Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
GEOLOGY
Petrified Forest
. ;
In This Issue I
SOUTH COAST GEOLOOICAL SOCIETY FIELD TRIP 194
CALIFORNIA'S FOSSIL FOREST 195
SELF·GUIDED GEOlOOIC TOUR IN JOSHUA TREE
NATIONAL MONUMENT 203
A PU8UCAllOH Of TllE MINERAL CROSSWORD PUZZlE 213
DE'PARTIIEHT Of CONSER'tAnoH JOHN WOLFE RETIRES , 214
orviSIOH Of IIIHES AND GEOlOGY ALFRED O. WOODFORD MEMORIAL 214
ANSWERS TO MINERAL CROSSWORD PUZZLE 214
GEORGE DEUKMEJIAN NWWA GROUNDWATER SEMINARS 215
"'-~ MAIL ORDER FORM . . ,........................ . , 215
T"'RMourCM~ GOROONK VANVLECK CALIFORNIA JOURNAL OF MINES AND GEOLOGy 216
Secretary lot RasOUTces CALIFORNIA GEOLOOY SUBSCRIPTION FORM 216
DI\lIlrlmenl 01 ConsenralJOn RANDALL M WARD
o.tector
O,v,akInol MI ... s& Geology JAMESF DAVIS
SI81e GooIog'!I
I
t.o. MgiIoIn. CA90012..u02
lTeIepfIorIe 213·620-3560)
1"lnMrlI .... 0I1a 380C<w; Or.... Su,I. 100.
PIN..., HIll. CA !M!i23-1921
(Telep/lOtle "'15-646-5920)
I Announcement
CAUFOANIA GEOl.OGV (ISSN 0026 4555) It pullIoINId
I'rI041H'Ily b~ IN Depattmenl 01 Conse,v.llOn. O'V'SIOO 01
M..... Ind Geology. The Records 0I10:e i. II 1721·2Olh
S"..,. SI~'lmenlo. CA 95814 second cI••1 POS'agI" South Coast Geological
~lld II SI~rll'MlnIO. CA. POSlml.le, Send Idd'I"
cn.ngelto CAUFORNIA GEOLOGY (USPS 350 &CD). Society Field Trip
eo. 2980. sacrlmento. CA 95812-2980
RepOfl.l ~onc"twIg 0 , _ 01 M.nn Ind Geology The South Coast Geological Society is
prQIIClI aflClarlodea end _ _ .... Itd to lhl ... lh
_ I n Ceh/otnIa. are W;:Iuded in lNI megu..... eo... hosling a flekl trip to the Colorado Exten-
-.nu _ _
1I'0Iltdlfbf;les phologtaphs. _ _. aflCl~ sional Terra,n and Whipple Mountains of
weIcome southeastern C31ifomia The trip wiD be led
THECOHClUSlOf\lS AHDoPlN~SEXPRESSED IN by Greg Davis on October 26. 27. and 28.
ARTIClES ARE SOlELY THOSE Of THE AUTHORS 1990. Reg~1ion information and further
AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY ENDORSEO 8Y THE
DEPARTMeNT OF (X)fISERVATlOH
details are cwailable by writing
COtluporwHnn .houk! be add.eul'd 10 Edllor,
CAUFOfU"lA GEo..OGV, ll«Illetcul 0t'Ne. S a a _ , Sooth ~ Geological Society
CA~1"'-o131 clo John Foster
s..tIIa..,._
$10 00 PI< yHt SongIe <;:Opel $1 25
1ICft. Send ~ ........ end - . 01 acldtw1I
Department of ~ Sciences..
MH263D
....malOltoCAl.lFORHlA GEOl.QGY. PO Elm 2980. California State Univers,ty
~. CA 95812-2980
Fullerton. CA 92025
or caB, (714)449-7096 ~
By
!• INTRODUCTION
PALEOBOTANY
photo 6. A fossilized ,ed""ood t,ee named 'Oueen of the Fa,e.t" i. about '"
feet in diamete' At the far end on oak tree ha, grQW'n belYieen .octian. of
this fractured fossilized log Photo courtesy of Ihe PelrjFi,.J Foresl Museum
PETRIFICATION
The preservation of the trees of the Petrified Forest is photo 9. Detail of fossilized wood groin from the Petrified Fore.t in
due to a process called petrifaction. from the Latin. ··turn- Sonoma County. The trees were quickly buried (which prevented decoy)
ing to stone." where the structure of the wood is retained and remained undi,turbed for millions of yeors while alteration processe,
even at the cellular level. Rhyolitic volcanic ash. high in pre,e",ed the groin of the wood. 5ili<;0 in 'Olution leached from the
surrounding yokonic ash. permeated the wood, and slowly replaced the
silica content. is a matrix material commonly associated organic material so perfectly that it i. po..ible to see the annual growth
with fossil trees. Over many years. silica in solution infil- rings, and even the individual cells under a microscope,
trates the wood and gradually replaces the organic compo-
nents. preserving them in structural detail. Most of the pet-
rified wood of Sonoma County is beige or light brown. Af-
ter millions of years the bark and wood grain remain re-
markably well defined (Photo 9). 0 G) ®
® ®
The Petrified Forest Trail
1. Parking Area
@)
2.
