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• 13141. [Article] Evaluating Coastal Protection Services Associated with Restoration Management of an Endangered Shorebird in Oregon, U.S.A.

  Coastal sand dunes and beaches offer a variety of ecosystem services such as coastal protection, sand stabilization, species conservation, and recreation. However, the management and balance of ecosystem ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Evaluating Coastal Protection Services Associated with Restoration Management of an Endangered Shorebird in Oregon, U.S.A. Author: Carroll, Lindsay J. Coastal sand dunes and beaches offer a variety of ecosystem services such as coastal protection, sand stabilization, species conservation, and recreation. However, the management and balance of ecosystem services offered by dunes and beaches is challenging when ecosystem services interact across the landscape. Management focusing only on one ecosystem service may result in unintended consequences and trade-offs between other key services. Understanding the magnitude of the trade-offs and linkages between services provides a more holistic approach for reducing unintended consequences and maximizing function. The degradation of habitats and land use changes associated with expanding human populations has resulted in the need for species conservation. However, species conservation techniques can sometimes have unintended consequences for other services. Given the mandate of the Endangered Species Act to restore habitat structure and function essential to endangered or threatened species, it becomes critical to evaluate the implications of species conservation management initiatives to reduce negative implications to other key services. The coastal dune systems of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) are a prime example of how ecosystem services, such as species conservation and coastal protection, can interact with one another. Over the last 125 years in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), the intentional introduction of two non-native congeneric beach grasses (Ammophila arenaria and A. breviligulata) has increased coastal protection through the creation of foredunes, but also dramatically altered the dune ecosystem. Both invasive grasses build taller dunes that range from 3 - 18 m in height compared to the native grass, Elymus mollis. Increased foredune elevations generate greater coastal protection services that are increasingly important given sea level rise and extreme storm events on the PNW coast. However, the beach grasses have dramatically changed the beach/dune community, resulting in the decline of several native dune plants and animals. One species that is negatively affected by the grass invasion is the Western snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus), an endemic shorebird living on beaches and dunes in the Pacific Northwest. This shorebird was listed threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1993 and a recovery plan was established that employed multiple recovery techniques. The most important part of the plan involves establishing habitat restoration areas (HRAs) where dunes are bulldozed, reducing dune elevations, burying the grass, and returning the dunes to an open shifting sand environment, historically preferred by the plover. Recent coastal hazards modeling revealed that the changes in beach and dune shape associated with plover restoration increases coastal exposure to flooding and erosion at certain locations along the Oregon coast, particularly under projected climate change scenarios of sea level rise and extreme storms. As part of future plover management, four critical habitat areas were proposed for Tillamook County, Oregon: Nehalem River Spit, Bayocean Spit, Netarts Spit, and Sand Lake South. Given the interest in plover habitat restoration in Tillamook County, this research project addresses the following questions: (1) What is the present day dune geomorphology and exposure to coastal hazards at four proposed critical habitat (PCH) areas in Tillamook County, Oregon; and (2) how do changes in beach geomorphology associated with different restoration scenarios alter coastal exposure today, under projected sea level rise and storm scenarios? To address the coastal geomorphological impacts of HRA installation on the four proposed areas, multiple restoration scenarios that reduce foredune elevation were evaluated under present day sea level and potential future sea level rise and extreme storminess scenarios, using coastal exposure modeling techniques. The model projections provide site-specific information on the exposure of HRAs to overtopping under different restoration conditions. We determined that exposure to flooding was dependent on proposed HRA site and restoration scenario, and was exacerbated by sea level rise and extreme storms. Empirical models projected the greatest flooding exposure would occur at Nehalem River Spit, followed by Netarts Spit, and then Bayocean Spit and Sand Lake South, which did not differ. Exposure to flooding at present day dunes was low across all sites, but with increasing exposure to flooding as foredune elevations were reduced to 6.0 m or below, as could happen with plover habitat restoration. Under present day water levels, restoring foredune elevations to 6.0 m or below would likely result in roughly 5 days of overtopping per year at Nehalem River Spit, Bayocean Spit, and Netarts Spit, and 4 days of overtopping at Sand Lake South. Flooding under various foredune restoration scenarios increased under higher sea level rise scenarios. Flooding exposure for the 6.0 m restoration scenario exceeded 10 days per year at Nehalem River Spit and 5 days per year at Bayocean Spit, Netarts Spit, and Sand Lake South. Overall exposure to flooding under the extreme storm scenarios was dependent on proposed HRA site, restoration scenario, and increased wave conditions, such as wave height, period, and water level. Similar to the empirical model, flooding exposure under extreme storm scenarios increased when foredune elevations were reduced to 6.0 m or below, across all sites. The site with the greatest overall flooding exposure during extreme storms was Bayocean Spit. Flooding distance was dependent on restoration scenario and site while flooding duration was only dependent on restoration scenario. The 5.5 m restoration scenario under higher storm water levels resulted in one hour or more of flooding exposure at least one day per year at Nehalem River Spit, Netarts Spit, and Bayocean Spit. The overall likelihood of overwash extending to 150 m or more into the dune field during extreme storms was at least 5 days when selecting to reduce foredune to restoration elevations of 7.0 m or below across all sites. The effect of higher wave heights and greater wave periods was more important to overtopping distance than restoration scenario. Learning from current plover management, combined with the coastal exposure analysis we conducted here, could enable managers to develop site-specific restoration plans that maximize plover recovery while minimizing coastal exposure. This research will give resource managers information on the coastal exposure associated with proposed HRAs and the foredune reduction scenarios they might want to employ at the different sites. It will allow them to identify the best restoration scenarios to maximum habitat restoration without compromising coastal protection, and thus balance some important services of dunes and beaches. Regardless of management objective, identifying the unintended consequences of restoration to key ecosystem services is necessary for the holistic management of our dynamic coasts, especially with projected sea level rise and the uncertainty of frequent and extreme storms. Title: Evaluating Coastal Protection Services Associated with Restoration Management of an Endangered Shorebird in Oregon, U.S.A. Author: Carroll, Lindsay J. Coastal sand dunes and beaches offer a variety of ecosystem services such as coastal protection, sand stabilization, species