?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

? ?

? ?

?

?

?

?

?

?

? ?

?

?

?

?

? ?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

? ?

?

?

?

? ?

?

LAGUNA

RIDGE

ANTICLINE

AYERS

CREEK

SYNCLINE

ARROYO

PARIDA

FAULT

ARROYO

PARIDA

FAULT

LAGUNA

RIDGE

FAULT

PARIDA

FAULT

ARROYO

FAULT

VILLANOVA

FAULT

VISTA

LA

DEVILS

FAULT

GULCH

FAULTS

VIEW

OAK

FAULT

MOUNTAIN

SULPHUR

RED MTN

FAULT

FAULT

CHISMAHOO

ROAD

RINCON

FAULT

CREEK

FAULT

CARPINTERIA

SHEPARD

MESA FAULT

LION FAULT

40

29 32

30

30

38

27

47

35

40

54 47

25

15

11

70 60

55

23

47

44

18

80

37 24

39

37

49

20

57

82

58

55

53

63

63

51

60

42

35

45

47

20

20

18 59

57 40 35

27 13

56

12

22

30

25

27

51

25

18

15 25

67

69

7

88

46

76

88

64

45

50

46

64

56

82 43

53

50

60

51

76

48

40

60

45

12

39

8

85

12

41

21 67

45

37

39

26

33

32

26

23

41

32

32

22

36 44

18

21

10

55

45 15 17 17

13

64

49

8

40

26

80

58

66

14 30

72

22

33

65

34

19

35

43

36

24 19

52

21

43

27

25

20

18

46

17

21

26

8

31 15

30

37

46

18

31

12

18

26

30

36

23

40

53

4

36

30

45 42

39

37 38

35

45

41

18

42

17

40 45

41

44

25

55

41

58

45 58

40

32

38

53

21

43

40

59

72

73

38

52

58

25

10 40

48

32

33

20

28 3

45

17

18

40

20

36

23 14

15

23

25

39

37

30 49

53 47

45

31

39 31

28

32

52

24

37

19

22

16

56 71

52

37

36

55

35

44 32

51

70 63

82

62

85

20

87

18

68 75

46

76

63

32

60

55

53

37

41 20 38

43 12

59

72

60

21

19

20

5

38

20

25 24

60

22

40

71

58

40

33

32

65 36

40

40 58

41

45 90

49 30

30

17 20

23

30

20

46

4 33

63

74

45

55

61

56 75

25

65

26

10

62

21

16 20

62 60

30

85

55

35 32

40

35

43

54

40

24

30

10

35 27

32

16

11

10 10

87

30 45

20

24

10

30

65

63 78

80

41 50 52

86 49

44

37

43

24

34

60

52

64

33

35

32 31 37 36

28

27

68

42

87

55

68

55

26

42

24

64

66

40

12

31

20

45 40 36

62

31

62 41

55

50

63 33

25 23

33

29

40

18

23

32

14

35

58

19

16

40

27

43

43

42

23

19

23

43

55

35

16

23

38

35

50

46

39

29

20 33

64

22

41 54

60 33

74

26

70

35

62

40

50

70

43

49

49

71

46

37

68

43

65

57

33

18

39

30

30

45 31

32

37

18

32

44

23

39 47

40

60

73

58

14

42

15

45

34 80

33

35

42

35

20

28

37

33 41

43 29

40 50

68

40

75

42

57

65

29

72

45

59

10

26

21 40

52

19

25

34

51

11 17

23

82 44 66

70 51

36

21

33

23

15

24

85

100

59

97

73

156

178

16

30

205

225

280

308 308

339

72

60

302 336

31

35 60

317

80

73

280

79

66 39

155

295 350

246

225

54

286

346

59

255

21

85 340

200

67

245

80

256

85

72

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qa

Qaf

Qaf

Qaf

Qaf

Qb

Qb

Qmt?

Qmt

Qca Qca

Qca

Qca

Qca?

Qca

Qca

Qca?

Qca?

Qca?

Qca?

Qia4?

Qoa

Qia6?

Qia

Qoa

Qya

Qia4?

Qia3?

Qia3?

Qia4? Qia3?

Tspu

Tspl

Qia

Qoa

Qls

Qia

Qoa

Qia4?

