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Chapter E 

Mineral Resources of the 

Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, 

Kern and Tulare Counties, California 

By MICHAEL F. DIGGLES and ROBERT C. JACHENS 

U.S. Geological Survey 

THOMAS. j. PETERS 

U.S. Bureau of Mines 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1705 

MINERAL RESOURCES OF WILDERNESS STUDY,AREAS: 

SOUTH-CENTRAL CALIFORNIA 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

MANUEL LUJAN, JR., Secretary 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Dallas L. Peck, Director 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names 

in this publication is for descriptive purposes only 

and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government 

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1989 

For sale by the 

Books and Open-File Reports Section 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Federal Center, Box 25425 

Denver, CO 8022 5 

library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data 

Diggles, M.F. 

Mineral resources of the Rockhouse Wilderness Study 

Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California. 

(Mineral resources of wilderness study areas-southcentral California ; ch. E)(U.S. Geological Survey bulletin ; 

1705-E) 

Bibliography: p. 

Supt. of Docs. no. : I 19.3:1705-E 

1. Mines and mineral resources--California-Rockhouse 

Wilderness. 2. Rockhouse Wilderness (Calif.) I. jachens, 

Robert C. II. Peters, Thomas j., 1943- . Ill. Title. IV. 

Series. V. Series: U.S. Geological Survey bulletin ; 

1705-E. 

QE75.89 no. 1705-E. 557.3 s 88-600445 

[TN24.07] [553'.09794'88] 
STUDIES RELATED TO WILDERNESS 

Bureau of Land Management Wilderness Study Areas 

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (Public Law 94-579, October 21, 1976) 

requires the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of Mines to conduct mineral surveys on 

certain areas to determine the mineral values, if any, that may be present. Results must be 

made available to the public and be submitted to the President and the Congress. This report 

presents the results of a mineral survey of the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area 

(CA-010-029), Kern and Tulare Counties, California. 
CONTENTS 

Summary 

Abstract 

El 

El 

Character and setting El 

Identified mineral resources El 

Mineral resource potential El 

Introduction E3 

Location and physiography E3 

Procedures E3 

Previous studies E4 

Acknowledgments E4 

Appraisal of identified resources E4 

Mining and mineral exploration history E4 

Prospects E4 

Mineral resources and economics E7 

Assessment of mineral resource potential E7 

Geology E7 

Paleozoic and (or) Mesozoic metamorphic rocks E7 

Granitic rocks E8 

Volcanic rocks E8 

Quaternary alluvium E8 

Structure E8 

Geochemistry E8 

Methods and background E9 

Results and interpretation E9 

Geophysical studies E9 

Aeromagnetic data E9 

Radiometric data El2 

Gravity data El2 

Mineral resource potential assessment El2 

References cited El3 

Appendixes 

Definition of levels of mineral resource potential and certainty of assessment El8 

Resource/reserve classification El9 

Geologic time chart E20 

FIGURES 

1. Index map showing location of Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare 

Counties, and other wilderness study areas, wildernesses, and roadless areas on the 

Kern Plateau, California E2 

2. Map showing mineral resource potential and generalized geology of Rockhouse 

Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California ElO 

TABLES 

1. Available reports of studies related to wilderness on the Kern Plateau, southern Sierra 

Nevada, California ES 

2. Claims and prospects in and near the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern and 

Tulare Counties, California E6 

Contents V 
Mineral Resources of the 

Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, 

Kern and Tulare Counties, California 

By Michael F. Diggles and Robert C. Jachens 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Thomas J. Peters 

U.S. Bureau of Mines 

SUMMARY 

Abstract 

At the request of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, 

approximately 12,564 acres of the Rockhouse Wilderness 

Study Area (CA-01 0-029) were evaluated for identified 

mineral resources (known) and mineral resource potential 

(undiscovered). In this report, the area studied is referred to 

as the "wilderness study area" or "the study area." Field work 

was conducted in 1986 and 1987 to assess the mineral resources and resource potential of the area. 

The study area contains identified inferred marginally 

economic resources of turquoise at the Blue Gem prospect. 

No gold, tungsten, feldspar, or rare-earth elements are present 

in economic concentrations at any of the properties examined. 

Seven areas have potential for undiscovered mineral 

resources in the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area. In the 

study area, the mineral resource potential for small deposits 

of turquoise is high in the immediate vicinity of the Blue Gem 

prospect, moderate near the Red Knob claims, and low in the 

surrounding area. There is moderate mineral resource potential for tungsten and associated molybdenum and low mineral 

resource potential for barite along the southwest edge of the 

study area. Three zones in the study area have low mineral 

resource potential for minor sulfide deposits: a large zone in 

the center of the study area (silver, arsenic, lead, and antimony), a zone along the ridge on the southeast boundary of 

the study area (silver, lead, antimony, and zinc), and a small 

zone near the south tip of the study area (lead, antimony, and 

zinc). The study area has no geothermal energy or oil and 

gas resource potential. 

Character and Setting 

The Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area is approximately 12,564 acres in size and is 20 mi northeast of the 

town of Lake Isabella, Calif. (fig. 1). The terrain is 

Manuscript approved for publication September 30, 1988. 

generally steep and rugged, with elevations ranging from 

about 3,200 to 7,025 ft. The vegetation includes sagebrush, 

pinon and digger pine, oak, and juniper. Access to the area 

is by California Highway 178 from the south. Most of the 

area is underlain by plutonic rocks of the Sierra Nevada 

batholith. 

Identified Mineral Resources 

Turquoise at the Blue Gem prospect is the only resource that was identified in the study area. Gem quality 

indicates the resource is marginally economic if mined as a 

hobby. However, because of limited exposure and the irregular distribution of gemstones in the host rock, it is not 

possible to quantify the turquoise resources. Feldspar at the 

White Cross prospect, near the study area, may be suitable 

:for many applications, but tonnage is too small to constitute 

a resource. No rare-earth elements or tungsten are present 

in economic concentrations at any of the properties examined. Analyses of samples from two gold prospects, one 

inside and one near the study area, do not indicate the 

presence of gold resources. 

Mineral Resource Potential 

· In the northern part of the Rockhouse Wilderness 

Study Area, the mineral resource potential for small deposits of turquoise is high in the immediate vicinity of the Blue 

Gem prospect, moderate in the immediate vicinity of the 

Red Knob claims, and low in the surrounding area. 

Anomalous concentrations of tungsten, molybdenum, and 

barium are present in panned-concentrate samples collected 

from streams draining the zone underlain by metamorphosed sedimentary rocks along the southwest edge of the 

Mineral Resources of the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California El 
SEQUOIA 

35°30' 

INYO 

Wilderness 

NATIONAL FOREST 

Sacatar Meadows 

Wilderness Study Area ""' 

"r--J ...; ,... ..a ,.. 

I 

,_./ ... / Domeland / 

') 

\ 

I 

(.J 

\,.._ 

( 

lJ 

Wilderness 

and contiguous 

Roadless Areas 

~ Study Area 

r, ,_A.r-, 

APPROXIMATE BOU~DARY OF c., 

ROCKHOUSE' 

WILDERNESS STUDY~R (CA-010-029) f 

L_ ~ rl 

-L._._s i r lr-J 

NATIONAL I 

FOREST l 

~ 0 

AREA OF MAP 

5 10 MILES 

Figure 1. Index map showing location of Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, and other wilderness 

study areas, wildernesses, and roadless areas on the Kern Plateau, California. 

E2 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: South-Central California 
study area; this zone has moderate mineral resource potential for tungsten and associated molybdenum deposits and 

low mineral resource potential for barite. 

Three zones underlain by granodiorite cut by pegmatite 

dikes contain geochemical anomalies of silver, arsenic, 

lead, antimony, and (or) zinc; the anomalies are assumed to ( 

be derived from minor sulfide deposits associated with the 

pegmatite dikes. One large zone in the center of the study 

area has low mineral resource potential for silver, arsenic, 

lead, and antimony. Another zone along the ridge on the 

southeast boundary of the study area has low mineral resource potential for silver, lead, antimony, and zinc. The 

third small zone near the south tip of the study area has low 

mineral resource potential for lead, antimony, and zinc. 

Because the youngest thermal event near the study area 

took place nearly 3 million years ago, the study area has no 

geothermal energy resource potential. The study area is 

underlain by intrusive and metamorphic rocks that are not 

permissive for the formation or accumulation of hydrocarbons; hence the study area has no oil and gas potential. 

INTRODUCTION 

This mineral survey was requested by the U.S. Bureau 

of Land Management and is the result of a cooperative 

effort by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau 

of Mines. An introduction to the wilderness review process, mineral survey methods, and agency responsibilities 

was provided by Beikman and others (1983). The U.S. 

