GEOLOGY - Foundation of the present; key to California's Mure.

~,ALIFORNIA September 1979

(J-EOLOGY
35¢ CALIFORNIA AND PLATE TECTONICS

GEOMORPHIC PROVINCES
OF
CALIFORNIA

Generalized Geologic Units

," D Quot"no" ..dlmont.,) ,ock.

§ To, 110" .od""ont." , •• k,

~ Ouot.,no" and T... tlo', .ot.on"

~ 'o.k, 01 CASCADE RANGE ond
MODQC PLATEAU

G.omo'ohl.o,,,.Tn•• bo"""""
G.olo9lc unll boundo,)
foull

!~j'~'t~~"~~~~~IOO
"0 80 t60 MILES
KtLOMETERS

-
SCALE

!'lJr 'to
1"0~",,1I
w,/I,." ,

Callto.n'a·s p,esent geomo.ph,c p.ov,nces are the 'esult 01 gaotog,c p,ocesS(lS wh,cll
hllva been lIct,ve to! m,II'ons 01 years Some althese processes 1I,e S(ldtme''llal'on. vol-
canosm. plulon,c ,nl.uSlon. melamo,ph,sm. e.os,on. ""d tec!On,sm Fo' it SI.'mmary 01
lhe geOteClo",c developmanl 0' Calliorntll. see Ihe lIrttcle 0" pllge 187
 Note: This article summarizes the con-
tents of the first Rubey Volume. a new se-
ries in Earth and plenetary sciences. nemed
in memory of the late W.W. Rubey. Profe.
lOr of Geology end Geophysics at the Uni-
versity of C.tlifomie Los Angeles IUCLA)
and career scientist for the U.S. Geological
Survey. ElIch volume will present the writ·
ten product of an annual UCLA colloquium
on a tepic of interest to geologists and
space scientists. Rubey Volume No.1 enti-
tled THE GEOTECTONIC DEVELOPMENT
OF CALIFORNIA describes the plate tec·
tonic framework of the state and adjacent
regions.

AN INTERPRETIVE ACCOUNT

D D
D
o
D D
By
W.G. ERNST. Chairman

Department of Earth and Space Sciences

University of Californie. Los Angeles
The geologic history of California is
unique and complelt. Dynamic interactions
of lithospheric plates through time have
left intriguing puzzles yet to be fully solved.
The following article summarizes the find·
ings of many workers studying plate tec-
tonic geology in California. Because of the
nature of the subject. the geologic con-
cepts may be unfamiliar to many readers.
To help the reader understand this descrip-
tion of Ihe processes which led 10 the
present geologic configurlltion of the
state. a glossary of plate tectonic terms is
included wilh this article (p.194). A brief
summary of the basic concepts of plate
teclonics can be found in the Oct. 1978 is-
sue of CAliFORNIA GEOLOGY.... Editor.
CONTINENTAL MARGINS
AND THE GEOLOGY
OF CALiFORNIA
There ace four principal types of lithos-
pheric plate boundaries involving conti-
nental margins. They are: (I) the
Atlantic, (2) the Andean, (3) the Japa-
nese, and (4) the Californian (figure I).
The geology of each margin is a function
of its own unique history and represents a
(01 ATLANTIC TYPE
rOOr}eocIile 011100
~'T'("""
o
complex interplay among diverse con·
structional and destructional processes.
The Atlantic type (figure la) is a rifted
margin produced by divergent plate mo-
tion. Both the Andean type (figure tb)
and the Japanese type (figure tc) are con·
vergent plate junctions. TheCalifornillD
type (figure Id) is characterized by strike
~lip movement, and it is, therefore, a
conservative plate boundary. The conver-
gent models (Andean and Japanese) may
(bl ANDEAN TYPE -..-
subduclial bean: P'Jklnic
====~
complex basil
-;;;;,. arc

INTRODUCTION
The present-day geology of California
is an intricate lithotectonic collage. Litho-
tectonic belts reflect the complex inter·
play between semicontinuous igneous,
sedimentary, and tectonic constructional
processes and the episodic occurrence of
destructive plate motions which have
truncated, pulled apart, dispencd, and
carried away segments of the continental
crust.
••
"
(dl CALlFOONIAN TYPE
rifled bc:rde!tlnd
Figure 1 Diagrammatic sketch of the four major types of continental margins showing
cruslal topologies: (a) Atlantic type. divergent margin: (b) Andean type and (cl Japa·
nese type. Both (b) and (c) are convergent margins (nOI shown is oblique subduction
or possible tectonic removal ollhe leading edge of the nonsubducted slab): (d) Califor-
nian type. transform margin.Lithosphere-asthenosphere contact not illustrated. After Dic-
kinson. 1976.

California Geology september 1979 187

 '-'-MOdoc: Basin and Range
Transverse Ranges Province
Plateau ! Portions of the San Gabriel Com:p\a.
I have been fragmented and reasaembled at
I different times, and some portions are
:.::'., i probably still being modified due to ongo-
ing translational motion along the San
\ Andreas fault system. Lithologies pre-
'\
'.
..,
'"\...~,
",Iit" served in the San Gabriel Mountains indi-
cate continental metamorphism at deep
crustal levels, and the addition of both
mafic and felsic calc-&1kaline igneous
material. The oldest rocks are the
,, Mendenhall Gneiss and related quartzo....
•• feldspathic gneiss-amphibolite complex
o Late \ of 1715 ± 30 m.y. age, intruded by 1670
± 15 m.y. old granitic gneisses. The San
Mesozoic'-?( Gabriel anorthosite - gabbro - syenite
complex was emplaced about 1220 ± 10
Franciscan ::' m.y. before present (b.p.). The thermal
•
terrane \co oS' aureole produced by this differentiated

o'Late
.
Meso- \"';
..
\?

~<;GV
'S'..y
,,,. mafic pluton caused the amphibolitiza-
tion of relict granulites in Mendenhall
Gneiss on the south and southeast mar-
ZOIC granitic \-0
,- gins of the anorthositic complex (pboto
terrane \, 0 c""l~":'i::4~ I). It is not known if an early stage of
metamorphism attending intrusion pro-
dlliJ M'dr MeSOZOIC.
""" Un!'!s \'-\
\?o'\ ~ duced the granulites (Ehlig, in press), or

[J3 Large~ Poleozaic units \ \

~' \-..~
whether tbey formed prior to emplace-
ment of the anorthositic complex, at
\ GV \ about 1440 m.y. ago (Silver and otben,
~ Ophiolitic complexes \ \ 1963).

"
"
"" \
\
Mojave Desert Province

,.. 120. ""::-,~,~rde~lond Isolated masses of Precambrian base-

ment rocks protrude through a veritable
sea of alluvium in the Mojave
Figure 2 Aspects of the generalized regional geology of California. InpartllfterH8milton. Desert. The basement rocks are intruded
'978. Major faults: Coast Range thrust (CAT); Garlock (G); San Andreas (SA); San by Mesozoic granitic rock
Gabriel (SG); San Jacinto (SJ); San Simeon-Hosgri (SSH); Other abbreviations: Grest and overtain by volcanogenic units.
Valley sequence (GV); Pelona and Orocopia schists (Pl. Limited lateral continuity hampers re-
gional correlations, but where outcrops
involve pure "head 00" subduction, but tory is somewhat obscure. NC'\etheless, occur, they are almost completely ex-
oblique underflow is apparently more we know that lithosphere, hydros- ,."...
common. In either case, the convergent phere. and atmosphere bad evolved to es.-
motion may result in accretion of re- sentially a modern aspect by about 2,000 Two major belts of ancient crystalline
worked sialic (silica-alumina-rich) mate- million years (m.y.) ago (Windley, rocks have been recognized based on ge0-
rial adjacent and landward ofthe trench,or 1977). Crustal sections from that time 00- chronologic data for cogenetic zircon
tectonic erosion"of segments of the conti~ ward can be correlated in large part with suites in granites and their country rocks
oental margin (oot shown on figure 1) currently active earth-building processes. (Silver and Anderson, 1974). The older
may occur. A notable exception is the apparent lack terrane to the northwest is characterized
of ophiolites; sensu stricto, which would by a 1820 m.y. old metamorphic basement
The present-day disposition oflithotcc- represc:ot an early phase of sea floor intruded by granitic plutons which are
tonic belts in California is sbown on figure spreading prior to Phanerozoic time. 100 m.y. younger. The younger, more
2 (Hamilton, 1978). southeasterly terrane consists of 1720
Occurrences of Precambrian rocks in m.y. old country rocks intruded by 1650
California have been hypothesized in sev- m.y. old granites.
PRECAMBRIAN eral batholithic terranes, such as the
HISTORY Salinian block. of the Coast Ranges, al~ It has been bypothesized that ancient
OF CALIFORNIA though Precambrian rocks are known crystalline belts were juxtaposed in early
with certainty only from the Transverse Mesozoic time by a left-lateral stri.ke-slip
The preserved Precambrian lithologic Ranges (San Gabriel and San Bernardino fault which transccted the Mojave Desert
sections in California are limited and frag- Mountains), the Mojave Desert, in a roughly north-south direction. As in
mentary. Consequently, the deduced his- and the Basin and Range provinces. the San Gabriel Mountains, this Precam-