Qca

Qls

Tspm

Qdf

Tspl

Qls

Qls

Qls

Tcw

Tspm

Qls

Tcw

Qls

Tcw

Tspm

Tspm

Qls

Qls

Tcw

Tspl

Qia?

Qls

Qls

Qia

Tspm

Tspm

Tspu

af

af

Qia

af

Qia

Qia

Tspu

Tspu

Tspu

Tspu

Qia

Qia Qoa?

Tspu?

Tspu?

Tspm

Tspm

Qia3

Tspu?

Tspm?

Tspl

Tspl?

Qia2

Qya

Tspm?

Tspm?

Qia3

Qia

Qia

Qco

Qco

Tspu

Qia6?

Qia

Qia6?

Qia

Tspm

Qia4?

Qia3 Qya

Qia3 Qia

Qia

Qia1

Tspu

Tr

Qia

Qia6

Tv

Qia5

Qia5

Qia5?

Qco

Qco

Tr Tr

Qco

Qia1

Qia2

Qia6

Qls?

Qls?

Tml Qls

Tr

Tr

Qco

Qia5

Qia5

Qia4

af

Qia2

Qia1

Qia

Tr

Tv

af

Tr

Tml

Qia2 Qia

Qia

af

Qia

Qia

Qoa?

Tspm

Tspm

Tspu

Tspu

af

Tspu

Tr

Qco Qia1 Qia5? Qia5?

Qya

Qya

Qia3

Qya

Qia2

Qya?

Qia2?

Qia1

Qia2

Qia2 Qco

Tml

Qls

Qls?

Tml

Qia1

Qia5

Qia5

Tmu

Tml

Tml

Qls

Qia3?

Qia2

Tmu?

Tml

Tmu

Tmu

Tsq

Qia4

Qls

Qya

Qia2

Tr

Tml

Qya

Qya

Qls

Qls

Qls

Qia5?

Qya

Tmu

Qls

Qia6?

Qia?

Qia6? Qco

Qls Qia4

Qia4?

Qia1

Qya

Qia5?

Qia6?

Qia5

Qia5

Tml

Tmu

Tml

Tr

Tr

Tv

Qls

Qls

Qdf

Qia2

Tml

af

Qco?

Qya

Qia3

Qia5

af

Qls

Qia3

Qia3

Qya

Qco

Tr

Tr

Tv

Qia2

Qls

Tr

Tv

Qco

af

af

Tspu?

af

Tspu?

Tspu?

Tspu?

Tspu

Qoa?

Tspm

Tspu?

Qia

Qls

Qya?

Qia1?

Qdf? Qls Tr

Tr

Tv

Tv

Tr

af

af

af

Tspu

Tspu

Qdf

Qdf

Qdf

Tml

Qsb

Qya Qls

Qia5?

Qls

Qls

Qls

Qia4?

Qia4?

Qia2?

Qls

af

Qls

Qsb

Qsb

Qdf

Qia

Qls

Qls

Qls?

Qls

Qls?

Qmt

Qmt

Tmu

Qmt

af

af

af

af

Qmt af

Qmt?

Qsb

Tml

Tmu

Tsq

Tmu

Tml Qia3?

Qls

Qya?

Qia4?

Qca?

Qia4?

Qca?

Qls Qls

Qls

Qls

Qls

Qoa

Qia3?

Qia4?

Qia3?

Qia2? Tmu

Qls

af

af

Tr

Qls?

Qls?

Qls

Qls

Tsq

Qmt?

Qmt

Qmt?

Qls

Tv

Qco

Qco

Qya

Qia3

Qia2

Qya

Qia5

Tr?

Qia4

Qia1

Qya

Qya Tr

af

Tspm?

Qco?

Tr Tml

Qco

Tml

Qls?

Qls?

Qls?

Qls?

Qls

Qls

Qls

Qls

Qls

Qls

Qls

Qls

Qia1

Qia2

Qya

Qya

af

Tml

Qsb

Qia

Tv

af

Tml Tml?

