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FOSSIL VERTEBRATES IN THE CDCA

1978

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FOSSIL VERTEBRATES IN THE CDCA
1978

■

M. 0. Woodburne
785 Spruce St.
Riverside, CA

Bureau of Land Management
Library

Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225

for

Bureau of Land Management
169S Spruce Street
Riverside, California 92507

Contract CA-060-CT7-2814

Fossil vertebrates In the CDCA

841 Woodburne, Michael C.

. W66 Fossil vertebrates in the CDCA / by

Michael O* Woodburne* [Riverside,

CA: Dept. of Geological Sciences,
University of California, 197$?]
145 p. : illus. ; 28 cm.
Bibliography: p* 8—22*

1* Vertebrates, Fossil — California

Desert* 2* Paleontology California

Desert* 3* Calif ornia~Desert

Conservation Area paleontology*

I. Title

CRivLM DECAdc

FOSSIL VERTEBRATES IN THE CDCA

Table cf Contents

Introduction and Summary

Section A. List of published works, theses, unpublished reports, government
and private, containing significant data on fossil vertebrates
in the CDCA.

Section B. Location maps for fossil sites in the CDCA, and comments on
probability of occurrence, age designations.

Section C. Narrative, keyed to Maps 1 and 2, with respect to areas of known
or high potential for the occurrence of fossil vertebrates in
the CDCA, and a list for each area of institutions with major
collections, references to bibliography, and classification with
regard to their value for research, educational, recreational,
and industrial potential .

Section D. Brief narrative, keyed to Maps 1 and 2, with respect to areas of
lower potential for fossil vertebrates.

Section E. Classification of sites as to their research, educational, recrea-
tional, and industrial potential. This is part of Section C.

Section F. Discussion of impacts of natural and human activities on fossil
vertebrate sites in the CDCA.

Section G. List of institutions which have significant collections of verte-
brate fossils from the CDCA, including names and addresses of
curators.

Section H. List of names and addresses of specialists with interest in the
CDCA vertebrate fossils.

Table of Contents (continued)

Section I. Cross index for maps, text, institutions with collections, and

bibliography. This is part of Section C.
Section J. Value, occurrence, recovery, preservation, and collection of

vertebrate fossils.

•

Note

The colors on the maps are water-soluble. If necessary
they can be sprayed with Krylon Workable Fixative, which will
keep the colors intact, and will take ink when dry.

•

FOSSIL VERTEBRATES IN THE CDCA

Introduction and Summary. --This report surveys known and potential
fossil vertebrate sites in the CDCA. Forty-nine areas of known occurrence
or high potential have been identified (Maps 1 and 2, and Section C). Areas
of lower potential are also shown on the maps, and briefly discussed in
Section D.

The report focuses on information pertinent to aid the Bureau of Land
Management in its task of appraising the needs, and interests, sometimes
conflicting, of various individuals, groups, institutions, and the like.
The arrangement of the sections (see Table of Contents) is sufficient to that
end, but in order to appreciate the nature of the problem, Section J probably
should be read first.

The following overview and summary of recommendations is based on the
material discussed in the various sections.

Overview. --Basically, fossil vertebrates are a nonrenewable resource, of
considerable interest and value to the general public as well as to members
of the scientific community. Over the years, the study of fossil vertebrates
has become increasingly refined, so that previous practices - wherein a
collector went out and made a collection with a low degree of sophistication
as to collecting and data recording techniques - are no longer sufficient to
the job.

In short, in order to collect fossil vertebrates in a way that makes
them meaningful to their maximum potential, one needs professional-level
training and facilities, even if the individual doing the job is not labelled
as a "professional." He needs to know not only how to physically collect
the specimens in the best way, but also how to record the relevant data (and

IS - 2

what they are), how to use the maps and aerial photographs (and how to get
them ahead of time), etc. Certainly, nonprofessionals find fossils, and
some reach the attention of individuals who can assess and appreciate the
significance of what has been found, and follow it up. But this usually is a
random process, whereas the professional - or one with similar capabilities -
most often has the necessary background, motivation, and interest to do the
job correctly, and to inspect an area in a systematic way.

In a nutshell, fossil vertebrates in the CDCA are relatively rare. As
shown by the relatively slim bibliography in Section A, there is only a small
volume of published information on these fossils. As indicated in the Research
and Educational assessments in Section C, these rare fossils are important,
and in effect give the only meaningful information on the land life of the
CDCA during the past 60 mill ion- years. The normal effects of both natural and
human activities is negative; that is, the fossils are destroyed, and once
destroyed the resource is nonrenewable. Maps 1 and 2 try to show where
fossil vertebrates do occur, and whereas it is possible to estimate this
based on experience, lithologic associations, etc., it is impossible to
state ahead of time that fossils will not occur in an area of sedimentary
rock. This can be ascertained only after a thorough search. Based on the
above considerations and discussions in the text, the following recommenda-
tions are presented.

Recommendations . — 1. No area of sedimentary rock, with the possible
exception of one covered with Recent alluvium, should be written off without
making a thorough search for fossil vertebrates. The above possible excep-
tion is voided as soon as trenching or excavations are contemplated. At
the least, trench or excavation sites should be kept under surveillance
during the operations by someone who knows what the fossils are.

i.J - J

All projects should include funding for on-site investigations for
fossil values. For areas shown in blue on Maps 1 and 2, a study of some
duration prior to impact should be funded, by the individual, company, etc.,
causing the impact of the site. The amount of man-hours required for this
study and removal of fossils should be determined by consultation with an
appropriate specialist (see Section H for a list; in most cases the geographi-
cally nearest specialist will be the best. If needed, he can call in others.)

All areas colored brown must be funded for initial appraisal, and sub-
sequent removal of fossils synchronous with impact work must be allowed for.
For areas colored yellow, investigations synchronous with the impact work
must be allowed and funded by whoever is impacting the site.

Finally, the color value of any brown or yellow area can become blue,
depending on what fossil values are uncovered.

Mitigation of impact is straightforward and usually does not unduly delay
the project, if a qualified professional undertakes or supervises survey or
salvage work, as described in sections J and F.

IS - 4

2. Once fossil vertebrates are found, they should be brought to the
attention of one of the individuals listed in Section H.

3. Conservation and preservation of fossil vertebrates should be taken
to mean salvage and collection of the fossil by qualified professionals,
their proper cleaning, curating, and storage or exhibition in qualified
instructional or educational institutions. Fossils cannot be preserved by
leaving them "in the rock, at the site." They will be destroyed by natural
or human activities. The only exception to this is if a permanent shelter is
built over the site, and kept under surveillance, or otherwise made secure

on a 24-hour basis.

4. Survey and salvage work for fossil vertebrates by professionals, or

under professional supervision should be encouraged wherever possible. ..».•„
Antiquities Act permits for this purpose should be granted to cover large .* /y>v*r
areas. ^3^ V »*-*

5. Authority to grant permission to make professional salvage and
survey of areas in the CDCA should be transferred from the Washington to
the District offices of the BLM. Liason between the BLM and individuals
and institutions listed in Section G and H should be encouraged and
maintained.

6. Statements in the geological anthropological, or even paletonto-
logical literature that "no fossils were found" should not be taken as evidence
of nonoccurrence. Any area of sedimentary rock that comes under is likely to
be affected by human activity should be newly prospected for fossils before
that activity is begun. Only then will a "no fossils were found" statement

be meaningful , and even then some might have been overlooked.

7. Fossil vertebrates should not be treated as commercial items. Their

sale should be discouraged. Sale of fossils collected from areas covered by

Antiquities Act statutes is illegal.

A - 1

iliilOGRAPHY- Publ ished Reports

P-l. Alf, R.M., 1966, Mammal Trackway from the Barstow Formation, Calif.,
Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 65: 253-264.

* P-2. Axel rod, D.I., 1940, A Record of Lyonothamnus in Death Valley, Calif.,

Jour. Geol. 48: 526-531.

* P-3. Bowden, A.O. and Lopatin, I. A., 1941, Fossil Man in Southern Calif.,

Bull. G.S.A. 52:1995 (abs).

P-4. Buwalda, John P., 1914, Pleistocene Beds at Manix in the Eastern
Mohave Desert Region, U.C. Press Bull. 7:443-464.

P-5. Buwalda, J. P. and Lewis, 6.E., A New Species of Merychippus, U.S.G.S.
Prof. Pap. 264-G: 147-152.

* P-6. Crabtree, D.E., 1939, Mastodon Bone with Artifacts in California,

American Antiq. 5:148.

* P-7. DesLauriers, J.R., 1965, A New Miocene Tortoise from Southern California,

Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 64:1-10.

P-8. Downs, T. , 1965, Pleistocene Vertebrates of the Colorado Desert, Calif.,
7th Internat. Congr. Inter. Ass. Quat. Res. abs. 1965:107.

•P-9. , 1968, Fossil Vertebrates of Southern California, Calif.,

Nat. Hist. Guides 23: 61pp.

P-10. , Howards, H., Clements, T. , and Smith, G.A., 1959, Quaternary

Animals from Schuiling in the Mojave Desert, Calif., Contrib. Sci.:
L.A.C.M. no. 29, 21pp.

' P-ll. , and White, J. A., 1965, Late Cenozoic Vertebrates of the Anza-

Borrego Desert Area, Southern Calif., Program, Sect. E (Geol, Geog)
Amer. Assoc. Advanc. Sci. Meeting 1965: 10-11 (abs).

. >P-12. , 1968, A Vertebrate Faunal Succession in

Superposed Sediments from Late Pliocene to Middle Pleistocene
in Calif., 23rd Int. Geol. Congr. Proc. , 10: 41-47.

*P-13. Frick, Chi Ids , 1926, The Hemicyoninae and an American Tertizry Bear,
AMNH Bull., vol 56, art 1, 119pp.

*P-14. , 1933, New Remains of Trilophodont - Tetrabelodont

Mastadons, AMNH Bull., vol 59, art 9: 505-652.

*P-15. Giles, E., 1960, Multivariate Analysis of Pleistocene and Recent
Coyotes (Cam's latrans) from Calif., U.C. Pubs. Geol. Sci.
36: 369-390.

*P-16. Ginsburg, Leonard, 1955, De la Subdivsion du Genre Hemicyon Lortet

(Cornassier du Miocene), Bull. Soc. Geol. France, 5, Sec, 6, 85-99.

*= references of general interest, not specifically tied to a particular locality,

A - 2

P-17. Henshaw, P.C., 1939, A Tertiary Mammalian Fauna from the Avawatz
Mountains, San Be
Wash, 5:4, l-30p.

;» Mountains, San Bernardino County, Calif., Publ . Carnegie Inst.

•

P-18. Howard, H., 1944, Miscellaneous Avian Fossil Records from California,
Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 43: 73-76.

P-19. , 1955, Fossil Birds from Maniz Lake, Calif., U.S.G.S. Prof.

Pap. 264-J: 199-205.

p-20. , 1957, A New Species of Passerine Bird from the Miocene of

Calif., Contrib. Sci., L.A.C.M., no. 9, 16pp.

P-21. , 1963, Fossil Birds from the Anza-Borrego Desert, Contrib.

Sci., L.A.C.M., no. 73, 33pp.

* P-22. Jakway, G.E. and Clement, J.T., 1967, An .Endocranial Cast of the Miocene

Dog Tomarctus, from the Fossil Beds of Barstow, Calif., Bull.
S. Calif. Acad. Sci., 66: 39-45.

P-23. Jefferson, G.T., 1971, New Pleistocene Vertebrate Sites on the Mojave
Desert: a Reconaissance Report, G.S.A. (abs), 3:2, 140-141.

P-24. Lewis, G.E., 1960, Miocene Vertebrates of the Mojave Desert, Bull. G.S.A. ,
71, 1916 (abs).

p-25. > 1964, Miocene Vertebrates of the Barstow Formation in

Southern California, U.S.G.S. Prof. Pap. 475-D: 18-23.

P-26. , 1968, Stratigraphic Paleontology of the Barstow Formation

in the Alvord Mountain Area, San Bernardino County, Calif., U.S.G.S.
Prof. Pap. 600-C: 75-79.

P-27. Lindsay, E., 1966, Small Mammals in the Upper Barstow Formation, Mojave
Desert, Program, 62nd Ann. Meeting G.S.A. Cordilleran Sect., 1966
„ . 50-51 (abs).

% P-28. , 1967, Cricetid Rodents from the Barstow Syncline, Mojave

Desert, Calif., Program, 63rd Ann. Meeting G.S.A. Cordilleran
Sect. , 46-47 (abs). •

P-29. , 1972, Small Mammalian Fossils from the Barstow Formation,

Calif., U.C. Pub. Geo!. Sci. 93, 104pp.

* P-30. Log^n, T.M. , 1873, On the Remains of Fossil Elephants and Mastadons in

Calif., Proc. Agassiz Inst., 1872, 73-74.

P-31. McKenna, M.C., 1955, Paleocene Mammal, Goler Formation, Mojave Desert,
Calif., Bull. A.A.P.G. 39: 512-515.

P-32. , 1960, A Continental Paleocene Vertebrate Fauna from

California, A.M.N.H. Novitate no. 2024, 20pp.

A - 3

* P-33. Maxson, J.H., 1963, Death Valley Origin and Scenery, 1st Ed., Death

Valley Nat. Hist. Assoc, in cooperation with Nat. Park Serv., 59pp.

* P-34. Merkel , D.F., 1966, 1967, The Roadrunner - a Feathered Character, Santa

Barbara Mus. Nat. Hist., 41: 65-68.

P-35. Merriam, J.C., 1911, A Collection of Mammalian Remains from Tertiary Beds
on the Mohave Desert, Bull. U.C. Press 6: 167-169.

P-36. , 1913, New Protohippine Horses from Tertiary Beds on the

Western Border of the Mohave Desert, U.C. Press Bull. 7:435-441.

P-37. , 1913, A Peculiar Horn or Antler from the Mohave Miocene

California, U.C. Press Bull. 7:335-339.

P-38. , 1915, Extinct Faunas of the Mohave Desert; Their Significance

in a Study of the Crigin and Evolution of Life in America, Pop. Sci.
Monthly, pp 245-264.

P-39. , 1919, Tertiary Mammalian Faunas of the Mohave Desert,

U.C. Pub.. Bull. Dept. Grol . , no. 11:437-585.

P-40. , and Pack, R.W., 1913, Suggested Paleontological Cor-
relation Between Continental Miocene Deposits of the Mohave Region
and Marine Tertiary Beds of San Joaquin Valley, Ca., G.S.A. Bull.
24: 128 (abs).

P-41. Miller, L.H., 1950, A Miocene Flamingo from California, Condor 52:69-73.

P-42. , 1952, The Avifauna of the Barstow Miocene of California,

Condor 54: 296-301.

* P-43. Morris, William J., 1965, Graphic Analysis of Some Miocene Horse

Astragoli from California, Jour. Paleo. 39:657-662.

P-44. Opdyke, N.D., Lindsay, E.H., Johnson, W.M., et.al., 1977, The Paleo-
magnetism amd Magnetic Polarity Stratigraphy of the Mammal -
Bearing Section of the Anzo-Borrego State Park, California, Quat. Res.
(Wash. Univ. Quat. Res. Cent.) vol 7, no 3: 316-329.

* P-45. Osborn, H.F., 1918, Equidae of the Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene

of North American Iconographic Type Revision, Mem. A.M.N.H.,
N.S. II, pt. I.

P-46. Pierce, U.D., 1959a, Fossil Arthropods of Calif., No 22 Bull. S. Cal .
Acad. Sci. 58: 72-78.

P-47. , 1959b, Silicified Eggs of Vertebrates From Calico Mts.

Nodules, Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 58: 79-83.

P-48. , 1962, The Significance of the Petroliferous Nodules of

Our Desert Mountains, Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci. 61: 7-14.

•

A - A

P-49. Price, J., 1965, Fossil Beds of the Calicos, Desert Mag. 28:2, pp 10-11.

P-50. Reynolds, R.E. and Jefferson, 1971, Late Pleistocene Vertebrates from
Valley Wells, Mojave Desert, Calif., G.S.A. Abst. 3:2, 183 (abs).

P-51. Richey, K.A. , 1940, New Evidence on the Fauna! Relations of the Ricardo,
Mint Canyon, and Barstow Formations, Bull. G.S.A. 51: 1986 (abs).

P-52. , 1941, Occurrence of Chinese Felid Genus Metailurus in

Pliocene of Calif., Bull. G.S.A. 52: 1982-1983 (ably:

P-53. Savage, D.E., Downs, T. and Poe, O.J., 1954, Cenozoic Land Life of
Southern California, Cal. Div. Mines Bull. 170, Chap 3.

* P-54. Schultz, C.B. and Falkenback, C.H., 1940, Merycochaerinae, a New

Subfamily of Oreodonts, A.M.N.H. Bul.l . 77, art 5: 213-306.

P-55. , 1941, Ticholeptinae, a New Sub-
family of Oreodonts, A.M.N H. Bull. 74, art 1, 105pp.

* P-56. Simpson, G.G., 1933, Glossary and Correlation Charts of North American

Tertiary Mammal- Bearing Formations, Bull. A.M.N.H., vol 67,
art 3: 79-121.

* P-57. Stirton, R.A. , 1940, Phylogeny of North American Equidae, U.C. Pub.

Bull. Dept. Geol. Sci . 25: 165-198.

P-58. Stock, Chester, 1949, Mammalian Fauna from the Titus Canyon Formation,

Calif., in Some Tertiary Mammals and Birds from North America, VIII,
Pub. Carnegie Inst. Wash. 584: 229-244.

P-59. Tedford, R.H., 1966, Late Tertiary Mammal Succession, Mojave Desert
Region, Southern California, Spec. Pap. G.S.A. 87: 318 (abs).

P-60. and Alf, R.M., 1962, A New Megahippus from the Barstow

Formation, San Bernardino County, Calif., Bull. S. Calif. Acad.
Sci. 61: 113-122.

P-61. Von Huene, R. , 1971, Fossil Mammals of the Indian Wells Valley Region
and How to Collect Them, Maturango Mus., China Lake, Calif.,
Pub 5, 18pp.

P-62. West, R.M., 1970, Tetraclaenodon puercensis (Mammalia: Phenacodontidae) ,
Goler Formation, Paleocene of Calif., and Distribution of the Genus,
Jour. Paleo. 44:5, 851-857.

P-63. White, John A., 1968, A New Porcupine from the Middle Pleistocene of the
Anza-Borrego Desert of California, L.A.C.M. Contrib. in Sci., no 136,
15pp.

P-64. , and Downs, T. , 1961, A New Geomys from Vallecito Creek

Pleistocene of California, with Notes on Variation in Recent and
Fossil Species, L.A.C.M. Contrib. Sci., no 42, 34pp.

A - 5

P-65. Whistler, D.P., 196 , New Hemingfordian (Middle Miocene) Mammalian Fauna
from Boron, Calif, and Its Strati graphic Implications Within the
Western Mojave Desert. Spec, Pap. G.S.A. 101: 344-345 (abs).

P66. , 1969, Late Tertiary Lizards and Snakes of the Mojave

Desert, G.S.A. Abst., Part 3: 73 (abs).

P-67. Wilson, R.W., 1939, Rodents and Lagomorphs of the Late Tertiary Avawatz
Fauna, Calif., Publ . Carnegie Inst. Wash. 514: 31-38.

P-68. , 1940, California Paramyid Rodents, Publ, Carnegie Inst.

Wash. 514: 59-84.

* P-69. Woodburne, M.O., 1956, Equid Remains from the Sonora Volcanics, Calif.,

Bull. S. Calif. Acad. Sci . 65: 185-189.

P-70. ____^ and Whistler, D.P., 1973, An Early Miocene Oreodont

(Merychinae, Mammalia) from the Orocopia Mountains, Southern
Calif., Jour. Paleo., vol. 47, no. 5: 908-912.

P-71. , Tedford, R.H., and Stevens, M.S., et.al., 1974, Early

Miocene Mammalian Faunas, Mojave Desert, Calif., Jour. Paleo., vol. 48,
no. 1: 6-26.

* P-72. Yates, L.G., 1873, On the Occurrence of Remains of Fossil Elephans and

Mastodons in Calif., Proc. Agassiz Inst., 1872, 61-63.

P-73. Zakrzewski , R.J., 1972, Fossil Microtines from Late Cenozoic Deposits in
the Anza-Borrego Desert, California with the Description of a New
Subgenus of Synaptomys , L.A.C.M. Contrib. Sci. 221, 12 pp.

P- 74. Davis, E.L., 1978, The Ancient Cal ifornians . , Mat. Hist. Mus . Los
Angeles Co., Sci. Ser. 29: xi-193.

P-75. Huene, R. von, 1971, Fossil Mammals of the Indian Wells Valley Region
and How to Collect Them, Maturango Museum Publ. 5: i-18.

P-76. Stock, C. , 1936, Titanotheres from the Titus Canyon Formation, California,
Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 22: 656-661.

P-77. , and Bode, F.D., 1935, Occurrence of lower Oligocene Mammal

Bearing Beds near Death Valley, Calif., Proc. Mat. Acad. Sci., 21:
571-579.

P-78. Evernden, J.F., and others, 1964, Potassium-argon dates and the Cenozoic
Mammalian Chronology of North America., Amer. Jour. Sci., 262:
145-198.

P-79. Wilson, R.W., 1932, Cosomys, a new genus of vole from the Pliocene of
California. Jour. Mammalogy, 13: 150-154.

P-80. Schultz, J.R., 1937, A late Cenozoic Vertebrate Fauna from the Coso
Mountains, Inyo County, California. Carnegie Inst. Wash. Publ.
487: 75-109.

A - 6

P-81 . Tedford, R.H., 1961, Clarendonian i'nsectivores from the Ricardo

Formation, Kern County, California. Bull. So. Calif. Acad. Sci . ,
60: 57-76.

P-82. Buwalda, J. P., 1916, New mammalian faunas from Miocene sediments near
Tehachapi Pass in the southern Sierra Nevada. Univ. Calif. Pub! .
Geol. Sci. 10: 75-85.

P-83. Smith, G.I., 1964, Geology and volcanic petrology of the Lava Mountains,
San Bernardino County, California. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap.
457: 1-97.

P-84. Byers , F.M., Jr., 1960, Geology of the Alvord Mountain Quadrangle, San
Bernardino County, California. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 1089-A:
1-71.

P-85. Bassett, A.M., and D.H. Kupfer, 1964, A geologic reconnaissance in the
southeastern Mojave Desert, California. Calif. Div. Mines Spec.
Rept. 83: 1-43.

P-86. Shreve, R.L., 1968, The Blackhawk landslide. Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec.
Pap. 108: 1-47.

P-87. Woodburne, M.O., 1975, Cenozoic stratigraphy of the Transverse Ranges
and adjacent areas, southern California. Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec.
Pap. 162: 1-91.

P-88. Woodburne, M.O., and D.J. Golz, 1972, Stratigraphy of the Punchbowl
Formation, Cajon Valley, southern California. U.C. Publ . Geol.
Sci., 92: 1-73.

