Kmh

qb

Kmh

Kmh

Qal

qb

qb

Kmh

Qt

m m Qal

m

m

m

Qal

m

m

qbcs

Kbc

qb

qb

Kmr

Kmr

Kmr

Kcm

Kmr

Kcm

cs

q cs

cs

q

mm

Kd

Kd Kd

q

qb

qb

qbcs

Kd

m Qal

m Kd

Kss

qb

qbcs

Kfp

Qls

Kfp

m

Kd

Kmr

qb

qb

m

70

75

70

75

75

38

40 74

44

78

65 65

75

80

60 70 85

40

80

74

68

80

85

70 75

65

80

80

87

85

85

85

80

80

75

85

70

75

80 50

80

85

70

55

85

84

80

80

85 87

85

85

85

70

85

80

75

80

45

75

60 80

80

75

60 65

83

80 75

80

85

65

70 55 75

55

45

75

65

75

70

85

75

70

75

75

75

65

75

85

85

80

75

50

50

60

15

20

45

85

85 86

55

60

65

80

65

85

85

70 80

55

74

82

86

75

65

85

75

80

82

80 75

70

qb

qb

m

m

Kcc

Kcc

qb

qb

m

m

Kd

Kd

Kmr

Kfp qb m

Kd

m

Kcm

mrd

qb

Kmh

Kmh

36°18'45"

118o52’30” 118o48’45” 118o45’

36o30’

36o26’15”

36o22’30”

36o18’45”

36o15’

118o48’45” 118o45’ 118o52’30”

36o26’15”

119o

36o30’

118o56’15”

119o 118o56’15”

36o15’

36o22’30”

DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS

SURFICIAL DEPOSITS

 

GRANITIC ROCKS

DARK-COLORED ROCKS

[Generally more than 15 percent dark minerals]

MEDIUM-COLORED ROCKS

LIGHT-COLORED ROCKS

KJgd Sheared granodiorite (Cretaceous or Jurassic)—Schistose dark granodiorite near northeast 

corner of map area; cut by schistose mafic dikes. Unit is correlative with Jurassic-Triassic 

sheared granodiorite in the Triple Divide Peak 15’ quadrangle (Moore and Sisson, 1987), but 

unit has been here reassigned to Cretaceous or Jurassic on the basis of the discovery of 

Cretaceous-aged sheared, diked granodiorites

[Generally 8–15 percent dark minerals]

[Generally less than 8 percent dark minerals]

Kbc Granodiorite of Burnt Camp Creek (Early Cretaceous)—Locally sheared, medium-grained 

hornblende-biotite granodiorite with sparse sheared mafic dikes. Part of volcano-plutonic 

suite of Mineral King. U-Pb zircon age of 134.8±1.5 Ma

Kcr Granodiorite of Camelback Ridge (Early Cretaceous)—Sheared, medium-grained 

hornblende-biotite granodiorite with sparse sheared mafic dikes. Locally developed porphyry 

texture. Part of volcano-plutonic suite of Mineral King. U-Pb zircon age of 133±1 Ma

Kwc Granodiorite of White Chief Mine (Early Cretaceous)—Sheared, medium-grained 

hornblende-biotite granodiorite with sheared and offset mafic and aplitic dikes. Contact with 

granodiorite of Castle Creek (Kcc) locally indistinct. Part of volcano-plutonic suite of 

Mineral King. U-Pb zircon age of 135±1 Ma

Kwr Granodiorite of Windy Ridge (Early Cretaceous)—Fine-grained hornblende-biotite 

granodiorite with sheared mafic dikes. U-Pb zircon age of 120.1±2.1 Ma

Knp Granodiorite of “Nev Point” (Early Cretaceous)—Medium-grained, equigranular 

hornblende-biotite granodiorite with consistent north-northwest striking, near vertical 

post-magmatic foliation. U-Pb zircon age of 115.9±1.7 Ma

Kgb Hornblende gabbro (Early Cretaceous)—Medium- and coarse-grained hornblende gabbro and 

diorite at Black Rock Pass and a sill intrusive into Mineral King metamorphic pendant. 

