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A biographical memoir of Donald Edward White

Donald E. White was a leading scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey, where his career was devoted almost entirely to the study of hydrothermal processes in the Earth’s crust, from the dual perspectives of active geothermal systems and of extinct hydrothermal systems now represented only by ore deposits and alteration patterns. White was devoted to analyzing the mechanisms by which ore-forming metals are concentrated, transported, and deposited. His early work on antimony deposits and on mercury transport led to the understanding that these elements, as well as some precious metals, were concentrated in hydrothermal convection systems characterized by dilute chloride waters of predominantly meteoric origin. He concluded, on the other hand, that base metals required more concentrated brines, as was impressively confirmed in the early 1960s by the discovery of the metal-rich fluids of the Salton Sea geothermal system and subsequently by the recognition of sulfide-depositing hydrothermal systems on the sea floor. His studies of active hot-spring systems elucidated the principles of geyser activity and provided the scientific foundation for research programs aimed at the understanding of geothermal systems throughout the world.

Article

Chapter 6 Geochemistry, isotopic composition and petrogenetic modelling of the Thera pyroclastics

This chapter examines the major element, trace element, and isotope geochemistry of the Thera pyroclastics, and places it in the context of the geochemical evolution of the whole volcanic field. Geochemical studies to date have been undertaken predominantly on the lavas, and the pyroclastic succession has been relatively neglected. The data on the pyroclastics are taken from Druitt (1983), Mellors (1988), Pyle (19906), and Edwards (1994). Wholerock analyses and sample descriptions are given in Appendix 2. Most analyses are of a single pumice or scoria lump, although some are combinations of several small clasts and a few are compositionally banded. The rock classification scheme used throughout the memoir is shown in Fig. 6.1. Previous isotopic studies on Santorini are also largely confined to the lavas, and no detailed studies had been carried out on the pyroclastic rocks. In this chapter we present new 87 Sr/ 86 Sr, 143 Nd/ 144 Nd, 206 Pb/ 204 Pb, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb, 208 Pb/ 204 Pb and δ 18 О isotopic data on 40 samples of the Thera pyroclastics. We also include some measurements of hydrogen isotopes. Methods of geochemical and isotopic analysis are described in Appendix 1. This chapter also presents some quantitative models of fractional crystallization and assimilation of crustal rocks. The geochemical data and models point towards the importance of crystal fractionation, magma mixing and assimilation of continental crust in magma genesis at Santorini. The chapter also documents temporal changes in geochemical features of Santorini magmas.

Santorini

Landslide disparities, flume discoveries, and Oso despair

Landslide dynamics is the branch of science that seeks to understand the motion of landslides by applying Newton's laws. This memoir focusses on a 40‐year effort to understand motion of highly mobile—and highly lethal—landslides such as debris avalanches and debris flows. A major component of this work entailed development and operation of the U.S. Geological Survey debris flow flume, a unique, large‐scale experimental facility in Oregon. Experiments there yielded new insights that informed development of mathematical models that were aimed not only at explaining landslide dynamics but also at evaluating landslide and debris flow hazards. The most sophisticated of these models, called D‐Claw, found its first practical application during investigations of the 2014 Oso, Washington, landslide disaster. That event provided indelible lessons about the utility and sociology of science in the real world.

Washington

Review of the work of W. J. McGee on ground‐water levels

W J McGee was a scientist of broad‐interests, large vision, and unbounded enthusiasm for science and its application to human welfare. He was one of the earliest champions of the conservation of our natural resources. He rose from humble origin, by rigorous self‐discipline, to outstanding national leadership. He was absorbed by zeal for service to mankind. His life had a heroic quality, as is well portrayed in the sympathetic and interesting memoir by F. H. Knowlton (Geol. Soc Amer. Bull., v. 24, pp. 18–29, 1913).

Eos, Earth and Space Science News

Use of Instream Flow Incremental Methodology: introduction to the special issue

In 1991, Harvey Doerksen was able to write a memoir discussing 20 years of instream flow work (Doerksen 1991). He recalled coming into the field in about 1973, but points out that there were many dedicated professionals working on the front line of what has become known as the environmental flow issue since at least the 1940’s. One of the earliest controversies in this new field was about what to call it. Some of the can- didate titles included “Stream Re- source Maintenance Flow,” “Base Flow,” and “Minimum Flow.” Although some of these terms were already in wide use by the early 1970’s, the term “instream flow” was not even listed in the 1973, 1974, or 1975 editions of the Water Resources Research Catalog of keywords (Doerksen 1991: 100). When most of the authors represented in this special issue began their professional careers, the field of instream flow was still seeking a core identity and a set of organizing principles.

