Geologic Map of the Patagonia Mountains, Santa Cruz 

County, Arizona

By Frederick T. Graybeal, Lorre A. Moyer, Peter G. Vikre, Pamela Dunlap, and John C. Wallis

Pamphlet to accompany 

Open-File Report 2015–1023

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2015

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Suggested citation:

Graybeal, F.T., Moyer, L.A., Vikre, P.G., Dunlap, P., and Wallis, J.C., 2015, Geologic map of the Patagonia 

Mountains, Santa Cruz County, Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2015–1023, 10 p., 1 sheet, 

scale 1:48,000, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/20151023.

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)
Contents

Abstract.......................................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................1

Overview of Digital Data Files .....................................................................................................................................3

Spatial Databases ...................................................................................................................................................4

Map Document and Symbolization Files .................................................................................................................4

Description of Map Units .............................................................................................................................................4

Unconsolidated Deposits.........................................................................................................................................4

Bedrock ...................................................................................................................................................................4

Rocks of Middle Alum Gulch................................................................................................................................4

Granodiorite of the Patagonia Mountains.............................................................................................................5

Igneous Rocks of Red Mountain..........................................................................................................................6

Igneous Rocks .....................................................................................................................................................6

Sedimentary Rocks..............................................................................................................................................7

Granite of Cumero Canyon ..................................................................................................................................7

Igneous Rocks .....................................................................................................................................................7

Silicic Volcanic and Sedimentary Rocks ..............................................................................................................7

Volcanic and Sedimentary Rocks ........................................................................................................................8

Acknowledgments .......................................................................................................................................................9

References Cited ........................................................................................................................................................9

Figure

1. Map of mines and deposits of the Patagonia Mountains, Arizona...........................................................................2

Table

1. Description of digital data files in the compressed archive file GIS_PatagoniaMtns.zip ..........................................3
Geologic Map of the Patagonia Mountains, Santa Cruz 

County, Arizona

By Frederick T. Graybeal1, Lorre A. Moyer2, Peter G. Vikre3, Pamela Dunlap3, and John C. Wallis4

Abstract

The Patagonia Mountains contain two large porphyry Cu-Mo systems each with separate 

associated hypogene and supergene zones, two high-grade Cu-Mo breccia pipes, one large 

epithermal Ag-Pb-Zn-Mn deposit, and numerous additional areas of base- and precious-metal 

mineralization all zoned around a Laramide-age composite batholith of intermediate composition. 

Compilations and new work by Vikre and others (2014) have identified as many as eight separate 

intrusive phases of the batholith and five separate hydrothermal events spanning at least 16 m.y., in 

addition to a supergene enrichment event of middle Tertiary age. The geologic map presents a 

spatial context for this important new information that is intended to support further work in this 

highly mineralized region.

Several spatial databases provide data for the geologic map of the Patagonia Mountains in 

Arizona. The data can be viewed and queried in ArcGIS 10, a geographic information system; a 

geologic map is also available in PDF format. All products are available online only at

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151023.

Introduction

The Patagonia Mountains are located 90 km south of Tucson, Arizona, and extend 23 km 

south from the town of Patagonia, Arizona, into Sonora, Mexico (see fig. 1 and map sheet). The 

geology of the Patagonia Mountains and their deposits of metallic minerals are described in 

numerous published and unpublished reports with geologic maps at various scales; however, other 

than Schrader (1915), no detail is available for the U.S. part of the mountain range.

For this publication, the geology of the Patagonia Mountains in Arizona was compiled 

primarily from a geologic map by Simons (1974) from mapping done in 1960–1966 and 1970;

other sources of data included maps by Drewes (1971, 1980), and Graybeal (1973; unpub. data, 

1973) and D.L.E. Huckins (unpub. data, 1975, in Quinlan, 1986). The unpublished data were 

formerly presented as generalized maps in page-size format in Graybeal (1984, 1996) and Quinlan 

(1986). Very little new mapping was performed after 1975, although minor revisions were made 

throughout areas of Mesozoic and early Tertiary rocks and are included in this new geologic map.

