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Geology topics

F. K. Miller

Publications and source records attributed to F. K. Miller.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Geologic map of the Chewelah 30' x 60' Quadrangle, Washington and Idaho

This data set maps and describes the geology of the Chewelah 30' X 60' quadrangle, Washington and Idaho. Created using Environmental Systems Research Institute's ARC/INFO software, the data base consists of the following items: (1) a map coverage containing geologic contacts and units, (2) a point coverage containing site-specific geologic structural data, (3) two coverages derived from 1:100,000 Digital Line Graphs (DLG); one of which represents topographic data, and the other, cultural data, (4) two line coverages that contain cross-section lines and unit-label leaders, respectively, and (5) attribute tables for geologic units (polygons), contacts (arcs), and site-specific data (points). In addition, the data set includes the following graphic and text products: (1) A PostScript graphic plot-file containing the geologic map, topography, cultural data, and two cross sections, and on a separate sheet, a Correlation of Map Units (CMU) diagram, an abbreviated Description of Map Units (DMU), modal diagrams for granitic rocks, an index map, a regional geologic and structure map, and a key for point and line symbols; (2) PDF files of the Readme text-file and expanded Description of Map Units (DMU), and (3) this metadata file. The geologic map database contains original U.S. Geological Survey data generated by detailed field observation and by interpretation of aerial photographs. The map was compiled from geologic maps of eight 1:48,000 15' quadrangle blocks, each of which was made by mosaicing and reducing the four constituent 7.5' quadrangles. These 15' quadrangle blocks were mapped chiefly at 1:24,000 scale, but the detail of the mapping was governed by the intention that it was to be compiled at 1:48,000 scale. The compilation at 1:100,000 scale entailed necessary simplification in some areas and combining of some geologic units. Overall, however, despite a greater than two times reduction in scale, most geologic detail found on the 1:48,000 maps is retained on the 1:100,000 map. Geologic contacts across boundaries of the eight constituent quadrangles required minor adjustments, but none significant at the final 1:100,000 scale. The geologic map was compiled on a base-stable cronoflex copy of the Chewelah 30' X 60' topographic base and then scribed. The scribe guide was used to make a 0.007 mil-thick blackline clear-film, which was scanned at 1200 DPI by Optronics Specialty Company, Northridge, California. This image was converted to vector and polygon GIS layers and minimally attributed by Optronics Specialty Company. Minor hand-digitized additions were made at the USGS. Lines, points, and polygons were subsequently edited at the USGS by using standard ARC/INFO commands. Digitizing and editing artifacts significant enough to display at a scale of 1:100,000 were corrected. Within the database, geologic contacts are represented as lines (arcs), geologic units as polygons, and site-specific data as points. Polygon, arc, and point attribute tables (.pat, .aat, and .pat, respectively) uniquely identify each geologic datum.

Miscellaneous Field Studies Map

Geologic map of the San Bernardino North 7.5' quadrangle, San Bernardino County, California

Introduction Open-File Report OF 01-131 contains a digital geologic map database of the San Bernardino North 7.5’ quadrangle, San Bernardino County, California that includes: 1. ARC/INFO (Environmental Systems Research Institute) version 7.2.1 coverages of the various components of the geologic map 2. A PostScript file to plot the geologic map on a topographic base, and containing a Correlation of Map Units (CMU) diagram, a Description of Map Units (DMU), an index map, and a regional structure map. 3. Portable Document Format (.pdf) files of: a. This Readme; includes an Appendix, containing data found in sbnorth_met.txt . b. The Description of Map Units identical to that found on the plot of the PostScript file. c. The same graphic as plotted in 2 above. (Test plots from this .pdf do not produce 1:24,000-scale maps. Use Adobe Acrobat pagesize setting to control map scale.) The Correlation of Map Units and Description of Map Units is in the editorial format of USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Series (I-series) maps. Within the geologic map data package, map units are identified by standard geologic map criteria such as formation-name, age, and lithology. Even though this is an author-prepared report, every attempt has been made to closely adhere to the stratigraphic nomenclature of the U. S. Geological Survey. Descriptions of units can be obtained by viewing or plotting the .pdf file (3b above) or plotting the postscript file (2 above). If roads in some areas, especially forest roads that parallel topographic contours, do not show well on plots of the geologic map, we recommend use of the USGS San Bernardino North 7.5’ topographic quadrangle in conjunction with the geologic map.