Hydroécologie Appliquée

Characterizing the proposed geologic repository for high-level radioactive waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada: hydrology and geochemistry

This hydrology and geochemistry volume is a companion volume to the 2007 Geological Society of America Memoir 199, The Geology and Climatology of Yucca Mountain and Vicinity, Southern Nevada and California , edited by Stuckless and Levich. The work in both volumes was originally reported in the U.S. Department of Energy regulatory document Yucca Mountain Site Description , for the site characterization study of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as the proposed U.S. geologic repository for high-level radioactive waste. The selection of Yucca Mountain resulted from a nationwide search and numerous committee studies during a period of more than 40 yr. The waste, largely from commercial nuclear power reactors and the government's nuclear weapons programs, is characterized by intense penetrating radiation and high heat production, and, therefore, it must be isolated from the biosphere for tens of thousands of years. The extensive, unique, and often innovative geoscience investigations conducted at Yucca Mountain for more than 20 yr make it one of the most thoroughly studied geologic features on Earth. The results of these investigations contribute extensive knowledge to the hydrologic and geochemical aspects of radioactive waste disposal in the unsaturated zone. The science, analyses, and interpretations are important not only to Yucca Mountain, but also to the assessment of other sites or alternative processes that may be considered for waste disposal in the future. Groundwater conditions, processes, and geochemistry, especially in combination with the heat from radionuclide decay, are integral to the ability of a repository to isolate waste. Hydrology and geochemistry are discussed here in chapters on unsaturated zone hydrology, saturated zone hydrology, paleohydrology, hydrochemistry, radionuclide transport, and thermally driven coupled processes affecting long-term waste isolation. This introductory chapter reviews some of the reasons for choosing to study Yucca Mountain as a repository site.

Nevada

A classed and annotated bibliography of fossil insects

The present work is an extension to date of a bibliography published in 1882. It has, however, been altered in a few details, and, besides being fuller, differs from that in being a classed list, the works and essays which cover the entire field (which embraces not only insects proper, but also myriapods and arachnids) being placed first, followed by the more special memoirs grouped first by times, next by classes orders, etc., the classification employed in my Systematic Review of Fossil Insects, being used as a convenient basis. This will also form the basis of the Index to Known Fossil Insects, forming a later complementary bulletin. The occasion for the publication of both of these at this time is the completion of the first extended account of the American Tertiary insects given in Vol XIII of the Hayden series of geological reports, by which the numbers of the European and American insects bear for the first time some sort of proper relation to each other, at least in the lower groups. This makes an immediate "account of stock," to employ a commercial term, desirable.

Bulletin

The data of geochemistry

Upon the subject of geochemistry a vast literature exists, but it is widely scattered and portions of it are difficult of access. The general treatises, like the classical works of Bischof and of Koth, are not recent, and great masses of modern data are as yet uncorrelated. The American material alone is singularly rich, but most of it has been accumulated since Roth's treatise was published. The science of chemistry, moreover, has undergone great changes during the last 25 years, and many subjects now appear under new and generally unfamiliar aspects. The methods and principles of physical chemistry are being more and more applied to the solution of geochemical problems, 1 as is shown by the well-known researches of Van't Hoff upon the Stassfurt salts and the magmatic studies of Vogt, Doelter, and others. The great work in progress at the geophysical laboratory of the Carnegie Institution is another illustration of the change now taking place in geochemical investigation. To bring some of the data together, to formulate a few of the problems and to present certain general conclusions in their modern form are the purposes of this memoir. It is not an exhaustive monograph upon geochemistry, but rather a critical summary of what is now known, and a guide to the more important literature of the subject. If it does no more than to make existing data available to the reader, its preparation will be justified.