3.
Museum and Nature Store
'The Pit Pine Tree" (redwood) ®
4.
5.
'The Gully Tree'
'The Petrified Woodpile"
®
6. "The Giant"
@
7.
a.
"The Queen of the Farest"
'The Monarch" or "Tunnel Tree" ® "i-
9.
10.
• Rocks of Ages'
"The Robert louis Stevenson Tree"
t
1 1. Rest Rooms CD
Map .howing lhe trail wilh locations of fossilized redwood tree,.
Their 'popularized" nome. are ,hown to the left.
REFERENCES
Anonymous, 1871. Hand·book of Calistoga Chaney. R W.. 1934. Redwoods of the past: Howard. A.D, 1979, GeologIC hiStory 01 mIddle
Spnngs. or. lillie Geysers: Alta California Save-the·Redwoods League, 7 p Cahlornla: UniverSity 01 California Press,
Book and Job Printing House. San Fran· p.61.
Chaney, R W.. 1944. Introduction, Chaney, R
CISCO. California, 30 p.
W, edItor, Pliocene !loras ot CalifornIa and Kunkel, F. and Upson, J. E., 1960. Geology and
Anonymous, 1889. An illuslrated hislOry of Son- OregOJ'l: Carnegie InstItution 01 WaShIngton, groundwater in Napa and Sonoma valleys.
oma County, California: Lews Publlshmg Publlcallon 553, p. 1-20. Napa and Sonoma counlles. Calltornia:
Company. 737 p. U. S. Geologic Survey Waler Supply Paper
Dor1. E" 1933, Pliocene 1I0ras ot Calltorflla,
Anonymous. 1953. The tale of lhe Petrilied Dort, E. and Webber. I. E.. Slud,es 01 the 1495.252 p.
Forest 01 Calltornia: published by Pelnlied Pliocene paleobotany ot California: CarnegIe Mack, I., 1930. Was petrified by volca",c ashes
Forest, Sanla Rosa, Calilorf1la. 36 p. Institution of Washington PublicallOn 412, in centunes past: CallSl0gan. June 20.1930.
A~elrod, D. I.. 1944. The Sonoma tlora In p. 1-112. p. 1.
Chaney. A. W, editor, Pliocene 1I0ras 01 Evernden. J F" and James. G. T , 1964, Potas- Marsh, O. C., 1871, NOllce of a fOSSIl 10reSl In
CalifornIa and Oregon: Carnegie lnstllu!ion Slum·argon dates and the Teniary tloras 01 the TertIary 01 Callfor",a: American Journal
of Washington Publlcalion 553. p. 167-206, North Amenca; American Journal of Sci- of Science and Arts, v. 1, p. 266·268
Benson. A. L.. 1930, A gIrl who saw a fortune in ence. v. 262, p. 945-974 Stevenson, A. l .. 1974, The silverado squaUers:
dead trees: Psychology MagaZine. Septem· Fo~. K. F. Jf.. 1983, Tecton,c selliOg 01 late SIlverado Museum, S1. Helena. Caillorn,a,
ber issue. p. 26·29. MIocene, Pliocene, and PleIstocene rocks In 115 p.
Bowen, O. E. Jr.. 1951. Highways and byways pall 01 the Coast Ranges north of San Fran· St<rton, R. A.. 1951, Prehlstonc land anImals 01
of particuiar geologic interest In Jenkins. 0 CISCO, CalIfornia: U.S. GeologIcal Survey the San FranCISCO Bay regIon in JenkinS, O.
P . editOr. Geologic Guidebook ot the San Prohlsslonal Paper 1239,33 p. p .. ed'lor, GeologIC Guidebook ot the San
FranCISco Bay counties: California D,v,sion Fo~, K F. Jr, Sims. J. D.. Bartow, J. A., and Francisco Bay countIes: California D,v,s,on 01
01 Mmes Bulletm 154. p. 315·379. Helley, E, J.,1973, PrelimInary geologic map Mines Bulletin 154. p. 177_186.
Caton. J. D.. 1873. The Pelnfled Foresl of Call· ot eastern Sonoma County and weSlern Taliaferro. N L.. 1951. Geology of lhe San Fran·
lor",a - leller 10 lhe Chica90 Tribune, Au- Napa Counly, Caillornia: U.S GeologIcal cisco Bay counties in JeJ'lklns. O. P., ednor,
gust 17. In Caton, J. D.. 1880, Miscellanies: Survey Field Studies Map MF-483 Geologic guidebook of the San Francrsco
Houghton. Osgood. and Company. p. 348· Hoover, M B" 1937, HiSlonc spots In Cal.lor- Bay countIes: California DJVlsion of Mines
354. ",a, counties of the Coasl Range volume: BulletIn 154, p. 117-150. ~
StaJ'ltord Un,verSlty Press. 718 p.
