Abstract: Steamboat Springs is a presently active equivalent of epithermal gold-silver ore-forming systems. Hot-spring sinter deposits contain small amounts of gold, silver, mercury, antimony, and arsenic. Hot-spring activity probably started before extrusion of the basaltic andesite of Steamboat Springs. Old sinter from the Steamboat Springs system occurs in gravels above and below the basaltic andesite. Intense hydrothermal alteration, including almost complete replacement by hydrothermal potassium-feldspar, has affected the basaltic andesite. Three plagioclase separates of differing potassium content from fresh basaltic andesite yielded potassium-argon ages of 2.52 to 2.55 m.y. Basaltic andesite almost completely replaced by potassium-feldspar yielded an age of 1.1 m.y. The source of energy for the thermal convection system is probably a large rhyolitic magma chamber that supplied the pumice and from which the rhyolite domes were emplaced. Sanidine and obsidian from four of the rhyolite domes yielded potassium-argon ages of 1.15 to 1.52 m.y. and obsidian from one of the northeastern domes yielded apparent ages of 2.97 and 3.03 m.y. The data indicate that hydrothermal activity has occurred at Steamboat Springs, possibly intermittently, for more than 2-1/2 m.y. These data agree with other radiogenic age studies indicating 1- and 2-m.y. lifetimes for the hydrothermal systems that generate …

A report regarding the general geology and mines of the East Titanic Mining District, in Tuah and Juab Counties, Utah.

From abstract: Geologic and aeromagnetic data show that a major tectonic unit underlies rocks of the Musconetcong nappe in the Great Valley of eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. This structure, the Lyon Station-Paulins Kill nappe, can be traced from Lyon Station, Pa., at least to Branchville, N.J., a distance of about 120 km. The nappe has a core of Precambrian crystalline rocks as shown by an aeromagnetic anomaly that has the same signature as the outcropping Precambrian rocks of the Musconetcong nappe. This core extends at least 70 km east from Lyon Station to Bangor, Pa., the eastern limit of the aeromagnetic survey. This report details the frontal structure of this system.

Abstract: Eruptions and other geologic events at Mount Baker during the last 10,000 years have repeatedly affected adjacent areas, especially the valleys that head on the south and east sides of the volcano. Small volumes of tephra were erupted at least four times during the past 10,000 years. Future eruptions like these could cause as much as 35 centimeters of tephra to be deposited at sites 17 kilometers from the volcano, 15 centimeters of tephra to be deposited 29 kilometers from the volcano, and 5 centimeters, 44 kilometers from the volcano. Lava flows were erupted at least twice during the last 10,000 years and moved down two valleys. Future lava flows will not directly endanger people because lava typically moves so slowly that escape is possible. Hot pyroclastic flows evidently occurred during only one period and were confined to the Boulder Creek valley. Such flows can move at speeds of as much as 150 kilometers per hour and can bury valley floors under tens of meters of hot rock debris for at least 15 kilometers from the volcano. Large mudflows, most of which contain hydrothermally altered rock debris, originated at Mount Baker at least eight times during the last 10,000 …

Abstract: Structural and petrologic studies in the Berry Creek quadrangle at the north end of the western metamorphic belt of the Sierra Nevada have yielded new information that helps in distinguishing between the chemically similar Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks. The distinguishing features are structural and textural and result from different degrees of deformation. Most Paleozoic rocks are strongly deformed and thoroughly recrystallized. Phenocrysts in metavolcanic rocks are granulated and drawn out into lenses that have sutured outlines. In contrast, the phenocrysts in the Mesozoic metavolcanic rocks show well-preserved straight crystal faces, are only slightly or not at all granulated, and contain fewer mineral inclusions than do those in the Paleozoic rocks. The groundmass in the Paleozoic rocks is recrystallized to a fairly coarse grained albite-epidote-amphibole-chlorite rock, whereas in the Mesozoic rocks the groundmass is a very fine grained feltlike mesh with only spotty occurrence of well-recrystallized finegrained albite-epidote-chlorite-actinolite rock. Primary minerals, such as augite, are locally preserved in the Mesozoic rocks but are altered to a mixture of amphibole, chlorite, and epidote in the Paleozoic rocks. In the contact aureoles of the plutons, and within the Big Bend fault zone, which crosses the area parallel to the structural trends, all …