Mineral King sill is vuggy and finer grained to the west, and may be sub-volcanic 

equivalent of similar appearing Cretaceous meta-andesites (Kma) near Timber Gap

Kem Quartz diorite of Empire Mountain (Early Cretaceous)—Medium-grain quartz diorite cut by 

sparse mafic dikes. U-Pb zircon age of 107±1 Ma (Busby-Spera, 1983) and 106±1.1 Ma 

(this study)

KJmd Mafic dikes (Cretaceous and (or) Jurassic)—Fine-grained, dark-colored mafic dikes of 

indeterminate age that cut metamorphic and granitic rocks

Kc Granodiorite of Chagoopa (Late Cretaceous)—Fine- to medium-grained hornblende-biotite 

granodiorite with indistinct plagioclase phenocrysts. U-Pb zircon age of 91.5±0.7 Ma

Kcc Granodiorite of Castle Creek (of Mitchell Intrusive Suite [Moore and Sisson, 1987]) (Late 

Cretaceous)— Medium-grained hornblende-biotite granodiorite that has prominent grains of 

hornblende and titanite (sphene); locally contains indistinct plagioclase phenocrysts. Includes 

domains zoned to light-colored granodiorite. U-Pb zircon ages of 98±2 Ma (Busby-Spera, 

1983), 97.8±0.7, and 98.4±1.3 Ma (this study)

Kcciz Injection zone along margin of the granodiorite of Castle Creek (of Mitchell Intrusive Suite 

[Moore and Sisson, 1987]) (Late Cretaceous)—Steeply dipping sheets of fine-grained 

granodiorite, 1–3 m thick, closely interleaved with metamorphic rocks along eastern contact 

with the granodiorite of Castle Creek (Kcc)

Kgfdc Dome Creek facies of the Giant Forest Granodiorite (of Sequoia Intrusive Suite [Moore and 

Sisson, 1987]) (Early Cretaceous)—Medium-grained, weakly gneissic granodiorite and 

granite. Interpreted as southward-narrowing extension of the Giant Forest Granodiorite north 

of map area

Kcpgd Granodiorite dikes associated with the granite of Coyote Pass (Early Cretaceous)— 

Fine-grained, medium- and light-colored granodiorite dikes associated with diorite intrusions 

into the granite of Coyote Pass (Kcpp, Kcp). Interpreted to be diorite-granite hybrids

Kss Granodiorite of Shepherds Saddle (Cretaceous)—Medium-grained, equigranular 

hornblende-biotite granodiorite in northwestern part of map area; undated, but possibly 

darker-colored facies of the granite of Frys Point (Kfp)

Ksl Granodiorite of Spring Lake (Cretaceous)—Medium- to fine-grained granodiorite with sparse 

mafic dikes; undated, but possibly lighter-colored facies of the quartz diorite of Empire 

Mountain (Kem)

Kpc Granodiorite of Pecks Canyon (Early Cretaceous)—Medium- to coarse-grained granodiorite 

that contains indistinct potassium-feldspar phenocrysts. U-Pb zircon age of 121.6±1.6 Ma; 

probably younger than the nearby granodiorite of Windy Ridge (Kwr)

Kpy Granodiorite porphyry dikes (Early Cretaceous)—Fine-grained porphyry dikes with abundant 

plagioclase phenocrysts intrusive into metamorphic rocks of the southern part of Mineral 

King pendant; probably correlative to the granodiorite of Camelback Ridge (Kcr) of the 

volcano-plutonic suite of Mineral King

Kwm Granite of White Mountain (Late Cretaceous)—Medium-grained, coarsely porphyritic biotite 

granite that contains abundant, well-formed, potassium feldspar megacrysts (4–8 cm), and 

lacks mafic inclusions. U-Pb zircon age of 89.9±1.0 Ma

Kap Aplite (Late Cretaceous)—Fine-grained, very light colored aplitic granite that has conspicuous 

blue-black tourmaline; intruded between the granodiorite of Castle Creek (Kcc) and the 

Mineral King pendant; lack of deformation and mafic dikes indicate Late Cretaceous age. 

Unit also includes aplite dike swarm that intruded metavolcanic roof rocks of the granodiorite 

of Spring Lake (Ksl)

Kmm Granite of Maggie Mountain (Late Cretaceous)—Coarse-grained, very light colored biotite 

granite that lacks mafic inclusions. U-Pb zircon age of 98.8±0.7 Ma

Kcpp Porphyritic core facies of the granite of Coyote Pass (Early Cretaceous)—Coarse-grained 

biotite granite that contains indistinct potassium-feldspar phenocrysts and lacks mafic 

inclusions. Forms a central domain within the equigranular facies of the granite of Coyote 

Pass (Kcp). Contacts the surrounding equigranular facies both gradationally and as sills and 

dikes, hence porphyritic unit is younger. Foliation and layering in the equigranular facies dip 

beneath the porphyritic core facies. U-Pb zircon age of 100.3±0.6 Ma

Kcp Equigranular facies of the granite of Coyote Pass (Early Cretaceous)—Medium- and 

coarse-grained biotite-hornblende granite and alaskite. Mafic inclusions and igneous mineral 

layering dip shallowly inward and define a northwest-trending magmatic synform cored by 

the porphyritic core facies of the granite of Coyote Pass (Kcpp). Mafic inclusions are rare and 

mineral layering is absent north of Lost Canyon and Cyclamen Lake where the rock is 

nonfoliated alaskite. U-Pb zircon ages of 98.9±1.2 Ma (this study) and 97±2 Ma. 