Qia4

Qia5

Qya

Qia4

Qia4

Qya

Tv

Tml

Tsq

Tmu

Tspu

Tspu

Tr

Qls

Qls

Tml

Qmt

Qya

Tspm

Tcw

15

57 286

47

25

30

35

EXPLANATION

Contact—Long-dashed where approximately located; short-dashed 

where inferred, dotted where concealed, queried where identity 

or existence is questionable; contact attitude (green tic) shows 

direction and angle of dip 

Fault—Long-dashed where approximately located, short dashed 

where inferred, dotted where concealed, queried where uncertain; small red arrow shows direction and angle of dip, red 

diamond-headed arrow shows bearing and rake of slickenlines 

and inferred slip direction of hanging-wall block

Normal fault reactivated as strike-slip fault—Long-dashed where 

approximately located, short dashed where inferred, dotted 

where concealed; ball and bar on apparent downthrown side 

(note that this only applies to the Arroyo Parida Fault in and 

west of Santa Ana Valley); opposing arrows indicate sense of 

younger strike-slip movement 

Strike-slip fault—Long-dashed where approximately located, short 

dashed where inferred, dotted where concealed; opposing arrows 

indicate sense of strike-slip component of movement 

Thrust fault—Sawteeth on upthrown side, short dashed where 

inferred, dotted where concealed

Reverse fault—Long-dashed where approximately located, short 

dashed where inferred, dotted where concealed, queried where 

identity or existence is questionable; rectangles on upthrown 

side 

Anticline—Long-dashed where location approximate, short dash 

where inferred, dotted where concealed, queried where identity 

or existence is questionable; large arrowhead shows direction of 

plunge

Syncline—Long-dashed where location approximate, short dash 

where inferred, dotted where concealed, queried where identity 

or existence is questionable; large arrowhead shows direction of 

plunge

Landslide scarp—Hachures point down scarp

Landslide movement—Arrows show direction of downslope 

movement

Landslide internal contact

Marine-terrace shoreline angle—Approximately located based on 

subtle to strong topographic steps of terrace surface; locally 

coincides with contact between Qmt and older units

Horizontal bedding

Overturned bedding—Showing strike and dip

Inclined bedding—Showing strike and dip

Inclined bedding—Showing approximate strike and dip

Inclined bedding, questionable—Showing strike and dip of bedding

Oil seep

ABBREVIATED DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS

[Unit symbols are queried on map where the unit identification is questionable. The 

database contains additional features (minor folds and faults) that do not appear on the map]

SURFICIAL DEPOSITS

Man-made deposits 

Artificial fill (Holocene)―Fill used for construction of highways, roads, buildings, and 

dams

Alluvial deposits

Active alluvium (Holocene)―Unconsolidated sediments in modern stream and river 

channels, primarily pebble to boulder gravel 

Younger alluvium (Holocene)―Poorly consolidated silt, sand, and gravel deposits 

occupying valley floors and floodplains of modern drainages

Alluvial fan deposits (Holocene and late Pleistocene?)―Weakly to moderately 

consolidated silt, sand, and gravel forming variably dissected fans

Intermediate alluvial deposits, undifferentiated (late Pleistocene)―Weakly consolidated gravel and lesser sand and silt that form weakly to moderately dissected 

stream and river strath terraces positioned above adjacent modern floodplains, and 

broad, low-relief, piedmont alluvial aprons. Along larger drainages terrace-forming 

intermediate alluvial deposits are subdivided into six age groupings based chiefly 

on relative levels (elevations) of terraces, with the oldest terraces being the most 

elevated:

Intermediate alluvial deposits, terrace level 1

Intermediate alluvial deposits, terrace level 2

Intermediate alluvial deposits, terrace level 3

Intermediate alluvial deposits, terrace level 4

Intermediate alluvial deposits, terrace level 5

Intermediate alluvial deposits, terrace level 6

Older alluvial deposits (late? and middle? Pleistocene)―Moderately consolidated, 

stratified sand and sandstone, gravel, conglomerate, and breccia, and rare interbeds 

of clay, silt, and mudstone composing erosional remnants of older alluvial fans shed 

from the Santa Ynez Mountains 

Marine-shore deposits

Beach deposits (Holocene)―Unconsolidated beach sediment, mostly sand, along 

coastal beaches 

Marine-terrace deposits (late Pleistocene)―Sequence of basal marine, weakly to 

moderately consolidated, variably stratified, fossiliferous gravel, sand, and silt 

deposited in neritic, intertidal, beach, and estuarine environments and overlying 

nonmarine eolian sand and silt, alluvial gravel, and colluvial deposits. Marineterrace deposits rest on elevated wave-cut platforms and form single terraces or 