 

1

Exploration Management, LLC. 

2Retired, U.S. Geological Survey.

3U.S. Geological Survey.

4

Serrano IT Services, LLC. 
2

On the basis of limited field checking, we caution that the representation of Tertiary and 

Quaternary units on the southwest and west sides of Red Mountain may require further revision.

Spatially referenced data for geology, and a topographic basemap, are provided for use in

version 10 of Esri’s ArcGIS software package, a geographic information system (GIS). Geologic 

data were primarily digitized from the geologic maps; some data were already in a digital format 

(Drewes and others, 2002). Terminology specific to ArcGIS is used throughout this report; a 

dictionary is available online at http://support.esri.com/en/knowledgebase/Gisdictionary/browse

(accessed March 18, 2014).

Figure 1. Map of mines and deposits of the Patagonia Mountains, Arizona. 
3

Overview of Digital Data Files

The spatial data for the geologic components of the map are provided in vector format in a 

projected coordinate system (Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 12, North American datum of 

1927); the topographic basemap is in raster format in the same map projection. Metadata files 

describe the geospatial data.

A list of all the digital data files is provided in table 1. The complete suite of Esri-format 

GIS data is packaged in the compressed archive file GIS_PatagoniaMtns.zip. All files are available 

on the Internet at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20151023.

Table 1. Description of digital data files in the compressed archive file GIS_PatagoniaMtns.zip

File Name File Description

Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF) files

PatMtns_GeoLines_metadata.pdf Metadata for geologic lines

PatMtns_GeoUnits_metadata.pdf Metadata for geologic map units

PatMtns_pyrite_metadata.pdf Metadata for pyrite zones

PatMtns_shear_metadata.pdf Metadata for shear zones

PatMtns_StrikeDip_metadata.pdf Metadata for strike and dip data

PatMtns_TopoMap_metadata.pdf Metadata for topographic base map

Esri files in the file geodatabase PatagoniaMtns.gdb

PatMtns_GeoLines Feature class (lines) for contacts, faults, dikes, and very thin 

geologic map units.

PatMtns_GeoUnits Feature class (polygons) for geologic map units.

PatMtns_pyrite Feature class (polygons) for pyrite zones.

PatMtns_shear Feature class (polygons) for shear zones.

PatMtns_StrikeDip Feature class (points) for strike and dip of planar geologic 

structures.

TopoMap

Raster dataset of topographic base map derived from 1:62,500-

scale topographic maps for Elgin (1958), Lochiel (1948), 

Mount Wrightson (1958), and Nogales (1958).

Esri map document and symbolization files

PatagoniaMtns_Arizona.mxd ArcMap document used for querying and viewing data in a map 

format and for producing customized maps.

Contacts, faults, folds, and linear units.lyr

Symbolization file for patterned lines for contacts, faults, folds, 

and very thin geologic map units, in color, in the feature class 

PatMtns_GeoLines.

Map units.lyr Symbolization file for map units, listed by age, in color, in the 

feature class PatMtns_GeoUnits.

Pyrite zones.lyr Symbolization file for pyrite zones in the feature class 

PatMtns_pyrite.

Shear zones.lyr Symbolization file for shear zones in the feature class 

PatMtns_shear.

Strike and Dip.lyr Symbolization file for strike and dip of planar geologic structures 

in the feature class PatMtns_StrikeDip.
4

Spatial Databases

Several spatial databases are packaged in an Esri file geodatabase (PatagoniaMtns.gdb) and 

are ready to use in an ArcMap map document (PatagoniaMtns_Arizona.mxd). Five spatial 

databases for map units (PatMtns_GeoUnits); geologic contacts, faults, folds, and very thin map 

units (PatMtns_GeoLines); pyrite zones (PatMtns_pyrite); shear zones (PatMtns_shear); and strike 

and dip data (PatMtns_StrikeDip) are stored as feature classes in a feature dataset (Geology) in the 

file geodatabase PatagoniaMtns.gdb. A georectified mosaicked image (TopoMap), derived from 

historical U.S. Geological Survey 1:62,500-scale topographic maps used in part by Drewes (1971) 

and Simons (1974) as basemaps, is also provided in the file geodatabase. Metadata files provide 

information about the spatial databases. Embedded metadata can be viewed in ArcGIS 10; 

metadata are also provided in Portable Document Format files.

