Geologic Map of the Mound Spring Quadrangle, Nye and Clark Counties, Nevada, and Inyo County, California

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What does this data set describe?

Title:
Geologic Map of the Mound Spring Quadrangle, Nye and Clark Counties, Nevada, and Inyo County, California
Abstract:
The Mound Spring quadrangle, the southwestern-most 7.5' quadrangle of the area of the Las Vegas 1:100,000-scale quadrangle, is entirely within the Pahrump Valley, spanning the Nevada/California State line. New geologic mapping of the predominantly Quaternary materials is combined with new studies of gravity and geochronology in this quadrangle. Eleven predominantly fine-grained units are delineated, including playa sediment, dune sand, and deposits associated with several cycles of past groundwater discharge and distal fan sedimentation. These units are intercalated with 5 predominantly coarse-grained alluvial-fan and wash gravel units mainly derived from the Spring Mountains. The gravel units are distinguished on the basis of soil development and associated surficial characteristics. Thermoluminescence and U-series geochronology constrain most of the units to the Holocene and late and middle Pleistocene. Deposits of late Pleistocene groundwater discharge in the northeast part of the quadrangle are associated with a down-to- the-southwest fault zone that is expressed by surface fault scarps and a steep gravity gradient. The gravity field also defines a northwest-trending uplift along the State line, in which the oldest sediments are poorly exposed. About 2 km to the northeast a prominent southwest-facing erosional escarpment is formed by resistant beds in middle Pleistocene fine-grained sediments that dip northeast away from the uplift. These sediments include cycles of groundwater discharge that were probably caused by upwelling of southwesterly groundwater flow that encountered the horst.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Lundstrom, Scott C., Mahan, Shannon A., Blakely, Richard J., Paces, James B., Young, Owen D., Workman, Jeremiah B., and Dixon, Gary L., 2002, Geologic Map of the Mound Spring Quadrangle, Nye and Clark Counties, Nevada, and Inyo County, California: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2339, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -116.000
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -115.875
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.125
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 36.000
  3. What does it look like?
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/2002/mf-2339/mf-2339.gif (GIF)
    Reduced-size image of the entire map sheet, 288x216 pixels, 20k bytes.
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/2002/mf-2339/mf-2339.pdf (PDF)
    Printable representation of map sheet, 1.6 megabytes
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
    Calendar_Date: 2002
    Currentness_Reference:
    publication date
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?
      This is a vector data set.
    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 11
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: 0.9996
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -117.0
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.0
      False_Easting: 500000.0
      False_Northing: 0.0
      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.6
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.6
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters
      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1927.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.4.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.98.
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    All coverages contain the standardized attributes for arcs and polygons assigned by ARC/INFO. For arcs these attributes are:
    COLUMN--ITEM_NAME----------WIDTH-----OUTPUT-----TYPE---#_DECIMALS
    1-------FNODE#---------------4----------5---------B---------\
    5-------TNODE#---------------4----------5---------B---------\
    9-------LPOLY#---------------4----------5---------B---------\
    13------RPOLY#---------------4----------5---------B---------\
    17------LENGTH---------------8---------18---------F---------5
    25------<cover>#-------------4----------5---------B---------\
    29------<cover>-ID-----------4----------5---------B---------\
    For polygons these attributes are:
    COLUMN--ITEM_NAME----------WIDTH-----OUTPUT-----TYPE---#_DECIMALS
    1-------AREA-----------------8---------18---------F---------5
    9-------PERIMETER------------8---------18---------F---------5
    17------<cover>#-------------4----------5---------B---------\
    21------<cover>-ID-----------4----------5---------B---------\
    The database consists of seven coverages (and one related scan; see Supplemental_Information) which contain the folowing data:
    COVERAGE------------ENTITIES-----------DESCRIPTION
    MOUNDSPG-GEO--------POLY/ARC-----------Geologic contacts and unit labels.
    MOUNDSPG-FLT--------ARC----------------Geologic structures including faults, fold axes, and tension cracks.
    MOUNDSPG-ATT--------POINT--------------Bedding attitudes.
    MOUNDSPG-SYM--------ARC----------------Graphical representation of fault offset symbols (strike-slip arrows and bar-and-balls).
    MOUNDSPG-GRV--------ARC----------------Graphical representation of gravity contours (includes contour values).
    MOUNDSPG-DAT--------POINT/ARC----------U-series and thermoluminescence sample locations and graphical representation of symbols.
    MOUNDSPG-TXT--------POINT/ARC----------Unit label points and leader lines.
    The individual attributes for each coverage are described as follows:
    MOUNDSPG-GEO (polygon attributes): UNIT--Character attribute for rock unit from text (see table below); SYMBOL--Integer attribute for polygon shade symbol from shadeset color524.shd (see table below).
    MOUNDSPG-GEO (arc attributes): CODE--Integer attribute for line type (see table below); DESCRIPTION--Character attribute for line type description (see table below).
    MOUNDSPG-FLT (arc attributes): CODE--Integer attribute for line type (see table below); DESCRIPTION--Character attribute for line type description (see table below).
    MOUNDSPG-ATT (point attributes): CODE--Integer attribute for line type (see table below); DESCRIPTION--Character attribute for line type description (see table below); AZIMUTH--Integer attribute for bedding attitude strike azimuth (clockwise from north); DIP--Integer attribute for bedding attitude dip value.
    MOUNDSPG-SYM (arc attributes): CODE--Integer attribute for line type (see table below); DESCRIPTION--Character attribute for line type description (see table below).
    MOUNDSPG-GRV (arc attributes): Only standard ARC attributes.
    MOUNDSPG-DAT (arc attributes): Only standard ARC attributes.
    MOUNDSPG-DAT (point attributes): SAMPLE-ID--Character attribute for U-series and thermoluminescence sample name.
    MOUNDSPG-TXT (arc attributes): Only standard ARC attributes.
    MOUNDSPG-TXT (point attributes): UNIT--Character attribute for rock unit from text (see table below).
    UNIT/SYMBOL attribute values (see map text for explanation of lithologic units): 
    QTa,109
Qai,85
Qau,108
Qay,39
Qayo,40
Qayy,2
Qbo,224
Qbw,222
Qby,216
Qd,19
Qfo,102
Qfy,100
Qpy,6
Qscd,225
Qse,224
Qsu,233
Qsy,221
    CODE/DESCRIPTION attribute values: 
    4 ,"definite contact in quaternary"
5 ,"inferred contact in quaternary"
10 ,"definite high angle fault"
11 ,"inferred high angle fault"
12 ,"concealed high angle fault"
20 ,"definite fold axis"
21 ,"inferred fold axis"
22 ,"concealed fold axis"
88 ,"tension crack"
99 ,"map boundary"
201 ,"bedding strike and dip"
207 ,"bar and ball"
210 ,"right-lateral strike-slip"
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/2002/mf-2339/mf-2339pam508.pdf

