Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1981 Plio-Pleistocene geology of the Central Cagayan Valley, Northern Luzon, Philippines Mark Evan Mathisen Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Mathisen, Mark Evan, "Plio-Pleistocene geology of the Central Cagayan Valley, Northern Luzon, Philippines " (1981). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 6926. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/6926 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. 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In all cases we have filmed the best available copy. Univers*^ Microrilms Intemationcil 300 N. ZEEB RD., ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 8128837 MATHISEN, MAM EVAN PLIO-PLEISTOCENE GEOLOGY OF THE CENTRAL CAGAYAN VALLEY. NORTHERN LUZON, PHILIPPINES Iowa State University PH.D. 1981 University Microfilms Intsrndtionsil 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 PLEASE NOTE; In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark V . 1. Glossy photographs or pages i/ 2. Colored illustrations, paper or print 3. Photographs with dark background 4. Illustrations are poor copy 5. Pages with black marks, not original copy 6. Print shows through as there is text on both sides of page 7. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages 8. Print exceeds margin requirements 9. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine 10. Computer printout pages with indistinct print 11. Page(s) lacking when material received, and not available from school or author. 12. Page(s} seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows. 13. Two pages numbered . Text follows. 14. Curling and wrinkled pages 15. Other University Microfilms international Plio-Pleistocene geology of the Central Cagayan Valley, Northern Luzon, Philippines by Mark Evan Mathisen A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Department: Earth Sciences Major; Geology ipprov) Signature was redacted for privacy. Signature was redacted for privacy. Signature was redacted for privacy. For liege Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1981 11 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION Method of Study Climate and Vegetation Previous Work Geologic Setting STRATIGRAPHY Miocene Stratigraphy Slcalao Limestone Mabaca River Group Gatangan Greek Formation Callao Limestone Ballwag Formation Pllo-Plelstocene Stratigraphy Ilagan Formation Lower Member Upper Member Awldon Mesa Formation PETROLOGY Conglomerates Texture Composition Pyroclastlc Rocks Texture Composition Sandstones Texture Composition Provenance Hi Dlagenesis Compaction Dissolution AuChigenic clay Zeolites Calcite Diagenetic sequence Mudrocks Texture Composition STRUCTURE AND TECTONIC HISTORY GEOMORPHOLOGY PALEONTOLOGY FACIES AND ENVIRONMENTS OF DEPOSITION Lithofacies Codes Interbedded Fine Grained Sandstone and Muds tone Fades Description Depositlonal environment Lenticular Cross Bedded Medium Grained Sandstone and Slltstone Fades Description Depositlonal environment Polymlctic Conglomerate, Trough Cross Bedded Sandstone and Clays tone Fades Description Depositlonal environment Clast-Supported Polymlctic Conglomerate and Sandstone Fades Description Depositlonal environment iv Massive Matrix-Supported Pebble to Boulder Conglomerate, Tuff-Breccia, and Tuff Facies Description Deposltlonal environment PROVENANCE PÀLEOGEOGRÂFHY AND PALEOENVIRONMENTS SUMMARY LITERATURE CITED ACKNOWLEDGMENTS V LIST OF FIGURES Page Index map of the central Cagayan Valley 3 Tectonic map of the Luzon-Taiwan region 7 Island arc evolution of Northern Luzon 9 Summary of events in the island arc evolution of Northern Luzon from the Eocene to the present 10 Schematic island arc evolution of the Cagayan basin 11 Migration of the Cagayan basin axis in Miocene through Pleistocene 13 Geologic map of the central Cagayan Valley 20 Graphic sections of the llagan Formation 23 Photographs of the llagan and Awidon Mesa formations 25 Graphic sections of the Awidon Mesa Formation, Tabuk plateau, and Pangul Anticline 30 Graphic sections of the Awidon Mesa Formation, Cabalwan and Enrile anticlines 32 Tektite locality map 38 Textural classification of the conglomerate matrix samples 44 Probability plots of braided stream and debris flow deposits and plots of Awidon Mesa Formation conglom­ erates interpreted as braided stream and debris flow deposits 47 Morphology of central Cagayan Valley tektites 51 Compositional classification of conglomerate matrix samples 53 Probability plots of density and debris flow deposits and Awidon Mesa Formation tuff-breccia samples interpreted as density and debris flow deposits 58 vi Page Figure 18. Probability plots of Cagayan Valley tuffs and density flow deposits as compiled by Glaister and Nelson 60 Figure 19. Md0/a0 plot of Awidon Mesa Formation pyroclast fall and flow deposits 61 Figure 20. Photomicrographs of Cagayan Valley pyroclastic rocks 67 Figure 21. Classification of Cagayan Valley tuffs 69 Figure 22. Probability plots of Awidon Mesa sandstones and fluvial sandstones 73 Figure 23. Classification of the sandstones of the Upper Member of the llagan Formation and the Awidon Mesa Formation 75 Figure 24. X-ray diffraction tracings of sandstone clay minerals 82 Figure 25. Central Cagayan Valley petrologic provinces 87 Figure 26. Photomicrographs of dissolution features of framework grains 92 Figure 27. Photomicrographs of sandstone authigenic clays 96 Figure 28. Photomicrographs of authigenic pore lining zeolites from the llagan Formation 99 Figure 29. X-ray diffraction tracings of zeolite cements 100 Figure 30. Diagenesis of llagan and Awidon Mesa sandstones 104 Figure 31. Diagenetic phases and corresponding chemical diagenetic stages in volcaniclastic sandstones 106 Figure 32. Textural classification of Cagayan Valley mudrocks 107 Figure 33. X-ray diffraction tracings of mudrocks 110 Figure 34. Cagayan Valley structural provinces 114 Figure 35. The formation of folds by middle Pleistocene gravity sliding 116 Figure 36. Photographs of geomorphological features, central Cagayan Valley 12® Figure 37. Photographs of in situ vertebrate fossils 127 vii Page Pleistocene land-bridges connecting the Philippines 129 and Asia Bathymétrie map of the Luzon-Taiwan region 131 Photographs of the interbedded fine grained sand­ stone and muds tone fades and the lenticular medium grained cross bedded sandstone and silts tone fades 137 Subfacies of the interbedded fine grained sandstone and mudstone fades 139 Block diagram of a lobate high constructive delta 142 Subfacies of the lenticular cross bedded medium grained sandstone and siltstone fades 144 Photographs of the polymictic conglomerate, trough cross bedded sandstone, and clays tone fades 148 Subfacies of the polymictic conglomerate, trough cross bedded sandstone, and claystone fades 149 Block diagram of a meandering stream system 151 Photographs of the clast supported polymictic conglomerate and sandstone fades 156 Subfacies of the clast supported polymictic conglom­ erate and sandstone fades 157 Distribution of fades and environments In an alluvial fan 160 Subfacies of the massive matrix-supported pebble to boulder conglomerate,