(Busby-Spera, 1983); field relations indicate unit is older than porphyritic core facies 

(100.3±0.6 Ma)

Kcm Granite of Case Mountain (Early Cretaceous)—Medium- and coarse-grained biotite granite, 

generally lacking in mafic inclusions; locally contains indistinct potassium-feldspar 

phenocrysts. Weathers to broad slabs and domes; also forms extensive grus. U-Pb zircon 

ages of 101.6±1.6 and 102.3±2.1 Ma

Kdp Granite of Dennison Peak (Early Cretaceous)—Medium-grained biotite-hornblende granite with 

sparse mafic inclusions (0–3 per square meter). Probably correlative with the granite of Case 

Mountain (Kcm). U-Pb zircon age of 102.8±2.0 Ma

Qal Alluvial deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene)—Alluvium underlying meadows; gravel, sand, and 

boulders in stream valleys

Qtf Tufa (Holocene)—Porous travertine deposited from soda springs

Qr Rock glaciers (Holocene)—Small active rock glaciers in cirques northwest of Florence Peak and 

southeast of Rainbow Mountain

Qt Talus and colluvium, undivided (Holocene and Pleistocene)—Steep slopes of angular talus 

blocks with little or no interstitial soil, commonly above 7,000 ft elevation; intermixed soil 

and rock fragments (colluvium) on gentler slopes, commonly forested

Qls Landslide deposits (Holocene and Pleistocene)—Bouldery and hummocky landslide debris on 

south slope of Ash Peaks Ridge

Qrpm Recess Peak and Matthes Tills, undivided (Holocene and late Pleistocene)—Small, 

non-vegetated tills with small, sharp moraine crests in cirques above ~10,000 ft elevation

Qti Tioga Till (Pleistocene)—Innermost of large nested tills having well-defined moraine crests

Qw Tioga and Tahoe Tills, undivided (Pleistocene)—Tills generally with large, well-defined moraine 

crests 

Kmh Granodiorite of Mountain Home (Late Cretaceous)—Medium-grained hornblende-biotite 

granodiorite near southwest corner of map area. U-Pb zircon age of 98.8±0.9 Ma

Kmcp Diorite associated with granite of Coyote Pass (Late Cretaceous)—Fine- and medium-grained 

hornblende diorite and quartz diorite intrusive into granite of Coyote Pass (Kccp, Kcp); 

commonly includes angular granite blocks

Kmr Granodiorite of Milk Ranch Peak (Early Cretaceous)—Dark and very dark, medium-grained 

granodiorite with conspicuous hornblende crystals and abundant mafic inclusions; locally 

with plagioclase phenocrysts as large as 1.5 cm. U-Pb zircon age of 103.2±1.5 Ma

Kd Diorite (Cretaceous)—Small intrusions of fine- and medium-grained hornblende diorite and 

quartz diorite associated with the granite of Ash Peaks Ridge near the northwest corner of the 

map area, as well as isolated dioritic intrusions elsewhere

EXPLANATION OF MAP SYMBOLS

Strike and dip of foliation or cleavage in granitic and metamorphic rocks

27 Inclined

Vertical

12 Bearing and plunge of lineation

Horizontal lineation

Strike of foliation or bearing of lineation, dip unknown

15 Strike and dip of mineral layering in granitic rocks

35 Strike and dip of cleavage and parallel relict bedding

Anticline

Moraine crest

METAMORPHIC ROCKS

METAVOLCANIC ROCKS

METASEDIMENTARY ROCKS

Meta-andesite (Triassic)—Metamorphosed andesitic lava flows and breccias to the west of 

Mineral Peak in upper Crystal Creek and in adjacent basins. U-Pb zircon lower-intercept 

concordia model ages of 214 and 236 Ma (revised from Busby-Spera, 1983)

mm Mafic metavolcanic rocks (Mesozoic)—Amphibolite derived from basalt and basaltic andesite

ma Meta-andesite (Mesozoic)—Metamorphosed andesitic lava flows and breccias, commonly 

schistose

mrd Felsic metavolcanic rocks (Mesozoic)—Chiefly metarhyolite and metadacite tuffs, but also 

includes metarhyolite and metadacite lava flows

KJmt Metarhyolite and metadacite tuffs, undivided (Cretaceous and Jurassic)—Northern 

continuation of Cretaceous metarhyolite and Jurassic metadacite tuffs across Cliff Creek. 

