Mississippian Stratigraphic Framework of East-Central California and Southern Nevada with Revision of Upper Devonian and Mississippian Stratigraphic Units in Inyo County, California U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1988-J AVAILABILITY OF BOOKS AND MAPS OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Instructions on ordering publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, along with prices of the last offerings, are given in the current-year issues of the monthly catalog "New Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey." Prices of available U.S. Geological Survey publications re­ leased prior to the current year are listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List." Publications that may be listed in various U.S. Geological Survey catalogs (see back inside cover) but not listed in the most recent annual "Price and Availability List" may no longer be available. 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Potter, Project Coordinators U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1988-J A multidisciplinary approach to research studies of sedimentary rocks and their constituents and the evolution of sedimentary basins, both ancient and modern UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1996 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Gordon P. Eaton, Director For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Mississippian stratigraphic framework of east-central California and southern Nevada with revision of Upper Devonian and Mississippian stratigraphic units in Inyo County, California / by Calvin H. Stevens ... [et al.]. p. cm. (Evolution of sedimentary basins Eastern Great Basin ; J) (U.S. Geological Survey bulletin ; 1988) Includes bibliographical references. Supt. of Docs, no.: 119.3: 1988J 1. Geology, Stratigraphic Mississippian. 2. Geology, Stratigraphic Devonian. 3. Geology California Inyo County. 4. Geology Nevada. I. Stevens, Calvin H. II. Series, in. Series: Evolution of sedimentary basins Eastern Great Basin ; ch. J. QE75.B9 no. 1988-J [QE672] 557.3 s dc20 95-383 [551.7'51'0979487] CIP CONTENTS Abstract........................................................................................................................... Jl Introduction.................................................................................................................... 1 Mississippian Stratigraphic Nomenclature in Southern Nevada.................................... 6 Southeastern-Facies Belt........................................................................................ 6 Central-Facies Belt................................................................................................. 6 Northwestern-FaciesBelt....................................................................................... 9 Stratigraphic Nomenclature in East-Central California.................................................. 9 Southeastern-Facies Belt........................................................................................ 9 Central-Facies Belt................................................................................................. 10 Northwestern-FaciesBelt....................................................................................... 10 Proposed Revisions in Stratigraphic Nomenclature....................................................... 10 Perdido Group......................................................................................................... 11 Leaning Rock Formation................................................................................ 11 Mexican Spring Formation............................................................................. 13 Stone Canyon Limestone........................................................................................ 15 Squares Tunnel Formation and Kearsarge Formation............................................ 18 Squares Tunnel Formation.............................................................................. 18 Kearsarge Formation...................................................................................... 19 Comparison of Mississippian Stratigraphy and Stratigraphic Nomenclature in Southern Nevada and East-Central California.................................................... 22 Southeastern-Facies Belt........................................................................................ 22 Central-Facies Belt................................................................................................. 22 Northwestern-Facies Belt....................................................................................... 24 Summary......................................................................................................................... 25 References Cited............................................................................................................. 26 Appendix 1 ..................................................................................................................... 29 Appendix 2..................................................................................................................... 37 FIGURES 1. Map of southern Nevada and east-central California showing locations of sections and distribution of Mississippian facies belts............................................................................................................... J2 2, 3. Charts showing Mississippian Stratigraphic nomenclature for east-central California: 2. Currently in use............................................................................................................................................ 4 3. Proposed....................................................................................................................................................... 5 4, 5. Charts showing time-rock correlation of: 4. Mississippian rocks...................................................................................................................................... 7 5. Upper Devonian rocks.................................................................................................................................. 8 6, 7. Maps showing: 6. Location of measured sections..................................................................................................................... 12 7. Outcrop relations and location of type section of the Leaning Rock Formation and reference section of the Mexican Spring Formation ................................................................................................................ 13 8. Type section of the Leaning Rock Formation and reference section of the Mexican Spring Formation.............. 14 9,