Status of Geologic Research, Death Valley National Park

Proceedings of Conference on
Status of Geologic Research and Mapping,
Death Valley National Park

Janet L. Slate, Editor

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Open-File Report 99-153

Denver, Colorado
1999

CONTENTS

PROLOGUE	1
H. Donald "The Kid" Curry, Death Valley’s First Ranger-Geologist (1908-1999)
Vincent L. Santucci and Torrey Nyborg	1
INTRODUCTION	2
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK	3
Posters:
Geologic highlights of Death Valley National Park
Michael N. Machette, Ren A. Thompson, and Mel Essington	3
Status of geologic mapping in Death Valley National Park–A database
A.S. Jayko, M. Essington, B. Heise, H.E. Johnson, P.W. McGrath, D.W. Prichett, G. Saucedo, R. Thompson, and D. Wagner	5
How to get a research permit from Death Valley National Park
Richard L. Anderson	6
National Park Service Geologic Resources Inventory
Joe Gregson and Bruce Heise	7
Inventorying paleontological resources at Death Valley National Park
Torrey G. Nyborg and Vincent L. Santucci	7
Accessing Death Valley National Park’s Museum Collection for geological and paleontological research
Blair Davenport	8
REGIONAL STRUCTURE, TECTONICS, AND BEDROCK GEOLOGY	10
Keynote speakers:
Tectonic evolution of the Death Valley region
Brian Wernicke	10
Tectonics of the southwestern Death Valley Region–A progress report
Terry L. Pavlis and Laura Serpa	18
Architecture and Miocene evolution of the northeast Death Valley detachment fault system, Nevada and California
Chris Fridrich	20
Posters:
Temporal, spatial, and compositional constraints on extension-related volcanism in central Death Valley, California
R.A. Thompson, L.A. Wright, C.M. Johnson, and R.J. Fleck	27
Fluid flow during metamorphism and deformation in the Panamint Mountains
Theodore C. Labotka	29
Preliminary results of detailed structural investigation and large-scale mapping in the southern Panamint Range, California
Joseph E. Andrew	31
Magnitude and timing of extreme continental extension, central Death Valley region, California
N.A. Niemi, B.P. Wernicke, R.J. Brady, J.B. Saleeby, and G.C. Dunne	33
Field and laboratory studies of fault rocks from detachment faults, western Black Mountains, Death Valley
D. Cowan, T. Cladouhos, N. Hayman, J. Morgan, and P. Vrolijk	36
Evidence for pre-55 Ma Phanerozoic fabrics in the Black Mountains, Death Valley, California
Martin G. Miller, Henry Turner, and Richard M. Friedman	37
Structural features of the Amargosa fault near Virgin Spring Canyon
Charles Rogers and Martin G. Miller	39
NEOGENE BASIN STRATIGRAPHY, GEOPHYSICS, AND HYDROLOGY	41
Keynote speakers:
Cenzoic basins of the central Death Valley region, eastern California
L.A. Wright	41
Looking beneath the surface, a three-dimensional geophysical view of the Death Valley region, California and Nevada
Richard J. Blakely, Robert L. Morin, and Claudia C. Faunt	47
The Death Valley Regional Ground-Water Flow System (DVRFS) model–Calibration versus hydrogeologic conceptual model testing
Frank A. D’Agnese and Claudia C. Faunt	52
Posters:
Stratigraphy:
Preliminary description of the subsurface geologic units in the Amargosa Desert
Emily M. Taylor, Christopher M. Menges, and Carma San Juan	55
Tectonostratigraphic relationship between the Cenozoic sedimentary successions of the southern Funeral Mountains, Furnace Creek Basin, Eagle Mountain, and the north end of the Resting Spring Range
Ibrahim Cemen	56
Geophysics:
Three-dimensional model of pre-Cenozoic basement beneath Amargosa Desert and Pahrump Valley, California and Nevada–Implications for tectonic evolution and water resources
R. L. Morin, R. J. Blakely, E.H. McKee, K. M. Schmidt, V. E. Langenheim, and G. L. Dixon	58
Hydrology:
Using geologic data for a three-dimensional hydrogeologic framework model of the Death Valley region
Claudia C. Faunt, Wayne R. Belcher, and Frank A. D’Agnese	59
Ground-water flow model of Amargosa Valley and Yucca Mountain Site revisited
Parviz Montazer and Nick Stellavato	60
Development of a hydrogeologic database and data analysis tool for the Death Valley regional ground-water flow model
Grady M. O’Brien, Matthew L. Jones, and Claudia C. Faunt	61
Correlations of lithostratigraphic features with hydrogeologic properties, a facies-based approach to model development in volcanic rocks at Yucca Mountain, Nevada
David C. Buesch and Richard W. Spengler	62
Using multivariate statistical analysis of ground-water major cation and trace-element concentrations to evaluate ground-water flow in south-central Nevada
I. M. Farnham, K. H. Johannesson, A. K. Singh, K. J. Stetzenbach, and X. Zhou	64
Rare earth elements in ground water and aquifer materials from southern Nevada and eastern California
Xiaoping Zhou, Kevin H. Johannesson, Klaus J. Stetzenbach, and Caixia Guo