Bureau of Mines evaluates identified resources at 

individual mines and known mineralized areas by 

collecting data on current and past mining activities and 

through field examination of mines, prospects, claims, and 

mineralized areas. Identified resources are classified 

according to a system that is a modification of that described by McKelvey (1972) and U.S. Bureau of Mines and 

U.S. Geological Survey (1980). U.S. Geological Survey 

studies arc designed to provide a scientific basis for 

assessing the potential for undiscovered mineral resources 

by determining geologic units and structures, possible 

environments of mineral deposition, presence of 

geochemical and geophysical anomalies, and applicable 

ore-deposit models. Goudarzi (1984) discussed mineral 

assessment methodology and terminology as they apply to 

these surveys. See appendixes for the definition of levels 

of mineral resource potential and certainty of assessment 

and for the resource/reserve classification. 

Location and Physiography 

The Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area is approximately 12,564 acres in size and is 20 mi northeast of the 

town of Lake Isabella and 50 mi south of Lone Pine, Calif. 

(fig. 1 ). The terrain is generally steep and rugged, with 

elevations ranging from about 7,025 ft at an unnamed point 

near the west boundary to about 3,200 ft in the lower 

Chimney Creek valley. Access to the area is by California 

Highway 178 from the south, Canebrake road from the 

east, and the Long Valley Loop road from the north (fig. 2). 

Vegetation at the higher elevations belongs primarily to the 

Sierran Montane Conifer Forest biotic community of the 

California Floristic Province, while that at the lower elevations belongs to the Great Basin Montane Scrubland biotic 

community of the Great Basin Floristic Province, which 

consists mostly of deciduous scrub, although evergreen 

elements are regularly present and may dominate locally 

(Brown, 1982). The higher country is covered by conifer 

forest (Transition Zone) (Storer and Usinger, 1963), which 

in the study area consists predominantly of pinon pine 

(Pinus monophylla) and includes oak (Quercus spp.), digger pine (P. sabiniana), and juniper (Juniperus spp.). The 

middle elevations are in the Upper Sonoran Zone, where 

some pine is replaced by oak-mainly Arizona white oak 

(Q. arizonica) with canyon live oak (Q. chrysolepis) and 

California black oak (Q. kelloggii) closer to drainages-, 

ceanothus (Ceanothus spp.), manzanita (Arctostaphylos 

spp.), and bush chinquapin (Castanopsis sempervirens). 

The vegetation found in the lower elevations of the study 

area consists of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus spp.). Black cottonwood 

(Populus trichocarpa) and California sycamore (Platanus 

racemosa) grow along the lower drainages. 

Most of the area is underlain by plutonic rocks of the 

Sierra Nevada batholith. The oldest rocks in the area are 

Paleozoic and (or) Mesozoic (see appendixes for geologic 

time chart) metamorphosed sedimentary rocks composed of 

quartz-mica schist and quartzite. Nokleberg (1983) assigned these rocks to the Kings terrane. The metamorphosed sedimentary rocks were intruded by leucocratic, 

nonfoliated Cretaceous granite, alaskite, aplite, and pegmatite. 

Procedures 

The U.S. Geological Survey conducted detailed field 

investigations of the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area in 

the summer of 1986, with follow-up work in the summer of 

1987. This work included geologic mapping at a scale of 

1:24,000, field checks of existing geologic maps, and the 

examination of outcrops for the tungsten-bearing mineral 

scheelite using ultraviolet lamps. Inspection of known 

mineralized zones was conducted in order to assess the 

potential for undiscovered extensions of known deposits. 

A discussion of the methods of geochemical sampling, 

analysis, and interpretation is included in the "Geochemistry" section. 

Sources of data examined by the U.S. Bureau of Mines 

include geologic and mining literature, Bureau of Land 

Management, county, and U.S. Bureau of Mines mining 

claim data, property owners, and field studies. A search 

Mineral Resources of the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California E3 
was conducted for mine and prospect workings and other 

indications of mineralization. Four prospects were examined: two in the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area and 

two within approximately 1 mi of the study area (fig. 2); 49 

samples (33 rock and 16 alluvial placer) were collected in 

the study area and vicinity. All samples were checked for 

radioactivity and scheelite fluorescence. Rock samples 

were prepared for analysis at the U.S. Bureau of Mines 

Western Field Operations Center (WFOC); 30 were analyzed for 34 elements by neutron activation analysis 

(NAA), 10 samples were analyzed for oxide concentrations 

of 13 elements, and 3 samples were examined for selected 

mineral identification by X-ray diffraction at contract laboratories. Pannyd alluvial samples were further concentrated 

on a laboratory-size Wilfley table at WFOC to extract free 

gold and other heavy minerals. Details of the analytical 

data are presented by Peters and Winters (1988). 

Previous Studies 

Smith (1964) compiled the regional geology o( the 

Bakersfield 1° by 2° sheet. The general geology of this 

part of the Kern Plateau was described by Miller (1931, 

1946), Webb (1936), and Miller and Webb (1940). Lawson 

(1906), Wahrhaftig (1965), and Bergquist and Diggles 

(1986b) discussed the geomorphology of the Kern Plateau. 

Other resource-related studies of the area include a discussion of mines and prospects of Tulare County by Goodwin 

(1958). Results of the study of the Rockhouse Basin 

Wilderness Study Area (fig. 1), of which the Rockhouse 

Wilderness Study Area is a part, were summarized by 

Taylor (1984); details were presented by Taylor and others 

(1986). The present mineral resource assessment is the last 

of a series of studies conducted on public lands on the Kern 

Plateau over the past several years (fig. 1, table 1). 

Acknowledgments 

The writers greatly appreciate the cooperation of Gary 

Walker, James Jennings, Maureen Home, John and Clair 

McDowell, and James Boukidis of the U.S. Bureau of Land 

Management who gave support and use of their facilities. 

Fern Shepard of the Sacramento office of the U.S. Bureau 

of Land Management provided a data disk of geochemical 

data from previous studies. Gary C. Taylor of the California Division of Mines and Geology, Sacramento, Calif., 

provided logistical advice and technical information. Elsa 

C. Roscoe, Gerilyn S. Andrews, and Gifford Keith helped 

with the field work. Stephanie L. Jones provided physiographic information. The authors are grateful to Stephan 

R. Smith, owner of the Blue Gem turquoise prospect, and 

John W. Nicoll, owner of the White Cross prospect, for 

showing us their properties and providing much helpful 

information. Allen E. Lombardo, of the Lombardo Turquoise Company, Inc., Austin, Nev., and James E. Shigley, 

of the Gemological Institute of America, Santa Monica, 

Calif., provided expert advice on turquoise. 

APPRAISAL OF IDENTIFIED RESOURCES 

By Thomas j. Peters 

U.S. Bureau of Mines 

Mining and Mineral Exploration History 

The Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area was probably 

prospected for gold during the late 1800's and early 1900's 

when placer gold was mined along the South Fork of the 

Kern River and its tributaries south and southwest of the 

area. Four prospects (fig. 2) and a millsite ruins are situated in the study area and vicinity. The mill was built by 

Chester D. Smith, Thurston Cooper, Richard B. Rogers, 

and Frank Tucker in 1954 in Long Valley, where water was 

available, to service the Rockhouse tungsten prospect about 

2.5 mi north of the study area (Unknown- Tungsten of 

Taylor and others, 1986). It was operational only for 18 

months (S.R. Smith, oral commun., 1987). 

In 1955 the Red Knob gold claims (fig. 2, table 2, No. 

1) were located by Ralph G. Barnett, Richard B. Rogers, 

and Chester D. Smith. The Blue Gem turquoise prospect 

(fig. 2, table 2, No. 3) was discovered and located by 

Chester D. Smith about 1930, but old location papers found 

by Smith on the site dated back to 1914; his son, Stephen 

R. Smith has held the property since 1972. Stephen W. 

Smith, son of Stephen R., established the Little Steve gold 

prospect (fig. 2, table 2, No. 2) in 1975. 

The White Cross feldspar prospect (fig. 2, table 2, No. 

4) is easily identified by a 15-ft-high quartz spire. John w. 

Nicoll, owner, recalls seeing the spire from the southeast 

rim of Chimney Creek canyon whilst herding cattle as a 

boy about 1920. Messrs. Nicoll and Clyde L. Robinson 

located three claims that included the prospect in 1977. 

Prospects 

The Little Steve prospect, in the north end of the study 

area, (fig. 2, table 2, No. 2) is located at the contact between the granodiorite of Church Dome and the Sacatar 

Quartz Diorite of Miller and Webb (1940). A milky quartz 

vein is poorly exposed but appears to dip steeply. The only 

working is a 4-ft by 4-ft by 2-ft-deep pit. Two samples 

were collected; the highest gold concentration is 240 parts 

per billion (ppb), or 0.007 oz gold per ton (oz Au/ton). No 

production has been recorded. 