conservation, and recreation. However, the management and balance of ecosystem services offered by dunes and beaches is challenging when ecosystem services interact across the landscape. Management focusing only on one ecosystem service may result in unintended consequences and trade-offs between other key services. Understanding the magnitude of the trade-offs and linkages between services provides a more holistic approach for reducing unintended consequences and maximizing function. The degradation of habitats and land use changes associated with expanding human populations has resulted in the need for species conservation. However, species conservation techniques can sometimes have unintended consequences for other services. Given the mandate of the Endangered Species Act to restore habitat structure and function essential to endangered or threatened species, it becomes critical to evaluate the implications of species conservation management initiatives to reduce negative implications to other key services. The coastal dune systems of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) are a prime example of how ecosystem services, such as species conservation and coastal protection, can interact with one another. Over the last 125 years in the Pacific Northwest (PNW), the intentional introduction of two non-native congeneric beach grasses (Ammophila arenaria and A. breviligulata) has increased coastal protection through the creation of foredunes, but also dramatically altered the dune ecosystem. Both invasive grasses build taller dunes that range from 3 - 18 m in height compared to the native grass, Elymus mollis. Increased foredune elevations generate greater coastal protection services that are increasingly important given sea level rise and extreme storm events on the PNW coast. However, the beach grasses have dramatically changed the beach/dune community, resulting in the decline of several native dune plants and animals. One species that is negatively affected by the grass invasion is the Western snowy plover (Charadrius nivosus nivosus), an endemic shorebird living on beaches and dunes in the Pacific Northwest. This shorebird was listed threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 1993 and a recovery plan was established that employed multiple recovery techniques. The most important part of the plan involves establishing habitat restoration areas (HRAs) where dunes are bulldozed, reducing dune elevations, burying the grass, and returning the dunes to an open shifting sand environment, historically preferred by the plover. Recent coastal hazards modeling revealed that the changes in beach and dune shape associated with plover restoration increases coastal exposure to flooding and erosion at certain locations along the Oregon coast, particularly under projected climate change scenarios of sea level rise and extreme storms. As part of future plover management, four critical habitat areas were proposed for Tillamook County, Oregon: Nehalem River Spit, Bayocean Spit, Netarts Spit, and Sand Lake South. Given the interest in plover habitat restoration in Tillamook County, this research project addresses the following questions: (1) What is the present day dune geomorphology and exposure to coastal hazards at four proposed critical habitat (PCH) areas in Tillamook County, Oregon; and (2) how do changes in beach geomorphology associated with different restoration scenarios alter coastal exposure today, under projected sea level rise and storm scenarios? To address the coastal geomorphological impacts of HRA installation on the four proposed areas, multiple restoration scenarios that reduce foredune elevation were evaluated under present day sea level and potential future sea level rise and extreme storminess scenarios, using coastal exposure modeling techniques. The model projections provide site-specific information on the exposure of HRAs to overtopping under different restoration conditions. We determined that exposure to flooding was dependent on proposed HRA site and restoration scenario, and was exacerbated by sea level rise and extreme storms. Empirical models projected the greatest flooding exposure would occur at Nehalem River Spit, followed by Netarts Spit, and then Bayocean Spit and Sand Lake South, which did not differ. Exposure to flooding at present day dunes was low across all sites, but with increasing exposure to flooding as foredune elevations were reduced to 6.0 m or below, as could happen with plover habitat restoration. Under present day water levels, restoring foredune elevations to 6.0 m or below would likely result in roughly 5 days of overtopping per year at Nehalem River Spit, Bayocean Spit, and Netarts Spit, and 4 days of overtopping at Sand Lake South. Flooding under various foredune restoration scenarios increased under higher sea level rise scenarios. Flooding exposure for the 6.0 m restoration scenario exceeded 10 days per year at Nehalem River Spit and 5 days per year at Bayocean Spit, Netarts Spit, and Sand Lake South. Overall exposure to flooding under the extreme storm scenarios was dependent on proposed HRA site, restoration scenario, and increased wave conditions, such as wave height, period, and water level. Similar to the empirical model, flooding exposure under extreme storm scenarios increased when foredune elevations were reduced to 6.0 m or below, across all sites. The site with the greatest overall flooding exposure during extreme storms was Bayocean Spit. Flooding distance was dependent on restoration scenario and site while flooding duration was only dependent on restoration scenario. The 5.5 m restoration scenario under higher storm water levels resulted in one hour or more of flooding exposure at least one day per year at Nehalem River Spit, Netarts Spit, and Bayocean Spit. The overall likelihood of overwash extending to 150 m or more into the dune field during extreme storms was at least 5 days when selecting to reduce foredune to restoration elevations of 7.0 m or below across all sites. The effect of higher wave heights and greater wave periods was more important to overtopping distance than restoration scenario. Learning from current plover management, combined with the coastal exposure analysis we conducted here, could enable managers to develop site-specific restoration plans that maximize plover recovery while minimizing coastal exposure. This research will give resource managers information on the coastal exposure associated with proposed HRAs and the foredune reduction scenarios they might want to employ at the different sites. It will allow them to identify the best restoration scenarios to maximum habitat restoration without compromising coastal protection, and thus balance some important services of dunes and beaches. Regardless of management objective, identifying the unintended consequences of restoration to key ecosystem services is necessary for the holistic management of our dynamic coasts, especially with projected sea level rise and the uncertainty of frequent and extreme storms. Close

• 13142. [Article] The influence of climate change and restoration on stream temperature