Estimating evapotranspiration rates in Death Valley, California
Guy A. DeMeo, Randell J. Laczniak, and Walter E. Nylund	68
Ostracodes as indicators of present and past hydrology in Death Valley
Richard M. Forester	69
MAPPING IN THE DEATH VALLEY REGION	71
Posters:
Regional geologic maps of the Nevada Test Site and Death Valley ground-water flow system–The starting points for ground-water studies
P. D. Rowley, J. B. Workman, G. L. Dixon, J. L. Slate, K. S. Morgan, E.B. Ekren, D. A. Ponce, W. R. Page, M. A. Kuntz, and D. A. Trudeau	71
Geologic map of the Trona-Kingman 1:250,000 quadrangle, southeastern California
Eugene Y. Hsu and David L. Wagner	73
Tectonic-geologic map of the Death Valley region, California and Nevada
L.A. Wright, R.A. Thompson, and J.B. Workman	73
Regional hydrogeologic features from a new geologic map of the Yucca Mountain region
C.J. Potter and D.S. Sweetkind	75
Preliminary surficial geologic map of the Beatty 30 •60-minute quadrangle, Nevada-California
Janet L. Slate and Margaret E. Berry	78
Strategy for mapping Quaternary surficial deposits in support of the Death Valley regional flow model in California and Nevada
Christopher M. Menges, Emily M. Taylor, Janet L. Slate, and John C. Dohrenwend	81
Geology of the Saddle Peak Hills 7.5 quadrangle, southernmost Death Valley, California
Bennie W. Troxel	83
IMAGERY, QUATERNARY STRATIGRAPHY AND GEOMORPHOLOGY, AND QUATERNARY GEOCHRONOLOGY	85
Keynote speakers:
Thirty years of remote sensing in Death Valley–What have we learned?
Alan Gillespie	85
Quaternary stratigraphy and geomorphology of Death Valley
J.R. Knott	90
Quaternary dating methods–Applications to Death Valley studies
Marith Reheis	97
Posters:
Imagery:
Imaging radar applications in the Death Valley region
Tom G. Farr	104
Regional 1:100,000 mapping of Quaternary units from SPOT images and 30-m DEMs
A.S. Jayko and D.W. Prichett	106
Differential GPS/GIS analysis of the sliding rock phenomenon of Racetrack Playa, Death Valley National Park
Paula Messina and Phil Stoffer	107
Quaternary Stratigraphy and Geomorphology:
Quaternary geologic mapping and geochronology of the Las Vegas 1:100,000 sheet and Yucca Mountaain area–Geomorphic and hydrologic response to climate change near Death Valley
S.C. Lundstrom, J.B.Paces, S.A. Mahan, W.R. Page, and J.B. Workman	110
A soil survey of Death Valley National Park–New techniques in standard soil survey
Douglas J. Merkler, Leon Lato, and Peter Scull	111
Surficial geology and geomorphic process studies in support of multidisciplinary ecosystem investigations–Examples from parts of Greenwater and Valjean Valleys, Mojave Desert Ecosystem
David M. Miller and James C. Yount	113
Quaternary Geochronology:
Late Cenozoic tephrochronology of Death Valley, California–New insights into stratigraphy, paleogeography, and tectonics
J.R. Knott, A. M. Sarna-Wojcicki, R. E. Klinger, J. C. Tinsley, III, and B. W. Troxel	115
Chlorine-36 ages of pluvial shoreline features in the Death Valley/Panamint Valley area
Fred M. Phillips and Marek G. Zreda	117
Geochemistry of archeological obsidian sources in the Saline Range, Death Valley National Park, California
Lynn Johnson, David L. Wagner, and Craig E. Skinner	118
PALEOCLIMATE AND ACTIVE TECTONICS	121
Keynote speakers:
Middle to late Quaternary environmental changes in Death Valley and vicinity
W. Geoffrey Spaulding	121
Latest Quaternary (<30 ka) lake high-stand fluctuations and evolving paleohydrology of Death Valley
Diana Anderson	124
Tectonic geomorphology along the Death Valley fault system–Evidence for recurrent late Quaternary activity in Death Valley National Park
Ralph E. Klinger	132
Posters:
Paleoclimate:
Lake Manly(?) shorelines in the eastern Mojave Desert, California
Roger LeB. Hooke	140
200-k.y. paleoclimate record from Core DV 93-1, Badwater Basin, Death Valley, California
Tim Lowenstein	142
Using event-based simulation of water budgets to study the hydroclimatology of lakes in Death Valley, California
Larry Mayer	144
Eolian processes and deposits in the southwestern U.S.–Integrated studies to evaluate impacts from climatic variability and land use
U.S. Geological Survey and Desert Research Institute	146
Active Tectonics:
Scenario earthquakes along the Death Valley fault system
Craig M. dePolo and Ron H. Hess	148
GPS-determined constraints on interseismic deformation along active fault zones within the Death Valley region, southeastern California
Todd B. Williams, Daniel J. Johnson, M. Meghan Miller, and Timothy H. Dixon	149
Seismic potential of the Fish Lake Valley fault zone, Nevada and California
T.L. Sawyer and M.C. Reheis	150
Quaternary strike-slip components of the Death Valley fault between the Furnace Creek and southern Death Valley fault zones
D. Burton Slemmons and George E. Brogan	152