flights of terraces

Mass-wasting deposits

Debris-flow deposits (Holocene and late Pleistocene?)―Massive, weakly consolidated 

rock-debris breccia derived from rock units exposed upslope

Landslide deposits (Holocene and late? Pleistocene)―Deposits of diverse slopemovement processes ranging from poorly sorted, disrupted mixtures of rock 

fragments and soil to relatively intact bedrock slide blocks

BEDROCK UNITS

Casitas Formation (middle? Pleistocene)―Nonmarine, moderately to well-consolidated 

siltstone and silt, multi-colored sandstone and sand, and conglomerate and gravel 

deposited mainly as alluvium likely shed off of the Santa Ynez Mountains and other 

nearby uplands. Unit resembles, and may be at least partly correlative with, the 

older alluvial deposits (Qoa) and the conglomerate of Ojai (Qco)

Conglomerate of Ojai (middle? Pleistocene)―Nonmarine, moderately to well-consolidated 

conglomerate and gravel, sandstone and sand, and subordinate siltstone and silt 

deposited mainly as alluvium likely shed off of the Santa Ynez Mountains and other 

nearby uplands. Unit resembles, and may be at least partly correlative with, the 

older alluvial deposits (Qoa) and the Casitas Formation (Qca)

Santa Barbara Formation (middle and early Pleistocene)―Marine, pale-gray, 

-yellow, and -tan, friable, bioturbated and massive sandstone; includes subordinate 

interbeds and intervals of shale, siltstone, and silty to clayey sandstone. Contains 

diverse assemblage of marine invertebrate fossils. Contains rare conglomeratic beds 

and lenses, and uppermost part of unit locally interfingers with nonmarine conglomerates of the Casitas Formation (Qca)

Sisquoc Formation (lower Pliocene and upper Miocene)—Marine, pale-gray-, 

pale-gray-brown-, and white-weathering, diatomaceous mudstone and shale, and 

subordinate dolomite and basal conglomerate. Unit distinguished from underlying 

upper siliceous unit of Monterey Formation (Tmu) by subtle change in color and 

decrease in hardness of the mudstone of the Sisquoc

Monterey Formation (Miocene)—Marine, predominantly well-bedded, siliceous and 

calcareous mudstone and shale with subordinate porcelanite and dolomite. Contains 

abundant microfossils. The Monterey Formation in map area is divided into two 

subunits that are distinguished from each other by lithology and age:

Upper siliceous unit (upper and middle Miocene)—Diatomaceous, white-, cream-, 

and pale-tan-weathering mudstone and shale with subordinate porcelanite and lesser 

dolomite and calcareous mudstone and shale

Lower calcareous unit (middle and lower Miocene)—Calcareous, siliceous, and 

phosphatic, white- to tan-weathering mudstone and shale, with subordinate 

dolomite, porcelanite, and sandstone

Rincon Shale (lower Miocene)—Marine, primarily massive and thick-bedded, grayand rusty-brown-weathering mudstone, with subordinate dolomite, sandstone, and 

conglomeratic sandstone; locally fossiliferous. Mudstone is bioturbated and 

pervasively fractured. Sandstone beds increase in frequency both eastward and 

down section toward contact with Vaqueros Formation (Tv) 

Vaqueros Formation (upper Oligocene)—Shallow-marine, massive and bioturbated to 

laminated and bedded, resistant, pale-tan- and -gray-weathering sandstone. 

Uppermost part consists of thinly interbedded sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone; 

base typically marked by a 0.5–2-m-thick, thinly bedded, calcareous pebbly 

sandstone containing abundant fossil-shell fragments

Sespe Formation (Oligocene and upper Eocene)—Nonmarine, fluvial, maroon, 

reddish-brown, and greenish- to pinkish-gray sandstone, mudstone, and conglomerate. 