18. California Geology september 1979

 DEVONIAN-MISSISSIPPIAN
Figure 3 Generalized plate tectonic set-
ting of California during the Antler orogeny
(Devonian - Mississippian Period). After
various sources. including Burchfief and
Davis. 1972: 1915: Dickinson. in press.,
brian terrane reflects deep-level sialic ad-
ditions to the continental crust. Simila.r
metamorphosed rocks crop out to the
south in the San Bernardino, Chocolate,
and Orocopia Mountains.
Basin and Range Province
Precambrian rocks are found as far
north as Death Valley, where they are un-
conformably overlain by a weakly recrys-
tallized sedimentary series of latest
Precambrian age. These strata, and the
overlying most recent Pre-
cambrian and lower Paleozoic section,
represent well-sorted, chemically mature
sediments produced along an Atlantic-
type continental margin (Stewart, 1972).
The initiation of rifting resulted locally in
formation of the Amargosa aulacogen
(fault-bounded intracratonic trough or
graben). Thus the time m1er'Yai from
latest Precambrian to early
Paleozoic was dominated by shallow
water, passive margin-type deposition
(such as formed the Pahrump Group) in
this portion of California.
PALEOZOIC HISTORY
OF CALIFORNIA
Rocks of Paleozoic age are present in
large tracts of eastern Califomia (Sierra
Nevada province) and crop out as far
west as the Klamath Mountains province
in the north western area of the state,
possibly in the Coast Ranges province
(Salinian block) in the west-eentral por·
tion of the state. in the Mojave Iksert
province, and in the Ttarulvene
Ranges province (San Gabriel Moun-
tains) to the south. Judging from unit
thickness and sedimentary facies trends,
the ancient Pacific continental margin of
North America trended roughly north-
south, from southernmost Idaho and cen-
tral Nevada into southeastern California
(figure 3) prior to the Ander orogeny of
Late Devonian l and Early Mississippian
time (Burchfiel and Davis, 1972; Stewart
and Suczck, 1971). The onlapping sedi-
ments have a thickness of about I kID on
the southeast near the shelf edge, and
thicken northwestward to a section of
nearly 10 km. One or more early Paleo-
zoic island ares were located to the west
in the provinces of the Klamath Moun-
tains and northwestern Sierra Nevada
(68'=4).
Sierra Nevada Province
In latest Devonian-earliest Mississippi-
an time an eastward-directed overthrust-
ing along the Roberts Mountains. thrust
brought volcanogenic argillites of a sub-
duction complex over an autochthonous
miogeoclinal sequence (Stewart and
Poole, 1974). The Antler orogeny sig-
naled the closure of an intervening mar-
ginal basin (figure 4) and the suturing of
island arc material onlo the western pe-
rimeter of North America. The Shoo Ay
Formation in the northern Si-
erra Nevada bears; evidence to this event.
Dickinson (1971) presented the case for
westward consumption of the marginal
basin, whereas Burchfiel and Davis
(1975) explained the suturing event
through a process of eastward plate
descent involving uncoupling and over-
thrusting (obduction) of the island arc
superstructure.
Renewed subduction offshore at the
latitude of the Sierra Nevada allowed the
DEVONIAN-MISSiSSIPPIAN
Klamath-N. Sierran
Island are
erc-trench QCIP marQinel
basin
Figure" Hypothetical. generalized diagram depicting the Antier plate tectonic regime.
not to scale. In this interpretation. westward subduction is postulated to be responsible
for the eastward overthrusting of the Antler allochthon. After Poole and Sandberg. '971.
September 1979
California Geology
construction of a late Paleozoic volcanic
arc lying west ofa newly formed marginal
basin. The latter was presumably the site
of accumulation of the Calaveras Forma-
tion. Unlike the present-day Japanese ar-
chipelago (a typical island arc) which
faces the subducting oceanic crust-
capped lithospheric plate, these Paleozoic
island ares of central California apparent-
ly faced North America, reflecting west-
ward underflow of the marginal basin.
This volcanogenic unit constituted
the leading edge of the continental crust-
capped slab. During the Sonoma orogeny
at the end of Permian to earliest Triassic
time, this lithologic plate moved eastward
along the Golconda thrust towards the
North American craton (figure 5).
Klamath Mountains Province
In the Klamath Mountains province, a
general trend of units becoming younger
to the west and the tectonic imbrication of
middle and upper Paleozoic and Meso-
zoic units along eastward-dipping thrusts
(Irwin, 1960; 1917) suggests that subse-
quent to the Antler orogeny, the paleopa-
cffic plate descended to the east beneath
the accreting continental margin. Here
the east-dipping Trinity thrust jux-
taposed the eastern Paleozoic and Triassic
eugeoclinal section - a marginal basin
assemblage (7) which appears to correlate
in part with the northern Sierra Nevada
Shoo Ay Formation - and the underly-
ing Trinity Ophiolite against the structur-
ally lower, more westerly central
metamorphic belt. The age of metamor-
phism of this belt, 380-400 m.y., suggests
a Devonian event. However, the time of
(mal assembly in the eastern Klamath
Mountains, judging by late Paleozoic-
earliest Mesozoic depositional ages. indi-
cates that late slages of the thrusting
probably should be correlated with a
phase of the Sonoma orogeny (latest Per-
mian to earliest Triassic time). The plate
tectonic interpretation of the central
Antler forelond
allochthon clastic croton
be"
'"
 So=>
allochthon
~ the Coast Ranges, are cb..aracterizcd by
-;:-<\
do~ics
CRATON
Figure 5 Plate tectonic s9nin9 of Califor-
nia during the Sonoma orogeny (Permian
_ Triassic Period). After various sources.
including Burchfiel Slid Davis, '972; 1975:
Dickinson. in press.
metamorphic belt is uncertain; whereas
Hamilton (1969) regarded it as a mi·
crocontinental fragment rafted into the
subduction zone, others have suggested
that it is the remnant of an island arc. In
any case. it is a relatively thin section of
Paleozoic metamorphic rocks tectonically
overlying the Calaveru-equivalent
western Paleozoic and Triassic belt,
which locally contains Jurassic strata (Ir.
win and othen, 1977; 1978).
Paleozoic miogeoclinal-eugeo::linal fa-
cies trends are abruptly terminated on the
southwest by north-northwest trending
Mesozoic lithotectonic belts which rough-
ly parallel the present continental margin.
Because of this profound truncation ofthe
Paleozoic system, Hamilton (1969) and
Burchfiel and Davis (1972) have p0s-
tulated a major rifting event at the end of
Paleozoic time. The latter authors cor-
related the Klamath Mountains western
Paleozoic and Triassic belt with the Cala·
veras Formation of the Sierra Nevada,
and suggested that the rifted margin lay
on the continental side of these units. On
the other hand. Dickinson (in press)
related this pronounced depositional off·
set to an original configuration of the late
Precambrian rifted margin. now some.-
what obscured due to Cenozoic strike slip
on the San Andreas transform system.
Tectonic erosion is yet another possibility
as suggested by Scholl and Vallier (1979).
Southern and Southeastern
California
Upper (?) Paleozoic strata of southern
and southeastern California, including al-
leged equivalents in the Salinian block of
,..
carbonates and orthoquartzites depos.ited
in flat-lying strata, and lack abundant
volcanogenic detritus. This widespread
but relatively thin sequence is thought to
have been deposited on the continental
shelf and slope (Burchfiel and Davis.
1972; 1975). The miogeoclinal units pass
to the northwest into a eugcoclinal facies;
fragments of the units are preserved in the
Sierra Nevada batholith north of the lati-
tude of the White Mountains and
throughout the Western Foothills belt as
the Shoo Fly Formation. the exotic Kings
-Kaweah ophiolite. and perhaps older
units of the Calaveras Formation.
Summary -
Tectonic Characteristics
To summariz.e, the Paleozoic Era was
characterized in much of eastern and
southern California by deposition along a
passive continental margin which became
deeper to the north-northwest. Offshore
island arcs were accreted to the continent
by the (westward?) consumption of inter-
vening back-arc basins and eastward~­
reeted overthrusting along the Roberts
Mountains (latest Devonian-earliest Mis·
sissippian) and Golconda (latest Permian
-earliest Triassic) thrusts in Nevada.
In the Klamath Mountains of Oregon
and northern California, however, the age
relations andjw:tapos.itiollJl of the various
lithic belts suggest that at the end of De-
vonian time the eastern Paleozoic
belt. plus underlying Trinity Ophiolite
were. obducted to the west over
the subducted and recrystallizing central
metamorphic belt. Effects of the Sonoma
orogeny are confmed to the ultimate jux-
taposition ofthese two terranes. Renewed
thrusting in Triassic and later time along
the east-dipping Siskiyou thrust on the
western margin of the central meta·
morphic belt apparently reflects normal
Pacifie--type underl10w and westward
continental growth.
MESOZOIC HISTORY
OF CALIFORNIA
Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimen·
tary rocks of Mesozoic age are widespread
and abundant throughout all portions of
the state. In aggregate, the rocks r/XOrd a
very active stage of episodic continental
accretion which evidently accompanied
lithospheric plate convergence. Oblique
subduction. possibly at a low angle of con-
vergence, seems to have been the domi-
nant process in central California. Three
principal tectonic environments are pre-
California Geology September 1979
served in the lithologic record - the lub-
duction zone, the intervening aro-trench
gap, and the volcanic-plutonic arc. Evi-
dence supports the existence of at least
one marginal basin. In addition, both
oblique rifting and continental fragmenta-
tion. large-scale strike-slip faulting. and
probably subcrustal erosion as well. have
caused the truncation of pre-existing
structural trends.
Klamath Mountains Province
The Klamath Mountains mark the site
of a seaward prograding continental as·
sembly. The late Paleozoic process of tec·
tonic imbrication along east-dipping
thrust faults continued throughout Meso-
zoic time. with the western Paleozoic and
Triassic belt (North Fork, Hayfork and
Rattlesnake Creek units). the western Ju·
rassic belt (Galice and Rogue Forma-
tions), and the Franciscan terrane
occupying successively more oceanward
positiollJl along the western margin of
North America. Ophiolitic slabs and
slices, such as the Josephine ultramafic
complex (possibly correlative with the
Smartville block of the northern Sierra
Nevada and the Great Valley block)
arc obducted remnants of the suture zones
along which these lithotectonic belts have
been jw:taposed. The Franciscan Com-
plex. which is confIned to the Coast
Ranges, lies tectonically beneath the
South Fork Mountain thrust and repre-
sents voluminous late Mesozoic episodic
offscrapings from the subducting slab. as
well as exotic lithologic entities brought in
by oblique convergence (Alvarez and oth·
ers, 1979). In contrast, the two older,
more easterly Klamath Mountains belts
each contain telescoped lithic remnants of
probable subduction zone, arc-trench
gap. and volcanic island arc regimes (Ir-
win, 1972; Burchfiel and Davis. 1975).
The entire Klamath Mountains province
has been intruded by discrete, pre-Creta-
eeous calc-&kaline plutollJl. High-pres-
sure subduction zone recrystallization is
indicated by isolated tectonic blocks of
214-223 m.y. old blueschist in the Hay-
fork and North Fork terrane, and blues-
chist of unknown age in the eastern
Paleozoic and Triassic belts. Thus. addi-
tions to the Klamath Mountains conti-
nental crust during this time period
involved both surficial accretion and deep
-seated emp1acement.
Sierra Nevada Province
Farther to the southeast, the Sierra Ne-
vada and White-Inyo Ranges are domi-
nated by coalescing granitic plutonll
(Bateman and Eaton, 1967; Bateman,
1974). AJthoU8h the earliest bodies are as
old as Triassic, the major bath-
olithic units are Cretaceous in age (photo
2). Five major intrusive episodes in the
Late Triassic-Late Cretaceous time span
are recognized (Kistler and others,
1971). These epochs, each of which in-
volved intrusive events over a 10-15 m.y.
interval, are separated in time by about 30
m.y. The initial mSrr'Sr ratios of the gra-
nitic rocks appear to reflect the relative
proximity to the Mesozoic continental
margin (Kistler and Peterman, 1973).
Evidently the magmas interacted isotopi-
cally with the pre-existing crust during
assimilAtion or anatexis, or the melts were
derived from isotopically distinct portions
of the upper mantle. All of the batholithic
rocks possess textures indicating emplace-
ment as crystal mushes - hence it is dif-
ficult to see how the magmas could
represent uncontaminated, high-temper-
ature liquids derived directly from the
mantle.
Remnants of the volcanic country rock
into which the plutons were intruded,
such as the rhyodacitic Ritter sequence,
are confined to central and eastern Sierra
Nevada roof pendants. Eastward-dipping
reverse faults in the Western Foothills
belt have juxtaposed oceanic crust against
the continental margin (Saleeby, 1978;
1979; Saleeby and others, 1978). This tec-
tonic regime, the Logtown Ridge-Mari-
posa-Smartville complex, contains
subduction zone olistostromes, ophiolites,
calc-alkaline volcanic island-arc rocks
(andesites and dacites), and eugeoclinal
sedimentary rocks. The Logtnwn Ridge-
Figure 6 Plate tectonic setting of Cali-
fornia during the Nevadan orogeny (Late
Triassic-late Jurassic Period). After VBr-
ious sources. including Dickinson in press.
Mariposa--Smartville complex, equivalent
to Rogue--Galice-Josephine units of the
Klamath Mountains, is predominantly
early to mid-Mesozoic in age. The com·
plex lies oceanward from the more east-
erly, predominantly Paleozoic sectiOn. In
general, stratigraphic tops of the units
face eastward in both younger and older
western Sierra Nevada terTanes (Bateffien
and Eaton, 1967). '
Although some older ophiolitic units,
such as the Kings-Kaweah complex,
seem to have boen tectonically trans-
ported thousands of kilometers north-
ward during early Mesozoic sea floor
spreading, the northwest-trending tec-
tonostratigraphic and batholithic belts in
the Sierra Nevada seem to reflect stages
involving large components of oblique li-
thospheric plate convergence (figure 6).
The Sierra Nevada foothills suture consti-
tutes the contact between Mesozoic accre-
tionary terrane and the more easterly
Paleozoic basement terrane. The Klamath
Mountains and the Sierra Nevada are cor·
relatable in terms of their petrotectonic
histories (Davis, 1969); but the Sierra
Nevada terrane probably represents expo-
sure of somewhat deeper structural levels
than the Klamath Mountains. Westward
movement of the Klamath Mountains
complex relative to the Sierra Nevada belt
appears to have begun by the end of Early
Cretaceous time (Jones and Irwin, 1971).
Total left-lateral strike slip displacement
on this series of tear faults was approxi-
mately 100 km.
Coast Ranges Province
The Great Valley-Franciscan couplet
lies on the Pacific Ocean side of the Klam·
ath-Sierran volcanic-plutonic belt. Al-
though its plate tectonic setting has been
recently reinterpreted as a striko-slip col-
lage (Jones and others, 1978), this pair of
lithologic belts has been widely recog·
nized as a classically developed arc-
trench gap section and trench milange,
respectively (Dickinson, 1970; Page,
1978). Both assemblages consist chiefly of
poorly sorted, flrst-cycle clastic sedi-
ments derived in large part from the adja-
cent calc-alkaline volcanic-plutonic arc
(Dickinson and Rich, 1972; Jacobson,
1978). At least the Cretaceous portion of
the Great Valley sequence represents a
miogeoclinal wedge laid down on the wes-
ternmost Sierra Nevada, Klamath Moun-
tains, Salinian block, and Peninsular
Range basement and immediately sea·
ward oceanic crust-all generally regard-
ed as portions of the North American
lithospheric plate. In contrast, the Fran-
ciscan coherent turbidites and sedimen-
cali/omia Geology september 1979
tary mBaDges, representing
mid-submarine fan and olistostromal
units, respectively, were deposited exclu-
sively on an allochthonous oceanic su~
strate---the capping crust of one or more
paleopacific plates (figure 7).
CRETACEOUS-EARLY TERTIARY
Frmciscon subdue/ion . ,"c.
.. """"".'
·~.:~<~·:':;~~L- ~~.
• •• '/1'_.";" _'- P,
. ....\... .. va..,..... ,"'......'
\.... I.·.·
\ \.'.i.·.· ..
\ \\~( .......... ftl........• l··;~{]·
\ , ....... ~'IC-¥,ul\''''1C "~
\ \....•., ore ~ ':fi!i
\ ~'.'.'.'.
i \-..........
NG"'" 11>,
rI: .:
".
.;
'.,. ........
:',; (,;
.~-/ . . ";.
... -:::::.->
Figure 7 Plate tectonic setting of Califor-
nia during tha Cordilleran orogeny (Creta-
ceous-Early Tertiary Period). After vBrious
sources, including Dickinson. in press.
Much of the Franciscan Complex has
been thoroughly tectonized in contrast to
the rather orderly Great Valley sequence.
The two terranes are juxtaposed along the
generally east-dipping Coast Range
thrust and related faults (Bailey and oth·
ers, 1970) (photo 3). Movement along
this system may have OCCllITed at various
times in the Cretaceous and early Tertiary
Periods subsequent to initiation of the
subduction zone about ISO m.y. ago. Prior
to the westward movement of this junc-
tion, the convergent lithospheric plate
boundary lay roughly 100 kIn to the east
in the vicinity of the Sierran western
Foothills bell. The time of step-out
must have followed generation of the
Great Valley ophiolite at 155 ± 5 m.y.
ago (Lanphere, 1971; Hopson and others,
t 975), but before deposition of the overly-
ing Tithonian cherts 140 m.y. ago (Pes~
sagno, 1973). Alternatively, Schweikert
and Cowan (1975) have suggested that
the ophiolite represents oceanic crust
flooring a marginal basin which lay im·
mediately to the west of an east-facing
western Sierran island arc. Although
large components of northward move-
ment of the oceanic lithosphere have been
postulated (Jones and others, 1978), the
contrasts in deformation and in inferred
pressures of metamorphic recrystalliza-
tion across the Coast Range thrust system
19'
require periods of rapid convcrgmoc and
profound underlIow of the Franciscan ter-
l'UIe prior to decoupling from the sub-
ducting slab (Ernst, 1965, 1911; Suppe,
1972).
Peninsular Ranges/Related Areas
Most of the Mesozoic volcanic and gra-
nitic rocks of the Mojave Desert (includ-
ing the San Bernardino Mountains), the
granitic sliver that constitutes the Salinian
block, and the Peninsular Ranges bath-
olith represent southward prblongations
of the Klamath-Sierra NC'lada volcanic-
plutonic arc. These units mark the mid to
late Mesozoic continental margin of
North America, although Cenozoic tran-
slations along the San Andreas tnnsform
system have displaced segments of this
temme 300 k.m to as much as 550 k.m
northwest of their original positions
(Page, in press).
Plutons in the Peninsular Ranges are
generally similar to plutons in the Sierra
Nevada. The more mafic plutons in the
Peninsular Ranges possess low initial
lIISr;e'Sr ratios and exhibit unfractionated
rare earth element patterns. These mafic
plutons occur on the west side of the Pe-
ninsular Ranges. The more silicic, more
potassic, plutons with higher lIISr;e'Sr
ratios are situated progressively farther
east. In addition, the age of post-Jurassic
granitic emplacement and crystallization
tends to decrease towards the craton. Plu-
tons on the south and west are character-
iz.ed by very high KlRb ratios, analogous
to isotopically primitive island arcs; this
ratio decreases in granites of the northern
and eastern Peninsular Ranges: Gastil
and others (1978) have proposed that the
western, more mafic portion of this ter-
rane was an island arc constructed on oce-
anic basement, whereas the more easterly
volcanie-plutonic belt was sited near the
North American continental margin.
Eastward consumption along two parallel
subduction zones is presumed to have
obliterated the hypothesized intervening
marginal basin, with collision and fmal
suturing occurring in earliest to mid--Crc-
tac.eous time.
Southern Extent of Great Valley -
Franciscan Couplet
The California borderland, including
the islands of Santa Catalina, Cedros, and
San Benitos, as well as Palos Verdes
peninsula and San Sebastian Vizcaino
peninsula, contains the southern equiva-
lents of the Great Valley-Franciscan cou-
plet. The presence of this terrane,
although poorly exposed and complexly
"l T S,'ve'. p.'.""o' cOmmunoc.lIon. 1978
faulted ~ IUpporta the theory d a
late Mesor.oic convergent boundary
marking the western termination of the
North American lith08pberic plate. The
great width of this terrane suggests tec-
tonic duplication accompanying strike-
slip faulting (Howdl and Vedder. in
preu).
Transverse Ranges Province
The Transverse Ranges in general, and
the San Gabriel Mountains in particular,
contain some of the most puzzling Meso-
zoic rocks exposed in the state. The a1kaI-
ic 220 :!: 10 m.y. old Lowe Granodiorite
has intruded the Precambrian and Paloe>
zoic(?)scctions. Plutons of early Triassic
age, which are similar to plutons in the
San Gabriel Mountains, have been em-
placed in the Mojave Desert. San Bernar-
dino Mountains, and the Wbite-Inyo
Range (Miller, 1977; 1978). The occur-
rence of these plutons possibly indicates
the onset of Mesozoic lithospheric plate
convergence and inferred deep-seated
partial fusion of subducted, eclogitized
oceanic crust. This Mesozoic volcanic-
plutonic terrane passed eastward to a
"shallow" back--arc sedimentary basin in
the eastern Mojave Desert (Burcbfiel and
Davis, 1975). The San Gabriel Mountains
are also the site ofseveral Cretaceous gra-
nitic intrusions, which have induced a
metamorphic overprinting on the adja-
cent country rocks.
About 55-60 m.y. ago, this calc-al.k.a-
line plutonic arc complex apparently was
tectonically transported en mass
northeastward over the eugeoclinaJ Pelo-
na Schist terrane along the gently west-
dipping Vincent thrust (Ehlig, in press;
Graham and England, 1976). The Pelona
Schist (Orocopia) protolith was depos-
ited in a late Mesozoic back-arc basin
which may have been a southwesterly,
more oceanic extension of the shallow
depositional basin of the eastern Mojave
continental regime. After deposition, the
rocks were deformed and recrystallized
during southwestward subduction accom-
panying latest Cretaceous closure and de-
struction of the depositional trough
(Haxel and Dillon, 1978). Evidence im-
plying the above modd includes areal and
structural disposition of the Pelona
Schist, and both relict volcanoclastic and
new, relatively high-pressure meta-
morphic mineral assemblages. Fragments
of this hypothesized marginal basin se-
quence arc dispersed along the San An-
dreas fault, extending from the C8Stern
Transverse Ranges southeast to the Sal-
ton Sea and into southwesternmost Ari-
rona.
California Geology September 1979
The PcIona Schist bu alternatively
been interpreted as a Franciscan equiva-
lent that was initially deposited to the
west, and later wu subducted to relatively
&hallow depths far to the east beneath the
cale--alkaline plutonic arc (Yeats, 1968;
Burchfiel and Davis. in press). The rocks
sub3equc:ntly were displaced upwards to
reappear in windows framed by the over-
lying granitic terrane.
Whatever the origin and sense ofmovc-
ment on the Vincent--<>COCOpia thrust sys-
tem, the rocks of both upper and lower
plates seem to have reached their meta-
morphic culminations in the present loca-
tion relative to one another-hence
recrystallization evidently outlasted
thrusting. In contrast, the Coast Range
thrust (with which this system is often
compared) juxtaposed rocks of different
metamorphic ages and pressure-tempera-
ture conditions of formation-that is,
thrusting outlasted metamorphism.
CENOZOIC HISTORY OF
CALIFORNIA
Volcanism
Volcanic rocks, predominantly of calc-
alkaline affinities, were erupted in much
of the eastern portion of California during
Cenozoic time. Cenozoic age volcanic
rocks are also located sporadically in the
California Coast Ranges and western
Transverse Ranges. The Modoc Plateau
consists of extnasive units (photo 4)
representing the southern terminus of the
currently active Cascade Mountain
Range and its Tertiary volcanic arc and
plateau basaltic precursors. Continental
tholeiites, high-aluminum basalts, ande-
sites and dacites are widespread in this
northeastern portion of California. These
volcanic rocks presumably represent the
superjacent covering of continental mar-
gin cale--alkaline plutonic rocks and back
-arc lavas generated over the eastward-
descending Farallon lithospheric plate.
Farther to the southeast, in the block
faulted, extensional Basin and Range and
Mojave Desert regions, alkalic
basalts occur in the volcanic assemblage,
indicating the derivation of magmas from
different upper mantle (as well as crus-
tal?) levels. This change in basaltic com-
position may reflect the transition from
early Tertiary plate convergence to the
ongoing state of complex northwest-
trending right-lateral transform motion
in Miocene time. This transform motion
also involved east-west crustal extension
as well as local compression.
Photo 1. Pre~mbrian anorthosit..-gabbro complex in the San
Gabriel Mountains. The differentiated mafic pluton exposed in this
-
roadcut was formed by the settling of crystals from the magmo.
resulting in II cumulus. llIIysred structure. The top of the magma
chamber is on the right indicating post-crystaUiUltion tilting of
about 90'. The light-colored diapiric structure in the left center of
the photo. which is composed almost exclusively of enorthosit9.
clearly indicates the top of the magma chamber during crystlliliul-
lion. Photo by W.A. Srpnt.

