A Vascular Flora of the Southern Inyo Mountains, Inyo County, California

Analytical results and sample locality map of heavy-mineral-concentrate samples from the Southern Inyo Mountains (CA-010-056) Wilderness Study Area, Inyo County, California

Journal Article Some Additional Records of Birds in California Get access Donald D. McLean Donald D. McLean 2455 Cattle Avenue San Jose, California 95125 Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar The Condor, Volume 71, Issue 4, 1 October 1969, Pages 433–434, https://doi.org/10.2307/1365743 Published: 01 October 1969 Article history Accepted: 08 April 1968 Published: 01 October 1969

Examples of the “hydrozoan” Radiotrabeculopora reticulata Fan, Rigby, and Zhang, 1991 have been recently recovered from Lower Permian rocks in the Inyo Mountains, Owens Valley area, of east-central California by G. Linder and C. Stevens. That genus and species were originally described from the Middle Permian (Leonardian-Lower Guadalupian) Maokou Formation from western Hubei, China, by Fan et al. (1991). This the first report of the genus and species from North America. The fossils were collected from Unit 7 of the Owens Valley Group, U.S. Geological Survey Map I-1932 (Stone et al., 1989). This unit represents a carbonate buildup composed of wackestones, packstones, and grainstones that formed on an uplift composed of an Upper Carboniferous-lowermost Permian deepwater limestone sequence. Basinward, this unit lenses into rocks that accumulated in deeper water. Fossils from Unit 7, in order of abundance, include pelmatozoan parts, epimastoporid and phylloid algae, and fusulinids. Tubiphytes Maslov, 1956, bryozoans, and the “hydrozoans” are much less common, and brachiopods and corals are rare. Algae are abundant throughout the section, becoming dominant in the upper part, where they are associated with the “hydrozoans.” The thickness of the buildup from which the “hydrozoans” were collected ranges up to at least 180 m, the maximum thickness observed in the general area. Specifically the “hydrozoans” were collected from the central part of the westernmost outcrop of Unit 7, near its contact with alluvium, at an elevation of about 2,160 m (7,100 feet), north of Conglomerate Mesa, in the Ubehebe Peak 15′ Quadrangle, Inyo County, California (Fig. 1). Fusulinids collected from the same locality include only Chalaroschwagerina Skinner and Wilde, 1965 (Fig. 2.5–2.8), indicating a late Wolfcampian age for the occurrence. Figure 1 —Index map to the fossil locality in the Inyo Mountains, from which the Wolfcampian “hydrozoans” reported here were collected. Base …

This report presents the results of a mineral survey of the Saline Valley Wilderness Study Area and the Lower Saline Wilderness Study Area, California Desert Conservation Area, Inyo County, California. The Saline Valley Wilderness Study Area and the Lower Saline Wilderness Study Area were studied in 1981-83 using geologic, geochemical, remote sensing, and geophysical surveys and the examination of mines and prospects to evaluate mineral resources and the potential for mineral resources. The Saline Valley Wilderness Study Area has a high potential for the occurrence of gold resources in two areas. One area, largely outside the study area, is in the vicinity of the Crater mine in the Last Chance Range, and it has potential for the occurrence of gold in a disseminated deposit in an epithermal environment. The other area is in Marble Canyon in the western part of the study area, and it has high potential for the occurrence of gold placer deposits. Marble Canyon also has a moderate potential for gold in placer deposits downstream from the area of high potential. Seven areas, scattered from the Inyo Mountains to the Last Chance Range, have a low potential for the occurrence of gold in disseminated deposits, and onemore » area that lies astride the border of Death Valley National Monument has a low potential for the occurrence of gold in vein deposits. The southern end of Eureka Valley has a low potential for the occurrence of lithium and uranium resources in buried sedimentary deposits for the occurrence of lithium and uranium resources in buried sedimentary deposits beneath the valley floor. Demonstrated resources of native sulfur exist at the Crater mine but no resource potential was identified nearby in adtacent parts of the study area. 3 figs. (ACR)« less

Upon completion of all analytical work, the analytical results were entered into a computer-based file called RASS (Rock Analysis Storage System). This RASS file contains both descriptive geological information and analytical data. Any or all of this information

Deep Springs Valley (DSV) is a hydrologically isolated valley between the White and Inyo mountains that is commonly excluded from regional paleohydrology and paleoclimatology. Previous studies showed that uplift of Deep Springs ridge (informal name) by the Deep Springs fault defeated streams crossing DSV and hydrologically isolated the valley sometime after eruption of the Pleistocene Bishop Tuff (0.772 Ma). Here, we present tephrochronology and clast counts that reaffirms interruption of the Pliocene–Pleistocene hydrology and formation of DSV during the Pleistocene. Paleontology and infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) dates indicate a freshwater lake inundated Deep Springs Valley from ca. 83–61 ka or during Late Pleistocene Marine Isotope Stages 5a (MIS 5a; ca. 82 ka peak) and 4 (MIS 4; ca. 71–57 ka). The age of pluvial Deep Springs Lake coincides with pluvial lakes in Owens Valley and Columbus Salt Marsh and documents greater effective precipitation in southwestern North America during MIS 5a and MIS 4. In addition, we hypothesize that Deep Springs Lake was a balanced-fill lake that overflowed into Eureka Valley via the Soldier Pass wind gap during MIS 5a and MIS 4. DSV hydrology has implications for dispersal and endemism of the Deep Springs black toad (Anaxyrus exsul).