In map area, divided into three units that are distinguished from each other mainly 

by differences in lithology, provenance, and age. An intraformational unconformity, 

representing a depositional hiatus lasting much or all of early Oligocene time, 

separates the lower (Tspl) and middle (Tspm) units 

Upper sandstone and mudstone unit (upper Oligocene)—Interbedded sandstone, 

siltstone, and mudstone that weather to various shades of maroon, pale green, tan, 

and gray. Proportions of different sedimentary rock types vary both laterally and 

vertically through the section. Sandstones commonly broadly lenticular, laminated, 

and thin to thick bedded 

Middle conglomerate and sandstone unit (Oligocene)—Interbedded conglomerate, 

sandstone, and mudstone that weather to various shades of maroon, tan, and 

pale-greenish gray. Proportions of different sedimentary rock types vary both 

laterally and vertically through the section. Polymict conglomerate clasts include 

abundant chert, greenstone, and lithic sandstone likely derived from Franciscan 

Complex source terrane(s), which, together with color, distinguish unit from lower 

conglomeratic Sespe Formation unit (Tspl)

Lower conglomerate and sandstone unit (lower Oligocene? and upper 

Eocene)—Interbedded conglomerate, conglomeratic sandstone, sandstone, 

mudstone, and minor shale that mostly weather to various distinctive shades of 

salmon gray, reddish gray, pale-pinkish gray, and pale tan. Proportions of different 

sedimentary rock types vary both laterally and vertically through the section. 

Sandstones and conglomerates are resistant and form hogbacks. Distinguished by 

common arkosic compositions and pinkish to reddish hues of sandstones, and 

abundant rounded quartzitic, granitoid, metamorphic, and volcanic clasts in the 

polymict conglomerates, which are likely derived from Mojave Desert source 

terrane(s)

Coldwater Sandstone (upper? and middle Eocene)—Shallow-marine, thin- to 

thick-bedded sandstone that weathers to distinctive, pale shades of buff, yellow, tan, 

and brown, with subordinate interbeds and thin intervals of gray, olive-gray, 

olive-tan, and greenish-gray siltstone, shale, and mudstone. Sandstone beds are 

resistant and form hogbacks where steeply dipping. Upper part of unit locally rich 

in fossil oyster shells

Tcw

Tr

Tv

Tmu

Tml

Tspu

Tspm

Tsq

Qia

Qaf

Qya

Qa

af

Qsb

Qca

Qco

Qoa

Qls

Qdf

Qb

Qmt

Qia6

Qia5

Qia4

Qia3

Qia2

Qia1

Tspl

Tr

Tv

af Qa Qb

Tsq

Tmu

Tml

Tspu

Tspm

Tspl

Tcw

Holocene

Pleistocene

Pliocene

Miocene

Oligocene

Eocene

QUATERNARY

TERTIARY

Unconformity

Unconformity

Unconformity

Qmt

CORRELATION OF MAP UNITS

Unconformity?

Unconformity

?

Qaf

Qdf

?

Qia

Qoa

Qya

Qia1

Qia2

Qia3

Qia4

Qia5

Qia6

Qls

?

?

?

?

Qsb

Qca

Qco

?

Late

Middle

Early

11.7 ka

2.59 Ma

126 ka

781 ka

5.33 Ma

23.0 Ma

33.9 Ma

Marine

Nonmarine

Marine

Nonmarine

Alluvial 

deposits

Mass-wasting 

deposits

Marine-shore 

deposits

Man-made

deposits

? ?

BEDROCK UNITS

SURFICIAL DEPOSITS

?

Neogene

Paleogene

Index map showing map area in yellow, and adjacent 71⁄2-minute 

quadrangles.

34°37’30”

34°30’00”

34°22’30”

34°15’00”

HILDRETH PEAK OLD MAN

MOUNTAIN

WHEELER 

SPRINGS

CARPINTERIA WHITE LEDGE

PEAK

MATILIJA

PITAS POINT VENTURA

SIM 3321

(Minor and

Brandt, 2015)

LION CANYON

OJAI

SATICOY

SIM 3001

(Minor and

others, 2009)

119°37’30” 119°30’00” 119°22’30” 119°15’00” 119°07’30”

Figure 1. Generalized location map of part of southwestern California showing major tectonic 

faults, the area of fig. 2 (in orange), and the two quadrangles containing the geologic mapped area 

(in yellow).

Figure 2. Regional physiographic map showing location of the current map area (yellow shading), previously published geologic map of the Santa Barbara coastal plain area 

(Minor and others, 2009) (green shading), 71⁄2' topographic quadrangles overlapping geologic map areas (pink shading), and major tectonic faults (thick black lines). Faults: 

SYF, Santa Ynez; SCF, San Cayetano; RMF, Red Mountain; VF, Ventura; APF, Arroyo Parida; MRF, More Ranch. Fault symbols: barbs, thrust fault (barbs on upper plate); 

paired opposing arrows, sense of strike-slip movement, dotted lines where concealed. The base map is derived from the U.S. Geological Survey National Elevation Dataset 

(NED), 10-meter resolution elevation data, 2005; hillshading illuminated from the northwest; color ramping based on relative elevation, with dark green corresponding to lowest 

elevations and white indicating highest elevations.