P-89. Dibblee, T.W.^Jr., 1968, Geology of the Fremont Peak and Opal Mountain
Quadrangles, California. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. Bull. 188:
1-64.

P-90. Dibblee, T.W., Jr., 1970, Geologic Map of the Daggett Quadrangle, San
Bernardino Co., California. U.S. Geol. Survey Misc. Geol. Invest.
Map, scale 1:62,500. Map 1-592.

P-91 . Dibblee, T.W., Jr., 1958, Tertiary stratigraphic units of the western
Mojave Desert, California. Amer. Assoc. Pet. Geol., Bull., 42:
135-144.

P-92. Dibblee, T.W., Jr., 1960, Geology of the Rogers Lake and Kramer quadrangles,
California. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 1089-B: 73-139.

P-93. Dibblee, T.W., Jr., 1963, Geology of the Willow Springs and Rosamond

quadrangles, California. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 1089-C: 141-253.

P-94. Dibblee, T.W., Jr., and A.M. Bassett, 1966a, Geologic map of the Newberry
quadrangle, San Bernardino County, California.- U.S. Geol. Surv.
Misc. Geol. Invest. Map 1-461, scale 1:62,500.

A - 7

A-95. Dibblee, T.W., Jr., and A.M. Bassett, 1966b, Geologic nap of the Cady
Mountains quadrangle, San Bernardino County, California. U.S.
Geol . Surv. Misc. Geol . Invest. Map 1-467 , scale 1:62,500.

P-96. Noble, L.F., 1953, Geology of the Pearland quadrangle, California.
U.S. Geol. Surv. Quadrangle Map, scale 1:24,000.

P-97. Noble, L.F., 1954, Geology of the Valyermo quadrangle, California. U.S.
Geol. Surv. Quadrangle Map, scale 1:24,000.

P-98. Wood, H.E., III, and others, 1941, Nomenclature and correlation of the
North American continental Tertiary. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 52:
1-48.

P-99. Armstrong, R.L., and R.E. Higgins, 1973, K-Ar dating of the beginning

of Tertiary volcanism in the Mojave Desert, California. Bull. Geol.
Soc. Amer. 84: 1095-1100.

P-100. Whistler, D.P., 1967, Oreodonts of the Tick Canyon Formation, southern
California. Paleobios. v. 1: 1-14.

P-101. Golz, D.J., 1976, Eocene artiodactyla of southern California. Nat. Hist.
Mus. (Los Angeles) Bull. 26: 1-85.

P-102. Olson, J.C and L.C. Pray, 1954, The Mountain Pass rare earth deposits.
Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. Bull. 170, Chap. 8: 23-29.

P-103. Hewett, D.F., 1956, Geology and mineral resources of the Ivanpah Quad-
rangle. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 275: 1-172.

P-104. Dibblee, T.W., Jr., 1954, Geology of the Imperial Valley Region, California.
Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. Bull. 170, Chap. 2: 21-28.

•P-105. Buwalda, J. P., and W.L. Stanton, 1930, Geological events in the history

of the Indio Hills and the Salton Basin, southern California. Science,
71: 104-106.

P-106. Crowell , J.C, 1957, Structure of the Orocopia Mountains, southeastern
California. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 68: 1712.

P-107. Crowell, J.C, 1960, The San Andreas fault in southern California.
Rept. 21st. Internat. Congress, Copenhagen, Pt. 18: 45-52.

P-108. Crowell, J.C, 1962, Displacement along the San Andreas fault, California.
Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Pap. 71, 1-61.

P-109. Crowell, J.C, 1973, Problems concerning the San Andreas fault system in
southern California. Stanford Univ. Pubs. Geol. Sci . , 13: 125-135.

P-110. Crowell, J.C, 1974, The Orocopia thrust, southeastern California. Geol. .
Soc. Amer. Abs. with Programs, 6: 159.

P-lll . Crowell, J.C, and T. Susuki , 1959, Eocene stratigraphy and paleontology,
Orocopia Mountains, southeastern California. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull.
70: 581-592.

•

A - 8

P-112. Spittler, T.E., 1974, Tertiary basaltic volcanism of the Orocopia

Mountains, California. Geol . Soc. Amer. Abs . with Pro grams , 6:
260.

P-113. Spitt'er, T.E., and M.A. Arthurv 1973, Post early Miocene displacement
along the San Andreas fault in southern California. Stanford Univ
Pubs. Geol. Sci., 13: 374-382.

P-114. Crowell, J.C., 1975, Geologic sketch of the Orocopia Mountains, south-
eastern California. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. Spec. Rept. 118:
99-110.

•

A - 9

JLiikI££JLA£.H.X - theses

*T-1. Barca, Richard A., 1961, Geology of the NortherNPortion of Old Dad

Mountain quadrangle, San Bernardino County, California, AM, USC.

T-2. Barnard, Ralph M. , 1950, Geology of the Ricardo Beds in the Western

portion of Saltdale quadrangle, Kern County, California, AM, USC

* T-3. Blane, Robert P., 1958, Geology of the Deep Spring Valley Area,

White-Inyo Mountains, California, MA, UCLA.

*T-4. Ceylon, Rasit, 1952, Geology and Ground Water Resources of Salt-
dale quadrangle, California, MS, USC.

T-5. Ellsworth, Elmer W. , 1932, Physiographic history of the Afton Basin,
San Bernardino County, California, PhD, Stanford.

*T-6. Evans, James R. , 1958, Geology of the Mescal Range, San Bernardino
County, California, MS, USC.

T-7. Fortsch, David E., 1972, A Late Pleistocene Vertebrate fauna from the
northern Mojave Desert of California, MA, USC.

* T-8. Gardner, Dion L. , 1933, Geology of the Newberry and Ord Mountains,

Southeastern California, MA, UCB.

* T-9. Giles, Eugene, 1955, Multivariate Analysis of Pleistocene and Recent

Coyotes in California, MA, UCB.

* T-10. Grose, Lucius T. , 1955, Rocks and structure of the northeastern part

of the Soda Mountains, San Bernardino County, California, PhD,
Stanford.

*T-11. Groat, Charles G., 1967, Geology and Hydrology of the Troy Playa area,
5an Bernardino County, California, MS, Massachusetts.

T-12. Hamill, Gilmore S ., IV, 1966, Structure and Stratigraphy of the
*- Mt. Shader quadrangle, Nye County, Nye-Inyo County, California,

PhD, Rice.

*T-13. Haskell, Barry S., 1959, The geology of a portion of the New York
Mountains and Lanfair Valley, AM, USC.

T-14. Hayes, William H., 1957, Geology of the Central Mecca Hills, River-
side County, California, PhD, Yale.

T-15. Henshaw, Paul C. , 1938, A Tertiary mammalian fauna from the Avawatz
Mountains, California, MS, CIT.

T-16. Holwerda, James G. , 1952, Geology of the Valyermo area, California,
MA, USC.

* «= reference of general interest, not tied to a particular fossil locality.

_ 10

* T-17. Hopper, Richard H., 1939, A geologic section from the Sierra Nevada

to Death Valley, California, PhD, CIT.

T-18. Jefferson, George T. , 1968, The Camp Cady local fauna from Pleistocene
Lake Manix, Mojave Desert, California, MA, UCR.

* T-19. Jennings, Charles W., 1952, Geology of the Southern part of the

Quail quadrangle, Los Angeles County, California, MA, UCLA.

* T-20. Johnston, Edward A., Geology of a part of the southeastern side of

the Cottonwood Mountains, Death Valley, California, PhD, Rice.

T-21. Lindsay, E.H., Jr., 1967, Biostratigraphy of the Barstow Formation,
Mojave Desert, PhD, UCB.

T-22. Lister, Kenneth H., 1970, Paleoecology of insect-bearing Miocene beds
in the Calico Mountains, California, MS, UCLA.

T-23. Lanphere, Marvin A., 1962, Part I. Geology of the Wildrose area,

Panamint Range, California. Part II. Geochronologic studies
in the Death Valley - Majove Desert Region, California, PhD, CIT.

* T-24. McNeil, Mary Deligant, 1963, The Victorville pediment, San Bernardino

County, California, its geology and climatic significance, MA, UCLA.

T-25. Popenoe, Frank W. , 1961, Geology of the southeatern portion of the
Indio Hills, Riverside County, California, MA, UCLA.

* T-26. Ragan, Dona! M. , 1954, Geology of Butte Valley, Inyo County,

California, MS, USC.

T-27. Reynolds, Mitchell W. , 1969, Stratigraphy and structural Geology of
the Titus and Titanothere Canyon area, Death Valley, California,
PhD, UCB. ,

* T-28. Richards, Carrol A., 1958, Geology of a part of the Funeral Mountains,

Death Valley National Monument, California, MS, USC.

* 1-29. Roberts, William B., 1951, Geology of a part of the Rosamond Hills

area, Kern County, California., MS, CIT.

* T-30. Simpson, Edward C. , 1933, Geology of the Elizabeth Lake quadrangle,

California, PhD, UCB.

T-31. Smith, George I., 1956, Geology and petrology of the Lava Mountains,
San Bernardino County, California, PhD, CIT.

T-32. Steinen, Randolph P, 1966, Stratigraphy of the Middle and Upper Miocene
Barstow Formation, San Bernardino County, California, MA, UCR.

* T-33. Stirton, Ruben A., 1940, A phylogeny of North American Equidae with

observations on the development of teeth, PhD, UCB.

no p.H 18

•

A - 11

T-34. Stotts, John L., 1965, Stratigraphy and structure of the northwest
Indio Hills, Riverside County, California. MA, UCR.

* T-35. Trowbridge, Arthur C, 1911, The geology of the Owens Valley, California

with special reference to the terrestrial deposits. PhD, Chicago.

* T-36. Turner, Francis E., 1928, Geology of theQuail Lake Region. MS, CIT.

* T-37. Walker, George E., 1963, Geology and ground water of Amargosa Valley,

Nevada and California, MA, Oklahoma.

T-38. Ware, Glen C. , Jr., 1958, The geology of a portion of the Mecca Hills,
Riverside County, California. MA, UCLA.

T-39. Whistler, David P., 1965, A new Hemingfordian (Middle Miocene) mammalian
fauna from Boron, California, and its strati graphic implications
within the western Mojave Desert. MA, UCR.

T-40. Wilson, Robert W., 1936, Pliocene Rodents of western North America.
PhD, CIT.

T-41 . Winters, H.H., 1954, The Pleistocene fauna of the Manix Beds in the
Mojave Desert, California. PhD, CIT.

T-42. Woodard: , G.D., 1963, The Cenozoic succession of the west Colorado
Desert, San Diego and Imperial Counties, Southern California.
PhD, UCB.

T-43. Whistler, D.P., 1969, Stratigraphy and small fossil vertebrates of the
Ricardo Formation, Kern County, California. PhD, UCB.

T-44. Michael, E.D., 1960, Geology of Cache Peak, Kern County, California.
MS, UCLA/

T-45. McCulloh, T.H., 1952, Geology of the southern half of the Lane Mountain
Quadrangle, California. PhD, UCLA.

T-46. Miller, S.T., 1978, Geology and mammalian biostratigraphy of a portion

of the northern Cady Mountains, Mojave Desert, California. MS, UCR.

T-47. Moseley, C.R., 1978, The geology of a portion of the northern Cady
Mountains, Mojave Desert, California. MS, UCR.

T-48. Weber, G.E., 1962, Geology of a portion of the Indio Hills, Riverside
County, California. Senior Thesis, UCR.

T-49. Wagoner, J.L., 1977, Stratigraphy and sedimentation of the Pleistocene

Brawl ey and Borrego formations in the San Felipe Hills area, Imperial
Valley, California, U.S.A. MS, UCR.

T-50. Dronyk, M.P., 1977, Stratigraphy, structure and a seismic refraction
survey of a portion of the San Felipe Hills, Imperial Valley,
California. MS, UCR.

A - 12

T-51 . Woodard, G.D., 1963, The Cenozoic stratigraphy of the western Colorado
Desert, San Diego and Imperial Counties, Southern California.
PhD, UCB.

T-52. Spittler, T.E., 1974, Volcanic petrology and stratigraphy of nonmarine
strata, Orocopia Mountains; Their bearing on Neogene slip on the
San Andreas fault, southern California. MS, UCR.

T-53. Arthur, M.A., 1974, Stratigraphy and sedimentation of Lower Miocene

nonmarine strata of the Orocopia Mountains; constraints for late
Tertiary slip on the San Andreas fault system, southern California
MS, UCR.

A - 13
These are mainly general publications regarding arealL geology and mineral values,

1-1 . Dibblee, T.U., Jr., 1967, Areal geology of the western Mojave Desert.
U.S.G.S. Prof. Pap. 522: 1-153.

1-2. Calif. Div. Mines and Geo!., 1966, Mineral Resources of California.
Calif. Div. Mines and Geol . Bull. 191: 1-450.

1-3. Dibblee, T.W., Jr., 1952, Geology of the Saltdale Quadrangle, California.
Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. Bull. 160: 1-66.

1-4. Troxel , Bennie W., and Paul K. Morton, 1962, Mines and mineral resources
of Kern County, California. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol., County
report 1 : 1-370.

1-5. Wright, L.A., R.M. Steward, T.E. Gay, Jr., and G.C. Hazenbush, 1953,
Mines and mineral deposits of San Bernardino County, California.
Calif. Jour. Mines and Geo!., 49; 1., 2: 49-192.

1-6. Wright, L.A., C.W. Chesterman, and L.A. Norman, Jr., 1954, Occurrence and
use of nonmetallic commodities in southern California. Calif.
Div. Mines and Geol. Bull. 170, Chap. 8: 59-74.

1-7. Gardner, D.L., 1954, Gold and silver mining districts in the Mojave

Desert region of southern California. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol.
Bull. 170, Chap. 8: 51-58.

1-8. Carlisle, D., D.L. Davis, M.B. Kildale, and R.M. Steward, 1954, Base

metal and iron deposits of southern California. Calif. Div. Mines
and Geol. Bull. 170, Chap. 8: 41-50.

1-9. Bateman, P.C., and W.P. Irwin, 1954, Tungsten in southeastern California.
Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. Bull. 170, Chap. 8: 31-40.

1-10. Mumford, R.W., 1954, Deposits of saline minerals in southern California.
Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. Bull. 170, Chap. 8: 15-30.

1-11 . Blackwelder, E. , 1954, Pleistocene lakes and drainages in the Mojave
region, southern California. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. Bull.
170, Chap. 5: 35-40.

1-12. Blanc, R.P., and G.B. Cleveland, 1961, Pleistocene lakes of southeastern
California II. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. Mineral Inf. Service,
14 (5): 1-6. .

1-13. Chesterman, W.D., 1956, Pumice, pumicite and volcanic cinders in
California. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. Bull. 174: 3-97.

1-14. Mason, J.F., 1948, Geology of the Tecopa area, southeastern California.
Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull. 59: 333-352.

1-15. Sheppard, R.A., and A.J. Gude, 1968, Distribution and genesis of authigenic
silicate minerals in tuffs of Pleistocene Lake Tecopa, Inyo County,
California. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 597: 1-38.

A - 14

1-16. Wright, L.A., 1974, Geology of the southeast quarter of Tecopa Quadrangle,
Inyo County, California. Calif. Div. Mines and Geo!. Map Sheet 20.

1-17. Izett, G.A., and C.W. Naeser, 1976, Age of the Bishop Tuff of eastern

California as determined by the fission-track method. Geology, 4 (10)
587-590.

1-18. Buwalda, J. P., 1954, Geology of the Tehachapi Mountains, California.
Calif. Div. Mines and Geo!. Bull. 170: 131-142.

1-19. Hunt, C.B., and D.R. Mabey, 1966, Stratigraphy and structure, Death Valley,
California. U.S. Geo!. Surv. Prof. Pap. 494-A.

1-20. Noble, L.F., and L.A. Wright, 1954, Geology of central and southern Death
Valley region, California. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol . Bull. 170,
Chap. 2: 143-160.

1-22. Weber, Harold F. , Jr., 1963, Geology and mineral resources of San Diego
County, California. Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. County Rept. 3:
1-309.

1-22. Morton, Paul K. , 1977, Geology and mineral resources of Imperial County.
Calif. Div. Mines and Geol. County Rept. 7: 1-104.

(

B-l

B . LOCATION MAPS FOR FOSSIL SITES OF VERTEBRATE FOSSILS IN THE CDCA .

These sites are portrayed on two maps of the CDCA, scale 1:250,000. The
maps show three levels of probability for the occurrence of fossil vertebrates.

A. High Pobability. Such areas are colored blue, and, as discussed in

W ■
the narrative, are based on the known occurrence of fossils, or are so desig-
nated because it is considered quite likely that fossils would be found there
if careful searches were made.

B. Medium Probability. These areas are colored brown and are so desig-
nated because experience has shown that diligent searches can occasionally
turn up fossil remains in sedimentary situations such as these.

C. Low Probability. These areas are colored yellow and are considered
to be of low potential, but, because the distribution of fossil materials is
unpredictable, these outcrops should not be ruled out entirely. Even in
these areas, excavations for governmental or commercial purposes should still
be proceeded by a survey by someone trained to recognize fossil materials.

D. Age. Rocks of different ages are outlined in red on the maps and
labelled with symbols that correspond to the age assignments found on the
appropriate map sheet of the Geologic Map of California. Figure B-l shows
the map sheets that are relevant to the CDCA.

In general, age designations are given as follows:

Ql Quaternary Lake Deposits

Qt Quaternary Nonmarine Terrace
Deposits

Qc Pleistocene Nonmarine

QP Plio-Pleistocene Nonmarine

All deposits labelled "Q" are of
Quaternary age, that is, of
Pleistocene to sub-Recent, or from , ?
about 1.8 million to as young as ^\J-

5,000 years old.

Figure B--1

INDEX TO CALIFORNIA
GEOLOGIC MAP SHEETS

The date beneath each map sheet name indicates year
of publication.

B-2

Pc Pliocene Nonmarine (sometimes with ?) These rocks are all Tertiary

Mc Miocene Nonmarine (sometimes with ?) age, or from about 2 to 65

0c Oligocene Nonmarine (sometimes with ?) million years old (See Figure

Ec Eocene Nonmarine (sometimes with ?) B-2)

Epc Paleocene Nonmarine (sometimes with ?)

Tc Tertiary Nonmarine, more precise age
not known

Tl Tertiary Lake Deposits, more precise
age not known

Figure B-2 shows the difference between' usage of words like "Pliocene"
and "Miocene" at the time the geologic map sheets were prepared, and current
usage. Based on work during mainly the last 10 years, the estimated age of
certain intervals of Tertiary time, particularly the Miocene and Pliocene,
has changed. Some sediments, and also their fossils, once called Pliocene
would now be designated as Miocene. The labels on the maps will provide a
good estimation of the age of the rocks, and if more precision is required,
consultation with Figure B-2 will give a reliable estimation of the current
consensus. Thus, under the former scheme, rocks designated as of Pliocene
age could be considered to be as much as about 11 million years old. Rocks
that old would now be considered to be of Miocene age, whereas Pliocene rocks
and fossils would not be older than about 5 million years.

E. Mammal Ages. The subdivision of Cenozoic time (Tertiary plus
Quaternary) for nonmarine sediments in North America is commonly done with
reference to intervals known as Mammal Ages, because these are locally
devised segments of time based on the evolution of fossil mammals. Use of
mammal ages is preferred, when precision is desired, because use of words
like Miocene and Pliocene entail a certain amount of correlation from North
America to rock and fossil sequences in Europe where Cenozoic Epochs were
fiSr)t named (and based there on marine invertebrates rather than nonmarine

Figure B-2
Chart showing older versus more modern ideas regarding the relationship
between Cenozoic Epochs, Mammal Ages, and their radiometric caligration

Cenozoic Epoch Mammal Ages

PLEISTOCENE

5 PLIOCENE

20 MIOCENE
25

OLIG0CENE

40 "
45

50 ^ EOCENE
55

60
65
70
75

PALE0CENE

None used

Blancan

Hemphillian
Clarendonian

Barstovian

Hemingfordian

Arikareean

Whitneyan

Orellan

Chadronian

Duchnesnean

Uintan

Bridgerian

Wasatchian

Clarkforkian

Tif fanian

Torrejonian

Dragonian

Puercan

Cenozoic Epoch

PLEISTOCENE

PLIOCENE

MIOCENE

. OLIGOCENE

EOCENE

PALEOCENE

Mammal Ages Time in millions
0

Rancholabrean

Irvingtonian

XT"

> 5
Ed H

K W
1

Blancan

- note change in
— 5 scale here

Hemphillian
Clarendonian

Barstovian

Hemingfordian

Arikareean

Whitneyan

Orellan

_20

~30

Chadronian

Duchesnean

Uintan

40
45

Bridgerian

-50

Wasatchian

Clarkforkian 55

Tif fanian

Torrejonian

Dragoniap-ercan g5

NEWER USEAGE

70
75

M
>

OLDER USEAGE

•

B-3

mammals).

In the narrative of Section C, Mammal Ages are used, along with the
age symbol that appears on the maps. Thus, the early age reference is
preserved, and will aid in locating the area in question on the map; at
the same time, an updated estimation of the age of the fossils and strata
will be given.

B - 4

Site of Potential Outdoor Museum

This site, located in Owl Canyon area of the Mud Hills (no. 23,
Section C) , contains trackways made by a camel. I last sav these a few
years ago, and if memory serves, they were located in the SE 1/4,
NW 1/4, SW 1/4, sec. 19, T. 11 N. , R. 2 W., Opal Mountain Quadrangle,
1:62,500, 1955ed. The tracks occurred on the underside of a bed of tuff,
and are located in a side canyon not often frequented by tourists. Other
trackways in the area were previously visible", but have since been destroyed

by erosion or by rock hounds, or both. It might be possible to enclose

5
this area with heavy plactic sheets or some such means, and install an

informative pla£que telling something about the tracks and their history.

In my opinion, based on experi£\cce in other areas, the site would be

destroyed or defaced in a relatively short period of time unless it was

given 24 hour supervision. Unfortunately, these trackways, if they still

exist, do so because the general public, .doesn' t know what they are, or

if someone happens, to see the tracks, he doesn't recognize them for what

they are.

C-l

C. MORPHOLOGIC AND LITHOLOGIC DESCRIPTION OF FOSSIL BEARING OUTCROPS
IN THE CDCA

This section alsoft includes information relative to section E (ranking
for research, education, recreation, industrial potetntial). It also includes
a cross index in the text for each locality in terms of map location*
institutions with collections, and bibliography. This accounts for items
specified in section I.

Ranking.-- The following comments explain the ranking levels of the
various categories.

