Late Miocene and Pliocene Synorogenic Sedimentation in Northern Livermore Basin, California

Kathleen A. Isaacson, David W. Andersen

Late Tertiary synorogenic sedimentation in the northern Livermore basin, Contra Costa County, California, has recorded two major changes in provenance. Changes in clast composition of fluvial conglomerates reflect regional tectonic reorganization as the San Andreas fault system began to evolve at this latitude.

Shallow marine deposition of Sierran andesitic sediment gave way at approximately 8 Ma to fluvially dominated deposition of sediment from a local, graywacke-rich, Coast Range source. Deposition of reworked andesitic material prior to 5.5 Ma records development of anticlinal uplifts along trends of the present Altamont Hills and Calaveras fault system. By 4 Ma, the areal extent of the subsiding basin had increased; the Altamont Hills continued to be uplifted, but the Calaveras fault region began to subside rapidly.

Late Miocene and Pliocene deformation of the Livermore basin area extended over a broad zone east of the developing transform fault system. Structures that developed included broad synclinal basins and gentle anticlinal uplifts that had topographic expression but were not deeply incised. Intense deformation of the basin and uplift of Mount Diablo occurred after 3 Ma.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91038©1987 AAPG Annual Convention, Los Angeles, California, June 7-10, 1987.