The nearby Blue Gem turquoise prospect (fig. 2, table 

2, No. 3) is underlain by iron-oxide-stained micaceous 

quartzite. Sky-blue and blue-green turquoise was observed 

E4 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: South-Central California 
Table 1. Available reports of studies related to wilderness on the Kern Plateau, southern Sierra Nevada, California 

[AB, abstract; B, USGS Bulletin; GQ; USGS Geologic Quadrangle Map; MF; USGS Miscellaneous Field Studies Map; MLA, USBM Open-File Report, 

Mineral Lands Assessment; OF, USGS Open-File Report; OP, outside publication; SR, California Division of Mines and Geology Special Report. See 

references cited for complete listing of each report; see figure 1 for location of each area] 

Golden Trout Wilderness: 

Geology: . 

du Bray and Dellinger (1981) ----------------MF-1231-A 

du Bray and Moore (1985) -------------------MF-1734 

Moore and Sisson (1985) ---------------------GQ-1584 

Geochemical data: 

Leach and others (1981a, b, c, d, 

e, f) --------------------------------------------OF 81-752-757 

Geochemical interpretation: 

Goldfarb ( 1981) ---------------------------------Thesis 

Leach and others (1983a, b) ------------------MF-1231-B,C 

Geophysical studies: 

J achens and Elder ( 1983) ---------------------MF-1231-D 

Known mineral deposits: 

Zilka ( 1982) -------------------------------------MLA 52-82 

Mineral resources and resource potential: 

Dellinger and others (1983) ------------------MF-1231-E 

South Sierra Wilderness and South Sierra Roadless Area: 

Geology and mineral resource potential: 

Diggles (1987) ----------------------------------MF-1913-A 

Geochemical data: 

Diggles and others (1986b) -------------------OF 86-359 

Domeland Wilderness and contiguous Roadless Areas: 

Geology: 

Bergquist and Nitkiewicz (1982) ------------MF-1395-A 

Bergquist and Diggles (1986a) ---------------AB 

Bergquist and Diggles (1986b) ---------------OP 

Geochemical data: 

McHugh and others (1981) -------------------OF 81-730 

Motooka and others (1980) -------------------OF 80-918 

Geochemical interpretation: 

Miller and McHugh (1985) ----.---------------MF-1395-E 

Miller and others (1985a, b) --~---------------MF-1395-C,D 

Geophysical studies: 

Jachens (1983) ----------------------------------MF-1395-B 

Known mineral deposits: 

Leszcykowski and others (1982) 

. (Domeland Wilderness) --------------------MLA 36-82 

Spear and McCulloch (1981) · 

(Domeland Addition and Woodpecker 

Roadless Areas) -----------------------------MLA 10-81 

Mineral resources and resource potential:· 

Bergquist and others (1983) ------------------MF-1395-F 

Scodies Roadless Area: 

Geochemical data: 

Sutley and others (1983a) ---------------------OF 83-645 

Known mineral deposits: 

Capstick ( 1983 b) --------------------------------MLA 4 7-83 

Mineral resources and resource potential: 

Harner and others (1983) ----------------------OF 83-510 

Cypress Roadless Area: 

Geochemical data: 

Sutley and others (1983b) ---------------------OF 83-643 

Geochemical interpretation: · 

Chaffee and others (1986) --------------------MF-1532-B 

Known mineral deposits: 

Capstick ( 1983a) --------------------------------MLA 64-83 

Mineral resources and resource potential: 

Kennedy and others (1983) -------------------MF-1532-A 

Rockhouse Basin Wilderness Study Area: 

Geology, mineral resources, and resource potential: 

Taylor (1984) ------------------------------------OP 

Taylor and others (1986) --------------~------- SR 157 

Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area: 

Known mineral deposits: 

Peters and Winters (1988) -.:------------------MLA 24-88· 

Mineral resources and resource potential: 

This report ---------------------------------------B 1705-E 

Sacatar Meadows Wilderness Study Area: 

Geology: 

Diggles and Dellinger (1988) ---------------- AB 

Geochemical data: 

Adiian and others (1987)----------------------0F 87-172 

Known mineral deposits: 

Kuizon ( 1985) -----------------------------------MLA 53-85 

Mineral resources and resource potential: 

Diggles and others (1988) --------------------B 1705-D 

Owens Peak (CA-010-026) Wilderness Study Area: 

Geology: 

Diggles and Clemens (1986) -------------.----MF-1833 

Geochemical data: 

Adrian and others (1986)----------------------0F 86-282 

Geophysical studies: 

Pierce and others (1987) ----------------------OF 87-134 

Known mineral deposits: 

Causey and Gaps (1985) ----------------------MLA 2-85 

Mineral resources and resource potential: 

Diggles and others (1986c) -------------------B 1705-A 

Owens Peak (CDCA-158) and Little Lake Canyon Wilderness 

Study Areas: 

Geology: 

Diggles (1984) ---------------------------------- AB 

Diggles and others (1987) --------------------MF-1927-A 

Geochemical data: 

Detra and others (1985) -----------------------OF 85-034 

Diggles and others (1986a) -------------------OF 86-594 

Known mineral deposits: 

Causey and Gaps (1985) ----------------------MLA 2-85 

Mineral resources and resource potential: 

Diggles and others (1985) --------------------B 1708-B 

Mineral Resources of ·the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California ES 
Table 2. Claims and prospects in and near the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California 

[•, prospect outside study area] 

Map 

No. 

*1 

2 

3 

*4 

Name 

Red Knob 

claims 

Little Steve 

prospect 

Blue Gem 

prospect 

White Cross 

prospect 

Summary 

Iron-oxide-stained quartzite roof 

remnant prospected for gold 

in 1955. One 2-ft-wide 

granitic-pegmatite dike along 

east side of prospect area 

strikes N. 10° E., dips 90°. 

Vein of milky quartz containing 

minor sulfide minerals 

appears to be 4 ft wide and 

strike approximately northsouth. Vein is at contact 

between granodiorite and 

quartz diorite. 

Gem-quality turquoise [CuA16 

(P04 )

4 (OH) • 5H~O] 

occurs in o.l-in.-thick quartz 

vein along contact between 

pegmatite dike trending N. 

10° E. and iron-oxidestained quartzite and within 

zone of argillic alteration 

along joint or fault planes. 

White to pinkish granitic 

pegmatite with banded 

aplitic and milky-quartz 

zones, appears to strike 

northwest and dip 45° NE., 

crops out over more than 

140 ft of strike length. 

Workings and production 

One shallow, 90-ft-long 

bulldozer cut trends N. 

35° E. No production 

recorded or indicated by 

workings. 

One pit, 4 ft by 4 ft by 2 ft 

deep. No production. 

Six small pits and trenches, 

in two clusters (three pits 

each) that are 500 ft apart 

along contact. Limited 

turquoise collecting by 

claimants, but no production. 

One northeast-facing, 20-fthigh cut extends 140 ft 

northwest across outcrop 

area. No production. 

Sample and resource data 

Seven random chip samples of 

quartzite and one 2.2-ft-long chip 

sample across pegmatite dike were 

collected. Analyses range from 

less than 5 to 130 ppb gold. 

Chip sample across the pit and select 

sample; have 5 to 10 percent 

sulfide minerals, mainly pyrite, and 

contain 210 and 240 ppb gold, respectively. 

Seven samples collected. three 

samples identified as turquoise by 

X-ray diffraction; four samples 

analyzed for gold and other metals 

but contain no significant concentrations. Turquoise ranges from 

sky blue ($3.75 per carat) to bluish 

green ($1.25 per carat). Mining 

would be labor-intensive, lowcapital, part-time operation. The 

prospect contains marginally 

economic turquoise resource of 

undetermined quantity. 

Nine chip and two grab samples 

collected and analyzed for gold, 9 

rare-earth elements, and 24 other 

metals, including tungsten; no 

significant concentrations detected. 

Ten samples analyzed for majorelement oxides. Pegmatite 

contains perthitic mixture of 

potassium and sodium feldspar 

minerals constituting about 75 

percent of rock; suitable for many 

modern industrial applications. 

Feldspar occurrence estimated at 

5,000 tons. 

at one small trench within a thin (0.4-in.) quartz vein along 

the contact between a granitic pegmatite dike and metasedimentary rocks. The contact strikes N. 8° E. and dips 72° 

E. Bluish-green turquoise was observed on the dumps of 

five additional small pits and trenches; the workings are in 

two clusters about 500 ft apart (Peters and Winters, 1988). 

Seven samples (four chip and three grab) were collected. 

Turquoise was identified by X-ray diffraction from three 

samples; sample specimens were also evaluated by a 

gemologist and found to be of gem quality. Four samples 

of host rock were analyzed for gold and other metals, but 

they contained no significant metallic concentrations (table 

2, No. 3). No production has been recorded. 

The inactive Red Knob claims, 0.3 mi north of the 

study area (fig. 2, table 2, No. 1), are located within roof 

remnants of iron-oxide-stained micaceous quartzite similar 

to that at the Blue Gem prospect. Metamorphic foliation 

strikes north and dips steeply east. An iron-oxide-stained 

micaceous granitic pegmatite dike that strikes N. 10° E. and 

dips 90° cuts the quartzite and is exposed along the west 

face of a shallow bulldozer trench. Seven samples of 

E6 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: South-Central California 
quartzite and one of pegmatite were collected (table 2, No. 

