The Northern California Geological Society (NCGS) is proud to announce two new publications: GSA Memoir 217 “Regional Geology of Mt. Diablo, California”, published through the Geological Society of America (GSA), and the companion “Geologic Guide to Mount Diablo State Park,” published by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA). The Press Release for both publications is attached.
Recently published are a geologic volume and a companion geologic map and guide to Mount Diablo geology. The volume provides modern geologic insights on the origin and history of the mountain and its place in the regional tectonic setting on the North America plate boundary. The integrated trail and geological map is the first of its kind for Mount Diablo and introduces visitors to Mount Diablo State Park’s unique earth history.
New Volume: Regional Geology of Mount Diablo, California: Its Tectonic Evolution on the North America Plate Boundary: Geological Society of America Memoir No. 217, 488 pages. Edited by Raymond Sullivan, Doris Sloan, Jeffrey R. Unruh and David P. Schwartz. https://rock.geosociety.org/Store/detail.aspx?id=MWR217
Over the past 150 years, Mount Diablo has served as a window into the evolution of the plate boundary relationships in northern California. Memoir 217, published by the Geological Society of America, is a compilation of 17 new research papers, by 33 contributing authors, on the geology of Mount Diablo. This new expansive color volume was assembled under the leadership of Ray Sullivan, Professor Emeritus of Geology at San Francisco State University. Its publication commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Northern California Geological Society. Save Mount Diablo and members of the Northern California Geological Society provided much of the funding for the book.
The Memoir includes the most recent interpretation of the structure of the mountain and explains its recent uplift. Mount Diablo might look like a volcano, but the peaks of the mountain are composed mainly of ancient oceanic rocks and the flanks of younger sedimentary rocks. Papers in the volume include a study of the landscape, details of the rocks, geologic history of the area, mining and petroleum discoveries, as well as the age and origin of volcanic ash beds in the younger sedimentary rocks on the flanks. The main sources of these ash beds are from Nevada, Yellowstone, Cascade Range and Sonoma. A short phase of volcanic activity occurred some 7½ million years ago on the
east side of Mount Diablo, forming a series of prominent domes along Marsh Creek Road. The conclusion: “while the rocks are old, the mountain itself is young”.
According to Ray Sullivan, the lead editor, “the new work contains the most complete studies on the geology of Mount Diablo. They point to the origin of Mount Diablo as a relatively recent event in the long and complex geological history of the California Coast Ranges.”
GSA Memoir 217 is available for purchase at https://rock.geosociety.org/Store/detail.aspx?id=MWR217. NCGS and GSA members are entitled to discounts on the volume ($49 instead of $70). View the table of contents at https://rock.geosociety.org/store/TOC/MWR217.pdf
New Map: Geologic Guide to Mount Diablo State Park by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. Available at https://www.mdia.org or at the Mount Diablo State Park Summit and Mitchell Canyon Visitor Centers.
The need for a simplified geological guide to Mount Diablo to accompany Memoir 217 was recognized by the Northern California Geological Society, Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, and California State Parks. A folded two-sided guide, edited by Greg Bartow, is now available, that consists of an updated geologic map with roads and trails on one side, and a description of the geology on the other side. The updated geologic map, by Russell Graymer and Victoria Langenheim of the U.S. Geological Survey, also appears in Chapter 1 of GSA Memoir 217. The guide includes a map showing the epicenters of 7,200 earthquakes that have occurred in the vicinity of Mount Diablo over the last 36 years. These earthquakes illustrate the active nature of the fault systems that continue to form Mount Diablo. Stephen Smith, President of Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, said, “This geologic guide will provide a new resource for visitors to appreciate the unique nature of the park.”
Mount Diablo State Park draws more than 600,000 visitors each year to explore the park and take in the spectacular view. Mount Diablo Interpretive Association (MDIA) is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that assists the California Department of Parks and Recreation in maintaining and interpreting Mount Diablo State Park. Through education, sponsored activities, and publications, MDIA fosters appreciation and the enlightened use of Mount Diablo State Park. Save Mount Diablo is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Mount Diablo peaks, surrounding foothills and watersheds through land acquisitions.
Copies of the geologic map can be purchased online at https://www.mdia.org for $7.00 (shipping included), or for $6.00 at the Visitor Centers at Mount Diablo State Park Summit and Mitchell Canyon.
AEG Sacramento 