Paul T. Robinson, Department of Earth Sciences,
University of California, Riverside, California 92521
MILES |
|
|
Kimberly. Turn left on Highway 19 toward Dayville and
John Day. |
(0.35) |
|
0.35 |
Cross North Fork of John Day River. |
(0.40) |
|
0.75 |
High level pediment at 12 o'clock. These are common along the John Day
River between Kimberly and Picture Gorge. |
(0.60) |
|
1.35 |
Stop 1 (Optional). Dike of Picture Corge Basalt cuts upper buff beds of
the John Day Formation, Dike strikes about N.30°W. and is essentially
vertical. It has fine-grained margin and complex joint pattern.
Although dike is about 10 meters wide the intruded sediments show little
baking and only moderate induration. |
(0.05) |
|
1.40 |
Stream gravels in roadcut on left. |
(0.55) |
|
1.95 |
Dike crosses road at this point. |
(0.75) |
|
2.70 |
Tuffaceous claystones and tuffs of upper John Day
Formation in roadcut on left. From here to Picture Gorge roadcuts are
mostly in John Day rocks. |
(0.45) |
|
3.15 |
High level pediments on both sides of John Day River
ahead. |
(0.40) |
|
3.55 |
Picture Gorge dike on hillside east of John Day River
at 2 o'clock. |
(0.60) |
|
4.15 |
Greenish tuffs and tuffaceous claystones of John Day
Formation at 3 o'clock. |
(1.15) |
|
5.30 |
Stop 2 (Optional). Green beds of John Day Formation overlying Picture
Gorge Ignimbrite on left side of road. The ignimbrite here is about 10
meters thick and exhibits platy jointing near base with massive, rounded
outcrops above. Ignimbrite is moderately welded with eutaxitic structure
defined by elongate pumice fragments. Quartz bipyramids and feldspar
crystals comprise 1-2% and lithic fragments are sparse. Altered glass
chips and fragments are also present. Ignimbrite is altered and
zeolitized. |
(0.40) |
|
5.70 |
Good exposures of green tuffs and tuffaceous
claystones of John Day Formation at 9 o'clock. Note characteristic
erosion into pinnacles. Ledge is Picture Gorge Ignimbrite. |
(1.40) |
|
7.10 |
Good exposures of green tuffs and tuffaceous
claystones of John Day Formation at 9 and l1 o'clock. Ledges are
slightly more resistant airfall tuffs inter layered with less resistant
claystones. |
(0.55) |
|
7.65 |
Middle John Day beds at 2 to 3 o'clock with Picture Gorge Ignimbrite
forming prominent ledge. The ignimbrite is partly slumped toward the
river. Stream gravels in roadcut on left. |
|
Figure 3. Index map of north-central Oregon showing
field trip route and locations of stops described in text. (click on
image for an enlargement in a new window)
|
|
(1.50) |
|
9.15 |
Entrance to Foree Area of John Day Fossil Beds
National Monument. Middle green portion of John Day Formation with ledge
of Picture Corge Ignimbrite crops out on both sides of river. Note slump
blocks at 3 o'clock on west side of river. |
(0.35) |
|
9.50 |
Lower red tuffaceous claystones of John Day
Formation at 9 o 'clock. |
(0.85) |
|
10.35 |
Large landslide blocks of Picture Gorge Basalt on both sides of the
road. |
(0.55) |
|
10.90 |
Cathedral Rock at 1 o'clock shows ledge of Picture
Gorge Ignimbrite interbedded with green tuffs and tuffaceous claystones
of John Day Formation. |
(1.50) |
|
12.40 |
Ahead, dips in Picture Gorge flows define syncline
plunging south (upriver). |
(0.50) |
|
12.90 |
Sheared serpentinite, presumably of Triassic age,
Brown and Thayer (1966), left of road. |
(0.90) |
|
13.80 |
Entrance to Turtle Cover Area, John Day Fossil Beds
National Park. Type area of Turtle Cover Member of John Day Formation. |
(0.60) |
|
14.40 |
Bridge across river. Enter Picture Gorge Basalt, brought down by plunge
of syncline. |
(0.50) |
|
14.90 |
Fault, south side up, Picture Gorge Basalt. Rock 0.5
miles to the brings Cretaceous conglomerates into contact with
Conglomerates exposed on both sides of road at Goose south. |
(2.15) |
|
17.05 |
Stop 3. Sheep Rock on east side of river. Complete section of John Day
Formation exposed here. Red beds on left (to the north) are the Big
Basin Member resting on Cretaceous conglomerates. Overlying green tuffs
and tuffaceous claystones make up Turtle Cover Member, characterized by
extensive alteration and zeolitization. The Picture Gorge Ignimbrite
occurs in the upper part of the Turtle Cover Member. The buff to tan
beds in the upper part of the formation comprise the Kimberly Member,
characterized by unzeolitized tuffs and tuffaceous claystones. This is
overlain by two flows of Picture Gorge Basalt. Note small normal faults
offsetting Picture Gorge Ignimbrite, downdropped to the north. |
(1.60) |
|
18.65 |
Entrance to Picture Gorge. Location of type section of the basalt. The
gorge is not named for the graffiti, some of it geologic in the
form of painted numbers incorrectly designating the number of flows.