  Water temperature is an essential property of a stream. Temperature regulates physical and biochemical processes in aquatic habitats. Various factors related to climatic conditions, landscape characteristics, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: The influence of climate change and restoration on stream temperature Author: Diabat, Mousa Water temperature is an essential property of a stream. Temperature regulates physical and biochemical processes in aquatic habitats. Various factors related to climatic conditions, landscape characteristics, and channel structure directly influence stream temperature. Numerous studies indicate that increased average air temperature during the past century has led to stream warming across the world. The trend of stream warming was also present in spring-fed watersheds, where summer flow has decreased. In addition, anthropogenic practices that alter the natural landscape and channel structure, such as forest management, agriculture, and mining contributed to stream warming. For example, deforested and unshaded stream reaches or dredged channels were warmer than shaded reaches and meandering streams. Stream temperatures in North American lotic habitats are of a specific concern due to their significant economic, cultural, and ecological value. With climate projections indicating that air temperature will only continue to rise throughout the 21st century, cold- or cool-water organisms, especially fishes, will be affected. Therefore, there is a strong need to better understand the impacts of changing climate, riparian landscape, and channel structure on a stream's heat budget. This may assist in restoring the historic thermal regime in impacted sites and mitigating the impacts of future climate change. This study looks into the relative influences of the different factors on a stream's heat budget with three manuscripts: one on stream temperature response to diel timing of air warming, one on stream temperature response to changes in air temperature, flow, and riparian vegetation, and one on stream temperature response to air warming and channel reconstruction. I used the software Heat Source version 8.05 to simulate stream temperature for all three analyses along the Middle Fork John Day River, Oregon USA. Two of the manuscripts were applied to an upper 37 km section of the Middle Fork John Day River (presented in chapter 2 and 3), where the third manuscript was applied to a 1.5-km section. The sensitivity analysis of stream temperature response to diel timing of air warming (Chapter 2: Diel Timing of Warmer Air under Climate Change Affects Magnitude, Timing, and Duration of Stream Temperature Change) was based on scenarios representing uniform air warming over the diel period, daytime warming, and nighttime warming. Uniform warming of air temperature is a simple representation of increases in the average daily or monthly temperatures generated by the 'delta method'. The delta method relies on adding a constant value to the air temperature time-series data. This constant value is the difference (delta) between base case average air temperatures and the projected one. Scenarios of daytime or nighttime warming represent conditions under which most of the warming of the air occurs during the daytime or the nighttime, respectively. I simulated the stream temperature response to warmer air conditions of +2 °C and +4 °C in daily average for all three cases of air warming conditions. The three cases of different diel distributions of air warming generated 7-day average daily maximum stream temperature (7DADM) increases of approximately +1.8 °C ± 0.1 °C at the downstream end of the study section relative to the base case. In most parts of the reach, the three distributions of air warming generated different ranges of stream temperatures, different 7DADM values, different durations of stream temperature changes, and different average daily temperatures. Changes of stream temperature were out of phase with imposed changes of air temperature. Therefore, nighttime warming of air temperatures would cause the greatest increase in maximum daily stream temperature, which typically occurs during the daytime. The sensitivity analysis of the relative influences of changes in air temperature, stream flow, and riparian vegetation on stream temperature (Chapter 3: Assessing Stream Temperature Response to Cumulative Influence of Changing Air Temperature, Flow, and Riparian Vegetation). This study summarized stream temperature simulation in 36 scenarios representing possible manifestations of 21st century climate conditions and land management strategies. In addition to existing conditions (base case) of flow, air temperature, and riparian vegetation, scenarios consisted of: two air temperature increases of 2 °C and 4 °C, two stream flow variations of +30% and -30%, three spatially uniform riparian vegetation conditions that create averages of effective shade 7%, 34%, and 79%, in addition to 14% for base case conditions. Results suggest that variation in riparian vegetation was the dominant factor influencing stream temperature because it regulates incoming shortwave radiation, the largest heat input to the stream, while variation in stream flow has a negligible influence. Results indicated that increasing the effective shade along the study section, particularly in the currently unshaded sections, could mitigate the influence of increasing air temperature, and would reduce stream temperature maxima below current values even under future climate conditions of warmer air. With the small influence it had, increasing stream flow reduced the 7DADM under low shade conditions. However, increasing stream flow showed counterintuitive results as it contributed to increasing stream temperature maxima when the stream was heavily shaded. The applied study examined the stream temperature response to restoration practices and their potential to mitigate the influence of warmer air conditions (Chapter 4: Estimating Stream Temperature Response to Restoring Channel and Riparian Vegetation and the Potential to Mitigate Warmer Air Conditions). This study focused on a 1.5 km section along the upper part of the Middle Fork John Day River that was modified due to past anthropogenic activities of mining for gold and timber harvest. Currently, the riparian vegetation of the study site is mostly shrubs and stands of short trees. Restoration designs call for the restoration of both the channel structure and replanting the riparian vegetation. Simulation results showed that the 7DADM was higher in the restored channel than the existing channel with both conditions of low and high effective shade conditions. However, a combined restoration practice of channel reconstruction and medium effective shade conditions reduced stream temperature maxima more than restoring riparian vegetation alone. In addition, results showed that restoring riparian vegetation was sufficient to mitigate the influence of warmer air on stream temperature, while restoring the channel alone is not. Heat budget analysis showed that heat accumulation during the daytime increased in the restored channel, which was longer, narrower, and deeper than the existing channel. It is important to emphasize that stream temperature is one of many goals that restoration activities aim to improve. Furthermore, differences in 7DADM among the different scenarios of restoration are negligible. Such small differences could hardly be measure. While this study examined a short section of 1.5 km, longer stream sections may increase the differences in 7DADM. Primary conclusions of this study are: 1) daily maxima of stream temperature will increase in response to increased air temperature regardless of the distribution of air warming during the diel cycle; 2) nighttime air warming caused a greater increase in stream temperature maximum than daytime warming; 3) riparian vegetation was the dominant factor on stream's heat budget, more than air temperature or stream flow; 4) restoring riparian vegetation mitigated the influence of warmer air; 5) restoring channel structure alone was not sufficient to lower temperature maxima; and 6) restoration project was most successful in improving degraded stream temperature when combined with channel reconstruction and improved riparian shade. Title: The influence of climate change and restoration on stream temperature Author: Diabat, Mousa Water temperature is an essential property of a stream. Temperature regulates physical and biochemical processes in aquatic habitats. Various factors related to climatic conditions, landscape characteristics, and channel structure directly influence stream temperature. Numerous studies indicate that increased average air temperature during the past century has led to stream warming across the world. The trend of stream warming was also present in spring-fed watersheds, where summer flow has decreased. In addition, anthropogenic practices that alter the natural landscape and channel structure, such