Photo 2. Mesozoic granitic rocks form the steep eastern lace of

the Sierra Nevada; view from lone Pine. in Owens Valley. looking
west. The Alabama Hills, composed of Mesozoic volcanic and
granitic plutonic rocks. occupy the foreground. The earthquake of
1872 occurred along the Owens Vallev fault. a segment of which
passes ecross the foreground just beyond the fence. Photo by
~ WA. Bf)'lInt.

Photo 3. Deformed segment of the Soda Creek thrust. a seg-:-"

ment of the Coast Range thrust (1). in the Coast Ranges. south of
Clear lake: view east. Sheared mudstone of the Opper Jurassic
Knoxville Formetion is to the left of the fault zone: serpentinite lies
to the right of the fault. The Knoxville Formation is the basal mem.-
ber of the miogeoclinal Great Vallev seQuance. The isolated ser-
pentinite at this location may belong to the eugeoclinal Franciscan
Complex. but post Mesoloic deformation has obscured the evi-
dence. Phoro by WA. Bry4nl.

Photo 4. Surprise Vallev fault line scarp. looking

south-southwest from Surprise Valley. CenOloic
-
Werner basalts comprise the tilted fault block of the
Warner Range (background). The structural geologyl
in this portion of northeasternmost California is char-
acteristic of the Basin and Range geomorphic pro-
vince. but the lithology is more representative of the
Modoc Plateau geomorphic province. Photo by
WA.8ry4nt.

