Vol. 26, No.3Fall 1996

ARIZONAGEOLOGICAL 'URVEY

INFORMATION TOARIZONANS SINCE 18811

Things Geologic

Building destroyed by the October 1983 flood on theRillito River in Tucson.

see11llNGS GEOLOGIC, page 2

meaning that when we areasked to select from itsmany values and potentialuses, it is apt to becomean explosive issue. Con­troversy arises whenvalues conflict. Theresolution of conflicts canindeed be a divisivepolitical process. All suchproblems, howeverresolved, are necessarilytinged with arbitrariness.

Ecology, the science ofrelationships, is a com-

dependent upon theMineral Kingdom forexistence. It makes sense,therefore, to place firstthings first: mineral,vegetable, animal.

Peirce wrote thatcivilization, as we know it,cannot be sustainedwithout continued explo­ration, discovery, anddevelopment of theMineral Kingdom. Fur­thermore, the world'speople are engaged in anongoing experiment; thepath to the future isuncharted,with noguaranteesabout whatlies ahead.One thingseemscertain,however:for as longas there areconsumersto consume,producerswill try toproduce.

Wescharacter­ized land asa four-letterword soloaded withdiverse,subtle

Philosopher Will Durantwrote that civilizationexists through geologicalconsent, subject to changewithout notice. H. WesleyPeirce, geologist at theArizona Geological Survey(AZGS) for 31 years,agreed and coined theterm "things geologie" tohelp explain "geologicalconsent." To Wes, "thingsgeologic" included ideasand concepts that empha­size interrelationshipsbetween liVing things andthe non-living earth.

Robin Frisch-Gleasonworked with Wes prior tohis death in 1994 tocompile some of hiswritings. The AZGSpublished them in hismemory as Things Geo­logic (Down-To-EarthSeries 5). The wordsbelow are paraphrased orquoted verbatim from thisbook.

A major goal ofWes' inBack to basics: mineral­vegetable-animal, noground, noflea - no you,no me was to change thecommonly expressed wordorder "animal-vegetable­mineraL" The Animal andVegetable Kingdoms are

Larry D. FellowsArizona Geological Survey

To provide unbiasedinformation to the pub­lic to enhance under­standing of geologicprocesses, materials,and resources andsupport prudent man­agement and use ofArizona's land, water,mineral, and energyresources.

• Provide informationabout Arizona geology

• Prepare and publishgeologic mapsand reports

• Maintain databasesand files

• Maintain geology library

• Maintain rock cuttingsand core repository

·'nvestigste geologichllZards and limitations

• Map and describebedrock andsurficial gfIOlogy

• Map and characterizemineral andenergy resources

• Provide administrativeand staff support for Oiland Gas ConservationCommission

A.A.S. , 27-152

Things Geologic (continued from page 1)

Arizona GeologyFall 1996 • Page 2

NelV Publications

GOVERNORRFE SYMINGTON

ARIZONAGEOLOGICAL

SURVEYDirector and State Geologist

Larry D. Fellows, Ph.D.

Mapping and InvestigationsJon E. Spencer, Ph.D.

Philip A. Pearthree, Ph.D.Stephen M. Richard, Ph.D.

Arizona GeologicInformation System

Richard A. Trapp

Geology LibraryThomas G. McGarvin

Earth ScienceInformation Center

Diane Murray

Center for Land-Subsidence& Earth·Fissure Information

Robin Frisch-Gleason

Oil and Gas ProgramSteven L. Rauzi

PubHcauon~Support

Rose Ellen McDonnellPeter F. Corrao

Mary E. RedmonMary E. Pasborg

LOCATIONHeadquarters Office:

Arizona Geological Survey416 W. Congress, Suite 100

Tucson, AZ 85701(520) 770-3500

Earth ScienceInformation Center

340 N. Sixth Ave.Tucson, AZ 85705-8325

(520) 670-5584

Geologyi. ,"bli"'~" tltlu',rly ~ ,It, A,izon_Cnlogit:.' Silroty lAZeS) ,,, provid,inform. liD" .boll' "ologic ,".~TiJ"S andprou~. tln4 Ut,ir impact:. "n 111, thw/­o",",nl tlftd IfM 01 Arizo,..·• .."tf, IlMln,",w,., and tnulY 1UOllrou. WI' t'lICOvr­

.,. )I'll' com"""" fI"" nggutiDru.