Research.-- Fossils are important from a number of points of view.
In and of themselves, fossil remains can be interpreted as to their evolu-
tionary level, and by their sole existence represent tangible evidence that
a certain kind of animal lived at this particular place (or was at least
buried there, and lived somewhere in the vicinity). Fossils are normally
identified to several taxonomic categories, for example, Class Mammalia,
Order Carnivora, Family Canidae, Genus Cam's, species latrans (=Coyote).
It commonly requires progressively more material to allow an identification
at successively smaller (from the Class towards the Species) taxonomic
levels, but for certain, especially geographic, studies it may be important
to know that a particular Order or Family was present in a certain area at
a certain time. Even if identifiable only as Mammalia, the fossil at least
shows that bones are capable of preservation in a certain deposit, encouraging
further search if such is scientifically warranted. As the completeness of
material increases (from just fragments, up to complete skeletons) or the
abundance of fossils increases, so does the research value of a site. Because
.fossils can be studied from so many different viewpoints (stratigraphic,
environmental, evolutionary, populational , nature of accumulation, etc., the
most flexible scheme seems to be a two-fold classification. In the following

C-2

pages, the research value of a site is designated as:

Rl High research value; reasons specified.

R2 Low research value; reasons specified.

Education.-- The education value of a site is closely related to
its research value. Once fossils are recovered, prepared, studied, and re-
ported on in scientific or popular literature, or put on display, the educa-
tional value is clearly seen. Except in unusual circumstances, (see Section
J), fossils must be removed from the ground. There may be more fossils at
the site in question, but the educational value is normally associated with
the ability of interested students or professionals, as well as general
public, to be shown where certain kinds of fossils have been obtained. The
visitor can then be aware of the sedimentary, stratigraphic, geologic environ-
mental, etc., conditions under which the specimens were preserved and how
they were arrayed in the rock column. Sites, themselves, rather than the
fossils which have been obtained from them, commonly have less educational
value to the general public than to the student or professional. If educa-
tional value accrues to a site from a different (non-fossil) viewpoint, that
is noted.

El High educational value; reasons specified.

E2 Lower educational value; reasons specified.

Recreation.— Finding fossils is fun, and so is collecting them.
Because of their fragile, unique nature, however, (Section J) collecting
should be done by someone who knows how to do it correctly, and how to record
the additional kinds of data that allow the specimen to be significantly tied
to its stratigraphic location. This usually means a professional, or some-
one working under the supervision of a professional. Furthermore, the Federal
Antiquities Laws prohibit the collecting of fossils without a proper permit,
and such permits are awarded only to institutions, or qualified individuals

C-3

associated with such institutions, who are engaged in scientific research
and who, once the specimens have been collected, will see to it that they are
given the necessary care and attention to ensure continued availability to
the professional worker or member of the general public.

For these reasons, my interpretation is that fossils generally have no
recreational value, in the generally accepted definition of the term. A few
exceptions might be areas where a permanent exhibit has been constructed to
preserve specimens in place, and where such an exhibit is provided with the
necessary security. As mentioned in Section J, this has been successfully
accomplished only one or two places. At present, sites in the CDCA that
could be developed for permanent display are rare. I know of only one or
two, and these will be indicated. Most sites will be designated:

RO Low recreational value, in the sense described above.

RP Potential recreational value, reasons specified

If other (non-fossil) recreational value accrues to a site, that is noted,
Industrial .-- It is almost a contradiction in terms to discuss the
industrial potential of a fossil -bearing site. Over the years, many more
people havd been scouring the CDCA for mineral ogic or geothermal resources
than have been looking for fossils. Commonly, fossils are found during in-
dustrial exploration. Except for the newer aspects of energy technology, such
as locating solar power generating and testing facilities, I believe that most
of the industrial potential of the CDCA is known, and such sites are commonly
not those that would be expected to bear fossils. An exception is the U.S.
Borax Mine near Boron (Map 1), where fossils were discovered in the borate-
producing sediments. Solar power generating or testing facilities can,
theoretically, be built nearly any place that receives a lot of sunlight.
Presumably, it also would be better if the site were fairly flat, and near
a dependable water supply, i.e., reasonably near a city. At any rate, the

conditions that must be met to allow a site to have good potential for this
type of industrial use has nothing to do with the fact that it also produces
fossils.

I claim no expertise in the siting of solar or geothermal power plants,
pipe lines, power lines, and, as mentioned above, believe that essentially all
in-the-rock industrial values have been previously ascertained. Various
agencies are now investigating the CDCA for its uranium potential, and pre-
sumably this information will be available eventually. I presume that there
will never be a nuclear power generating facility in the CDCA, because of the
insufficient water supplies, except near the Colorado River.

For the reasons given above, all fossil -producing sites in the CDCA are
given a low industrial potential, unless there is specific reason to do other-
wise.

II High industrial potential
12 Low industrial potential

C-5

~Map 1

1. Grapevine Mountains. 0c; Oligocene; Chadronian.

The deposits consist of a variegated succession of quartzite, sand-
stone, calcareous mudstone, algal limestone and tuffaceous sandstone in a
rugged terrain of relatively deep, steep-sided canyons. The outcrops occur
near the California-Nevada border in the Grapevine and Funeral Mountains, on
the east side of Death Valley. The sediments reach a thickness of as much
as 7,000 feet, generally dip eastward to northeastward, and unconformably
overlie marine rocks of Paleozoic age (Cambrian to Permian). Conglomerates
and rhyolitic volcanic rocks of possible Miocene age unconformably overlie
the Oligocene sediments.

Fossils.-- Up to now, the fossils have been recovered mostly in the
vicinity of Leadfield, in an interval about 100 feet thick, about 500 feet
above the basal unconformity. The material is sparse, but significant in that
this is one of the few areas in all California that has produced fossil mammals
of Oligocene age. For this reason, all of the outcrops of these rocks have
been designated as high potential and significance. Paramyine, aplodontid,
canid, Mesohippus , Eotriqonias? mortivallis, Protoreodon transmontanus ,
Poabromylus? robustus , Leptomeryx blacki .

References.-- Death Valley Sheet (all subsequent use of "Sheet"
refers to the Geologic Map of California); P-33 (all "P" and "T" notations
refer to the Bibliography of Publications and Theses. "I" notations refer to
Miscellaneous Publications List. These are all found in Section A.). P-53,
P-58, P-76, P-77, P-101, T-23, T-27, T-28, 1-2.

Institutions with major collections.-- Natural History Museum, Los
Angeles.

C-6

Values.-- Research; Rl. See above.

Educational; EI. for students and professionals. The area
is an excellent one to conduct stratigraphic field trips.

Recreational; RO. The area is quite scenic, but also
very difficult to get to. The present one-way road through Titus Canyon
probably meets present needs.

Industrial; 12. None known.

C-7

Map 1

2. Coso Mountains. QP: PI io-Pleistocene; Blancan.

The deposits consist of about 300' of conglomeratic to pebbly,
grayish brown, tan, to greenish brown, arkosic to tuffaceous, coarse- to fine-'
grained sandstone, with subsidiary amounts of siltstone. The deposits include
white to brownish gray tuffs dated at 2.1 and 2.3 m.y. ; these occur strat-
igraphically above the fossil localities. The sediments are overlain by flows
of basalt, 50 to 100 feet thick, and unconformably overlie pre-Tertiary
granitic rocks. The exposures occur in a gently rolling topography, cut by
narrow canyons, on the northwestern and western flanks of the Coso Range,
southeast of Owens Lake.

Fossils.-- Most of the fossils have been found in the northwestern
part of the area, but there is great potential for all of the district; all
outcrops are rated as of high potential and significance. This area pro-
duces fossil mammals of early Pleistocene or latest Pliocene age, and is one
of the very few such localities in southern California. As such it should
be carefully preserved rather than being used as a site for motorcycle races,
as happened recently. Cosomys primus, Hypolaqus? 1 imnetus, Borophagus solus,
Platyqonus, Hemiauchenia , Plesippus francescana, PI iomastadon? cosoensis.

References.— Death Valley Sheet; P-79, P-80, P-75, T-35, 1-6.

Institutions with major collections.-- Natural History Museum, Los
Angeles; Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley.

Values.-- Research; Rl. (See above).

Educational; El. For students and professionals.
Recreational; R0. Because of the scientific value, 0RV
races should not be conducted here.

Industrial; 12. Punmicite mines occur about 3 miles east
of the southern part of the outcrop area, but none occur in it. 5 miles to the

C-8

north are salt wells in Owens Lake, and a salt products plant occurs 7
miles north of the fossil beds.

C-9

Map 1

3. Tecopa Lake Beds. Ql ; Quaternary; Irvingtonianr Also Qc, see below.
These beds consist of lacustrine siltsone and mudstone, generally
drab brown, gray, or green in color, interbedded with layers of tufa and ash.
They are nearly flat-lying, and attain a thickness of 100 - 200'. Three
major tuff units have been identified, A to C, top to bottom. Tuff B has
been correlated with the Bishop Ash, dated radiometrically at about 700,000
years. Tuff C has been correlated on the basis of trace element content
with tuffs in the Ventura Basin that are older than 1.2 million years. The
associated fauna, that occurs about 24' below Tuff C, is of Irvingtonian
age, consistent with a correlation of older than 1.2 million years, but prob-
ably younger than 2 million years. v

The Tecopa deposits occur in a wide area east and north of Tecopa Hot
Springs, between the Resting Springs Range, and the Dublin Hills.

Fossils.-- The fossils have been recovered mainly from exposures a
few miles east of Tecopa Hot Springs, but scattered finds occur to the west
and north, as well, so all of these deposits, and the fringing Quaternary
conglomeratic beds (Qc) are rated as of high potential and significance.
This area is one of only two places in California that produce good examples
off small mammals of Irvingtonian age. In addition, it has yielded remains
of an unique camel-like animal, unknown elsewhere. These finds are particu-
larly important because of their association with the tuffs mentioned above.
?Titanotylopus, Mammuthus , Lepus. Sorex, Dipodomys, Reithrodontomys, Sigmodon,
Neotomodon, Neotoma, Zapus.

References.-- Trona Sheet; 1-11, 1-12, 1-13, 1-14, 1-15, 1-16, 1-17.
Institutions with major collections.-- Natural -History Museum, Los
Angeles; Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

C-10

Values.-- Research; Rl. (See above)

Educational; El. For students and professionals; strat-
igraphy, sedimentation, lake history.

Recreational; RO. ORV use should be discouraged because
of high research value.

Industrial; 12. Colemanite deposits are known from the
vicinity of Shoshone, and borate deposits were once mined from a number of
places in greater Death Valley. None are currently being mined in the im-
mediate Tecopa area, to my knowledge. The Nopah Range, 5-7 miles to the
southeast, has produced lead, zinc, silver, talc; the Ibex Hills to the
southwest, have produced lead, zinc, and silver.

C-ll

Map 1

4. Indian Wells Valley. Ql ; Quaternary; Irvingtonian. Qal ; Quaternary;
Rancholabrean.

An extensive succession of white to pale green fine-grained, lacus-
trine sandstone and siltstone crops out in Indian Wells Valley. The beds are
generally flat-lying, but arelocally tilted, probably in response to faulting.
In most cases their base is not exposed, but locally the sediments rest uncon-
formably on pre-Tertiary granitic rock. The deposits are most extensively
exposed in the north-central part of the valley, where they are overlain by
Late Pleistocene basalt.

The relief is generally low, but occasional badland areas of higher
elevation are preserved.

Fossils.-- These mammals fossils occur mainly in the vicinity of
Airport Lake, in the White Hills, in the northern outcrop area, but also have
been recorded from areas west and northwest of China Lake, to the southeast.
All of the lake deposits in the Indian Hills Valley are regarded of high
potential and significance. Irvingtonian: Paramylodon, Stegomastodon,
Mammuthus, Equus, Camel ops , Breameryx. Rancholabrean: Canis, Smilodon, Equus ,
Hemiauchenia, Camel ops, Odoeoileus, Bison, Mammuthus, Microtus.

References.-- Trona Sheet; P-74, P-75, T-7, 1-2.

Institutions with major collections.-- Natural History Museum, Los
Angeles; Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

Values.-- Research; Rl. Even though the sites are located on the
Naval Ordnance Test Station and access is restricted, they are regarded as
important in containing the only information on Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean
succession, as- to past life of this area, and the association of fossil humans
with the latter.

Educational; El. For students and professionals, could

C-12

be of high significance in displaying archaelogical methodology.

Recreational; RO. Particularly in view of restricted
areas.

Industrial; II. Borates are mined from China Lake. A

tungsten mill operates on Brown Hill, northwest of China Lake. Gold mines

occur in the Argus Range to the east, but are mostly inactive.

C-13

Map 1 - - — - -

— 5. El Paso Mountains. Epc; Paleocene; Torrejonian, and Pc; Pliocene;
Clarendonian. (On .the Trona Sheet of the Geologic Map of California, Pc is
labelled Pmlc - middle and/or lower Pliocene. In modern terms - Figure B-2 -
these rocks are upper Miocene.)

Two important fossil -bearing rock units are exposed in the El Paso
Mountains, which rise just north of the Garlock Fault and extend northeast-
ward from the vicinity of Red Rock Canyon State Park for a distance of about
20 miles. The southeastern face of the range front is relatively steep, and
traversed by narrow canyons, whereas to the northwest, the topography is
generally smoother, with broadly open valleys.

The Goler Formation (Paleocene) is at least 6,500' thick, and consists
of buff to red conglomerate and conglomeratic arkosic sandstone interbedded
with drab green to brown fine-grained sandstone and siltstone; cobbles in the
conglomerate are generally smoothly rounded clasts of quartzite, chert, and
granitic rock, along with hornfels and porphyritic volcanic rock. The beds
unconformably overlie the Permian Garlock Formation, and are unconformably
overlain by Pliocene Ricardo Formation.

Fossils.-- These are mainly known from the vicinity of Goler Gulch
in the northeastern part of the range, but because of their significance, all
exposures of the Goler Formation are deemed highly important. This is the
only area in the Southwestern United States from which Paleocene mammals are
known. Neoliotomus cf . coventus, Tetraclaenodon puercensis.

References.— Trona Sheet; P-31, P-32, P-62, 1-3.

Institutions with major collections.-- Museum of Paleontology, Uni-
versity of California, Berkeley.

C-14

The Ricardo Formation (Pliocene; Clarendonian) is most extensively
developed in the Red Rock Canyon State Park - Last Chance Canyon district,
in the southwest part of the range, but also extends northeasteward to the
vicinity of Goler Gulch. The Ricardo Formation unconformably overlies the
Goler Formation, and is usually less steeply deformed. The Ricardo is about
6,200' thick in the Red Rock Canyon area, but thins to the southwest and
northeast, and is composed of a succession of varicolored nonmarine sedi-
ments that range from arkosic conglomeratic sandstone to siltstone inter-
bedded with tuffs and flows of basalt and andesite. In the middle 3,000'
of section, calcareous, fine-grained sediments (typically seen in Last Chance
Canyon) interfinger from the north and northeast with a unit of coarser-
grained rocks (typically seen in Red Rock Canyon) that thickens to the south-
west. Above the fine-grained rocks are mainly coarse-grained clayey siliceous
sandstone beds. The sediments are unconformably overlain by alluvium and
Pleistocene Black Mountain Basalt.

Fossils.-- The Ricardo Fauna was one of the first described from
the Mojave Desert Region, and has come to typify late Miocene mammalian life
in Southern California. Because of work conducted in recent years, mainly
by personnel now at the Natural History Museum, Los Angeles, the fauna is
well represented by both large and small mammals, and is one of the few well-
balanced Calrendonian faunas in North America. Paradryosorex chasseae, Sorex,
Scapanus schultzi , Leptocyon vafer, Aelurodon aphobus, Osteoborus ricardoensis ,
(L diabloensis, Tomarctus robustus, Ischyrocyon mojavensis, Bassariscus,
Mustela? buwaldi , Albanosmilus osborni , ?Pseudaelurus, ?Spermophilus,
Perognathus minutus, P_. furlongi , Diprionomys tertius, Peromyscus russelli ,
Copomys , Hypolagus, Gomphotherium, ?Serbelodon burnhami , Aphelops, Peraceras,
THypohippus, Hipparion mohavense, H_. forcei , Neohipparion, Pliohippus tantalus,
j\ fairbanksi , P_. cf. tehonensis, P_. cf. leardi , Ustatochochoerus calif ornicus,

C-15

U_. cf . medius, Peccary, ?Procamelus, ?Megatylopus , Cos oryx furlonqi , C_. cf.
recatus, Sphenophalos (Plioceros) .

References.— Trona Sheet; P-31, P-32, P-35, P-38, P-51, P-53, P-62,
P-78, T-53, 1-1, 1-3.

Institutions with major collections.-- Natural History Museum, Los
Angeles; Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley; Depart-
ment of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

Values.— Research; Rl (See Above).

Educational; El. Students and professionals, for studies
on stratigraphy, general geology, location of important fossil-bearing
sequences.

Recreational; RO. The area is somewhat difficult to get
through, unless 4-wheel drive vehicles are available; limited ORV use prob-
ably should be allowed, but certainly not massive use. Semi-precious
stones may be found in the area.

Industrial; 12. Placer gold, pumice, pumicite and clay
are the principal products. Lode gold, coal, and copper have been mined, also,
Prospects for lead, uranium, molybedenum, and perlite have been explored and
it is possible that ornamental stones may be quarried. Fire opal, jasper,
agate, and silicified palm are -often collected from the northwestern part
of the area. Several hundred thousand dollars worth of metals and non-
metals have been removed. Potential for further riches is low.

C-16

Map 1

6. Eastern Tehachapi Mountains. Muc; Miocene; Hemingfordian and
Barstovian. (Mc is labelled Muc - upper Miocene nonmarine - on the Bakers-
field sheet of the Geologic Map of California)

Two rock units - the Kinnick and Bopesta formations - are exposed
on and around Cache Peak, in steep, rugged terain. The Kinnick Formation,
1,500' thick, consists of stratified green volcanic tuffs, largely ash beds,
woth some coarse agglomerate; the upper part of the formation is gray sandy
shale and, locally, white, freshwater diatomaceous beds and cherts. The
unit unconformably overlies the Witnet Formation, and pre-Tertiary basement.
It is conformably overlain by the Bopesta Formation, and interfingers with
andesites of the Cache Peak area.

Fossils.-- The fossils comprise the Phillips Ranch Fauna, which are
associated with plants (Tehachapi Flora) and tuffs dated at 17.1 m.y.
Merychippus tehachapiensis , camel , Moropus , ?Merycodus , Cyporca social e.

References.— Trona and Bakersfield Sheets; P-5, P-82, T-44, 1-1,
1-2, 1-3.

Institutions with major collections.-- Natural History Museum, Los
Angeles; Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley.

The Bopesta Formation overlies the Kinnick, is about 2,800' thick,
and consists of tan, white, fine- and coarse-grained tuffaceous sandstone,
some interbedded conglomerate and gray sandy shale. In the south, the lower
beds are olive-green siltstone, platy semi-siliceous shale, sandstone and
basalt. To the north, the formation intertongues with and is overlain by
andesites of the Cache Peak area.

Fossils.-- These are the Cache Peak Fauna of Barstovian age. Both
the Cache Peak and the Phillips Ranch Faunas are in need of further collection
and study. Together they constitute. one of the few places in the Mojave

C-17

Desert Region where it is still possible, with new collections, to invest-
igate the evolutionary change from Hemingfordian to Barstovian ages mammals.
Merychippus cf . stylodontus , Merychyus, camel , Dromomeryx , Merycodus.

References.— Trona and Bakersfield Sheets; P-5, P-82, T-44, 1-1,
1-2, 1-3.

Institutions with major collections.-- Museum of Paleontolgy,
University -Of California, Berkeley, Natural History Museum, Los Angeles.

Values.-- Research; Rl. (See above)

Educational; El. Students and professionals; stratigraphic
demonstration of boundary between two mammal ages, in this case, Hemingfordian
and Barstovian.

Recreational; RO. There has been some "rock hound"
activity for semi-precious stones, but most of this land is privately owned,
and access is limited.

Industrial; 12. Especially in the vicinity of Cache Peak,
claims for various minerals are abundant; gold, perlite, clay, semi-precious
minerals. To the southwest, near Cache Creek, 3 mile north of Route 466,
roofing aggregate quarries supply gravel to aggregate mills. These are not
closely located to fossil sites, however.

C - 17A

Map 1

7. Garlock. Qc; Quaternary; Rancholabrean
The fossils occur in Quaternary sediments south of the Garlock fault
and a little west of Garlock.

Fossils. — Sparse remains of bird, rabbit, Equus , indicate the age
of the beds and, inasmuch as they are cut by it, the recency of activity
of the Garlock fault.

Reference. — Trona Sheet; records of the Natural History Museum,
Los Angeles, CIT 483a.

Institution with major collection. — See Referenc_.
Values . — Research; R2 . This is based an the sparse nature of the
fossils; additional collecting could change this reference.
Educational; E2 . See above.

Recreational; RO. Probable ORV activity, rock hounds.
Industrial, 12 . Low potential.

A 6

C-18

Map 1

8. Lava Mountains. Pc; Pliocene; Clarendonian (These exposures are
labelled Pmlc - middle and/or lower Pliocene nonmarine - on the Trona Sheet
of the Geologic Map of California. In modern terms, these sediments rse
upper Miocene in age.)

The sediments, the Bedrock Spring Formation, are exposed along the
northern flank of the Lava Mountains, and form locally rugged badland topo-
graphy, but generally occur within fairly open valleys. The sediments are
about 5,000' thick and consist of coarse-gra-ined arkosic conglomerate, sand-
stone, siltstone and claystone, with lesser amounts of limestone, evaporite
deposits, tuff, tuff breccia, rubble breccia, and lapili breccia. The formation
unconformably overlies various older rocks - pre-Tertiary metamorphic rocks,
Atolia Quartz Monzonite, and Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary rock. The
Bedrock Spring Formation is unconformably overlain by the Almond Mountain
Volcanics, and locally the Lava Mountains Andesite and Quaternary andesite
gravel .

Fossils.— The fossil are sparse, but important in establishing the
age of the deposits, which could be equivalent to the Ricardo Formation of
the El Paso Mountains to the north, and offset from them by left lateral slip
on the Garlock Fault. Fossils can be found throughout the length of the
exposures. Neotomodon, Hypolaqus, Leptocyon vafer, Gomphotherium, ?Megatylopus ,
?Pliauchenia, PI iohippus cf . leardi cf . Aphelops , Mer^codus.

References.-- Trona Sheet; P-83, T-31.

Institutions with major collections.— U.S. Geological Survey, Denver;
Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

Values.— Research; Rl. Only preliminary searches for fossil mammals
have been made in this area. There is a definite potential to develop a strat-
igraphically controlled array of localities, some of which already have been

C-19

shown to produce small as well as larger vertebrates.

Educational; El. Students and professionals, to evaluate
the above and also the regional correlation with the possibly offset counter-
part, The Ricardo Formation.

Recreational; RO. There is some "rock hound" activity for
semi-precious stones; fossils probably are found occasionally and illegally
collected, or destroyed.

