Quaternary geologic map of the north-central part of the Salinas River Valley and Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California
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- Document: Report (73.4 MB pdf)
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Abstract
Arroyo Seco, a perennial drainage in the central Coast Range of California, records a sequence of strath terraces. These terraces preserve an erosional and depositional history, controlled by both climate change and regional tectonics. These deposits have been mapped and correlated on the basis of field investigations, digital terrain analysis, stream gradient profiles, evaluation of published regional soil maps, and satellite imagery. Seven of the strath terraces and associated alluvial fans have been dated by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) or infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL). The OSL and IRSL dates on seven of the strath terraces and associated alluvial fans in Arroyo Seco are approximately >120 ka, >65 ka, 51–46 ka, 36–35 ka, 9 ka, and 2–1 ka. These dates generally fall within the range of ages reported from many well-dated marine terraces on the California coast that are formed during sea-level high stands. Tectonic movements, consistently upward, result in a constantly and slowly emerging coastline, however, the regional effects of climate change and resulting eustatic sea-level rises are interpreted as the driving mechanism for erosion and aggradation in Arroyo Seco.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Quaternary geologic map of the north-central part of the Salinas River Valley and Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California |
| Series title | Scientific Investigations Map |
| Series number | 3260 |
| DOI | 10.3133/sim3260 |
| Year Published | 2014 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center |
| Description | Report: iii, 13 p.; 2 Plates (screen version): 60.00 x 37.81 inches and 47.30 x 28.33 inches; 1 Plate (print version): 47.30 x 28.33 inches |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Monterey County |
| Other Geospatial | Arroyo Seco, Salinas River Valley |
| Datum | North American Datum of 1983 |
| Projection | Universal Transerver Mercator projection |
| Scale | 50000 |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |