Red Pass, a narrow cut through the Soda Mountains important for prehistoric and early historic travelers, is quite young geologically. Its history of downcutting to capture streams west of the Soda Mountains, thereby draining much of eastern Fort Irwin, is told by the contrast in alluvial fan sediments on either side of the pass. Old alluvial fan deposits (>500 ka) were shed westward off an intact ridge of the Soda Mountains but by middle Pleistocene time, intermediate-age alluvial fan deposits (~100 ka) were laid down by streams flowing east through the pass into Silurian Valley. The pass was probably formed by stream capture driven by high levels of groundwater on the west side. This is evidenced by widespread wetland deposits west of the Soda Mountains. Sapping and spring discharge into Silurian Valley over millennia formed a low divide in the mountains that eventually was overtopped and incised by a stream. Lessons include the importance of groundwater levels for stream capture and the relatively youthful appearance of this ~100-200 ka feature in the slowly changing Mojave Desert landscape.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2014 |
---|---|
Title | Stream capture to form Red Pass, northern Soda Mountains, California |
Authors | David M. Miller, Shannon A. Mahan |
Publication Type | Conference Paper |
Publication Subtype | Conference Paper |
Index ID | 70194791 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center |
Related Content
David M. Miller, Ph.D
Scientist Emeritus
Shannon Mahan
Research Geologist, TRIGA Reactor System Administrator, Acting Deputy Center Director
Related Content
- Connect
David M. Miller, Ph.D
Scientist EmeritusEmailPhoneShannon Mahan
Research Geologist, TRIGA Reactor System Administrator, Acting Deputy Center DirectorEmailPhone