Using geomorphic features to constrain tectonic activity near Pahrump Valley, Nevada and California
K.M. Schmidt and J.G. Davidson	154
USGS geologic and seismic-hazard investigations of the Cow Creek area, Death Valley National Park
M. N. Machette, A. J. Crone, K. M. Haller, L. Bradley, C. Ninci Martinez, and G. D’Addezio	156
Late Quaternary flexural-slip folding and faulting in the Texas Spring syncline, Death Valley National Park
Ralph E. Klinger and Lucille A. Piety	159
Geology of the Stump Spring quadrangle–Evidence of late Quaternary transpression on the southern segment of the Pahrump Valley fault zone, Nevada and California
Matthew R. McMackin	162
Work in progress–A connection through the brittle crust between Death Valley and the Salton Basin
Robert O. Castle	163
FIELD TRIP GUIDE	165
Stop 1: Mormon Point/Willow Creek Fault Scarp Terry L. Pavlis, Jeffrey R. Knott, Ralph E. Klinger, and Lucille A. Piety	165
Stop 2: Badwater Tim Lowenstein, Diana E. Anderson, and Martin G. Miller	170
Stop 3: Zabriskie Point Lauren A. Wright and Richard J. Blakely	171
Stop 4: Texas Spring Syncline/Echo Canyon Thrust Ralph E. Klinger and Lucille A. Piety	172
Stop 5: Cow Creek Administrative Area Michael N. Machette	174
Selected references for geology of Death Valley National Park and surrounding region
Compiled by Philadelphia J. Morrow and Michael N. Machette
FIGURES
1. Geologic mapping of the Wernicke research group	11
2. Map showing reconstruction of deformation, southern Great Basin region	13
3. Location map of the northeast Death Valley detachment fault system	21
4. Schematic cross sections, showing stages in the evolution of the detachment fault system	22
5. Maps showing areas of strong transtensional tectonism pattern, northeast Death Valley	24
6. Graph showing relation of fluid composition and temperature of metamorphism in samples from Wildrose Canyon	30
7. Graph showing istopic composition of calcite versus dolomite	30
8. Graph showing relation of metamorphic fluid versus temperature in samples from the Johnnie Formation	30
9. Map showing major ranges and basins in the Death Valley region	33
10. Columnar sections of middle and upper Miocene strata	34
11. Map showing probable original limits of the Eagle Mountain Formation	35
12. Photographs of deformed p 37
13. Photograph and field sketch of relations at deep structural levels	38
14. Schematic cross section to illustrate relation between pre-pegmatite and post-pegmatite fabrics	38
15. Simplified map of the Amargosa fault	39
16. Map showing generalized geology of the central Death Valley region	42
17. Sketches showing gravity inversion method	48
18. Diagram of lithostratigraphic and hydrogeologic units in the Prow Pass Tuff	63
19. Shaded relief map of the Yucca Mountain Region	76
20. Grid showing 7.5-minute quadrangles of the Beatty 30 •60-minute quadrangle	78
21. Map of Death Valley and surrounding region showing geographic features and fault systems	90
22. Correlation diagram for Pliocene tuffs of Death Valley	91
23. Correlation diagram for upper Pliocene to middle Pleistocene tuffs and tephra beds of Death Valley	93
24. Chart showing methods for dating Quaternary surficial deposits in the Death Valley area	98
25. Oblique USGS aerial image of the Racetrack	108
26. Large-scale detail of trails in the Racetrack’s central region	108
27. Photograph of two diverging sliding cobbles	108
28. Scatterplot based on XRF data showing Saline Valley glass types	119
29. Scatterplot showing correlation of artifacts manufactured from the "Saline Valley" and "Queen Imposter" glass type	120
30. Map showing pluvial lakes in basins of Owen, Mojave, and Amargosa Rivers	125
31. Longitudinal profile of coring sites	128
32. Composite diagram of 10—30-ka lacustrine chronologies for the Mojave River drainage basin	129
33. Generalized Quaternary fault map of Death Valley	133
34. Photograph of Cinder Hill, a basaltic cinder cone astride north end of the Southern Death Valley fault	134
35. Photograph of Willow Creek scarp	136
36. Aerial photograph of an alluvial fan north of Red Wall Canyon	138
37. Topographic profile from Shoreline Butte to Ash Hill	141
38. Sample-model run for Death Valley showing temperature-derived evaporation potential	144
39. Earthquake-rupture segmentation model of the Fish Lake Valley fault zone	151
40. Graph showing product of contributing drainage area and local slope versus valley width to valley height ratio	155
41. Photograph of the Cross Valley fault scarp north of the Hole-in-the-Wall road	159
42. Graph showing maximum vertical separation of alluvial surfaces along the Cross Valley fault	160
43. Schematic illustration showing essential elements involved with the postulated connection between Death Valley and the Salton Basin	163
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