1). The highest gold concentration in the U.S. Bureau of 

Mines samples is 130 ppb (0.004 oz Au/ton). No production has been recorded, and no resources are identified at 

the Red Knob claims. 

The White Cross feldspar prospect, 0.6 mi east of the 

study area (fig. 2, table 2, No. 4), is a granodioritic to 

granitic pegmatite dike that cuts through medium-grained 

granodiorite and has a quartz-pegmatite zone on the 

hanging-wall side. It was not possible to determine attitude 

directly from the dike, but flow banding indicates the 

pegmatite body strikes northwest and dips about 45° NE. 

Workings consist of one 140-ft-long, northwest-trending 

cut which exposes a 20-ft-high northeast-facing rock face. 

At least 5 of 11 samples of the pegmatite would qualify as 

"sodic feldspar" (more than 7 percent Na2

0). One of the 

pegmatite samples qualifies as "potassic feldspar" (more 

than 10 percent K2

0). Much of the pegmatite either 

contains perthitic or antiperthitic feldspar (table 2, No. 4). 

Mineral Resources and Economics 

Turquoise at the Blue Gem prospect (fig. 2, table 2, 

No. 3) is the only known mineral resource in the study area. 

Although exposures are too poor to estimate the quantity of 

turquoise present, enough material is present in outcrops 

and on dumps to indicate that a marginally economic resource is present. Both sky-blue and blue-green varieties 

are present; blue-green turquoise, although marginally 

economic alone, has value as a by-product. Turquoise from 

the deposit was examined at the Lombardo Turquoise Co., 

Inc., Austin, Nev. Blue turquoise was valued at $3.75 per 

carat and blue-green turquoise at $1.25 per carat (A.E. 

Lombardo, written commun., 1987). Although a large 

mining operation is not likely, profitable mining could be 

carried out as a low-capital part-time hobby-type operation. 

Most domestic gemstone is mined in this way (Pressler, 

1985). 

The Red Knob gold claims, just north of the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area (fig. 2, table 2, No. 1), have 

no significant gold concentrations; the highest concentration was 130 ppb (less than 0.004 oz Au/ton), worth $1.80 

per ton at $450 per oz gold. 

Gold concentrations from the Little Steve prospect 

(fig. 2, table 2, No. 2) are 210 and 240 ppb, or approximately 0.007 oz Au/ton. The lode contains gold worth 

about $3.00 per ton in a setting that would probably require 

underground mining methods costing as much as $100 per 

ton. 

The White Cross prospect, just east of the study area 

(fig. 2, table 2, No.4), is located in pegmatite that contains 

about 75 percent feldspar, much of which is perthitic. 

Although formerly unacceptable, perthitic feldspar is now 

considered suitable for many industrial applications (Potter, 

1985). However, the estimated 5,000 tons of feldspar is too 

small to be considered a resource. Even if a larger tonnage 

is present, which is unlikely, the remoteness of the property 

would make mining and transportation prohibitively expensive. In addition, iron in some samples exceeds 1 percent 

and could make the feldspar unusable. Analyses of 

samples did not reveal economic concentrations of rareearth elements. All samples were analyzed for tungsten 

because of the presence of roof remnants within granitic 

intrusions, a common environment for tungsten occurrences. Most samples have concentrations at or near the 

detection limit of 2 parts per million (ppm) tungsten. No 

economic concentrations of tungsten were observed. 

ASSESSMENT OF MINERAL RESOURCE 

POTENTIAL 

By Michael F. Diggles and Robert C. jachens 

U.S. Geological Survey 

Geology 

The Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area consists dominantly of granitic rocks of the Sierra Nevada batholith. Of 

the three major periods of intrusive activity (Evernden and 

Kistler, 1970) in the Kern Plateau region, only the younger 

two are represented within the study area. The granitic 

rocks intruded and metamorphosed Paleozoic and (or) 

Mesozoic sedimentary rocks that form small roof remnants 

of quartz-biotite-muscovite schist, phyllite, and quartzite. 

The oldest intrusive rocks in the region, situated north of 

the study area, are Triassic and (or) Jurassic in age, rich in 

mafic minerals, dioritic to gabbroic in composition, and 

schistose to gneissic in fabric. In the northern part of the 

study area, a younger Jurassic suite of granitic rocks crops 

out. The Jurassic rocks are commonly more mafic in 

composition and more foliated in texture than two younger 

Cretaceous rock units. Most of the study area is underlain 

by the youngest intrusive rocks in the region, which are 

leucocratic, nonfoliated Cretaceous granitic units. Tertiary 

basalt caps ridges north and west of the study area. Extensive Quaternary alluvium deposits occupy valleys and 

stream channels adjacent to the study area. 

Paleozoic and (or) Mesozoic Metamorphic Rocks 

Metamorphic rocks in the area consist of quartz-mica 

schist, small areas of phyllite and quartzite, and narrow 

areas of marble and barite. Skarn sometimes forms where 

plutonic rocks have intruded calcareous rocks, and one 

such area is present in the study area (Taylor and others, 

1986). These contact-metamorphic zones are important for 

their mineral resource potential. Calcareous metasedimentary rocks are common in outcrops of phyllite and quartzite 

outside the study area. Geochemical evidence suggests that 

additional small unmapped pods of skarn may be present 

Mineral Resources of the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California E7 
\ 

locally in discontinuous roof remnants (roof pendants) 

within the study area. The metamorphic rocks within the 

study area (fig. 2) are correlated with the Paleozoic and (or) 

Mesozoic Kernville Series of Miller (1931). These rocks in 

the region of the study area may be Paleozoic in age 

(Diggles and others, 1987), while those farther west are at 

the young end of this age range or younger (Saleeby and 

Busby-Spera, 1986). 

Granitic Rocks 

The oldest of three suites of plutonic rocks in the 

region consists of two rock units of Triassic and (or) Jurassic age that commonly are schistose to gneissic. The 

Summit Gabbro of Miller and Webb (1940) is dark gray to 

black, coarse grained, and characterized by euhedral phenocrysts of hornblende; exposures rarely exceed 0.7 mF in 

area and are outside the study area. The Sacatar Quaitz 

Diorite of Miller and Webb (1940) crops out in the northeastern part of the study area and consists of a complex of 

related plutons that are generally mesocratic, medium 

grained, equigranular to seriate, and foliated. The composition is highly varied (Diggles and Dellinger, 1988), ranging from quartz diorite through quartz monzodiorite, tonalite, and granodiorite to granite (nomenclature of 

Streckeisen, 1976). The unit locally contains abundant 

mafic inclusions in varied degrees of assimilation by the 

granitic host. The textures range from angular agmatitic to 

schlieric. Three potassium-argon determinations on hornblende give ages of 146.3±4.4 to 144.5±4.3 million years 

(Ma) (R.M. Tosdal, in Bergquist and Nitkiewicz, 1982), but 

these are considered minimum ages, as the hornblende may 

have been partly reset by later intrusions. 

The youngest of the three suites of plutonic rocks in 

the region underlies most of the study area. This suite is 

represented within the study area by two Cretaceous granodiorite units and contains associated alaskite, aplite, and 

pegmatite. In general, these rocks are more leucocratic 

than rocks of the older suites and are nonfoliated. The two 

granodiorite units are the granodiorite of Church Dome 

(Diggles, 1987) and the granodiorite of Lamont Peak 

(Diggles and others, 1987). These two units form part of 

what was called the Isabella Granodiorite of Miller (1931). 

Current usage by most authors is to divide the Isabella 

rocks into informally designated, separate and (or) related 

plutons. 

The granodiorite of Church Dome (Diggles, 1987) is a 

leucocratic, medium- to coarse-grained, seriate to porphyritic granite and granodiorite. It is characterized by large 

(greater than 1 in.) potassium-feldspar megacrysts. The 

unit, which is similar to the Cathedral Peak Granodiorite in 

Yosemite National Park (Bateman and Chappell, 1979), 

underlies most of the Domeland Wilderness (fig. 1) and is 

named for exposures of this granodiorite at Church Dome 

in that area (Bergquist and Nitkiewicz, 1982). This unit 

gives a potassium-argon age of 81.1±2.4 Ma (R.M. Tosdal 

in Bergquist and Nitkiewicz, 1982). 

The granodiorite of Lamont Peak is a leucocratic, 

medium- to coarse-grained, equigranular to seriate rock. It 

is exposed over much of the eastern part of the study area 

as blocky to rounded, massive to jointed outcrops. The unit 

was informally named for exposures in the vicinity of 

Lamont Peak east of the study area (Diggles and others, 

1987). It is generally composed of quartz, potassium feldspar, oligoclase, and varied amounts of biotite and hornblende. Sphene, apatite, zircon, and magnetite are present 

as accessory minerals. Along the southwest boundary of 

the study area, the contact between the two units follows 

the discontinuous metamorphic roof remnants. The tungsten-bearing mineral scheelite is sometimes formed in 

skarn along the contacts between metamorphic roof pendants and granitic intrusions (Cox, 1986). 

