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DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS

MODERN SURFICIAL DEPOSITS—Sediment recently transported and deposited in channels and washes, on

surfaces of alluvial fans and alluvial plains, and on hillslopes. Soil-profile development is non-existant to minimal.

Includes:

Qaf Artificial Fill (late Holocene)—Sand, gravel, and bedrock from pits and quarries; mapped primarily

where used for construction of highways and water catchment basins

Qw Active-wash deposits (late Holocene)—Unconsolidated to locally cemented sand and gravel deposits in

active washes of streams and on active surfaces of alluvial fans. Typically shows fresh flood scours and

channel-and-bar morphology. Locally includes small areas of older surficial deposits. Most deposits are

centimeters to a few meters thick

Qf Deposits of alluvial fans (late Holocene)—Unconsolidated to locally cemented, undissected deposits

of gravel and sand that form active parts of alluvial fans. Essentially no pedogenic soil development

Qa Deposits of axial valley floors (late Holocene)—Unconsolidated to locally cemented sand and gravel

deposits

Qc Colluvial deposits (late Holocene)—Unconsolidated to slightly consolidated sandy and pebbly deposits

of hillslopes and base of slopes. No pedogenic soil development 

Qt Talus deposits (late Holocene)—Slightly consolidated to cemented deposits of angular and sub angular

pebbles, cobbles, and boulders that form scree and rubble on hillslopes and base of slopes

Qls Landslide deposits (late Holocene)—Slope-failure deposits that consist of displaced bedrock blocks and

(or) chaotically mixed rubble. Most deposits are probably active or recently active

Qs Undifferentiated alluvial deposits (late Holocene)—Sand and pebble to small- cobble gravel not

assigned to any specific surficial materials unit. Unconsolidated to moderately consolidated. Includes

active wash, colluvium, and valley-filling deposits

YOUNG SURFICIAL DEPOSITS—Sedimentary units that are slightly consolidated to cemented and slightly to

moderately dissected. Alluvial fan deposits (Qyf series) typically have high coarse:fine clast ratios. Younger surficial

units have upper surfaces that are capped by slight to moderately developed pedogenic-soil profiles (A/C to

A/AC/BcambricCox profiles). Includes:

Qyf Young deposits of alluvial fans (Holocene and late Pleistocene)—Slightly consolidated to

cemented, undissected to slightly dissected deposits of unsorted boulders, cobbles, gravel, and sand that

form inactive parts of alluvial fans. Many have unsorted clast and matrix-supported debris-flow fabrics.

Subunits of Qyf generally form a nested series of thin fills that include from younger to older:

Qyf5 Young deposits of alluvial fans, unit 5 (late Holocene)—Sand and pebble-boulder gravel.

Unconsolidated to slightly consolidated; sand is fine to coarse grained. Occupies topographically

highest position relative to other Qyf units

Qyf4 Young deposits of alluvial fans, unit 4 (late Holocene)—Sand and pebble-boulder gravel.

Unconsolidated to slightly consolidated; sand is fine to coarse grained. Differs from Qyf5 and from

Qyf3 by relative topographic position
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Qyf3 Young deposits of alluvial fans, unit 3 (late and middle Holocene)—Sand and pebbleboulder gravel. Unconsolidated to slightly consolidated, sand is fine to coarse grained. Differs from

Qyf4 and from Qyf2 by relative topographic position

Qyf2 Young deposits of alluvial fans, unit 2 (early Holocene)—Sand, silty sand, and granulepebble gravel. Slightly to moderately consolidated; sand is fine to coarse grained. Differs from Qyf3

by relative topographic position and slight differences in degrees of consolidation and average grainsize

and from Qyf1 by relative topographic position and slight differences in average grain size 

Qyf1 Young deposits of alluvial fans, unit 1 (early Holocene and late Pleistocene)—Sand and

pebble-boulder gravel. Slightly to moderately consolidated; sand is fine to coarse grained. Differs from

Qyf2 by relative topographic position and slight difference in average grainsize

Qya Young deposits of axial valley floors (Holocene and late Pleistocene)—Slightly to moderately

consolidated sand and pebble-cobble gravel

Qyc Young colluvial deposits (Holocene and late Pleistocene)—Slightly dissected, slightly to

moderately consolidated deposits of hillslopes and base of slopes

Qyt Young talus deposits (Holocene and late Pleistocene)—Slightly to moderately dissected,

consolidated to cemented deposits of angular to subangular pebbles, cobbles, and boulders that form

scree and rubble on hillslopes and base of slopes

Qyls Young landslide deposits (Holocene and late Pleistocene)—Slope-failure deposits that consist of

displaced bedrock blocks and (or) chaotically mixed rubble. Deposits are probably inactive under current

climatic conditions and under moderate to strong ground-shaking conditions

Qys Young surficial deposits undifferentiated (Holocene and late Pleistocene)—Slightly dissected,

slightly to moderately consolidated deposits

OLD SURFICIAL DEPOSITS—Sedimentary units that are moderately consolidated and slightly to moderately

dissected. Older surficial deposits have upper surfaces that are capped by moderately to well—developed pedogenic soils