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • Scott C. Lundstrom
    • Shannon A. Mahan
    • Richard J. Blakely
    • James B. Paces
    • Owen D. Young
    • Jeremiah B. Workman
    • Gary L. Dixon
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    Jeremiah B. Workman
    U. S. Geological Survey
    Box 25046
    Denver, CO
    U.S.A.

    303-236-1257 (voice)
    jworkman@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

This map was produced in conjunction with the Las Vegas 1:100,000-scale geologic map to fill in previously unmapped areas of surficial geology in the Pahrump Valley area. Mapping in the Pahrump Valley at 1:24,000 scale has been completed jointly by the USGS (Mound Spring quadrangle and Hidden Hills Ranch quadrangle) and the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology (Pahrump quadrangle). Mapping was prepared in cooperation with the Nye County Nuclear Waste Repository Project Office. Gravity data was collected to help define the basement structure of the basin and surficial mapping was completed to define the areal extent of deposits, surface expressions of basement structure, areas of past groundwater discharge, areas of surface rupture due to expanding soils and groundwater withdrawl, and significant flash- flood hazards. Dating of soil samples was completed to refine the Cenozoic stratigraphy and correlate surficial units between Pahrump Valley and other nearby basins.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
    Anderson et al. (1995) (source 1 of 23)
    Anderson, R.E., Crone, A.J., Machette, M.N., Bradley, L.A., and Diehl, S.F., 1995, Characterization of Quaternary and suspected Quaternary Faults, Amargosa area, Nevada and California: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-613.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Bell et al. (1998) (source 2 of 23)
    Bell, J.W., Ramelli, A.R., and Caskey, S.J., 1998, Geologic Map of the Tule Springs Park Quadrangle, Clark County, Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Map 113.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Blakely and Simpson (1986) (source 3 of 23)
    Blakely, R.J., and Simpson, R.W., 1986, Approximating edges of source bodies from magnetic or gravity anomalies: Geophysics v. 51.

    Other_Citation_Details: pp. 1494-1498
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Blakely et al. (1999a) (source 4 of 23)
    Blakely, R.J, Morin, R.L., and Faunt, C.C., 1999, Looking beneath the subsurface: a three-dimensional geophysical view of the Death Valley Region, California and Nevada, in Slate, J.L, ed., Proceedings of conference on status of geologic research and and mapping, Death Valley National Park: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-153.

