Quaternary Fault Structure of the Bishop Region, East-Central California

Citation

Taylor, George Frederic (1933) Quaternary Fault Structure of the Bishop Region, East-Central California. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/EHJ2-R354. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:06062017-110352290

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an investigation carried on during 1932 of the Quaternary geologic structure and stratigraphy of the Bishop Region, eastern California. Close relationship of structural and stratigraphic, data has resulted in the formulation of a rather complete outline of the later geologic history of the region.

Contributions to the stratigraphy of the area include the establishing of the Zurich formation to embrace Pleistocne "lake beds" and fanglomerate. Both the tuff-breccia and pumiceous breccia of the Volcanic Tableland are grouped as the "Bishop formation". The Zurich formation is shown to be at least partly contemporaneous with the Bishop formation.

The piedmont faults of the region have been accurately located by numerous recently formed scarplets. A very noticeable offset in the Sierran base southwest of Bishop is described and termed the Bishop Offset. The type of sloping surface lying between two faults which diminish their throws in opposite directions, as present in the Bishop Offset, is described as a newly recognized geomorphic form and named a "Scarpramp".

The Sierra Nevada is believed to have been uplifted a considerable amount since the Inyo-White Mountain Range attained approximately its present elevation. The effect of this recent uplift on the climate of Owens Valley is discussed.

Deep Spring Valley and Cowhorn Valley are shown to be similar fault outlined features, each the result of the dropping down of a lozenge shaped block in the interior of the range along normal faults. The east wall of Deep Spring Valley was formed considerably more recently than the west side.

The Sierran piedmont fault zone is generally narrow but becomes distributive at some localities.

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