Photo 1. View to the northeast along the main Monument road at Covington Flats showing
INTRODUCTION outcrops 01 the Cretaceous White Tank monzonite. Note the horizontal pattern of joints in
the outcrop to the left. Photos by author except as noted.
oshua Tree National Monument was
J established in 1936 and contains
870 square miles. most of which is high
desert. The Monument encompasses
some of the most interesting desert geo-
morphic features in California. Rugged
mountains. prominently exposed granitic
monoliths. and exposed fault scarps re-
veal how geologic processes shaped.
and continue to shape. this stark desert
landscape (Photos 1 and 2). Much of
the Monument is above 4.000 feet and
steep mountain escarpments border this
region to the north and south. The
Monument is located about 140 miles
east of Los Angeles and is accessible by
highway from the north and from the
south (Figure 1).
PINTO MTNS.
,,'" ~
~~
5 o Mile
formed by an accumulation of loose
rock material deposited onto broad val-
leys or plains. subsequently developed
~~ lost
6
adjacent to these fault scarps.
--- -
",,1"1. tems." also occur.
0 EAGLE
% 16
Joint patterns are easily observed in
/)"... ~-" PLEASANT the White Tank monzonite. Three
15 dominant joint sets produced spectacu-
/Y"'~1-<r lar rock forms in this unit (Photos 1 and
2). One joint set is oriented horizontally
The most recent of all igneous intru- Faults and Joints and was caused by the release of pres-
sive rocks in the Monument include nu- sure when the thick layer of original
merous dikes of various widths and rock Faults are fractures in rock where dis- overlying rocks was removed by exten-
compositions. These dikes are com- cernable movement has occurred. The sive erosion [frent. 1984). Another set
mon throughout the Monument and major faults within the Monument. such of joints in the White Tank monzonite
cross-cut all of the previously mentioned as the Eagle Mountain fault that can be occurs vertically and roughly parallels
rock unlts. seen along the Geology Tour Road. the contact of this unit with surrounding
(0) The White Tank monzonite today. Although the dirt road is readily ac-
cessible by car. you may prefer to ride a
Figure 3. Schematic diagram illustrating dirt bike. It takes about two hours to
the formation 01 White Tank monzonite complete the tour by car. Park rangers
outcrops in the Monument. Adapted from advise bringing drinking water. They
Trem (1984). also recommend that you end the tour
at Stop 9 when the road becomes wet
during the rainy season.
GEOLOGY TOUR ROAD LOG
The numbered stops at the beginning
rock units. The third joint set in the Monument naturalists designed an of each description correspond to num-
White Tank monzonite is also vertical 18 mile self-gUided motor trail lour bered markers along the tour route.
but is approximately perpendicular to along a dirt road that winds through the Mileage starts at the intersection of the
the other vertical set. This system of most interesting geology in the Monu- Geology Tour Road and the black-
joint sets results in rectangular-shaped ment. The Geology Tour Road has 16 topped main Monument road. The tour
blocks that can be obselVed along the sign posts where vehicles can pull over route is a closed loop that returns you
Geology Tour Road. and stop (Figure 2). The tour, along to the starting point.
Cumulative
Mileage Mileage RQADLOG
Photo 6. White Tank monzomte rock piles to the west of the Tour
Road at Slop 5.
Photo 9 Malapa1 Hili :).. mile due west 01 Slop 7. ThIs IllOIIld IS
eonposed 01 clark basa~ and formed as a mollen mass ot magma
tIat intruded through the SUIlOtXlding White Tank monzonite,
IIowever. I' did not reach ltle su1ace Extensive erosion ovel
geologic time has weatnered away tile less resistanl Whlte Tank
monzonte
O' Stop 8. ALLU....IAL FANS You aro now Photo 11 l~ fI'IOI1ar hole dn \od into the
descending IltlIl'UVIollan (Photo 10). Notice Wh.le Tank monzoMe at Stop 9. T_-inc:t1
a Slmtlar Ian oXlending from 1110 mounlans ,nlO Ions C;lP lor f,cale.
