16.4: Activity 16C- Geologic Map of California

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Chloe Branciforte & Emily Haddad
Ventura College & East Los Angeles College via ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative

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Use the online Geologic Map of California or a print version provided by your instructor to answer the following questions.

View both the map and description of map units. If you are using the browser version of the map, click on the symbol to locate the “Description of Map Units”. If you have a print version, the map unit section should be clearly marked. If you are using the browser version, be sure to zoom in to see additional symbology appear on the map itself.

What is the geologic age of the oldest rocks on the map?
What is the geologic age of the youngest rocks on the map?
What general color are the Mesozoic plutonic granitic rocks?
Locate the map unit symbol for Mesozoic Plutonic rocks that are ultramafic. Where are the majority of these rocks located within California?
Draw the symbol for a thrust fault:

Locate the area or region where your college or university is located.

What is the main geologic age of the rocks in your area? If there are several, write down the top three.
Are there any major faults in your area? Circle an answer YES NO
1. If you said yes, identify at least one fault by name.
2. If you said no, locate and identify the nearest fault.

Locate the Great Central Valley.

What is the geologic age of the rocks with the Central Valley?
Locate Sutter Buttes at the northern end of the Central Valley.
1. What type of rocks dominate this feature?
2. What geologic age are these rocks?

Locate the Transverse Ranges (North of Los Angeles).

What do you notice about the orientation of the Transverse Ranges relative to the rest of the state’s features?
What could be causing this orientation?

Locate the Death Valley Fault, which is southeast of the Sierra Nevada mountains and West of Henderson, Nevada. Zoom into this region.

What category of fault is the Death Valley Fault?
1. Draw the symbol.
What fold type is located west of the Death Valley Fault.
1. Draw the symbol.