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Digital Data for the Preliminary Bedrock Geologic Map of the Blythe 30' x 60' Quadrangle, California and Arizona

Metadata Updated: November 27, 2025

The Blythe 30' x 60' quadrangle in southeastern California and southwestern Arizona displays complex geology that includes Mesozoic contractional deformation, metamorphism, and magmatism and Cenozoic extensional deformation and magmatism. The scope of the present map is limited to bedrock units of Miocene and older age because the younger deposits have not been mapped in sufficient detail across the quadrangle to support a systematic compilation. Mapping and topical studies by previous investigators (refer to accompanying pamphlet) resulted in recognition of the following regionally significant geologic features: (1) variably metamorphosed and deformed Paleozoic to early Mesozoic sedimentary rocks stratigraphically correlative with cratonal platform strata of the Colorado Plateau region; (2) Jurassic plutonic and volcanic rocks; (3) thick sequences of moderately to weakly metamorphosed sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic to Cretaceous McCoy Basin; (4) ductile folds and faults of the Late Cretaceous Maria Belt; and (5) Miocene detachment faults in the Big Maria and Plomosa Mountains. A major recent discovery is the recognition of the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene Orocopia Schist structurally below undated gneiss in the northern Plomosa Mountains. This northernmost outcrop area of Orocopia Schist yet found in western Arizona demonstrates that the entire Blythe quadrangle likely is underlain by this extensive, tectonically underplated subduction complex. In addition, post-middle Miocene transtensional deformation has been documented in the northern La Posa Plain, including recognition of left-lateral motion on two northeast-striking faults in the northern Plomosa Mountains and at Mesquite Mountain.

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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Dates

Metadata Created Date September 14, 2025
Metadata Updated Date November 27, 2025

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI USGS DCAT-US

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date September 14, 2025
Metadata Updated Date November 27, 2025
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
Identifier http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/usgs-61e894ced34e8b818ad89837
Data Last Modified 2022-02-15T00:00:00Z
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://ddi.doi.gov/usgs-data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id 4e038fd5-81e2-4470-a802-93ff57ceab4c
Harvest Source Id 2b80d118-ab3a-48ba-bd93-996bbacefac2
Harvest Source Title DOI USGS DCAT-US
Metadata Type geospatial
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash 66750d0f968c34dd1fff103b8f8ed438052b7d89ab112edf9a7c6b9447a39339
Source Schema Version 1.1

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