ MS 39 Earthqueke epicenter map of California $2.00 ___ Geomorphic map of California Scale t:2.000.ooo 1 SI.00
___ Shaded relief map of California Scate l:l,250,CXXI S1.60 "
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Colored $2.50. Uncolored $1.50.
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___ Fresno sheet S - Total amount enclosed
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u
_~_ San LUIS Obispo sheet FOR CALIFORNIA GEOLOGY SUBSCRIPTIONS, •
~l
__ Santa Cruz sheet
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MINES AND GEOLOGY
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