Summary of the geology and physical properties of the climax stock, Nevada Test Site

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:7256373

Maldonado, F

The Climax stock is a composite stock of Cretaceous age, composed of quartz monzonite and granodiorite, which intrudes sedimentary rocks of Paleozoic and Precambrian age. Tertiary rocks consisting of tuff, welded tuff, and breccia overlie the stock and sedimentary rocks. Hydrothermal alteration of the granodiorite and quartz monzonite is found mainly along joints and is extensive, but the intensity of alteration varies from place to place. The surrounding sedimentary rocks (carbonates) have been metasomatically altered to tactite and marble as much as 1,500 feet (457 m) from contact with stock; the degree of metamorphism decreasing away from the intrusive. The major faults found in the vicinity of the Climax stock are the Tippinip fault, the Boundary fault, and the Yucca fault. In the stock three prominent joint sets and their average attitudes are N. 32/sup 0/ W., 22/sup 0/ NE.; N. 64/sup 0/ W., vertical; and N. 35/sup 0/ E., vertical. Two major tunnel complexes have been driven into the Climax stock, the Tiny Tot tunnel complex and Pile Driver-Hard Hat tunnel complex. In the Pile Driver-Hard Hat tunnel complex two underground nuclear tests have been conducted.

• Research Organization: Geological Survey, Denver, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-C-04-0474
• OSTI ID: 7256373
• Report Number(s): USGS-OFR-77-356
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
NEVADA TEST SITE
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
LITHOLOGY
STRATIGRAPHY
TUNNELS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
SITE SELECTION
TOPOGRAPHY
UNDERGROUND EXPLOSIONS
EXPLOSIONS
GEOLOGY
580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)
510500 - Environment
Terrestrial- Site Resource & Use Studies- (-1989)