Tuolumne Intrusive Suite

Tuolumne Intrusive Suite
Stratigraphic range: Late Cretaceous, 91–82 Ma
TypeSuite
Lithology
PrimaryGranodiorite
Location
RegionYosemite National Park
CountryUnited States
Type section
Named forTuolumne Meadows

The Tuolumne Intrusive Suite contains the words Yosemite National Park

The Tuolumne Intrusive Suite is the youngest and most extensive of the intrusive suites of Yosemite National Park, and also comprises about 1/3 of the park's area. The Suite includes Half Dome Granodiorite, Cathedral Peak Granite, and Kuna Crest Granodiorite.[1]

The largest pluton of the Tuolumne Intrusive Suite is Cathedral Peak Granodiorite, which extends long distances both the north and south of Tuolumne Meadows.[2] The southwestern part of the Tuolumne Intrusive Suite is made up of Half Dome Granodiorite.[2] The youngest, smallest, and most central rock body is of the Johnson Granite Porphyry[2]

Age

From oldest to youngest, the rock units are[3]

  1. Kuna Crest Granodiorite 91-88 Ma[4]
  2. Half Dome Granodiorite 85–83.4 Ma[5]
  3. Cathedral Peak Granodiorite 83.7 Ma[5]
  4. Johnson Granite Porphyry 82.4 Ma[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Granite". NPS. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Huber, N. King (1987). "The Geologic Story of Yosemite National Park (1987)". yosemite.ca.us. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  3. ^ Peck, DL (1980). Geologic map of the Merced Peak quadrangle, central Sierra Nevada, California (Map). 1:62,500. U.S. Geological Survey. Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1531.
  4. ^ Bateman, PC (1992). "Plutonism in the central part of the Sierra Nevada batholith". California: U.S. Geological Survey. Professional Paper 1483.
  5. ^ a b c Evernden, JF; Curtis, GH; Lipson, J (1957). "Potassium-argon dating of igneous rocks". American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin. 41 (9): 2120–2127. doi:10.1306/0BDA596C-16BD-11D7-8645000102C1865D.