Lowest exposed flow in roadcut on right. |
(0.20) |
|
18.85 |
Intersection with U.S. 26, Continue straight ahead
through Gorge. Note many flow contacts. |
(0.90) |
|
19.75 |
Well exposed flow contact on right. |
(0.45) |
|
20.20 |
Leave gorge, with tuffaceous sedimentary rocks of Miocene Mascall
Formation overlying Picture Gorge Basalt. |
(1.20) |
|
21.40 |
Turn right sharply onto Day Creek Road. Proceed 0.1 mile, turn right on
dirt track and continue for several hundred feet to overlook.
Stop 4. Dip slope of Picture Gorge Basalt to the north projects beneath valley
of John Day River. Picture Gorge Basalt unconformably overlain by
Mascall formation with contact roughly parallel tn river. Mascall
Formation unconformably overlain by Rattlesnake Formation just west nf
Picture Gorge. Rattlesnake Formation consists of prominent ash-flow
sheet (~6 m.y.) lying between layers of conglomerate, each several
hundred feet thick. Rattlesnake unconformably overlaps Mascall
Formation and rests on Picture Gorge Rasalt directly above the gorge.
Return to U.S. 26 and Oregon 19. Turn left and proceed northward back
through the gorge. |
(2.80) |
|
24.20 |
Junction U.S. 26 and Oregon 19. Turn left
toward Mitchell and proceed up Rock Creek. Road cuts are in Picture
Gorge Basalt. |
(1.60) |
|
25.80 |
Contact of Mascall Formation and Picture Gorge Basalt
in road cut on left. Ledge on top of bill at left is Rattlesnake welded
tuff. For about the next 2 miles Rock Creek follows contact between
Picture Gorge Basalt and Mascall Formation. |
(1.90) |
|
27.70 |
Fault crosses road, downdropping Mascall beds on
north side. Road traverses basalt for next 0.3 miles and then passes
into overlying Mascall Formation. |
(1.00) |
|
28.70 |
Fault crosses road, downdropping Mascall beds on north side and
uplifting Picture Gorge Basalt on south side. Road enters basalt again. |
(0.90) |
|
29.60 |
Picture Gorge Basalt and underlying sediments of John Day Formation.
Good exposures of John Day rocks on right side of road at 3 o'clock.
Road passes through poorly exposed outcrops of John Pay Formation for
about 1 mile. |
(0.90) |
|
30.50 |
Small outcrop of Cretaceous conglomerate on right side of
highway. |
(0.40) |
|
30.90 |
Flows and breccia of Clarno Formation exposed in
roadcuts on right hand side of highway. Roadcuts continue in the Clarno
Formation for approximately the next 5 miles, |
(0.95) |
|
31.85 |
Pinnacles in gully on left side of highway are
composed of Clarno laharic breccia. |
(0.30) |
|
32.15 |
John Day tuffs overlie laharic breccias of Clarno Formation south of
stream. John Day beds largely obscured by slump blocks of overlying
Picture Gorge Basalt. |
(1.75) |
|
33.90 |
Clarno laharic breccia on right side of highway is overlain by John Day
tuffaceous sediment which in turn is overlain by Picture Gorge Basalt. |
(2.05) |
|
35.95 |
Picture Gorge Basalt overlying red sediments of John Day Formation. Road
cuts for next 5 miles are in Picture Gorge Basalt as road climbs through
section. |
(4.90) |
|
40.85 |
Junction of Antone Road and M.S. 26. Continue straight ahead. Quarry
south (left) of highway is in Picture Gorge Basalt. Ridge north of
highway consists of Picture Gorge Basalt capped by Rattlesnake welded
tuff. For about next 5.5 miles highway runs along top of Picture Gorge
Basalt with Rattlesnake welded tuff exposed in hills on right hand side. |
(0.80) |
|
41.65 |
Tree covered ridge to south (left) is Ochoco Basalt resting on
Rattlesnake Formation. |
(1.00) |
|
4.65 |
Stop 5 (Optional). Outcrop of Rattlesnake welded tuff on left. Glassy,
fine-grained, moderately to densely welded tuff with a few large
collapsed pumice fragments. Outcrop has well developed platy
jointing. |
(1.90) |
|
44.55 |
John Day Formation in road cut with Rattlesnake
welded tuff on bill to right. |
(2.75) |
|
47.30 |
Rattlesnake welded tuff caps ridge to left. This is westernmost
occurrence of this member in the John Day drainage. |
(0.50) |
|
47.90 |
Highly altered Clarno andesite on right side of
road. Road cuts will be in Clarno Formation for approximately the next 7
miles. |
(1.15) |
|
49.05 |
Keyes Summit. Keyes Mountain, an exhumed Oligocene volcano
composed of Clarno andesite flows and breccias, can be seen at 2
o'clock. |
(1.90) |
|
50.95 |
Clarno laharic breccia with very large andesite clasts on right
side of road. |
(1.70) |
|
52.65 |
Platy Clarno andesite flow in road cut on right. |
(1.90) |
|
54.55 |
Turn off for Mitchell business loop. Continue straight ahead on
U.S. 26. |
(0.20) |
|
54.75 |
Contact of Clarno Formation and Cretaceous shales and
conglomerates on right. |
(0.25) |
|
55.00 |
Junction Oregon 206 with U.S. 26. Continue straight ahead on M.S.