as forest management, agriculture, and mining contributed to stream warming. For example, deforested and unshaded stream reaches or dredged channels were warmer than shaded reaches and meandering streams. Stream temperatures in North American lotic habitats are of a specific concern due to their significant economic, cultural, and ecological value. With climate projections indicating that air temperature will only continue to rise throughout the 21st century, cold- or cool-water organisms, especially fishes, will be affected. Therefore, there is a strong need to better understand the impacts of changing climate, riparian landscape, and channel structure on a stream's heat budget. This may assist in restoring the historic thermal regime in impacted sites and mitigating the impacts of future climate change. This study looks into the relative influences of the different factors on a stream's heat budget with three manuscripts: one on stream temperature response to diel timing of air warming, one on stream temperature response to changes in air temperature, flow, and riparian vegetation, and one on stream temperature response to air warming and channel reconstruction. I used the software Heat Source version 8.05 to simulate stream temperature for all three analyses along the Middle Fork John Day River, Oregon USA. Two of the manuscripts were applied to an upper 37 km section of the Middle Fork John Day River (presented in chapter 2 and 3), where the third manuscript was applied to a 1.5-km section. The sensitivity analysis of stream temperature response to diel timing of air warming (Chapter 2: Diel Timing of Warmer Air under Climate Change Affects Magnitude, Timing, and Duration of Stream Temperature Change) was based on scenarios representing uniform air warming over the diel period, daytime warming, and nighttime warming. Uniform warming of air temperature is a simple representation of increases in the average daily or monthly temperatures generated by the 'delta method'. The delta method relies on adding a constant value to the air temperature time-series data. This constant value is the difference (delta) between base case average air temperatures and the projected one. Scenarios of daytime or nighttime warming represent conditions under which most of the warming of the air occurs during the daytime or the nighttime, respectively. I simulated the stream temperature response to warmer air conditions of +2 °C and +4 °C in daily average for all three cases of air warming conditions. The three cases of different diel distributions of air warming generated 7-day average daily maximum stream temperature (7DADM) increases of approximately +1.8 °C ± 0.1 °C at the downstream end of the study section relative to the base case. In most parts of the reach, the three distributions of air warming generated different ranges of stream temperatures, different 7DADM values, different durations of stream temperature changes, and different average daily temperatures. Changes of stream temperature were out of phase with imposed changes of air temperature. Therefore, nighttime warming of air temperatures would cause the greatest increase in maximum daily stream temperature, which typically occurs during the daytime. The sensitivity analysis of the relative influences of changes in air temperature, stream flow, and riparian vegetation on stream temperature (Chapter 3: Assessing Stream Temperature Response to Cumulative Influence of Changing Air Temperature, Flow, and Riparian Vegetation). This study summarized stream temperature simulation in 36 scenarios representing possible manifestations of 21st century climate conditions and land management strategies. In addition to existing conditions (base case) of flow, air temperature, and riparian vegetation, scenarios consisted of: two air temperature increases of 2 °C and 4 °C, two stream flow variations of +30% and -30%, three spatially uniform riparian vegetation conditions that create averages of effective shade 7%, 34%, and 79%, in addition to 14% for base case conditions. Results suggest that variation in riparian vegetation was the dominant factor influencing stream temperature because it regulates incoming shortwave radiation, the largest heat input to the stream, while variation in stream flow has a negligible influence. Results indicated that increasing the effective shade along the study section, particularly in the currently unshaded sections, could mitigate the influence of increasing air temperature, and would reduce stream temperature maxima below current values even under future climate conditions of warmer air. With the small influence it had, increasing stream flow reduced the 7DADM under low shade conditions. However, increasing stream flow showed counterintuitive results as it contributed to increasing stream temperature maxima when the stream was heavily shaded. The applied study examined the stream temperature response to restoration practices and their potential to mitigate the influence of warmer air conditions (Chapter 4: Estimating Stream Temperature Response to Restoring Channel and Riparian Vegetation and the Potential to Mitigate Warmer Air Conditions). This study focused on a 1.5 km section along the upper part of the Middle Fork John Day River that was modified due to past anthropogenic activities of mining for gold and timber harvest. Currently, the riparian vegetation of the study site is mostly shrubs and stands of short trees. Restoration designs call for the restoration of both the channel structure and replanting the riparian vegetation. Simulation results showed that the 7DADM was higher in the restored channel than the existing channel with both conditions of low and high effective shade conditions. However, a combined restoration practice of channel reconstruction and medium effective shade conditions reduced stream temperature maxima more than restoring riparian vegetation alone. In addition, results showed that restoring riparian vegetation was sufficient to mitigate the influence of warmer air on stream temperature, while restoring the channel alone is not. Heat budget analysis showed that heat accumulation during the daytime increased in the restored channel, which was longer, narrower, and deeper than the existing channel. It is important to emphasize that stream temperature is one of many goals that restoration activities aim to improve. Furthermore, differences in 7DADM among the different scenarios of restoration are negligible. Such small differences could hardly be measure. While this study examined a short section of 1.5 km, longer stream sections may increase the differences in 7DADM. Primary conclusions of this study are: 1) daily maxima of stream temperature will increase in response to increased air temperature regardless of the distribution of air warming during the diel cycle; 2) nighttime air warming caused a greater increase in stream temperature maximum than daytime warming; 3) riparian vegetation was the dominant factor on stream's heat budget, more than air temperature or stream flow; 4) restoring riparian vegetation mitigated the influence of warmer air; 5) restoring channel structure alone was not sufficient to lower temperature maxima; and 6) restoration project was most successful in improving degraded stream temperature when combined with channel reconstruction and improved riparian shade. Close

• 13143. [Article] Crustal architecture and magma dynamics in a large continental magmatic system : a case study of the Purico-Chascon Volcanic Complex, Northern Chile