Map Document and Symbolization Files

The ArcMap map document PatagoniaMtns_Arizona.mxd provides the ability to view, 

query, and create a variety of maps with map units symbolized by unit name and age, in addition to 

geologic contacts, faults, folds, and other very thin map units. Map symbolization files provide 

predefined map explanations and views associated with each feature class for use within a map 

document.

DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS

Many map units incorporate descriptions from Simons (1974) and include ages provided to him by

S.C. Creasey, R.F. Marvin, and T.W. Stern, as noted. Some map unit descriptions include igneous 

mineral dates from Vikre and others (2014). Locations of mines and deposits referred to in 

descriptions are on figure 1. 

[Figure 1 near here.]

UNCONSOLIDATED DEPOSITS

Qal Younger alluvium and talus (Quaternary)

QTal Older alluvium (Quaternary and Tertiary)

QTg Gravel and conglomerate (Quaternary and Tertiary)—Iron oxide-cemented 

colluvium on pediments west of Red Mountain

BEDROCK

Tl Limestone (Miocene and Oligocene)—Yellowish-gray, fine-grained, wavy-bedded, 

freshwater limestone; 3–4.5 m (10–15 ft) thick

Tt Biotite rhyolite tuff (Miocene and Oligocene)—Light-gray, yellowish-gray, or white,

weakly consolidated, distinctly bedded, pumice lapilli tuff in beds as thick as 7.6 

m (25 ft); mostly pumice lumps 2.5 cm (1 in) or less across; contains abundant

lithic pebbles. At least 45.5 m (150 ft) thick. Unconformably overlies

trachyandesite (Ka). Potassium-argon age of biotite 26 ± 2 Ma and 23 ± 2 Ma

(two localities) and of hornblende, 27 ± 3 Ma (S.C. Creasey, written commun., 

1964); of biotite, 25.3 ± 5.1 Ma (Damon and Bikerman, 1964, p. 71; 1965, p. 

A1-13)

si Silicification (Paleocene)—Alteration. Age about 60 Ma

ROCKS OF MIDDLE ALUM GULCH
5

Tv Volcaniclastic rocks of middle Alum Gulch (Paleocene)—Grayish to white, well 

consolidated and poorly sorted lapilli tuff and tuff breccia, probable crater-fill 

material of the Sunnyside porphyry Cu-Mo system. Contains clasts of Mesozoic 

volcanic and sedimentary rocks and clear quartz xenocrysts in fine-grained,

illite-alunite-kaolinite-altered matrix. Numerous silicified zones. Bedded 

sequences have concentric strike and inward dips

Tib Intrusive breccia of middle Alum Gulch (Paleocene)—Grayish, compact rock of the 

Sunnyside porphyry Cu-Mo system with matrix-supported, angular clasts of 

Mesozoic volcanic and sedimentary rocks cemented by fine-grained quartz and 

other minerals

Tqp Quartz feldspar porphyry of middle Alum Gulch (Paleocene)—White to gray, 

pervasively altered, intrusive porphyry of the Sunnyside porphyry Cu-Mo 

system with 5 percent round, resorbed quartz phenocrysts (up to 2 mm) and 

relict, euhedral feldspar phenocrysts (up to 4 mm), altered to K-mica, illite, and 

kaolinite (sanidine preserved in less altered areas), and set in a fine-grained,

sericite-altered matrix. Locally well-developed flow banding on northwest side 

of volcaniclastic rocks of middle Alum Gulch (unit Tv) may mark a remnant 

flow dome. U-Pb zircon dates of ~60 Ma, and 40Ar/39Ar sanidine date of ~59 Ma

(Vikre and others, 2014)

