Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Earth Sciences

Committee Chair

Dan Larsen

Committee Member

Gary Stinchcomb

Committee Member

Will Jackson

Abstract

This study investigates the sedimentary record of the Miocene China Ranch beds and structural evolution of the China Ranch Basin (CRB) in southeastern Death Valley, California. Geologic mapping and geochronological studies of the China Ranch beds document progressive sedimentary fill of a transtensional basin developed at the tectonic intersection of several strike- slip faults, including the right-lateral Sheephead and Grandview fault zones, and several left- lateral fault zones. New and existing geochronology from 40Ar/39Ar of plagioclase from volcanicash beds, and new detrital zircon U-Pb analysis of volcaniclastic sandstones constrain the depositional history of the China Ranch basin from approximately <11.2 Ma to >6.8 Ma, and that of the adjacent Dumont Hills basin as ~11.4 Ma. The depositional center within the CRB migrated from east to west during the depositional history, terminating with disconformable gravel-dominated late Miocene units, informally designated as the Alexander Hills gravels. Preliminary analysis of the Dumont Hills basin deposits suggests they are older than those of the CRB and record deposition in a different, yet poorly understood basin setting

Comments

Data is provided by the student.”

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Open Access

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