Bulletin

U.S. Geological Survey scientific activities in the exploration of Antarctica: 1946-2006 record of personnel in Antarctica and their postal cachets: U.S. Navy (1946-48, 1954-60), International Geophysical Year (1957-58), and USGS (1960-2006)

Antarctica, a vast region encompassing 13.2 million km2 (5.1 million mi2), is considered to be one of the most important scientific laboratories on Earth. During the past 60 years, the USGS, in collaboration and with logistical support from the National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs, has sent 325 USGS scientists to Antarctica to work on a wide range of projects: 169 personnel from the NMD (mostly aerial photography, surveying, and geodesy, primarily used for the modern mapping of Antarctica), 138 personnel from the GD (mostly geophysical and geological studies onshore and offshore), 15 personnel from the WRD (mostly hydrological/glaciological studies in the McMurdo Dry Valleys), 2 personnel from the BRD (microbiological studies in the McMurdo Dry Valleys), and 1 person from the Director's Office (P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director, 2005–06 austral field season). Three GD scientists and three NMD scientists have carried out field work in Antarctica 9 or more times: John C. Behrendt (15), who started in 1956–57 and published two memoirs (Behrendt, 1998, 2005), Arthur B. Ford (10), who started in 1960–61, and Gary D. Clow (9), who started in 1985–86; Larry D. Hothem (12), who began as a winter-over geodesist at Mawson Station in 1968–69, and Jerry L. Mullins (12), who started in 1982–83 and followed in the legendary footsteps of his NMD predecessor, William R. MacDonald (9), who started in 1960–61 and supervised the acquisition of more than 1,000,000 square miles of aerial photography of Antarctica. This report provides a record as complete as possible, of USGS and non-USGS collaborating personnel in Antarctica from 1946–2006, the geographic locations of their work, and their scientific/engineering disciplines represented. Postal cachets for each year follow the table of personnel and scientific activities in the exploration of Antarctica during those 60 years. To commemorate special events and projects in Antarctica, it became an international practice to create postal cachets. A cachet is defined as a seal, emblem, or commemorative design printed or stamped on an envelope to mark a philatelic or special event. All stamp collectors are familiar with engraved cachets on envelopes of "First-Day-of-Issue" stamps. For Antarctica, a stamped (inked) impression informs the scientist, historian, stamp collector, and general public about the multidisciplinary science projects staffed by USGS scientists and other specialists during a specific austral summer field season. Because philatelic cachets were created by team members for each USGS field season, in most cases depicting the specific areas and scientific objectives, the cachets have become a convenient documentation of the people, projects, and geographic places for that year. Because the cachets are representative of USGS activities, each year's cachet is included in that year's Open-File Report (1960–61 to 2005–06). Starting with the 1983–84 season, however, two USGS cachets were prepared for the next seven years, one for the winter team at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, until 1992–93, and the other for all other field sites. Multiple cachets were created by USGS divisional programs during the 1962–63, 1963–64, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1995–96, 2003–04, and the 2005–06 years. This report includes facsimiles of each annual postal cachet (or postal cachets) designed by USGS graphic specialists and provides a record of USGS personnel (and non-USGS collaborating scientists) and their science division affiliation for each austral field season. In addition, cachets used by USGS personnel for U.S. Navy Operation Highjump (1946–47), U.S. Navy Operation Windmill (1947–48), U.S. Navy U.S.S. Atka reconnaissance cruise (1954–55), U.S. Navy Operation Deep Freeze (DF) (I, 1955–56; II, 1956–57; III, 1957–58; IV, 1958–59; and DF 60, 1959–60), and the International Geophysical Year (1957–58) are included, because USGS scientists made use of these cachets when involved in each of the field activities during these austral field seasons.

Open-File Report

Selected list of references to modern and ancient alluvial fan deposits

The following list of references on modern and ancient alluvial fan deposits has been compiled from an extensive review of the geologic literature. The information was collected as part of the process of preparing a summary paper on alluvial fan deposits for a memoir of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists. Although we have not examined all of the listed references, each contains information regarding alluvial fan deposits. The most important references are compiled in Tables 1 and 2, in which modern and ancient alluvial fan deposits are temporally and spatially organized. We hope that this list may be helpful to researchers studying fan deposits, and that new references will be added to the list in the future.