    Other_Citation_Details: pp. 47-51
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Blakely et al. (1999b) (source 5 of 23)
    Blakely, R.J., Jachens, R.C., Calzia, J.P., and Langenheim, V.E., 1999, Cenozoic basins of the Death Valley extended terrane as reflected in regional-scale gravity anomalies, in Wright, L.A., and Troxel, B.W., eds., Cenozoic Basins of the Death Valley Region: Geoogical Society of America Special Paper 3333, Geological Society of America, Denver, CO.

    Other_Citation_Details: pp. 1-16
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Bohannon (1983) (source 6 of 23)
    Bohannon, R.G., 1983, Geologic map, tectonic map and structure sections of the Muddy and northern Black Mountains, Clark County, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1406.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Scale_Denominator: 62500
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Bohannon (1984) (source 7 of 23)
    Bohannon, R.G., 1984, Nonmarine sedimentary rocks of Tertiary age in the Lake Mead region, southeastern Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1259.

    Other_Citation_Details: 72 p.
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Burchfiel et al. (1974) (source 8 of 23)
    Burchfiel, B.C., Fleck, R.J., Secor, D.T., Vincelette, R.R., and Davis, G.A., 1974, Geology of the Spring Mountains, Nevada: Geological Society of America Bulletin v. 85.

    Other_Citation_Details: p. 1013-1022
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    DePolo et al. (1999) (source 9 of 23)
    DePolo, C.M., Ramelli, A.R., and Bell, J.W., 1999, Geologic map of the Pahrump Quadrangle, Nevada: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Open-File Report 99-14.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Gile et al. (1966) (source 10 of 23)
    Gile, L.H., Peterson, F.F., and Grossman, R.B., 1966, Morphological and genetic sequences of carbonate accumulation in desert soils: Soil Science v. 101.

    Other_Citation_Details: pp. 347-360
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Harrill (1986) (source 11 of 23)
    Harrill, J.R., 1986, Ground-water storage depletion, Pahrump Valley, Nevada-California 1962-75: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2279.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Haynes (1967) (source 12 of 23)
    Haynes, C.V., 1967, Quaternary Geology of the Tule Springs Area, Clark County, Nevada, in Pleistocene Studies of Southern Nevada, Wormington, H.M., and Ellis, D., Eds.: Nevada State Museum Anthropological Paper no. 13.

    Other_Citation_Details: pp. 1-104
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Hoffard (1991) (source 13 of 23)
    Hoffard, J.L., 1991, Quaternary tectonics and basin history of Pahrump and Stewart Valleys, Nevada and California: University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV.

    Other_Citation_Details: M.S. thesis
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Maldonado and Schmidt (1991) (source 14 of 23)
    Maldonado, F., and Schmidt, D.L., 1991, Geologic Map of the southern Sheep Range, Fossil ridge, and Castle Rock area, Clark County, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map MF-2182..

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Malmberg (1967) (source 15 of 23)
    Malmberg, G.T., 1967, Hydrology of the valley-fill and carbonate-rock reservoirs, Pahrump Valley, Nevada-California: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1832.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    McMackin (1999) (source 16 of 23)
    McMackin, M.R., 1999, Geology of the Stump Spring Quadrangle-Evidence of late Quaternary transpression on the southern segment of the Pahrump Valley fault zone, Nevada and California, in Slate, J.L, ed., Proceedings of conference on status of geologic research and and mapping, Death Valley National Park: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-153.

    Other_Citation_Details: p. 162
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Quade (1986) (source 17 of 23)
    Quade, J., 1986, Late Quaternary environmental changes in the upper Las Vegas Valley, Nevada: Quaternary Research v. 26.

    Other_Citation_Details: pp. 340-357
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: Mapping source information
    Quade et al. (1995) (source 18 of 23)
    Quade, J., Mifflin, M.D., Pratt, W.L., McCoy, W., and Burckle, L., 1995, Fossil Spring Deposits in the southern Great Basin and their implications for changes in water-table levels near Yucca Mountain, Nevada, during Quaternary time: Geological Society of America Bulletin v. 107.

    Other_Citation_Details: pp. 213-230
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Schmidt and Davidson (1999) (source 19 of 23)
    Schmidt, K.M., and Davidson, J.G., 1999, Using geomorphic features to constrain tectonic activity near Pahrump Valley, Nevada and California, in Slate, J.L, ed., Proceedings of conference on status of geologic research and and mapping, Death Valley National Park: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-153.

