Database for the Geologic Map and Structure Sections of the Clear Lake Volcanics, Northern California

This geologic map database is a reproduction of U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Map I–2362: “Geologic Map and Structure Sections of the Clear Lake Volcanics, Northern California” (Hearn, Donnelly-Nolan, and Goff, 1995). The database consists of a geologic map, three structural cross sections and a table of petrographic data for each map unit by mineral type, abundance, and size. The Clear Lake Volcanics are in the California Coast Ranges about 150 km north of San Francisco. This Quaternary volcanic field has erupted intermittently since 2.1 million years ago. This volcanic field is considered a high-threat volcanic system (Ewert and others, 2005). The adjacent Geysers geothermal field, the largest power-producing geothermal field in the world, is powered by the magmatic heat source for the volcanic field. The geology of parts of the area underlain by the Cache Formation is based on mapping by Rymer (1981); the geology of parts of the areas underlain by the Sonoma Volcanics, Franciscan assemblage, and Great Valley sequence is based on mapping by McLaughlin (1978). Volcanic compositional map units are basalt, basaltic andesite, andesite, dacite, rhyodacite, and rhyolite, based on SiO2 content. Most ages are potassium-argon (K/Ar) ages determined for whole-rock samples and mineral separates by Donnelly-Nolan and others (1981), unless otherwise noted. A few ages are carbon-14 ages or were estimated from geologic relationships. Magnetic polarities are from Mankinen and others (1978; 1981) or were determined in the field by B.C. Hearn, Jr., using a portable fluxgate magnetometer. Thickness for most units is estimated from topographic relief except where drill-hole data were available. This database does not reproduce all elements of the original publication. Omissions include the chart and figures showing erupted volumes of different lava types through time, and the chart and diagram for the correlation of map units. Users of this database are highly encouraged to cross reference this database with the original publication.