Tqpx Xenolithic quartz feldspar porphyry of middle Alum Gulch (Paleocene)—White to 

gray, pervasively altered, quartz feldspar porphyry of the Sunnyside porphyry 

Cu-Mo system with up to 50 percent angular clasts of Mesozoic volcanic and 

sedimentary rocks and variably broken, quartz phenocrysts. Rare blocks with 

flow-banding or eutaxitic textures are preserved along northwest contact with 

volcaniclastic rocks of middle Alum Gulch (unit Tv)

GRANODIORITE OF THE PATAGONIA MOUNTAINS 

Tqmp Quartz monzonite porphyry (Paleocene)—Light gray quartz monzonite porphyry, 

grades from a weakly to extremely porphyritic phase of granodiorite (Tg) with 

plagioclase phenocrysts 3–6 mm in length. Pervasively altered to quartz-sericitealunite-kaolinite and other minerals in the Sunnyside porphyry Cu-Mo system. 

Interpreted U-Pb zircon ages and 40Ar/39Ar biotite, hornblende, and plagioclase 

dates of quartz nonzonite porphyry and granodiorite (below) of ~61–59 Ma

(Vikre and others, 2014). Tqmpb indicates brecciated rock

Tg Granodiorite (Paleocene)—Light-gray to gray, medium- to coarse-grained, 

equigranular to weakly porphyritic granodiorite. Contacts with quartz monzonite 

porphyry (Tqmp) appear to be gradational. Potassium-argon ages of biotite 58 ± 

3 Ma (two determinations) and of hornblende, 58 ± 5 Ma (S.C. Creasey, written 

commun., 1963 and 1964); of biotite, 63.9 ± 2.0 Ma (Mauger and Damon, 1965, 

p. AII-1-3). Tgb indicates brecciated rock

Tlp Latite porphyry (Paleocene)—White, flinty, fine-grained latite porphyry with 1–3 

percent rounded quartz phenocrysts

Tbq Biotite quartz monzonite (Paleocene)—Light gray facies of granodiorite (Tg).

Medium-grained, equigranular to weakly porphyritic biotite quartz monzonite 

with 3 percent biotite. U-Pb zircon date of ~64 Ma, and 40Ar/39Ar biotite dates of 

~61–60 Ma (Vikre and others, 2014). Tbqb indicates brecciated rock

Tbg Biotite granodiorite (Paleocene)—Medium gray, medium-grained biotite granodiorite, 

varies to moderately porphyritic with biotite and plagioclase phenocrysts. U-Pb 
6

zircon dates of ~64–63 Ma, and 40Ar/39Ar biotite date of ~60 Ma (Vikre and 

others, 2014)

Tibx Intrusion breccia (Paleocene)—Brecciated roof pendants of Mount Wrightson 

Formation (^m) invaded by biotite granodiorite (Tbg) at north end of exposed 

granodiorite of the Patagonia Mountains

Tsy Syenodiorite or mangerite (Paleocene)—Medium-dark-gray, fine- to medium-grained 

biotite-hornblende syenodiorite or mangerite; locally coarse grained

Tag Biotite augite quartz diorite (Paleocene)—Dark gray, biotite-rich diorite

IGNEOUS ROCKS OF RED MOUNTAIN

Tmp Quartz monzonite porphyry of Red Mountain (Paleocene)—Medium-grained, 

equigranular to porphyritic quartz monzonite, monzonite, and granodiorite of the 

Red Mountain porphyry Cu-Mo system composed of plagioclase and lesser Kfeldspar, biotite and quartz. U-Pb zircon dates of ~62 Ma, and 40Ar/39Ar biotite 

date of ~60 Ma (Vikre and others, 2014)

TKr Rhyolite of Red Mountain (Paleocene and Upper Cretaceous)—White, light-gray, 

yellowish-gray, or pale-red, massive, very fine-grained to sparsely porphyritic 

rhyolite, locally cliff-forming. Extensively altered to quartz, kaolinite, sericite, 

and limonite; locally altered to alunite and zunyite. Outcrops stained with iron 

oxide. Estimated thickness about 457 m (1,500 ft). U-Pb zircon dates of ~70–68 

Ma (Vikre and others, 2014)

TKggt Gringo Gulch Volcanics (Paleocene and Upper Cretaceous)—Intermediate to silicic 

tuff, lava, and volcaniclastic rocks. Light- to greenish-gray latitic tuff and 

biotite-quartz-latitic tuff; some sandy tuff and coarse polymictic conglomerate.

