13: Mojave and Colorado Deserts
- Page ID
- 20347
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Introduction
Most of the southeastern portion of the state of California is a desert environment. In fact, the USGS estimates that approximately 30% of the state of California is a desert environment! In this chapter, you will learn about geologic processes and features that are associated with desert environments, with a special focus on the highlights of the Mojave and Colorado Desert Provinces.
The Mojave and Colorado Desert Provinces are situated in the southeastern portion of the state of California. They share a geographic border with the Basin and Range Province to the north, as well as many geologic qualities, so the reader is encouraged to review the Chapter on the Basin and Range along with their reading of this chapter (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)). In addition to offering unique landscapes and an opportunity to explore vast remote desert environments, these desert provinces are a source of mineral wealth and are the weekend playgrounds of many residents of southern California.
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
- Locate the Mojave and Colorado Desert provinces of California on a map of the state.
- Explain how the Mojave and the Colorado Deserts are created by geographic features, latitude, and atmospheric circulation.
- Describe the primary bedrock geologic characteristics of the Mojave and Colorado Desert Provinces.
- Recall the general geologic evolution of the Mojave and Colorado Desert Provinces.
- Describe the dominant desert weathering and erosion processes and their products in the Mojave and Colorado Desert Provinces.
- Describe evidence for climate changes impacting the Mojave and Colorado Desert Provinces.
- Describe the mineral resources in California’s desert provinces.
- Assess the geologic hazards and risks associated with the Mojave and Colorado Desert Provinces.
- 13.1: Physiographic Features of the Mojave and Colorado Desert Provinces
- This section reviews the geomorphic features of this region.
- 13.2: Geologic Overview and Evolution of the Mojave and Colorado Desert Provinces
- This section reviews the bedrock geology and features in this region and presents a concise outline of the geologic evolution of the region.
- 13.3: Creating the Desert Environment
- Factors leading to the formation of a desert environment in these provinces are reviewed.
- 13.4: Wind Driven Sediment Transport
- The basics of wind-driven sediment movement are discussed in this section, along with some of the features that result from this sediment movement.
- 13.5: Sand Dunes and Dune Fields
- This section discusses the formation of sand dunes and describes some of the features and characteristics found in notable dune fields of this region.
- 13.6: Erosional Desert Land Forms
- This section discusses some of the features in the desert environment that result from erosional and weathering forces.
- 13.7: Water in the Desert
- This section reviews some of the geologic features associated with water in this this desert environment.
- 13.8: Geological Resources of the Desert Provinces
- Geological resources in these desert provinces include evaporite minerals, Lithium and rare earth elements.
- 13.9: Geologic Hazards of the Mojave and Colorado Desert Provinces
- This section reviews the primary geologic hazards of this region. Like much of California, earthquakes figure prominently here.
- 13.10: Chapter Summary and Key Terms
- This section contains a concise listing of main topics in each section of this chapter.