(A/AB/B/Cox profiles and Bt horizons as much as 1 to 2 m thick and maximum hues in the range of 10YR 5/4 and 6/4

through 7.5YR 6/4 to 4/4 and mature Bt horizons reaching 5YR 5/6). Includes:

Qof Old deposits of alluvial fans (late to middle Pleistocene)—Sedimentary units that are moderately

consolidated and slightly to moderately dissected. Includes from younger to older:

Qof3 Old deposits of alluvial fans, unit 3 (late Pleistocene)—Slightly to moderately dissected

alluvial fan deposits. Moderately to well consolidated brownish sand, gravelly sand, and granule-boulder

gravel mainly having matrix-supported debris-flow fabrics; lenses of sediment having clast-supported,

imbricated fluvial fabrics are subordinate

Qof2 Old deposits of alluvial fans, unit 2 (late Pleistocene)—Slightly to moderately dissected

alluvial fan deposits. Moderately to well consolidated brownish sand, gravelly sand, and granule-boulder

gravel mainly having matrix-supported debris-flow fabrics

Qoa Old deposits of alluvial—valley floors (late to middle Pleistocene)—Forms low terraces of

gravelly sand

Qot Old talus deposits (late to middle Pleistocene)—Moderately dissected, consolidated deposits of scree

and rubble on hillslopes and base of slopes
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Qols Old landslide deposits (late to middle Pleistocene)—Slope-failure deposits that consist of

displaced bedrock blocks and (or) chaotically mixed rubble. Deposits are probably inactive under current

climatic conditions and under moderate to strong ground-shaking conditions

Qos Old surficial deposits undifferentiated (late to middle Pleistocene)—Moderately dissected,

moderately consolidated deposits

VERY OLD SURFICIAL DEPOSITS—Sediments that are slightly to well consolidated to indurated, and

moderately to well dissected. Upper surfaces are capped by moderate to well developed pedogenic soils (A/AB/B/Cox

profiles having Bt horizons as much as 2 to 3 m thick and maximum hues in the range 7.5YR 6/4 and 4/4 to 2.5YR

5/6)

Qvof Very old deposits of alluvial fans (middle to early Pleistocene)—Sedimentary units that are

moderately consolidated and moderately to well dissected. Includes from younger to older:

Qvof3 Very old deposits of alluvial fans, unit 3 (early Pleistocene)—Moderately dissected. Sandy

pebble-cobble deposits incised into uplifted parts of Qvof2

Qvof2 Very old deposits of alluvial fans, unit 2 (early Pleistocene)—Moderately consolidated to

indurated, sandy, pebble-boulder gravel. Well dissected

Qvols Very old landslide deposits (middle to early Pleistocene)—Slope-failure deposits that consist of

displaced bedrock blocks and (or) chaotically mixed rubble. Deposits of this unit inferred to have

accumulated during Pleistocene uplift of San Bernardino Mountains

Qvos Very old surficial deposits undifferentiated, (late to middle Pleistocene)—Moderately to well

dissected, moderately to well consolidated deposits ranging in grain size from boulders to silt

Qvobc Very old deposits of catastrophic carbonate breccia (early Pleistocene)—Shattered and

fragmented carbonate rock emplaced by mega-landslide processes 

Qvobg Very old deposits of catastrophic granitic breccia (early Pleistocene)—Shattered and

fragmented granitoid rock emplaced by mega-landslide processes. Some highly broken blocks probably

slid almost intact

QTcp Conglomerate, porphyry-bearing facies (Pleistocene? and Pliocene?)—Consolidated to

indurated, interbedded porphyry- and carbonate-clast conglomerate and conglomeratic sandstone; sediment

source from north and south

QTcc Conglomerate, Cushenberry facies (Pleistocene? and Pliocene?)—Consolidated to cemented,

very thick bedded, pebble to boulder conglomerate; most abundant clast type is medium to coarse

grained marble

QTsc Sandstone and conglomerate (Pleistocene? and Pliocene?)—Consolidated pebble to boulder,

marble- and granitic-clast conglomerate interbedded with lesser medium to very coarse grained lithic

arkose; sediment source from south

QTscp Sandstone and conglomerate, porphyry facies (Pleistocene? and Pliocene?)—Consolidated,

lithic, arkosic, and conglomeratic sandstone. Mixed clast composition, but dacitic volcanic clasts

predominate. Interbedded with pebble to cobble conglomerate; sediment source from north
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QTscc Sandstone and conglomerate, Cushenberry facies (Pleistocene? and

Pliocene?)—Consolidated, lithic, arkosic, and conglomeratic sandstone. Chief clast-type is marble.

