Late Cenozoic landscape evolution on lava flow surfaces of the Cima volcanic field, Mojave Desert, California

Research Article| December 01, 1985 Late Cenozoic landscape evolution on lava flow surfaces of the Cima volcanic field, Mojave Desert, California STEPHEN G. WELLS; STEPHEN G. WELLS 1Department of Geology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JOHN C. DOHRENWEND; JOHN C. DOHRENWEND 2U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS-941, Menlo Park, California 94025 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar LESLIE D. McFADDEN; LESLIE D. McFADDEN 3Department of Geology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar BRENT D. TURRIN; BRENT D. TURRIN 4U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS-941, Menlo Park, California 94025 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar KENNETH D. MAHRER KENNETH D. MAHRER 5Teledyne Geotech, 3401 Shiloh Avenue, Garland, Texas 75043 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information STEPHEN G. WELLS 1Department of Geology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 JOHN C. DOHRENWEND 2U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS-941, Menlo Park, California 94025 LESLIE D. McFADDEN 3Department of Geology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131 BRENT D. TURRIN 4U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS-941, Menlo Park, California 94025 KENNETH D. MAHRER 5Teledyne Geotech, 3401 Shiloh Avenue, Garland, Texas 75043 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1985) 96 (12): 1518–1529. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1985)96<1518:LCLEOL>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation STEPHEN G. WELLS, JOHN C. DOHRENWEND, LESLIE D. McFADDEN, BRENT D. TURRIN, KENNETH D. MAHRER; Late Cenozoic landscape evolution on lava flow surfaces of the Cima volcanic field, Mojave Desert, California. GSA Bulletin 1985;; 96 (12): 1518–1529. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1985)96<1518:LCLEOL>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Landscape evolution in the eastern Mojave Desert is recorded by systematic changes in Pliocene to latest Pleistocene volcanic land-forms that show discrete periods of eolian deposition, surface stabilization, drainage-network expansion, and erosion on basaltic lava flows. These processes are documented by K-Ar dating in conjunction with morphometric, sedimentologic, pedologic, and geophysical studies. Lava-flow surfaces are composed of constructional bedrock highs and accretionary eolian mantles with overlying stone pavements. The stratigraphy of these mantles records episodic, climatically induced influxes of eolian fines derived from playa floors and distal piedmont regions. The relative proportions of mantle and exposed bedrock vary with flow age, and flows between 0.25 and 0.75 m.y. old support the most extensive eolian mantle and pavement reflecting landscape stability. Drainage networks evolve on flows by (1) rapid initial extension, (2) maximum extension and elaboration, and (3) abstraction of drainage. Increases in bedrock exposures and erosion of the eolian mantle on flows >0.70 m.y. old coincide with maximum drainage extension and significant changes in soil and hydrologic properties within this mantle. Increasing the content of pedogenic clay and CaCO3 causes the accretionary mantle's permeability to decrease; decreased mantle permeability promotes increased runoff, surface erosion, and drainage development. In the late Cenozoic landscape evolution of lava flows, four major stages reflect variations in landscape stability that are controlled by the impact of episodic influxes of eolian fines and increasing soil-profile development on infiltration-runoff properties of the flow surfaces. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.