26. |
(0.35) |
|
55.35 |
Turn right on old highway.
Stop 6. Examine Cretaceous sandstone and conglomerate. Continue on old
highway for 0.40 miles to Oregon 206. Turn sharply left on 206 toward
Service Creek and Fossil. |
(0.95) |
|
56.30 |
Contact of Clarno lava flows overlying Cretaceous rocks in roadcut
on right. |
(0.25) |
|
56.55 |
Outcrop of Cretaceous sandstone, conglomerate, and shale. Clarno
dike can be seen at 9 o' clock. |
(0.75) |
|
57.30 |
Roadcut in Cretaceous shales. Butte at 2 o'clock is Clarno
andesite on top of Cretaceous rocks. Straight ahead on skyline is
Picture Gorge Basalt of Sutton Mountain. |
(2.00) |
|
59.30 |
On left are Permian (?) metasediments. Rocks include phyllites,
marbles, and blueschists. (Swanson, 1969). |
(1.05) |
|
60.35 |
Hills on left are composed of Cretaceous conglomerate and
sandstone. |
(4.35) |
|
64.70 |
Clarno andesites overlie Cretaceous rocks on right side of
highway. |
(0.70) |
|
65.40 |
Junction of Oregon 206 with Twickenham Road. Turn left toward
Twickenham. At right is narrow hand of John Day sediments between Clarno
Formation and Picture Gorge Basalt. For approximately next 7 miles the
road traverses Sutton Mountain, a shallow syncline of Picture Gorge
Basalt. |
(2.65) |
|
68.05 |
Hackly jointing in thick basalt flow on right. |
(0.80) |
|
68.85 |
Hackly jointing in thick basalt flow. |
(3.80) |
|
72.65 |
Twickenham Bridge across John Day River. This is on the west side
of the Sutton Mountain syncline and Picture Gorge Basalt dips eastward
with John Day rocks exposed beneath. Steep, cliff-forming flows at 12
o'clock and 2 o'clock are thick, hackly-jointed flows seen along
road. |
(1.70) |
|
74.35 |
Hogback on right is Picture Gorge Ignimbrite interlayered with
tuffs and tuffaceous claystones of John Day Formation. Numerous
landslide blocks of Picture Gorge Basalt obscure the upper part of the
John Day Formation. |
(0.45) |
|
74.80 |
Picture Gorge Ignimbrite exposed on right. White, resistant ledge
below ignimbrite is rhyolite air-fall tuff with large soda-rich
sanidine crystals believed to be equivalent of ash-flow tuff of member G
of western facies of John Day Formation. |
(1.05) |
|
75.85 |
Clarno lava flows on left underlie John Day Formation. Good view on
right of John Day outcrops with Picture Gorge Basalt above. |
(0.90) |
|
76.75 |
Red tuffaceous claystones in road cut on left are
lower John Day beds lying just above contact with Clarno Formation. At
12 o'clock are the buff and green tuffaceous sediments of the middle
John Day. |
(0.85) |
|
77.60 |
Stop 7. Walk up gully for several hundred feet to outcrop of basal
ash-flow tuff of John Day Formation. The tuff is moderately welded with
a well developed eutaxitic texture. It contains about 5% phenocrysts,
chiefly quartz and sanidine with minor plagioclase. Based on lithology,
phenocryst mineralogy, and stratigraphic position this tuff is
correlated with the basal ash-flow tuff of the western facies of the
John Day Formation (Swanson and Robinson, 1968; Woodburne and Robinson,
1977). |
(0.35) |
|
77.95 |
Red tuffaceous claystone of basal John Day Formation
resting on platy Clarno lava flows. Road follows the contact for about
the next 1.5 miles. |
(1.15) |
|
79.10 |
Basal ashflow tuff of John Day Formation is exposed at end of dam.
Clarno andesite flows crop out across the reservoir, on left. |
(0.40) |
|
79.50 |
The Clarno-John Day contact rises to the right and
the road enters Clarno outcrops. Road cuts will be in Clarno Formation
from here to town of Fossil. |
(1.25) |
|
80.75 |
High peak at 9 o'clock is Clarno mafic
intrusion. |
(0.40) |
|
81.15 |
Red claystones and laharic breccias on left are
interlayered with Clarno an desite flows. |
(2.35) |
|
83.50 |
High peak at 12 o'clock is Rancherie Rock. This is a
porphyritic hornblende andesite plug in Clarno Formation. |
(4.40) |
|
87.90 |
Junction with Oregon Highway 19. Turn left toward
Fossil. |
(0.75) |
|
88.65 |
Butte Creek Summit. Good outcrops of Clarno andesite
on both sides of highway. |
(5.60) |
|
94.25 |
Kinzua road junction. Continue straight ahead toward Fossil. |
(2.60) |
|
96.85 |
Tuffaceous claystones of Clarno Formation, in road cut on right. |
(0.80) |
|
97.65 |
Junction Oregon 19 and 218. End 2nd day.