Daip a,," bryowl:

Peter F. Corrao

Copyright C 1996by the Arizan. Geological Surveyo p,inud on "cycl.d pop"

monly misused and misun­derstood word, the totalityof which is not known orunderstood by anyone.Interrelationships form acomplex total network thatis difficult to conceptualize.One of the ecologicalimperatives that warrantsemphasis is the profounddependence that modernindustrial societies have onraw materials that arederived from land.

Communities, like trees,have roots that provide thedaily means for survivaland growth. These rootsalways lead back into theland. The farther the rootis stretched, and the morecomplex the entire rootnetwork, the more vulner­able the organism. Imaginea strand of an energy rootin your own gas tank, theother end, perhaps, beingseveral thousand feetbelow the land surface ofSaudi Arabia.

Many readers may be

The Arizona GeologicalSurvey released the follow­ing reports and maps sinceMay 1996:

Things geologic: RobinFrisch-Gleason, compiler,1996, Down To Earth 5(Pub. number DTE 5),39 p. $8.00

This is a collection ofessays by H. Wesley Peirceon the impacts of geologicmaterials and processes onour lives. Additionalinformation about contentof the essays is provided onpage 1 of this issue.

familiar with Things geo­logic: no rocks, no icecream. This is an exercisein linkage, the essence ofecology. Wes referred to abooklet in which the authorsaid, "The earth is made upof two main parts - soil andplants." Wes'response:"Nonsense! If we humansare to find a formula tosustain human existence onthis planet, it is essentialthat we gain some commoninSights into what its realnature is. Most of us knowlittle about our bodies andeven less about the earth."

The term "geologic" isespecially useful if itconveys the following: 1)the idea of great antiquityor age, especially relative tohumankind, 2) the conceptof nonrenewability, limita­tion, or finiteness, 3) theinequality in the distribu­tion of things geologic(especially mineral andenergy raw materials)within the earth, and 4) that

Database files describingmineralized sites in theState ofArizona (version1.0): S. M. Richard, 1996,Digital Information Series 3(Pub. number DI 3), 22 p.,three 3.5" floppy disks,DOS formatted, files indBase N format. $10.00

Data from the USGS'Mineral Resource DataSystem were rearranged toform topical data tables andmake access simpler. Somefields were removed andsome data were consoli­dated. A text describes thedata structure.

most things geologic arebeneath the earth's surfacewhere they cannot bedirectly observed. Thesefactors Significantly influ­ence human affairs onlocal, state, national, andworldly scales.

Wes described themisuse of "here" in Concep­tualizing earth history: the(mis)use ofhere. The earthhas been dynamic: not onlyhave land masses movedrelative to the poles, butalso their crustal conditionshave undergone change.Just because something is"here" today does notnecessarily mean that itoriginated "here." Theolder the rock, the morelikely it is to be out ofplace with respect to itsbeginnings.

These concepts andmany more are discussed inDown To Earth 5. Order­ing instructions are givenon page 3.