Volcanic Rocks 

North and west of the study area, volcanic rocks crop 

out on ridge tops. The volcanic rocks are erosional 

remnants of formerly extensive flows erupted onto a surface of relatively low relief. These remnants are now 

perched on the elevated, dissected Kern Plateau in an area 

of rugged relief (Bergquist and Diggles, 1986a). The volcanic rocks are mostly basalt flows that are dark gray to 

black, medium-gray weathering, massive to blocky, and 

locally banded vesicular to scoriaceous. The basalts locally 

contain quartz xenocrysts, as large as 1.5 in. in diameter, 

and xenoliths, both of which are derived from the underlying granitic rocks. The volcanic rocks are typically olivineaugite-plagioclase phyric basalts. They contain euhedral to 

subhedral microphenocrysts of magnesian olivine (some of 

which are fragmented), greenish, euhedral, zoned, titaniferous augite, and variously resorbed fragments of zoned 

plagioclase. The basalts were extruded during two time 

periods. The older basalts are west of the study area and 

range in age from 12.8±0.7 to 10.6±0.2 Ma; the youngest 

rocks range in age from 2.9±0.1 to 3.9±0.2 Ma and include 

the flows north of the study area (Bergquist and Diggles, 

1986b). 

Quaternary Alluvium 

Alluvial deposits are found in canyon bottoms and 

compose the large fans in the South Fork Kern River valley 

south of the study area. These include modem streamchannel deposits consisting of poorly sorted gravel, sand, 

and silt in channels and flood plains, minor colluvium, and 

older alluvium consisting of dissected Quaternary streamchannel deposits on terraces. 

Structure 

Metamorphic rocks near the southwest boundary of the 

study area have a strong foliation that trends generally 

northwest. These rocks underwent at least two periods of 

uplift associated with major intrusive events (Nokleberg 

and Kistler, 1980). The prebatholithic rocks are considered 

E8 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: South-Central California 
part of the accreted Kings terrane of Nokleberg (1983). 

This terrane is characterized by metamorphosed quartzite, 

arkose, limestone, marl, mudstone, and calcareous sandstone, as well ~ minor metamorphosed volcanic rocks. It 

extends north to the eastern parts of the Kings and Kaweah 

Rivers and was accreted during the Jurassic and Early 

Cretaceous Nevadan orogeny. 

A dominant joint set that trends north-northeast and a 

subordinate joint set that trends west-northwest control the 

morphology of the eroded granitic domes in the Domeland 

Wilderness, just west of the study area En echelon faults 

trend west-northwest across the eastern Kern Plateau, parallel to the subordinate joint set, and control the orientations of the major canyons east of the study area These 

faults are best exposed as shear zones in saddles east of 

Lamont Meadow ( 4 mi east of the study area) and are cut 

at the east margin by the Sierra Nevada range-front fault 

zone along which the range was uplifted. A fault trending 

north-south through Lamont Meadow and just southwest of 

the study area may represent one strand of this range-front 

fault system. 

Geochemistry 

The geochemical data used in this mineral resource 

assessment are part of those gathered for the evaluation of 

the Rockhouse Basin Wilderness Study Area {Taylor and 

others, 1986). 

Methods and Background 

Taylor and others (1986) collected 294 samples, 47 of 

which were in or near the Rockhouse Wilderness Study 

Area. Stream-sediment samples were collected from all 

major streams and tributaries and represent eroded bedrock 

that underlies the drainage basin whence the sediment 

came. Panned concentrates of the sediment were prepared 

and analyzed separately. The panned-concentrate fraction 

may contain minerals related to metallization processes. 

The samples were analyzed for 30 elements by inductively 

coupled argon plasma emission spectrometry (ICP). The 

panned concentrates were also analyzed for gold by a 

combined fire-assay and atomic-absorption technique. The 

analyses were made by Acme Analytical Laboratories Ltd., 

Vancouver, British Colombia; the data were presented by 

Taylor and others (1986). 

J.T. Alfors, R.C. Loyd, M.C. Stinson, and M.A. Silva 

(in Taylor and others, 1986) developed statistical data by 

using the SAS UNIVARIATE procedure (SAS Institute, 

Inc., 1982) and defined levels above which concentrations 

are considered anomalous for the Rockhouse Basin Wilderness Study Area. For the Rockhouse Wilderness Study 

Area, a disk containing the Taylor data was provided by the 

U.S. Bureau of Land Management and further processed. 

The file was transferred to Lotus 123 and compared with 

the data from other U.S. Geological Survey studies on the 

Kern Plateau. New geometric means and geometric deviations were determined for the 4 7 Rockhouse Wilderness 

Study Area samples by using the ST A TP AC statistical 

software for the ffiM-PC (Grundy and Miesch, 1987). For 

gold, any concentration above the "lower limit of determination is considered anomalous. For the other elements, the 

value two geometric deviations above the geometric mean 

is used as the anomalous threshold. 

Results and Interpretation 

The geochemical data suggest four geochemical 

anomalies in the study area Samples collected from 

streams draining the metamorphic roof remnants along the 

southwest edge of the study area contain anomalous concentrations of tungsten, molybdenum, and barium in 

panned concentrates. Two panned-concentrate samples 

collected from streams draining a large zone near the center 

of the study area contain slightly anomalous concentrations 

of silver, arsenic, lead, and antimony. Elevated levels of 

uranium and thorium in those two samples represent the 

normal high background for granitic rocks in the Sierra 

Nevada batholith. Several panned-concentrate samples 

collected from small drainages along the southeast edge of 

the study area contain anomalous concentrations of silver, 

lead, antimony, and zinc. Stream-sediment samples from 

those drainages also contain anomalous copper, lead, and 

zinc concentrations. Panned-concentrate samples collected 

from streams draining a small zone in the southern tip of 

the study area contain anomalous concentrations of lead, 

antimony, and zinc. 

Geophysical Studies 

Three types of regional geophysical data (magnetic, 

radiometric, and gravity) from south-central California 

cover the study area and were examined to aid in the assessment of the mineral resource potential. The substantial 

height of the magnetic survey above the ground surface and 

the sparsely distributed nature of the gravity and radiometric data sets make the geophysical data adequate for addressing the regional geophysical setting of the study area 

but do not permit detailed statements about mineral resource potential at the scale of the deposits. 

Aeromagnetic Data 

An aeromagnetic survey of the study area and vicinity 

was flown and compiled in 1981 by High Life-QEB, Inc., 

under contract to the U.S. Geological Survey. Total-field 

magnetic data were collected along east-west flightlines 

spaced approximately 0.5 mi apart at a constant altitude of 

9,000 ft Corrections were applied to the data to compensate for diurnal variations of the Earth's magnetic field, and 

the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (updated to 

the month that the data were collected) was subtracted to 

Mineral Resources of the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California E9 
c 

D 

X 

Ag 

As 

Ba 

Mo 

Pb 

1 

2 

3 

4 

Area having high mineral resource potential (H) 

Area having moderate mineral resource potential 

(M) 

Area having low mineral resource potential (L) 

Prospect having identified resources 

Levels of certainty of assessment 

Data give good indication of level of potential 

Data clearly define level of potential 

Commodities 

Silver Sb Antimony 

Arsenic Turq Turquoise 

Barite w Tungsten 

Molybdenum Zn Zinc 

Lead 

Claims and prospects 

Red Knob claims 

little Steve prospect 

Blue Gem prospect 

White Cross prospect 

EXPLANATION 

Correlation of map units 

Unconformity 

Unconformity 

Kip I Ked 

Js 

Unconformity 

} QUATERNARY 

} TERTIARY 

I~ 

} 

CRETACEOUS 

JURASSIC 

JURASSIC AND (OR) 

TRIASSIC 

MESOZOIC AND (OR) 

PALEOZOIC 

Cal 

Tb 

Kip 

Ked 

Js 

J'Rs 

MzPzk 

Description of map units 

Alluvium (Quatemary)-Alluvial fan deposits and 

stream deposits of gravel, sand, and silt 

Basalt (fertiary)-Darlc-gray to black, medium-grayweathering, massive to blocky, and locally banded 

vesicular to scoriaceous olivine basalt 2 mi west 

of Long Valley. K-Ar age of 2.9±0.1 to 3.9±0.2 

Ma (Bergquist and Diggles, 1986b) 

Granodiorite of Lamont Peak (Cretaceous)-Leucocratic, medium- to coarse-grained, equigranular 

to seriate granite and granodiorite 

Granodiorite of Church Dome (Cretaceous)-Leucocratic, medium- to coarse-grained, seriate to 

porphyritic granite and granodiorite. K-Ar age of 

81.1±2.4 Ma (R.M. Tosdal in Bergquist and Nitkiewicz, 1982) 

Sacatar Quartz Diorite of Miller and Webb (1940) 

(Jurassic)-Mesocratic, medium-grained, 

equigranular to seriate biotite-hornblende granodiorite having compositions that range from quartz 

diorite through quartz monzodiorite, tonalite, and 

granodiorite to granite. Contains inclusions of 

diorite. K-Ar ages of 146.3±4.4 to 144.5±4.3 Ma 

(R.M. Tosdal in Bergquist and Nitkiewicz, 1982) 