california Geology September 1979 193

 l'binping of the crust and uaociated
volcaniam. aloog a northern extrapolation
or the Eut Pacific Rise (Menard, 1964)
may rdlect baek--&rC spreading in the Ba~
rio and Range province (Stewart. 1978).
The top of the low-velocity zone in the
mantle (asthenoephere) is at the base of
thie attenuated crust, and along with high
beat now measurements, indicates the
pn:IeDt-day cxiste:nce of a diffuse mantle
heat source beneath the Basin and Ranac
province. Ovcrridinl of the East Pacific
Rise can be inferred from eumination of
figme 2.
The Coast Ranges and western portion
of the Transverse Ranges bear evidence of
widespread basaltic and calc-alkaline vol-
canism and hypabyssal intrusion from
late Oligocene time to the present. These
rocks are of secondary importance.
however. compared to the voluminous
clastic 5Cdimcntary units. Igneous activity
appears to be related to a thcnnal event
associated with the proJI'CSSively pa.ter
over-riding of the Rut Pacific Rise thcr~
mal anomaly commencinl approximately
29 m.y. ago (Atwater, 1970; Hawkins,
1970). The shallow level of derivation of
the melts is indicated by the absence of
alkali bualts and hypcral.kalic felsic plugs.
Depositional Basins
Cenozoic marine depositional basins
covCl'Cd most of the western half of the
ttate but are curTeI1tly mueb reduced in
areal extent to the present-day narrow
continental shelves and the moderately
broad southern California borderland. In
contrast, continental deposition has pm·
cecdc:d at high local rates in the Basin and
Ilangc province, and in. parts of the Great
Valley, the Coast Rangcs, the Mojave Dee-
ert and the Tranlvcrse Ranges provinces.
Tectonic Development
Both on-thore and off-6horc areas are
characteriz.ed by hent and graben strue-
tuns; the California Coast RanICS and
borderland are also typified by moderate-
ly intense folding. rdlcctinl loc:al com·
pression. Increasing numbers of rotations
and pu.U--.part structures associated with
the San Andreu strike-slip system in
westlm California arc being rccogniud
(Crowell, 1974; Hall, 1978). Positive
topographic areas along thiJ shear system
reflect "locking bends" where excess mass
has accumulated; the San Gabriel Moun-
taim represent a prime cu.mple. Because
the transform boundary transects the con~
tinental margin at a low angle. northwest~
ward tranlportation of the Sa-
liniaa-Nacimicnto block relative, to the
".
North American plate .... duplicated the
volcurio-plutoaic an; aro-tn::neb pp,
and aubductioo. zone in the ocntral Coast
Ranges and borderlaDd (Crouch, 1979).
Although the pracnt-day kinematic
deformation is complex, movement along
the San Andreas fauJt system in general
appcan to have stepped eastward with
time. Earlier stages of Ilip on the San An-
dreas fault system occumd chiefly along
the San Simeon-HOllgri, southern Califor·
nia borderland complex. and San Gabriel
faults during slivering of the Salin.ian
block (Hall, 1975; Crowell, 1975; Howell
and Vedder. 1978). Movement along the
fault system has gradually int.cnsified on
later breaks sueb as the San Jacinto and
Hayward faults (AlIco, 19S7; Garfunkc1,
1974) (figure 2). This eastward migra.
tion of the active strike-elip zone proba-
bly is a result ofthe progrcssiveovcrr:iding
of the East Pacific Rise by the North
American continental crust--capped li-
thospheric plate.
Measurements of the ~cot mag-
netism of Miooene volcanic rocks from the
western Transvcnc Ranges indicate Cl'Up-
tions at about 10" lower magnetic latitude.
An approximate 7S clockwise rotation of
these units occurred durinl tectonic
transportation to their present location
(Kamerling and Luyendyk, 1m; 1979),
Such rotation implies that individual scg-
ments of the weatlm Transverse Ranges
may have behaved as coherent blocks
caught in the master right-latera1 San An-
dreas fault syst.cm.
Eaatcrnmost California during
Cenozoic time was the lite of subdue.
tion zone ca1c-&lbline igneous
activity-Ioc:ally cxtinJUished by the ces-
sation of convergent lithospheric plate
motion-block faultinl and extension,
uplift (espccially in the batholithic ter·
ranes), and local continental aUuviation.
Western California was subjected to wid&-
spread but retreating marine embay-
menta, restricted igneous activity of
exclusively shallow derivation, loc:al com·
pression and oblique rifting-all associat-
ed with an early stage of oblique
subduction, gradually s.ucceeded by the
North American-Pacific transform. sys-
tem. This major strain system, although
simply expressed within the ocean basin,
has taken on a very complex aspect in the
medium of sialic crust.
Sea Level Fluctuations
A final point of interest involvcs fluc-
tuations in sea level. While studyinl the
bathymetry of mid-occanic rift systems,
California Geology September 1979
PatIClIlJ and Sclater (1977) recopiu:d
that water depths are rouJbly proportion-
al to the age of the oceanic lithosphere;
hence as the mean age of the ocean buin5
increases, sea water tends to drain from
the contincots. Diclrinson (in press) has
pointed out that world-wide marine
regressions should be characteristic of
times in which yOUDI oceanic crust-
capped lithosphere is preferentially sub-
ducted-as wouJd be the case when North
America encroached upon the Rut Pa-
cific Risc. Thus the local obliteration of
this ridge system alonl the California
coast in mid--Cenozoic time could have
been responsible for the ubiquitous hiatus
in shallow marine deposition on the conti-
nents and the flood of t.crTcstriaillCdimen·
tation durinl OliJOCClle time. It also
seems likely that regional elevation of the
lithOlphere would accompany the over-
riding of the ridge crest by the leading
edge of the continent.
GLOSSARY
'" parI. after GloSS8ry of Geologr.
American Geological Instmlla. /972.
allochthon - a mass of rocks that has baen
moved Irom its original site 01 origin by
tectonic fOfces. as in a thrust sheet,
anatexis - melting of preexisting fock
aulacogen - a fault-bounded i"tracratonic
lrough or graben.
autochthon - a body of rocks that remains
al its sile of origin, where il is rOOled 10
its basemenl I rocks may be mildly to
considerably deformed) .
cralon - a part of the Earlh's crust which
has attained stability. with litlle defor-
mation over a long period of time.
eugeoellne - area of contlnenul rise
where strata areldeposi ted on the
ocean floor beyond thelcontlnentll
slope; vo I canogen 1c I sed; ments\are
derived from the landward arc.
hypabyssal - pertaining to an igneous intru-
sion. or to the rock of that intrusion.
whose depth is intermediate between
that of abyssal (great depth) and the
surface.
island arc - curved chain of iSlands. gener-
ally convex toward the open ocean,
margined by a deep submarine !fInch
and enclosing e deep sea basin.
lithosphere - Upper, relatively brittle layer
of the Earth.
lithotectonic - a term used to de-
scrlbe l an assemblage of rocks
formed in a particular tectonic
environment.
megashear - a strike-slip lault 01 such eK-
tent that it underlies the entire orogenic
belt.
miogeocline -area of continental rise stra-
ta deposited on the ocean Iloor beyond
the continental slope: volcanism is not
associated with sedimentation.
Olistrostrome - a sedimentary deposit con-
sisting 01 a chaotic mass 01 intimately
miKed heterogeneous materials that ac-
cumulate asa semilluid body by subma-
rine gravity sliding or slumping of
unconsolidated sediments. It isa mapp-
able. lens-like stratigraphic unit lacking
true bedding but intercalated among
normally bedded sequences.
ophiolite - II group of mafic and ul-
tramafic igneous rocks ranging
from splliteand basalt to gabbro
and peridotite, IncludIng rocks
rich in serpentine, chlorite, epi-
dote, lind albi te derived from them
by later metamorphism,whoseori-
gin is associ ,Hed wi th the forma-
tion of a sprellding center.
petrotectonic - structu,al petrology. in-
clud""g or eKtending to analysis 01 the
movements that produced the rock's
labric.
Phan~"ozolc - that part 01 geologic lime
lor which. in the corresponding rocks.
the evidence ollile is abundant (espe·
cially higher lormsl .
plotolilh - unmetamolphosed rock from
which a given metamolphic rock was
formed by metamorphism.
stnke-sllp - in a lault the component of the
movemenl or slip that is parallel to lhe
strike of the fault I horizontal displace-
ment)
"Sr/"S, - stronlium isotopic ratios used to
determine the nature of the parent rock
from whIch magnas are derived and the
amounl 01 contamination. The Sr lalio
is usually low for most oceanIc igneous
rocks and hIgher for continental rocks
lectonlC erOSIon - removal by subduction
01 malerial from the underside of an
overridIng lithospheric plate.
thermal aureole - a zone surrounding an
igneous Int,uSlon in which the country
rock shows the effects 01 contact
metamorphism.
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CrelaCCOus paleogeography of the Salinian
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McDougall, K.A., Editors, Mesowic
paleogeography of the western United
States:Society of Economic Paleontologists
and Mineralogists, Pacific Coast Paleo-
geography Symposium 2, p. 107-116.
Howell, D.G., and Vedder, J.G., in press,
Struetunl implications of stratigraphic dis·
continuities across the SQulhem California
borderland (Chapter 16) in Ernst, W.G.,
Editor, The geotectonic development of
California (W.W. Rubey Volume No. I).
Invin, W.P., 1960, Geologic reconnaissance of
tbe northern Coast Ranges and Klamath
Mountains, California, with a summary of
the mineral resources: California Division
of Mines Bulletin 179, SO p.
Invin, W.P., 1972, Terranes of the western Pa-
leozoic and Triassic belt in the southern
Klamath Mountains, California in Geologi·
cal Survey Research, 1972: U.S. Geological
Survey Professional Paper 8OO-C. p. CI03-
CIII.
Irwin, W.P., 1977, Review of Paleozoic rocks
ohhe Klamath Mountains in Stewart. J.H.,
Stevens, C.H., and Fritsche, A.E., EditOl'$,
Paleozoic paleogeography of the western
United States: Pacific Section, Society of
Economic Paleontologists and Minera1o-
gists, Pacific Coast Paleogeography Sympo-
sium I, p. 441-454.
Irwin, W.P., Jones, D.L., and Kaplan, T.A.,
1979, Radiolarians from pre-Nevadan
rocks of the Klamath Mountains, Califor·
nia and Oregon in Howell, D.G., and
McDougall K.A., Editors, Mesozoic paleo-
geography of the western United States: P.·
cific Section, Society of Economic Paleon-
tologists and Mineralogists, Pacific Coast
Paleogeography Symposium 2,p. 303-310.
Irwin, W.P., Jones, D.L., and Pessagno, E.A.,
Jr., 1977, Significance of Mesoz.oic ra-
diolarians from the pre-Ne...ad&n rocks of
the southern Klamath Mountains, Califor-
nia: Geology, v. 5, p. 557-562.
Jacobson, MJ., 1979, Petrologic variations in
Franciscan $IUIdstone from the Diablo
Range, California in HowclJ, D.O., and
McDougall, K.A.,Editors, MCIOZOic paleo-
geography of the weslem United StaleS:
Pacific Section, Society of Economic Pale-
ontologists and Minera1ogbts, PaciticCout
IPaleogeogn.pby Symposium 2, p. 401~ 17.
Jennings, C.W., 1977, Geologic Map of Cali-
fornia, Scale 1:7SO,CDl: California Division
of Mines and Geology.
Jones, D.L, Blake, M.C., Jr., Bailey, RH.,
and McLaughlin, R.L., 1978, Distribution
oflate Mesozoic mlianges along Ihe Pacific
".
Coast of North America: Tectonophysics,
v. 47, p. 207-222.
Jones, D.L., and Irwin, W.P., 1971, Structural
implications of an offset Early CTetaceous
shorcline in northern California: Geologi-
cal Society of America Bulletin, v. 82, p.
glS-822.
Kamerling, M.J., and Luyendyk, B.P., 1977,
Tectonic rotation of the Santa Monica
Mountains in soutbem California: Ame:ri-
can Geophysical Union Transactions, v. 58,
p. 1126 (Abstract).
Kamerling, MJ., and Luyendyk, B.P., 1979,
Tectonic rotations of the Santa Monica
Mountains region, western Transverse:
Ranges, California, suggested by paleomag-
netic vectors: Geological Society of Ameri-
ca Bulledn, v. 90, p. 331-337.
Kistler, R.W., Evemden,J.F., and Shaw, H.R.,
1971, SielTll Ne:vada plutonic cycle; Part I,
Origin of composite granitic batholiths:
Geological Society of America Bulletin, v.
82, p. 853-g6g.
Kistler, R.W., and Peterman, Z.E., 1973,
Variations in Sr, Rb, K, Na and initialll'lSr/
IJSsr in Mesozoic granitic rocks and intrUd.
ed wall rocks in central California, Geologi-
cal Society of America Bulletin, v. 84, p.
3489-3512.
Lanphere, M.A., 1971, Age of the Mesozoic
oceanic crust in the California Coast
Ranges: Geological Society of America
Bulletin, v. g2, p. 3209-3212.
Menard, H.W., 1964, M.rine geology of the
Pacific: McGraw-Hill Co., New York, 271 p.
Miller, CF., 1977, Early alkalic plUlonism in
the cale-alkalic batholithic belt of Califor-
nia; Geology, v. 5, p. 685-688.
Miller, CF., 1978, An early Mesozoic alkalic
magmatie belt in westem North America in
Howell, D.G., and McDougall, K.A., Edi·
tors, Mesozoic paleogeography of the: west-
em United States: Pacific Section, Society
of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralo-
gists, PaeificCoast Paleogeography Sympo-
sium 2, p. 163-187.
Page. B.M., 1978, Franciscan melanges com-
pared with olistostromes of Taiwan and It-
aly: TectonophysiC$, v. 47, p. 223-246.
Page, B.M., in press, The soulhern Coast
Ranges (Chapter 13) in Ernst, W.G., Edi-
tor, The geotectonic development of Cali-
fornia (W.W. Rubey Volume: No. I).
Parsons, Barry: and Sclater, J.H., 1977, An,
analysis of the variatm of ocean floor bath-
ymetry IIDd heat flow with age: Journal of
Geophysical Research, .... 82, p. 803-g27.
Pessagno, E.A., Jr., 1973, Age and significance
of radiolarian chcns in the California Coast
Ranges: Geology, v. I, p. 153-156.
Poole, F.G., and Sandberg, C.A., 19n, Missis-
sippian paleogeography and tectonics of the
western United Stales in Stewart, J.H., Ste-
vens, C.H., and Fritsche, A.E., &li1Ol'$, Pa-
leozoic paleogeography of the western
United States: Pacific Section, Society of
Economic Paleontologists and Minera1o-
gists, Pacific Coast Paleogeography Sympo-
sium I, p. 67-86.
Saleeby, J.B., 1978, Kings River ophiolite.
southwest SierTll Nevada foothills, Califor-
nia: Geological Society of America Bulle-
tin, v. 89, p. 617-636.
Saleeby, J.B., 1979, Kaweah serpentinite me..
lange, southwest Sierra Nevada foothilb,
GaJifomia Geology September 1979
California: Geological Society of America
Bulletin, v. 90, p. 29-46.
Saleeby, J.B., Good..-in, S.E., Sharp, W.O., and
Busby, CJ., 1978, Early Mc:sowic paleotec-
tonic-paleogeographic reconslruction of
the southern SiClTa Nevada region in Ho-
wcll, D.G., and McDougall, K.A., Editors,
Mesowic paleogeography of the western
United States: Pacific Section, Sociely of
Economic Paleontologists and Mineralo-
gists, Pacific Coast Paleogeography Sympo-
sium 2, p. 311-3l6.
ScholL D.W., and Vallier, T.L., 1979, Tectonic
erosion al a convergenl margin, a mech-
anism that could have contributed to the
truncation of Cordilleran geosynclinal
trends: Geological Society of America, Ab-
stracts with Programs, v. II, p. 126.
Schwcickert,R.A.,andCowan,D.S.,1975,Early
Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the western
Sierra Nevada,California:Geological Soci-
ety of America Bulletin, '0'.86, p.1329-1336.
Silver, L.T., and Anderson, T.H., 1974, Possi-
ble left-Ialeral early to middle Mesozoic
disruplion of the southwestern North
American craton margin: Geological Soci-
ety of America, Abstracts with Programs,
v. 6, p. 955.
Silver, L.T., McKinney, C.R., Deutsch, S., and
Bolinger, J., 1963, Precambrian age: deter-
minations in the western San Gabriel
Mountains, CaJifomia: Journal of Geology,
v. 71, p. 196-214.
Stewart, J.H., 1972, Initial deposits in Ihe Cor-
dilleran geosyncline-cvidence of a late Pre-
cambrian « gSO m.y.) continental
separalion: Geological Socic:ly of America
Bulletin, v. 83, p. 1345-1360.
Stewan, J.H., 1978, Basin-range structure in
weslem North America-a reviC'N: in Smith,
R.B., and Eaton, G.P., Editors, Cenozoic
tectonics and regional geophysics of the
western Cordillera: Geological Society of
America Memoir 152.
Stewart, J.H., and Poole, F.G., 1974, Lower
Paleozoic and uppc:rmost Precambrian
Cordilleran miogeocline, Great Basin, west-
ern United States in Dickinson, W.R.,&li_
tor, Tectonics and sedimentation: Society
of Economic Paleontologists and Minera1-
ogists, Special Publication No. 22, p. 23-57.
Stewart, J.H., and Suczc:k., CA., 1977, Cambri-
an and latest Precambrian paleogeography
and lectonics in the VfCStem United States
in Stewart, J.H., Stevens, C.H., and Frit-
sche, A.E.. Editors, Paleozoic paleogeogra-
phy of the western United States: Pacific
Section, Society of Economic Paleontolo-
gists and Minera1ogists, Pacific Coast
Paleogeography Symposium I, p. 1-11.
Suppc. John, 1972, Interrelationships of high-
pressure metamoll)hism, deformation, and
sedimentation in Franciscan tectoniC$, USA:
24th International Geological CongTCSS,
Montreal, Reports Section 3, p. 552-559.
Windley, B.F., 1977, The evolving continents:
John Wiley &; Sons, NC'N York, 385 p.
Yeats, R.S., 1969, Rifting and rafting in the
southern California borderland in Dickin·
son, W.R., and Grantz, Arthur, Editors,
Conference on Geologic Problems of the
San Andreas F.ult System, Proceedings,
Stanford, California, 1967: Stanford. Uni-
versity Publications in Geological Sciences,
vol. 11, p. 307-322. ~
 Thirty new revised Special Studies
Zones.ups were issued by the California SPECIAL STUDIES ZONES MAPS
Division of Mines and Geology on July I,
1979. These nups were distributed to the
alTocted cit~, counties, and Slateagcncies NEW AND REVISED
for preliminary review. Cities and coun-
t~ review the maps and submit com-
F,gUUI 1 LocatIons 01lh8 30 mlllp& 01 new or .evlsed ronas. Supplement NoS to Spec.al
ments to the State Mining and Geology Publicetion .2.
Jenue.y 1977 edition.
Board. Revisions are nude where war-
ranted. The official maps will be issued by
the Slate Geologist on January I, 19S0.