Industrial; II. This area is partly in, or adjacent to,
the Lava Mountains Geothermal exploration area. Any excavations or other
activities associated with drilling or exploration procedures should be pre-
ceeded by a survey for fossil vertebrates.

Farther to the west, numerous lode gold
claims occur in and around Randsburg-Johannesburg, as well as claims for
manganese and silver. A few are still being worked.

C-20

Map 1

9.. Avawatz Peak. Tc; Tertiary; Clarendonian.

The Avawatz Formation occurs in rugged canyon-land exposures on
the southern and southwestern flank of Avawatz Peak, and the correlative de-
posits have been recorded along slivers of the Garlock Fault Zone to the
northwest, and of the Death Valley Fault Zone to the north. These deposits,
usually tilted and folded, consist of a basal interval about 1,000' thick,
composed of coarse-grained conglomerate, some of which is monol ithologic.
These beds are overlain by a middle unit of ihterbedded claystone, sandstone,
and coarse- to fine-grained conglomerate. Green, gray-green, and brown-
green to brown fine-grained sandstone and claystone predominate. An interval
of coarse-grained breccia overlies the claystone section; ^and individual
breccia beds are several meters across. The upper part of the formation con-
sists of arenaceous clastic sediments and some tuff, with coarse-grained
sandstone at the top. Tuff beds in this interval have been dated at 10.7 and
11.0 m.y.

Fossils.--' The Avawatz fauna occurs in the upper unit and is of
Clarendonian age. Pseudaelurus intrepidus, Peroqnathoides cf. tertius,
Peromyscus dental is, Hypolagus, Gomphotherium cf . simpl icidens, PI iohippus,
Procaine! us cdaftatus, Merycodus cf . corroensis.

References.— Trona Sheet; P-17, P-78, T-17, 1-5

Institutions with major collections.-- Natural History Museum, Los
Angeles; Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley; Depart-
ment of Earth Science, University of California, Riverside; R.M. Alf Museum,
Webb School, Claremont, CA.

Values.— Research; Rl. This area is quite important in that the
fauna is associated with potassium-argon dates, and the sedimentary record
probably reflects the beginning or at least early phase of the uplift of the

C-21

Avawatz Mountains, and possibly the local age of movement of the Death Valley
and Garlock Fault Zones.

Educational; El. Students and professionals, primarily
from the viewpoint of the stratigraphy of the rocks, the association of fossils
and potassium-argon dates; exercises in structural geology; depositional
mechanics; sedimentology. The rocks are locally quite structurally deformed,
and also show interesting problems in depositional mechanics in that large
monolithologic megabreccia masses have been emplaced in the very fine-
grained sedimentary sequence with little apparent deformation of the under-
lying materials.

Recreational; RO. The area shows some locally interest-
ing scenery, but is difficult to get into.

Industrial; 12. Iron Mountain and Iron King claims (iron
ore) are situated along the southern contact of the fossil -bearing beds,
south of Silver Lake Road. Kaiser Steel considered these too remote for
operation at present.

C-22

Map 1

10. Salt Spring Hills Playa. Ql ; Quaternary; Pleistocene.
Playa lake sediments in playa east of Salt Spring Hills.
Fossils.-- Bones have been reported but not collected.
References.-- Trona Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum, reference
1.67.1.

Institutions with major collections.-- None.
Values.-- Research; R2. At least until a high concentration of
fossils can be demonstrated.

Educational; E2. Nothing extraordinary seems to be as-
sociated with these playa sediments.

Recreational; RO. This playa is too small and isolated
to have any significant recreational use.

Industrial; 12. Nothing significant is known, but the
area occurs in one of the msjor talc producing regions in the United States.

C-23

Map 1

11. S perry Wash Railroad. QP; Quaternary; Pleistocene; Rancholabrean.

Fluvatile gravels and sandstone, along the old railroad grade about
1 mile north of Sperry Wash Road.

Fossils.-- Bison tooth seen, not collected.

References.-- Trona Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference
1.67.2.

Institutions with major collections. -- None.

Values.-- Research; R2. Unless a greater concentration of fossils
is found. These playa deposits, however, indicate something about the
Quaternary history of the area, possibly as a marginal facies of the lacus-
trine sediments that developed in these areas during the Pleistocene. If not
connected with Lake Manly, and others that extended from Owens Valley, through
Manix Lake, to Death Valley, the greater Tecopa lake system was coveal with
the others.

Educational; E2. Mainly because of sparse information
as to fossils. If this became better known, so as to more adequately cor-
relate the deposits with those in the Tecopa Basin, and elsewhere, this
could be an interesting one to study.

Recreational; RO. Nothing exceptional is known for the
area; the old railroad line, and some talc mines in the area provide some
interest.

Industrial; 12'. Talc mines occur in the area, and some,
such as the Western or Acme Mine, are still in operation.

C-24

Map 1

12. Superior Dry Lake West. Ql ; Quaternary; ?Rancholabrean.

Playa lake beds, near southest shore of Superior Dry Lake, SE*s,
NE?s, sec. 23, T. 31, R. 45 E.

Fossils.-- bone and tooth fragments.

References.-- Trona Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference
1-134-1.

Institutions with major collections.-- San Bernardino County Museum,
Redlands CA.

Values.-- Research; R2. Until greater concentration of fossils is
shown.

Educational; E2. Nothing important distinguished this
playa from others.

Recreational.; RO. No particularly interesting factors
are shown.

Industrial; 12. A few unidentified claims are located
near the base of Slocum Mountain, to the northwest; apparently inactive.

C-25

Map 1

13. Jack Rabbit Spring. Ql ; Quaternary; ?Rancholabrean.

Immediately northeast of road, 700' southwest of spring, northern
end of Coyote Dry Lake. Playa Lake deposits.

Fossils.-- Fossil camel bones reported, not collected.
References.-- Trona Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference
1.75.1.

Institutions with major collections. -- None

Values.-- Research; R2. Until greater concentration of fossil is
shown.

Educational; E2. Because of the poor present level of
information. However, these deposits probably are equivalent to, or are part
of, the Manix Lake Beds, which formed 20-30,000 years ago.

Recreational; R0. Nothing important known.
Industrial; Mainly 12. Five miles northeast are the Daisy
and Olympus gold mines, now inactive. The Starbright Tungsten Mine, 10 miles
west, is actively producing scheelite. Ten miles southeast, the Alvord Mine
(gold) operated as recently as 25 years ago.

C-26

-Map 1

14. Fort Irwin Playa. Qal; Alluvium; Rancholabrean?

Sediments not distinguished from Qal on Trona Sheet of Geologic
Map of California; see Red Pass Lake 15' Quadrangle, sees. 31 and 32, T. 16 N.
R. 5 E., small playa shows along road at that scale.

Fossils.-- Mammoth tooth fragments observed, not collected.
References. — Trona Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference
1.153.1.

Institutions with major collections.-- None.

Values.-- Research; R2. Until more can be known, the research po-
tential here is low.

Educational; E2. For same reasons as above.
Recreational; RO. Access is limited because site occurs
on military reservation.

Industrial; 12. Surely, This place is too small to have
any significance. Eight miles west, the Gold Divide Tungsten Mine is now
inactive.

C-27

Hap 1

15 . Cronese. Mc; Miocene; Barstovian. (Exposures are labelled Muc -
upper Miocene continental - on the Trona Sheet of the Geologic Map of California.)

The sediments, referred to the Barstow Formation, comprise rela-
tively thin, (100' - 200'), slightly dipping succession of variegated, general-
ly fine-grained tuffaceous deposits and interbedded lapilli tuff that uncon-
formably overlies pre-Tertiary gnessoid granite, and is overlain by alluvium
exposures which occur in an east-west trending valley that extends from the
power! ine road about 6 miles west of the northern tip of West Cronese Lake.

Fossils.-- Relatively sparse but important fossil mammals probably
represent the youngest Barstovian-age sample in the Mojave Desert; they show a
relatively evolved Merychippus and are associated with tuffs dated radiometrical-
ly at 12.3 m.y. Merychippus intermontanus.

References.-- Trona Sheet; P-26; UC Riverside Department of Earth
Sciences Vertebrate fossil locality files.

Institutions with major collections.-- U.S. Geological Survey, Denver;
Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside; Nat. Hist. Mus.

Values.-- Research; Rl. This sequence badly needs to be adequately
mapped, described, and prospected for more fossils. It may represent the
northeastern-most occurrence of the Bartow Formation in the Mojave Desert,
and the young potassium-argon dates, associated with the fossils, provide the
best evidence of the young period of sedimentation. The fossils are evolu-
tionary advanced, and may represent a level just prior to that of the next
age (Clarendonian).

Educational; El. Students and professionals. See above.
Recreational; R0. Exposures are limited; part are on a
military reservation.

Industrial; 12. Nothing significant occurs here. Two small
inactive (?gold) claims occur 4 miles south.

C-28

Map 1

16. Alvord Mountain. Mc; Miocene; Hemingfordian and Barstovian.
(Exposures are labelled Muc - upper Miocene nonmarine - on the Trona Sheet of
the Geologic Map of California.)

A relatively thick sequence of mainly tuffaceous sediment, interbedded
with tuffs and basalt flows, is exposed in a broad anticlinal structure in
the valley drained by Spanish Canyon and its tributaries, on the east flank
of Alvord Mountain. The succession comprises the following units from
oldest to youngest: Clews Fanglomerate; Alvord Peak Basalt; Spanish Canyon
Formation; Barstow Formation; Granitic Fanglomerate; and a few less extensive
sedimentary and volcanic units.

The main fossil bearing unit, thus far, is the Barstow Formation,
but at least the Clews Fanglomerate and Spanish Canyon formations should not
be ruled out as possible producers of fossils. The Barstow Formation has
been divided into three parts - pebble conglomerate and sandstone, with the
lower unit being som-what the coarser grained, and thicker (1000' versus
about 500'). The middle unit is thin (about 100' thick or less) and is com-
posed of two to three lapilli tuffs dated at 13.3 and 13.4 m.y.

Fossils. — Most of the fossils occur in and within a few feet strat-
igraphically above and below the middle unit; these are of Barstovian age. A
few others, important for their Hemingfordian age, occur 400 -500' strati -
graphically below the middle unit. The succession here is especially import-
ant in that it corroborates the biostratigraphic and evolutionary sequence
seen in the Barstow Formation of the Mud Hills, although parts of the suc-
cession may be somewhat younger age than in the Alvord Mountain district.
This problem is still being investigated. The Alvord exposures are quite
important and should be preserved. Merychippus carrizoensis, Merychyus

C-29

(Metoreodon) relictus, Brachypsalis cf . pachycephalus, Merychippus stylodontus,
Merycodus , Brachycrus buwaldi, Protolabis barstowensis.
References.-- Trona Sheet; P-26, P-84.

Institutions vnth major collections.- Department of Earth Sciences,
University of California, Riverside; U.S. Geological Survey, Denver; Museum
of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley; San Bernardino County
Museum, Redlands; R.M. Alf Museum, Webb School, Claremont CA.

Values.- Research; Rl. This is an extremely important area, not
only for the collection of fossils known to occur there. The deposits need
to be studied from the sedimentological viewpoint because they can be related
to the shape of the basin in which they were deposited, which in turn can be
used to interpret the possiblity of a former connection with either the
Cronese area or with the Yermo Hills area, and to thereby aid in deciding
whether or not the name Barstow Formation should be used for the Alvord deposits

Educational; El. Students and professionals, reasons

given above.

Recreational; RO. Little except for browsing around pro-

pect pits, and looking for semi-precious stones. Alvord Mine, to the west,
once produced gold but is no longer operational.

Industrial; !2. See above.

C-30

Map 1

17.. Mojave Valley. Qal ; Alluvium; Ranchlabrean.

Series of sites along bluffs that overlook the Mojave River, in
gravel, sandstone, and siltstone. Not all specimens collected. Bluffs
occur from Daggett-Yermo area eastward to Camp Cady.

Fossils.— Isolated remains of mammals. Shows that fossils do occur
in these Mojave River sediments, and commercial excavations done there should
be preseeded by a survey. Mammuthus, Camel ops.

References.-- San Bernardino Sheet; T-18; San Bernardino County
Museum locality reference 1.76.3-9. The remains probably occur in deposits
that are part of the overall Manix Lake bed succession, which is more ex-
tensively displayed to the east. v

Institutions with major collections. — San Bernardino County Museum,
Redlands CA.

Values.-- Research; R2. Until better developed. May be shown to be
part of succession that was deposited in and around Manix Lake.

* Educational; E2. Students and professionals, see above.
Recreational; RO. Little of redeeming value in these
Mojave River Bluffs.

Industrial; II. At least the western end of the area is
apparently being developed as a site for solar power facility.

C-31

Map 1

18. Manix-Afton Canyon. Ql ; Qs; Quaternary; Rancholabrean.

The Manix Lake Beds consist of a succession of fine-grained, mostly
drab colored lacustrine sediments, interbedded with tufa and tuffs. These
sediments grade laterally - mostly to the south and southeast into coarser-
grained marginal, fluvial facies. The sediments variously unconformably
overlie Tertiary (mainly Miocene) sedimentary and volcanic rock, and pre-
Tertiary plutonic and metavolcanic rock. The Manix beds are unconformably
overlain by alluvium, and are cut by the Mojave River and its tributaries
that flow into Afton Canyon. In the Pleistocene, when full, the lake extended
westward into the Mojave Valley and northward into what is now Coyote Lake.
Unpublished information suggest that some tuffs near the base of the suc-
cession correlate with those in the Tecopa and Ventura Basin areas, having
an age of somewhat more than 1 million years (see area 3). Radiocarbon
dates from higher in the section are as young as about' 19,000 years.

Fossils.-- This is one of the few well studied Ranchclabrean-aged
fossil assemblages in the Mojave Desert region, even though much of the
information is still unpublished. Fossils are sparse, and usually fragmentary;
their scarcity indicates that the area should be treated with care. Nothro-
therium shastense, Mammuthus, Lepus, Cam's dirus, C^. latrans?, Smilodon
cal ifornicus , Fel is (Puma) atrox, Camel ops minidokae, Camel ops , Hemiauchenia
stevensi?, Antilocapra, Bison antiqus, Equus conversidens , Equus.

References. — Trona and San Bernardino Sheets; P-4, P-19, P-23, P-53,
T-5, T-18, T41.

Institutions with major collections.-- Natural History Museum, Los
Angeles; Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside;
San Bernardino County Nuseum, Redlands; Museum of Paleontology, University of
California, Berkeley.

C-32

Values.-- Research; Rl. The 'area sheds important information on the

Pleistocene life of this part of the Mojave Desert; the correlations suggested
on the basis of tuffs indicate that additional work could put together a
succession of fossils that would span much of the Irvingtonian and Rancho-
labrean Land Mammal Ages. The potential for developing a magnetic strati-
graphy has not been realized. _._ _."__

Educational; El. Mainly for students and professionals
because of the comments made above. A display on the site has been construct-
ed in the Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

Recreational; Rl. The area, particularly around Afton
Canyon Campground, is well attended by campers and ORV's. Indiscriminate
ORV use away from the campground area and the adjacent ATSF Railroad tracks
should be discouraged.

Industrial; 12.

C - 33

Map 1

19. Cady Mountains ; Mc; Miocene; Arikareean and Hemingfordian.

These mountains comprise a relatively broad sprawling range south of
Afton Canyon. The area is geologically as well as scenically attractive.
As is the case in many of the ranges of the Mojave, there is a core of pre-
Tertiary plutonic basement rock overlain by a succession of largely volcanic,
then volcanic and sedimentary, rocks that have been folded and faulted and
are of roughly Miocene age. These are overlain unconformably by less extensive
usually coarser-grained deposits of approximately Pliocene age, and along
with some Quaternary fan deposits, all of which are finally cut by the present
streams, whose valleys are filled with alluvium.

The fossil i ferous section in this case is of Miocene age, and consists of
interbedded fluviatile clastic and tuffaceous sediments that are locally quite
coarse-grained, and variously reflect derivation from near the core of the
present range, or from the flanks of adjacent ranges, such as Cave Mountain,
to the north. The deposits have been designated as the Hector Formation,
first described from the southwestern portion of the area. There the rocks
appear to be coarse- to fine-grained alluvial deposits, interbedded with
tuffs and a basalt flow, with the total thickness being on the order of 15001.
To the north, there is a fairly thick (300') pre-basaltic sequence of largely
fine-grained tuffaceous material, which includes tuffs dated at about 22 m.y.
These beds are followed upward by a basalt, dated at about 19 m.y., and then
by a sequence that is generally coarser-grained in the south and southwest,
but which becomes finer-grained and of a more lacustrine character to the
north. This unit (about 300' thick) is overlain by an ignimbrite (welded
tuff) dated at about 17 m.y., and above this is a tuffaceous, fluviatile
squence about 400' thick. Farther north, near Afton Canyon, the sequence is

C - 34

Map 1

19. Cady Mountains , cont'd..

essentially that from the ignimbrite downward, and at least three units
of basalt are present. One of these has been dated at 21 m.y.

Fossils. — In the south, fossils of late Arikareean (Merychyus calaminthus
and Stenomylus hitchcocki) and early Hemingfordian (Michaenia agatensis,
Promartes , Daphoenodon , Phenacocoel us , Protolabis ) age are separated by a tuff
dated at 21.0 m.y. This is one of the best calibrations of the boundary
between these mammal ages currently known. •

To the north, fossils are mainly of Hemingfordian age, although one
specimen of Merychyus Calaminthus is present in a pre-basaltic part of the
sequence (basalt dated at about 19 m.y.). In the post-basaltic part of the
column, sparse fossils may be referable to Aletomeryx, similar to that of the
Boron fauna (p. ). Fossil iferous units about 200' above the ignimbrite
appears to be of late Hemingfordian age: Merychippus carrizoensis , Anchi theriomys ,
Diceratherium, Tomarctus hippophaqus , Proheteromys sulcul us , Miol a bis tenuis ,
Aepycamelus , and Merycodus.

This is becoming one of the most important single areas in the Mojave
Desert for biostratigraphy and geologic history because studies now on-going
will result in a physical strati graphic framework with which the southern and
northern successions can be related. It will provide one of the best single
reference areas for the late Arikaereean to late Hemingfordian interval in
California, and will form a secure base with which to evaluate the geological
history of this part of the Mojave Desert.

Reference. — San Bernardino Sheet; P-54; P-70, P-71 , P-94, P-95, P-99;
T-46, T-47.

Institution with major collection. — U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park;
Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

C - 35

Map 1

19. Cady Mountains , cont'd.

Val lies. --Research; Rl . See above. Research is ongoing.

Educational; El. Students and professionals, see above.
Recreational ; RO. Area is adjacent to Afton Canyon which pro-
vides recreation in that campground. ORV traffic is normally limited to areas
adjacent to the railroad tracks on the north, powerline roads to the south and
east, and certain trails to the west. Rock hound activity focuses on semi-
precious stones, mainly in the west.

Industrial; 12. Low potential. Various mines and claims have
been opened or worked but none are now producing except one operation located
just north of Afton Canyon.

NOTE: Area includes CRUCERQ Pleistocene beds to northeast; Sparse
remains of fossil mammals in Quaternary (Rancholabrean) sediments; Only
collections are in Natural History Museum, Los Angeles (loc. 1208. All
values are of relatively low rank (See 20, p. 35A) .

C - 3.3A

Map 1

20. Crucero. Qc; Quaternary; Rancholabrean

The sediments are Quaternary conglomerates and sandstones in the
SE 1/4, NW 1/4, sec. 26, T. 11 N., R. 7 E. , about 3 miles southwest of Crucero,
Fossils. — Sparse remains or larger mammals of Rancholabrean age.
Reference. — Trona Sheet; Records of Natural History Museum, Los
Angeles, no. 1208.

Insititution with major collection. — See Reference.
Values. — Research, R2. This is based on the sparse nature of the
specimens. Additional collections could result in a higher rating.
Educational, E2 . Reasons same as above.

Recreational, RO. Low potential. Area is frequented by ORV's.
Industrial, 12. Low potential.

C - 36

Map 1

21. Daggett Ridge. Mc; Miocene; Hemingfordian.

These exposures occur in and around the valley occupied by the powerline
road about four miles southwest of Daggett, and consist of a few hundred feet
of fine-grained varicolored sandstone and siltstone, and a thin bed of gray
sandstone lower in the section that produces a hash of bone chips. The
sediments unconformably overlie older sedimentary and volcanic rocks, and are
capped by a thin unit of freshwater limestone. The limestone is thought to be
of Pliocene age. It is covered unconformably by alluvium, and the whole sedi-
mentary section unconformably overlies Mesozoic plutonic rock.

Fossils .--These are sparse, and pertain to small camels, a cervoid, and
a horse, presumably a parahippine. The remains are apparently of about middle
Hemingfordian age, and as such could contribute importantly to an understanding
of the generally poorly known faunas of this age in the Mojave. The area is
important for this reason, even though the fossils are usually so badly
broken up.

Reference. --San Bernardino Sheet; P-90; 1-2, 1-5.

Institution with major collection. --Natural History Museum, Los Angeles;
Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

Values. --Research; R2. Potential significance is high, but experience
has shown that chance for success is not great.

Educational; E2. Low potential, except for student work.
Recreational; RO. Little value.
Industrial; I'2. Low. See reference P-90.

C2»f; ismtcrvnxtn

C - 37

Map 1

22. Calico Mountains. Mc; Miocene; Barstovian

This range rises east of Barstow, and has been the location of former
silver and colemanite mines, none of which are now operative. The Calico Ghost
Town is a current tourist attraction. The mountains contain a folded and
faulted succession of Tertiary volcanic and sedimentary rocks that rest upon a
pre-Tertiary plutonic and metasedimentary basement. The Tertiary section is
on the order of 10,000 feet thick, and is intruded by dikes and plugs of
rhyolite and andesite that are probably of Pliocene age.

The Tertiary sedimentary succession is comparable to that of the Mud Hills
(see 23) and will not be extensively treated here. The Jackhammer, Pickhandle,
and Barstow formations all occur, with the first two being better represented
than in the Mud Hills. The main depocenters of the Jackhammer and Pickhandle
formations appear to be in the Calico Mts. region, where the Jackhammer is
about 700' thick, and the Pickhandle about 5,000' thick. The Barstow Formation
is thinner than in the Mud Hills, being on the order of 3,000' thick in the
Calico Mountains.,

Fossils. --Fossil s are generally sparser in the Calico Mountains than in
the Mud Hills, and appear to represent only the upper fauna! division, Merychippus
intermonatanus, at least, has been recorded. Insect-bearing nodules also
occur.

Reference. --Trona and San Bernardino Sheets; P-47, P-47, P-48, P-49, P-89,
P-90; 1-1, 1-7; T-22.

Institution with major collection .--U.S. Geological Survey, Denver,

C - 38

Hap 1

22. Cal ico Mountains , cont'd.

Values. --Research; R2. The area is one of definite potential, but much
of it seems to be located on private land, access being limited. An important
aim would be to study the stratigraphy of the Barstow Formation here to assess
the relationships between these deposits and those in the Mud Hills, on the
one hand, and with the sediments of the Yermo Hills, on the other.