Thickness is at least several tens of meters (hundreds of feet). U-Pb zircon date 

of ~68 Ma (Vikre and others, 2014)

Km Pyroxene monzonite (Upper Cretaceous)—Olive-gray, dark-greenish gray, or lightbrown, medium-grained, porphyritic pyroxene monzonite. Mainly intrusive; 

some thick flows

Ka Trachyandesite (Upper Cretaceous)—Gray, greenish-gray, or grayish-red, porphyritic 

to fine-grained, thin to very thick flows of trachyandesite or doreite; contains 

some rhyodacite or dacite. Maximum thickness about 914 m (3,000 ft).

Disconformably overlies silicic volcanics (Kv). Potassium-argon age of biotite 

from welded tuff at Vaca Ranch, 72.1 ± 3 Ma. (R.F. Marvin, written commun., 

1966), and K-Ar whole rock date of ~71 Ma (Vikre and others, 2014)

r Rhyolite or latite—Irregular masses and dikes of rhyolite or latite; some may be 

highly silicified trachyandesite (Ka)

IGNEOUS ROCKS

Kl Biotite quartz latite(?) (Upper Cretaceous)—Medium-gray to pale brown, porphyritic 

biotite quartz latite(?). U-Pb zircon date of ~71 Ma, and K-Ar whole rock date 

of ~72 Ma (Vikre and others, 2014)

Kv Silicic volcanics (Upper Cretaceous)—Light- to dark- or greenish-gray tuff, welded 

tuff, and volcanic conglomerate and breccia. Locally much altered to quartz, 

sericite, epidote, and pyrite. Thickness is perhaps as much as 457 m (1,500 ft).

Age relations to other Upper Cretaceous rocks in Nogales quadrangle uncertain

la Biotite latite(?)

dp Latitic(?) dike or plug
7

Kpg Porphyritic biotite granodiorite (Upper Cretaceous)—Light-gray, porphyritic biotite 

granodiorite; contains large phenocrysts of pale-pink to white potassium 

feldspar; near Washington Camp. U-Pb zircon date of ~74 Ma (Vikre and 

others, 2014)

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

Kb Bisbee Formation (Lower Cretaceous)—Mainly dark- to light-gray siltstone and 

mudstone, and some sandstone, limestone, and conglomerate; weakly to strongly 

hornfelsed and commonly pyritic. Contains sparse fauna of late Early 

Cretaceous age. As much as 914 m (3,000 ft) thick; top of sequence absent.

Disconformably overlies silicic volcanic rocks (J^v)

ls Limestone—Light- to dark-gray, fine-grained limestone, locally highly fossiliferous

Kbc Conglomerate—Pebble-cobble, epiclastic volcanic conglomerate

GRANITE OF CUMERO CANYON

Jtg Granite of Three R Canyon (Jurassic)—Light-gray, grayish-orange, or yellowishgray, coarse-grained granite. Includes pale-red quartz-perthite granite in Flux 

Canyon area. Average mineral composition 30 percent quartz, 47 percent 

potassium feldspar (commonly perthitic), 20 percent sodic plagioclase, and 3 

percent accessories (mainly biotite, some sphene, zircon, epidote, and allanite).