Shown as Jurassic or Triassic metarhyolite on geologic map of Triple Divide Peak 15’ 

quadrangle (Moore and Sisson, 1987)

Kma Meta-andesite (Early Cretaceous)—Metamorphosed andesitic lava flows and breccias to the 

west of Timber Gap. U-Pb zircon lower-intercept concordia model age from included felsic 

tuff, 111 Ma (revised from Busby-Spera, 1983). Possibly correlative with similar-appearing 

hornblende gabbro sill (Kgb) to south

K?vbr Metarhyolite and metadacite breccia (Early Cretaceous?)—Lenses and beds of felsic volcanic 

breccia that contain well preserved relict angular clasts

Kmrt Metarhyolite tuff (Early Cretaceous)—Chiefly massive metarhyolite with relict pyroclastic 

texture; includes some interstratified metasedimentary rocks. U-Pb zircon lower-intercept 

concordia model ages of 131–140 Ma (revised from Busby-Spera, 1983); part of 

volcano-plutonic suite of Mineral King

K?smr Schistose metarhyolite (Cretaceous?)—Felsic schist that contains relict quartz and plagioclase 

phenocrysts (or coarse relict detrital grains) on west side of Farewell Gap. Foliation intensity 

decreases to the north, and unit passes along strike into bedded volcaniclastic metasandstones 

(vss)

Jmdt Metadacite tuff (Jurassic)—Massive metadacite with relict pyroclastic texture between Timber 

Gap and Empire Mountain, and metadacite tuff and breccia above Spring Lake. 

Distinguished from metarhyolite tuff (Kmrt) by more abundant biotite and hornblende, and by 

absence of relict quartz phenocrysts. U-Pb zircon lower-intercept concordia model ages of 

171 and 189 Ma (revised from Busby-Spera, 1983)

m Marble (Mesozoic)—Coarsely crystalline, schistose to gneissose, white to blue-gray marble. Thin 

calc-silicate layers locally constitute as much as 50 percent of exposures. Blue lines on map 

denote location of marble bands too thin to show at map scale 

ccgl Calc-silicate conglomerate (Mesozoic)—Dark-weathering, well-bedded calc-silicate 

conglomerate and pebbly sandstone with white felsite clasts. Underlies Cretaceous 

metarhyolite tuff and marks nose of synclinorium through Vandever Mountain

cs Calc-silicate hornfels and schist (Mesozoic)—Bedded, light-colored calc-silicate hornfels and 

schist derived from calcareous quartzofeldspathic siltstone and sandstone. Commonly 

interstratified with subordinate argillaceous hornfels and schist derived from mudstone (not 

resolvable at map scale)

q Quartzite (Mesozoic)—Medium- to coarse-grained quartzite; massive to medium bedded

qb Quartz-biotite schist and hornfels (Mesozoic)—Encompasses quartzofeldspathic micaceous 

schist, phyllite, slate, and hornfels

qbcs Quartz-biotite and calc-silicate schist and hornfels (Mesozoic)—Undivided quartzofeldspathic 

micaceous and calc-silicate schist and hornfels

slp Slate and phyllite (Mesozoic)—Fissile slate, phyllite, and dark-colored argillaceous hornfels 

derived from mudstone

slhf Siliceous hornfels (Mesozoic)—Thin-bedded, fine-grained siliceous hornfels with subordinate 

interstratified meta-argillite derived from quartzofeldspathic siltstone and fine-grained 

sandstone

vss Volcaniclastic metasandstone (Mesozoic)—Medium- to thin-bedded metasandstone and rare 

interstratified lenses of volcaniclastic breccia, on the west side of Mineral King pendant; 

metasandstone contains relict detrital grains of felsite and of phenocryst fragments 

ss Metasandstone (Mesozoic)—Rhythmically bedded arkosic metasandstones derived from turbidity 

current strata (Busby-Spera, 1985) on east side of Mineral King pendant

tc Tactite (Mesozoic)—Dark brown, coarse-grained rocks consisting of calcic garnet, epidote, 

diopside, and idocrase, developed along contacts between granite and marble or calc-silicate 

rocks

66

Contact—Solid where located accurately, long-dashed where located approximately, short-dashed 

where inferred, dotted where concealed by surficial deposits (some not shown); arrow shows 

dip and dip direction

85

Fault—Solid where located accurately, dashed where located approximately, dotted where 

concealed by surficial deposits; arrow shows dip and dip direction

75 Strike and dip of relict bedding in metamorphic rocks—Use restricted to well-preserved 

sedimentary structures, no distinction between overturned and upright bedding

Syncline—Includes primary igneous synform defined by layering and foliation in granite of 

