- Usage in publication:
-
- Blue Sphinx Tuff*
- Modifications:
-
- Named
- Reference
- Dominant lithology:
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- Quartz latite
- Tuff
- AAPG geologic province:
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- Great Basin province
Summary:
Named for Blue Sphinx monolith, south of Golden Pen Mine, sec. 33, T. 11 N., R. 32 E., east flank of Gabbs Valley Range, Mineral Co, NV, its type locality. Because base is poorly exposed at type, reference locality is designated just north of Nugent Wash, sec.18, T. 11 N., R. 32 E. Consists of blue or lavender quartz latite tuff with quartz phenocrysts in multiple-flow colling unit. Thickness mostly 30 to 90 m (with range of 1 to 300 m). Overlies tuffaceous and lacustrine sedimentary rocks; underlies lava of Nugent Wash or Nugent Tuff Member (Hu-pwi Rhyodacite). Younger than tuffs of Gabbs Valley (25 Ma) and older than Hu-pwi Rhyodacite (23-22 Ma). Age is Oliogocene or Miocene.
Source: GNU records (USGS DDS-6; Menlo GNULEX).
For more information, please contact Nancy Stamm, Geologic Names Committee Secretary.
Asterisk (*) indicates published by U.S. Geological Survey authors.
"No current usage" (†) implies that a name has been abandoned or has fallen into disuse. Former usage and, if known, replacement name given in parentheses ( ).
Slash (/) indicates name conflicts with nomenclatural guidelines (CSN, 1933; ACSN, 1961, 1970; NACSN, 1983, 2005, 2021). May be explained within brackets ([ ]).