Educational; E2. Mainly because of access problems.

Recreational; Rl . Mainly centered on the Calico Ghost Town,
a commercial enterprise.

Industrial; I'2. Low potential, Mining has been extinct for
nearly 80 years.

C - 39

Map 1

23. Mud Hills - Barstow Syncline. Mc; Miocene; Hemingfordian and
Barstovian (exposures are labeled Muc and Mmc on the Trona
Sheet)

Scenically spectacular outcrops of the Jackhammer, Pickhandle and Barstow
Formations occur in a synclinally folded succession about 8 miles north of
Barstow, California. The sequence unconformably overlies pre-Tertiary plutonic
and metamorphic rock and is unconformably overlain by alluvium. The Jackhammer
Formation is about 100' thick in the Mud Hills, is exposed only on the north
flank of the syncline, and is comprised of arkosic pinkish gray sandstone,
with few pebbles and cobble of quartz monznonite and quartzite, interbedded
with minor beds of tuff, amygdaloidal basalt and limestone. This formation
is the basal unit of the Tertiary succession in the area, and was originally
named for rocks in Jackhammer Gap in the northwestern Calico Mountains.

The Pickhandle Formation, named for Pickhandle Pass in the Calico Moun-
tains, conformably overlies the Jackhammer beds, and is largely a unit of
pyroclastic rocks about 3,000' thick. The rocks are mainly light-colored
rhyolitic, lithic and lapilli tuff, with local lenticular units of agglomerate,
granitic breccia, conglomerate, sandstone, claystone, and limestone.

The Barstow Formation, named for the Barstow fossil beds, consists of
about 6,000' of lacustrine and fluviatile sediments, interbedded with beds of
tuff. The unit unconformably overlies the Pickhandle Formation in the Mud
Hills, and contains a basal member (informal name) of conglomerate, sedimen-
tary breccia and mega-breccia derived from sources to the north or northeast
(Paradise Mountain quartz monzonite and Jackhammer and/or Pickhandle volcanic
rocks) or south and southeast (Mesozoic granitic rock, Tertiary volcanic rock,
and ?Precambrian Waterman Gneiss).

fiQ

C - 40

Map 1

23. Hud Hills - Barstow Syncline, cont'd.

The basal unit is unconformably overlain by the Own Canyon member
(informal name), yellow green and pale green, calcareous sandstone, siltstone,
and claystone with some limestone, interbedded tuff, and conglomerate up to
3000' thick. To the west this unit interfingers with the Coon Canyon member
(informal name), of pale brown to yellow brown coarse to fine grained sand-
stone probably derived from the south or southeast. This unit does not occur
on the north limb ofthe syncline.

The Skyline Member (informal name) consists of brown claystone and green
claystone beds about 400' thick which has at its base the white, vitric,
Skyline Tuff, spectacularly exposed in Rainbow Basin. Like the Owl Canyon
Member, the Skyline Member interfingers to the west with the Coon Canyon
Member. A coarse-grained crystalline tuff occurs 30' to 90' above the Skyline
Tuff and is dated at about 15.1 m.y.

The Hemicyon Member (informal name) contains a sequence of tuffacecus,
generally greenish-colored deposits up to 400' thick. The Unit occurs only
in the western half of the syncline, interfingers westward with the Coon
Canyon Member, and grades upward into the Carnivore Canyon Member. The base
of the unit is defined by the Hemicyon Tuff, a gray, fine-grained silty
vitric tuff, dated at about 13 m.y. Another unit, known as the Lapilli
Sandstone, about 100' above the basal tuff, has been dated at 13.2 and 13.4
m.y.

The Carnivore Canyon Member is the uppermost unit of the Barstow Forma-
tion, 300' thick, composed of coarse-grained pale brown to yellow brown
beds of sandstone interbedded with green tuffaceous siltstone.

Fossils .--The Barstovian Land Mammal Age was based on the fossil iferous
beds of the Barstow Formation which has been one of the most productive rock

C - 41

Map 1

23. Mud Hills - Bars tow Syncline, cont'd,
units of the Mojave Desert region. In spite of this, only a few reports have
been published on these fossils and the rocks that contain them, There is
still a lot to be done.

Work that has been published shows that there are three major fauna!
divisions in the Barstow Formation. The lowest of these occurs near the top
of the Basal Member and contains Merychippus carrizo ensis (M. tehachapiensis) ,
and Merychyus (Metoreodon) . The assemblage is of late Hemingfordian age and
is better represented in the Yermo Hills, to the east. There, M_. carrizoensis
ranges upward to coexist with M. stylodontus.

The middle fauna! division included M. stvlodontus, Brachvcrus buwaldi ,
Rakomeryx, Merriamoceros , Hesperhys , Aepycamelus , Euoplocyon , Amp h icy on cf .
ingens , and the earliest North American record of Hemicyon.

The upper fauna! division, which can be used as the type Barstovian fauna,
contains Merychippus intermontanus , M. sumani , Archaeohippus mourninqi,
Megahippus McKennai, Paramoceros , Meryceros , Mediochoerus and the first
appearance of Ael urodon and Gomphoterium.

Recently work by Lindsay (P-27) has shown that it is possible to propose
a finer scale subdivision of these rocks based on small mammals, and is an
example of the kinds of results that can be achieved even now with careful,
detailed work. The deposits are still of prime research value.

Reference.— Trona Sheet; P-l , P-13, P-22, P-24, P-25, P-26, P-27, P-28,
P-29, P-35, P-39, P-40, P-41 , P-51 , P-53, P-59, P-78, P-89; T-21 , T-32; 1-1 .

Institution with major collection. --American Museum of Natural History,

New York; Museum of Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley; Department

of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside; Natural History Museum,

Los Angeles; San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands; R, M. Al f Museum, Webb

School, Claremont, CA. *-, ,

C - 42

MaP 1

23. Mud Hills - Barstow Syncline, cont'd.
Values .--Research ; Rl . See above.

Educational; El. Students and professionals.

Recreational; Rl . Rainbow Basin Loop and the Owl Canyon area
are of good recreational value because of spectacular scenery. The area is
now maintained as a San Bernardino County Park.

Industrial; 12. Low value. Coolgardie Camp, north of the
fossil beds contains sporadically worked gol d. diggings. Strontianite claims
occur in the Owl Canyon area, but are not now producing. Traces of uranium
have been found in bones in the southern part of the Mud Hills, and there is
a certain amount of rock hound activity for semi-precious stones,

C - 43

Map 1

24. Black Mountain-Gravel Hills. Mc; Miocene; Barstovian.

This district contains a reasonably scenic, rolling small-scale badlands
topography entered mainly from the south, via Black Canyon, to the north of
Harper Lake. Most of the southeastern and eastern part of the area is capped
by the late Quaternary Black Mountain Basalt.

A reasonably thick succession of volcanic and volcaniclastic sedimentary
rock comprise most of the Tertiary section. These beds unconformably overlie
pre-Tertiary plutonic rock, and are unconformably overlain by the basalt,
mentioned above, or by alluvium. The Tertiary section is tilted and faulted,
and locally (in Black Canyon and areas northwest) gently folded.

Most of the Tertiary section consists of the Barstow Formation, but
locally it is conformably underlain by the Pickhandle Formation. The latter
is mainly a pyroclastic unit about 150' thick, composed of tuff and tuff
breccia with minor beds of sedimentary rock, locally interbedded with the Opal
Mountain Volcanics. The latter, a sequence of quartz latite flows, apparently
was emplaced from -local vents, the tuffs of the Pickhandle Formation recording
explosive events.

The Barstow Formation is the most extensive Tertiary unit in the Gravel
Hills. It is thickest (4,500') to the west and thins to the northeast. The
lower part consists largely of lacustrine clay and shale, with a gradational
lower contact with the Pickhandle Formation. Above the lake beds grade upward
into sandstone, then northward and northeastward to volcanic fanglomerate.
In the vicinity of Black Canyon, the sandstone unit is interbedded with a flow
of basalt, and beds of tuff. Upward and to the northv/est the sandstone unit
grades into a fanglomerate of granitic debris, which also interfingers east-
ward with the volcanic fanglomerate described above. The two fanglomeratic

C - 44

Map 1

24. Gravel Hills-Black Mountain, cont'd,
facies reflect different areas of origin, granitic largely to the west or
southwest, volcanic largely to the north or northeast, toward the main locus
of the older Opal Mountain Volcanics.

Fossils .--A relatively meagre collection of fossils has been recovered
from the tuffaceous sandstone unit in the vicinity of Black Canyon. Merychippine
horses indicate a Barstovian age. Merycodonts also occur. This area needs
more work. The stratigraphy is only partly documented, and the correlation of
these beds with the type Barstow Formation is only partly accomplished.
Merychippus , Merycodus .

Reference. --Trona Sheet; P-89; P-90.

Institution with major collection. --U.S. Geological Survey, Denver;
Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

Values. --Research; Rl . See above.

Educational; El. Students and professionals, see above.
Recreational; Rl . At least at mouth of Black Canyon petroglyphs
are known; the Black Canyon area is also scenic. This is also the area where
fossils are known to occur. Care in ORV use is warranted. The Opal Mountain
area, to the northeast, encourages much rock-hound activity.

Industrial; 12.. To the west, in Fremont Peak, are numerous
gold claims and prospects. Activity is minimal. To the northwest of the
sedimentary exposures, feldspar is mined in the White Butte mine. Perlite
is prospected and mined intermittently in areas north of the sediments, but
the operations are small.

C - 45

Map 1

25. Boron. Qua!; Alluvium; Hemingfordian

The fossil-bearing deposits occur in the open pit mine of U.S. Borax
and Chemical Corporation, and thus is below the alluvial cover. This explains
the seemingly contradictory geological notations, given above.

The workings are located a few miles north of Boron, California, and are
developed in the upper part of the Tropico Group. The borate and fossil
producing beds are buff to tan to dark reddish-brown clay and micaceous silt-
stone, and coarser grained cross-bedded, light brown to yellowish-white
arkosic sandstone and pebble conglomerate, locally tuffaceous. These beds
which are about 250' thick, rest conformably on the Saddleback Basalt, which
has been dated at 19.8 m.y. Above the clays and siltstbnes, are about 200' of
arkosic sandstone, and 300' of granitic conglomerate.

Fossils .--The Boron fauna is largely unpublished, but is considered to
be of about medial Hemingfordian age. Mammals recorded are Oreolagus?
Hypolaqus?, Protospermophil us , Troqomys cf. rupinimenthae , Merychyus (two un-
named species), Paratylopus?, Oxydactyl us?, cf. Hesperocamelus , and a new
species of Aletomeryx. This is the only well known medial Hemingfordian fauna
from the Mojave Desert.

Reference. — Trona Sheet; P-65, P-91 , P-92, P-93, P-99, P-100; 1-1, 1-10.

Institution with major coll ection .--Department of Earth Sciences,
University of California, Riverside.

Values .--Research; R2. Even though the area is important, access is
very limited.

Educational; E2, Access is very limited,
• Recreational; R0. None.

Map 1

25. Boron, cont'd.

Industrial; II. U.S. Borax and Chemical Corporation is .
currently working the area.

C - 47

Map 1

26. Horned Toad Hills. Pc; Pliocene; Hemphill i an.

(Exposures labelled Pmlc - middle and/or lower Pliocene, nonmarine,
on the Bakersfield Sheet.)

The area is located a few miles northwest of Mojave, Calif., in gently
rolling hills that rise southeast of the Garlock Fault. The beds, the Horned
Toad Formation, unconformably overlie pre-Tertiary plutonic rock, and gently
dip to the southeast. Locally, they are folded in to a shallow anticline
and syncline. The succession, about 1000' thick, consists of a lower section
of mainly buff to reddish-gray arkosic conglomeratic sandstone, pebbly sand- "
stone, and siltstone. A middle unit is about 100' thick and composed of
interbedded greenish-gray shale, green sandstone, some tuffaceous and white
marly limestone. An upper member of about the same thickness consists of
greenish-gray gypsiferous claystone.

Fossils .--The fossils come from the middle tuffaceous unit. So far the .
tuff is undated. Both large and small mammals have been recovered. The
fauna is largely unstudied, but preliminary comparisons indicate affinities
with late Hemphillian faunas of northern California, Texas, and Florida, an
interesting zoogeographic combination. This is the best represented Hemphill ian-
aged fauna from southern California, and additional collecting as well as
detailed stratigraphic work still needs to be accomplished. ?Meotomodon,
Peromyscus , Peroqnathoides , Hypolaqus , Osteoborus , ?Fel is , Teleoceras,
Dinohippus cf. interpolatus , Astrohippus?, camels, ?deer, peccary, Rhynchotherium
edensis , PI iomastodon.

References. — Bakersfield Sheet; Department of Earth Sciences, University
of California, Riverside, locality files; also Museum of Paleontology, University
Of California, Berkeley; 1-1 ; P-91 . Natural History Museum, Los Angeles.

C - 48

Map 1

26. Horned Toad Hills, cont'd.
Values .--Research; Rl . See above.

Educational; El. Students and professionals, see above.
Recreational; RO. Some ORV activity occurs. In view of the
research potential, this should be discouraged. A set of jaws and tusks of
a large, extinct proboscidean (mastodont) is on display at UCR.
Industrial; 12. Little potential.
Institution with major collection . — See References.

C - 49

Map 1

27. Barrel Springs Road. Qc ; Quaternary; Rancholabrean,

The fossil localities occur on the north side of a northwest trending
ridge, just south of the Nadeau fault in sec. 18, T. 5 N,, R, 11 W., in
light grayish-green and tan sandstone and pebbly sandstone about 4' below a
claiche layer in the uppermost Harold Formation, within a few 10's of feet below
its strati graphic top.

Fossils. --There are large and small mammals, the latter comprise the
only small mammal fauna of Rancholabrean age in the Mojave Desert. It is
currently unstudied, but should reveal significant information as to the
climate of the time, and will be a valuable comparative fauna relative to those
known from the Anza-Borrego area. Small mammal faunas of almost any age are
rare in California paleontology, in contrast to the much better record of the
Plain states. Any small mammal site in California deserves preservation. This
one is additionally important in refining the age of the Harold Formation
which is cut by branches of the San Andreas fault, and bears importantly on
the tectonic history of this region. Shrew, rabbit, Peromyscus , ?Peroqnathus ,
squirrel .

References .--Los Angeles Sheet; Department of Earth Sciences, University
of California, Riverside, locality record; P-96. Natural History Museum, Los Ange]

Institution with major collection. — Department of Earth Sciences,
University of California, Riverside. Area on Map 1 includes Nat. Hist. Mus. loc 45]

Values. --Research; Rl . See above.

Educational; Rl . Students and professionals, see above.
Recreational; RO. Area is barren and unexciting.
Industrial; 12. Low potential.

C - 50

Map 1

28. Valyermo. Mc ; Miocene; Clarendonian and Hemphillian.

The CDCA just extends into the northern part of the exposures of the
type Punchbowl Formation, which consists of about 4,000' of arkosic conglomera-
tic sandstone, and minor siltstone beds that have been deformed into the
spectacular Devil's Punchbowl. Host of the area is part of Los Angeles County
Park; the rest is private property, but fossils have been found in these
deposits which are important for indicating their age. Also, strati graphic
studies have been performed and provide valuable evidence with which to
compare these rocks, both in lithology and age, with others in Cajon Valley
to the southeast. The two sets of rocks have been proposed as once having
been juxtaposed, and since separated by 20-30 miles of right lateral slip
on the San Andreas fault. Recently, both lithologic and age correlations
have been scrutinized (P-83; which see for other pertinent references,
including theses), with the result that the correlations are not so secure as
once thought.

Fossils .--Most of the fossils have come from the area of the county park,
but some could be found almost anywhere. Any are very important, Pliohippus
tehonensis ; Procamel us, Neohipparion, PI iohippus , PI ioceros , PI ionictis ,
Osteoborus cf . 0_. cyonoides .

Reference. --San Bernardino Sheet; P-88, P-87; 1-1 ; T-6.

Institution with major collection. --Department of Earth Sciences,
University of California, Riverside; Natural History Museum, Los Angeles.

Values. --Research; Rl . See above; also of continuing importance for
stratigraphical and sedimentological studies.

Educational; El. See above, student and professional .

C - 51

Map 1

28. Valyermo, cont'd.

Recreational; Rl . The area is very scenic; many persons visit
the county park, and camp in campsites in the general area.
Industrial; 12. Little value.

Map 1

29. Eastern Cajon Valley. Pc; Pliocene; ?Blancan and younger. Qc;

Quaternary; Rancholabrean.

The Tertiary succession of Cajon Valley is only partly included in the
CDCA. The part that is incorporates exposures of the Crowder and Harold
Formations, and the Shoemaker Gravel. This is a generally coarse-grained
sequence ofnonmarine, fluviatile, conglomeratic sandstone, and sandstone,
exposed in the so-called in-face bluffs, and in valleys to the east. The
Crowder generally contains a greater variety of rock types than the sediments
of the Harold Formation that gradationally overlie it. The Harold is also
gradationally overlain by the coarser-grained Shoemaker Gravel that contains
abundant clasts of Pelona Schist and other rocks derived from the San Gabriel
Mountains to the southwest. The total succession has important bearing on the
uplift history of the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains, as well as
upon the slip story of the San Andreas fault.

Fossils . — Only sparse, inconclusive, fossils have yet been found in the
Crowder Formation. None have been found yet here in the Harold or Shoemaker.
The Harold bears fossils of Rancholabrean age in the vicinity of Palmdale;
the Shoemaker contains Rancholabrean fossils in gravel pits near Victorville.

Reference. --San Bernardino Sheet; P-87, P-88; 1-1 ; Department of Earth
Sciences, University of California, Riverside, locality files.

Institution with major collection. --Department of Earth Sciences,
University of California, Riverside.

Values. --Research; Rl . See above. The area has high research potential
for not only fossil collection, but also stratigraphical and sedimentological
studies.

Educational; El. Students and professionals, see above.

**>*sr5.?^,3-^<^ifx-^«!VT*j^itw«ev^jHrf*' - ■

C - 52

Map 1

29. Eastern Cajon Valley, cont'd.

Recreational; RO. Little value.

Industrial; 12. Little, possibly gravel pits.

C - 53

Map 1

30. Victory-Hie - Mojave River. Qc ; Quaternary; Rancholabrean.

A number of sites occur in the relatively coarse-grained fluviatile
sandstone and gravel beds, locally 200' or so feet thick, that are best
exposed in gravel pits near Victorville, but also extend along the banks of
the Mojave River to Barstow. The deposits are important in that they relate
to the uplift of the San Gabriel Mountains to the south, and to the history
of the Mojave River. To date they are poorly studied. Near Victorville they
have been referred to as the Shoemaker Gravel .

Fossils .--Best fossils have been obtained from gravel pits and other
exposures around Victorville, but others are known from exposures to the
north. Most are of large mammals. Equus .

Reference. --San Bernardino Sheet; locality references of San Bernardino
County Museum; 1-1 4 also Natural History Museum, Los Angeles.

Institution with major collections .--Natural History Museum, Los Angeles;
San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands.

Values. --Research; R2. The fossils are generally sparse and until a
major site can be developed, immediate research potential is low. Remains are
important, however, in dating the age of active shedding of debris from the
emergent San Gabriel Mountains, and documenting the activity of the Mojave
River.

Educational; E2. Corresponds to research potential.
Recreational; R0. Little major recreational value.
Industrial; II. Locally, for gravel pits.

C - 54

Map 1

31. Cushenbury. Tc ; Tertiary; Blancan.

These beds are referred to as the Old Woman Sandstone of Shreve (P-86).
They comprise a succession 200'-1000' thick, composed of massive reddish-buff
to red-brown conglomeratic arkose with a matrix of uncemented, poorly sorted,
coarse-grained, angular fragments of quartz, feldspar, hornblende, etc., that
support subangular to subrounded pebbles of andesite, gneiss, quartzite, and
minor other types. All lithologies are found in the San Bernardino Mountains,
to the south, except for the volcanic rocks. Woodburne (P-87) reports (p. 83)
on basalt outcrops in Santa Ana Canyon to the south, dated at 6.2 m.y. Other
volcanic rocks, near Pioneer Town have been dated at 7.3 m.y. Together, these
volcanic rocks suggest that activity (and extension; ?=uplift) occurred in
the San Bernardino Mountains about that time. The Old Woman Sandstone is the
oldest Tertiary deposit to be derived from the San Bernardino Mountains (on
the north side, at least) and reflects uplift of the ranges. Dating these
sediments would provide important evidence as to the age of that uplift.

Fossils . — A small, but important, and growing collection of small mammal
fossils has been collected by personnel at UCR. These appear to be of Blancan
(probably late Blancan; see Figure B-2) age, and suggest that the San
Bernardino Mountains began shedding debris to the north about 2 m.y. ago.
These fossils provide the ONLY evidence for the age of that uplift. PI ioqeomys ,
?Citel1ys, Hypolagus?

Reference. — San Bernardino Sheet; P-86, P-87.

Institution with major collection .--Department of Earth Sciences,
University of California, Riverside.

Values. --Research; Rl . See above.

Educational, El. Students and professionals. See above
narrative.

C - 55

Hap 1

31. Cushenbury, cont'd.

Recreational; RO. Very little. Some rock-hound and minor
ORV activity occurs.

Industrial; 12. Kaiser Cement mines limestone along the west
side of Cushenbury Canyon, but nothing else of importance occurs in the area

C - 56

Map 1

32. Twenty-nine Palms. Qc ; Quaternary; Rancholabrean.

This is an unnamed succession of largely northeast-dippl ing fluviatile
and lacustrine sediments, and interbedded tuff a few miles east of the main
north road from Twenty-nine Palms. The exposures are relatively isolated
patches of older sediment, surrounded by younger alluvium.'

Fossils . — Thus far a meagre, but interesting fauna of Rancholabrean
large mammals has been collected. Equus , Odocoileus , Tanupolama?, Hemiauchenia?,
Bison, Ovis , Breameryx? Geopherus , Nothrotheriops? Taxidea , Camel ops.

Reference. --San Bernardino Sheet; P-84; Locolality records of San
Bernardino County Museum; 1-86-1 - 4.

Institution with major coll ection. --San Bernardino tounty Museum,
Redlands, CA.

Values. --Research; Rl . This is a promising area and more fossil and
stratigraphic information could bear importantly on the history of movement
on the Mesquite Fault, which intersects the deposits.

Educational; El. Mainly for students and professionals in the
area of stratigraphy, tectonic movements.

Recreational; RO. Nothing of exceptional value.
Industrial; 12.. Some of the gravel may be of commercial value.
An abandoned gravel pit is in the area, and some relatively recent bulldozer
work has been observed.