Interbedded with pebble to cobble, marble-clast conglomerate; sediment source from south

Qtom Old Woman Sandstone, mudrock and sandstone member (Pleistocene? and

Pliocene?)—Arkosic sandstone interbedded with subordinate pebble to boulder conglomerate,

siltstone, and mudstone. Clasts are mainly marble; sediment source from south

Qtos Old Woman Sandstone, sandstone member (Pleistocene? and Pliocene?)—Lithic, arkosic

sandstone interbedded with conglomeratic sandstone and conglomerate; volcanic clasts predominate, but

also has abundant marble; sediment source from north

Ts4 Sedimentary rocks south of Big Bear Lake (Miocene?)—Siltstone, fine- to coarse sandstone,

pebbly sandstone, and minor greenish mudstone. Unit is moderately well consolidated, thin to thick

bedded, locally indistinct stratification. White, pale-brown, and brownish-gray

Ts3 Sedimentary rocks south of Bertha Ridge and John Bull Mountain (Miocene?)—Two distinct

lithologies: (1) Limestone-clast conglomerate. Consolidated to cemented; medium- to thick-bedded;

light- to medium-gray, (2) Siltstone, fine- to coarse-grained sandstone, and pebbly sandstone;white,

brownish-gray, and greenish-gray. Locally includes yellowish-brown sandstone and siltstone near base

(Ts)

Ts2 Sedimentary rocks of Poligue Canyon (Miocene?)—Pebbly and cobbly sand and sandy pebblecobble conglomerate. In Poligue Canyon area unit is brown to reddish-brown, well consolidated,

medium bedded to crudely stratified, and has clasts of metaquartzite and metacarbonate rocks. In

Holcomb Valley area unit is brown and has clasts of granitoid and metasedimentary rock. Forms low

terraces cut into unit Ts1

Ts1 Sedimentary rocks of Holcomb Valley (Miocene?)—Clay-rich conglomerate. Matrix of rock

generally greater than 50 percent, consisting of silt, sand, and angular to round pebbles in clay

submatrix. Clay makes up about 25 to 100 percent of rock matrix. Almost all large clasts are angular

to subrounded white quartzite ranging from boulder to cobble size. Attains 2.5 YR to 10 R hues

locally

KJu Undivided granitic rocks of range front (Cretaceous to Jurassic)—Monzogranite to diorite.

Includes several small noncontiguous bodies that cannot be assigned to larger granitic units in

quadrangle. Fine- to coarse-grained; massive to foliate and lineate. Monzogranite and granodiorite form

homogeneous bodies and resemble nearby Cretaceous rocks; color index generally less than 12.

Monzodiorite and diorite bodies form heterogeneous and homogeneous bodies and resemble nearby

Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks; color index ranges from 10 to 50

KJl Leucocratic granitic rocks (Cretaceous to Jurassic)—Fine- to coarse-grained leucocratic granitic

rocks, chiefly monzogranite; color index typically less than 3. Forms dikes, sills, pods, and small

bodies in many parts of quadrangle, most too small to map. Includes alaskite, pegmatite, aplite, and

heterogeneous monzogranite. Rocks are generally nonfoliate, nonlineate, and spatially associated with

Cretaceous plutons

Kbm Biotite Monzogranite (Cretaceous)—Fine- to coarse-grained granitic rock, chiefly monzogranite.

Forms several noncontiguous bodies west of Bousic, Furnace, and Deep Canyons. Distinguished by

small, sparse potassium feldspar phenocrysts; most potassium feldspar is in groundmass and has pink

hue. Color index ranges from 5 to 10. Biotite is only mafic mineral; unevenly distributed in rock.

Granitic texture; no foliation
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Kb Monzogranite of John Bull Flat (Cretaceous)—Medium-grained biotite monzogranite. Potassium

feldspar more abundant than plagioclase. Distingiushed by uniform grain size (except near borders),

abundant potassium feldspar, low color index, and fine-grained rock in outer part. Color index averages

about 7; biotite is only mafic mineral. Nonporphyritic; has no directional or penetrative fabric.

Probably related to monzogranite of Stanfield Cutoff

Ks Monzogranite of Stanfield Cutoff (Cretaceous)—Biotite monzogranite. Distinguished by consistent

medium to fine grain size, seriate texture, and absence of other distinctive characteristics. Color index

ranges fron 3 to 9. Biotite is only mafic mineral; forms thin crystals in much of unit. Has very finegrained chilled border, which in places contains bipyramidal quartz. Locally has sparse 1.5-cm-long

orthoclase phenocrysts. Texture is hypidiomorphic-granular; rock has no directional fabric