C'l,et tnd CQun"es lI11eCled bv p,opoHld nllw Of

,evlsed SpeClel Slud,es Zooet tl'lOWO 00 p.elimi-
n•• v '.Vlew mllps of Julv I. 1979
CITIES COUNTIES
B.e. Hem"l Al,m~.

COfon. L,ke EISI"",e Imp.".1

O• •n lola' Un,on CIty O•• n08
S4:1",.gs YOf~ L,nda R, .... tod.
F,etnOtl' $.lin .Jtc,nIO $.lin O..go

These maps constitute the sixth group

of zone maps issued in compliance with
the Alquist-Priolo Special Sludies ZDnes
Act of 1972. Under this Act, the State
Geologist is required to delineate Special
Studies Zones to encompass traces of p0-
tentially and rcoently active faults that
"constitute a potential hazard to struc-
I -{
tures from surface faulting and fault
creep" (Section 2622. Chapter 7.5, Divi-
sion 2, Public Resources Code). In com- - ,~i-
---_.-.---- _._._---
-~r.;+,,,"""'=-~~"'r.f.Tif~=i"'.:..::;.::;.::;':o:.'-·
451
-lr---; ,
1
-~

pliance with the Act, the State Geologist

has a continuing program to revise exist-
ing wncs and delineate new ones.
.I 10 ••• ,i:~~:~t,:1Z :. }
,I 13 14 71
Special Studies Zones arc delineated on II" 'IS 16 ._._._-_._._.: _.--_.--_.- l:
topographic quadrangle maps at 8 scale of
one inch equals 2,000 feet ( 1:24,000). A 11 I )
total of267 official maps have been issued f1iT19'Iil"., ~
\~J~=+'h-:';:'''';4:f.;d-.!...--1ii1ii1--1--~''"'::::.\..-:
I • • I I • l ..

.r "
to date. These maps may be seen at the S'~ 1100 1

plannins departments of the alTcctc:d cit- 21 23 24 25 I 21 29,.

ies and counties or at any CDMG District 21 !2J
Officc (los Angdes, Sattamento, San
Francisco). Maps also may be purchased
,---I·....
lI~'
- ,

from Blue Print ScrvK:e Company, 149 o, zo t

10
I I
:50 WILES
' ,
Second Street, San Francisco 94111
(Phone (415) 497-87(0). There is a
,"
minimum charge, plus handling and
C.O.D. charges. The maps shook! be or- Table 1 Quad.angle Meps of new and reVIsed Speciel Studies zones ,ssued on July I.
dered by quadrangle name (see table).

Details of the Alquist-Priolo Special -,,

,
....
1979 lor preliminary r8Y18W (numbers mdlCele loceliOn of quedrengle on Indell mepl

YOI'~ LJnde "

""
AIba.h,.
EI.."",e "n ~~
E:enhquek. v-V

,.,.,."
Studies ZDnes Act arc described in
CDMG Special Publication 42. Fault -.-, Ptll<lo Oem
Who'.w....
Woldome.
Mu'''lle
Monumenl Peel<
Ague C.I..nl. S4:1"ngs
Hazard Zones in California. This publica-
tion may be purchased OYCT the counter at
-,-, oe.,! HOI $ptlngt
s...... Pelm. "'.Ilev """ Temecula
Pech.nge
"'''ovo Tap,lI<Io
S_nav P " .
Call1zo Min
any CDMG District Officc or ordered by -,, San JactnlO
Heme, "" Pala
M.... G••nde "
-" 8,.wl6y
mail from California Division of Mines Corona Soult> W •• ne.. Rel\Ct> -" AlamollO

'"" -'"
Lake Malh"""s Ranch", HoltVIlle We"
and Goology, P.O. Box 2980, Sacramento,
"
CA 95812, for $I.OO.... Eari W. Hart. , ReVIsed rone map
"
California Geology september 1979
'"