121° 120° 119° 118° 117°

Area of fig. 2

Area

shown

CAL I FORNI A

0 30 MILES

0 30 KILOMETERS

FAULT

BIG PINE FAULT

MOJAVE DESERT

Los Angeles

San Luis Obispo Bakersfield

Santa Maria

SOUTHERN COAST RANGES

Ventura

SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY

SIERRA NEVADA

SUR-NACIMIENTO FAULT

PACIFIC

OCEAN

Santa Barbara Channel

SAN ANDREAS FAULT

SAN ANDREAS FAULT

34 ̊30’

120 ̊00’ 119 ̊30’

SYF

SYF

APF

MRF

RMF

SCF

VF PACIFIC OCEAN

Santa Ynez

Mountains

DOS PUEBLOS CANYON GOLETA SANTA BARBARA CARPINTERIA WHITE LEDGE PEAK MATILIJA

Topatopa

Mountains

San Rafael

Mountains

0

0 5 10 KILOMETERS

5 10 MILES

GARLOCK

Ventura

Santa Barbara

Goleta

Carpinteria

Ojai

Summerland

WESTERN TRANSVERSE RANGES

Santa

Barbara

36°

35°

34°

Current

geologic map 

Current

geologic map 

Minor and others, 2009 

N

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360

Strike azimuth (degrees)

Frequency 0

.05

.1

.15

.2

.25

.3

E dip S dip W dip N dip E dip

0

.02

.04

.06

.08

.1

.12

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360

Rake (degrees)

Frequency

sin nor dex rev sin

FAULT STRIKE DISTRIBUTION FAULT RAKE DISTRIBUTION

n = 29

A MAP-SCALE FAULTS

Figure 5. Structural plots of slip observations of A, Map-scale (plotted on map) and B, Mesoscale 

faults (see database for measurements and coordinates) exposed in map area. Upper circular plots 

are lower-hemisphere, equal-area projections of fault slip surfaces (great circles) and slickenlines 

(points); small arrows attached to points indicate slip sense (strike-slip-dominant faults) or 

hanging-wall movement direction (dip-slip-dominant faults); reverse and normal slip components 

indicated by open and filled points/arrows, respectively; N, north; n, number of fault-slip measurements. Lower histograms show fault strike and rake frequency distributions; frequency axis values 

are scaled to decimal fractions of the total number of measurements; strike azimuths are 90° 

counterclockwise from fault dip directions; rake values range from 0° to 360°, where 0° (=360°) is 

pure sinistral (sin) strike slip, 90° is pure normal (nor) slip, 180° is pure dextral (dex) strike slip, 

and 270° is pure reverse (rev) slip.

N

Frequency

Strike azimuth (degrees)

E dip S dip W dip N dip E dip

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 0

.02

.04

.06

.08

.1

Frequency

Rake (degrees)

sin nor dex rev sin

n = 103

FAULT STRIKE DISTRIBUTION FAULT RAKE DISTRIBUTION

B MESOSCALE FAULTS

0 30 60 90 120 150 180 210 240 270 300 330 360 0

.02

.04

.06

.08

.1

Figure 3. Tectonic and physiographic map of the combined White Ledge Peak and Matilija quadrangles showing faults (black lines) and folds (magenta lines) mapped in this 

study and other major structural features in the vicinity (thick black and magenta lines). Location of town is labeled and marked with white square. The geologic map area is 

outlined in red; structural lines and symbols are the same as those used on geologic map; see map explanation for symbol guide. The digital elevation model (DEM), 

hypsometric tint, and shaded-relief values composing the base map are derived from the U.S. Geological Survey National Elevation Dataset (NED), 10-meter resolution 

elevation data, 2005. 

?

?

?

? ?

? ? ? ? ? ? ?

? ?

?

?

?