This paper gives a brief statement of the prominent features of the location, construction, and operation of an aerial tramway built to carry salt, at the rate of 20 tons per hour, a distance of 13½ miles, from Saline Valley, over the Inyo Mountains, to a point in Owens Valley, California. It is assumed that the reader is familiar with the terminology of aerial tramway design; also, that the ability of an aerial tramway system to transport materials economically and efficiently at the rate of 250 tons per hour or less is so well known as to make extensive discussion of these points unnecessary.

The Inyo Mountains are located in east-central California between Owens Valley on the west and Saline Valley on the east. This map encompasses the southernmost part of the Inyo Mountains and vicinity, which is centered on the high plateau of Conglomerate Mesa and extends from Owens Valley on the west to the Santa Rosa Hills, Lee Flat, and the Nelson Range on the east. The area includes parts of the Cerro Gordo Peak, Nelson Range, Keeler, and Santa Rosa Flat 7.5' quadrangles. Sedimentary and volcanic rocks, unconformities, and structural features exposed in the southern Inyo Mountains region provide information critical for reconstructing the complex Paleozoic and Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the southwestern United States. Ordovician to Cretaceous rocks in the map area record a long geologic history during which the continental margin of the western United States gradually changed from a passive tectonic setting in the early and middle Paleozoic to an active tectonic setting in the Jurassic and Cretaceous. A major highlight of the map area is the unusually complete record of late Paleozoic to earliest Mesozoic (Pennsylvanian to Triassic) deformation and sedimentation that marked the transition between the passive and active margin settings. The area also provides an excellent record of Jurassic to Cretaceous deformation and igneous activity that characterized the middle to late Mesozoic active margin. This map provides a detailed depiction of all the Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks and structural features known in the area. The area also contains important exposures of upper Cenozoic rocks related to the evolution of the Basin and Range province, although detailed mapping of these rocks was beyond the scope of this study.

Reconnaissance geologic map of the southern Sierra Nevada, Kern, Tulare, and Inyo counties, California

Reconnaissance geologic map of the southern Sierra Nevada, Kern, Tulare and Inyo counties, California

Owens Peak lies at the southern end of the Sierra Nevada within the Bureau of Land Management’s Owens Peak Wilderness Area in Kern County, California. The study site, ca. 50 square miles, encompasses Owens Peak’s eastern watershed, and ranges in elevation from 800–2600 m (2600–8400 ft). Granite rocks of the Sierra Nevada batholith underlie the study area. The eastern watershed of Owens Peak is botanically diverse, with 64 families, 230 genera, and 440 taxa currently documented. Floristic elements within the study area include the southern Sierra Nevada, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert. The flora previously was poorly documented, as discovered through a search of California’s largest herbaria (CAS/DS, RSA-POM, UC/JEPS). A total of 56 collecting days was spent in the field between 2002 and 2005. Approximately 1300 vascular plant collections were made within the study area. Several rare taxa are found in the study area, including seven endemic to the southern Sierra Nevada, and two species described in 1988. One species, Lomatium shevockii, is endemic to the study area. Saltugilia latimeri was previously known from several mountain ranges in San Bernardino and Riverside counties, and one disjunct population in Inyo County. The discovery of this species within the study area not only extends its range, but also is a new record for Kern County. The primary objectives of this study were to catalogue, voucher, and create an annotated checklist of the watershed’s vascular flora, describe the vegetation patterns, and assess the status of the rare species in the area.

