Geology and petrology of the Lava Mountains, San Bernardino County, California

Open-File Report 56-109
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Abstract

The Lava Mountains are a range of low mountains along the northern edge of the Mojave Desert, California. The pre-Tertiary rocks consist of a few swell pendants of metamorphic rocks in Atolia quartz monzonite. Overlying these are small patches of volcanic and sedimentary rocks, probably Tertiary, which project into the later formations. The major sedimentary unit is the middle Pliocene 3edrock Spring formation; it consists chiefly of arkosic sandstone and conglomerate with lesser amounts of siltstone and brecciated volcanic rocks. Overlying this formation are two late Pliocene formations, the Almond Mountain volcanic ant Klinker Mountain volcanics in the eastern and western parts of the area, respectively. Small areas of other late Pliocene(?) volcanic rocks are locally present. Overlying these are flaws of the Lava Mountains andesite of very late Pliocene age. The Pleistocene(?) Christmas Canyon formation is restricted to the eastern half of the area. A few small dikes of basalt cut this formation. Quaternary gravels, alluvium, and travertine are the youngest deposits.

Suggested Citation

Smith, G.I., 1956, Geology and petrology of the Lava Mountains, San Bernardino County, California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 56-109, Report: 230 p.; 5 Plates: 39.83 x 37.68 inches or smaller, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr56109.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Geology and petrology of the Lava Mountains, San Bernardino County, California
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 56-109
DOI 10.3133/ofr56109
Year Published 1956
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Description Report: 230 p.; 5 Plates: 39.83 x 37.68 inches or smaller
Country United States
State California
County San Bernardino County
Other Geospatial Lava Mountains
Scale 24000
Additional publication details