Pervasively sericitized and pyritized in Mary Kane, Three R, and Cumero 

Canyons and Cox Gulch. Lead-alpha age of zircon, 160 ± 20 Ma (T.W. Stern, 

written commun., 1965). Jtgb indicates brecciated rock

Jcm Porphyritic granite (Jurassic)—Grayish-orange, gray, brownish-gray, or pale-red, 

fine-grained porphyritic granite. Texture commonly cataclastic. Contains some 

coarse granite and syenite. Average mineral composition is 20 percent quartz, 41 

percent perthitic potassium feldspar, 36 percent highly sodic plagioclase, and 3 

percent accessories, mainly biotite. Variably altered to sericite, chlorite, and 

epidote

Jcs Equigranular alkali syenite (Jurassic)—Pale-red, light-gray or grayish-orange, 

coarse-grained, equigranular alkali syenite. Average mineral composition 51 

percent perthitic potassium feldspar, 40 percent highly sodic plagioclase, and 9 

percent accessories, mostly chlorite and quartz. Lead-alpha age of zircon, 150 ± 

20 Ma (T.W. Stern, written commun., 1965). Jcsb indicates brecciated rock

Jcg Equigranular granite (Jurassic). Jcgb indicates brecciated rock

IGNEOUS ROCKS

Jhm Hornblende monzonite of European Canyon (Jurassic)—Medium-gray, mediumgrained hornblende monzonite in European mine area. Mineral composition 15 

percent quartz, 24 percent potassium feldspar, 42 percent sodic plagioclase, 11 

percent hornblende, and 8 percent accessories, mainly chlorite. U-Pb zircon date 

of ~173 Ma (Vikre and others, 2014)

SILICIC VOLCANIC AND SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

J^v Volcanic rocks (Jurassic or Triassic)—Light-colored rhyolitic, alkali rhyolitic, and 

quartz latitic lava, tuff, and welded tuff; locally much altered to sericite, epidote, 

carbonate, and chlorite, or strongly hornfelsed. Thickness uncertain but probably 
8

more than 1,829 m (6,000 ft)

d Diorite dike

ha Hornblende andesite dike and (or) plug

tr Porphyritic trachyte dike

b Volcanic breccia

s Sedimentary rocks—Light- to dark-gray sandstone and grit, commonly somewhat 

feldspathic with sericitic matrix; green to greenish-brown tuffaceous siltstone 

and shale. Variably replaced by epidote and tourmaline

cg Limestone conglomerate

qz Quartzite

ls Exotic blocks of upper Paleozoic limestone

w Rhyolitic welded(?) tuff

lp Latite(?) porphyry—May be extrusive in part

J^vs Volcanic and sedimentary rocks (Jurassic or Triassic)—Red volcanic conglomerate, 

sandstone, and siltstone; red to gray latitic or dacitic tuff and welded tuff; and 

minor amounts of rhyolitic to dacitic lava. At least 610 m (2,000 ft) thick; base 

not exposed

VOLCANIC AND SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

^m Mount Wrightson Formation (Triassic)—Mainly light-gray to pale-red rhyolitic to 

latitic lava and tuff; some tuffaceous sandstone or grit. Locally metamorphosed 

to hornfels. Commonly highly altered to quartz, sericite, kaolinite, alunite, 

tourmaline, and pyrophyllite. Unconformably overlies Concha Limestone (Pcn).

Thickness is probably 610 m (2,000 ft) or more

q Quartzite

a Biotite(?)-albite andesite lava(?)

t Coarse volcaniclastic beds

^ms Sedimentary rocks —Mostly arkose

Pcn Concha Limestone (lower Permian)—Gray to light-gray, fine-grained, medium- to 

thick-bedded limestone with lenses and nodules of chert. About 155 m (510 ft) 

thick

Ps Scherrer Formation (lower Permian)—Brownish-gray to gray, massive, sandy 

limestone and white to light-brownish-gray, fine-grained sandstone. About 46 m 

(150 ft) thick

Pe Epitaph Dolomite (lower Permian)—Gray fine-grained, thick-bedded limestone, silty 

limestone, gray dolomitic limestone, lesser sandstone and conglomerate, and 

sparse pods of chert and quartz. About 262 m (860 ft) thick

Pc Colina Limestone (lower Permian)—Gray to dark-gray, fine-grained, and medium- to 