Open-File Report

Deciphering multiple Mesoproterozoic and Paleozoic events recorded in zircon and titanite from the Baltimore Gneiss, Maryland: SEM imaging, SHRIMP U-Pb geochronology, and EMP analysis

The Baltimore Gneiss , exposed in antiforms in the eastern Maryland Piedmont, consists of a suite of felsic and mafic gneisses of Mesoproterozoic age. Zircons from the felsic gneisses are complexly zoned, as shown in cathodoluminescence imaging ; most zircon grains have multiple overgrowth zones, some of which are adjacent and parallel to elongate cores. Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe ( SHRIMP ) analyses of oscillatory-zoned cores indicate that the volcanic protoliths of the felsic gneisses crystallized at ca. 1.25 Ga. These rocks were subsequently affected by at least three Mesoproterozoic growth events , at ca. 1.22, 1.16, and 1.02 Ga. Foliated biotite granite intruded the Baltimore Gneiss metavolcanic sequence at ca. 1075 Ma. The Slaughterhouse Granite (renamed herein) also is Mesoproterozoic , but extremely discordant U-Pb data from high-U, metamict zircons preclude calculating a precise age. The 1.25 Ga rocks of the Baltimore Gneiss are coeval with rocks emplaced in the Grenville Province during the Elzevirian orogeny, and the 1.22 Ga zircon overgrowths are coincident with a later stage of this event . Younger zircon overgrowths formed during the Ottawan phase of the Grenville orogeny. Backscattered electron imaging of titanites from felsic gneisses and foliated biotite granite reveals that many of the grains contain cores, intermediate mantles, and rims. Electron microprobe traverses across zoned grains show regular variations in composition. SHRIMP ages for titanite from the foliated biotite granite are 374 ± 8, 336 ± 8, and 301 ± 12 Ma. The ca. 374 Ma age suggests growth of titanite during a thermal event following the Acadian orogeny, whereas the late Paleozoic titanite growth ages may be due to greenschist-facies replacement reactions associated with Alleghanian metamorphism and deformation.

Maryland

Yucca Mountain, Nevada - A proposed geologic repository for high-level radioactive waste

Yucca Mountain in Nevada represents the proposed solution to what has been a lengthy national effort to dispose of high-level radioactive waste, waste which must be isolated from the biosphere for tens of thousands of years. This chapter reviews the background of that national effort and includes some discussion of international work in order to provide a more complete framework for the problem of waste disposal. Other chapters provide the regional geologic setting, the geology of the Yucca Mountain site, the tectonics, and climate (past, present, and future). These last two chapters are integral to prediction of long-term waste isolation. ?? 2007 Geological Society of America. All rights reserved.