Mineral surveys were requested on part of the Southern Inyo Wilderness Study Area (CA-010-056) covering 27,240 acres on the west side of the southern Inyo Mountains.In this report, the area studied is referred to as "the wilderness study area", or simply "the study area".Fieldwork for this report was carried out between 1983 and 1985.No resources were identified at the 66 mines and prospects examined in and adjacent to the study area.Several areas have low and moderate resource potential for gold, silver, lead, and zinc.A zone extending from the Reward mine (near the northwest corner of the study area) 3 mi to the southeast has low and moderate resource potential for gold, silver, lead, and zinc.There is low potential for gold, silver, lead, and zinc resources in an area located about 1.5 mi northeast of the Reward mine.A mineralized shear zone on the north side of Union Wash, about 3 mi south of the Reward mine, has moderate resource potential for silver and lead on the west and low resource potential for gold, silver, lead, and zinc on the east.Two areas between Kern Knob and Dolomite Canyon along the southwest boundary of the study area and the south edge of the study area have low resource potential for silver, lead, and zinc.Low resource potential for gold, silver, lead, and zinc is indicated for the southwest flank of New York Butte on the east edge of the study area.There is low resource potential for talc in the area east of Kern Knob.The geology of the study area is also conducive to the formation of skarns, which form in carbonate rocks adjacent to large plutons.Anomalous concentrations of elements such as tungsten, molybdenum, and bismuth that are associated with skarns and the heavy minerals scheelite and pyrite were identified in geochemical samples from the study area and indicate this type of mineralization.Only small skarn deposits are known to exist in the study area, however.Talc is another type of deposit related to the contact-metamorphic effects of the large granitic plutons found in the study area.Small talc bodies were mined in and near the study area in the vicinity of Kern Knob (fig.2).There is low resource potential for talc east of Kern Knob.Geochemical and mineralogical evidence and an inventory of mines and prospects indicate that gold, silver, lead, and zinc mineralization has occurred in several places in the study area.Many of the mines and prospects examined in this study lie within these mineralized areas, although none have identified resources.A zone extending from the Reward mine area 3 mi to the southeast has low resource potential for gold, silver, lead, and zinc, and the immediate vicinity of the Reward mine has moderate resource potential for these elements (fig.2).An area of fissure veins in granitic rocks about 1.5 mi northeast of the Reward mine has low potential for gold, silver, lead, and zinc resources.An east-trending shear zone on the north side of Union Wash has moderate resource potential for silver and lead and low resource potential for gold and zinc on the west and low resource potential for gold, silver, lead, and zinc on the east (fig.2).There is low potential for silver, lead, and zinc resources along the southwest boundary of the study area extending from the upper part of Long John Canyon to Brooklyn Canyon and at the south end of the study area east of Dolomite Canyon.The southwest flank of New York Butte has low resource potential for gold, silver, lead, and zinc.118°05-APPROXIMATE BOUNDARY OF SOUTHERNINYO WILDERNESS STUDY AREA (CA-010-056) Au, Ag, Pb, Zn Au, Ag, Pb, Zn Ag, Pb (moderate) Qs Au, Zn (low) LEVELOF CERTAINTY Available information is not adequate for determination of the level of mineral resource potential.Available information suggests the level of mineral resource potential.Available information gives a good indication of the level of mineral resource potential.

Fluted and Basally Thinned Concave-Base Points of Obsidian in the Borden Collection from Inyo County, Alta California: Age and Significance

At request of Bureau of Land Management, 13,709 acres of Funeral Mountains Wilderness Study Area (CDCA-143) were studied by U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Bureau of Mines. The study area is located in southeastern part of Funeral Mountains in Death Valley region of eastern California. Geologic, geophysical, and geochemical studies were conducted in study area during 1983-1984. Four lapsed mining claims are present within study There are no active mines in study and there is no evidence of past production from any claim. The study area contains no identified mineral resources. Three drainage basins in central, eastern, and western parts of study area contain anomalous concentrations of lead and zinc, and have a low potential for lead and zinc resources. Borate deposits may be present in subsurface of southwestern part of study area; potential for borate resources is low. Parts of study area were determined to have low potential for resources of bentonite, zeolite minerals, and strontianite (a strontium mineral). Concentrations of these commodities are such that any production from them is likely to be small. Limestone, quartzite, and sand and gravel are found within study area and have a low economic potential due to distance from current markets. Oil, gas, and geothermal resources were not found in study area and so potential is considered low. There is no potential for uranium or thorium resources. Character and Setting The Funeral Mountains Wilderness Study Area is located in southeastern Inyo County, California between eastern boundary of Death Valley National Monument and California-Nevada border (fig. 1). Death Valley Junction, nearest community to study is located 7 mi to southeast. The Funeral Mountains are a repetitious series of fault blocks underlain predominantly by carbonate rock of Cambrian through Mississippian age (570-330 million years before present (Ma); see Geologic time chart, last page of report). The northeast-trending range of fault-controlled mountains encloses small, narrow interior valleys and is bounded by broad, coalescing alluvial fans. The study area is characterized by rugged peaks, steep, sloping ridges, and narrow drainages. Relief within study area is over 4,300 ft. Pyramid Peak, a dominant feature near center of study is highest point at 6,703 ft. The surface elevation drops sharply to 2,400 ft at southwest corner of study In this report, area studied is referred to as the wilderness study area, or simply the study area. Identified Resources None of prospects within study area have identified resources of industrial commodities. However, American Borate Company operates Billie mine 4 mi southwest of study area (fig. 2). Small-scale mining at Sidehill mine, 2 mi east of eastern boundary of study produces clay for cosmetic and pharmaceutical products. The I.M. Vanderbilt mine (fig. 2, No. 14), operated by Industroa; Mineral Ventures, produces hectorite and sepiolite 3.5 mi northeast of study area near Franklin Wells.

Geologic map of the Inyo Mountains Wilderness Study Area, Inyo County, California