tho vaJ;ey 10 the SOIIlh Thfi. fans aft
co~ed of sards, graV9k. cobbIft;. and
bouldel'5 produclid Irom me erosoon aI rocks at
"'OhM elevatIOnS Ths roell malenal ,s earned A concrete dam just to the SOUheast. and
by gav'ly and 'Iood watets to IowfK levels rndden In the wash. forms SQuaw Tank (Phclto
When flood waters reach the alluvial tans. !he 12). Ca!tlemen wit !hIS <V1d other smJar dams
larger. heaVl8r rocks drOP Irst and the bgh1er to calch runcff water lor their callie dunng the
gravels and sands are earned farther 0Ul Irto early 19005 M.1Iny 01 these small catchment
the valley before they settle Alluvial lOIns da'ns are Iocaled where natural pools 01 watftf
i1kJSlrate me constant changes In the desert collected alter rams. 11 '''las 1'1 such places that
landscape. MountaJl'ls are constantly being the Indians also OOlarned waler and illS logICal
e'OdecI by geolo;lC processes as the erodecI to assume thaI they ca<nped al ttis spot
malenal is dep)$lted I" the aIVvIaJ lans Deca!Jse OIIIMl natural catch·basln
'0 6.8 Stop 11. DRY LAKE. This dry lake, also called
a desert playa. that you are now crossing is
evidence that a wetter climate eXisted here. A
penodic lake once lilled Pleasant Valley and
lacustrine (lake) sediments were deposited in
this lake to a depth of hundreds olleet. As the
Pholo 15 Mine shafts al SlOP 12. Abandoned mine shafts and
lake evaporated, salts cryslallized and
adlts are dangerous and should be avoided: nOle the barbed·wlre
precipitated out of the water. Several similar posts surrounding the shafl.
playa lake beds In other parts 01 the California
desert are mined commercially for a van~lty 01
salts, such as borax.
SAND DUNES. To the left, notICe the sand '9 9.1 Stop 13. CATTLE RANCHING. Here. along the
deposits and the start 01 sand dune formalion. base at the alluvial lan, lhe soils are deeper
This is typical at areas where there is a source and more runoff water accumulates. The added
of sand (the playa), and an open tlal area moisture allows for more vigorous plant growth
(Pleasanl Valley) where wind picks up sand such as grasses. In the lale 1870s, ranchers
particles and cames them to lhe mounlaln mlroduced Texas longhorns to this area
trant, which acts as a barner causing the sand because of the lush vegetation. Over.grazmg
and silt to lall at lhe mountain base and form and a long droughl after 1932 led to the decline
sand dunes. of catlle ranching. The numerous cholla cacti in
lhlS area indicate thiS rangeland was over-
0.' 7.2 Stop 12. MINES. The mountain slopes In Iront grazed. Grasses died from lack of nutrients and
and to the north are honeycombed wllh tunnels were replaced by cactus. With the
and shafts dug by miners looking lor gold and establishment of the Monument in 1936. canle
other precious metals (PhOlO 15). There was grazing was eliminaled, allowing the range to
extenSive mining activity throoghout lhls area partially restore itself.
during the lale 1800s and early 1900s. Very
few of the mines. however, proved lucralJYe: 0.8 9.9 Slop 14. PINTO GNEISS. The banded and
the Lost Horse mine in the Lost Horse folded rock to your lell. the oldest type of rock
Mountains (Figure 2) is one excepllon. Gold, in the Monument, IS PInIO Gneiss. Allhough ilS
silver. copper, lead. and other metals at absolute age is not known, it is thoughlto be
economiC importance were deposited when the aboul 1.5 billion years old (Photo 5). Whereas
inlfudmg White Tank monzonite magma cooled the basalt at Malapai Hill and the quartz
and crystallized. Various gasses and lIQuid monzonite are Igneous rocks-the product at a
REFERENCES
Photo 16. View to the north across Pleasant Valley Irom Stop 16. Malapal Hill is to lhe lef\,
the Hexie MountainS and the Eagle Mountain fault zone at its base are to the right. The
White Tank monzonite is in the distance and the Geology Road can lust be seen as a light
wavy band in the middle.
The crossword puzzle can be used as a special interest activity alter the study of minerals. It is suitable for
grades 6 through 12. .. Puzzle courtesy of Carol Stadum. Department of Geological Sciences. California
Slate University, Fullerton. California.
ACROSS CLUES
f---
" 1 1
-
1. a metallIC liqUid native mineral
4 a round cavity lined with crystals " 1
f- f- - -
6.
9.
minerai used to make pendllead
a crystal tamlly that has all sides equal r- f--- "'
f--- ~
NAME
AODRESS
-==========- I
each (159 copies available).
-lead and Zinc In Califorrna -
_.,.... .....
CAl..1FORNlA G-E0l.00Y _ _ onlY
1.0., _
.. -.....on _ .... - . g _ ... _ . lIOII (prices include lax and shipping) payable
to: DMsion of Mines and Geology and
send to,
EXPIR. DATE ACCT , _
-----------------------------~ (9161327-1850 ~
CALIFORNIA GEOlOGY
'" SEPTEMBER i990