Kbp Monzogranite of Butler Peak (Cretaceous)—Fine- to medium-grained muscovite-biotite

monzogranite. Found in southwest corner of quadrangle, but continues southwestward. Distinguished

by even-grained texture and presence of muscovite. Color index averages 6; biotite is only mafic

mineral. Biotite:muscovite ratio averages 3:1 but varies widely. Texture is hypidiomorphic-granular;

rock has no directional fabric. Highly broken and cut by numerous subhorizontal fractures and gouge

zones probably related to landsliding. Completely surrounded by, grades into, and probably related to

monzogranite of Keller Peak

Kk Monzogranite of Keller Peak (Cretaceous)—Coarse-grained biotite monzogranite; grain size ranges

from very coarse to medium. Irregularly porphyritic; has 2-cm-long, well-formed, scattered

phenocrysts, which, in places are pink. Average color index 9. In eastern part has trace amounts of

hornblende, and in western part has trace amounts of muscovite. Texture is hypidiomorphic-granular;

rock has no directional fabric. Conventional K-Ar age on biotite is 71.1 Ma

Kh Granodiorite of Hanna Flat (Cretaceous)—Coarse-grained hornblende-biotite granodiorite. Irregularly

porphyritic; has 2-cm-long, poorly formed, scattered phenocrysts. Average color index 15 in eastern

part, grading to 10 in western part; concentration of hornblende and sphene decreases from east to west

also. Body probably represents outer part of monzogranite of Keller Peak that was contaminated where

it intruded Triassic Fawnskin monzonite. Conventional K-Ar ages on hornblende and biotite,

respectively, are 70.5 Ma and 71.5 Ma 40Ar/39Ar incremental age on same hornblende sample is 76.5

(R.J. Fleck, written commun., 1996)

Kgc Monzogranite of Greenlead Creek (Cretaceous)—Coarse-grained, leucocratic biotite monzogranite.

Distinguished by low color index, high quartz content, and coarse grain size. Color index averages 5.

Biotite is only mafic mineral, occuring as 3 mm grains and as concentrations of submillimeter grains

interstitial to other minerals. Quartz in 7 mm-long grains makes up 30 percent of rock. Texture is

hypidiomorphic-granular; rock has no directional fabric

KJb Granodiorite of Bousic Canyon (Cretaceous or Jurassic)—Medium-grained hornblende-biotite

granodiorite. Relatively homogeneous with respect to composition and appearance. Color index

averages 16; hornblende:biotite ratio averages 1:10. Contains abundant sphene. Texture is

hypidimorphic-granular; rock has no directional fabric. Conventional K-Ar age on biotite is 70.8 Ma,

but probably represents a cooling age

KJw Mafic granitic rocks of Whiskey Springs (Cretaceous or Jurassic)—Biotite-hornblende diorite

and quartz diorite, and hornblende-biotite diorite and quartz monzodiorite. Fine- to coarse-grained.

Appears to have some spatial relation to Paleozoic carbonate rocks and intermediate composition

Mesozoic plutons. Rocks of this unit have wide compositional and textural range, but are distinguished

from other units by their very high color index. Average color index 45. Unit may include rocks of

more than one period of intrusion
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Jh Volcanic and hypabyssal rocks of Holcomb Valley area (Jurassic?)—Fine-grained, porphyritic

trachyandesite to dacite. Medium to dark gray groundmass of quartz, plagioclase, potassium feldspar,

biotite, opaque minerals, and sericite; contains phenocrysts of plagioclase, orthoclase, and biotite.

Much of rock shows flow banding, but uncertain if unit is extrusive, intrusive, or both

Jcr Cataclastic rocks (Jurassic)—Fine-grained to near-aphanitic cataclastic rocks. Mediun- to dark-gray,

commonly having green tint. Derived primarily from extreme deformation of granitic units. In central

part of zone rocks are very comminuted, nearly aphanitic; grades outward to borders of zone by

appearance of grains and grain aggregates into progressively less deformed rock

Jb Bertha Peak pluton of Cameron (1981) (Jurassic)—Unit as mapped by Cameron appears to be a

composite of two distinct and possibly unrelated igneous types: (1) medium-grained hornblende

monzodiorite to granodiorite, and (2) dark, very fine-grained, hypabyssal quartz diorite to diorite.

Medium-grained rock has 15 to 20 percent quartz and moderate amount of potassium feldspar; very finegrained rock has very little of either mineral. Hornblende from medium grained rock gave a K-Ar model

age of 127 Ma, considered a minimum age (Cameron, 1981)

Jfc Quartz monzonite porphyry of Furnace Canyon (Jurassic)—Biotite-plagioclase-potassium feldspar

porphyry of quartz monzonite composition. Noticably quartz deficient compared to Cretaceous rocks.

Forms two long dike-form bodies at least partly localized along pre-existing faults. Fine-grained

holocrystalline matrix contains 2 to 3 mm phenocrysts of biotite, plagioclase, and potassium feldspar.