Abstract: Examination of previously described and some undescribed leaves of Ulmus and Zelkova from the later Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene of western North America indicates that at least eight species of Ulmus and two species of Zelkova are represented. Three new species are described: Ulmus chaneyi, U. knowltoni, and Zelkova browni.

Abstract: The Oquirrh Group of Pennsylvanian and Permian age in the southern East Tintic Mountains, Utah, is more than 15,000 feet (4,572 m) thick and consists of an incomplete section of the West Canyon Limestone (Morrowan) 960 feet (293 m) thick, a nearly complete section of the Butterfield Peaks Formation (Atokan(?) and Des Moinesian) about 5,800 feet (1,768 m) thick, a complete section of the Bingham Mine Formation (Missourian) 3,200-3,400 feet thick (975-1,036 m), and a complete section of the newly named Furner Valley Limestone (Missourian to Wolfcampian) 5,000-6,000 feet (1,524-1,829 m) thick. The formations below the Furner Valley Limestone are generally similar to their counterparts in their type areas in the central and southern Oquirrh Mountains but are somewhat thinner and less arenaceous. The Furner Valley Limestone, more than 90 percent carbonate, is apparently unique. Strata of the same age in the Wasatch, Stansbury, Cedar, Hogup, and Promontory Mountains in Utah are all considerably arenaceous; in the southern Oquirrh Mountains in the upper plate of the Midas thrust fault they have been largely removed by erosion. The Oquirrh Group in the East Tintic Mountains is overlain by the Diamond Creek Sandstone; the latter, in turn, is overlain by the …

From abstract: The seismic history of the southeastern United States is dominated by the 1886 earthquake near Charleston, S.C. An understanding of the specific source and the uniqueness of the neotectonic setting of this large earthquake is essential in order to properly assess seismic hazards in the southeastern United States. Such knowledge will also contribute to the fundamental understanding of intraplate earthquakes and will aid indirectly in deciphering the evolution of Atlantic-type continental margins. The 15 chapters in this volume report on the first stage of an ongoing multidisciplinary study of the Charleston earthquake of 1886.

From introduction: The purpose of this report is to evaluate and describe relationships between the volcanic activity on Mount Baker and the possible impacts on Baker Lake water.

From abstract: Platinum placers were discovered in 1926 in a small area south of Goodnews Bay, in southwestern Alaska. Beginning in 1927, the placers were worked for 7 years by small-scale mining methods; in later years dragline excavators and a dredge were utilized. These deposits are important, not only because they are of high grade but because they are the only commercial source of platinum metals in the United States. This report details the deposits in this district.

Stratigraphy, structure, and economic geology of parts of Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and San Benito Counties.

From introduction: This is a progress report on regional stratigraphic and paleontologic studies of the Upper Cretaceous Montana Group and equivalent rocks in the northern part of the western interior of the United States. It presents preliminary data on the positions of strandlines during a 14-m.y. (million year) span of the Late Cretaceous as well as our interpretations of the geologic history of this period.

From contributions of astrogeology: The principal goal of research in astrogeology is the solution of several cardinal problems of geology...The present volume is the first of a series of professional papers that will describe major results of research in astrogeology.

From Purpose and Scope of Report: This report presents a detailed description of the ore deposits of the Picher field and all phases of geology having a bearing on their localization, origin, and the search for them. It is based mainly on work done by the U.S. Geological Survey, but it also incorporates pertinent data from published literature, especially from the outstanding work of George M. Fowler and associates, and some unpublished data obtained from the geologic staffs of the mining companies.