THIRD DAY |
0.00 |
Trip log resumes at junction of Oregon Highway 19 and 218. Continue
straight ahead on Highway 19. |
(0.05) |
|
0.05 |
Junction Highway 19 and 218. Continue straight ahead
on Highway 19. |
(0.50) |
|
0.55 |
Outcrop on right is Clarno andesite. Hills at 12 o'clock are Yakima
Basalt overlying John Day Formation. |
(0.35) |
|
0.90 |
Butte Creek turnoff. Continue straight ahead on
Highway 19. Good exposures of Columbia River Basalt occur along Butte
Creek. Picture Gorge and Yakima Basalt interfinger near mouth of Butte
Creek where it enters John Day River. |
(0.40) |
|
1.30 |
Red tuffaceous claystone in roadcut marks Clarno-John Day contact. |
(0.30) |
|
1.60 |
Outcrops in roadcut are rhyodacite flow interlayed with lapilli tuffs of
the John Day Formation. |
(0.20) |
|
1.80 |
Junction of old highway. Turn right on Hoover Creek
road. |
(0.40) |
|
2.20 |
Stop 8. Examine rhyodacite flow and lapilli tuff of
John Day Formation. The lapilli tuff is probably an unwelded ash-flow
deposit. It cannot be correlated with any other ash-flow sheets in the
John Day Formation and is restricted to the area northwest of the Blue
Mountain uplift. |
(0.95) |
|
3.15 |
Road junctionstay on paved road toward
Mayville. Note outcrops of Yakima Basalt ahead and to the right,
characterzied by stone rings and stripes. Note difference in outcrop
character between Yakima and Picture Gorge Basalts. |
(0.60) |
|
3.75 |
Stop 9 (Optional). Outcrop on right is light colored,
poorly bedded tuffaceous claystone of upper John Day Formation. This
sequence is typical of the upper John Day in the area west and north of
the Blue Mountains. |
(0.65) |
|
4.40 |
Junction with Oregon Highway 19. Turn left, back
toward Fossil. Road crosses Basalt-John Day contact and enters
exposures of John Day Formation. |
(4.30) |
|
8.70 |
Road junction Oregon Highways 19 and 218. Turn right
on Highway 218 toward Antelope and Shaniko. Road cuts for next 19 miles
will be in Clarno Formation. |
(15.75) |
|
24.45 |
Stop 10 (Optional). Clarno Unit, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.
Steep cliffs are Clarno mudflow brecia. This sequence is better bedded
and more stratiform than most of the Clarno Formation. |
(0.95) |
|
25.40 |
Entrance to Camp Hancock, run by Oregon Museum of
Science and Industry. Locality of the famous Clarno 'nut'
bedsnumerous plant and vertebrate fossils in the upper Clarno
Formation. |
(0.95) |
|
26.35 |
Cliffs on both sides of highway are basal John Day welded tuff
overlying red tuffaceous claystones of upper Clarno Formation. |
(0.40) |
|
26.75 |
Stop 11. Basal welded tuff of member A of the John
Day Formation is exposed in road cut. From here the unit can be traced,
in almost continuous outcrop, to Grizzly, a distance of nearly 50 miles.
The unit extends 3-4 miles east of this point, where it is overlapped by
younger members of the John Day Formation. This unit is taken as the
base of the John Day Formation in the Clarno-Ashwood-Antelope area, the
type area of the western facies of the Formation. In this outcrop the
tuff is fairly densely welded, devitrified, and somewhat richer in
lithic fragments than elsewhere. Rock contains about 5%
crystalsquartz, sandine, and plagioclase.
High peak to north on right hand side of John Day River is Ironside
Mountain, underlain by Yakima Basalt with at least one flow of Picture Gorge
Basalt at base. The Columbia River Basalt rests unconformably on the
John Day Formation, The ledge extending toward the river from the base
of Ironside Mountains is composed of alkali-olivine basalt flows
interbedded with tuffaceous sediments of the John Day Formation, member
F.
The entire area west of the John Day River is a large landslide in which
blocks of Columbia River Basalt are mixed with tuffaceous sediments of
the John Day Formation. One block of Columbia River Basalt, about 3 km
long, moved as a coherent block. Note general hummocky topography and
numerous slump blocks. |
(0.80) |
|
27.55 |
Clarno Bridge across John Paw River. |
(0.40) |
|
27.95 |
Basal ashflow tuff of John Day Formation in roadcut
on right band side. Note overlying tuffaceous sediments of member F.
