Comparison of Paleogene paleogeography: Southern Coast Ranges and western Transverse Ranges

Conference · Fri Feb 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States)

OSTI ID:5211001

Schussler, S A ^[1]

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1. Unocal Corp., Bakersfield, CA (United States)

The paleogene stratigraphic sequence exposed in the southwestern San Rafael Mountains at the southern terminus of the Coast Ranges, consists of up to 850 m (2,800 ft) of the marine limestone, sandstone, and mudstone that lies with a unique depositional contact upon Franciscan Complex rocks. Lithofacies identified represent four sedimentary environments: (1) foreslope talus deposits of a neritic algal bank (Sierra Blanca limestone), (2) bathyal basin plain and outer submarine fan deposits (Juncal/Anita Formation and Cozy Dell Shale), (3) suprafan lobe deposits of a bathyal submarine fan (lower Mitilija Sandstone), and (4) sublittoral shelf deposits (upper Matilija Sandstone). Similarities between paleogene rocks in the southwest San Rafael mountains and the western Santa Ynez Mountains of the Transverse Ranges, approximately 60 km (40 mi) to the west, suggest deposition in a similar paleogeographic setting. Paleomagnetic data suggests post-Paleogene clockwise rotations of the western Transverse Ranges of 90{degree}+. Counterclockwise rotation of the western Transverse Ranges by this amount aligns the similar depositional sequences of the western Transverse Ranges with the northwest-trending Paleogene forearc basin of the southern Coast Ranges and eliminates the necessity for an east-west-oriented Paleogene basin at the site of the present western Transverse Ranges.

• OSTI ID: 5211001
• Report Number(s): CONF-9103128-; CODEN: AABUD
• Journal Information: AAPG Bulletin (American Association of Petroleum Geologists); (United States), Vol. 75:2; Conference: American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG)/Society of Economics, Paleontolgists, and Mineralogists (SEPM)/Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)/Society of Professional Well Log Analysts (SPWLA) Pacific Section annual meeting, Bakersfield, CA (United States), 6-8 Mar 1991; ISSN 0149-1423
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
CALIFORNIA
MOUNTAINS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
STRATIGRAPHY
DEPOSITION
LIMESTONE
LITHOLOGY
SANDSTONES
SHALES
TERTIARY PERIOD
CARBONATE ROCKS
CENOZOIC ERA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
NORTH AMERICA
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA
580000* - Geosciences