Bedrock geologic map ofthe Apache Junction andBuckhorn Quadrangles,Maricopa and PinalCounties, Arizona:S. J. Skotnicki and C. A.Ferguson, 1996, Open-FileReport 96-8 (Pub. numberOFR 96-8), 17 p., 1 map,scale 1:24,000. $5.00

The map area includesthe southern Usery Moun­tains, where Proterozoicgranitic rocks are overlainby lower Miocene volcanicsand some sedimentary

seeNEWPUBLICATIONS, page 3•

New Publications (continued from page 2)

rocks. Numerous mineral This map depicts bed- number OFR 96-13), How toprospects are on fracture rock and surficial geology 26 p. $5.00 Order Themzones or faults that host of the lower Verde River This report summarizesfracture-filling hematite and valley. The area is under- the geologic and geomor- You may purchasechrysocolla in the eastern lain by Quaternary and phic framework of the publications at the AZGSpart of the area. upper Tertiary alluvial fan, Verde River, the physical office or by mail. Address

river, and lacustrine depos- character of the river mail orders to AZGSBedrock geology of the its. Bedrock along the channel, and how channel Publications, 416 W.Santan Mountains, Pinal valley flanks consists of morphology and position Congress St., Suite 100,

and Maricopa Counties, Tertiary basalt and Protero- have changed in the past Tucson, AZ 85701.

~na:C.A.Ferguson zoic metamorphic and century. The study was Orders are shipped by

and S. J. Skotnicki, 1996, granitic rocks that have undertaken to provide UPS, which requires a

Open-File Report 96-9 (Pub. been extensively information needed tostreet address for delivery,All mail orders must be

number OFR 96-9), 22 p., pedimented. The author determine navigability of prepaid by a check or2 sheets, scale 1:24,000. discusses potential geologic the Verde when Arizona money order payable in$9.00 hazards and limitations. became a state in 1912. U,S. dollars to the Arizona

Proterozoic granitic rocks . Geological Surveyor byand schist, Laramide An assessment of the Historical geomorphol- Master Card or VISA. Dogranitic rocks, and Miocene paleoflood hydrology ogy of the Gila River: not send cash. Add 7%volcanic rocks crop out. methodology: Analysis of Gary Huckleberry, 1996, sales tax to the publica-Hematitic and silicic the 1993 flood on Tonto Open-File Report 96-14 tion cost for orders

alteration are common in Creek, central Arizona: (Pub. number OFR 96-14), purchased or mailed in

part of the study area. J. E. Fuller, P. K. House, 31 p. $6.00 Arizona. Order by

and P. A. Pearthree, 1996, The study was done topublication number andadd these shipping and

Geologic map of the Open-File Report 96-12 review historical channel handling charges to yourSacaton Mountains, Pinal (Pub. number OFR 96-12), changes along the middle total order:County, Arizona: 19 p. $6.00 and lower Gila River. TheS. J. Skotnicki and C. A. The Tonto Creek flood character of the channel

Shipping & HandlingFerguson, 1996, Open-File of January 8, 1993, is the changed substantiallyReport 96-10 (Pub. number largest to have been during this century. The CHARGES

OFR 96-10), 15 p., 2 sheets, preserved in the paleoflood early 1900s was a time of In the United States:

scale 1:24,000. $7.00 record and was probably major floods and channel Less than $1.01, add $1.001.01- 10.00, add 3.00

Bedrock in the Sacaton the largest to have occurred widening. Channel widths 10.01- 20.00, add 4.50Mountains consists prima- there in the last 300 years. subsequently decreased 20.01- 30.00, add 5.75

rily of Laramide granitic These deposits provided an gradually, only to dramati- 30.01- 40.00, add 6.50

rocks with minor Protero- opportunity to test the basic cally widen again in the 40.01- 50.00, add 8,0050.01- 100.00, add 10.25

zoic granitic rocks and assumptions of the past 15 years. Over 100.00, add 12%schist. The Sacaton por- paleoflood methodology,

Other countries,phyry copper deposit, which has been applied to Historical channelabout a mile from the south many streams throughout changes on the San

request price quotation.

edge of the range, may be the world. This study Pedro River, southeast-related to the Laramide confirmed that, except in ern Arizona: Gary Huckle- Shipping and han-

granitic rocks in the range. the most ideal setting for berry, 1996, Open-File dling charges include

slackwater sediment Report 96-15 (Pub. number insurance. For rolled

Geologic map of portions preservation, estimates of OFR 96-15), 34 p. $6.00 maps, add $1.00 for a

of the Fort McDowell and paleoflood discharge rates This report describesmailing tube.