  The ~1 Myr history of the Purico-Chascon volcanic complex (PCVC) records significant changes in the production and storage of magmas in the crust. At ~1 Ma activity at the PCVC initiated with the eruption ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Crustal architecture and magma dynamics in a large continental magmatic system : a case study of the Purico-Chascon Volcanic Complex, Northern Chile Author: Burns, Dale H. The ~1 Myr history of the Purico-Chascon volcanic complex (PCVC) records significant changes in the production and storage of magmas in the crust. At ~1 Ma activity at the PCVC initiated with the eruption of a large 80-100 km³ crystal-rich dacite ignimbrite with restricted whole rock ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios between 0.7085-0.7090. In-situ analyses of plagioclase from the Purico ignimbrite have ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7087-0.7090. The dacite magma accumulated and evolved at relatively low temperatures around 800-850 °C in the upper crust at 4-8 km depth. Minor andesite and rhyolite pumice late in the sequence have similar restricted whole rock ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7089-0.7091. The radiogenic isotopes of this 0.98 Ma activity are consistent with all these compositions resulting from 50 to 70% crustal assimilation by parental Central Andean "baseline" magmas at depths between 15-30 km. The final eruptions at the PCVC occurred <0.18 Ma producing three small < 5 km³ crystal-rich dacite lava domes with whole rock ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios 0.7075 to 0.7081 containing abundant basaltic-andesite enclaves with whole rock ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7057- 0.7061. Plagioclase and amphibole from samples from the largest of these domes, Cerro Chascon, record two distinct magmatic environments; an upper crustal environment identical to the Purico ignimbrite and a second deeper, ~15-20 km depth, higher temperature (~922-1001 °C) environment consistent with conditions recorded in the basaltic andesite enclaves. Accordingly, plagioclase cores in the host dacite lava and enclaves have enriched in-situ ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic compositions of 0.7083 to 0.7095 while plagioclase rims and microphenocrysts in the enclaves have ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios from 0.7057 to 0.7065 and 0.7062 to 0.7064 respectively. Lavas from Cerro Chascon also contain abundant Fo82 olivine with spinel and basaltic melt inclusions that crystallized in a deep crustal environment (>1250 °C) consistent with a lower crustal MASH zone. The high baseline isotopic ratios observed in bulk rock and plagioclase crystals from Cerro Chascon (0.7057-0.7065) are consistent with MASH processes. The evolution of the PCVC is a microcosm of the Andean arc in this region where, from 10 - 1 Ma, dominantly dacitic upper crustal magmatism of the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex ignimbrite flare-up persisted until ~1 Ma, when smaller volume, more heterogeneous and less isotopically enriched basaltic andesite to dacite composite volcanoes signal a return to steady state arc volcanism. I suggest that the PCVC captures the transition of the Andean arc from flare-up to steady state. The temporal trend at the PCVC is consistent with a waning thermal flux. High magmatic fluxes during the flare-up would have resulted in elevated geothermal gradients and efficient crustal processing leading to a dominantly dacitic upper crust (0 to 35 km) that fed the large volume Purico ignimbrite. As magmatic flux and thermal energy wanes, crustal isotherms relax resulting in greater thermal contrast between parental magmas, crust and remnant upper crustal dacite magma. This manifests in more heterogeneity and the survival of less isotopically enriched magmas in the upper crust. These arc scale magma dynamics are recorded even at the intra-crystalline scale. Individual crystals from Cerro Chascon also record vital information on the crystallization and evolution of mantle-derived magmas in continental magmatic arcs. Fo₈₂ olivine, olivine hosted spinel, and basaltic melt inclusions record the crystallization of olivine at >1250 °C in conditions consistent with a lower crustal (~70 km depth) MASH zone. Another significant crystallization event appears to have occurred at ~20 km depth, characterized by the crystallization of high An plagioclase (An₇₂₋₈₄) at ~1100-1050 °C followed by high-Al amphibole (~12-15 wt.% Al₂O₃) at ~1000-950 °C. The appearance of amphibole on the liquidus appears to have resulted from a nearly 2-fold increase in melt water content following ~45% crystallization of high An plagioclase. Following this extensive crystallization the highly crystalline mafic magma ascended into the upper crust and interacted with the remnant crystal mush from the Purico ignimbrite magma reservoir. Low An plagioclase (An₃₉₋₅₅), low Al amphibole (~6-9 wt.% Al₂O₃), sanidine, and biotite retain the chemical composition of the Purico ignimbrite magma, whereas, olivine, high An plagioclase, and high Al amphibole record the mafic recharge magma. The textures and compositions observed in Cerro Chascon are common in both continental and oceanic magmatic arcs worldwide and I propose that multiple crystallization events and upper crustal assimilation are fundamental processes intrinsic to arc magmatism. I have also used in situ ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios in plagioclase from andesite, dacite, and rhyolite pumice from the ~1 Ma Purico ignimbrite to determine the cause for compositional zoning in the Purico ignimbrite magma reservoir. Andesite pumice contains two texturally, compositionally, and isotopically distinct types of plagioclase, small (<500 μm) subhedral to euhedral crystals with high MgO (130-490 ppm) and low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶r crystals (0.7076-0.7084) record a hot (>900 °C) andesite magma derived from an ~20 km deep magma reservoir. In contrast, the second type of plagioclase in the andesite appear to broken fragments of larger crystals and have significantly lower MgO (90-240 ppm), higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7096-0.7114), and appears to be derived from the lower temperature (crystallized at ~800-900 °C), upper crustal (<10 km) plutonic basement. Dacite pumice also contains two texturally and compositionally distinct types of plagioclase. However, both types have very restricted MgO (b.d.l.-200 ppm) and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7085-0.7095) ratios and appear to have grown at ~850°C. These crystals are also significantly larger (>1000 μm) than plagioclase from the andesite pumice and have clear euhedral rims. Rhyolite pumice from the Purico ignimbrite also contains distinct types of plagioclase. Both types of plagioclase are similar in size (<500 μm) and appear to be fragments of larger crystals. One type is characterized by low MgO (b.d.l.-240 ppm) and restricted ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios (0.7088-0.7095) similar to plagioclase in the dacite pumice, and the other has significantly higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7095-0.7103) consistent with the upper crustal ignimbrite basement. The compositional variations observed in plagioclase crystals from the Purico ignimbrites are consistent with the recharge of a previously emplaced upper crustal (4-8 km depth) dacite magma reservoir by a hotter, deeper (20 km deep) andesite. During ascent, the andesite incorporated crystals from the surrounding upper crustal plutonic bodies before pooling against the residence dacite magma and crystallizing. Crystallization of the andesite resulted in the expulsion of a rhyolite interstitial melt that ascended through the dacite reservoir and pooled at the top of the reservoir. The rhyolite melt incorporated crystals from the dacite magma during ascent as well as crystals from the roof rock, which in the case of the Purico ignimbrite represents the plutonic remnants from other large silicic magmatic systems associated with the APVC. Thus, the compositional variations observed in the Purico ignimbrite results from a combination of crustal assimilation, crystallization, and melt extraction all initiated by mafic recharge. Title: Crustal architecture and magma dynamics in a large continental magmatic system : a case study of the Purico-Chascon Volcanic Complex, Northern Chile Author: Burns, Dale H. The ~1 Myr history of the Purico-Chascon volcanic complex (PCVC) records significant changes in the production and storage of magmas in the crust. At ~1 Ma activity at the PCVC initiated with the eruption of a large 80-100 km³ crystal-rich dacite ignimbrite with restricted whole rock ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios between 0.7085-0.7090. In-situ analyses of plagioclase from the Purico ignimbrite have ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7087-0.7090. The dacite magma accumulated and evolved at relatively low temperatures around 800-850 °C in the upper crust at 4-8 km depth. Minor andesite and rhyolite pumice late in the sequence have similar restricted whole rock ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr=0.7089-0.7091. The radiogenic isotopes of this 0.98 Ma activity are consistent with all these compositions resulting from 50 to 70% crustal assimilation by parental Central Andean "baseline" magmas at depths between 15-30 km. The final eruptions at the PCVC occurred <0.18 Ma producing three small < 5 km³ crystal-rich dacite lava domes with whole rock ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios 0.7075 to 0.7081 containing abundant basaltic-andesite enclaves with whole rock ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios of 0.7057- 0.7061. Plagioclase and amphibole from samples from the largest of these domes, Cerro Chascon, record two distinct magmatic environments; an upper crustal environment identical to the Purico ignimbrite and a second deeper, ~15-20 km depth, higher temperature (~922-1001 °C) environment consistent with conditions recorded in the basaltic andesite enclaves. Accordingly, plagioclase cores in the host dacite lava and enclaves have enriched in-situ ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotopic compositions of 0.7083 to 0.7095 while plagioclase rims and microphenocrysts in the enclaves have ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios from 0.7057 to 0.7065 and 0.7062 to 0.7064 respectively. Lavas from Cerro Chascon also contain abundant Fo82 olivine with spinel and basaltic melt inclusions that crystallized in a deep crustal environment (>1250 °C) consistent with a lower crustal MASH zone. The high baseline isotopic ratios observed in bulk rock and plagioclase crystals from Cerro Chascon (0.7057-0.7065) are consistent with MASH processes. The evolution of the PCVC is a microcosm of the Andean arc in this region where, from 10 - 1 Ma, dominantly dacitic upper crustal magmatism of the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex ignimbrite flare-up persisted until ~1 Ma, when smaller volume, more heterogeneous and less isotopically enriched basaltic andesite to dacite composite volcanoes signal a return to steady state arc volcanism. I suggest that the PCVC captures the transition of the Andean arc from flare-up to steady state. The temporal trend at the PCVC is consistent with a waning thermal flux. High magmatic fluxes during the flare-up would have resulted in elevated geothermal gradients and efficient crustal processing leading to a dominantly dacitic upper crust (0 to 35 km) that fed the large volume Purico ignimbrite. As magmatic flux and thermal energy wanes, crustal isotherms relax resulting in greater thermal contrast between parental magmas, crust and remnant upper crustal dacite magma. This manifests in more heterogeneity and the survival of less isotopically enriched magmas in the upper crust. These arc scale magma dynamics are recorded even at the intra-crystalline scale. Individual crystals from Cerro Chascon also record vital information on the crystallization and evolution of mantle-derived magmas in continental magmatic arcs. Fo₈₂ olivine, olivine hosted spinel, and basaltic melt inclusions record the crystallization of olivine at >1250 °C in conditions consistent with a lower crustal (~70 km depth) MASH zone. Another significant crystallization event appears to have occurred at ~20 km depth, characterized by the crystallization of high An plagioclase (An₇₂₋₈₄) at ~1100-1050 °C followed by high-Al amphibole (~12-15 wt.% Al₂O₃) at ~1000-950 °C. The appearance of amphibole on the liquidus appears to have resulted from a nearly 2-fold increase in melt water content following ~45% crystallization of high An plagioclase. Following this extensive crystallization the highly crystalline mafic magma ascended into the upper crust and interacted with the remnant crystal mush from the Purico ignimbrite magma reservoir. Low An plagioclase (An₃₉₋₅₅), low Al amphibole (~6-9 wt.% Al₂O₃), sanidine, and biotite retain the chemical composition of the Purico ignimbrite magma, whereas, olivine, high An plagioclase, and high Al amphibole record the mafic recharge magma. The textures and compositions observed in Cerro Chascon are common in both continental and oceanic magmatic arcs worldwide and I propose that multiple crystallization events and upper crustal assimilation are fundamental processes intrinsic to arc magmatism. I have also used in situ ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios in plagioclase from andesite, dacite, and rhyolite pumice from the ~1 Ma Purico ignimbrite to determine the cause for compositional zoning in the Purico ignimbrite magma reservoir. Andesite pumice contains two texturally, compositionally, and isotopically distinct types of plagioclase, small (<500 μm) subhedral to euhedral crystals with high MgO (130-490 ppm) and low ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶r crystals (0.7076-0.7084) record a hot (>900 °C) andesite magma derived from an ~20 km deep magma reservoir. In contrast, the second type of plagioclase in the andesite appear to broken fragments of larger crystals and have significantly lower MgO (90-240 ppm), higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7096-0.7114), and appears to be derived from the lower temperature (crystallized at ~800-900 °C), upper crustal (<10 km) plutonic basement. Dacite pumice also contains two texturally and compositionally distinct types of plagioclase. However, both types have very restricted MgO (b.d.l.-200 ppm) and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7085-0.7095) ratios and appear to have grown at ~850°C. These crystals are also significantly larger (>1000 μm) than plagioclase from the andesite pumice and have clear euhedral rims. Rhyolite pumice from the Purico ignimbrite also contains distinct types of plagioclase. Both types of plagioclase are similar in size (<500 μm) and appear to be fragments of larger crystals. One type is characterized by low MgO (b.d.l.-240 ppm) and restricted ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr isotope ratios (0.7088-0.7095) similar to plagioclase in the dacite pumice, and the other has significantly higher ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7095-0.7103) consistent with the upper crustal ignimbrite basement. The compositional variations observed in plagioclase crystals from the Purico ignimbrites are consistent with the recharge of a previously emplaced upper crustal (4-8 km depth) dacite magma reservoir by a hotter, deeper (20 km deep) andesite. During ascent, the andesite incorporated crystals from the surrounding upper crustal plutonic bodies before pooling against the residence dacite magma and crystallizing. Crystallization of the andesite resulted in the expulsion of a rhyolite interstitial melt that ascended through the dacite reservoir and pooled at the top of the reservoir. The rhyolite melt incorporated crystals from the dacite magma during ascent as well as crystals from the roof rock, which in the case of the Purico ignimbrite represents the plutonic remnants from other large silicic magmatic systems associated with the APVC. Thus, the compositional variations observed in the Purico ignimbrite results from a combination of crustal assimilation, crystallization, and melt extraction all initiated by mafic recharge. Close

• 13144. [Article] Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the middle eocene Cowlitz Formation and adjacent sedimentary and volcanic units in the Longview-Kelso area, southwest Washington