ARROYO

PARIDA

ROAD

FAULT

MESA FAULT 

CREEK

FAULT

FAULT

ARROYO PARIDA

LAGUNA 

LA 

DEVILS

VIEW

SULPHUR 

 MOUNTAIN FAULT

Laguna 

Ridge anticline

Ayers Creek syncline

FAULT

FAULT

FAULT

LION FAULT

FAULT VILLANOVA

VISTA

RED MTN 

FAULT

FAULTS

OAK

GULCH

FAULT

RIDGE

FAULT

CHISMAHOO

SHEPARD

RINCON

CARPINTERIA

SANTA YNEZ FAULT

?

?

?

?

?

? ?

?

?

?

Matilija overturn

?

0 3 KILOMETERS

0 3 MILES

1 2

1 2

WHITE LEDGE PEAK MATILIJA

34°30’

119°30’ 119°15’

34°30’

34°27’30”

34°25’

34°22’30”

119°15’

119°17’30”

119°17’30”

119°20’

119°20’

119°22’30”

119°22’30”

119°25’

119°25’

119°27’30”

119°30’ 119°27’30”

34°22’30”

34°25’

34°27’30”

Santa Ana

Valley

Map area border

Map area border

Map area border

Sulphur Mountain

Topatopa

Mountains

Ojai

Valley

Laguna Ridge

Rincon Mountain 

Casitas

Rincon Valley

Point

Santa Barbara

Coastal Plain

Oak

View

Santa Ynez Mountains

Ventura

Coyote

River

Rincon

Lake

Casitas

PACIFIC 

OCEAN

 Creek

Creek

 Creek

S a n Antonio

? ?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

? ?

?

? ? ?

?

Qls complex

Figure 12. View looking south of landslide (Qls) complex on north flank of Rincon Mountain. Landslide deposits, which have slid and flowed downslope in directions indicated by 

arrows, were sourced in mudrocks of the Rincon Shale (Tr) and lower calcareous unit of the 

Monterey Formation (Tml) that underlie upper slopes of Rincon Mountain. White dashed line 

delineates the approximate location of the composite headwall scarp of the slumped area. Figure 11. View looking west of Rincon Creek cutbank exposure of Rincon Creek fault, 

here juxtaposing tilted Pleistocene strata of the Casitas Formation (Qca) in the upthrown 

(left) block against horizontally-bedded upper(?) Pleistocene older alluvial deposits (Qoa) 

and unconformably underlying Casitas deposits (Qca). Fault principal slip surface excavated 

near top of exposure reveals reverse-sinistral oblique-slip kinematic indicators. Dotted line 

indicates the location is concealed. A, away from observer, T, toward the observer.

Figure 14. Panorama looking west-to-southwest across San Antonio Creek valley, of a faulted late Pleistocene alluvial strath terrace (Qia6). Terrace, expressed as gently south-tilted 

“treads” visible along ridge crest in upper center and left parts of photograph, is cut by a series of intervening southwest-striking, south-side-up oblique-reverse faults expressed as 

north-facing slopes or “risers” visible in upper left, center, and right parts of photograph. Lower bench visible on far-right side of photograph and open grassy surface in center foreground 

are younger alluvial terraces (Qia3 and Qia2, respectively) that postdate faulting. 

Figure 13. View looking west of Lion thrust fault exposed in cut bank of Lion Creek near 

central east border of map area. Here fault thrusts Miocene Rincon Shale (Tr) over tar-impregnated Pleistocene conglomerate of Ojai (Qco). Late Pleistocene alluvial terrace (Qia) 

overlies and postdates fault. Pick in center of photograph is about 0.5 m in length. Dashed 

line indicates contact location is approximate.

Qca

A Qca T

Qco

Colluvium

Tr

Qia

Qca

Figure 4. View looking west from west end of Rincon Mountain of eastern part of Santa 

Barbara coastal plain. City of Carpinteria and Rincon Point are visible in right and left center 

of photograph, respectively. Part of extensive landslide complex on south flank of Rincon 

Mountain is visible in lower left part of photograph (area of bright green vegetation). Southwest part of map area includes landscape visible in lower half of photograph.

Figure 6. Close-up photograph of principal fault slip surface, formed in pebbly sandstone 

bed of the Rincon Shale (Tr), preserving carbonate mineral coatings (white patches) that 

were precipitated in the fault zone during its slip history. Slickenside striae (trending 

diagonally across photograph from upper right to lower left), along with distribution of 

mineral coatings preferentially on lower left sides of surface asperities, indicate that missing 

fault block slipped in direction of black arrow. Coin is about 2.5 cm in diameter.

