The area studied in detail, known as the Antone District,

114 Pages·2008·4.95 MB·English

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF
for the L1. in ep1ogy_
(Name) (Degree) (Major)
Date Thesis presented ],_194
!1u11e_
.Te_ e g.y...oj' te Antone Pie 4kt - - -
Title
of
!heeler Qountj:., Oregon
Abstract Approved 4(0) 4Ltt444r-
.
(Major Professor)
in detail, known as the Antone District,
The area studied
is located in the southeast corner of Wheeler County, Oregon, ,
between longitude 119 37. and 119°54 east, and latitude 44°23
and 443O' north.
Surface elevations
range from 3050 feet above sea level in
of the feet on Spanish
the northeast corner district, to 6M5
Peak.
lavas outcrop
The Miocene Columbia Biver over 48 of the 6$
aquar. miles In the district. Older rocks exposed include Prs
Cretaoeous mota-sedimente and metamorphosed intrusives, Creta-
ceous conglomerates and sandstones, a granite porphyry pluton,
and the brilliantly colored rooks of the upper 011goe.ne and
lower Miocene John $ay. The Ierly Tertiary formation known as
the Clarno does not outcrop in this district. Younger forma-
tions Include the
gravels and tuffs of the upper Miooene
formation, extensive
Masoall outcrops of the Pliocone Rattle-
snake, and limited accumulations of undifferentiated Quat.rnary
andesite
alluvium. A horublende extrusive, which is probably
of Pleistocene the
age, occurs in the western part of district.
unite is discussed under
aoh of the above atratigraphic
the foflowing headings: Distribution and Topographic Expression;
Lithology; Thickness; Age and Stratlgraph.te Relations.
A section of the "Dayville Quadrangls, Issued by the U. S.
aeologioal Survay, was used as a base for a detailed map show-
ing the distribution of the various formations.
Special attention was devoted to the study of the Pre-Cr.-
taceous rooks. Approximately 8000 feet of ohioritle schist,
argillite, oaleareous sohist, phyllie, marble, and quartzite
are &fieudsddIn this older series. Basic Intrusivee, largely
altered to serpentine, cut the meta-sediments.
Antone District is discussed under the
The structure of the
following subheadings: obn Day Valley Synotine; Ochoco
Escarpment and Highland;
Pre-Cretaceous Folding and Faulting;
Cretaceous Monocline; and, Fracturing and Sli.ping of the
Rattlesnake Formation.
Special sections have been devoted to historical and
economic geology.
The report is adequately illustrated with photomicrographs
with pertinent detail photo-
of representative rooks and numerous
is a plate showing the details
graphs. Also included structural
of a
north-south section through the middle of the Antone
District.
GEOLOtY OF THE ANTOI DISTRICT
OF
WHEELER COUNT(, OREGON
by
JOSEPU PORTER DOBELL
A THESIS
subL.itted te
OREGON STATE COLLEGE
in partial ftt1fi1lent of
the requirements for the
degree of
MASTER OP SCIENCE
June 1948
APPROVED:
Professor of Geology
In Charge of Major
Head of Departnent of Geology
Chairnan of Sohool Graduate Coitteo
Dean of Graduate Seheol
ACKNOWLDG}AENTS
due to my major professor,
Thanks are
Dr. W. D. Wilkinson; not only fcr his guidance
of my field work, but also for his criticisms
and kindly suggestions during the writing of
the thesis. His encouragement has been greatly
appreciated.
Drs. E. L. Packard, W. E. Caidwell,
I. S. Allison and E. T. Hodge are thanked for
their
interest and advice.
expressed to
Special gratitude Is heroin
my wife, ulia B. Dobell, for her aid in the
this thesis.
preparation of
TABLE
Page
Introduction 1
Purpose 1
Methods of Investigation 2
Geography 4
Location and Extent of Area 4
Relief 4.
DraInage 5
Climate 5
vegetation 6
Economic Resources 8
Historical Notes 9
Review of Literature
14.
Formations In the Antone District 17
Geology 18
Pre-Cretaceous Formations 18
Distribution and Topographic Expression 18
Lithology 20
ThIckness 26
Relations
Age and Stratigraphic 27
Cretaceous Sediments 28
Distribution and Topographic Expression 28
Lithology 30
Thickness 36
Stratigraphic Relations and Age 36
Granite Porphyry 39
Distribution and Topographic Expression 39
Lithology 40
Lithologic Relations and Age 43
John Day Formation 45
Distribution and Topographic Expression 45
Lithology 46
Thickness 51
Age and Stratigraphic Relations 51
Columbia River Basalt 53
Distribution and Topographic Expression 53
Lithology 54
Thiokness 57
Age and Stratigraphic Relations 58
TABLE OF CONTEITS
Page
Mascall Formation 59
Distribution
and Topographic Expression 59
Litbology 59
Thickness 61
Stratigraphic Relations and Age 61
Rattlesnake Formation 64
Distribution and Topoaphio Expression 64
Lithology 64.
