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Eocene Stratigraphy

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Eocene Stratigraphy State of Washington ARTHUR B. LANGLIE, Governor Department of Conservation and Development W. A. GALBRAITH. Director DIVISION OF MINES AND GEOLOGY SHELDON L. GLOVER, Supervisor Bulletin No. 43 EOCENE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE LOWER COWLITZ RIVER­ EASTERN WILLAPA HILLS AREA, SOUTHWESTERN WASHINGTON By DONALD ANTON HENRIKSEN STAT£ ,..RINTl~G PLANT. OLYMPIA, WASH,. 19,15 ~ For sale by Department or Conservation and Oevelopment, Olympia, Wasrungton. Price, $1.50. FOREWORD This bulletin deals with a part of southwestern Washington for which only general information has been previously available. The details of structure and stratigraphy throughout much of the area have been unknown, and the igneous rocks of the area have hereto­ fore received only perfunctory attention. The data here provided will be of interest to anyone concerned with the geology of this part of the state, not only for specific use in the area under discussion but also in studies of adjacent areas where similar rocks occur. The field work upon which the report is based was done by the author during the summer seasons of 1951, 1952, and 1953. The report, when completed, was a dissertation submitted to the School of Mineral Sciences and the Committee on Graduate Study of Stanford University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geology. The Division of Mines and Geology is grateful to the author, Dr. Donald A. Henriksen, for his permission to publish the report as Bulletin No. 43 of its series of geologic studies of Washington, thus making the material more generally available than it might other­ wise be. SHELDON L. GLOVER, Supervisor, Division of Mines and Geology January 19, 1956 CONTENTS Foreword Page Abstract . 7 Introduction . 9 General character of the area. 9 Human activities within the area.......................... ....... 12 P urpose, method, and scope of the investigation. 13 Acknowledgments . 14 Stratigraphy and petrography Part I. Stratigraphic geology . 15 Introduction . 15 Previous geologic work. 17 Metchosin volcanic sedes......................... ............... 22 Distribution and thickness....... .. ................... ..... 22 Lithology . 24 Mode of origin .................. ... , . 26 Age and correlation . 28 Contact relations . 33 Cowlitz formation . 35 General statement . 35 Stillwater Creek member. 38 Distribution and thickness. 38 Lithology . 39 Mode of origin. 40 Age and correlation . 41 Contact relations . • . 45 Pe EU volcanics member. 46 Distribution and thickness.......... .. .... .. ..... .. ....... 46 Lithology . 46 Mode of origin . 47 Age and correlation. 47 Contact rel ations . 48 Olequa Creek member. 48 Distribution and thickness...... ............ .. .. ... ...... 48 Lithology . 50 Mode of origin. 52 Age and correlation. 54 Contact relations . 58 Goble volcanics member. 59 Distribution and thickness...... .................... 59 Lithology . 60 Mode of origin. 60 Age and correlation..... ............... .... ....... ........ 61 Contact relations . 62 Summary ...... ... ......... ...... ............ .... ............ 62 Stratigraphy and petrography Part II. Petrographic study of the volcanic rock units.... .......... ... 67 Introduction . 67 Notes on procedure......... ..... ........... ............ 68 4 Contents Part II. Petrographic study of the volcanic rock units-Continued Page Metcbosin volcanic series. 70 Rock types . 70 Petrographic description . 71 Distinctive petrographic features. 75 Northcraft formation . 80 Rock types . 80 Petrographic description . 80 Distinctive petrographic features..... ...... ... ... .... ........ 81 Goble volcanics . 82 Rock types . 82 Petrographic description . 82 Distinctive petrographic features. 86 Astoria basalts . 86 Rock types . 86 Petrographic description . 86 Distinctive petrographic features . 89 Summary of petrographic and lithologic criteria for differentiating the major volcanic rock units. 93 Geologic structure . • . 95 Regional features . 95 Folds . 96 General statement . 96 Willapa Hills anticline.. .. .. ..... .. ... ..... .............. 96 North River-Dryad syncline.... .. .. ..... ...... ........ .... 98 Minor folds . 98 Faults . • . 99 General state.ment . 99 Crego HiJJ fault zone.. ..................................... 99 Other faults . • . 99 Structural development . 100 Physiography . 104 Topographic divisions . 104 General statement . 104 Mountainous upland . 104 Low hills ......... .. ........ ..... ..... ........ .. .. .. 104 Flood plains and terraces ............. .. .......... .. ......... 105 Relation of topography to lithology and structure. 106 Stage of development . 108 Geologic history .......... ..
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