Map 2

33. Shadow Mountains 1 . Qc ; Quaternary; Irvingtonian or Rancholabrean.
Exposures oflacustrine sediments on eastern flank of Shadow Mountains.
Fossils .--Sparse remains of rabbit, Lepus , and other bone fragments.
Reference :-- Ki ngman Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum records, 1-6-1.
Institution with major collection. --San Bernardino County Museum.
Val ues .--Research; R2. The somewhat low value stems from the fact that
little is known about these deposits. Fossil -bearing areas in the eastern
Mojave Desert have not been explored as much as areas to the west, so R2 could
easily become Rl .

Educational; E2. For same reasons as above; could become El.
Recreational; RO. Possibly except for rock hounds looking
around abandoned mines in the area.

Industrial; 12. Low potential.

C - 58

Map 2

34. Shadow Mountains 2. Tc; Tertiary; possibly Barstovian,

Tertiary sediments on east flank of Shadow Mountains overlain by Paleo-
zoic or pre-Paleozoic thrust plate.

Fossils . — Sparse remains of deer-like form.

Reference. — Kingman Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference 1-6-2.

Institution with major col 1 ection.--San Bernardino County Museum.

Values. — Research; R2. Low value is due mainly to lack of information.
The geological setting could be quite significant because the fossils could
date the sediments and establish a lower limit for the age of thrusting in
this area.

Educational; E2. Low value for reasons stated above.
Recreational; RO. Low; possibly except for rock-hounds looking
around the abandoned mines in the area.

Industrial; 12. Low potential.

C - 59

Map 2

35. Valley Wells. Ql ; Quaternary; Irvir.gtonian .

In the vicinity of Valley Wells, a succession of lacustrine sediments,
capped by tufa, is displayed in a small-scale badlands topography. Cross
bedded quartz sands contain the fossils.

Fossils .--A significant, but difficult to collect, fauna has been obtained,
including remains of Camel ops , Mammuthus , Equus simpl icidens , Equus ?conversidens ,
Hemiauchenia , an d Antilocapra americana .

Reference. --Kingman Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference 1-1-1 A,
B, C, and 1-1-12; P-23, P-50.

Institution with major collection. --San Bernardino County Museum.

Values .--Research; Rl . This area is quite significant. It yields
the best quarry sample of Irvingtonian fossils to be found in the Mojave
Desert.

Educational; El. For students and professionals; stratigraphy,
biostratigraphy, and paleontology.

Recreational; RO. Low potential.

Industrial; 12. A talc grinding mill operates here, processing
rock collected mainly from the Kingston Range. Area is a few miles north of
the Southern Shadow Valley PGRA.

C - 60

Map 2

36. Crystal Cave. IP; Paleozoic; Subrecent.

This is a vertical cave on east side of Kokoweef Peak, on its east side,
so that the age of the materials bears no relationship to the age of the
surrounding rock.

Fossils .--A specimen of a Lynx was recovered.

Re fere nee. --Kingman Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference 1-11-14
P-102, P-103.

Institution with major collection. — San Bernardino County Museum.

Val ues . — Research; R2. Low because of meagre extent of material. The
Mountain Pass rare earth district occurs to the north, but access is limited.
Educational; E2. Low, see above. v

Recreational; RO. Possible interest to rock hounds; abandoned
mi nes .

Industrial; 12. Low potential at this site; the Mountain Pass
rare earth district occurs two miles to the north.

Map 2

37. Sulphide Queen Fissure Fill. epG; Precambrian; Sub-recent?
This is a fissure fill in a bastnaesite ore body. The age of the
material bears no relationship to that of the surrounding rock.
Fossils. --Lepus and Syl vil agus , reported but not collected.
Reference. --Kingman Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference 1-1-27.
P-102, P-108.

Institution with major collection. --None.

Values. --Research; R2. Low potential, limited material. Site is in
Mountain Pass rare earth district; access is limited.
Educational; E2. Low, see above.

Recreational; RO. Low, see above; rock hounds may have interest
in general area; abandoned mines.

Industrial; II. Mountain Pass rare earth district.

C - 62

Map 2

38. Ivanpah Mountains, gr; Mesozoic; Rancholabrean.
Material is in a cave, northeast of Kessler Peak, and bears no relation
to the age of the surrounding rock.

Fossils . — Cam's latrans, Marmota flaviventris , Equus , Lepus Sylvilagus.
Reference. — Kingman Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference 1-11-13,
Institution with major collection. --San Bernardino County Museum;
Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

Values. — Research; Rl . This is a valuable site in providing a good
glimpse of a Rancholabrean fauna in the eastern Mojave Desert, combining
large and small mammals.

Education; El. See above, students and professionals.
Recreation; RO. Mainly rock hounds, abandoned mines.
Industrial; 1*2. Little potential.

Map 2

39. Northern Piute Valley. Ql ; Quaternary; Irvingtonian.

The sites are located in lacustrine sediments east of the Piute Range,
northern Piute Valley.

Fossils. --This is a meagre but nevertheless important assemblage of
Irvingtonian mammals; Microtus cf. cal i fornicus , Equus (Pol ichohippus ) cf.
conversidens , Hemiauchenia?, Camel ops .

Reference. — Kingman Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference 1-28-1
to 4, P-23.

Institution with major collection . — San Bernardino County Museum.

Val ues .--Research ; Rl . This is an important site in and of itself, and
because it contributes to the growing evidence that many, if not all of
the Quaternary lakes in the Mojave Desert region are of Irvingtonian age.
Educational; El. See above, students and professionals.
Recreational; RO; Little value.
Industrial; 1*2. Low potential.

C - 64

Map 2

40. Sands. Qc, Qs ; Quaternary; Rancholabrean.

There are a series of sites near the ATSF Railroad tracks and the highway,
along the southwestern edge of the Devil's Playground, about one mile north-
west of Sands Junction (on the railroad line). The fossils occur in brown and
dark grayish-green fine-grained lacustrine sandstone, and stiltstone, overlain
by a cap of tufa.

Fossils . — Equus , Camel ops , Mammuthus , ?Hemiauchenia , and associated
lacustrine gastropods.

References . — Kingman Sheet; locality records of San Bernardino County
Museum (1-62-1 and 2) and Department of Earth Sciences, University of California,
Riverside (RV-7001 to 3); P-23.

Institution with major collection .--San Bernardino County Museum;
Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

Val ues. --Research; Rl . Important Rancholabrean locality, with bearing •
on age of lacustrine deposition in Mojave Desert.

Educational; El. See above; students and professionals.
Recreational; R0. Low potential possibly ORV activity along
railroad tracks.

Industrial; 12. Low potential.

C - 65

Map 2

41. Eastern Hackberry Mountains. Tv; Tertiary; Barstovian.

These fossils come from sediments interbedded with a largely extrusive
and pyroclastic volcanic succession (Tvp on Kingman Sheet). They indicate
that all areas mapped as Tertiary volcanics, Miocene volcanics, etc.,
have a potential for yielding fossils from interbedded sedimentary units.

Fossil s .--Rhinoceros , Plioceras?, Miolabis?

Reference. --Kingman Sheet; San Bernardion County Museum reference
1-26, 1A.

Institution with major collection. --San Bernardino County Museum.

Values. --Research; R2. The lower designation could be changed to Rl ,
when more material becomes known. This is one of a small number of Barstovian,
or possibly Hemingfordian-aged sites in the southeastern Mojave Desert that
need much more work.

Educationa; E2. See above. Could easily be raised to El.
Recreational; RO. Low potential, except for rock hound activity.
Industrial; 12. Low potential.

C - 66

Map 2

42. Eastern Sacramento Mountains. Qc; Quaternary; Barstovian.
Conglomeratic beds mapped as Qc on Needles Sheet; should be mapped as
Tc, because the fossils show that the rocks are of Miocene age.

Fossils. --Fossils recorded, but not in collections, are identified
as Merychippus .

Reference. — Needles Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference
1-30-1 and 2.

Institution with major collection. — None.

Values. --Research; R2. Low potential for now, until more information
becomes known.

Educational; E2. See above.

Recreational; R0. Low potential; abandoned mines.

Industrial; 12. Low potential.

C - 67

Map 2

43. Little Piute Mountains. Tc; Tertiary; Barstovian.

These deposits, mapped as Tc on the Needles Sheet, occur around the
flanks of the Little Piute Mountains. Fossils occur in gray green lacustrine
sediments.

Fossils. --Reported but not collected, were fragmentary bones of Merychippus
This is another of the poorly known but important sites in the southeastern
Mojave Desert, that need further work.

Reference. --Needles Sheet; San Bernardino County Museum reference 1-30-2.

Institution with major col lection. --None.

Values . — Research; R2. Low potential because of inadequate knowledge.
When more becomes known, rating could easily become Rl .
Educational; E2. See above.

Recreationa; RO. Low potential; rock hound prospecting in
abandoned mines.

Industrial; 12. Low potential .

C - 67Q

Map 2

44. Indio Hills. Pc?; Pliocene; Irvingtonian. QP; PI io-Pl eistocene; Irvingtoi

Oc; Quaternary; Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean.

The Indio Hills comprise an elongate, northwest trending series of
hills on the northeast side of the Coachella Valley. They are cut by a
number of branches of the San Andreas fault zone, and have been uplifted
and folded along them. The sedimentary units correspond to the Mecca and
Palm Springs formations and the Canebrake and Ocotillo conglomerates in the
southeastern part of the hills, to the Willow Hole, Willis Palms, Thousand
Palms, and Indio Hills formations to the northwest.

The Willow Hole (informal name) consists of a succession of interbedded
conglomerate, sandstone, and siltstone, with minor tuff'and tuff breccia, on
the order of 25001 thick. Locally, monol ithologic breccia units interfinger
with finer-grained sediments. This formation strati graphically underlies the
Willis Palms Formation (informal), which is lateral equivalent of the marine
Imperial Formation. The Willow Hole was formerly (P-104) referred to as the
Ocotillo Conglomerate which overlies the Imperial Formation. Based on base-
ment rock types, the Willow Hole appears to have been derived from the north
and northwest, and probably is strati graphically equivalent to the Mecca
Formation to the southeast rather than the Ocotillo Conglomerate.

Fossils. --Sparse remains of Equus (Pol ichohippus ) , and Mammuthus , have
been collected, suggesting an Irvingtonian age.

The Willis Palms Formation (informal) conformably overlies the Willow
Hole Formation, and is unconformably overlain by the Indio Hills Formation.
The Willis Palms is on the order of 100-200' thick, and consists of grayish
yellow to locally orange marine siltstone, and contains remains of marine
organisms.

l°l

C - 68

Map 2

44. Indio Hills, cont'd.

The Willis Palms Formation v/as deposited by a short-lived marine embayment
that extended as far north as the vicinity of Whitewater, east of San Gorgonio
Pass.

The Thousand Palms Formation (informal) probably corresponds to the Palm
Spring Formation (P-104, T-48), probably interfingers at its base with the
Willow Hole Formation, and interfingers laterally with the Willis Palms
Formation. To the southeast, the Palm Springs Formation interfingers laterally
with the Canebrake Conglomerate. The Thousand Palms is on the order of 1900'
thick, and consists of sparse tongues of conglomerate interbedded with light
gray to gray or greenish gray sandstone, fine-grained sandstone, and siltstone.
No fossils have been found yet, but to the southeast fossils of probable
Irvingtonian age have been recovered from the laterally equivalent Palm
Springs Formation.

The Indio Hills Formation is the most widely exposed unit in the Indio
Hills, and corresponds in part to the Ocotillo Conglomerate (P-104, T-48),
and is about S^OCP thick. The formation consists of gray conglomerate,
greenish-brown arkosic sandstone, gray to yellowish-gray siltstone, sandstone,
and conglomerate and minor beds of tuff.

Fossils .---Sparse remains of Equus , and ?Mammuthus have been recovered,
of probable Rancholabrean age.

Reference. --Santa Ana Sheet; P-104; P-105; T-14; T-34; T-48.

Institution with major collection. — American Museum of Natural History,
New York; Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

Values. — Research; R2. The relatively low value is given because of the
generally sparse nature of the fossils, although the American Museum collec-
tions are more extensive. These have not been seen. Even though most of the

100

»T7x, ■;."-i^rv-_- :,::--s~~j!Zarv,*>±' ±z,-»it r3-7*wvr^x»«uw«*f **>-*>;« nrviw-***';

C - 69

Map 2

44. Indio Hills, cont'd.

references to the area are unpublished theses, the research potential is
rather good and important because of the proximity of these rocks to branches
of the San Andreas fault zone, and the opportunity to use them to evaluate
amount and timing or slip on those branches. The various beds of tuff in the
section should be sampled for dating.

Educational; E2. Same reasons as for research ranking.

Recreational; RO. Possibly ORV use, but this probably should
be discouraged for ecological reasons, if not geological.

Industrial; I'll Low potential. Minor gravel pit operations
occur. Area is within the Imperial Valley PGRA.

[O i

C - 70

Map 2

45. Mecca Hills. Pc; Pliocene; ?Irvingtonian . OP; PI io-Pleistocene ;

?Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean.

The Mecca Hills form a spectacular folded and faulted sequence of late
Cenozoic nonmarine and marine sediments that unconformably rest on pre-Tertiary
basement rocks. The sedimentary succession is basically the same as that of
the Indio Hills to the northwest. The Mecca Formation is the basal unit,
composed of up to 9800' of reddish arkose, conglomerate, and claystone. This
is followed upward by about 4800' of the Palra Spring Formation, probably of
Irvingtonian age, and 5000' of Canebrake Conglomerate-Ocotillo Conglomerate.

Fossil s .--Information on fossils from these units is scarce. Presumably
the potential and productivity here would resemble that of the Indio Hills;
that Irvingtonian fossils could be expected in the Mecca and Palm Spring
Formations, those of Rancholabrean age in the Canebrake and Ocotillo conglom-
erates.

Reference. --Salton Sea and Santa Ana Sheets; P-104, P-106; T-14.
. Institution with major collection. — Natural History Museum, Los Angeles

Values .--Research ; R2. This evaluation is based on the fact that from
personal observation, fossils seem to be sparse here. The stratigraphic
framework is relatively well developed, however, and fossils would aid in
studies concerned with the historical development of the area, and the offset
of parts of it by branches of the San Andreas fault zone that pass through it.

Educational; E2. Same as above. Even without the aid of
fossils, however, the geology is spectacularly exposed in Painted Canyon,
and can be appreciated by itself, and in relation to the deformation along the
San Andreas fault. Bedrock geology is also if interest relative to offset
history of the fault.

102

C - 71

Map 2

45. Mecca Hills cont'd.

Recreational; RO. There is a campground in Painted Canyon,
and ORV use appears mainly limited to the canyon bottom where it can do
relatively little harm.

Industrial; 12. Low potential, probably, but area is within
the Imperial Valley PGRa.

103

Map 2

46. San Felipe Hills. Pc; Pliocene; ?Irvingtonian. Tl ; Tertiary; ?Irvingtonian

and Rancholabrean.

This area contains some of the same units as are found in the Mecca
Hills and Indio Hills, or lateral equivalents. The sediments are best
exposed in the San Felipe Hills which is an anticlinorium that trends generally
east-west, but has several subsidiary folds that trend southeast and north-
east, as well as north.

The base of the section is comprised of the Split Mountain Formation
that crops out in the southwestern Imperial Valley, near Split Mountain Gorge
and Coyote Wells. It consists of a basal red and gray granitic fanglomerate,
followed by medium-grained marine sandstone, and gypsum about 2,700' thick.
These rocks are overlain by the marine Imperial Formation which reaches a
thickness of about 3300'. The Canebrake Conglomerate, up to 6000' thick, is
the western, coarse-marginal, facies of the Imperial and Palm Spring Forma-
tions. The Palm Spring Formation, the main fossil-bearing unit to the south,
overlies the Imperial Formation, and consists of about 6000' of interbedded
siltstone, claystone, arkosic sandstone, pebble conglomerate and fresh-water
limestone. The Palm Spring is the basin facies of the Canebrake Conglomerate
(in part) and the marginal facies of the lacustrine Borrego Formation. The
Borrego consists of up to 5000' of light brown to grayish sandstone, siltstone,
and mudstone, with local units of conglomerate. The Ocotillo Conglomerate
(western marginal facies) and the Brawley Formation (eastern basinal lacustrine
facies) occur above the Borrego, and reach a thickness of about 2000'.

Fossils .--Fewvertebrate fossils have been reported from the San Felipe
Hills area, but because of the proximity to the Anza-Borrego area to the south
and to the Mecca-Indio Hills area to the north, which are richly to sparsely

104

'"; m._ jTv^yy^w. "rw:"r*''^iMw

C - 73

Map 2

46. San Felipe Hills cont'd

fossil-producing, the San Felipe Rocks have been recorded a value of high

importance.

Reference. --Sal ton Sea and Santa Ana Sheets; P-104; T-49, T-50.

Institution with major collection. — Natural History Museum, Los Angeles

Sparse
Values. --Research ; R2. See above. / fossils found yet, but possibility

considered good for finding more.

Educational; E2. See above. Useful for stratigraphic exercises

Recreational; RO. Low potential; locally interesting scenery.

Industrial; n . High potential, in general. Optical grade

calcite occurs in the Canebrake Conglomerate at the southeastern tip of the

Santa Rosa Mountains. Area is within the Imperial Valley PGRA.

105

G - 74

Map 2

47. Anza-Borrego Area. Mc; Miocene. ?Blancan. Pc; Pliocene; Irvingtonian .

The Anza-Borrego area lies mainly within the California State Park of
the same name, and provides a canyonland of spectacularly arrayed, folded
and faulted late Cenozoic sediments. The succession is basically that
described for the San Felipe Hills (no. 46). [Includes YUHA BASIN to southeast]

The main vertebrate producing units are the upper part of the Imperial
Formation and the overlying Palm Spring Formation.

Fossils. --Sparse remains of ?P1esippus or PI iohippus in the upper part of
the Imperial Formation suggest a Blancan age for these rocks. Late Blancan
taxa in the Palm Spring Formation include Anzanycteris anzensis, Sorex,
Notiosorex, Megalonyx, Hypolagus , Nekrol agus , Syl vil agus , Geomys , Perognathus ,
Prodi podomys , Peromyscus , Rei throdontomys , Si gmodon , Mel sonia?, Synaptomys
anzensis , Coendu stirtoni , Bassariscus , Ca n i s , Tremarctos , ?Taxidea , ?Procyon ,
?Mustela , Equus , PI atygonus , Titanotylopus , Hemiauchenia , Camel ops , Tetrameryx,
Capromeryx. Odocoileus , Euceratherium.

Irvingtonian taxa are Sorex, Notiosorex , Scapanus , Megalonyx, Paramylodon,
Northrotherium, Syl vil agus , Lepus , Geomys qarbanii , Thomomys , Perognatuhus ,
Prodi podomys , Pi podomys , Peromyscus , Onychomys , ?Baiomys , Bensonomys ,
Rei throdontomys , Si gmodon , Neotomya , Microtus cal ifornicus , Coendu, ?Bassariscus ,
Urocyon, Cam's , Smilodon cf . gracil is , Tremarctos , Spiloqale , Stegomastodon ,
Platygonus , Equus , Titanotylopus , Hemiauchenia , Camelops , Tetrameryx,
Capromeryx, Odocoileus , Euceratherium.

Reference. --San Diego-El Centro Sheet; P-8, P-89, P-ll , P-12, P-21 ,
P-44, p-63, P-64, P-73, P-104; T-42, T-51 .

Institution with major collection .--Natural History Museum, Los Angeles;
Imperial Valley College Museum, El Centro.

106

G - 75

Map 2

47. Anza-Borrego Area , cont'd.

Values. --Research; R1 . This area produces one of the best Blancan to
Irvingtonian small mammal assemblages in California, and is of tremendous
research value.

Educational; El. See above, for students and professionals.

Recreational; Rl . This is a popular tourist, ORV, camper
region.

Industrial; II. High potential. The northern part of the area
is mined for gypsum. Borates are reported in Half hi 11 Dry Lake, and other
dry lakes, but not mined. The area also is partly contained in the Imperial
Valley PGRA.

107

L - /b

Map 2

48. Orocopia Mountains. Oc ; Oligocene; Arikareean.

The rugged Orocopia Mountains east of the Mecca Hills contain a folded
and faulted sequence of Eocene marine strata and Oligocene continental beds.
The Eocene rocks, the Maniobra Formation, arc- about 4800' thick, and include
brown shale, sandstone, conglomerate and sedimentary breccia that lies uncon-
formably on granitic basement rock. The rocks were deposited along an ancient
shoreline, or steep, near shore, buttress relationship, preserved along the
southern base of the Hayfield Mountains to the northeast.

The Oligocene rocks, the Diligencia Formation, consist of about 5000'
of nonmarine conglomerate, sandstone, mudstone, and interbedded flows and
sills of volcanic rock, that unconformably overlie the Maniobra Formation.

Fossil s .--Sparse remains of an oreodont, Merychyus cf. calaminthus have
been found in the vicinity of Canyon Spring, and are the only known vertebrate
fossils from this area. Personal observation, however, indicates that the
rocks are potentially fossil -bearing and all should receive high priority.

Reference. --Sal ton Sea Sheet; P-70, P-87, P-106, P-107, P-108, P-109,
P-110, P-lll, P-112, P-113, P-114, T-51, T-52.

Institution with major collection. --Natural History Museum, Los Angeles.

Values. --Research; R2. Mainly because of sparse remains yet found.
Additional work, which is needed, could turn up more material. It is very
important in that these rocks have been correlated with others in the Soledad
Basin, thought to have been offset along the San Andreas fault.

Educational; E2. Possibly changing to El, see above.
Recreational; R0. Relatively low; some 0RV activity, and rock
hounds.

Industrial; 12. Low potential. Abandoned shafts and prospects
occur, but no work is being done now.

108

C - 77

Map 2

49. Superstition Hills. Qc; Quaternary; Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean

These hills, aligned northwest-southeas near the southwest tip
of the Salton Sea, contain more of the sediments found in the Anza-Borrego
sequence to the west.

Fossils . — Sparse fossils of Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean age are
known to occur here and could be developed into a succession similar to
that of Anaa-Borrego (no. 47).

Reference. — Salton Sea and San Diego-El Centro Sheets; references of
the Natural History Museum, Los Angeles, no. 6733.

Institution winh major collection. — See Reference.

Values. — Research, R2 . Based on sparse nature of fossils at present.
Value could change with additional collecting!. .
Educational, E2. See Above
Recreational, RO. Probable ORV activity.
Industrial, 12. Low potential.

109

D - 1

D. Areas in the CDCA where fossil vertebrates might occur.

As discussed in section C, these are areas shown in brown and yellow
on Maps 1 and 2. The brown areas are considered to be of reasonably good
potential for containing fossils, based largely on proximity to, or similarity
in rock type to, those areas in which fossils are known or predicted to occur.
The yellow areas are of lower potential, again based on experience with similar
litholcgies, geologic settings, etc.