Thickness-- 71
Stratigraphic Relations and Age 71
Hornblende Andesite 75
Distribution and Topographic Expression 75
Lithology 75
Thickness 79
Age and Stratigraphic Relations 79
uaternary Alluvium 80
Structure 84
ohn Day Valley Syncline 84
Ochoco Escarpment and Highland 86
Pre-Cretaceous Folding and Faulting 90
Cretaceous Monocline 91
Fracturing and Slumping or the
Rattlesnake Formation
94.
Geologic History 95
Economic Geology 100
Bibliography 102
LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Frontispiece - Looking southwest across the Antone
District. Spanish Peak on skyline.
Plate I Looation of the Antone District 3
District
Plate II Geologic Map of the Antone 103
Plate III Geologic Structure Section 104
Table 1. Thicknesses of Pre-Cretaceous Sediments-- 26
Table 2. Molluscs Found in the Cretaceous
Sediments at Spanish Gulch 3
Table 3. Rattlesnake Fauna 74
Fig. 1. Valley fill at Camp Watson 12
FIg. 2. Military Graves at Camp Watson 12
Fig. 3. View of ridge between Spanish and
Mule Gulch 19
Fig. 4. View south along Pre-Cretaceous surface
of Spanish Gulch Ridge 19
Fig. 5. Photomicrograph of schist from north
end of Spanish Gulch Ridge 21
Fig. 6. Photomicrograph of argillite from
Birch Creek Ridge 21
Fig. 7. Photomicrograph of serpentine altered
peridotite
from 25
Fig. 8. Photomicrograph showing enstatite and
pidgeonite 25
FIg. 9.
Looking 5 60° E from the north side
of Fred Creek 29
LIST OF FIGURES
outcrop on
Fig. 10. Cretaceous conglomerate
south side of Fred Creek
29
Fig. 11. Photoinicrograph of quartzite
35
Fig. 12. Photomicrograph of impure limestone
from Birch Creek
35
Fig. 13. Photoiniorograph of granite porphyry 42
Fig. 14.
Roof pendant in granite porphyry intr-
usive 42
Fig. 15. Typical "bad land" erosional forms of
Lower John Day formation 49
Fig. 16. Photomiorograph of rounded hornblende
rhyolite
in John Day 49
Fig. 17. Pentagonal basalt columns 55
Fig. 18. Hexagonal columns in talus near base
of "horns" of Spanish Peak escarpment--- 55
Fig. 19. Outcrop of Mascall formation on
east side of Pine Gulch 62
Fig. 20. Outcrop of compact, massive Masoall
tufts
62
Fig. 21. Contact between rhyolitic and silt
of Rattlesnake
members 66
Fig. 22. Jointed, compact silts below Massive
rhyolitic cap-rock
66
east bank
Fig. 23. Rattlesnake rim-rook on
of Spanish Gulch 68
Fig. 24. Next of basalt pebbles in. Whiskey
Gulch outcrop
68
Fig. 25. ashy section of
Erosional forms of an
Rattlesnake rim-rock 72
surface of rim-rook-
Fig. 26. Slag-like horizontal 72
LIST FIGtJRES
Fig. 27. Photomicrograph of hornblende andesite-- 77
Fig. 28. Photomiorograph of corroded hornblende-- 77
Fig. 29. An accumulation of slope wash and talus
materials near Rook Lake 82
Fig. 30.
Poorly sorted alluvium in channel of
Spanish Gulch 82
Fig. 31. Recent alluvial fan deposited on south
side of Rook Creek 83
Fig. 32. Ash bed near top of stream terrace in
lower Spanish Gulch
83
Fig. 33. South limb of ohn Day Valley syncline
85
FIg. 34..
View showing Antone fault traces
85
Fig. 35. View of Ochoco highland looking In
direction from crest
southeast of
Spanish Peak
87
Fig. 36. Spanish Peak "Horns" as viewed from. west
shore of Rock Lake
87
Fig. 37. Sohistosity of Pre-Cretaceous rocks
89
Fig. 38. Drag fold in meta sediments 89
Fig. 39. Slump of Rattlesnake rim-rook 93
Fig. 4.0. Post-Rattlesnake fault
93
Fig. 41. Shaft house at Red Jacket Prospect 101