California

Geologic map of the Fifteenmile Valley 7.5' quadrangle, San Bernardino County, California

Open-File Report OF 01-132 contains a digital geologic map database of the Fifteenmile Valley 7.5’ quadrangle, San Bernardino County, California that includes: 1. ARC/INFO (Environmental Systems Research Institute, http://www.esri.com) version 7.2.1 coverages of the various elements of the geologic map. 2. A PostScript file to plot the geologic map on a topographic base, and containing a Correlation of Map Units diagram, a Description of Map Units, an index map, and a regional structure map. 3. Portable Document Format (.pdf) files of: a. This Readme; includes in Appendix I, data contained in fif_met.txt b. The same graphic as plotted in 2 above. (Test plots have not produced 1:24,000-scale map sheets. Adobe Acrobat pagesize setting influences map scale.) The Correlation of Map Units (CMU) and Description of Map Units (DMU) is in the editorial format of USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Series (I-series) maps. Within the geologic map data package, map units are identified by standard geologic map criteria such as formation-name, age, and lithology. Even though this is an author-prepared report, every attempt has been made to closely adhere to the stratigraphic nomenclature of the U. S. Geological Survey. Descriptions of units can be obtained by viewing or plotting the .pdf file (3b above) or plotting the postscript file (2 above). If roads in some areas, especially forest roads that parallel topographic contours, do not show well on plots of the geologic map, we recommend use of the USGS Fifteenmile Valley 7.5’ topographic quadrangle in conjunction with the geologic map.

California

Digital geologic map of the Fawnskin 7.5' quadrangle, San Bernardino County, California

Version 1.1 of this Open-File Report contains a digital geologic map and map database of the Fawnskin 7.5' quadrangle, San Bernardino County, California, that includes: 1. ARC/INFO (Environmental Systems Research Institute) version 7.2.1 double-precision coverages of the various elements of the geologic map 2. A PostScript (.ps) file to plot the geologic map on a topographic base, containing a Correlation of Map Units diagram and a Description of Map Units 3. Portable Document Format (.pdf) files of: a. This Readme; includes in Appendix I, data contained in fskn_met.txt b. The same graphic as plotted in 2 above. (Test plots from this .pdf do not produce 1:24,000-scale maps. Adobe Acrobat page-size settings control map scale.) This release includes features not found in most other digital geologic maps, in that all polygons, lines, and points in the coverage are encoded with detailed, comprehensive geologic data contained in six INFO data tables (.rel). (See Matti and others, 1998a, 1998b, and 1998c, for information on how the encoding may be accessed and utilized.) No paper map is included in the Open-File Report, but a PostScript plot file containing an image of the geologic map sheet, topographic base, Correlation of Map Units (CMU), and detailed Description of Map Units (DMU) is. The Correlation of Map Units and Description of Map Units are in the editorial format of USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Series maps (I-maps) but have not been edited to comply with I-map standards. Within the geologic map data package, map units are identified by such standard geologic-map criteria as formation name, age, and lithology. Even though this is an author-prepared report, every attempt has been made to closely adhere to the stratigraphic nomenclature of the U.S. Geological Survey. Descriptions of units can be obtained by viewing or plotting the .pdf file (3b above) or plotting the PostScript file (2 above). If roads in some areas, especially roads that parallel topographic contours, do not show well on plots of the geologic map, we recommend use of the USGS Fawnskin 7.5' topographic quadrangle in conjunction with the geologic map.

California

Digital geologic map of the Sandpoint 1- by 2-degree quadrangle, Washington, Idaho, and Montana

The geology of the Sandpoint 1:250,000 quadrangle, Washington, Idaho, and Montana was mapped by F.K. Miller, R.F. Burmester, D.M. Miller, and R.E. Powell between 1963 and 1995 onto a scale-stable 1:250,000 topographic map base and subsequently input into an Arc/Info geographic information system (GIS) by P.D. Derkey. The digital geologic map database can be queried in many ways to produce a variety of derivative geologic maps.