If you purchase Open-McDowell Peak Quad- based on sIackwater changes in the character of File Reports, Contributedrangles, Maricopa sediments alone may be the San Pedro River during Maps, or ContributedCounty, Arizona: about 30 percent low. the past several centuries. Reports at the AZGSS. J. Skotnicki, 1996, Open- It also describes the charac- office, allow up to twoFile Report 96-11 (Pub. Historical geomorphol- ter of the river in 1912 and days for photocopying.number OFR 96-11),20 p., ogy of the Verde River: P. changes in channel position

Arizona Geology1 map, scale 1:24,000. A. Pearthree, 1996, Open-,$6.00 File Report 96-13 (Pub. seeNEW PUBLICATIONS, page 4 Page 3 • Fall 1996

•

·;

New Publications(continued from page 3)

and character that have Tertiary calcareous lake been previously published. About 1,200 geologic,occurred since then. beds in Arizona ~ommonly All were recalculated using hydrologic, and geophysi-

contain slightly elevated new decay and abundance cal reports and maps thatBibliography of geologic uranium concentrations. constants. An 8-page list of cover portions of the studyreports and maps for Homes built on these rocks age-date publications area have been compiledApache County, Arizona, may contain elevated radon released from 1985-95 is and incorporated in thesouth of interstate 40: levels. The purpose of this also included. bibliographic database asR. A. Trapp, 1996, Open survey was to identify part of a cooperativePile Report 96-16 (Pub. calcareous lacustrine Index of geologic maps project with the Arizonanumber OFR 96-16), sediments with elevated of the San Carlos-Safford- Department of Environmen-27 p. $5.00 uranium contents. Well Duncan Nonpoint-Source tal Quality.

Because of the leasing cuttings from the lower Gila Management Zone:and drilling for oil and gas River trough do not contain R. C. Harris, 1996, Open- Organic matter andthat have taken place such deposits but do File Report 96-19 (Pub. thermal maturity analy-recently, the author com- contain significant gypsum. number OPR 96-19), 11 p., ses of the Upper Creta-piled this bibliography to 2 plates, scale 1:1,000,000 ceous sediments betweenassist those who assess Compilation of unpub- $5.00 3,267 and 3,365 feet inresource potential. This lished Arizona K-Ar dates The study area is the the 1 Alpine Federal well,report supersedes from the University of Gila River drainage basin Apache County, Arizona:OPR 94-20. Arizona Laboratory of upstream from Winkelman. K. W. Schwab, 1996,

Isotope Geochemistry, About 150 maps were Contributed Report 96-BReconnaissance survey 1971-1991: P. E. Damon, indexed as part of a (Pub. number CR 96-B),of Upper Neogene strata M. Shafiqullah, R. C. Harris, cooperative project with the 90 p. $12.00in the Bouse Formation, and J. E. Spencer, 1996, Arizona Department of A geochemical analysisHualapai llmestone, and Open-File Report 96-18 Environmental Quality. using Integrated Colorlower Gila River trough, (Pub. number OPR 96-18), Analysis via Spectral Powerwestern Arizona and 56 p. $10.00 Bibliography of the San Distribution of transmitteddirectly adjacent south- This report includes 294 Carlos-Safford-Duncan light, a new techniqueeastern California: K-Ar analyses from Arizona Nonpoint-Source Man- developed by Geo-Strat,J. E. Spencer, R. C. Harris, and a few from southwest- agementZone:R.A.Trapp Inc., that electronicallyDavid Dettman, and P. J. em New Mexico and the and R. C. Harris, 1996, measures color of organicPatchett, 1996, Open-File Pinacate volcanic field in Open-File Report 96-20 constituents (kerogen).Report 96-17 (Pub. number northwestern Sonora. Most (pub. number OPR 96-20),OPR 96-17),23 p. $4.00 of these dates have not 58 p. $10.00

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