  Geologic mapping of the Longview-Kelso area and the measurement and description of a composite 650-meter thick stratigraphic section of the Cowlitz Formation (Tc) in Coal Creek using bio-, magneto-, litho-, ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the middle eocene Cowlitz Formation and adjacent sedimentary and volcanic units in the Longview-Kelso area, southwest Washington Author: McCutcheon, Mark S. Geologic mapping of the Longview-Kelso area and the measurement and description of a composite 650-meter thick stratigraphic section of the Cowlitz Formation (Tc) in Coal Creek using bio-, magneto-, litho-, and sequence stratigraphy reveals a complex interplay of Cowlitz micaceous, lithic arkosic shelf to tidal/estuarine to delta plain facies associations, and Grays River basalt lava flows and interbedded basalt volcaniclastics from nearby Grays River eruptive centers (e.g., Mt. Solo and Rocky Point). The lower 100 meters of the Coal Creek section (informal unit 1, Chron 18r) consists of micaceous, lithic arkosic sandstone and siltstone and minor coals, was deposited as part of a highstand system tract (HST) at the base of 3rd order cycle number 3. This unit consists of four dominantly tidal shoaling-upward arkosic sandstone parasequences reflecting upper shoreface to delta plain depositional environments. The overlying unit 2 (Chron 18n) is defined by abundant Grays River basalt volcaniclastic interbeds that intertongue with Cowlitz lithic arkoses. This unit represents the latter part of 3rd order cycle 3, and consists of mostly fining- and thinning-upward parasequences of middle shoreface to delta plain successions of an aggradational to transgressive parasequence set. Near the top of unit 2 is a maximum marine flooding surface depositing lower shoreface lithic arkosic sandstone to shelf siltstones over upper shoreface micaceous lithic arkose. Unit 3 comprises 3rd order cycle 4 (Chron 17r), a lowstand system tract, and consists of 6 mostly fining- and thinning-upward parasequences of lower shoreface to delta plain facies associations. A parasequence or erosional boundary at the base of unit 5 (Chron 17r) consists of submarine channel-fill scoured into underlying micaceous siltstones, produced during a lowstand system tract (LST) of 3rd order cycle 5. This deep marine channel-fill sequence is overlain by thinlybedded to laminated overbank distal turbidites and hemipelagic siltstones that define the top of the Coal Creek section. These 5 informal units in Coal Creek lithologically and chronologically correlate to 5 similar informal units defined by Payne (1998) in the type section of Cowlitz Formation in Olequa Creek near Vader -30 km to the north. Middle Eocene Grays River Volcanics of the study area are mapped as two separate units: a lower unit over 150 meters thick in places, consisting of subaerial basaltic flows and invasive flows (Tgvl), intrusions (Tgvis and Tgvid), and volcaniclastics (Tgvsl); and an upper unit consisting of commonly mollusk-bearing, shallow marine basaltic sedimentary interbeds that intertongue with the Cowlitz Formation (Tgvs2), particularly Cowlitz unit 2 of the Coal Creek section. These volcaniclastic deposits are intrabasinal, derived from volcanic highlands to the west and northwest, and local phreatomagmatic tuff cones. The lower Grays River volcaniclastic unit typically overlies Grays River flows in the study area and is divided into 5 informal facies. Geochemically, Grays River flows in the study area fall within normal parameters (3 to 4% TiO2 and high iron tholeiitic basalts). However, basalt flows and bedded scoriaceous breccias near Rocky Point are anomalously low in TiO2 and are considered in this study to be a separate volcanic subunit (Rocky Point Basalts), time equivalent to and interfingering with Grays River lavas, but may represent mixing with shallower western Cascade calc-alkaline magma. Over 60 younger Grays River dikes intrude the Cowlitz Formation in Coal Creek. A dike low in the Coal Creek section is dated at 40 ± 0.36 Ma, and an invasive flow at Mt. Solo is dated at 36.98 ±.78 Ma. Volcanics capping the hills east of the Cowlitz River are chemically distinct as slightly younger western Cascade basaltic andesite flows, and two dikes east of the river are chemically distinct as western Cascade andesite. Overlying Grays River Volcanics and Cowlitz Formation in much of the study area, are clayey and commonly tuffaceous siltstones and silty sandstones, possibly of the late Eocene-early Oligocene Toutle Formation, a new unit to this area. The Toutle Formation is a mixture of wave and stream reworked micaceous and arkosic Cowlitz Formation and fresh silicic pyroclastic ash and pumice from the active western Cascade arc. An angular unconformity separates the Paleogene Grays River Volcanics, Cowlitz Formation, and Toutle Formation from the early to middle Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group. Based on lithology, geochemistry, stratigraphic relationships, and magnetic polarity, 6 individual Columbia River Basalt flows have been mapped in this study. The three lower Grande Ronde flows are of normal polarity and Ortley low MgO chemical composition. The lowermost flow (N2 Ortley #1) is absent in the Columbia Heights area, low MgO, about 10 meters thick and consists of pillow-palagonite sequences in the upper quarry on Mt. Solo. Aphyric N2 Ortley flow #2 is over 35 meters thick with well-developed upper and lower colonnade, and of intermediate MgO. N2 Ortley flow #3 is pillow-palagonite in the Storedahl Quarry and low MgO. A -4-meter thick tuffaceous overbank siltstone and basalt conglomeratic channel interbed separates the three low MgO Ortley flows from the overlying high MgO N2 Grande Ronde Sentinel Bluffs flow. A single exposure of well-developed large colonnade with sparse 1 cm labradorite laths, and reddish oxidized soil, defines the N Sand Hollow flow of the Frenchman Springs Member of the Wanapum Formation. The overlying Pomona Member is mapped based on previous work by other authors. Pliocene gravels and arkosic sand of the Troutdale Formation form upland terrace deposits up to 100 meters thick in southern parts of the study area, and represent the uplifted paleo-thalweg and overbank flood deposits of the downcutting, antecedent ancestral Columbia River. Well-rounded clasts are a mixture of extrabasinal granitic and metamorphic quartzite, and intrabasinal porphyritic basaltic andesite, dacite, and basalt from the western Cascades and Columbia River Basalts. Troutdale terrace gravels grade northward into contemporaneous volcanic pebble and cobble gravel terrace deposits produced along the ancestral Cowlitz River that are dominantly composed of porphyritic andesite gravel and volcanic sand from the western Cascades. Lower terraces along the Cowlitz River were deposited by the late Pleistocene Missoula Floods. All of these unconsolidated to semiconsolidated gravels and sands are prone to landslides, and the Aldercrest-Banyon landslide, the second worst landslide disaster in American history, occurred in the Troutdale Formation gravels. After eruption of the Grays River Volcanics and deposition of the Cowlitz Formation, the forearc underwent a period of transtension in the late-middle Eocene related to magmatic upwelling and reorganization of the subducting Farallon Plate. This event produced a northwest-trending set of oblique slip normal faults, along which Grays River dikes intruded. Starting in the early Miocene the region underwent a transpressional event, reactivating many of the northwest-trending faults, and producing the Columbia Heights Anticline, Hazel Dell Syncline, the Coal Creek Fault, and the Kelso Fault Zone. The paleotopography resulting from this event was stream eroded to a nearly flat plain before emplacement of the Columbia River Basalts, which are nearly horizontal today. Continued offset along the northwest-trending fault set has also offset the Columbia River Basalts. Continued oblique slip post-Miocene broad arching of the Coast Range and downcutting by the Columbia and Cowlitz Rivers has resulted in Pliocene and Pleistocene terraces, and produced