From here road traverses land slide area for next 7 miles. |
(6.65) |
|
34.60 |
Outcrops in cliffs on right are basalt flows of John
Day Formation (member F) overlain by basal ash-flow sheet of member
H. |
(0.70) |
|
35.30 |
White tuffaceous sediments of member F. John Day
Formation in roadcut on left. |
(0.50) |
|
35.80 |
Crest of hill between John Day Valley and Antelope
Valley. White tuffaceous sediments of member F in roadcuts. Cliffs at 8
and 12 o'clock are Yakima Basalt overlying John Day Formation. Road cuts
are in landslide material for approximately next 3.5 miles. |
(2.85) |
|
38.65 |
Road junctioncontinue straight ahead on Highway
218. Rim on skyline ahead is edge of Columbia Plateau. Irregular hills
in foreground are slump blocks of Yakima Basalt. |
(3.15) |
|
41.80 |
Road cut on left is probably trachyandesite of member
B, John Day Formation. Trachybasalt is difficult to distinguish
chemically or mineralogically from Yakima Basalt but here appears to
underlie John Day sediments. |
(0.55) |
|
4.35 |
Antelope Road junction. Turn left toward Willowdale
and Madras. |
(0.55) |
|
42.90 |
Low brown hills on right are alkali-olivine basalt
flows of member F, John Day Formation. |
(1.40) |
|
44.30 |
John Day basalt on right, Lithophysal welded tuff of
member F, John Day Formation, overlies rhyolite flow of member C on
left. |
(1.35) |
|
45.65 |
Welded tuff of member E on left. |
(0.65) |
|
46.30 |
Welded tuff of member E in road cut on left. Road follows contact of
member E and F for about next 3 miles. Brownish hills on right are John
Day basalt capped by Yakima Basalt. |
(3.15) |
|
49.45 |
Stop 12. Alkali-olivine basalt flow interbedded with
tuffaceous sediments of member F, John Day Formation. Basalt is aphyric
with medium-grained ophitic texture. Some pegmatitic segregations are
composed of large ilmenite and clinopyroxene crystals. Several shear
zones cut basalt. |
(0.70) |
|
50.15 |
Stop 13. Outcrop of gray, weakly welded ashflow tuff
of member G, John Day Formation. Note abundant large soda sanidine
crystals, sparse lithic fragments, and slightly collapsed pumice lumps.
Eastward from this point the unit is an airfall tuff; to the southwest
it passes into densely welded, devitrified tuff. Note brown weathering
color of John Day basalt at 9 o'clock. High hills at 10 and l1 o'clock
are Yakima Basalt overlying John Day Formation. Basal ash-flow tuff of
member G is overlain by bedded tuffaceous sediments. At 12 o'clock, the
low ledge just above the road is the basal ash-low sheet of member
H. |
(2.30) |
|
52.45 |
On left, Yakima Basalt cuts down into John Day
Formation in old valley or topographic depression. Note columnar
jointing in basalt at 12 o'clock. |
(0.35) |
|
52.80 |
Approximate contact of Yakima Basalt and John Day Formation. Roadcuts
are in Yakima Basalt for next 1 mile. |
(0.30) |
|
53.10 |
Fault in Yakima Basalt at l1 o'clock; left side down. |
(1.35) |
|
54.45 |
Hogbacks dipping to west (right) at 1 o'clock are
John Day welded tuffs uplifted by major fault. Road cuts on left are
landslide blocks of Yakima Basalt. |
(0.95) |
|
55.40 |
Low ledges on both sides of road are basal ash-flow sheet of
member I, John Day Formation. |
(0.40) |
|
55.80 |
Junction with U.S. 96turn right. |
(0.15) |
|
55.95 |
Stop 14, Basal ash-flow tuff of member I; unwelded glassy tuff
characterized by high percent of lithic fragments, abundant pumice
lumps, and glass chips and fragments. Contains 1-2% crystals, chiefly
plagioclase. Unit becomes thicker and more densely welded to the
south. |
(1.25) |
|
57.20 |
Road junctionturn right on old highway. |
(0.90) |
|
58.10 |
Road junctionturn right and return to U.S.
97. |
(0.80) |
|
58.90 |
Junction U.S. 97turn left toward Willowdale. |
(0.70) |
|
59.60 |
Willowdale |
(1.90) |
|
61.50 |
Road junctionturn left toward Ashwood. Ledge on right after turn
is basal welded tuff of member H, involved in a small fold. |
(0.75) |
|
62.25 |
Stop 15 (Optional). Examine ledge of welded tuff of member H. Rock
is red, very fine-grained ash-flow tuff. Unit is not highly welded but
is well indurated. Contains very sparse plagioclase phenocrysts and rare
rock fragments. Locally, glassy base is preserved. Ahead at 12 o'clock
is landslide lobe which moved down from outcrops on skyline. |
(1.00) |
|
63.25 |
Ahead at 12 o'clock is dip slope of lithophysal welded tuff of
member E, John Day Formation, bounded by fault on far side. Hogback at 9
o'clock is basal welded tuff of member H with a glassy base and
crystallized top. This is overlain at 8 o'clock by basal welded tuff of
member I with a thin zone of intervening sediments. Above basalt tuff of
member I are tuffaceous sediments, mostly claystones with small pumice
lapilli. Hill is capped by Yakima Basalt. |
(1.95) |
|
65.20 |
Road crosses major fault at this pointwest (left) side up.