Values .--Research. The research potential of all brown or yellow areas
is low, as presently known. Any of these areas can change in potential
should fossils be found subsequently. None are known to occur there now.

Educational. Similarly, the educational potential for brown
or yellow areas is low; the ranking could change once fossils were found.

Recreational. The threat of normal recreational activities to
potential fossil values in these areas cannot be systematically evaluated
because of the uncertainty as to the actual fossil content. It is not really
meaningful to make a detailed assessment at this time.

Industrial. The same applies here. Again, most of the standard
kind of industrial use of the CDCA is known, and maps of geothermal area
are already at hand within the BLM. For the future, particular attention
should be paid to sitings of such featurs as geothermal wells, exploration
pits, installation of new power lines, access roads to various facilities, etc.
Where such developments are anticipated, an appropriate authority, such as
those individuals listed in Section H, should be consulted as to the need
for prior surveyfor fossil material.

110

E - 1

E. CLASSIFICATION FOR ALL SITES IN B AND C AS TO VALUE FOR: RESEARCH,
EDUCATION, RECREATION, INDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL.

This information has been provided in Sections B and C.

111

F - 1

F. IMPACTS RESULTING FROM NATURAL AND/OR HUMAN ACTIVITIES ON FOSSIL VERTEBRATE
SITES IN THE CDCA.

As pointed out in Section J, the long-term effect of both natural and
human activities on fossil vertebrate sites is to destroy them. The only
realistic way to "preserve" or "conserve" fossils is to see that they are
collected by someone with the necessary professional expertise, and to store
them in an appropriate repository, such as a museum or educational institution.
A list of such is found in Section G.

There are some short-term beneficial effects of natural and human
activities ; that is exposing the fossils to view. In the first case, that
of natural activities, the erosion process will eventually destroy the fossil,
unless someone with the proper interest and/or knowledge happens to find the
specimen and either removes it himself, in the manner specified above, or
brings the information to the attention of someone who can. A more detailed
treatment of the methods by which fossils can be collected is presented in
Section J.

When incidental human activity, digging, trenching, and the like uncovers
a fossil specimen, it may be immediately destroyed unless the person involved
happens to notice the specimen and knows what to do about it. The best
situation, of course, occurs when the fossil is found by someone who is
actively prospecting for specimens and is properly supplied to collect it.

In summary, the overall impact of natural and human activities on fossils
is negative; destructive. Natural activities go on all the time; the only way
to ameliorate their effect is to encourage prospecting and salvage of fossils
by qualified persons. The best way to ameliorate the negative effects of
other human activities is to discourage capricious use of the land in districts
of high fossil potential (Section C) and to encourage surveys in such areas

112

F - 2

prior to beginning predictable activities, trenching, bulldozing, etc. Probably
the single most capricious use of land in the CDCA is motorcycle extravaganzas
and other kinds of concentrated ORV activity. These activities are only
destructive, not just of areas with potential for fossil vertebrates, but
areas with interest from a variety of biological and ecological points of
view.

As a general statement, potential industrial impacts can be arranged by
rock type, as follows. Almost all of these rock types occur in the majority
of the areas numbered in Section C, and colored blue on Maps 1 and 2, as well
as areas colored brown, and to a somewhat lesser extent in areas colored
yellow.

Fluviatile Deposits .

Sand and gravel operations
Res i state minerals; mining
Manganese deposits

Volcanic, pyroclastic, and tuffaceous deposits

Silica mining
Scouring agents
Zeolites
Roofing rock
Pumice mining
Perlite mining
Cinder mining
Lightweight aggregates
Clay minerals

Lacustrine deposits

Lightweight aggregates

Tufa and building stone

Gypsum mining

Strontium mining

Borate mining

Hal ite mining

Magnesite mining

Barite mining

Clay and bentonite

Lead-silver-zinc deposits

Semiprecious stones and commercial lapidary deposits

113

F - 3

Other industrial developments might occur

Transmission corridors

Access roads

Sites for generating stations, microwave relay stations, etc.

Resort and recreational development, and ancillary impacts to public land

(e.g., Lewis Development proposed for 4th of July Canyon, New York

Mountains. )

Mitigation of Impacts

Most industrial and commercial projects of any magnitude will come to
light in the process of obtaining procedural permits. These include mining
claim applications, grading plans, reclamation plans, and a variety of
environmental assessments. Projects might range from surface disturbances
to extensive excavation, any of which might have adverse impacts upon significant
paleontologic values.

Mitigation is straightforward and generally does not require undue delay
of any project. It consists first of a paleontologic survey prior to construc-
tion and, secondly, of having a monitor present during all phases of construc-
tion to watch for paleontologic values which might be encountered. In both
cases, the survey and monitoring must be done by a trained paleontologist who
is equipped to salvage fossils rapidly to avoid costly delays.

Successful paleontologic monitoring has taken place at such major excava-
tions as railroad realignments and freeway construction. Depending on the
extent of the fossil iferous deposits, one to four trained paleontologic
observers and a crew chief were employed. They closely followed graders,
scrapers, and dozers for periods of up to eight weeks. Removal of significant
paleontologic values took place with minor rerouting of equipment and no loss
of construction time.

When budgeting for a paleontologic salvage, funds should be included for
preparation and curation of specimens as well as for equipment and salaries
during construction activities.

114

F - 4

Informal, nonstructured activities which are not controlled by procedural
permits will be the most difficult to monitor. Activities such as prospecting
and exploratory mine work, rockhounding, and vehicle related activities may
introduce individuals or small groups into areas where they will deliberately
or inadvertently damage paleontologic values. Loss of scientific knowledge
from these activities and from erosional forces can best be prevented by
periodic collection of specimens from fossil iferous sediments by individuals
and groups from accredited institutions.
Definitions

"Significant paleontologic values" are those which are unique, unusual,
rare, uncommon, or diagnostically important. Generally, these would include
the fossil remains of large, small and microscopic vertebrate animals, rare
or uncommon invertebrates, and fossils of animals and plants previously
unrepresented in a certain portion of a stratigraphy.

Fossil specimens are different than other ecologic values in that they
are confined to certain sedimentary deposits, but most often occur randomly
throughout such a deposit. Consequently, to locate and preserve (remove)
paleontologic values, mitigating measures are necessary in areas of paleontologi
values identified by literature search or previous field experience.

115

F - 5

Specific Localities where known industrial potentials might create
impacts to sigmncant vertebrate fossil localities:

Valley Wells T.16N R.12E

1. Mining prospects indicate interest in tufa which caps
f ossiliferous sediments. Increased need for lightweight
aggregate might revitalize prospecting and mining.

2. The Valley Wells Copper Smelter and the Evening Star
Mill might be revitalized as milling sites, as bases for
commercial operations. The dumps and stockpiles might be
reworked.

3. Valley Wells is traversed by above-ground and subsurface
utility corridors. Expansion or addition to these routes might
impact significant fossils. Expansion will need to be monitored
by a paleontologic obeerver.

4. The Beck Spring Iron Mines on Kingston Peak, when active,
heavily impacted the f ossiliferous sediments with water storage
ponds, gravel pits, staging areas, and roads. This occurred
despite complaints to the BLM by the San Bernardino County Museum.
Renewed usages would cause further impacts.

5. Recreationalists and local residents familiar with the
Barstow-Vegas 500 vehicle race continue to use the f ossiliferous
badlands for O.R.V. practice.

Piute Valley Sediments T.13N R.19E

1. By prospecting and some mining, tufa and tufaceous
sediments were shipped, probably for use as lightweight
aggregates. Claim markers are as recent as 1974. Changes in
ecomonic trends might stimulate interest in these deposits.

2. Utility corridors through Piute Valley might be expanded .
A paleontologic obeerver should be present in that eventuality.

3. Cattle watering lines through the f ossiliferous sediments
might be retrenched and impact significant vertebrate fossils.

Shadow Mountains Sediments T.17N R.9, 10 E

1. Prospects for clay are common in f ossiliferous sediments.
These showed activity in 1975.

2. Red Canyon gypsum deposits appear to have had recent
visitations.

3. Claim markers appear along the contact of thrust plates
of paleozoic rocks and tertiary sediments.

116

F - 6
(localities - 2)

Yucca Grove Tufaceous Sediments T.15N R.11E

1. This lacustrine section is near proposed CalTrans
rest stop. A shift in plans might impact these sediments.

2. Subsurface gaslines have impacted these sediments.
Further expansion will necessitate the presence of a paleontologic
observer.

Aztec Sandstone "r.15 1/2 N RJ4 E, T.16N R.13E.

1. Jurassic sandstone has been quarried in the past and
might be developed as a quarry in the future.

2. Recent claim markers indicate prospecting in this
formation for the "Lost River of the Golden Sands". Dinosaur
trackways might be impacted if heavy equipment is used.

Kokoweef Peak Caves T.15%N R.14E and T.15N R.14E

1. Extensive prospecting has impacted f ossiliferous fill
of Kokoweef, Crystal, and Quien Sabe caves. Further removal of
_f ossiliferous Pleistocene fill should be monitored by a paleon-
tologic observer.

2. Spelunkers might remov e fossils from caves in the
Mescal Range and at Kokoweef Cave.

'oy

Pinto Mountain T.13N R.15E

1. Interest has been expressed in prospecting for zeolites
in this area.

Hole-in-the Wall Tuffaceous Sediments T.11N R.15E

1. Extensive prospecting for lapidary materials continues
to impact potentially f ossiliferous sediments.

2. Interest has been expressed in prospecting for zeolites
in this area.

Old Dad Dune Sands T.11N R.10E

1. Utility corridors are present and might be expanded. If
so, a paleontologic observer should be present to monitor
f ossiliferous sediments. Q

117

F - 7

(localities - 3)

Wild Horse Mesa T.11N. R.14E

1. Prospecting of tuffaceous sediments has impacted
f ossiliferous sediments.

2. Interest has been expressed in prospecting for zeolites
in this area.

3. Collection of lapidary material from f ossiliferous
sediments might impact or cause removal of fossils.

Barber Opal Beds T.11N R.14E

1. Collection of lapidary material has included removal
of petrified wood and might impact vertebrate fossils.

2. Interest has been expressed in prospecting for zeolites
in this area.

(April, 1978)

3. A drilling program /is prospecting for molybdenite (?)

in the same section (16 J >whare the f ossiliferous sediments occur.

west of

Beecher Canyon T.11N R.14E.

1. Interest has been expressed in prospecting for zeolites
in this area.

Domingo Spring, Whiskey Spring T.11N R.14E

1. Spring development for ranching might further impact
f ossiliferous sediments.

Cave Spring T.11N R.15E

1. Spring development for ranching might further impact
f ossiliferous sediments.

2. Prospecting, road work, and recent claim markers (1975)
are located west of Cave Spring. Workings were apparently for
turquoise and might be revitalized.

Juan, Castle Mountains T.15N R.18E

1. Perlite mining, clay mining, and prospecting for zeolites
might impact f ossiliferous sediments.

118

F-8

(localities - 4)

2. This area is subject to rockhounds looking for
petrified wood. Such use might impact vertebrate fossils.

Grandview Sediments T.12N R.18E

1. Prospect pits exist from sampling caliche, which caps
potentially f ossiliferous sediments.

Hackberry Mountains T. 11-12 N, R.17E

1. Extensive mining and collection of chalcedony for
lapidary material has directly impacted significant vertebrate
fossils. This area continues to attract large groups of rockhounds.

2. Yucca harvesting in this area will create vehicle tracks
which might increase O.R.V. use, thereby impacting f ossiliferous
sediments. ^

3. Interest has been expressed in prospecting for zeolites
in this area.

Vontrigger Hills T.11-12N R.17E . {

1. Yucca harvesting in this area will create vehicle
tracks which might increase O.R.V. use, thereby impacting fossili-
ferous sediments.

2. Interest has been expressed in prospecting for zeolites
in this area.

Big Wash Sandstone T.6N R.18E

1. Claim markers appear in the vicinity of potentially
f ossiliferous sediments. Development would require a paleontologic
observer.

Sands Lacustrine Sediments

1. Additional utility corridors might impact significant
vertebrate fossils.

Salt Basin T.18N R.5E

1. Recent claim markers and prospects suggest interest j»
in clay or saline minerals. ^i

F - 10

(localities - 5)

Bitter Spring T.13N R.5E

1. Tenneco Oil Co. undettook a drilling program for
borates in Tertiary sediments during 1977.

Alvord Sediments T.12N R.4E

1. Prospecting by a Mr. Sparks occurred in and near
f ossiliferous sediments during 1977.

•e

Haddin Ranch Sediments T.7N R.2E

1. Current cattle ranching operations might impact
potentially f ossiliferous sediments.

Gravel Pits - Twentynine Palms T.1N R.9W

1. Gravel operations continue to impact f ossiliferous
sediments east of 29 Palms.

Cinnamon Roll Sediments T.6N R.2E

1. Pleistocene sediments in BLM' s "O.R.V. Open Area"
are continually impacted by recreaticnalists .

Wild Road Sediments T8N R.4W

1. Pleistocene sediments near Wild Road offramp are
continually impacted by recreationalists in O.R.V. s.

'Calico Hills - Tin Can Alley T.10N R, 2E

1. Exploratory drilling programs for borate minerals
starting in 1977 might impact significant fossils.

Owl Canyon Camp, Barstow Fossil Beds T.11N R.2W

1. Visitors of B.L.M. campgroung in Owl Canyon often bring
fossils to BLM personnel. Unreported removal of paleontologic
.values probably occurs regularly.

120

F - 11

(localities - 6)

Kramer Hills T.9N R.6W

1. A drilling program to explore Tertiary sediments for
radioactive materials took place in approximately 1974.

121

SIGNICANT COLLECTIONS

American Museum of Natural History
Dr. R.H. Tedford

Dept. of Vertebrate Paleontology
AMNH

79th Street at Central Park West
New York NY 10024

Los Angeles County Museum
Dr. D.P. Whistler
LACM

900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90007

San Bernardino County Museum
Robert E. Reynolds . .
220 S. Buena Vista :.
Redlands CA 92373

University of California - Berkeley
Dr. D.E. Savage
Museum of Paleontology
U.C.B.
Berkeley CA 94720

University of California - Riverside
Dr. M.0. Woodburne
Dept. of Earth Sciences
U.C.R.
Riverside CA 92521

Webb School (Raymond Alf Museum)
Dr. Raymond M. Alf
1175 W. Baseline
Claremont CA 91711

Imperial Valley College Museum
Dr. George G. Miller
El Centro CA

122

H - 1

IZIilAklili WITH IJHIilil

Akersten, William A. .J

Los Angeles County Museum cf Natural History ™

900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90007

Alf, Raymond M.
1175 W. Baseline
Claremont CA 91711

Clemens, William A.

Dept. of Paleontology
LLC. at Berkeley
Berkeley CA 94720

Dailey, W.R.

Dept. of Earth Sciences
U.C. at Riverside
Riverside CA 92521

Golz, David

Geological Museum v

U. of Wyoming
Laramie WY 82070

Howard, Hildegard Mrs.

2045 Q Via Mariposa East A

Laguna Hills CA 92653 ■

Hutchison, John H.

Museum of Paleontology
U.C. at Berkeley
Berkeley CA 94720

Jefferson, George T.
Page Museum
La Brea Tar Pits
Los Angeles CA 90007

Meyer, Grant E

Raymond Al f Museum
1175 W. Baseline
Claremont CA 91711

Miller, George G. Dr.

Imperial Valley College Museum
El Centro CA

Repenning, Charles

U.S.G.S. Paleontology and Stratigraphy Branch
345 Middlefield Road
Menlo Park CA 94025

123

H - 2

Reynolds, Robert E.
220 S. Buena Vista
Redlands CA 92373

Savage, Donald

Museum of Paleontology
U.C. Berkeley
Berkeley CA 94720

Whistler, David P.

Los Angeles County Museum
900 Exposition Blvd.
Los Angeles CA 90007

Woodburne, Michael 0.

Dept. of Earth Sciences
U.C. at Riverside
Riverside CA 92521

12A

I - 1

I. CROSS-INDEX FOR MAPS, TEXT, INSTITUTIONS WITH COLLECTIONS AND BIBLIOGRAPHY.
This information is provided in Section C.

I 3i S

J-l-1

J. VALUE, OCCURRENCE, RECOVERY, PRESERVATION AND COLLECTION OF VERTEBRATE FOSSILS
1-A. VALUE, SCIENTIFIC

Vertebrate fossils are of great potential scientific value. The word
potential is used here because some parts of the skeleton are of greater
immediate scientific value than others, at least in the terms of identifying
the genus and species that the animal represents. Identification is the
first aim of the scientist, because all subsequent studies are based on that
information. Depending on the kind of animal represented, certain parts of
the skeleton are more important for this purpose -than others, and only a
competent paleontologist is qualified to make that initial appraisal in the
field (See Section 5). Even though teeth or parts of the skull and jaws
that bear them are usually considered more important than other parts of the
skeleton, and have the additional value in being composed of some of the
hardest and thus most preservable skeletal tissues, increasingly modern

) refinements in taxonomic studies (identification and evolutionary relation-
ships) require that more information be obtained. For example, in order to
make a reputable generic and specific identification of a fossil camel it
is necessary to have at hand much of the skull, jaws, and their teeth, and
front and hind metapodials (elongate "cannon" bones between the wrist and
ankle bones, respectively, and the toes). For most horses, one needs the
teeth in the jaws and skull and at least part of the snout between the orbits
and the nasal region.

Once identification has been acheived, the paleontologist can make assess-
ments as to the age of the rocks in which the fossils occur, and begin to
interpret the geologic, environmental, and paleoecologic setting in which the
animals lived and- died.

Other kinds of studies are just as important as the above, however, and

) require knowledge of increasingly greater parts of the skeleton. For example,
studies of functional morphology, in which the interrelationships of the parts

126

J-l-2

of the skeleton are studied, can lead to important interpretations as to the
way the animal moved, how it ran, climbed, or flew, etc., what was its gait.
These studies are not only important for themselves, in showing how the
locomotion of modern animals was evolved, but also give information that can
feed back directly into considerations of the environmental and paleoecologic
setting, mentioned above. Additionally, the style of preservation of post-
cranial parts of the skeleton bears importantly on studies in taphonomy -
how and under what conditions did these fossils accumulate at this particular
site - which again feeds back into environmental and paleoecologic setting.
Post-cranial parts of the skeleton can also yield important information as
to the age - in terms of life span - of the fossil animal. This information
contributes to studies on the age-structure of the fossil population. Are
primarily young individuals being preserved here, or is there a relatively
even distribution of age classes? These considerations are important to
studies in taphonomy, mentioned above.

The point being made here, with only a few examples, and an incomplete
list of possible kinds of study, is that ultimately all parts of the skeleton
are of about equal importance for science. The scientific value of fossil
vertebrates is not translatable into dollar terms, and of course the rare
specimens that are sufficiently complete to be amenable to display in public
museums and the like are of inestimable human, instructional, as well as
scientific value. Every fossil vertebrate has some value. Those with the
lowest scientific value, but not necessarily zero, are those specimens that
can be shown to be non-identifiable. This decision can only be made, of
course, by a qualified specialist.

Recommendation -.--Finds of fossil vertebrates should be immediately
broughtto the attention of a paleontologist at one of the institutions listed
in Section H of this report, for evaluation as to the next steps to be taken.

\=7

0-1-3

1-B. VALUES, COMMERCIAL

Even though fossil vertebrates are of so high a scientific value as
to be valueless in dollar terms, dollar figures are given to fossils for
various reasons.

One of the more common of these is the situation where an individual
donates a collection of fossils to an institution, and would like a state-
ment as to value for purposes of Income Tax deductions. In these cases, the
scientist usually estimates what it would have cost him, as a professional,
to go out and collect those fossils (mileage and time), and the subsequent
cost, if any, of cleaning, preparation, and curation, depending upon the state
of the collection being donated. Similar kinds of considerations (essentially
the cost of replacing the fossil, if it could be replaced) are made when dollar
values are assigned to fossils when being insured for purposes of mailing,
inventory, etc. .

Another consideration is the rarity (usually related, but not always, to
the completeness of preservation and representation of all parts of the skeleton)
of the specimen. There are very few "rules of thumb" to follow here. One
might try to calculate how many man-hours would need to be spent in search of
such a specimen (this would vary tremendously - fossil fishes are more commonly
found as more or less complete skeletons than any other kind of vertebrate), as
well as to prepare and mount it for display.

Inevitably, a few private individuals will collect fossil vertebrates for
the purpose of sale to the general public or to scientific institutions.
Occasionally, such institutions have purchased important collections, but
the dollar figure is usually only to recompense the individual for his out-
of-pocket expenses. Sale of fossil vertebrates to the general public is clearly
done for profit, and this should be discouraged at e\/ery opportunity. In cases
where it can be shown that the fossils were collected from lands falling under

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J-l-4

the jurisdiction of federal or state antiquities acts, such sales are clearly
illegal .

Recommendations -.-- Except for tax related purposes, or those of
assigning values for insurance, inventory, recompense for out-of-pocket
expenses for private individuals selling collections to scientific institutions,
giving dollar values to fossil vertebrates should be discouraged. The only way
to ensure that fossil vertebrates can be brought into the collections of
scientific institutions, and can be made available to the general public in a
reputable way, and thus enhance knowledge and education, is to discourage
private collectors from selling fossils for profit to the general public. This

is not necessarily a mundane issue. A year or so ago, Time Magazine reported

5
that pretigeous New York shops made a practise of selling publicly various

kinds of fossils, including vertebrates, for their "artistic" or "conversation-
piece" value. The prices ranged into the thousands of dollars. The only
logical way for such fossils to have been supplied to these stores is by
private collectors.

•

\X°l

J-2-i

2. OCCURRENCE

\ Except for being found primarily in sedimentary rocks, fossil vertebrates

are very unpredictable as to occurrence. Some kinds of fossils are more close-
ly restricted than others. For example, fossil fishes are normally encountered
in ancient lake beds, or along with other marine vertebrates in near-shore
marine deposits. Land living, tree-climbing, burrowing, or flying vertebrates
are more commonly encountered in terrestrial fluviatile (stream) or near-shore
lacustrine (lake) deposits. Some have been encountered in sediments during
the drilling of wells, and, in at least one instance, a fossil rhinoceros was
entombed in a lava flow in Oregon. Deposits of asphalt and peat make excellent
places to search for fossils, because of the nature of the materials being
formed. Fossil vertebrates have also been found in ancient artesian springs,
and in ancient dune sands.

Essentially, to preserve a fossil, it must be covered up, and rapidly

I enough after death so that the skeletal parts are not destroyed by animal and
environmental agencies. Any covering or enclosing agent whether water- or air-
borne sediment, air fall tuff, asphalt, etc., is capable of preserving a fossil
Certain post-depositional effects can destroy once preserved fossils, however,
and these include sediments that have been subjected to extensive weathering
and leaching of material, or those subjected to very acidic percolating
solutions, such as in some swamps and bogs. Other post-depositional effects,
such as extreme burial and metamorphism will destroy most fossil vertebrates.