Summit Gabbro of Miller and Webb (1940) (Jurassic 

and (or) Triassic}--Coarse-grained, seriate to porphyritic, mesocratic to melanocratic, poikilitic 

hornblende gabbro. Named for exposures along 

Sierra Nevada crest 

Kernville Series of Miller (1931) (Mesozoic and (or) 

Paleozoic)-Metamorphic rocks including quartzbiotite schist, phyllite, and quartzite. Locally also 

includes marble (mb) and bedded barite (ba) 

Contact-Dashed where approximately located 

Prospect or claims 

Figure 2. Mineral resource potential and generalized geology of Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern arfd Tulare Counties, California. Geology modified from 

Bergquist and Nitkiewicz (1982). Base from U.S. Geological Survey 1:62,500 Lamont Peak and Onyx quadrangles, Calif. Contour intervals 100 and 80 feet. 
yield a residual magnetic field. The data were compiled on 

an aeromagnetic map (U.S. Geological Survey, 1982) that 

primarily reflects the distribution of magnetization in the 

underlying rocks. Because the elevation of the ground 

surface in the study area ranges between about 4,000 ft and 

7,000 ft above sea level, the magnetic data collected at 

9,000 ft above sea level cannot resolve detailed variations 

in magnetization of the underlying rocks. 

The residual magnetic map shows a broad 3-mi-wide 

elongate magnetic high that trends northeast-southwest 

across the center of the study area. This smooth anomaly, 

about 120 nanoteslas in amplitude, is typical of magnetic 

anomalies present over exposures of the granodiorite of 

Church Dome immediately west of the study area (Jachens, 

1983) and probably reflects normal variations in the magnetite content of these granitic rocks. No other prominent 

magnetic anomalies are present on the residual magnetic 

map of the study area. 

Radiometric Data 

An aeroradioactivity survey of the Bakersfield 1° by 2° 

quadrangle, California, was flown and compiled by High 

Life-QEB, Inc., in 1980 under contract to the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the NURE program (U.S. Department of Energy, 1980). Recordings were made of gammaray flux indicative of radioactive isotopes of potassium, 

thorium, and uranium. These data were collected along 

east-west flightlines spaced about 3 mi apart and at a 

nominal height of 400 ft above the ground surface. Three 

flightlines (lat 35°46.3' N., 35°48.4' N., 35°51.0' N.) pass 

over or close to the study area. No anomalies indicative of 

unusual concentrations of any of the three elements were 

observed over the study area (U.S. Department of Energy, 

1980). However, because gamma rays are strongly attenuated during passage through earth material, these data do 

not preclude significant concentrations of the elements 

between the 3-mi-spaced profiles or buried more than about 

2 ft beneath the ground surface. M.M. Bushnell (in Taylor 

and others, 1986) delineated a radiometric anomaly in the 

northwest comer of the study area on the basis of the same 

NURE data. Re-examination for this study, however, led to 

the conclusion that the thorium reading that is slightly 

elevated compared to the immediately surrounding areas 

represents random background fluctuations. In addition, 

most of the anomaly is over alluvium outside of the study 

area and may not suggest a bedrock source. 

Gravity Data 

Gravity data for the study area and vicinity were obtained from Snyder and others (1982). The data are 

sparsely distributed; only one gravity station is within the 

study area, and data outside the area are scattered at 2- to 

4-mi spacing. The data were reduced to complete Bouguer 

anomalies by using standard techniques (Telford and other, 

1976) and further reduced to isostatic residual gravity 

according to the Airy-Heiskanen isostatic model (Jachens, 

1983). 

The study area lies within an east-west-trending gravity trough having typical isostatic residual gravity values of 

-15 to -20 milligals (mGal). The gravity high north of the 

study area probably is caused by the Sacatar Quartz Diorite, 

a granitic rock type that is an average of 0.2 gram per cubic 

centimeter more dense than the granodiorite of Lamont 

Peak that underlies most of the study area (Jachens, 1983). 

The source of the gravity high south of the study area has 

not been studied in detail but probably is mafic granitic 

rock. Gravity values near the study area are comparable to 

gravity values over the granodiorite of Church Dome in the 

Domeland Wilderness immediately west of the study area. 

Mineral Resource Potential Assessment 

There is high mineral resource potential, certainty D, 

for small deposits of turquoise in the immediate vicinity of 

the Blue Gem prospect and moderate mineral resource 

potential, certainty C, for similar turquoise deposits in the 

immediate vicinity of the Red Knob claims, both in the 

north end of the study area. There is low mineral resource 

potential, certainty C, for small, low-grade deposits of 

turquoise in the surrounding several hundred acres that are 

underlain by iron-stained roof remnants. 

The Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area is situated in 

the Sierra Nevada physiographic province, which contains 

the largest concentration of tungsten deposits in the United 

States (Newberry, 1982). The mineral-deposit model that 

is most appropriate to apply in this study area is the tungsten-skarn felsic-plutonic-rock model (Einaudi and others, 

1981; Cox, 1986). The metamorphic roof remnants along 

the southwest edge of the study area are the source of 

geochemical anomalies of tungsten, molybdenum, and 

barium in panned concentrates and contain a mapped occurrence of a small body of skarn (Taylor and others, 

1986). These remnants have moderate mineral resource 

potential, certainty C, for tungsten and associated molybdenum deposits in skarn. 

Barite resources are identified in a large metamorphic 

roof pendant 4 mi north of the study area (G.C. Taylor and 

J.L. Burnett in Taylor and others, 1986). No barite was 

mapped in the roof remnants within the study area, but 

anomalous concentrations of barium are present in pannedconcentrate samples collected from streams draining the 

zone underlain by those remnants. The area of metamorphic roof remnants along the southwest edge of the study 

area has low mineral resource potential, certainty C, for 

barite. 

Three zones within the granodiorite of Lamont Peak 

contain pegmatite dikes that have anomalous concentrations of silver, arsenic, lead, antimony, and (or) zinc in 

panned-concentrate and (or) stream-sediment samples (J.T. 

E12 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: South-Central California 
Alfors, R.C. Loyd, M.C. Stinson, and M.A. Silva in Taylor 

and others, 1986). (1) A large zone near the center of the 

study area has low mineral resource potential with a certainty of C for silver, arsenic, lead, and antimony as minor 

sulfide deposits in pegmatite dikes. (2) A zone along the 

ridge on the southeast boundary of the study area has low 

mineral resource potential with a certainty of C for silver, 

lead, antimony, and zinc as minor sulfide deposits in pegmatite dikes. (3) A small zone near the south tip of the 

study area has low mineral resource potential with a certainty of C for lead, antimony, and zinc as minor sulfide 

deposits in pegmatite dikes. 

The study area has no geothermal energy resource 

potential, certainty level D. There are no volcanic rocks in 

the study area, and the youngest volcanic rocks near the 

study area were dated at 2.9 Ma (Bergquist and Diggles, 

1986b). Blankenship and Bentall (1965) do not show any 

thermal springs, and Higgins (1981) does not show any 

geothermal resources in or near the study area. 

The study area is considered to have no oil and gas 

resource potential (Scott, 1983; Charles Bishop in Taylor 

and others, 1986), certainty level D, inasmuch as it is 

underlain by Cretaceous and older intrusive and metamorphic rocks that are not permissive for the formation or 

accumulation of hydrocarbons. 

REFERENCES CITED 

Adrian, B.M., Frisken, J.G., Diggles, M.F., and Malcolm, M.J., 

1986, Analytical results and sample locality map of heavymineral-concentrate and rock samples from the Owens Peak 

Wilderness Study Area (CA-010-026), Kern and Tulare 

Counties, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 86-282, 19 p. 

Adrian, B.M., Frisken, J.G., Malcolm, M.J., Kelley, D.L., 

Vaughn, R.B., and Taylor, C.D., 1987, Analytical results and 

sample locality map of stream-sediment, heavy-mineral-concentrate, and rock samples from the Sacatar Meadows Wilderness Study Area (CA-010-027), Tulare County, California: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 87-172, 19 p. 

Bateman, P.C., and Chappell, B.W., 1979, Crystallization, fractionation, and solidification of the Tuolumne intrusive series, 

Yosemite National Park, California: Geological Society of 

America Bulletin, v. 90, pt 1, p. 465-482. 

Beikman, H.M., Hinkle, M.E., Frieders, Twila, Marcus, S.M., and 

Edward, J.R., 1983, Mineral surveys by the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines of Bureau of Land Management 

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__ 1987, Mineral resource potential map of the South Sierra 

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Diggles, M.F., Detra, D.E., Tucker, R.E., and Romine, K.A., 

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U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map 

MF-1532-A, scale 1:24,000. 

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South Wilderness Study Area. Tulare and lnyo Counties, 

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53--85, 10 p. 