At 9 o'clock flat-lying welded tuffs of member E cap the rhyolite flow
of member C, separated by small amount of tuffaceous sediment of member
D. Just to left of this outcrop the entire sequence dips westward about
40°, uplifted by fault. From here to Ashwood the road will generally
go down section through the John Day Formation and into the Clarno. Road
cuts for next 2.2 miles will be in member F with landslide blocks of
welded tuff from members G and H. |
(1.15) |
|
66.35 |
Pony Butte at 4 o'clock is capped by basal welded tuff of member
H. Lower ledge is basal welded tuff of member G. |
(0.95) |
|
67.30 |
Contact of tuffaceous sediments of member F and welded tuff of
member E. For approximately next 5 miles roadcuts will be in lithophysal
tuff of member E. |
(1.20) |
|
68.50 |
Stop 16. Examine outcrops of lithophysal tuff of member E. Rock is
fine grained, densely welded crystallized tuff containing sparse
plagioclase phenocrysts and rare rock fragments; locally has glassy
base. Abundant lithophysae form layers alternating with massive portions
of the tuff but sometimes they occur in vertical swarms. This tuff
varies greatly in thickness and appears to fill a local topographic
depression on rhyolite flow of member C. |
(1.20) |
|
69.70 |
Major outcrop of tuff and tuffaceous sediments of
member D beneath welded tuff of member E. For next 0.2 miles welded tuff
thins rapidly to east and northeast. |
(0.85) |
|
70.55 |
Road now runs on top of member E. Low hills on left are rhyolite flow of
member C. |
(1.45) |
|
72.00 |
Base of member E resting on trachyandesite flow of
member B, John Day Formation. |
(0.50) |
|
72.50 |
Layer of sediment separating trachyandesite flows of
member B. |
(0.30) |
|
72.80 |
Contact between trachyandesite of member B and
reddish tuffaceous sediments of middle part of member A. |
(0.10) |
|
72.90 |
Basal welded tuff of member A. |
(0.10) |
|
73.00 |
Contact between John Day and Clarno Formations. Road
cuts will be in Clarno to bottom of valley. Note red zone at top of
Clarnothis saprolite is discontinuous and less well-developed in
this area than in the area east of the Blue Mountains. |
(1.50) |
|
74.50 |
Road bends to right. Turn left on dirt road and
proceed 0.90 miles to end of road. |
(0.90) |
|
75.40 |
Stop 17, At 12 o'clock is steep-sided rhyolite dome
with flow extending off to right. Dome marks the vent from which the
rhyolite flow of member C, John Day Formation, was erupted. Note crude
columnar jointing in dome. Coarse boulder lahar on left is in Clarno
Formation. Return to highway. |
(0.90) |
|
76.30 |
Junction with paved road. Continue straight ahead
toward Ashwood. |
(1.75) |
|
78.05 |
Ashwood Road junctionturn right on gravel road
toward Hay Creek and Grizzly. |
(2.10) |
|
80.15 |
Contact of John Day and Clarno Formations in roadcut
on right.
Stop 18. Bus will proceed 0.35 miles up road and park. Road
traverses a complete section of member A of John Day Formation. Basal
ash-flow sheet exhibits two cooling units, mineralogically and
petrographically similar. This is overlain by a sequence of poorly
exposed lapilli tuffs and tuffaceous claystones which are capped by
upper fine-grained ash-flow tuff of member A. Entire section overlain
by trachyandesite of member B. |
(1.20) |
|
81.35 |
Top of hill. Road junctioncontinue straight
ahead and follow left hand fork. Tuffaceous sediments of member D are
exposed in roadcut. Here member D lies between trachyandesite of member
B and lithophysal tuff of member E. From this point the road runs
approximately south and roughly parallels the contact between members B
and E crossing back and forth for next 5.5 miles. |
(1.05) |
|
82.40 |
Contact of members B and E in roadcut on right. |
(0.70) |
|
83.10 |
Contact of members B and E in roadcut on
left. |
(0.60) |
|
83.70 |
Contact of members B and E in roadcut on
left. |
(0.70) |
|
84.40 |
Contact of members B and E in roaduct on right. Ledge
on right is member E, much thinner here than in Pony Creek Canyon. Minor
amounts of tuffaceous sediments of member D lie beneath member in
roadcuts for the next 0.5 miles. |
(1.00) |
|
85.40 |
Excellent view of High Cascade peaks on right. Double
butte in foreground is Teller Buttecapped with welded tuff of
member G. |
(0.20) |
|
85.60 |
Contact of members B and E in roadcut on left |
(0.40) |
|
86.00 |
Sediments between trachyandesite flows of member
B. |
(1.30) |
|
87.30 |
Welded tuff of member E overlies member B in roadcut
on left. Welded tuff of member E forms prominent ledge dipping northwest
on hill at 2 o'clock. Just ahead, where road swings left, the hill at 1
o'clock is capped with welded tuff of member G. |
(0.45) |
|
87.75 |
Tuffaceous sediments of member E are exposed in
roadcuts on right. Roadcuts are in member F for approximately next 4
miles. |
(2.10) |
|
89.85 |
White pumice lapilli tuffs in roadcut on right are
near the base of member F. Good exposures of member F occur on bill at 8
o'clock. These are mostly red to gray tuffaceous claystones and tuffs.