Color index averages 4. Dikes are probably related to Jurassic leucocratic quartz monzonite of Crystal

Creek

Jc Leucocratic quartz monzonite of Crystal Creek (Jurassic)—Hornblende-biotite quartz monzonite

and biotite quartz monzonite, ranging to monzonite. Leucocratic. Coarse grained. Distinguished by

low quartz content and presence of hornblende and sphene in most samples. Average color index is 5,

locally as high as 12. U-Pb age on monazite is 151 Ma (J.L. Wooden, written commun., 1997)

Jd Quartz monzodiorite of Dry Canyon (Jurassic)—Biotite quartz monzodiorite, ranging to

monzodiorite. Medium- to coarse-grained. Distinguished by relatively low quartz content and relatively

high color index in a rock having biotite as its only mafic mineral. Quartz content ranges from 3 to 8

percent; color index averages 15. Has wide gradational contact with fine grained rocks of Silver Canyon

(Jsc)

Jdm Deformed monzogranite of hill 4970 (Jurassic)—Porphyritic biotite monzogranite, possibly

ranging to quartz monzonite. Distinguished by very pale pink tectonically rounded phenocrysts of

potassium feldspar in light-gray amorphous-looking groundmass. All minerals have undergone severe

tectonic grainsize reduction

Jsc Fine grained rocks of Silver Canyon (Jurassic)—Pale-gray to medium-gray, very fine-grained

porphyroblastic rock made up predominently of quartz, plagioclase, and potassium feldspar. Inferred to

be metamorphosed mylonitic or cataclastic rocks of possible monzogranite to quartz monzodiorite

composition. Differs from cataclastic rock unit in that recrystallization has erased nearly all traces of

penatrative fabric. Lithic assignment and age very uncertain

Hf Monzonite of Fawnskin (Triassic)—Hornblende monzonite, ranging to quartz monzonite and

monzodiorite. Medium- to coarse-grained, locally porphyritic. Distinguished by very low quartz

content and abundance of hornblende and sphene. Quartz generally less than 5 percent; hornblende

commonly has altered pyroxene cores. Color index averages 18. Smaller, noncontiguous body near

mouth of Deep Canyon is distinctly more leucocratic, having average color index of 10. Zircon U-Pb

age is 231 Ma (J.L. Wooden, written commun., 1996)
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Bird Spring Formation (Pennsylvanian)—Upper part of Furnace Limestone of Vaughan (1922) as

mapped by Guillou (1953), Richmond (1960), Dibblee (1964), Hollenbaugh (1968), and Sadler (1981);

correlated with Bird Spring Formation of southern Great Basin by Cameron (1981) and Brown (1984,

1987, 1991). Five members recognized in quadrangle:

Dbuc Upper Carbonate Member—Generally light-colored, medium- to thick-bedded, medium to coarsely

crystalline calcite marble; locally is pelmatozoan bearing. Typical lithologies include white, gray, or

mottled marble and cherty, silicified marble that are interstratified in packages as much as 12 m thick.

Yellowish- to brownish-gray phyllite is a subordinate rock type

Dbmc Middle Carbonate Member—Medium- to thick-bedded, generally medium- to dark-gray, chert-bearing

calcite marble containing lenses and thin layers of quartz silt and fine sand. Locally pelmatozoanbearing

Dblc Lower Carbonate Member—Medium- to thick-bedded, light-gray to white, medium to coarsely

crystalline, calcite marble containing intermittent layers up to 3 m thick of minor brown-weathering

dolomite marble and (or) siliceous marble horizons and thick- to very thick-bedded, medium- to darkgray calcite marble

Dbsc Siltstone and Carbonate Member—Thin- to medium-bedded olive-green metasiltstone, and orangebrown to gray interbedded chert and metalimestone overlain by heterogeneous light and dark colored

metalimestone and metadolomite that is burrow mottled (?) and locally cherty

Dbq Quartzite Member—Very thick bedded white quartzite

Monte Cristo Limestone (Mississippian)—Upper part of Furnace Limestone of Vaughan (1922) as

mapped by Richmond (1960), Dibblee (1964), and Sadler (1981). Correlated with the Monte Cristo

Limestone of the southern Great Basin by Cameron (1981), and mapped by Brown (1984, 1987, 1991)

who recognized several formal stratigraphic members named originally by Hewitt (1931). Three

members recognized in quadrangle:

Mmy Yellowpine Member—Heterogeneous, medium- to thick-bedded, interlayered, light- and dark-gray,

calcite and dolomite marble

Mmb Bullion Member—Thick- to very thick-bedded, light-gray to white, texturally massive, very pure

bioclastic calcite marble. Grain size varies from fine to coarsely crystalline depending on metamorphic

grade

Mml Lower Member—Interlayered dark-gray and light-gray calcite marble that is thin to thick bedded,

pelmatozoan bearing, texturally massive to mottled, and chert bearing. Includes the Dawn and Anchor

members of the southern Great Basin that could not be differentiated at the map scale

Sultan Limestone (Devonian)—Middle part of Furnace Limestone of Vaughan (1922) as mapped by

Richmond (1960), Dibblee (1964), and Sadler (1981). Cameron (1981) and Brown (1984, 1987, 1991)

correlated rocks in this interval with members of Sultan Limestone of Hewitt (1931) in southern Great

Basin. Three members recognized in quadrangle:

Dsc Crystal Pass Member—Thin- to thick-bedded, white calcite marble having intermittent thin intervals

of dark-gray calcite and dolomite marble. Lower part of unit commonly is irregularly dolomitized and

contains greater number of gray metalimestone layers. White marble layers locally are pyrite-bearing,

and commonly are stained with iron oxide on fracture surfaces and layering surfaces

Dsv Valentine Member—Thin- to very thick-bedded, light-gray, pale-yellowish-brown, and white, finely

crystalline metadolomite that is laminated to texturally massive; some intervals contain lenticular to
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irregular nodules of white to very pale-brown chert. Lithologically resembles Sevy Dolomite of Basin

and Range Province. Is more dolomitic than the type Valentine Limestone Member described by

Hewett (1931)

D s i Ironside Member—Medium- to very thick-bedded, dark-gray dolomite marble that is texturally massive;

locally has thin, white calcite stringers resembling worm tubes

Fn Nopah Formation (Cambrian)—White to light-gray, thin-bedded to very thick-bedded, fine to medium

grained crystalline dolomite that mainly is texturally massive but locally is laminated. Middle part of

Furnace Limestone of Vaughan (1922) as mapped by Richmond (1960), Dibblee (1964), and Sadler

(1981). Much of unit lithologically resembles Smoky Member of upper Nopah Formation as

recognized in southern Great Basin by Christiansen and Barnes (1966); their Halfpint Member of Nopah

is more calcareous than typical rocks in north-central San Bernardino Mountains, but thin bedded and

laminated dolomite units in map area may be lithologic counterparts of flaggy splitting and very thinbedded calcareous Halfpint. Includes:

Fnd Dunderburg Shale Member—Brownish to greenish hornfels, metaquartzite, phyllite, and silty, impure

calcitic and dolomitic marble; lithologically indistinguishable from silty argillaceous marker units in

middle member of Bonanza King Formation. Lower part of Furnace Limestone of Vaughan (1922) as

mapped by Dibblee (1964), Richmond (1960), and Sadler (1981). Correlative with Dunderberg Shale

Member of Nopah Formation as used by Christiansen and Barnes (1966) in southern Great Basin

Bonanza King Formation (Cambrian)—Lower part of Furnace Limestone of Vaughan (1922) as

mapped by Guillou (1953), Richmond (1960), Dibblee (1964), and Sadler (1981). Originally named by

Hazzard and Mason (1936) from exposures in Providence Mountains. In type area, Hazzard and Mason

(1936) recognized five informal subdivisions of Bonanza King Formation. In north-central San

Bernardino Mountains, Bonanza King is variably metamorphosed, but at most places it is subdivided

into informal members. Where not possible to distinguish discrete members, mapped as undivided

Fb Bonanza King Formation, undivided—Dark and light dolomite marble lacking characteristics

diagnostic of specific members

Fbdg Gray dolomite member—Mainly consists of medium- to thick-bedded, medium-gray, texturally

massive to mottled, fine- to medium-grained crystalline dolomite marble and calcareous metadolomite

interlayered with subordinate light-gray to white dolomite marble and calcareous metadolomite

Fbdw White dolomite member—Thin- to very thick-bedded, uniformly white to light gray, texturally

massive to laminated, finely crystalline dolomite marble. This lithology is very similar to dolomite in

the Nopah Formation, and in some structurally complex sequences it is not possible to be certain if

white dolomite outcrops belong to the Bonanza King or to Nopah

Fbm Middle Member—Thin- to thick-bedded, light- to medium-gray, laminated to texturally massive to

mottled dolomite marble and calcareous metadolomite; grain size varies from fine to coarse and sugary.

This member contains two or more mappable intervals a few meters to a few tens of meters thick

consisting of greenish brown and grayish brown metasiltstone, argillite, hornfels, and impure limestone

(Fba). These clastic marker units are lithologically similar to Dunderberg Shale Member of Nopah

Formation, and in deformed sequences of light-colored dolomite containing argillaceous zones it is not

possible to be certain whether rock sequence is middle member of Bonanza King or Dunderberg Shale

Member of overlying Nopah Formation. Argillaceous zones in middle Bonanza King member may

correspond to silty impure carbonate intervals in lower part of Banded Mountain Member of the

Bonanza King in the southern Great Basin (Barnes and others, 1962; see also, Burchfiel and Davis,

1977)
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Fbl Lower Member—Thin- to thick-bedded limestone and calcite marble and subordinate dolomitic marble

and metadolomite; textures vary from texturally massive to mottled to laminated. Color and texture

appear to depend on proximity to bodies of plutonic rock: in Furnace Canyon area and in vicinity of

Bertha Peak, lower-member outcrops surrounded by bodies of Kbm, Kh, and Jb are white, texturally

massive, and recrystallized; elsewhere in Furnace Canyon lower member is light to medium gray, well

bedded, and finely laminated. South of Bertha Ridge lower member is texturally massive and light- to

dark-gray colored. In areas where member is faulted, fractured, or tightly folded, rock is secondarily

dolomitized and difficult to distinguish from other dolomitic members. Probably correlative with

