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Tectonic evolution of Northwest California and Southwest Oregon

Tectonostratigraphic terrances in northwest California and southwest Oregon record a complex history of subduction, collision, and transform faulting. During the late Jurassic Nevadan orogeny, the Elder Creek-Snow Camp and western Klamath terranes were imbricated during collision of an island-arc system with the continental margin. Subsequent collisions are recorded in the Pickett Peak (Early Cret
Authors
M. Clark Blake, Angela S. Jayko

The non-transferability of a Cretaceous coal model in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico and Colorado

The San Juan Basin of northwest New Mexico and southwest Colorado contains several Upper Cretaceous coal-bearing formations. The coals in these formations were deposited in environments associated with repeated transgressions and regressions of the Western Interior seaway in Late Cretaceous time. A detailed subsurface and surface study of the coal beds in one of these units, the Fruitland Formatio
Authors
James E. Fassett

Paleomagnetism of Middle Tertiary volcanic rocks from the Western Cascade Series, northern California

The Western Cascade Series (WCS) is a 3.5‐km‐thick, crudely homoclinal (east dipping) calcalkaline volcanic sequence of mid‐Oligocene to early Miocene age that crops out near the southern tip of the Cascade Range in northern California. The mean direction of remanent magnetization in the WCS is D, 4.9°; I, 57.6° (N, 53; k, 14.4; α95, 5.3°). When compared to a reference direction for the North Amer
Authors
Myrl E. Beck, Russell F. Burmester, Douglas E. Craig, C. Sherman Grommé, Ray E. Wells

Relationship of grade, tonnage, and basement lithology in volcanic-hosted epithermal precious-and base-metal quartz-adularia-type districts

Examination of grades, tonnages, and basement rocks for 88 epithermal precious- and base-metal quartz-adularia-type districts in North, Central, and South America, and Japan reveals that the type of basement rock below the mineralized veins is useful for predicting grade and size of deposits. Epithermal districts overlying basement with salt and evaporites, or rocks with trapped sea water, have a
Authors
D.L. Mosier, Donald A. Singer, T. Sato, N. J. Page

Paleomagnetism of the Tertiary Clarno Formation of central Oregon and its significance for the tectonic history of the Pacific Northwest

The Clarno Formation, a mostly Eocene and partly early Oligocene sequence of andesitic lavas and volcaniclastic rocks, is the oldest Tertiary formation exposed in north central Oregon. Remanent magnetization directions at 46 sites in the lavas provide a paleomagnetic pole at 84°N, 278°E with a 95% confidence cone of 7°. Comparison of this pole with the North American reference pole for Eocene time
Authors
C. Sherman Grommé, Myrl E. Beck, Ray E. Wells, David C. Engebretson

Geophysics: A reversal of geomagnetic polarity

The detailed behaviour of the geomagnetic field during reversals is documented by palaeomagnetists to constrain models of the geomagnetic dynamo. Reversals are studied by measuring the magnetic remanence preserved in rocks to obtain both the direction and intensity of the ancient magnetic field.
Authors
Edward A. Mankinen

Paleomagnetism and K-Ar ages of volcanic rocks from Long Valley caldera, California

Paleomagnetic measurements and K‐Ar age determinations on volcanic rocks from Long Valley caldera, California, have enabled further refinement of eruptive activity within this large silicic volcanic center. K‐Ar age determinations show that postcaldera volcanic eruptions began 0.73 m.y. ago and continued periodically until about 50,000 years ago. The eruptions were not temporally random but tended
Authors
Edward A. Mankinen, C. Sherman Grommé, G. Brent Dalrymple, Marvin A. Lanphere, Roy A. Bailey

San Mateo County Geographic Information Systems (GIS) project

Earthquakes and ground failures in the United States cause billions of dollars of damages each year, but techniques for predicting and reducing these hazardous geologic processes remain elusive. geologists, geophysicists, hydrologists, engineers, cartographers, and computer specialists from the U.S geological Survey in Menlo Park, California, are working together on a project involving GIS techniq
Authors
E. E. Brabb

Some practical approaches to world petroleum resource assessment

No abstract available.
Authors
Emil D. Attanasi, D. H. Root, C.D. Masters

Southern hemisphere origin of the Cretaceous Laytonville Limestone of California

New paleomagnetic, paleontologic, and stratigraphic data from outcrops of the Laytonville Limestone (101 to 88 million years old) support a Southern Hemisphere orgin. A paleomagnetic megaconglomerate test is statistically significant and suggests magnetization at 14?? ?? 5?? south, predating Late Cretaceous to Eocene (70 to 50 million years ago) accretion. Rapid Kula plate movement or the existenc
Authors
J.A. Tarduno, M. McWilliams, W.V. Sliter, H. E. Cook, M. C. Blake, I. Premoli-Silva