14: Transverse Ranges
- Page ID
- 20348
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)
\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)
\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
By the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
- Locate the Transverse Ranges Province and its major elements (mountain ranges, faults and key geologic features) on a geologic map of the state.
- Explain how the modern physiographic features found within the Transverse Ranges are produced by Late Cenozoic tectonism.
- Describe the primary bedrock geologic characteristics of the Transverse Ranges province.
- Recall the general geologic evolution of the Transverse Ranges Province in the context of the evolution of California.
- Explain the origin and current location of petroleum reserves within the Transverse Ranges Province.
- Assess the geologic hazards and risks associated with the Transverse Ranges Province.
Introduction
The Transverse Ranges Province is a geologically diverse region with a complex geologic history. Much of the early geologic evolution of this region can be correlated to that of other geomorphic provinces in California. However, this province is also somewhat of an anomaly when compared to others across the state of California: as the name suggests, the mountains, valleys, and faults within the Transverse Ranges Province are oriented east-west, transverse to the dominant north-south trends seen elsewhere in California and western North America overall. How did this region come to be oriented in such a different way compared to surrounding regions? How have the dramatic changes to the California plate boundary over the late Cenozoic impacted this region?
This chapter will present a general overview of the region that will allow for comparison to other provinces and will direct you to the relevant chapters for more information. Our focus here will be on the Late Cenozoic geology of the region impacted by the emerging San Andreas fault system. We’ll see that this period produced dramatic structural rotation and translation of large crustal blocks along with the development of deep structural basins that are a major source of oil and gas. Modern transpression across this region that is accommodated by reverse and strike-slip faults continues to shape the landscape, producing unusually steep relief that is subject to landslides, as well as active seismic risk that impacts millions of Californians.
Note that the evolution of this region is closely related to the northern Peninsular Ranges Province (including the offshore Borderlands Region). This is particularly notable in the case of the Los Angeles Basin, which is located to the south of the Transverse Ranges Province. Because of the similarities, we’ll be discussing the Los Angeles basin and the offshore northern borderlands region in this chapter even though they aren’t strictly part of this province.
- 14.1: Physiographic Overview of the Transverse Ranges Province
- This section offers an overview of surficial landforms in this region.
- 14.2: Bedrock Geology of the Transverse Ranges Province
- This section describes the geologic relationships found across this region, with a focus on the bedrock units that are uplifted in major mountain ranges.
- 14.3: Cenozoic Sedimentation and Basin Development
- This section extends the discussion of the geology of the region to younger basin units, as well as those that are uplifted in younger mountains in the western portion of this province. The focus is on sedimentary units and the comparison of depositional settings they provide across the region.
- 14.4: Tectonic and Structural Evolution of the Transverse Ranges
- This section provides a simplified explanation of the tectonic evolution of this province. The focus is on the period of geologic time the corresponds to the development of the modern San Andreas Fault System.
- 14.5: Geologic Hazards of the Transverse Ranges Province
- This section reviews select geologic hazards in the Transverse Ranges Provinces. Special attention is paid to events that have shaped state law or impacted areas of high population density.
- 14.6: Mineral and Petroleum Resources of the Transverse Ranges Province
- This section reviews the highlights of oil and gas production and some of the features associated with it in the Los Angeles Basin.
- 14.7: Chapter Summary and Key Terms
- This section presents short reviews of each of the previous chapter sections.
- 14.8: Detailed Image Descriptions
- This section includes additional descriptions of images that is not already available in the section text.