Figure 7. Outcrop of gently dipping beds of conglomeratic sandstone of the Oligocene 

middle conglomerate and sandstone unit (Tspm) of the Sespe Formation. Lake Casitas and 

Laguna Ridge visible in background.

Figure 8. View looking northeast of exposure in Devils Gulch of southeast-dipping beds of 

Rincon Shale (Tr) in footwall block of nearby Devils Gulch fault (not visible here; located 

to right of photograph view). Flat surface covered with grass and shrubs above gulch on left 

side is late Pleistocene intermediate alluvial strath terrace (Qia4) that is also cut by Devils 

Gulch and other subparallel faults.

Figure 9. View looking northeast along hinge of anticline formed in shale and mudstone of 

the upper siliceous unit of the Monterey Formation (Tmu). Fold is exposed in Highway 33 

roadcut in southeastern part of map area about 1.5 km north of its southern border. Pick in 

lower center of photograph is about 0.5 m in length.

Figure 10. Lion Creek cutbank exposure of moderately dipping boulder-, cobble-, and 

pebble-bearing conglomerate of Ojai (Qco) which here unconformably overlies Rincon 

Shale (Tr) with minor angular discordance. Clasts in the middle(?) Pleistocene conglomerate 

of Ojai are mostly derived from the Eocene and Oligocene sedimentary units exposed along 

the south flank of the nearby Santa Ynez Mountains uplift.

Qco

Tr

1 1/ 2 0 1 MILE

SCALE 1: 24 000

1000 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 FEET

1 .5 0 1 KILOMETER

MAP LOCATION

CALIF

Geologic Map of the Southern White Ledge Peak and Matilija Quadrangles, 

Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, California

By

Scott A. Minor and Theodore R. Brandt

2015

CONTOUR INTERVAL 40 and 20 FEET

DATUM IS MEAN SEA LEVEL

Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1:24,000-scale maps Matilija, 1995; White Ledge Peak, 1995

Lambert conformal conic projection. 1927 North American datum 

10,000-foot grid based on California coordinate system, zone 5

1,000-meter Universal Transverse Mercator grid ticks, zone 11 

Shaded-relief base from U.S. Geological Survey National Elevation Dataset (NED) (accessed in 2005 

at http://ned.usgs.gov/) 10-meter resolution elevation data

Publishing support provided by: 

Denver Publishing Service Center

Edit and digital layout by J.A. Herrick

Manuscript approved for publication March 10, 2015

To learn about the USGS and its information products visit

http://www.usgs.gov/ 

1-888-ASK-USGS

This report is available at:

http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3321

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also contains copyrighted materials as noted in the 

text. Permission to reproduce copyrighted items must be secured from the copyright owner.

This database, identified as SIM 3321, has been approved for release and publication by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 

Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise 

the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. 

Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use.

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), no warranty 

expressed or implied is made regarding the display or utility of the data on any other system or for general or scientific purposes, nor 

shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. The USGS or the U.S. Government shall not be held liable for improper or 

incorrect use of the data described and/or contained herein.

Suggested citation: Minor, S.A., and Brandt, T.R., 2015, Geologic map of the southern 

White Ledge Peak and Matilija quadrangles, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties, 

California: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3321, 34 p., 1 sheet, 

scale 1:24,000, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3321.

APPROXIMATE MEAN

DECLINATION, 2015 TRUE NORTH

MAGNETIC NORTH

12.5 ̊ Geology in the map area was mapped by S.A. Minor chiefly in 2007 through 2011. T.R. Brandt assisted in the design and editing of the geographic 

information system (GIS) data used in the database and carried out the database integration. The geologic map is based mainly on new mapping 

from observations and interpretations made at the ground surface or in shallow surface excavations, photo-interpretation of ~1:24,000-scale 

1999 and 2001 color, and ~1:39,000-scale 2002 color-infrared National Aerial Photography Program (NAPP, http://eros.usgs.gov/#/Guides/napp) 

aerial photographs, and new biostratigraphic data. Most of the mapped geology was compiled in ArcGIS by heads-up digitization of linework 

using georectified digital aerial imagery and plotting of point data using GPS-determined coordinates.

ISSN 2329-132X (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3321

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Scientific Investigations Map 3321

Pamphlet accompanies map