Paleozoic cratonal/miogeoclinal stratigraphy in the western Mojave Desert

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

OSTI ID:5211225

Martin, M W; Walker, J D ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence (United States)

Detailed mapping of metasedimentary rocks by many workers in the western Mojave Desert, California, has revealed Paleozoic lithologies of cratonal/miogeoclinal affinity. These exposures are metamorphosed, highly strained, and dismembered, and sit as roof pendants to Mesozoic and Tertiary intrusive rocks. In most outcrops no diagnosis fossils are preserved. Age correlation of these units is based, therefore, solely on similarities to lithologic packages outside the region. Despite the complex tectonic history this area has suffered since the late Paleozoic paleogeographic elements trend southwest into the region from where they are last clearly defined near the California-Nevada border. Dolomitic and calcitic marbles, quartzites, and biotite schists make up a major part of the stratigraphy in many areas. The stratigraphy and lithology of these units strongly suggest that they are correlative with late Precambrian-Cambrian units in the Death Valley region. Possible Ordovician and Devonian marbles also are present within some sections; at least one locality contains stromatoporoids of probable Devonian age. Calcite marbles tentatively correlated with lithologically similar Permian units in the Death Valley area are also represented and appear to be depositionally overlain by Mesozoic( ) shallow-marine and are-derived clastic rocks. Although the western Mojave Desert region has experienced compressional, transcurrent, and extensional deformation since late Paleozoic, our current understanding and restoration of this deformation history does not significantly alter the general southwest Paleozoic paleogeographic trends known to exist farther east.

• OSTI ID: 5211225
• 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
DESERTS
GEOLOGY
STRATIGRAPHY
AGE ESTIMATION
CORRELATIONS
DEPOSITION
DOLOMITE
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
LIMESTONE
LITHOLOGY
MAPPING
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
PALEOZOIC ERA
PETROGENESIS
PLUTONIC ROCKS
ARID LANDS
CARBONATE MINERALS
CARBONATE ROCKS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
GEOLOGIC AGES
IGNEOUS ROCKS
MINERALS
NORTH AMERICA
ROCKS
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
USA
580000* - Geosciences