CALIFORNIA MINING REVIEW
Thelollow,ngUKcerptsaretakenlrom MINERALS IN THE ECONOMY OF CALIFORNIA. Slate Mineral Profile
John McWilliams, Slate Liaison Ofheer, U S Bureau of Mines: James F DaViS. State Geolog,st. California DiVISIon of Mines and Geology:
and William B. Clalk, Geologist. California Division 01 Mlnesand Geology. SMP was published by the BUfaau of Mines. U.S. Department
of the Interior. in cooperation with California Department of Conservation. ,Editor
A total of 34· non-fuel mineral com-
modities are produced in California (ta-
bles I and 2). California leads the nation
in the production ofasbestos, boron, Port-
land cement, diatomite, sand and gravel,
rare earths. and tungsten. It is third in the
production of crude petroleum and is a
major source of natural gas, salt, clay,
stone, magnesium compounds, sodium
compounds, gypsum, iron ore and talc.
MINERALS PRODUCED
Non-Metallic Minerals
Excluding natural gas, natural gas liq-
uids, and crude petroleum, mineral pro-
duction in California increased 6% in
1978 to reach $1.4 billion and rank third
in the nation. Cement was in the lead with
32% of the total value. Boron, with 19%,
and sand and gravel, with 18% of the
total mineral value were next. These three
commodities aecount for $%3 million or
69% of the total mineral value and 94%
of the increase in value in 1978.
Production of cement declined 282,000
Ions (3%) in 1978 but ils overall value
increased 10% to $445 million because of
higher unit value. Production of boron
was up 4% to 1.5 million tons and its
value was up 10% to $260 million. Sand
and gravel production remained essential-
ly unchanged (up less than 1%) and val-
ue was up only slightly (2.8%) to $258
million.
Other significant changes in non-me-
tallic mineral commodities include asbes-
tos, which declined 10% in quantity and
5% in total value, and lime, which de-
creased 13% in quantity and 20% in val-
ue. Feldspar, lithium' compounds,
magnesium compounds, sodium carbon-
ate. sodium sulfate, clay, diatomite, gyp-
sum and stone all declined in quantity but
only lithium compounds, feldspar. and so-
dium sulfate declined significantly in val-
'98
1977 1978
ue. Non-metallic minerals comprise 90%
of the total value of non-fuel mineral pro·
duction in California. Preliminary pro-
duction data for oil and gas show a slighl
dedineofO.6% and 1.3% respectively ac·
cording to the California Division of Oil
and Gas.
Metallic Minerals
The important metallic minerals are
iron ore. which declined in production in
1978 but maintained its ovcrall value; mo-
lybdenum. which declined sharply in pro-
duction but increased substantially in
value; tungsten. which increased strongly
in quantity but only slightly in value; and
rare earths which increased in both quan-
tity and value. These four minerals com-
prise 99% of the value of metallic mineral
production or $138 million.
Gold declined 20% in production but
registered a 4 % increase in total value
because of higher unit prices. In 1978, sil-
ver increased 5% in quantity and II % in
value compared with 1977. Copper in-
creased 18% in quantity and 17% in val-
ue over 1977.
Oil and Gas
California continues to be a major
source of oil and natural gas (table la).
Oil was produced from 234 active fields in
16 counties at a rate of more than one
million barrels per day. Approximately
50% of the state's total oil production was
from Kern County. During 1978 com-
bined State and Federal.off-shore fields
accounted for 17% of the oil and 7% of
the natural gas produced in California.
Most of the State off-shore production
came from the Wilmington and Hunting-
ton Beach fields. All of the Federal off-
shore production came from Carpi:nteria
and Dos Cuadras fields. About 50% of
the natural gas production in 1978 was
associated with oil production. The rest
came from natural gas fields largely
california Geology September 1979
1979. by
(95%) located in District 6 which com-
prises the area north and east of San Fran-
cisco Bay. In 1978, 313 billion cubic feet
of natural gas were produced, a decrease
of 1.3% from 1977.
GOLD
Troy Gold Industries of Alberta, Can-
ada, reopened Ihe Blazing Star Mine in
the Mother Lode country near West
Point, Calaveras County. Up to 165 tons
of ore per day can be processed by the
combination gravity and notation mill to
yield I to 1.5 ounces' of gold per ton.
Tungsten, copper, and silver arc also pro-
duced. The mine was first located in 1857
and worked in the oxidized zone to a
deplh of 400 feet.
GEOTHERMAL
RESOURCES
Union Oil Company of California re-
portedly has proven geothermal reserves
equivalent to 165 million barrels of oiL
The company is operator and half owner
of The Geysers operation in northern
California, the only commercial geother-
mal operation in the Uniled States and the
largest in the world. The steam is used by
Pacific Gas and Electric to power 12 elec-
trical generators with a 10lal capacity of
more than 500,000 kilowatts. The cost of
geothermal sleam purchased by Pacific
Gas and Electric at The Geysers increased
from 14.18 mils per kilowatt hour to 16.02
mils per kilowatt hour but remains the
cheapest source ofenergy for PO &E other
Ihan hydro-electric power. For compari-
son, electrical energy from oil costs 45
mils per kilowatt hour. Geothermal ener-
gy provides 6% of the electrical energy
used by the company's 5.7 million cus-
tomers in northern and central California.
The tOlal Geysers project is expected to
eventually achieve a capacilY of 2 million
kilowatts.
 Additional sites drilled and tested by
Union Oil Company of California are in
the Brawley area in the Imperial Valley
where the company has agreed to sell geo-
thermal energy to Southern California
Edison. The power company will build a
l(),OOO Kilowatt generating plant to begin
operation in 1981. This plant will test tbe
economic and technologic feasibility of
using the highly corrosive hot brines for
generating electrical power. If successful,
the agreement could lead to construction
of as much as 460,CKlO kilowatts of capaci-
ty. Other geothermal test sites in the Im-
perial Valley include the Sallon Sea in the
northern section and Heber in the south-
ern section.
COAL RESOURCES
Ca1i£ornia has insignificant coal re-
sources of its own but anticipates that as
much as 15% of its energy needs may be
provided by coal by 1990, up from the6%
presently supplied, according 10 the State
Energy Commission. Two applications
for coal-using plants arc presently before
the Commission: the Pacific Gas and
Electric plant in northern California and
Southern California Edison Company's
Coal Gasification Project. in San
Bernardino County. ThiI 5-ycar
piJot. project will'testla, process developed
by Teuco, Inc., to produce non-pol-
luting gas from coal to be used di-
rectly in Southern California Edison's
electric power generating plant at Dag-
gett, 12 miles east of Barstow, California.
MINERALS IN THE
ECONOMY
Employment in the mining industry
averaged 37,000 in 1978, including oil and
natural gas workers, earning a total of
$687.7 million. The average annual wage
was S18,587. About 0.4% of the State's
non-agriculturallabor force is employed
in mining. The average hourly wage was
down 19% from 58.86 to 57.18, and aver-
age weekly earnings were down 9% from
5373.01 to S34O.33 in 1977. Average
hours of work per week increased from
42.1 to 47.4.
With nearly half (43 %) of California
land under Federal ownership, revenue
from mineral and oil and gas leases is sub-
stantial. In 1978, mineral leases on Fed-
eral land returned over $2.9 million in
royalties. On-shore oil and gas leases re-
turned $16 million in royalties from oil
and $4.5 million from natural gas. OfT-
shore oil and gas leases returned SI1.7
million in oil royalties and over $314,000
in natural gas royalties. There was no
commercial production of goothermal en-
ergy from Federally leased land in 1978.
The State collects rents and royalties
from mineral, oil and gas, and goothermal
leases on State-owned lands and on lands
for which the mineral rights are reservccl
in whole or part to the State. For the peri-
od ending June 30, 1979, mineral and
dredging.royalties to the State areestimat-
ed to be S339,500, oil and gas royalties are
estimated at 587.2 million, and royalties
from geothermal energy at $4.3 million.
The latter funds are placed in a trust fund
pending the outcome of litigation to deter-
mine ownership of geothermal energy. At
issue is the question of whether it should
be regarded as a mineral with ownership
by the mineral-rights holder, or as water
owned by the holder of surface or water
rights. At the Federal level, geothermal
energy is regarded as a mineral.

Table I. Mineral Production in California

1917 '978 pi

,-
Min...1 Ou.n"ly Vllu. OUln",y V.lu.
Ilhou ..""11 (thou.""11
"'_"0.
B",on 1.4,,,,,,.,......
on"" 'on•. 76.207
• HUn A.m
u. •
t1•.cl2

- -
th"", .."" ...."" lOn' .. ~'m ~
C."",nl
M.~
P",tlo......_.,
•••
00.

.,..
w
9.271

,. .. _.,as w
•. w W

-
Cloy•.. 00. ,.~ 11.7'" 2.016, 13"28
C""p., 1'<><:0 1>10 oont.nl ot 0'''. "0.) ....o,t 'on•. ~ ~
"'
Oi.,,,,,,i,
G.m S,on
Gold I ,""O
.
, .

l>Ie oon'.nl ot ",... "0 I

'h""..nd ....ort 'O/l' ...

"oy""ne. . ,.
"4
~

- . .=
O~
~ "4
~
~-
~

••
-- ., ,- ....,
, •.=,
Gyp ,., til""' .."" oh"" 'on•.. '.m ,.~

,-
1.0 (,.oo....bItI oon'.n' 01 ",... "0 I

M.,ou,¥ ..
...."" 'Onl .
lh.,...."" .... ",1 lO/l.
7&-1>"""" '11.1:0 ... w
21.0'11
W
m ,9.1,9

Pumio.
S."" •..., G'
til"".."" ""on 'Onl ..
,011.138
,~ ~
2S8.(XX1
I. 00 ~$'
SI....' I ,.oo blo oon'.n' 0' ",... "0 I 'h"", .."" troy "",no •• A
•
.. - .-
Su",.
C'u ...." Ih.,...."" ....",t Ion. :l.Iml lIO.loI6 ~.= ~,oo

O'm."",o" .. do _....
• ,=
hlc: ..._
Zinc: ('00"".,.1>10 oon,."l ot ",... "0 I
""",I,on.
00
~", "n, 109.816

Comb'.......Iu. 01 o.lc:,um ohl",id•. O"bon diox"'•• I.ld....,. ~o" "". W"um oompo,,,,,, •• m.g ....·
....m oompound •. molybd.num. 1'00" p.'IU•. phosph.,. 'oot ('9771. po.....um .. II.. "''''
... 11, m.,.1 oono'n".'''. "". """"um eo,bono'., """,oum ...It.'•. 'ung",,,, oonc.nll.,••""
i'.m. indio.,... by Symbol W 241. '33
To'" 1.-ooo.'1!;g

I' P••limln.. y. Nil. No' •••,I.b" W W,'hlHlld '0 •• o'" <lIOClOoing incll.,"u.1 oomp.ny OO/lhd.nti.llnlo,m.,ion: ••Iu. Inc"""" wun ,·V ..... ot u.m. ,n.1 eoMolM ",OClOud·
XX Hol .pplk.t>lO I
• P,oduotlon •• m..... 'fI"
by m,n. "'''pmfln,., ..I... ", ml,tl"blo p.oduotlon I 'fIO"'ding con..,mp'io" by p.oduo.'11

Table
". Oil and Gas PrOduction ,n California'

19711"
1971 1976" "17
C,ud. 0,1 N.,u,.1 G..
On_ohor. 'hou .."" 12 s.lIon 1>1I..... 266.965 m.= On_ohor. m.lhO/l cubic I. .' 297,767
Olt_....",. O,.
OU_ ....
S,.,. 00 11I,196 15.000 S,.,. 00 11.237
F...... I 00 12.3lXl
"..... FOd ...1 00 .~

ro,.1 00 :l.I9.161 ~, ..... To'" 00 3'1.100 313.200

• 1976 Clhlo''''. 0.1."" G.. P,oduc,.on S,."...

C. """ N.w ",.n Op..."on. p,.lom'n.. y '.1'0", PubloCI'oon No PAOJ.1A .."",c. . "'S"""Y 01 C.IoI"'",". Oeplrtmon, 01 Conso, •• l,on
"P,elom'nI'y. F,g",. . . . . . ."me'" b...d on nine mon,h. 01 l"O,,,.o,,on

California Geology september 1979 199

 Table :t Mineral Production. Counties 01 California. 1977

COMMOOITY OUA",T'TY VALUE C.m.n' 2.042.(100 ....cw, ,,,,,. $81.2lli5.OCO

I th"" .. ndol C~y •• __ "'or, ,,,,,. __
Al..A""IU\ 0"'0"';'. ~"" $2.31'.(0)
C..,..__....__...
"'0" '0'" ._, _
........ _.. ... _.-

-,
Cyp"",,",
~,
""" ~''''' '"mic.
''''' _-_...._._._._.-
IIftCW1 ,an.
._..
Sand .nd C•• v<ol
<-
'.~
'.1fI3.(O) .....,""' ......
"'or, u'n. _ _..• 1t1.393.QXl
S2.tifi1.QXl
~"
,,-
5 ..... 0"" C.....I V~.QXl IIftCW1 ,,,,,. _ ..__
,,,,,. -_... _- ".8'$.(0)
C""_ _ _ _
AL'iNE
--,-
To'"
Tung".n Co"",.n,.... ''''''''' SS.s:».1X:O

-,
To. .
,~

~~ ---"--. __._._- ......... _-- ..-- LAKE

PumlC. .. ..... ................. _....-
"".1'5.(0)

.""
-~--

Sand."" C.....,

~
''''' ....., 'on.
~""
S.nd .nd C .....,

LAIIEN
...on Ionl __...__._
To'. -""
To'"
="" ''''''IC. ,"" ....., 'on.
"""
A"ADOII
ClOy' 120.000 "'0" 'on. >_._..' 11.082.1X:O ,,-
send ...., Cro".1
'"""
,,""
sho., ,an.
shott 'on.
-=
1'....(0)
Sand .nd Cro...1
<- '"-''-'''--'''
~.= ....Of'lOn.
............ ", .... " ............
".nUJOO
LOI ANGlLEI
To,.1 _.=
."~
To,.1 CI.yo.. ____ n.= "'Of' ton •. ,,~""
L.m. -
""
,~
Sond .nd C.....I ___
$ond .nd G....., l.IS9'(o) ....or""".
To'oI
".~ ,,-
Tung....,
~~= "'Of' ton.
""-""
CAIAVEIIAI
A_ ..o ..._____ To"'l
33.512 111.5OII.QXl

-
of'on 'on. "AOEIIA
C_n,
Cloyl.__
_._---. >_._._..._._-_.._... NOlu." Goo
'umic.
Sond _ G ...., """"ton.
11~""
<-
<---- ,,~
""""'",,1- .. •.wo.ooo TOIOI
COLUSA
Sand.nd Gro...'
To'''' P3.2!;e'(o) .. AlliN
Cloy'_
S,one ..____
_ _---
... -- .._-_..
CONTIIA COITA
'O~ $0"" ."" G....I ~= shon 'onl
Ta",1
m""
,-
Cloy....._ ..__...... '91.(0) "'or' ,on.

"'Ot' 'on•.
~''''' MAIIIPO'A
S.nd .nd G••••I .. ,,= "'on ton. ~=
$ofId .n<! Gr....1
Stone ="" 12.9llO.QXl
5101'• .
To'"
TOIOI MENOOC.NO
DEL NOIlTE S.nd..., G,....I ~ 1',2'6.1X:O
"""'on.
,,-
$ond .fId C,.".I
~""
"1.1XlO
"'Of' '''''' •
"'ort ,on.
1511.000
~'''''
Stone •.= "'or, tOl'l'
To'.. ,,=
1".o:JQ

~-
To'ol MEIICEO
EL OOIlAOO

,,-
$0"" .nd C....... 112.QXl
~
....a'. tOl'l'
_tt",,1
1"1l.CX1O
I 1.1l2 '.IX:O
,,-
$ond..., G.....I ~
16.000
sho" ,on.
sho" 'onl
To,.1
11.13BJXXl
~
11. 'lIS.(O)
Tole 'ooop ..onel MODOC
,o~
Pu'
FIIUNO PumlCo "'ort 'on. I'2UIXI
A_",ol '""" ......, 'on. m""
"."
,~ IIoy"""",oo 11lll1.000
S."" Ond G.......
<,- """
-= ....,;., tOl'l' 1711.(0)

,,-
$0"" .nd G..vel '"
3.019.QXl shor' 'on ••___
"""""
MONO
CIoV'
To..'