Ledge at top of hill at 3 o'clock is Quaternary basalt. |
(0.50) |
|
90.35 |
Small dam on left. From this point the road swings
generally west and rises in John Day Formation. Note landslide blocks of
Quaternary basalt on right side of road for next 4.5 miles. |
(1.35) |
|
91.70 |
Fault crosses road, uplifting welded tuff of member E
on west. Fault scarp is visible to left, across meadow. |
(2.85) |
|
94.55 |
Road junction to Hay Creek Ranchturn right
toward Madras. Quaternary basalt crops out on skyline at 4 o'clock with
many landslide blocks below the rim. The cliffs at 12 o'clock are
welded tuff of member G, John Day Formation. Road junctionturn
right toward Willowdale. |
(0.45) |
|
95.00 |
Stop 19. Examine outcrop of welded tuff of member G.
Unit is densely welded, crystallized, and contains sparse lithophysae.
Note abundant large soda-rich sanidine crystals. A major fault runs
along the road, tilting the welded tuff sheet to the west. The low cliff
on the west (left) side of the road is the basal ash-flow sheet of
member H. This is overlain by Quaternary basalt, which at this point
flowed down old channel of Hay Creek. Turn around and return to junction
of Hay Creek Road. |
(1.40) |
|
97.35 |
Junction of Hay Creek Roadturn right. |
(1.15) |
|
98.50 |
Entrance to Hay Creek Ranchtake right hand fork
of road. |
(0.65) |
|
99.15 |
Lithophysal welded tuff of member E on both sides of
road. Small landslide at 10 o'clock. |
(1.15) |
|
100.30 |
Brewer Reservoir. Fault runs along front of cliff on
right, uplifting ledge of member E. |
(1.50) |
|
101.80 |
Road junctionturn right. After turn,
flat-topped hill at 1-2 o'clock is basal welded tuff of member H,
overlying member G. Hill at 10 o'clock is welded tuff of member
G. |
(0.35) |
|
102.15 |
Red outcrop at 2 o'clock is section of tuffaceous
sediments of member F. |
(0.70) |
|
102.85 |
Road climbs to top of ash-flow sheet at base of
member G. Here, welded tuff dips generally south but is folded into a
series of broad, open folds. Outcrop across field at l1 o'clock is
basal welded tuff of member I and cliff at 3 o'clock is welded tuff of
member U, uplifted along a major fault. Far peak at 12 o'clock is Gray
Butte in Smith Rock area. |
(0.75) |
|
103.60 |
Road junction.
Stop 20, Tuff in road is gray, glassy,
ash-flow tuff at base of member H. Walk about 100 yards up road to left
and examine basal ash-flow tuff of member I. Here the unit is densely
welded with a good vitrophyre at the base and a crystallized portion
above. |
(0.50) |
|
104.10 |
Welded tuff of member I crosses road. |
(0.65) |
|
104.75 |
Ledge on both sides of road is Quaternary basalt. Road climbs to top of
basalt flow. This flow originated from a small shield volcano about a
mile to the east and flowed down old stream channel towards
Madras. |
(0.65) |
|
105.40 |
Road junction and cattle guardturn left. |
(1.40) |
|
106.80 |
Small mound on right is shield volcano from which
Quaternary basalt flow was erupted. Grizzly Peak is at 12
o'clock. |
(0.45) |
|
107.25 |
Edge of Quaternary basalt. Here the unit overlies
trachyandesite of member B, John Day Formation, which is exposed in
quarry at 1 o'clock. Note opposing dips of Grizzly Peak and Gray Butte
in distance at 3 o'clock. Both underlain by rhyolite flow probably
folded into broad syncline. |
(0.55) |
|
107.80 |
Welded tuff of member A, John Day Formation, in
roadcut. This is the southernmost outcrop of this unit. To the south,
old Clarno hills are onlapped by stratigraphically higher units of the
John Day Formation. |
(0.35) |
|
108.15 |
Road junctionturn right toward
Grizzly. |
(0.70) |
|
108.85 |
Road junctionturn right toward Lamonta and
Prineville. |
(1.35) |
|
110.20 |
Edge of Quaternay basalt flow exposed on
right. |
(0.40) |
|
110.60 |
Road has climbed to top of flat-lying Madras
Formation. This unit, mostly of Pliocene age, consists of fluviatile
siltstones, sandstones and conglomerates with interlayered air-fall and
ash-flow tuffs and basalt flows. |
(1.55) |
|
112.15 |
Small outcrop at 2 o'clock is rhyolite similar to
that of Grizzly Peak, completely surrounded by rocks of Madras
Formation. |
(1.50) |
|
113.65 |
Good view of Gray Butte at 10 o'clock. Low ridge just
left of Gray Butte is capped by same rhyolite flow. Low ridge at 9
o'clock is Yakima Basalt overlying tuffaceous sediments of John Day
Formation. Low bench to right of Gray Butte underlain by Clarno-type
flows dipping southeast. |
(0.90) |
|
114.55 |
Junction with U.S. Highway 26. Continue straight
ahead on dirt road toward Culver. Ridge at 3 o'clock is basalt ash-flow
tuff of member H. Note that strike of John Day is nearly E-W. Hills on
right at 1-2 o'clock are also capped by welded tuff of member
H. |
(0.25) |
|
114.80 |
Road runs on surface of Madras Formation. Low hills
at 3 o'clock are capped by welded tuff of member H. Flat-topped butte at
l1 o'clock is Haystack Butte, also capped by welded tuff of member H.