Coyote Pass; queried where uncertain

Kfp Granite of Frys Point (Early Cretaceous)—Medium- and coarse-grained, equigranular biotite 

granite that lacks mafic inclusions but is locally cut by diorite and hybrid granodiorite dikes 

containing diorite blocks. U-Pb zircon age of granite is 105 Ma; late granodioritic intrusions 

are as young as 103 Ma (Holland and others, 2010)

Kf Felsite (Early Cretaceous)—Intrusion of fine-grained, very light colored granite or hypabyssal 

rhyolite exposed at outlet of lower Franklin Lake; cut by mafic dikes. Undated but probably 

correlative with metarhyolite tuffs of volcano-plutonic suite of Mineral King 

QUATERNARY

SURFICIAL DEPOSITS

Qal

Qtf

Qls Qrpm

Qr

Qti

Qt

Qw

CRETACEOUS

AND (OR)

JURASSIC

LATE

CRETACEOUS

EARLY

CRETACEOUS

GRANITIC ROCKS

(U-Pb ages in Ma)

Dark-colored rocks

(Generally more than 15

percent dark minerals)

Medium-colored rocks

(Generally 8–15 percent

dark minerals)

Light-colored rocks

(Generally less than 8

percent dark minerals)

Kc

Kap

Kmm

Kcc Kcciz

Kmh

Kmr

Kd Kfp

Kem

Kgb

Knp

Kwr

Kcr

KJmd

KJgd

Kwc Kbc Kpy Kf

Kpc

Kss

Ksl

Kmcp Kcpgd Kgfdc

Kcp

Kcm Kdp

Kcpp

Kwm

METAMORPHIC ROCKS

Metavolcanic Rocks

Kma

Jmdt

K?vbr Kmrt K?smr

KJmt

mm ma mrd

Metasedimentary Rocks

CRETACEOUS

JURASSIC

TRIASSIC

m ccgl qbqcs qbcs slp slhf vss ss tc MESOZOIC

CORRELATION OF MAP UNITS

90

99

99

100

103

105

102

91

98

99

103

106

116

120

133–135

121

HOLOCENE

PLEISTOCENE

Open-File Report 2013–1096

Sheet 2 of 2

Pamphlet accompanies map

U.S Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Base from U.S. Geological Survey, Case Mountain, 

1987, Dennison Peak, 1986, Kaweah, 1986

Lambert Conformal Conic, North American Datum 1927

Geology mapped by T.W. Sisson, 1979, 1981, 1987, 

1991-92, 2004-12; J.G. Moore, 1976-77, 1981, 1987, 

1991-92, 2004-07; A. Van Dyne, 2009; E.A. du Bray, 

1976-77; M.G. Sawlan, 1981; and K.M. Ort, 1981

GIS database and digital cartography by Thomas 

W. Sisson and Joel E. Robinson

Manuscript approved for publication April 18, 2013

1000 1000 0 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 FEET

1 0 .5 1 KILOMETER

SCALE 1:24 000

1 1/ 2 0 1 MILE

CONTOUR INTERVAL 40 FEET

NATIONAL GEODETIC VERTICAL DATUM OF 1929

Geologic Map Of Southwestern Sequoia National Park, Tulare County, California

By

Thomas W. Sisson and James G. Moore

2013

CALIF.

APPROXIMATE MEAN MAP LOCATION DECLINATION, 2013

MAGNETIC NORTH

13o

TRUE NORTH

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

This map was printed on an electronic plotter directly from digital files. Dimensional calibration may vary 

between electronic plotters and between X and Y directions on the same plotter, and paper may change 

size due to atmospheric conditions; therefore, scale and proportions may not be true on plots of this map.

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, 

1–888–ASK–USGS

Digital files available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1096/

Suggested citation: Sisson, T.W., and Moore, J.G., 2013, Geologic map of southwestern Sequoia 

National Park, Tulare County, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2013–1096, 

pamphlet 25 p., 2 sheets, scale 1:24,000, http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2013/1096/.

Prepared in cooperation with the

National Park Service