T""9"en Copp.,

OLENN
To'.' $9-01l1.CX1O '0.
~~
L,m' PumlC.
$ond .nd Grov.I __.. ,= m""
,-
$ond.tId G.....
~'''''
'''''
short ton.
_ . toni __.__
To..'
1'.M2.1X:O

""" Sd".,
_"Onl

,o~ 1'.624.1X:O
ItUM'OLDT MONTf:II£Y
$0"" _
,,-
G......
-""
"I'I!o8.CX1O
""""on'
_"on. ___...
1t.1J1.QXl

'"""
L......_.
M.g"''''m Como"""'"
To..1
,,-"" $0"" .nd G....I ___..
,,- 112.aD ......, tOl'lI IU69.1X:O

,...
IM'EIIIAL
Gyp""m

~,
NA'A
Mo«UtV
66'.aD

m
"'or' 'on'

Uoo'"
Tot..
11.1I8.IX:O

1121,lXX1
$ond.nd G.....I 't6.1X:O sho<' 'on. II,128.aD ~,

.NYO
10tol Sind ond G..".I
S'o,,"
•.= "'or, tOn' .,""
80'onM'....... TO'41
Cloy. NEVAOA
Copp., Cloy.
","on ton. 11.9I1I,lXX1
,,-
,~
S.nd.nd G..... ,~=
_,
~~
-= tO~1

1Il16.1X:O

... .
Mo/yt><l.n~m To ..1

-,
, .. ~ .. I elud.l
PumlC.
Send.""
<,-
",
Tung.....
G..... """
~.=
","Ot'
-..
'on.

_--_...-
....,., tOl'lO ...._ -""
1310.lX:O
,
OIlA"'OE

Cloy.
F.ldop..

,,-
send."" G......
,""
.,.,""
'''''
short 'on•

......"on•
_ , 'on,
To..'
,m""
IlIU97.(O)
~

~ ..LACEII
To..1 Cloy........
-~"" _"OI'l' ,~""
KEII'"
lIoron M,n...I,
C"tIP" O,a• .,.
,,-
send .nd G""OI
"'''''
To..1

200 California Geology September 1979

PLUMAI
G_ ." .............. _..-
,,- .~""
....., ton._
Tolo' -""
Soo"" ."" G.....'
="" _tton••.. 547t.lXXl ....IITA CflUZ

_.. __._.. _... _._ ......

,,-
5_.
.. , ............................
'o~
C.....",
<;I.y•.
Putnk:•.._._._.___
f11"""f1110f:
C.....", .. .. __ __..._'-.._- .. _--- ,- ,--_._._..
S."" _ G••••t
~""
1.0000.col
ohort ,on•.._..._...
ohorl Ion. ____
..,..."
SUt3.col
C.... , _
Iron 0..
S_."" G, ....,
.-... _-- ,~=

,=""
,"on 'on.......__

"'-t 'on••_....._ ...

-""
It51118JXXl
IHAITA
C_n,
Tolo' It7'-.col

SI".... •. l.!\4l,lXXI ""on 'on. ".09'.col Cl.oy.,

I.CIlAMUITO
T01., Pu",>ce ...................-
Gold ..._._..._..
,on• ,,-
S.""."" G.....,
.... , ..... .... , .... ,'.--
"
1.&lt.1XXI oIlo<' ton ... S3.li't.col

,,-
S."" ."" G••••, •. 7lIUIXXI
tt9.QO'J
ohOf1
..."', ,on.
To'"
112.lIOt.col

-"" IIlllflA
Go.
To'.' S17.~.col

IAlII Il,UTO S,..... ..............................

"_010. To,.l
C....-:. II.ICIYOU
S8nd ."" 0'....' _ _.__
,- •n"" "'0<' "."• ~,.= pumice
S.""."" G...... «""
M3.QO'J
ohof' toni __.__
oho<' Ion. -""
1',381.col
IAII II:f1NAIlOINO
Bo'on ........, ...
Toto' Sl".... ..
="" _ 1 ,on.
,,~
""""
S2,ln.col
C.le...",'......, ... .,u'"
ICIrIofi(le
,,-
60LANO

-"" Ih<>n 'on. 11.631.col

.-
C.",.nt 3.773.1XX1
S."" ."" G...., 2.6/l8,1XXI oIlon 'On' $5.":trm
"'0<' 'on. Itli8.791.1XX1 'o~ SI,-,1XXI
CI.o¥... 257.1XX1 oil"" ,on. SI.09,1XXI 10NOMA
f.ICI""..,
Gyp ...",
"'0<, Ion.
-= ,,-
Gooll>o''''.' S'"", ttroO
~on 0..

-
,,~
~
STANIILAUI
Lol.....'" .... ,...,.,.
CI.o¥.
P.. ,,,., • ..,.,,,, ••ll
Go. noyouneos 1100.0:0
POt.... 2,266,1XX1 1h<>.1 ,on.
S."" ."" G••••' ".1".0:0
1'..",;".
TolO'
,."
R.,. E.nlr .... 'n•••l. SUTTlIl
Cl.oy.
s."" ."" G'.vol HTJ.l.QO'J ",,0" 'on. S'3.309,1XXI s."" ."" G,.....I
Sod,..", C.'bon.'. To'.'
Sul'.'.
,-
Sod,u", TEHAMA

,,-
S""'" 0"" G••••, 2.S.o:o
,""
""""'on. _ ...
">fl. ~-
'"
IT..",sl.n.
1&.650 """",on.

To'"
SB'l.o:o

...56m2.o:o nUNITY
""on
Toto'
S2'.1XXI
S091.1XX1

SAN 011:00 G_ ltoyouneeo

·C'.¥ •. So"" ."" G, •••I """
....=
Gyp"'", S'on. ,~"" Ih<>n 'on.
.....I1..... um C"",pou"". TO,.,

,,-
s."" ."" G,.vel

SAN JOAQUIN
11.112,1XXI
'.209.0:0
""0<'
_"ono
Ions

To'.'
S33.&19.col
S3.5oI5,1XXI
S31.~.col
,_.
TuLARI:
S.""."" G'.",

Tu n"l.n
1,508..1XX1
Sl.1XX1
""""on.
sho<llon.
S3,SI3.1XX1

""""
Go.
,,- a' lfO¥ ou...,..
~'''''
To'..

1'."
S""",.nd G,.",,'
•=
3.23',1XXI
oII"n 'on•
"""', ",,,,
,,-
~==
TuOLUMNl

,_.
G_
,,- • uoyouneO" $1.1XX1

T01.' 156.1XX1 oIIo<llon. _.. S691ro:.

SAN LUIS OI,SPO To'.'
Cloy'
S."" ."" G' •••'
t2.1XX1
&t&.1XXI
oIl0ll Ion.
0110<' 'on'
m""
St .•9II.1XX1
VlNTUIlA
C'.¥.
St"... Pum,c.
To'.' 5."" ."" G,..., .,1Bl,1XX1 oIlo<t ton. S8.539.1XX1
123.1XX1 """1 tOn.
'AN MATEO
.... 1111....u'" Compound.
'OM
To,., ""'''''
S.1t
,,-
YOLO
S8nd ."" G,.....,
Sto... """
-=
Ih<>" 'on'
oIlo" 'on.
To,.'
S ".col
St-",5.QO'J So"" .""
S,on.
G, ..., 3.2".0:0
,,."" """"on.
""""'on.
m_""
St,Wo.col
IANTA IA"IAIIA To'oI
D'.'om,t. a,,,,, oIlon ton. SOJ.<l5.1XX1 YUIA
Cl.oy.
l,,,,o
I'lrooo".'. "oc~
s.ond .nd G,..., ,,-
5<1"" ."" G,.v" 791.1XX1
'07.0:0
0110" ,on•.
oIlo<' ton.
~"""
~""
,,- t.6JO.col

"""
0100" '0".
""""'on.
To,.,
S3.128.col
S ICI>.<XX:I To'.'
_ No ~.lueo .'. """n 10< n.l.. ,., II.'."" P."O,""", p'Oduct"", by eou"tv 0 ... blll
IIANTA CLARA - .2 1I.1Ion1. 0... .... Cf - IQO'J C"boc r...t
C..... n' 1 _ Ou.n."Io.ot _ ,...."'., ...."'."" v..... ,n Sonomo COU"'y .'. flOt ....il.ol>lo
S.orcO ."" Gf'''' ~''''' ""0<' 'on.
~"" • _ Conc•• 1O<l ' 0 ' _ d,"""'''", '''''i.'<lu.' comp."¥ co"lKlon".' <l.' •.

Table 2a. Cahlorn,a's role ;0 US minerSI supplV in 1978"