Papoose Lake Member of Bonanza King Formation as used by Barnes and Palmer (1961)

Fc Carrara Formation (Cambrian)—Heterogeneous mixture of interbedded calcite marble, phyllite, calcsilicate rock, schist, and minor quartzite. In general, upper part contains large proportion of carbonate

rock; lower part contains large proportion of phyllite and quartzite. Carrera is equivalent to lower part of

Furnace Limestone of Vaughan (1922) as mapped by Guillou (1953), Richmond (1960), Dibblee

(1964), and Sadler's Furnace Limestone units F1-F3 (1981 and 1982m). Correlated with Carrara

Formation of southern Great Basin by Stewart and Poole (1975, fig. 3), but name first used in map area

by Tyler (1975 and 1979) and Cameron (1981). Latham Shale, Chambless Limestone, and Cadiz

Formation of the Marble and Providence Mountains (Hazzard and Mason, 1936) occupy same

approximate stratigraphic interval as Carrara, but is not possible to map these three distinct formations

in quadrangle

Fz Zabriski Quartzite (Cambrian)—Dense, quartz-cemented quartzite. Distinguished from quartzites of

Cambrian Wood Canyon Formation and Late Proterozoic Stirling Quartzite by purity, lack of feldspar

grains, whiteness, and massive structure. Uniformly white, but some fracture surfaces are stained

yellow, orange or hematite-red by iron oxides. Very pure; quartz is almost only mineral in rock.

Medium- to fine-grained, but contains scattered grains up to 5 mm across which are not aligned to

define bedding. Thick bedded to massive; bedding unrecognizable in many exposures. Locally, unit

contains bedding plane partings of phyllitic argillaceous rock, which may or may not be restricted to a

particular part of formation. Correlated with the Zabriski Quartzite of the southern Great Basin by

Stewart and Poole (1975). Average thickness as calculated from outcrop width is 400 m, but where

exposed, upper and lower contacts are sheared. Variation in thickness in quadrangle is probably due to

faulting and does not represent changes in stratigraphic thickness

Fw Wood Canyon Formation (Cambrian)—Quartzite, quartzose phyllite, and minor calc-silicate rock.

Consists of five subunits that are described here, but not subdivided on map. (1) Lower 15-20m is

black, biotite-rich, quartz-bearing phyllite. Consists of very fine-grained biotite matrix containing

variable amounts of matrix-supported, very fine-grained, angular quartz. Metamorphic tourmaline is

sparse but ubiquitous. Contains locally abundant Scolithus and flaser-laminated zones. (2) Over a few

meters, phyllite grades upward into 20-25m of interbedded coarse-grained quartzite, pebbly quartzite, and

quartzose phyllite. Quartzite is feldspathic, chiefly potassium feldspar. Much of quartzite contains up

to five percent mica and some quartzite is cross-bedded. (3) Relatively uniform lavender-gray, fine- to

coarse-grained, trough-cross-bedded quartzite. In quadrangle to east, subunit is 25-35m thick; in

Delamar Mountain area, subunit appears to be thinner and in part interbedded with rocks similar to

subunit (2). (4) Black, quartzose phyllite. Thickness uncertain due to structural thickening and

thinning. (5) Medium gray and brownish gray, finely interbedded quartzite, phyllite and siltite.

Thickness up to 20m. In Greenlead area, rocks shown as Wood Canyon Formation locally include

structurally interleaved dolomite marble of Bonanza King Formation

Stirling Quartzite (Late Proterozoic)—Part of Saragossa Quartzite of Vaughan (1922) as mapped by

Dibblee (1964, 1982). Lower part of the Chicopee Formation as mapped by Guillou (1953); lower

member of the Chicopee Canyon Formation as mapped by Richmond (1960). Correlated with the

Stirling Quartzite and Johnnie Formation of the southern Great Basin by Stewart and Poole (1975). We

recognize two members of the Stirling Quartzite, an upper member of metaquartzite and a lower

member of metacarbonate rock and quartzite
10

Bsq Quartzite member—Light-gray, yellow-gray, and white feldspathic metaquartzite and conglomeratic

metaquartzite. Approximately lower two-thirds of member is medium- to thick-bedded, poorly sorted,

fine- to coarse-grained feldspathic quartzite containing sparse matrix-supported pebbles up to 1 cm

across. Upper third is medium- to thin-bedded, poorly to moderately well sorted, fine- to mediumgrained feldspathic quartzite. Bedding in this part of member is parallel-planar, weathering slabby, but

current and oscillation ripple-marked surfaces are common. Ripple cross-lamination is faint and

difficult to see. Thickness at Delamar Mountain as calculated from outcrop width is approximately 230

m

Bscq Carbonate and quartzite member—Wavy bedded, light-gray to light-tan-weathering dolomitic

limestone interbedded with medium- and thick-bedded, medium-grained quartzite, laminated to texturally

massive calcite marble, quartz-sand-bearing marble, and calc silicate rock. Poorly and incompletely

exposed, but dolomitic limestone and quartzite appear to predominate. Base not exposed in San