thin-bedded limestone and thin beds of dolomite. About 72–104 m (235–340 ft) 

thick

P*e Earp Formation (lower Permian and Upper Pennsylvanian)—Gray, light-gray, or 

pink thin-bedded to massive, sandy to silty limestone and dolomitic limestone, 

and lesser dolomite, chert and limestone conglomerate, and sandstone. About 

229 m (750 ft) thick

*h Horquilla Limestone (Upper and Middle Pennsylvanian)—Light-gray, gray, or 

pinkish-gray, fine- to coarse-grained, medium-bedded limestone and lesser 

dolomitic limestone and brown to maroon thin-bedded limestone. About 82 m 

(270 ft) thick. Unconformably overlies Escabrosa Limestone (unit Me)
9

Me Escabrosa Limestone (Upper and Lower Mississippian)—Light-gray, coarse- to 

fine-grained, thick- to thin-bedded cherty limestone and lesser dolomitic 

limestone. About 142 m (465 ft) thick. Disconformably overlies Martin 

Limestone (unit Dm)

Dm Martin Limestone (Upper Devonian)—Gray, brownish-gray, or pink, coarse- to finegrained, thin- to thick-bedded dolomite and dolomitic limestone. About 72 m 

(235 ft) thick. Disconformably overlies Abrigo Limestone (unit _a)

_a Abrigo Limestone (Upper and Middle Cambrian)—Gray, brown, or purple coarsegrained, thick- to thin-bedded limestone, dolomitic limestone, silty limestone, 

and lesser limestone conglomerate. About 259 m (850 ft) thick

_b Bolsa Quartzite (Middle Cambrian)—Brown to light-gray, gritty to pebbly quartzite, 

and lesser sandstone. About 72–81 m (235–265 ft) thick. Unconformably 

overlies biotite quartz monzonite (unit p_m), and hornblende diorite (unit p_d)

p_q Biotite or biotite-hornblende quartz monzonite (Precambrian?)—Light-gray to 

pale-red, coarse porphyritic quartz monzonite and lesser granodiorite

p_h Hornblende-rich metamorphic and igneous rocks (Precambrian?)—Greenish-gray 

to dark-gray, fine- to medium-grained, granular to schistose rocks composed of 

hornblende, labradorite, and lesser biotite and augite with accessory sphene, 

quartz, apatite, epidote, and opaque minerals

p_m Biotite quartz monzonite (Precambrian)—Light- to light-brownish-gray, porphyritic 

quartz monzonite

p_d Hornblende diorite (Precambrian)—Dark greenish-gray, medium-grained,

equigranular diorite

Acknowledgments

We thank David A. John, Alan R. Wallace, and J. Douglas Causey for their thoughtful 

reviews of the manuscript and GIS. Robert J. Miller graciously prepared the basemap; he filtered

out the unwanted color from digital images of historic topographic maps and mosaicked them 

together into a single georectified image which he transformed to the North American datum of

1927 .

References Cited

Damon, P.E., and Bikerman, M., 1964, Potassium-argon dating of post-Laramide plutonic and 

volcanic rocks within the Basin and Range province of southeastern Arizona and adjacent areas: 

Arizona Geological Society Digest, v. 7, p. 63–78.

Damon, P.E., and Bikerman, M., 1965, K-Ar dating of post-Laramide plutonic and volcanic rocks 

within the Basin and Range province of southeastern Arizona and adjacent areas, in Damon, 

P.E., compiler, Correlation and chronology of ore deposits and volcanic rocks: Tucson, 

University of Arizona, Geochronology Laboratories, Annual Progress Report no. COO-689-50, 

Contract AT(11-1)-689 to Research Division, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, p. AI-1–17.

Drewes, H., 1971, Geologic map of the Mount Wrightson quadrangle, southeast of Tucson, Santa 

Cruz and Pima Counties, Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic 

Investigations Map I-614, scale 1:48,000. (Also available at 

http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_9405.htm.)

Drewes, H., 1980, Tectonic map of southeast Arizona: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous 

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10

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