    Other_Citation_Details: pp. 154-155
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Spaulding and Quade (1996) (source 20 of 23)
    Spaulding, W.G., and Quade, J., 1996, The Quaternary paleoecology and paleohydrology of the eastern Mojave Desert: guidebook 1996 American Quaternary Association Meetings, American Quaternary Association, Flagstaff, AZ.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Waring (1920) (source 21 of 23)
    Waring, G.A., 1920, Ground water in Pahrump, Mesquite, and Ivanpah valleys, Nevada and California: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 450-C.

    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
    Williams (1996) (source 22 of 23)
    Williams, Van S., 1996, GSMCAD, a new computer program that combines the functions of the GSMAP and GSEDIT programs and is compatible with Microsoft Windows and ARC/INFO: U. S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 96-007.

    Type_of_Source_Media: disc
    Source_Contribution: software for digitizing linework
    Workman et al. (in press) (source 23 of 23)
    Workman, J.B., Lundstrom, S.C., Blackely, R.J., and Dixon, G.L., unpublished material, Geologic map of the Hidden Hills Ranch Quadrangle Clark County, Nevada.

    Other_Citation_Details: in review
    Type_of_Source_Media: paper
    Source_Contribution: mapping source information
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 1998 (process 1 of 5)
    Linework and labels digitized and attributed in GSMCAD (Williams, 1996).
    Date: 1999 (process 2 of 5)
    Map and digital files reviewed by Jeremiah Workman (USGS) and edits made in ARC/INFO.
    Date: 1999 (process 3 of 5)
    Map reviewed by William Page (USGS) and edits made in ARC/INFO.
    Date: 2000 (process 4 of 5)
    Data set exported and compressed for publication and digital release.
    Date: 09-Jul-2009 (process 5 of 5)
    Creation of original metadata record Person who carried out this activity:
    Jeremiah B. Workman
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Mail Stop 913
    Box 25046 Denver Federal Center
    Denver, CO
    USA

    303-236-1257 (voice)
    jworkman@usgs.gov
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?
    The attributes have been checked by both the authors and the reviewers for agreement with field maps, annotated airphotos, annotated orthophoto quads, and preliminary drafted versions of the map.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    The estimated horizontal positional accuracy of the data is 6 meters. Photo-interpretation from aerial photographs at 1:31,680-scale was transfered to 1:24,000-scale stable base maps using a PG-2 stereographic plotter. All other mapping was conducted by field investigation and orthophoto-interpretation at 1:24,000-scale. All linework was digitized at 1:24,000- scale using a CalComp digitizing tablet (model 34360) with an accuracy of 0.005 inches (3 meters at map scale). This database was produced to be used at 1:24,000-scale and any problems arising from use at other scales are not the responsibilities of the authors. No vertical data is included in the database.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    This dataset includes only the coverages pertaining to the geologic map. Any margin material on the printed map (correlation chart, explanation of map symbols) is not included. This map was produced to be used at 1:24,000-scale. Any geologic features too small to be shown at this scale have been omitted or generalized if they are of significant importance. The smallest objects are approximately 12 meters on a side.
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    The entire study area was mapped both by photo-interpretation of aerial photographs at 1:31,680-scale and the orthophoto-quadrangle at 1:24,000-scale, and by field work which was compiled at 1:24,000-scale. The entire map area was mapped at the same level of detail, by the same geologist (Lundstrom), over a single field season. All linework was digitized at 1:24,000-scale and attributes added using GSMCAD (Williams, 1996). All lines were visually inspected by the authors for proper intersections, repetition, overshoots, undershoots, and overall logical consistency. The geologic features in the map area are all described, in the view of the authors, at a consistent scale of 1:24,000. All coverages were cleaned and built in ARC/INFO (version 7.1.2) to ensure a logical consistency which is topologically clean.
    The database was digitized in GSMCAD (Williams, 1996) which does not allow unattributed lines so there are no unlabeled lines in the database. Frequency tests were run on the polygon labels to ensure that no polygons are unlabeled.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints: None
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Central Publications Group
    Denver, CO

    303-236-5486 (voice)
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? USGS Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2339
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    This database has been approved for release and publication by the Director of the USGS. Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review. Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use.
  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 05-Feb-2016
Metadata author:
Peter N Schweitzer
USGS Midwest Area
Collection manager, USGS Geoscience Data Clearinghouse, http://geo-nsdi.er.usgs.gov/
Mail Stop 954
12201 Sunrise Valley Dr
Reston, VA
USA

703-648-6533 (voice)
703-648-6252 (FAX)
pschweitzer@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://geo-nsdi.er.usgs.gov/metadata/map-mf/2339/metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.48 on Tue Jul 03 20:05:02 2018