Bernardino Mountains; unit is about 120 m thick in Jacoby Canyon in quadrangle to east

REFERENCES CITED

Barnes, Harley, and Palmer, A.R., 1961, Revision of stratigraphic nomenclature of Cambrian rocks, Nevada Test Site

and vicinity, Nevada, in Short papers in the geologic and hydrologic sciences:: U.S. Geological Survey Professional

Paper 424-C, p. C100-C103

Barnes, Harley, Christiansen, R.L., and Byers, F.M., Jr., 1962, Cambrian Carrara Formation, Bonanza King

Formation, and Dunderberg Shale east of Yucca Flat, Nye County, Nevada, in Short papers in geology, hydrology,

topography: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 450-D, p. D27-D31

Brown, H.J., 1984, Summary of the geology of the north range front of the San Bernardino Mountains, Lucerne

Valley, California, in Kupferman, S., McIver, D., and Morton, P., eds., Major limestone producers of the western

Mojave Desert, California: American Institute of Mining Engineers, 112th Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, Field Trip

Guidebook, p. 12-19

Brown, H.J., 1987, Geologic setting and operations overview, Lucerne Valley limestone mining district, Lucerne

Valley, California, in Pierce, W., ed., 21st Annual Industrial Mineral Conference Proceedings: Arizona Bureau of

Mines Special Report 4, p. 44-54

Brown, H.J., 1991, Stratigraphy and paleogeographic setting of Paleozoic rocks in the San Bernardino Mountains,

California, in Cooper, J.D., and Stevens, C.H., eds., Paleozoic Paleogeography of the western United States-II: Pacific

Section, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, v. 67, p. 193-207

Burchfiel, B.C., and Davis, G.A., 1977, Geology of the Sagamore Canyon-Slaughterhouse

Spring area, New York Mountains, California: Geological Society of America Bulletin,

v. 88, p. 1623-1640.

Cameron, C.S., 1981, Geology of the Sugarloaf and Delamar Mountain areas, San Bernardino

Mountains, California: Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Ph.D.

Thesis, 399 p.

Christiansen, R.L., and Barnes, Harley, 1966, Three members of the upper Cambrian Nopah

Formation in the southern Great Basin, in Cohee, G.V., and West, W.S., Changes in

stratigraphic nomenclature by the U.S. Geological Survey, 1965: U.S. Geological

Survey Bulletin 1244-A, p. A49-A52.
11

Dibblee, T.W., Jr., 1964, Geologic map of the Lucerne Valley quadrangle, San Bernardino

County, California: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations

Map I-426, scale 1:62,500.

-----1982, Geology of the San Bernardino Mountains, southern California, in Fife, D.L., and

Minch, J.A., eds., Geology and mineral wealth of the California Transverse Ranges:

South Coast Geological Society Guidebook no. 10 (Mason Hill volume), p. 148-169.

Guillou, R.B., 1953, Geology of the Johnston Grade area, San Bernardino County, California:

California Division of Mines Special Report 31, 18 p.

Hazzard, J.C., and Mason, J.F., 1936, Middle Cambrian formations of the Providence and Marble

Mountains, California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 47, p. 229-240.

Hewitt, D.F., 1931, Geology and ore deposits of the Goodsprings quadrangle, Nevada: U.S.

Geological Survey Professional Paper 162, 171 p.

Richmond, J.F., 1960, Geology of the San Bernardino Mountains north of Big Bear Lake,

California, with a tabulated list of mines and mineral deposits by C.H. Gray, Jr.:

California Division of Mines Special Report 65, 68 p.

Sadler, P.M., 1981, The structure of the northeast San Bernardino Mountains, California: notes

to accompany 7.5 minute quadrangle maps submitted for compilation onto the San

Bernardino 1°x2° quadrangle: California Division of Mines and Geology Open File

Report, 26 p.

-----1982a, Legend for geologic maps cited in Sadler (1982a-l): California Division of Mines and

Geology Open File Report OFR 82-18 S.F., Plate M.

Stewart, J.H., and Poole, F.G., 1975, Extension of the Cordilleran miogeosynclinal belt to the

San Andreas fault, southern California: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 86,

p. 205-212.

Tyler, D.L., 1975, Stratigraphy and structure of the late Precambrian-early Cambrian clastic

metasedimentary rocks of the Baldwin Lake area, San Bernardino Mountains, California:

Houston, Texas, Rice University, M.S. thesis, 40 p.

-----1979, The Cordilleran miogeosyncline and Sevier(?) orogeny in southern California, in

Newman, G.W., and Goode, H.D., eds., Basin and Range symposium and Great Basin

field conference: Denver, Colorado, Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists and

Utah Geological Association, p. 75-80.

Vaughan, F.E., 1922, Geology of the San Bernardino Mountains north of San Gorgonio Pass:

California University Publications in Geological Sciences, v. 13, p. 319-411.