Memoir of the Geological Society of America

Geology of the Yucca Mountain site area, southwestern Nevada

Yucca Mountain in southwestern Nevada is a prominent, irregularly shaped upland formed by a thick apron of Miocene pyroclastic-flow and fallout tephra deposits, with minor lava flows, that was segmented by through-going, large-displacement normal faults into a series of north-trending, eastwardly tilted structural blocks. The principal volcanic-rock units are the Tiva Canyon and Topopah Spring Tuffs of the Paintbrush Group, which consist of volumetrically large eruptive sequences derived from compositionally distinct magma bodies in the nearby southwestern Nevada volcanic field, and are classic examples of a magmatic zonation characterized by an upper crystal-rich (>10% crystal fragments) member, a more voluminous lower crystal-poor (<5% crystal fragments) member, and an intervening thin transition zone. Rocks within the crystal-poor member of the Topopah Spring Tuff, lying some 280 m below the crest of Yucca Mountain, constitute the proposed host rock to be excavated for the storage of high-level radioactive wastes. Separation of the tuffaceous rock formations into subunits that allow for detailed mapping and structural interpretations is based on macroscopic features, most importantly the relative abundance of lithophysae and the degree of welding. The latter feature, varying from nonwelded through partly and moderately welded to densely welded, exerts a strong control on matrix porosities and other rock properties that provide essential criteria for distinguishing hydrogeologic and thermal mechanical units, which are of major interest in evaluating the suitability of Yucca Mountain to host a safe and permanent geologic repository for waste storage. A thick and varied sequence of surficial deposits mantle large parts of the Yucca Mountain site area. Mapping of these deposits and associated soils in exposures and in the walls of trenches excavated across buried faults provides evidence for multiple surface-rupturing events along all of the major faults during Pleistocene and Holocene times; these paleoseismic studies form the basis for evaluating the potential for future earthquakes and fault displacements. Thermoluminescence and U-series analyses were used to date the surficial materials involved in the Quaternary faulting events. The rate of erosional downcutting of bedrock on the ridge crests and hillslopes of Yucca Mountain, being of particular concern with respect to the potential for breaching of the proposed underground storage facility, was studied by using rock varnish cation-ratio and 10 Be and 36 Cl cosmogenic dating methods to determine the length of time bedrock outcrops and hillslope boulder deposits were exposed to cosmic rays, which then served as a basis for calculating long-term erosion rates. The results indicate rates ranging from 0.04 to 0.27 cm/k.y., which represent the maximum downcutting along the summit of Yucca Mountain under all climatic conditions that existed there during most of Quaternary time. Associated studies include the stratigraphy of surficial deposits in Fortymile Wash, the major drainage course in the area, which record a complex history of four to five cut-and-fill cycles within the channel during middle to late Quaternary time. The last 2-4 m of incision probably occurred during the last pluvial climatic period, 22-18 ka, followed by aggradation to the present time. Major faults at Yucca Mountain-from east to west, the Paintbrush Canyon, Bow Ridge, Stagecoach Road, Solitario Canyon, Fatigue Wash, Windy Wash, and Northern and Southern Crater Flat Faults-trend predominantly north, are spaced 1-5 km apart, have bedrock displacements ranging from 125 m to as much as 500 m, and exhibit Quaternary movements of several centimeters to a few meters. Displacements are predominantly down to the west, and bedrock/alluvium contacts commonly are marked by fault-line scarps. The predominant northerly fault trend changes to a more northeasterly trend in adjacent areas south

Nevada

Comparative analysis of the geological evolution of the northern and southern Appalachian orogen: Late Ordovician-Permian

Review of the major post-Middle Ordovician lithotectonic elements of the Appalachian orogen indicates that the middle to late Paleozoic geologic evolution of the Appalachian margin was less uniform than that of the early Paleozoic. Evolutionary divergence betweenthe northern and southern segments of the orogen started in the Late Ordovician to Silurian with staggered accretion of the first peri-Gondwanan elements to reach the Laurentia margin, Carolinia in the south and Ganderia in the north. Divergence was amplified duringthe Silurian, specifi cally with respect to the nature of the Laurentian margin and the history of accretion. During this time frame, the northern margin was convergent, whereas the amagmatic southern margin may well have been a transform boundary. In terms of accretion, the Late Silurian-Early Devonian docking of Avalonia was restricted to the northern segment, whereas the southern Appalachians appear to have been largely quiescent during this interval. The evolutionary paths of the two segments of the margin converge on a commonhistory in the Late Devonian during the Famennian event; we suggest that this tectonism was related to the initial marginwide interaction of Laurentia with the peri-Gondwanan blocks of Meguma and Suwanee, providing a uniform tectonic template for margin evolution. The Laurentian-Gondwanan collision is marked by second-order divergences in history. Specifi cally, during the Carboniferous, the southern segment records a larger component of shortening than the northern Appalachians. ?? 2010 Geological Society of America.

Memoir of the Geological Society of America

The tectono-thermal evolution of the Waterbury dome, western Connecticut, based on U-Pb and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages

The Waterbury dome, located in the Rowe-Hawley zone in western Connecticut, is a triple window exposing three terranes: parautochthonous or allochthonous peri-Laurentian rocks in its lowest level 1, allochthonous rocks of the Rowe-Hawley zone in its middle level 2, and allochthonous cover rocks, including Silurian-Devonian rocks of the Connecticut Valley Gasp&eacute; trough, in its highest level 3. Levels 1 and 2 are separated by the Waterbury thrust, a fault equivalent to Cameron's Line, the Taconic suture in southwestern New England. Relict mesoscopic folds and foliation in levels 1 and 2 are truncated by a dominant D 2 migmatitic layering and are likely Taconic. U-Pb zircon crystallization ages of felsic orthogneiss and tonalite, syntectonic with respect to the formation of S 2 , and a biotite quartz diorite that crosscuts level 2 paragneiss are 437 &plusmn; 4 Ma, 434 &plusmn; 4 Ma, and 437 &plusmn; 4 Ma, respectively. Level 3 nappes were emplaced over the Waterbury dome along an Acadian d&eacute;collement synchronous with the formation of a D 3 thrust duplex in the dome. The d&eacute;collement truncates the Ky + Kfs-in (migmatite) isograd in the dome core and a St-in isograd in level 3 nappes, indicating that peak metamorphic conditions in the dome core and nappe cover rocks formed in different places at different times. Metamorphic overgrowths on zircon from the felsic orthogneiss in the Waterbury dome have an age of 387 &plusmn; 5 Ma. Rocks of all levels and the d&eacute;collement are folded by D 4 folds that have a strongly developed, regional crenulation cleavage and D 5 folds. The Waterbury dome was formed by thrust duplexing followed by fold interference during the Acadian orogeny. The 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages of amphibole, muscovite, biotite, and K-feldspar from above and below the d&eacute;collement are ca. 378 Ma, 355 Ma, 360 Ma (above) and 340 (below), and 288 Ma, respectively. Any kilometer-scale vertical movements between dome and nappe rocks were over by ca. 378 Ma. Core and cover rocks of the Waterbury dome record synchronous, post-Acadian cooling.

Connecticut

A model for Iapetan rifting of Laurentia based on Neoproterozoic dikes and related rocks

Geologic evidence of the Neoproterozoic rifting of Laurentia during breakup of Rodinia is recorded in basement massifs of the cratonic margin by dike swarms, volcanic and plutonic rocks, and rift-related clastic sedimentary sequences. The spatial and temporal distribution of these geologic features varies both within and between the massifs but preserves evidence concerning the timing and nature of rifting. The most salient features include: (1) a rift-related magmatic event recorded in the French Broad massif and the southern and central Shenandoah massif that is distinctly older than that recorded in the northern Shenandoah massif and northward; (2) felsic volcanic centers at the north ends of both French Broad and Shenandoah massifs accompanied by dike swarms; (3) differences in volume between massifs of cover-sequence volcanic rocks and rift-related clastic rocks; and (4) WNW orientation of the Grenville dike swarm in contrast to the predominately NE orientation of other Neoproterozoic dikes. Previously proposed rifting mechanisms to explain these features include rift-transform and plume–triple-junction systems. The rift-transform system best explains features 1, 2, and 3, listed here, and we propose that it represents the dominant rifting mechanism for most of the Laurentian margin. To explain feature 4, as well as magmatic ages and geochemical trends in the Northern Appalachians, we propose that a plume–triple-junction system evolved into the rift-transform system. A ca. 600 Ma mantle plume centered east of the Sutton Mountains generated the radial dike swarm of the Adirondack massif and the Grenville dike swarm, and a collocated triple junction generated the northern part of the rift-transform system. An eastern branch of this system produced the Long Range dike swarm in Newfoundland, and a subsequent western branch produced the ca. 554 Ma Tibbit Hill volcanics and the ca. 550 Ma rift-related magmatism of Newfoundland.

GSA Memoirs

Geophysical framework of the Peninsular Ranges batholith—Implications for tectonic evolution and neotectonics

The crustal structure of the Peninsular Ranges batholith can be divided geophysically into two parts: (1) a western mafic part that is dense, magnetic, and characterized by relatively high seismic velocities (>6.25 km/s), low heat flow (<60 mW/m 2 ), and relatively sparse seismicity, and (2) an eastern, more felsic part that is less dense, weakly magnetic, and characterized by lower seismic velocities (<6.25 km/s), high heat flow (>60 mW/m 2 ), and abundant microseismicity. Potential-field modeling indicates that the dense, mafic part of the batholith extends to depths of at least 20 km and likely to the Moho. The magnetic anomalies of the western part of the batholith extend south beyond the spatially extensive exposures of the batholith to the tip of the Baja California peninsula, which suggests that the mafic part of the batholith projects beneath Cenozoic volcanic cover another 400 km. The linearity and undisrupted nature of the magnetic belt of anomalies suggest that the western part of the batholith has behaved as a rigid block since emplacement of the batholith. The batholith may have influenced not only the development of the Gulf of California oblique rift, but also strike-slip faulting along its northern margin, and transtensional faulting along its western margin, likely because it is thermally and mechanically more resistant to deformation than the surrounding crust.

California