an east-west fault set that offsets all earlier structural features. Title: Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the middle eocene Cowlitz Formation and adjacent sedimentary and volcanic units in the Longview-Kelso area, southwest Washington Author: McCutcheon, Mark S. Geologic mapping of the Longview-Kelso area and the measurement and description of a composite 650-meter thick stratigraphic section of the Cowlitz Formation (Tc) in Coal Creek using bio-, magneto-, litho-, and sequence stratigraphy reveals a complex interplay of Cowlitz micaceous, lithic arkosic shelf to tidal/estuarine to delta plain facies associations, and Grays River basalt lava flows and interbedded basalt volcaniclastics from nearby Grays River eruptive centers (e.g., Mt. Solo and Rocky Point). The lower 100 meters of the Coal Creek section (informal unit 1, Chron 18r) consists of micaceous, lithic arkosic sandstone and siltstone and minor coals, was deposited as part of a highstand system tract (HST) at the base of 3rd order cycle number 3. This unit consists of four dominantly tidal shoaling-upward arkosic sandstone parasequences reflecting upper shoreface to delta plain depositional environments. The overlying unit 2 (Chron 18n) is defined by abundant Grays River basalt volcaniclastic interbeds that intertongue with Cowlitz lithic arkoses. This unit represents the latter part of 3rd order cycle 3, and consists of mostly fining- and thinning-upward parasequences of middle shoreface to delta plain successions of an aggradational to transgressive parasequence set. Near the top of unit 2 is a maximum marine flooding surface depositing lower shoreface lithic arkosic sandstone to shelf siltstones over upper shoreface micaceous lithic arkose. Unit 3 comprises 3rd order cycle 4 (Chron 17r), a lowstand system tract, and consists of 6 mostly fining- and thinning-upward parasequences of lower shoreface to delta plain facies associations. A parasequence or erosional boundary at the base of unit 5 (Chron 17r) consists of submarine channel-fill scoured into underlying micaceous siltstones, produced during a lowstand system tract (LST) of 3rd order cycle 5. This deep marine channel-fill sequence is overlain by thinlybedded to laminated overbank distal turbidites and hemipelagic siltstones that define the top of the Coal Creek section. These 5 informal units in Coal Creek lithologically and chronologically correlate to 5 similar informal units defined by Payne (1998) in the type section of Cowlitz Formation in Olequa Creek near Vader -30 km to the north. Middle Eocene Grays River Volcanics of the study area are mapped as two separate units: a lower unit over 150 meters thick in places, consisting of subaerial basaltic flows and invasive flows (Tgvl), intrusions (Tgvis and Tgvid), and volcaniclastics (Tgvsl); and an upper unit consisting of commonly mollusk-bearing, shallow marine basaltic sedimentary interbeds that intertongue with the Cowlitz Formation (Tgvs2), particularly Cowlitz unit 2 of the Coal Creek section. These volcaniclastic deposits are intrabasinal, derived from volcanic highlands to the west and northwest, and local phreatomagmatic tuff cones. The lower Grays River volcaniclastic unit typically overlies Grays River flows in the study area and is divided into 5 informal facies. Geochemically, Grays River flows in the study area fall within normal parameters (3 to 4% TiO2 and high iron tholeiitic basalts). However, basalt flows and bedded scoriaceous breccias near Rocky Point are anomalously low in TiO2 and are considered in this study to be a separate volcanic subunit (Rocky Point Basalts), time equivalent to and interfingering with Grays River lavas, but may represent mixing with shallower western Cascade calc-alkaline magma. Over 60 younger Grays River dikes intrude the Cowlitz Formation in Coal Creek. A dike low in the Coal Creek section is dated at 40 ± 0.36 Ma, and an invasive flow at Mt. Solo is dated at 36.98 ±.78 Ma. Volcanics capping the hills east of the Cowlitz River are chemically distinct as slightly younger western Cascade basaltic andesite flows, and two dikes east of the river are chemically distinct as western Cascade andesite. Overlying Grays River Volcanics and Cowlitz Formation in much of the study area, are clayey and commonly tuffaceous siltstones and silty sandstones, possibly of the late Eocene-early Oligocene Toutle Formation, a new unit to this area. The Toutle Formation is a mixture of wave and stream reworked micaceous and arkosic Cowlitz Formation and fresh silicic pyroclastic ash and pumice from the active western Cascade arc. An angular unconformity separates the Paleogene Grays River Volcanics, Cowlitz Formation, and Toutle Formation from the early to middle Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group. Based on lithology, geochemistry, stratigraphic relationships, and magnetic polarity, 6 individual Columbia River Basalt flows have been mapped in this study. The three lower Grande Ronde flows are of normal polarity and Ortley low MgO chemical composition. The lowermost flow (N2 Ortley #1) is absent in the Columbia Heights area, low MgO, about 10 meters thick and consists of pillow-palagonite sequences in the upper quarry on Mt. Solo. Aphyric N2 Ortley flow #2 is over 35 meters thick with well-developed upper and lower colonnade, and of intermediate MgO. N2 Ortley flow #3 is pillow-palagonite in the Storedahl Quarry and low MgO. A -4-meter thick tuffaceous overbank siltstone and basalt conglomeratic channel interbed separates the three low MgO Ortley flows from the overlying high MgO N2 Grande Ronde Sentinel Bluffs flow. A single exposure of well-developed large colonnade with sparse 1 cm labradorite laths, and reddish oxidized soil, defines the N Sand Hollow flow of the Frenchman Springs Member of the Wanapum Formation. The overlying Pomona Member is mapped based on previous work by other authors. Pliocene gravels and arkosic sand of the Troutdale Formation form upland terrace deposits up to 100 meters thick in southern parts of the study area, and represent the uplifted paleo-thalweg and overbank flood deposits of the downcutting, antecedent ancestral Columbia River. Well-rounded clasts are a mixture of extrabasinal granitic and metamorphic quartzite, and intrabasinal porphyritic basaltic andesite, dacite, and basalt from the western Cascades and Columbia River Basalts. Troutdale terrace gravels grade northward into contemporaneous volcanic pebble and cobble gravel terrace deposits produced along the ancestral Cowlitz River that are dominantly composed of porphyritic andesite gravel and volcanic sand from the western Cascades. Lower terraces along the Cowlitz River were deposited by the late Pleistocene Missoula Floods. All of these unconsolidated to semiconsolidated gravels and sands are prone to landslides, and the Aldercrest-Banyon landslide, the second worst landslide disaster in American history, occurred in the Troutdale Formation gravels. After eruption of the Grays River Volcanics and deposition of the Cowlitz Formation, the forearc underwent a period of transtension in the late-middle Eocene related to magmatic upwelling and reorganization of the subducting Farallon Plate. This event produced a northwest-trending set of oblique slip normal faults, along which Grays River dikes intruded. Starting in the early Miocene the region underwent a transpressional event, reactivating many of the northwest-trending faults, and producing the Columbia Heights Anticline, Hazel Dell Syncline, the Coal Creek Fault, and the Kelso Fault Zone. The paleotopography resulting from this event was stream eroded to a nearly flat plain before emplacement of the Columbia River Basalts, which are nearly horizontal today. Continued offset along the northwest-trending fault set has also offset the Columbia River Basalts. Continued oblique slip post-Miocene broad arching of the Coast Range and downcutting by the Columbia and Cowlitz Rivers has resulted in Pliocene and Pleistocene terraces, and produced an east-west fault set that offsets all earlier structural features. Close