Idaho, Montana, Washington

Age and nature of the basement in northeastern Washington and northern Idaho: isotopic evidence from Mesozoic and Cenozoic granitoids

K-feldspar Pb and whole rock Nd isotopic analyses from 25 Mesozoic and Cenozoic plutonic rocks and two gneisses from NE Washington and northern Idaho are used to elucidate the age and nature of the concealed cratonic basement. The plutons form two highly distinct isotopie groups: Group I (hornblende-biotite and two-mica plutons of all ages) have Pb isotopie compositions suggesting derivation from rocks of the Belt Supergroup or their metamorphosed equivalents, although Nd isotopie data can only support this model if there was a significant input of juvenile mantle-derived or ancient light REE-depleted material. Group II (hornblende-biotite of Eocene age) have highly retarded Pb isotopie compositions relative to the present day crustal average and require a source region with long-term U (and other LIL) depletion, characteristic of cratonic lower crust. A U-Pb zircon upper intercept age of ca. 2600 Ma obtained from one of the Group II samples, together with Sm-Nd data from the gneisses, indicates possible late-Archean crust at depth, which acted as a source region for Eocene extension-related plutonism. Isotopie compositions and apparent geochemical evolution do not support a direct correlation with the nearest exposed North American Craton in the Wyoming province. If it represents attenuated pre-Mesozoic craton, then it must have been accreted to the craton prior to development of the miogeocline in the Late Proterozoic. Alternatively, it may be part of the Cordilleria terrane accreted to the craton in the Early Cretaceous.

Journal of Geology

Potassium-argon geochronology of the eastern Transverse Ranges and southern Mojave Desert, southern California

More than 200 potassium-argon apparent ages on minerals from crystalline rocks, chiefly from the San Bernardino and eastern San Gabriel Mountains and the southern Mojave Desert, define an area greater than 10,000 km 2 in which the potassium-argon isotopic systematics have been highly disturbed. The disturbance or disturbances appear to have culminated at different times in different parts of the region, ranging from 57 m.y. ago in the eastern San Gabriel Mountains to about 70 m.y. ago in the southern Mojave Desert. The region can be subdivided into three parts on the basis of potassium-argon dating: (1) An inner area of anomalous ages in which the rocks yield apparent potassium-argon ages that indicate complete or nearly complete resetting of the isotopic system. (2) An outer area in which the rocks yield apparent ages that are, or approach, emplacement ages. (3) A zone separating these two areas from which rocks yield discordant apparent ages on coexisting mineral pairs. This discordant zone varies in width from about 6 to 12 km and grades inward to rocks reset to the degree that they yield concordant potassium-argon apparent ages on coexisting mineral pairs and outward toward rocks that yield near-concordant apparent ages. Rocks from the center and the inner parts of the discordant zone yield the most discordant apparent ages. Contouring of the apparent ages defines the extent of the reset region that occurs on both sides of the San Andreas fault. The apparent ages can be contoured across the fault, although the position of the fault is well defined by abrupt deflection of the contours parallel to the fault. The reverse fault bounding the north side of the San Bernardino Mountains mayor may not be reflected by offset contours; correlation of possible offset features across the fault is uncertain. Several northwest-trending faults on the Mojave Desert strongly disrupt the contours but do not show the right-lateral displacements that have been attributed to them on the basis of apparent offsets of geologic features. These faults may have a component of vertical movement, and it is not known what effect this might have on the contours; even a small amount could be profound. The cause of the isotopic disturbance is not well understood, as the area of most complete resetting does not appear to be coincident with any single batholithic mass. The apparent-age contours cross the boundaries of individual plutons, and the configuration of the contours shows no apparent relation to the shapes of plutons or groups of plutons. Even though there does appear to be a lack of correlation between individual plutons or batholith-size collections of plutons, this lack of correlation may be more apparent than real. It is possible that some of the plutons within the area of anomalous ages are part of an extensive batholithic mass of which only the uppermost part is exposed. An alternative interpretation of the anomalous ages is that a continuing post-emplacement heat source generated by continued under thrusting of the Pacific plate beneath North America caused the region to remain at elevated temperatures such that argon retention by minerals datable by potassium-argon methods was not possible for some time after pluton emplacement. As suggested by Coney and Reynolds (1977), possibly the angle of underthrusting was shallower than when the Transverse Range plutons were emplaced. Locally, the youngest ages show a spatial relation to the Vincent thrust fault and its correlatives. If this fault is the cause of the region-wide resetting, it has to have extended under most of the western part of southern California. The configuration of the anomalous-age zone is roughly coincident with the position of the Transverse Ranges, the recently discovered southern California uplift, a relatively shallow high-velocity zone in southern California, and the projection of the Murray fracture zone. The eastward extent coincides roughly with the eastern limit of high seismicity in southern California.

California