Some post-depositional effects are beneficial. Unless there is great
vertical relief, the potential for finding fossils is usually greater if the
sediments have been tilted to some degree because this exposes a greater thick-
ness than otherwise would occur at the land surface, and the pattern of streams
and tributaries, provides a better three or four sided exposure of the rocks

P than normally would occur in most flat-lying terrains.

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But the above are only peripheral to the main problem. Fossil vertebrates
are selectively involved in the transportation and burial process. A very small
proportion of the vertebrates that die, do so in a place that is amenable to
their preservation. Both in the water and on land, activities of scavengers,
bacteria, and various natural weathering or decompositional agencies will
cause carcasses to break up and disintegrate into more or less unrecognizable
pieces before they can be preserved. The factors that affect this process of
disintegration or removal are so variable as to prevent accurate prediction of
where a fossil vertebrate will occur. Any paleontologist can cite numerous
examples in which two sedimentary layers occur in the same locality and are of
so great lithologic similarity as to be indistinguishable from each other on
a lithologic basis. Yet only one will contain fossils. Sediments deposited
in ponds, lakes, marine lagoons, or at mouths of rivers or streams entering
those areas, and sediments deposited on river flood plains or alluvial fans
have the greatest potential for yielding fossil vertebrates. Not all sediments
in the above categories will yield fossils, however, and identifying those
particular kinds of sediments in contrast to those deposited in other environ-
ments requires geological interpretations that are not always possible. General-
ly, but not always, finer-grained sediments have a higher potential in this re-
gard than do coarser-grained sed'iments. Asphaltic or peat deposits are rel- i
atively rare generally, and are certainly so in the CDCA.

Recommendations-. — For the above reasons, the management of fossil verte-
brates in the CDCA should assume until contradicted by hard evidence (i.e. a ■
thorough investigation has been conducted) that nearly all sedimentary rocks in
the CDCA have the potential of yielding fossil vertebrates. No area in which
sedimentary rocks occur should be "written off" without thorough tests. The
only possible exception might be areas where the ground is completely cover-
ed by very recent alluvium.

J-3-1

3. RECOVERY

I This section will discuss how fossils are found, as distinct from col-
lecting them. Fossils are found, briefly, by walking over the area in
question and searching for them visually. Fossils commonly display shapes
and textures that are distinct from those of other particles in sedimentary
rocks, and just what those differences are is only gained by experience.
Other tools, of use to other areas of earth sciences, such as aerial photo-
graphs, remote sensing devices, or even driving along an area in some form of
motor transport, are not sufficient means with which to search for fossils.
Inspection must be done on foot, at close distances. It should be stressed
here that searching for fossils is a distinctly different procedure from
making a geologic study of the area. The paleontologist covers the ground in
much greater detail, sometimes on hands and knees, and is looking for distinct-
ly different things, and normally in different parts of the same area or

I outcrop than is the geologist. People making geological studies do find fos-
sils, of course, but almost never to the same degree or volume as the paleon-
tologist. It is entirely possible and conceivable that a geologist could make
a very good, detailed study of an area and find no fossils at all. This should
not be taken as an indication that fossils do not occur in the area. In cases
too numerous to mention individually, a paleontologist will inspect an area
along with or after a geologist and find many fossils that were completely over-
looked by the other person.

Similarly, an anthropologist will inspect an area in different places and
for different reasons than will a paleontologist. By their very nature, arti-
• facts of man are normally set down, or developed, on something, which could
easily be granitic or a volcanic rock, where a paleontologist would never expect
to find fossils. Even when anthropological remains are developed on sedimentary

' rocks, such locations will normally be reasonably flat. An anthropologist

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J-3-2

normally does not expect to find artifacts along the sides of reasonably
steep slopes or in the sides of cliffs. Such sites could easily yield fossil
vertebrates because they are contained within , rather than on, the rocks. For
somewhat different reasons than in the case of the geologist, an anthropological
survey of an area can easily overlook sites that contain fossil vertebrates.
Again, an anthropological survey cannot substitute for a paleontological survey
for a reliable estimate of the presence or absence of fossil vertebrates.
Recommendations-. — Whenever evidence is needed as to the presence or
absence of fossil vertebrates, a paleontological survey should be conducted.
Statements in anthropological or geological technical reports or published
literature that "no fossils were found" should not be taken as evidence that
fossils are, in fact, absent.

133.

J-4-1

4. PRESERVATION

| This section deals with a brief paragraph on the natural preservation
of fossils, and then turns to another side of preservation, that of making
fossils available for study and education.

In the natural state, fossil vertebrates are preserved by various
minerals that are brought to the bones after burial by percolating ground
water. The range of natural preservation varies greatly, from essentially
completely replaced bone (it is now something else, for example, SiO?),
or almost no replacement at all, and variations -in between.

No matter how well preserved, however, fossils cannot long exist at the
surface of the earth, and begin to degrade and fracture almost immediately
upon being exposed to natural agencies. For this reason, the collector normal-
ly adds various preservatives in the collecting process, and this will be
discussed in the following section on Collection. The inability of fossil

j vertebrates to long withstand the attack of natural agencies at the surface
of the earth is a critical part of the discussion of how best to preserve
fossils for study and education.

There is only one answer. Fossils must be collected by competent scientists
and brought to the laboratory of the institution for additional preparation,
hardening, cleaning, under controlled conditions, and then curated into the
collections or displays of that institution. Only then will there be a long
term, reliable, resting place for the fossils, that is available to repeated
use by scientist, student, or member of the general public. The scientist is
the only reputable custodian for these specimens. Only he has the necessary
. interest, expertise, and through his institution, necessary level of funding
to ensure that these invaluable specimens are well and consistently taken
care of, utilized and made available for the benefit of all.

I Thereis only one exception, which works well in one instance and poorly

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J-4-2

in others. This is preserving the fossil in place in the rock in the field.
The best example is Dinosaur National Monument where the Department of the I
Interior has built a permanent structure over the area where the fossils are
being excavated, and provided funds for continuing excavations and super-
vision of this very valuable teaching as well as scientific resource. The
reason this facility succeeds is that funding is available for continuous
operation and supervision, and public access and activity can be controlled.
Except that the building is constructed over the rock itself, and the fossils
not totally housed in museum cabinets or in halls on display, this situation
is directly comparable to the institution/scientist housed and cared for fossils
mentioned above.

More limited approaches to preserving fossils in their natural state exist,
and those I have seen do not succeed. The approach has been to build small,
box-like, covers of plexiglas or similar material over the fossils, which had —
been cleaned and exposed prior to being covered. These fossils occur along ^
trails, and are available to view by the public without supervision. Informa-
tive plaques are also constructed alongside the fossils, explaining their
significance. The problem comes from lack of continual supervision. Many of
the plaques refer to fossils that are no longer under their protective struc-
tures. They have been destroyed' or removed by the public they were meant to
serve. If the person who stole the fossil still has it, it is serving the
interest of one, or at best very few people. When interest lags or stops, the
fossil will be at best relegated to an attic, and eventually destroyed. In
contrast to a scientific instititution, where one specimen can potentially
serve thousands of people over many generations, the stolen specimens will
serve one or two, for a generation or less. Without adequate continuous inter-
est, funding, and supervision, it is just not possible to make a valid case j^
in favor of "preserving the fossils in their natural state." ^^

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J-4-3

Recommendations-. --Long-term preservation of fossil vertebrates, in
service to generations of scientists and members of the general public, can
only be achieved under the auspices of recognized governmental (federal, state,
municipal) agencies or comparable even though privately funded museums that
can provide the necessary interest, supervision and funding.

J.36

J-5-1

5. COLLECTION

The skills and tools needed for the collection of vertebrate fossils g
depend mainly on the size of the fossil and the kind of sediment in which it
occurs. Fossils are most commonly found by noticing scraps of bone or teeth
that have been washed down the surface of a slope or cliff. It is best to try
to collect everything that can be found, so the usual procedure is to begin at
the base of the slope or cliff and slowly work upward, picking up everything.
These pieces can normally be placed in a soft cloth or paper bag. When the
actual specimen is finally reached, the next stage in the decision-making
process begins, basically what approach to use and what tools will be required.

Tools-. --Depending on the requirements of the situation, the collector
will select from the following list. Large or small pickaxe, shovel, rock saw,
jack hammer, pin vise with needles, dental scrapers, awls, assorted chisels,
sledge hammer (both one and two handed), assorted soft brushes, whisk broom,
bathroom tissue, newspaper, masking or gum tape, plastic basin for mixing m
plaster, plaster-of-paris, burlap bags or sheets, scissors, linoleum knives,
timber, nails, hammer, rope and wire, assorted paper bags, pry bars.

Exposure and hardening-. --The first step is to determine, if possible,
what part of the skeleton is represented, whether it is largely on the surface,
or whether it extends into the. sediment; if the latter, how much overburden is
likely to be above the bone (if the specimen is exposed in a sheer cliff face,
10' s of feet of overburden may be present, but even this can be sometimes re-
moved from above with pry bars or - only for the initiated - dynamite).

If the specimen is small and largely exposed at the surface, it is usually
a relatively simple matter to carefully brush off or pry off with small tools
the little sediment remaining, and apply a hardening solution. If the specimen
is larger, the situation becomes more complex, as discussed below. Application
of a hardening solution is almost always necessary, even for the best preservedBM

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0-5-2

specimens, because bone exposed to the surface is normally slivered or fractured
| to some extent. Hardening solutions are diverse, but a common type is Glyptal
Lacquer Cement, No. 1276 and Lacquer Thinner No. 1511-M, made by General Elec-
tric. In the uncut state the cement is a perfectly good glue; thinned at a
ratio of about 1:6, the solution will penetrate the pores in the fossils and
sediment, and upon drying (30 minutes or longer depending on the temperature)
will hold the pieces together well enough to withstand careful handling and
packing. Other solutions include Duco Cement thinned in Acetone, Elmer's
(or any white) Glue, thinned with water, or Shellac thinned with alcohol. The
last combination is rarely used any longer, because the shellac is very dif-
ficult to remove when the fossil is being re-cleaned and put together in the
laboratory.

Normally, only the exposed surfaces are hardened. Unless the fossil is
■wery small, or dense, or both, it usually cannot be picked up in its entirety
and wrapped. Larger, and particularly longer, specimens are normally collect-
ed with some of the enclosing sediment attached. The hardening process requires
a variable amount of time depending on the nature of preservation, porosity
or friablility (crumbly-ness) of the sediment, etc. Decision as to when the
specimen has been hardened enough requires a certain amount of experience.

Removing the specimen from the sediment-. --The case of small, dense speci-
men has been discussed above. For larger specimens, it is not always necessary
to expose all of the bone. In fact, it is usually better to disturb the fossil
as little as possible. Clean and harden what was originally exposed, and re-
move enough superficial sediment to determine the size of the element, the
direction it is projecting into the rock, and whether or not it is attached to,
or associated with, other elements. Estimating this possiblity requires con-
siderable knowledge of skeletal anatomy. Once this has been determined, an
" excavation is begun, at a distance of from 2 - 6" or even more, from the bone

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J-5-3

depending on its size, the hardness of the enclosing sediment, and the extent

to which it is fractured. This excavation is designed to isolate the specimen, A

with its surrounding sediment, from the rest of the outcrop, and may need to

be dug to a depth of a few inches to a foot or more, again depending on the

size and shape of the bone, its preservation, the rigidity of the sediment,

fracturing, etc., and this, again, requires professional experience and

judgement.

In a simple case, it may be sufficient to isolate the specimen on a small
pedestal, and assuming here that the sediment' is coherent, it may be possible
to cut through the base of the pedestal with the same small tools (awls, lino-
leum knives) used to excavate the pedestal in the first place. The specimen
then can be wrapped and labelled (discussed below). v

In more complex cases, because the rock is friable, or the specimenis
large, it is not sufficient to only make a pedestal, even if it is a foot or
more tall. It is necessary to make a plaster jacket to hold everything together.^
First one must protect the fossil from the plaster, because it will be very
difficult to separate the two afterward. Separation is usually achieved by
tightly packing (by means of strippling action with a soft brush dipped in
water) several layers of bathroom tissue. An eighth to a quarter of an inch
of tissue is usually sufficient, but occassionally greater thicknesses may be
required. The strippling action tightly packs the material around the nooks
and crannies of the bone, and if some of these are very deep, additional pack-
ing is added to give the overall surface a reasonably smooth outline, again to
facilitate separation of the fossil from the plaster jacket in the laboratory.

The pedestal must be undercut to some extent, usually prior to the tissue -
packing process, so that the base is narrower than the top. When these two
operations are completed, strips of burlap are cut, in widths of 3 - 6",
depending on size of the fossil and degree of surface irregularity (thin strips ^^

J-5-4

can be fitted into nooks and crannies of the pedestal more easily than wide
} ones). These must be long enough to reach from the base of the pedestal on
one side, up and over the specimen, and down to the base of the pedestal on
the other. Enough strips must be cut so that they can overlap each other
from side to side by about 20-30%. An extra long strip must be cut to com-
pletely encircle the base of the pedestal, to anchor all of the other strips.
If the specimen is reasonably small (a foot or so in length, or less), it
is usually sufficient to have only a single series of strips. If the speci-
men is larger, a number of crisscrossing layers must be used.

When the number, size, and direction of strips has been determined, all
must be immersed in water, the excess being wrung out. Additional water is
added to the plastic basin to a level determined largely by experience, and
plaster-of-paris slowly added. The attempt is to provide a mixture with the
consistency of thick cream; if too thin, the plaster will be too weak, too
( thick, and it will not penetrate the burlap and will not set properly.

The strips of burlap are immersed one by one in the plaster, some of
the excess wrung out, and then laid over the fossil and pedestal. Each strip
is applied to the pedestal with a careful strippling motion of the fingers, so
that it tightly fits not only over the fossil but also in all nooks and
crannies of the pedestal. This ensures a tight fit when the jacket dries, so
that the pedestal and fossil will not rattle around, and break, in the jacket
when dry.

After all the strips have been placed over the pedestal, and strippled
into place, the basal collar is wrapped around the base of the pedestal so
that all the strips will be firmly attached. The specimen is now allowed to
dry, but before completely dry, the field number (discussed more fully below)
can be drawn in the soft plaster with a pointed tool.
\ After the plaster is completely dry and hard, the base of the pedestal

140

J-5-5

can be cut through, below the basal collar, using whatever tools are proper to
the nature of the job. The aim is to enable the collector to turn the pedestal
over, ultimately upside down, without any of the enclosed sediment falling
out. This is why the pedestal is under cut, to make the base narrower than the
top.

Depending on how large the pedestal is, and how heavy, some of the interior
sediment can be removed so that there will not be too much weight on the fossil
(which is now on the bottom). It may be necessary to cut off, with linoleum
knives, some of the plaster jacket to remove this sediment. If the fossil is
to be transported to the laboratory in the field vehicle, it may not need
additional treatment. If the sediment is wery soft, or if the fossil is to be
transported in a crate by truck or rail, it will be necessary to make a bur-
lap strip and plaster cap for the exposed base.

Additional support may be required for specimens that are either very
large or long (long dimension greater than two to four feet depending on the
situation). These can consist of any strong object, branches of trees or
bushes, lumber, ironspipe, etc., and are applied at the time the original
jacket is made, being incorporated into the burlap strip network. Sometimes
these supports are added so that the specimen can be conveniently carried
by two or more people, or if very, large, fork lift, hoist, etc.

Wrapping and label 1 ing-. --Jacketed specimens, as described above, will
contain their field number etched into the jacket. It can also be written
on with marking pen. Smaller specimens must be carefully wrapped in layers
of bathroom tissue and, depending on size, either secured with masking or
gum tape, or wrapped further in newspaper, and then secured. A field number
is written on each package. The date and general location are also usually
added on the package as well as in the field notebook.

The labelling of specimens with a consistently applied numbering system
.-•■■: ■•;.:■■ ■-.. ;.: ' 141" *' :.\:; ....'.:• :::,. .:.

J-5-6

is essential. If the specimen comes from an already known and numbered
locality, the locality number should also be written in the notebook and
on the package and jacket. It doesn't matter what kind of numbering system
is used as long as it is consistent. One format is to use the initials
of the collector, a year code, and a specimen code. In my case, MOW 7801
would be the first field number I used in 1978. The second would be MOW
7802, etc. Every specimen gets a separate field number, unless it can be
proved that the bones all came from the same individual animal. Then all
get the same field number. This is critical. A consistent field numbering
system is the only way to accurately tie the specimen to its location in
the sedimentary sequence. Only in this way will it be possible to accurate-
ly record the relative stratigraphic positions of the various fossils
collected in a district. The progressive evolutionary development of verte-
brates can be documented only if very careful field records are kept so
that it can be determined that Specimen A came from a certain number of feet,
meters, or inches above or below another.

Locality records-. --The location of the sites from which fossil vertebrates
are recovered must be carefully recorded, for the same reasons as the field
number must be recorded. Initially, the locality number may be derived from
the field number of the first specimen collected from that site, although
more than one specimen can come from one site. In the above example, MOW
7801 would refer to the first specimen to come from a given locality, and
the locality would also be known initially by that number. MOW 7802 could be
the second specimen to come from the same locality as MOW 7801, and would
•be so noted in the field notebook. In the laboratory, a master set of
locality numbers, is kept, and at UCR these are noted: RV-7801, etc. R=UC
Riverside; V=vertebrate fossil; 7801 means the first locality recorded in
1978. MOW 7801 and MOW 7802, etc. would be various specimens collected

1A2

J-5-7

from RV-7801. MOW 7801 and MOW 7802, etc., also could pertain to a locality
originally collected earlier, such as RV-7605, so the system is flexible. The
"formal" RV- locality number is applied when that locality is first written
up in the master locality files in the laboratory.

In the field, the field number that applies to the locality must be
written in the field notebook with an accompanying description of the geology,
stratigraphy, location, etc. This field number must also be plotted on a. 15'
or 7.5' topographic map. It is best if the locality is also plotted on an
aerial photograph. Scales of topographic maps' are standardized, however the
possible range of scales for aerial photographs is greater. The scale per-
tinent to the study being undertaken depends on the nature of the project and
the spacing of information desired.

Localities plotted in the field can then be given "formal" field localities
when these are written up for the master files in the institution. Notes and
records made in the field should be as complete as possible. Attempts should
be made to tie all localities studied on each excursion into a physical strat-
igraphic framework, even if distances and thicknesses are approximate. This
can be refined, if necessary, during later visits, but no fossil should be re-
moved from an area without sufficient information having been obtained to
accurately show its location, stratigraphic position to the rock sequence and
to other fossils.

When to designate a new locality-. --This is a matter of some experience.
If specimens are found only a few feet, or even a few 10' s of feet, apart it
may not be necessary to designate more than one locality. This is particularly
true if the specimens come from the same bed. Similarly, specimens coming
from within a few inches or feet of one another in a vertical, stratigraphic,
sense, may be given a single locality number, but it is still best to record
the vertical or lateral distance in the field notebook.

1-43

•

If specimens occur at greater distances, however, it is usually best
to designate new locality numbers, at least in the field. In the laboratory,
it may turn out that the specimens are of closely the same age even though
separated by some lateral oX stratigraphic distance, so that only one formal
RV- locality is designated. In the field, however, it is always better to
be conservative. When in doubt, award a new field number locality.

Laboratory preparations-. --Once the fossils are brought to the lab-
oratory, they must be unwrapped, placed in trays with cards showing at least
the appropriate field number, and readied for further cleaning and preparation.
This work usually continues the use of hardners, solvents, small picks and
brushes. In the case of plaster jackets, however, the plaster and burlap
layers must be cut off, beginning at the base and working toward the fossil,
and sediment encountered during this process removed. Ultimately, the under-
side of the fossil is reached, can be treated delicately, additionally hard-
ened, and finally removed.

Curat. ion-. — After the specimens are cleaned and hardened, they must be
supplied with a formal Locality and Specimen number. The field number that
applies to the original locality number (assuming it is new for this excursion)
will be assigned to whatever formal locality number is appropriate, and that
locality description written up in the formal locality card file. Anything
else pertinent to tying that locality to field records will be noted on the
formal locality card file, including pertinent topographic map, aerial photo-
graph, field notebook, name of the collector.

The specimen number and locality number are written on the specimen in
ink, or if it is too small, on the cork of the glass vial in which it sits.
All specimens are also provided with specimen cards, that lie in the same tray
that contains the specimen. This card shows the taxonomic identification, the
formal specimen number, the kind of element represented, the formal locality

144

0-5-9

number, the name of the reck unit in which the specimen was found, name of the
fauna (see below), a general geographic notation, and the name of the collector
and the person making the identification. The original field number also
should be recorded on the locality card. Thus, the fossil is completely cross-
referenced to field notebook, its place in the collection, and its location
in the formal specimen and locality catalogues.

Fauna! names-. --Fossil vertebrates are representatives of once-living
animal populations, which can be called faunas, or local faunas. It is common
practise to refer to fossil samples from one or more localities, showing the . -
same assemblage of anaimals as a fauna. Thus, fossils of similar taxonomic
character from rocks in the Northern Cady Mountains are known as members of
the Cady Mountains Local Fauna. The rocks from which the fossils come are
known as the Hector Formation, and the use of different names prevents con-
fusion between discussions of the rocks or the animals. i

It is possible to arrange fossil vertebrate collections in the laboratory
either by their evolutionary, fauna! sense or by their taxonomic identity. At
UCR, we use the faunal arrangement, so the fauna! name on the specimen card
shows where the specimen is to be found in the collections. In the taxonomic
scheme, animals of the same family or genus would be put in the same part of
the collection, no matter where they came from, so it is difficult to easily
find out what was the faunal representation at a given locality without an
additional set of references.

A defect of the fauna! method of arrangement is that it is difficult to
easily find out what is available as to the skeleton of a given animal, not
from just one locality, but all the localities in the collection. This requires
another set of references, which has not been initiated at LCR as yet. At
present, a manual search is usually sufficient. ^j

145

C - 64

Map 2

40. Sands. Qc, Qs ; Quaternary, Rancholabrean.

by a cap of tufa.

Fossil s.~Eguus_, Camel ops, Mammuthus , ?Hemiauchenia , and associated

lacustrine gastropods.

References. -Kingman Sheet; locality records of San Bernardino County
Museum (1-62-1 and 2) and Department of Earth Sciences, University of California,

Riverside (RV-7001 to 3); P-23.

Institution with, major collection .-San Bernardino County Museum;
Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Riverside.

Values. -Research; Rl . Important Rancholabrean locality, with bearing •
on age of lacustrine deposition in Mojave Desert.

Educational; El. See above; students and professionals.
Recreational; RO. Low potential possibly ORV activity along

railroad tracks.

Industrial; 12. Low potential .

sau of Land Management
Library

r Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225

o d
P to

Nl ^ H

CO ON

Borrower' s
Fossill vertebrate

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