..... ,0<
commOd"y " ... ...
,
A_stD •
".~
Co..... "t t I'".t""'"
l.'1I"
l·'I1·

"
Po"o,"u",
I'o'....um s.o".
Pum",.
Sond."" G, ... ,
'"~
h'g.
l·'I1·
ltonOf. Mod ... ,. o'.'om.'. l"lI" '"~
C, ..d" Gy.,,,,,,, SOd",,,,Com.,ou"'"
.... o'c.. ,~
Molyl><lonu",
Modo'.'e
.... od... '. l"Ir,..",
l"lII
Mode'."
'"~
Fl••• E.. '1r l·'II" .....g"" .... "'C""".,"""". l·'II· • P•••m,n••y
TU"I1"." l·'9. p",h'" Modo'.t. XX No' .pphUb'.
"
California Geology 5eptembel" 1979 201
Summary of Activities
STATE MINING AND GEOLOGY
BOARD REPORT
California Desert Conservation
Area (CDCA)
The Board visited the Barstow area in
April 1979 to observe the potential for
mined lands reclamation in the desert.
Two operating mines (NL industries'
Hectorite mine and the Blue Star gold
mine) and American Smelting &Rerming
Company's Waterloo Project, low-grade
silver deposit were toured. Operators at
these sites discussed future reclamation
plans with the Board. Visual impacts,
dust generation, and reestablishment of
vegetative habitat appeared to be the prin-
cipal reclamation-related problems as-
sociated with these operations.
Following the tour, representatives
from the U.s. Bureau of Land Manage-
ment discussed the Bureau's COCA study
in a Mineral Resource Conservation
Forum convened by the Board. Repre-
sentatives from industry and from local,
state, and federal agencies participated in
this discussion.
The COCA study will provide recom-
mendations for federal land-use decision
making in the desert, an area comprising
one-fourth of the state, and known for its
high recreation and environmental values
as well as great mineral potential. The
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 requires that this study be
completed and in the hands of Congress
by September 30, 1980.
The Board is concerned that informa-
tion on the mineral potential of the
COCA is not commensurate with the
scope of pending land-use decisions by
the Federal Government. In cooperation
with the Division of Mines and Geology,
the Board is seeking ways in which the
state can make available timely and effec-
tive infonnation on mineral potential of
the desert to the Federal Government.
The BL M was unable to offer much
enlightenment in response to Board ques-
tions on the effects of particular land
management policies on mineral resource
development. Of particular concern was
the effect of wilderness designation on the
development of adjacent mineral deposits
and whether the maintenance of certain
2"
environmental standards in wilderness
areas, particularly those connected with
air pollution, would require similar stand-
ards in proximity to wilderness areas.
Such standards could prevent mining
even though the mining activity is outside
the wilderness area.
San Fernando Valley Classification
At the May 2S, 1979 meeting, the
Board accepted from the State Geologist
the first formal report on mineral lands
classification. This report, entitled "Min-
erai Land Classification of the Greater
Los Angeles Areas: Parts I and li", iden-
tifies sand and gravel deposits, and
projects SO-year needs for these mineral
resources, in the San Fernando Valley Re-
gion. Other regions in the Los Angeles
area will be classified in subsequent re-
ports by the Division of Mines and Geol-
ogy.
This report is precedent setting both in
its content and scientific rationale. It is
the fU'St formal mineral lands classifica-
tion under California's Surface Mining
and Reclamation Act, and thus estab- Stata Mining and Geology Board Chairman
lishes the methodology for future classifi- Robert H Twissl on right} and Board mem-
cation programs. It represents the first ber Raymond Krauss I center) watching
stage of the Act's classification-designa- Ray Lint's technIque lor separating gold
tion process which is a unique approach lrom are coneentrates produced from his
to the conservation and development of Blue Star mine in the CaliCO Mountains.
mineral resources through stale and local San Bernardino County
cooperative planning efforts.
Ventura County Classification Control District restnctlons on digging
Priorities' depths make it necessary to allow aggre-
gate mining in areas outside the river's
The Board revised its classification pri- flood control channel or to import sand
orities to move coastal Ventura County and gravel to assure a continued supply of
from Priority 3 to Priority I under urban construction aggregate.
areas. This action was taken in response to
pending land-use decisions which threat- The County officials and aggregate pro-
en the availability of aggregate resources ducers, as well as the State Geologist, feel
in the area. that the classification of this area is
essential for assessing existing
Ventura County is faced with a one- re:serves and locating new aggregate
year deadline for completing an Environ- resources.
mental Impact Report. which is required
before conditional use permits can be is- For information on the Board's month-
sued to sand and gravel operators in the ly meetings and other activities, contact
lower Santa Clara River of coastal Ven- Douglas W. Sprague, Special Representa-
tura County. This area supplies about tive, Department of Conservation, Room
90% of the sand and gravel for the Ven- 1327, Sacramento, California 95814,
tura-(hnard area. Ventura County Flood (916) 322-1082.... Douglas W.Spraguc. ~
California Geology September 1979
Condensed from a speech presented to the California Seismic safety Commission by Bruce A. Bolt on April 27.1979. Dr.Boll is the Director
of the Seismographic Station at the University of California. Berk.eley.
THE EARTHQUAKE HAZARD
There are a number of connicting
stands and interests that go into reassess-
ing the present earthquake hazards in
California, such as the improved con-
struction of public schools and hospitals
as opposed to the multiplicity of designs
and materials of new structures. These
conflicts become more difficult to quanti-
fy as the population continues to grow
and society becomes more complex. There
are two seismological aspects of these con-
flicting ingredients of risk evaluation. The
first is the earthquake occurrence proba-
bility itself, lind the second is the pre-
paredness of California to respond effec-
tively to an earthquake when it occurs.
EARTHQUAKE OCCURRENCE
PROBABILITY
We must now say that time is running
out so far as the next big earthquake of
magnitude 7 or greater is concerned. The
late Professor Perry Byerly, my predeces-
sor at Berkeley, said that when he first
had the job of keeping track of earth-
quakes in northern California he never
closed the door of his garage. He felt that
perhaps any night the next great earth-
quake in the Bay area would come and he
would have to hop into his car. and go
down to the University and lead the stud-
ies of its aftermath. But when the earth-
quake had not come after 30 years he
closed the door of his garage. In the 16
years since I have been at the University
of California, there has been no great
earthquake in California and for various
reasons, each year, it has seemed appro-
priate to think of an occurrence in the
next 10. or 20 years.
We can no longer keep pushing this
time window forward for a number of
reasons. The evidence now is much stron-
ger than 30 years ago or even\16 years
ago that a large earthquake is imminent.
EARTHQUAKE EVIDENCE
Historical Record
The first line of evidence comes from
the historical record. In the last century
there were a number of very large earth-
REASSESSING
IN CALIFORNIA
By
BRUCE A. BOLT. Commissioner
California Seismic Safety Commission
quakes in California. There was a large
earthquake in 1836, centered on the Hay-
ward faull. From what we know these days,
it would probably bec1assed as"great". An
earthquake in 1838 was felt strongly in
San Francisco. It opened a great crack
many miles in length along what is now
called the San Andreas fault.
In 1868 there was again an outstanding
earthquake on the Hayward fault along
the base of the hills to the east of San
Francisco Bay. This earthquake produced
destruction in San Jose, Hayward. and
downtown San Francisco. Until 1906 it
was referred to locally as "the great earth-
quake". A group of laymen got together
and wrote a report on that earthquake,
but the report seems to have been su-
pressed because no copy has been found in
this century. However. in 1906 some per-
sons who had gone through the 1868
earthquake were asked to give their recol-
lections - these will be referred to later.
And then there was the great earth-
quake of 1906, with no major rupture of
active faults in northern California since
that time. In southern California the great
Fort Tejon earthquake occurred in 1857,
and apart from the Kern County shock of
1952. again there has not been an earth- .
quake of major size near metropolitan
areas for more than 100 years.
Tectonic Movement
Secondly, the geodetic survey that has
gone on in the San Francisco Bay area for
about a century and a half indicates that
the Farallon Islands, Mt. Tamalpais. and
MI. Diablo continue to move relative to
one another at a rate comparable to thaI
observed prior to the 1906 earthquake.
The Farallon Islands are moving north
relative to MI. Diablo at the rate of about
2 inches a year and there can be no doubt
that strain is building up in the crustal
rocks like the tightening of a watch
spring. The level of strain that was
reached prior to fault rupture in 1906 is
known from geodetic measurements of
the last century, and a comparison sug-
gests that a sudden slip will have to occur
along one of the main faults in the area to
relieve the present strain before too long.
California Geology september 1979
Paleoearthquakes
Thirdly, trenches recently excavated
across the San Andreas fault in southern
California have revealed evidence of past
great earthquakes. The liquifaction effects
of paleoearthquakes have been preserved
in beds of sand and peat. They indicate
that the average recurrence interval of
great earthquakes on the San Andreas
fault in southern California is aboul 200
years - sometimes more, sometimes less.
This recurrence interval extends back at
least one thousand years. Therefore. given
the time that has elapsed since the last
great earthquake, we should. as a working
hypothesis, expect a great earthquake
somewhere in California within the next
10 years. The odds are about even that
this will be the case. and for every year
that goes by now these odds will grow
steadily.
If more specific earthquake predictions
could be made they would help in pre-
venting loss of life from collapse of struc-
tures. but seismology has not yet
advanced to the stage of practical precise
earthquake forecasting. Even if valid
earthquake prediction were possible, the
hazard to vulnerable buildings in Califor-
nia, and the resulting economic loss,
would remain.
EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS
The need to reduce earthquake hazards
must be balanced against other social de-
mands. The effort to mitigate against
earthquakes must be expressed in terms of
jeopardy to life and cost benefit so that
people can make reasonable decisions on
what is an adequate level of earthquake
safety for society.
Consider the two words "earthquake
risk". An equation between the occur-
rence of great earthquakes, and the risk
they produce must be considered. A
steady state situation in California should
be the goal. The steady state situation
would be one in which the citizens,
through the tax base, allocate a certain
amount of resources toward maintaining
the status quo of adequate earthquake
preparedness. In other words, the pUblic
'03
must accepl thai after preparalion at a
lolerable level is reached, it must be sus--
lained economically for many years.
There is still a long way to go in tenos of
individual, state and corporate etTort, edu-
cation, and expenditure of funds, before
Ihis steady stale is reached.
Much is now known about earthquakes
and about how to reduce earthquake dam-
age. This knowledge must be transferred
quickly. There has been progress in the
study of ground motion itself over the
past 10 years. In engineering design there
has been advancement in ways to handle
these seismic forces. Presumably the
changes in building codes have signifi-
cantly improved them. There is now more
help from the Federal governmenl under
Ihe Earthquake Hazard Reduclion ACI
which is designed 10 reduce Ihe risk of life
and property from future earthquakes.
The establishment of the Seismic Safety
Commission in California has brought to-
gether often very disparale kinds of inter-
eslS fbus stimulating more etTeclive
mitigation activity and needed legislation.
Recent Damages
Despite advances in earthquake stud-
ies, substantial losses have occurred in
relalively small earthquakes over the last
few years. The Santa Barbara earthquake
of August 13, 1978, was a relatively small
earthquake (M 5.6) The strong ground
motion in this earthquake lasted 2-3 sec-
onds and shook only a restricted area, yet
il caused up to 57 million damage to prop-
erty. For comparison, the strong ground
motion in the great 1906 earthquake last-
ed 40 seconds. The amount of energy
released was spread over much of coastal
California, and was at least one thousand
times greater than in the Santa Barbara
shock.
In the 1978 Santa Barbara earthquake
65 people were injured by falling objects
and glass. Damage in the earthquake in-
cluded a number of buildinp built after
1952, Ihus disputing the concept that only
old buildings from another era should be
considered when assessing earthquake
dangers in California. Reports from the
University of California at Santa Barbara
outlined cases where the building code
was not followed and errors seemed to
have been made in construction. These
facts raise questions about proper inspec-
tion during construction of both state and
privately owned buildinp in California.
Public Awareness
If a small magnitude 5.6 earthquake is
able to produce significant destruction in
a limited area, what is to be done to pre-
pare for a great earthquake? Firsl, de-
tailed re-examinalion of earthquake risk
in California is needed. We need a broader
'"
framework than the one used in the past
- a framework thai will consider earth-
quakes in relation to the whole economic
system. We mUSI detennine how building
codes are being applied. how communities
are responding 10 suggestions to prepare
for earthquakes, and particularly we must
assess the cost benefits thai can accrue by
properly carrying oul earthquake mitiga-
lion plans. Expendilure of public funds
musl be fully justified and clearly efficienl
in order to achieve a steady state within
the next few years.
We musl delve more deeply into emer-
gency preparedness Ihan we have in Ihe
past. Although the speclre of added ex-
pense is often used as an excuse for inac-
lion, much can be done within a
reasonable cost. So often when dealing
wilh specific groups and siluations,
progress can be made by people al grass
roots level if Ihey only know whal to do.
Today there are more people concerned
about earthquakes in the communily than
Ihere were a few years ago. Quile apart
from governmenl plans, community
groups are coming together at Ihe local
level to eKamine such queslions as:
What can we do in this particular neigh-
borhood if a big earthquake occurs (on
Ihe Hayward fault, or on the San An·
dreas fault)?
What can we do before the nexl earth·
quake to see whal hazards can be re-
duced?
- Will adequate fire fighting facilities be
available in Ihe area after the earth-
quake?
Tbe Seismic Safety Commission,
Ihrough its Earthquake Education Com-
miltee, and other groups can encourage
this grass roots activity IhroughoUI the
state. The University of California at
Berkeley had an "Earthquake Awareness
Day" on April 18, 1979. In Ihe course of
planning this program there were many
meetings of administrative officers, cleri-
cal statT, laboratory managers, officials in-
volved in environment, health and safely,
and representatives from student groups.
The committee met regularly wilhout a
lag in interest. Apparently there is a desire
for specific infonnation aboul just whal
will happen when another great earth-
quake occurs.
California is fortunale to have exlensive
eye wilness accounts of some of the big
earthquakes. These kinds of reports help
a greal deal to educate the public. The
following accounts describe the 1868
earthquake on the Hayward Fault as il
was in San Leandro:
Report #1:
··1 managed 10 get out of the build-
ing in San leandro when the shaking
started. The house was thrown from
California Geology September 1979
its foundation. Ihe chimney was torn
from the roof. the the porch was
wrenched away. dishes were bro-
ken. and everything was in contu-
sion. I found thaI most of Ihe houses
were in Ihe same condition as my
own-Ihrown from their founda·
tions. with chimneys down. porches
knocked sideways. elc. All the while
the ground was shaking and contin-
ued to shake for days. even weeks:·
Report #2:
"I was then about 15 years of age
end my home was near Irvington.
When the shock came I was alone in
the house with my baby brother and
my mother called to me to get the
baby. I mal\8ged to get the child
over my arm. lace down with a pil·
low on top. then falling and crawling
I worked my way to Ihe kitchen
door. My mother was on the ground.
and every time she tried 10 get up
she was thrown a9ain. As I sat there
I could see the ground in waves like
the ocean. After the main shock I
think we had a hundred shocks duro
ing the first 24 hours. not a house
was left with a chimney on it. The
piano was out of the room and the
safe had broken through the wall:·
Such direct, unediled infonnation gives
people a chance 10 reassess what Ihey
thought they were going to do when the
great earthquake occurred. Some people
assume Ihey will make emergency calls on
the lelephone, and some people think they
can gel in Iheir car at work and go home
to their families! They are probably nOI
going 10 be able to do such things. There
is a gap between whal will be possible and
what people think they are going to do.
That is one of the uncertainties thai goes
inlo the reassessment of what Ihe conse-
quences of the earthquake are going to be.
EARTHQUAKE DEFENSE
A very important componenl in trying
to reach the sleady state in a relatively
shon lime is to have more earthquake
education. We must get the allention of
the whole California populalion and de-
scribe what Ihe earthquake experience is
going to be like, so thai each person will
be able to respond in a sensible way. We
have 10 think about whal will happen on
every level in anolher greal earthquake.
More assistance must be given 10 local
community groups so that they can take
action themselves to assist in fire fighting,
first aid, and home safety procedures. As
a consequence, the public may give
stronger support for Ihe expenditure of a
small part of the overall California budget
10 reduce the earthquake risk. Let us in
the next five years move earthquake risk
equation toward Ihe sleady stale of mini-
mal risk, for time is no longer on our side. ~
L o
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