Left of Haystack Butte this welded tuff laps onto Clarno-type rocks of
Smith Rock. |
(1.35) |
|
116.15 |
Road junctionturn left. |
(0.25) |
|
116.40 |
Road junctioncontinue straight ahead. |
(1.20) |
|
117.60 |
Road junctionturn right. Good view of Gray
Butte on left after turn. |
(0.95) |
|
118.55 |
Contact of Madras Formation and John Day Formation.
John Day tuffaceous sediments of member G form small hill surrounded by
Madras Formation. |
(0.85) |
|
119.40 |
Contact of John Day sediments with Clarno
Formation. |
(0.40) |
|
119.80 |
Road junctionturn right. |
(0.75) |
|
120.55 |
Good outcrop of Clarno Formation on right. Roadcuts
are in Clarno Formation for next mile with John Day contact just above
road on right. |
(0.95) |
|
121.50 |
Road junctionturn left. |
(0.65) |
|
121.15 |
Haystack Reservoir at 2 o'clock. Top of ridge just
beyond reservoir is welded tuff of member H. Just below is a local
welded tuff that pinches out to the right. |
(1.20) |
|
123.35 |
Welded tuff of member H crosses road. Ridge at 10
o'clock is lava flow from Juniper Butte. |
(0.20) |
|
123.55 |
Road climbs to top of Madras Formation which
surrounds the older rocks. Butte at l1 o'clock is Round Butte, a small
shield volcano from which some of the basalt flows in the Madras
Formation were erupted. |
(0.40) |
|
123.95 |
Road junctionturn left. |
(1.30) |
|
125.25 |
Junction U.S. Highway 97-turn left toward
Redmond and Bend. |
(0.20) |
|
125.45 |
Juniper Butte, a rhyolite dome of John Day age at 1
o'clock. |
(0.50) |
|
125.95 |
Lava flow from Juniper Butte at 9 o'clock. |
(1.20) |
|
127.15 |
Welded tuff of member H, John Day Formation in
roadcut. |
(0.20) |
|
127.35 |
Three Sisters volcanoes in High Cascades visible at 2
o'clock. |
(0.50) |
|
127.85 |
Appproximate contact of Madras and John Day Formations. Haystack Butte
at 9 o'clock is capped with welded tuff of member H. |
(0.95) |
|
128.80 |
Gray Butte at 10 o'clock, capped with rhyolite flow.
Laharic breccias of Smith rock at l1 o'clock. |
(1.75) |
|
130.55 |
Road cuts with Madras basalt flow overlain by
tuffaceous sediments. |
(1.95) |
|
132.50 |
Madras basalt flow. |
(0.40) |
|
132.90 |
Bridge across Crooked River Gorge. |
(0.20) |
|
133.10 |
Stop 21 (optional). Turn right to overlook for
Crooked River. Gorge was cut in Madras Formation, then filled in with
Quaternary basalt. Present gorge was cut through intracanyon basalt
which is visible in canyon walls. Note columnar jointing in intracanyon
basalt. Return to Highway 97 and turn right. |
(1.05) |
|
134.15 |
Tuff of Smith Rock exposed at 9 o'clock. |
(1.15) |
|
135.30 |
Basalt flow of Madras Formation in roadcut on left. |
(0.60) |
|
135.90 |
Terrebonne. |
(2.65) |
|
138.55 |
Tetherow Butte. This is a series of cinder cones marking vents from
which some of the basalt flows of the Madras Formation were
erupted. |
(2.00) |
|
140.55 |
Redmond. |
(0.90) |
|
141.45 |
Junction Oregon 126continue straight ahead on Highway
97. |
(0.20) |
|
141.65 |
Junction Oregon 126continue straight ahead on
Highway 97. |
(2.05) |
|
143.70 |
Old channel cut in Madras Formation and filled with Quaternary basalt. |
(5.70) |
|
149.40 |
Low hill on right is silicic dome of Forked Horn Butte, probably John
Day age. Dome projects through Madras Formation. |
(5.75) |
|
155.15 |
Junction U.S. Highway 20continue straight
ahead. |
(0.85) |
|
156.00 |
Bend. |
(0.25) |
|
156.25 |
Road junctionturn right toward city center. |
(1.55) |
|
157.80 |
End of road logcorner of Franklin and Wall Streets. |