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data report and geochemical summary for stream sediments, 

heavy-mineral concentrates, rocks, and waters from the 

Golden Trout Wilderness, California: U.S. Geological Survey 

Open-File Report 81-752, 119 p. 

__ 1981 b, Map showing distribution of Ag, Au, and As in 

heavy-mineral concentrates from the Golden Trout Wilderness, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

81-753, scale 1:62,500. 

__ 198lc, Map showing distribution of Cu in stream sediments 

and heavy-mineral concentrates from the Golden Trout Wilderness, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 81-754, scale 1:62,500. 

__ 1981d, Map showing distribution of Pb, Zn, and Ag stream 

sediments from the Golden Trout Wilderness, California: 

U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 81-755, scale 

1:62,500. 

__ 198le, Map showing distribution of Sn in stream sediments 

and heavy-mineral concentrates from the Golden Trout Wilderness, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 81-756, scale 1:62,500. 

__ 1981f, Map showing distribution of Pb and Zn in heavymineral concentrates from the Golden Trout Wilderness, 

California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

81-757, scale 1:62,500. 

__ 1983a. Geochemical map showing anomalous concentrations of selected elements in the nonmagnetic heavy-mineral 

concentrates from the Golden Trout Wilderness, California: 

U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map 

E14 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: South-Central California 
MF-1231-B, scale 1:62,500. 

__ 1983b, Geochemical map showing anomalous concentrations of selected elements in stream sediments from the 

Golden Trout Wilderness, California: U.S. Geological Survey 

Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1231-C, scale 

1:62,500. 

Leszcykowski, Andrew, Morlock, Clayton, and Willett, Spencee, 

1982, Mineral resources of the Domeland Wilderness, Kern 

and Tulare Counties, California: U.S. Bureau of Mines OpenFile Report MLA 36-82, 5 p. 

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results of 78 water samples from Domeland and adjacent 

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Miller, W.J., and Webb, R.W., 1940, Descriptive geology of the 

Kernville quadrangle, California: California Journal of Mines 

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Miller, W .R., and McHugh, J.B., 1985, Map showing distribution 

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Field Studies Map MF-1395-E, scale 1:48,000. 

Miller, W.R., McHugh, J.B., and Motooka, J.M., 1985a, Map 

showing distribution of anomalous concentrations of elements 

in nonmagnetic fraction of heavy-mineral concentrates and of 

uranium in the less-than-0.180-millimeter fraction of selected 

stream sediments, Domeland Wilderness and Contiguous 

Roadless Areas, Kern and Tulare Counties, California: U.S. 

Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map 

MF-1395-C, scale 1:48,000. 

__ 1985b, Map showing distribution of anomalous concentrations of elements in magnetic fraction of heavy-mineral concentrates, Domeland Wilderness and Contiguous Roadless 

Areas, Kern and Tulare Counties, California: U.S. Geological 

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1:48,000. 

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of the heavy-mineral fraction of drainage sediments, Domeland Wilderness and adjacent RARE II study areas, Kern and 

Tulare Counties, California: U.S. Geological Survey OpenFile Report 80-918, 31 p. 

Newberry, R.T., 1982, Tungsten-bearing skams of the Sierra 

Nevada, 1-the Pine Creek mine: Economic Geology, v. 77, 

p. 823-844. 

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1255, 28 p. 

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U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1145, 24 p. 

Peters, T.J., and Winters, R.A., 1988, Mineral resources of the 

Rockhouse study area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California: 

U.S. Bureau of Mines Open File Report, MLA 24-88, 29 p. 

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structure of metamorphic framework rocks, Lake Isabella 

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structural evolution of selected areas, east-central California: 

Geological Society of America Annual Meeting, Cordilleran 

Section, 82d, Los Angeles, Calif., 1986, p. 81-94. 

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available from National Technical Information Service, U.S. 

Department of Commerce, Springfield, VA 22152, PB 

82-168 279, 38 p. [based on Principal facts of about 64,000 

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DF-82/001: 9-track 1/2-in. magnetic tape, PB 82-168 287.] 

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Domeland Addition (5207) and Woodpecker (5206) RARE II 

areas, Tulare and Kern Counties, California: U.S. Bureau of 

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analyses and statistical summaries for samples of rock, minus60-mesh (0.25-mm) stream sediment, and nonmagnetic 

heavy-mineral concentrate, Scodies Roadless Area, Kern 

County, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 

83-645, 19 p. 

Sutley, S.J., Chaffee, M.A., Fey, D.L., and Hill, R.H., 1983b, 

Chemical analyses and statistical summaries for samples of 

rock, minus-60-mesh (0.25-mm) stream sediment, and nonmagnetic heavy-mineral concentrate, Cypress Roadless Area, 

Kern County, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 83-643, 19 p. 

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263-272. 

Taylor, G.C., Loyd, R.C., Alfors, J.T., Burnett, J.L., Stinson, 

M.C., Chapman, R.H., Silva, M.A., Bacon, C.F., and AnderMineral Resources of the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California E15 
son, T.P., 1986, Mineral resource potential of the Rockhouse 

Basin Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, 

California: California Division of Mines and Geology Special 

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1976, Applied geophysics: New York, Cambridge University 

Press, 960 p. 

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Geological Survey Circular 881, 5 p .. 

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GJBX 231(80), v. 2, var~ously paged. 

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Report 82-1083, scale 1:62,500. 

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Bulletin, v. 76, p. 1165-1190. 

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Nevada of California: the northern Kernville quadrangle: 

Pasadena, Calif., California Institute of Technology Ph.D. 

dissertation, 186 p. 

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Mines Open-File Report MLA 052-82, 9 p. 

E16 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: South-Central California 
APPENDIXES 
DEFINITION OF LEVELS OF MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL 

.AND CERTAINTY OF ASSESSMENT 

LEVELS OF RESOURCE POTENTIAL 

H HIGH mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where geologic, geochemical, and geophysical characteristics indicate a geologic environment favorable for resource occurrence, where interpretations of data 

indicate a high degree of likelihood for resource accumulation, where data support mineral-deposit models 

indicating presence of resources, and where evidence indicates that mineral concentration has taken place. 

Assignment of high resource potential to an area requires some positive knowledge that mineral-forming processes 

have been active in at least part of the area. 

M MODERATE mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where geologic, geochemical, and geophysical 

characteristics indicate a geologic environment favorable for resource occurrence, where interpretations of data 

indicate reasonable likelihood for resource accumulation, and (or) where an application of mineral-deposit models 

indicates favorable ground for the specified type(s) of deposits. 

L LOW mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where geologic, geochemical, and geophysical characteristics 

define a geologic environment in which the existence of resources is permissive. This broad category embraces 

areas with dispersed but insignificantly mineralized rock, as well as areas with little or no indication of having 

been mineralized. 

N NO mineral resource potential is a category reserved for a specific type of resource in a well-defined area. 

U UNKNOWN mineral resource potential is assigned to areas where information is inadequate to assign a low, 

moderate, or high level of resource potential. 

LEVELS OF CERTAINTY 

A Available information is not adequate for determination of the level of mineral resource potential. 

8 Available information only suggests the level of mineral resource potential. 

C Available information gives a good indication of the level of mineral resource potential. 

D Available information clearly defines the level of mineral resource potential. 

r 

_.J 

< 

f= 

z 

u.J 

1-

0 

0... 

u.J 

u 

c:t:: 

::) 

0 

V) 

u.J 

c:t:: 

u.. 

0 

_.J 

u.J 

> u.J 

_.J 

A 

U/A 

UNKNOWN POTENTIAL 

Abstracted with minor modifications from: 

B c 

H/B H/C 

HIGH POTENTIAL HIGH POTENTIAL 

M/B M/C 

MODERATE POTENTIAL MODERATE POTENTIAL 

UB L/C 

LOW POTENTIAL LOW POTENTIAL 

LEVEL OF CERTAINTY 

D 

H/D 

HIGH POTENTIAL 

M/D 

MODERATE POTENTIAL 

L/D 

LOW POTENTIAL 

N/D 

NO POTENTIAL 

Taylor, R.B., and Steven, T.A., 1963, Definition of mineral resource potential: Economic Geology, v. 76, no. 6, p. 1266-1270. 

Taylor, R.B., Stoneman, R.j., and Marsh, S.P., 1964, An assessment of the mineral resource potential of the San Isabel National Forest, south-central Colorado: U.S. 

Geological Survey Bulletin 1636, p. 40-42. 

Goudarzi, G.H., compiler, 1964, Guide to preparation of mineral survey reports on public lands: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 64-0767, p. 7, 6. 

E18 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: South-Central California 
RESOURCE/RESERVE CLASSIFICATION 

IDENTIFIED RESOURCES UNDISCOVERED RESOURCES 

Demonstrated Probability Range 

Inferred 

Measured Indicated Hypothetical Speculative 

I Inferred I 

ECONOMIC Reserves 

Reserves 

I 1------------ I ----~----

Inferred 

-~-

MARGINALLY Marginal Marginal ECONOMIC Reserves Reserves 

I - I 

----,----1----------- -~-

SUB- Demonstrated Inferred 

Subeconomic Subeconomic 

ECONOMIC Resources Resources I I I 

Major elements of mineral resource classification, excluding reserve base and inferred reserve base. Modified from McKelvey, V .E., 1972, Mineral 

resource estimates and public policy: American Scientist, v. 60, p. 32-40; and U.S. Bureau of Mines and U.S. Geological Survey, 1980, Principles 

of a resource/reserve classification for minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 831, p. 5. 

Mineral Resources of the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern and Tulare Counties, California E19 
GEOLOGIC TIME CHART 

Terms and boundary ages used by the U.S. Geological Survey in this report 

EON ERA PERIOD EPOCH 

Quaternary 

Holocene 

Pleistocene 

Neogene Pliocene 

Cenozoic Subperiod Miocene 

Tertiary Paleogene Oligocene 

Subperiod Eocene 

Paleocene 

Cretaceous Late 

Early 

Late 

Mesozoic jurassic Middle 

Early 

Late 

Triassic Middle 

Early 

Permian Late 

Phanerozoic Early 

Late 

Pennsylvanian Middle 

Carboniferous Early Periods 

Mississippian Late 

Early 

Late 

Devonian Middle 

Paleozoic Early 

Late 

Silurian Middle 

Early 

Late 

Ordovician Middle 

Early 

Late 

Cambrian Middle 

Early 

Late Proterozoic 

Proterozoic Middle Proterozoic 

Early Proterozoic 

Late Archean 

Archean Middle Archean 

Early Archean 

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (3800?)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

pre-Archean2 

'Rocks older than 570 Ma also called Precambrian, a time term without specific rank. 21nformal time term without specific rank. 

E20 Mineral Resources of Wilderness Study Areas: South-Central California 

AGE ESTIMATES OF 

BOUNDARIES IN 

MILLION YEARS (Ma) 

0.010 

1.7 

5 

24 

38 

55 

66 

r--- 96 

138 

205 

-240 

290 

-330 

360 

410 

435 

500 

1

-570 

900 

1600 

2500 

3000 

3400 

4550 
Minera-l Resources ·of·. '• ~· 

Wilderness 'Study Areas: 

South-Central California 

. This volume_ was published as separate chapters A-CE 

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1705 
.D_~PARTJ\1ENT.:OF· THE INTERIOR . .) ~ 

MAN{JEL .LUJAN,. JR~r S~cretary.··. ·-. 

u.s. GEOLOGICA,L,.SURVEYDall~s-L. Peck,. Director; 
CONTENTS 

[Letter~ designate the separately published chapters] 

·(A} Mineral Resources of the Owens Peak Wilderness Study Area, Tulare a,nd Kern 

Counties, California, by Michael F. Diggles, James G. Frisken, Andrew 'Griscom, 

Herbert A. Pierce, and J. Douglas Causey. · 

(B) Mineral Resources of the Southern Inyo Wilderness Study Area, Inyo County, 

California, by James E. Conrad, James E. Kilburn, Richard J. Blakely, Ch"lrles 

Sabine, Eric E. Cather, Lucia Kuizon, and Michael C. Horn. 

(C) Mineral Resources of the Pinnacles Wilderness Contiguous Wilderness Study 

Area, Monterey and San Benito Counties, California, by Steve Ludington, Karen 

Gray, and Lucia Kuizon. 

(D) Mineral Resources of the Sacatar Meadows Wilderness Study Area, Tulare and 

Inyo Counties, California, by Michael F. Diggles, James G. Frisken, Andrew 

Griscom, and Lucia Kuizon. 

(E) Mineral Resources of the Rockhouse Wilderness Study Area, Kern arid Tulare 

Counties, California, by Michael F. Diggles, Robert C. Jachens, and Thomas J. 

Peters. · 
SELECTED SERIES OF U.S. GEOlOGiCAl SURVEY PUBl~CATiONS 

Periodicals 

Earthquakes & Volcanoes (issued bimonthly). 

Preliminary Determination of Epicenters (issued monthly). 

Technical Books and Reports 

Professional Papers are mainly comprehensive scientific reports of 

wide and lasting interest and importance to professional scientists and engineers. Included are reports on the results of resource studies and of 

topographic, hydrologic, and geologic investigations. They also include 

collections of related papers addressing different aspects of a single scientific topic. 

Bulletins contain significant data and interpretations that are of lasting scientific interest but are generally more limited in scope or 

geographic coverage than Professional Papers. They include the results 

of resource studies and of geologic and topographic investigations; as well 

as collections of short papers related to a specific topic. 

Water-Supply Papers are comprehensive reports that present significant interpretive results of hydrologic investigations of wide interest 

to professional geologists, hydrologists, and engineers. The series covers 

investigations in all phases of hydrology, including hydrogeology, 

availability of water, quality of water, and use of water. 

Circulars present administrative information or important scientific 

information of wide popular interest in a format designed for distribution 

at no cost to the public. Information is usually of short-term interest. 

Water-Resources Investigations Reports are papers of an interpretive nature made available to the public outside the formal USGS publications series. Copies are reproduced on request unlike formal USGS 

publications, and they are also available for public inspection at 

depositories indicated in USGS catalogs. 

Open-Flle Reports include unpublished manuscript reports, maps, 

and other material that are made available for public consultation at 

depositories. They are a nonpermanent form of publication that may be 

cited in other publications as sources of information. 

Maps 

Geologic Quadrangle Maps are multicolor geologic maps on 

topographic bases in 71/2- or 15-minute quadrangle formats (scales mainly 1 :24,000 or 1 :62,500) showing bedrock, surficial, or engineering geology. Maps generally include brief texts; some maps include structure 

and columnar sections only. 

Geophysical Investigations Maps are on topographic or planimetric 

bases at various scales; they show results of surveys using geophysical 

techniques, such as gravity, magnetic, seismic, or radioactivity, which 

reflect subsurface structures that are of economic or geologic significance. 

Many maps include correlations with the geology. 

Miscellaneous Investigations Series Maps are on planimetric or 

topographic bases of regular and irregular areas at various scales; they 

present a wide variety of format and subject matter. The series also includes 7 1/2-minute quadrangle photo geologic maps on planimetric bases 

which show geology as interpreted from aerial photographs. Series also 

includes maps of Mars and the Moon. 

Coal Investigations Maps are geologic maps on topographic or 

planimetric bases at various scales showing bedrock or surficial geology, stratigraphy, and structural relations in certain coal-resource areas. 

Oil and Gas Investigations Charts show stratigraphic information 

for certain oil and gas fields and other areas having petroleum potential. 

Miscellaneous Field Studies Maps are multicolor or black-andwhite maps on topographic or planimetric bases on quadrangle or irregular areas at various scales. Pre-1971 maps show bedrock geology 

in relation to specific mining or mineral-deposit problems; post-1971 

maps are primarily black-and-white maps on various subjects such as 

environmental studies or wilderness mineral investigations. 

Hydrologic Investigations Atlases are multicolored or black-andwhite maps on topographic or planimetri(.. bases presenting a wide range 

of geohydrologic data of both regular and irregular areas; principal scale 

is 1:24,000 and regional studies are at 1:250,000 scale or smaller. 

Catalogs 

Permanent catalogs, as well as some others, giving comprehensive listings of U.S. Geological Survey publications are available under 

the conditions indicated below from the U.S. Geological Survey, Books 

and Open-File Reports Section, Federal Center, Box 25425, Denver, 

CO 80225. (See latest Price and Availability List.) 

"Publlcations of the Geological Survey, 1879- 1961" may be purchased by mail and over the counter in paperback book form and as a 

set of microfiche. 

"Publlcations of the Geological Survey, 1962- 1970" may be purchased by mail and over the counter in paperback book form and as a 

set of microfiche. 

"Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, 1971-1981" may be 

purchased by mail and over the counter in paperback book form (two 

volumes, publications listing and index) and as a set of microfiche. 

Supplements for 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and for subsequent 

years since the last permanent catalog may be purchased by mail and 

over the counter in paperback book form. 

State catalogs, "List of U.S. Geological Survey Geologic and 

Water-Supply Reports and Maps For (State)," may be purchased by mail 

and over the counter in paperback booklet form only. 

"Price and Avallablllty List of U.S. Geological Survey Publications," issued annually, is available free of charge in paperback booklet form only. · 

Selected copies of a monthly catalog "New Publications of the U.S. 

Geological Survey" available free of charge by mail or may be obtained 

over the counter in paperback booklet form only. Those wishing a free 

subscription to the monthly catalog "New Publications of the U.S. 

Geological Survey" should write to the U.S. Geological Survey, 582 

National Center, Reston, VA 22092. 

Note.--Prices of Government publications listed in older catalogs, 

announcements, and publications may be incorrect. Therefore, the 

prices charged may differ from the prices in catalogs, announcements, 

and publications. 
Diggles and others-MINERAL RESOURCES, ROCKHOUSE WILDERNESS STUDY AREA, CALIFORNIA-U.S. Geological