FIELD TRIP DAY ONE
Birch Creek, White Mountains, California
MARK D. BARTON†
Center for Mineral Resources, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
Introduction
THIS PAPER provides the log for the first full day of the field
trip. Day 1 will be spent in the Birch Creek area, east of
Bishop in the southeastern White Mountains. There are sev-
eral goals to the Birch Creek day:
1. To see one of the best-exposed examples of a Cretaceous
two-mica granite pluton in the Great Basin with its distinctive
style of emplacement and hydrothermal alteration;
2. To examine the relationships among magmatism, struc-
tural development, and emplacement;
3. To examine the links between magmatism and hydro-
thermal activity;
4. To ask the questions: Why are these Late Cretaceous
systems in the Great Basin not well mineralized? What differs
between these systems and better-mineralized Late Mesozoic
examples elsewhere in the circum-Pacific?
5. To consider how the characteristics of and processes in
these granite-related systems compare with other intrusion-
related hydrothermal systems, specifically in the Yerington
district and in the Humboldt mafic complex.
See the accompanying paper (Barton, 2000) for an intro-
duction to the Birch Creek system as a whole and its broader
context. Some local terminology used in this field guide is de-
fined there.
It is important to get an early start as this is the most chal-
lenging day of the field trip because of logistics and length
and because it is second only to the skarn traverse at Yering-
ton in the physical exertion required. If the upper Mollie Gib-
son road is impassable due to snow, ice, or obstacles, hiking in
and/or alternative stops can be considered.
Begin Trip
Leave Bishop and drive south on US 395 approximately
12.5 miles to the north edge of the town of Big Pine (14.0
miles from intersection of US 395 and East Line Street in
Bishop). Turn left (east) on California Highway 168 toward
Westgard Pass and Fish Lake Valley. At the base of the range
(2.2 miles from Big Pine) stay on 168 as it bears to the left and
heads for Westgard Pass. The road to the right goes to Wau-
coba Wash, Saline and Death Valleys passing just north of the
Papoose Flat pluton. The latter shares many features with the
Birch Creek pluton (see preceding text for brief discussion).
Nelson provides a more detailed road log for the Bishop to
Mollie Gibson Canyon segment (in Nelson et al., 1991).
The drive to Westgard Pass climbs about 1,300 m (4,000 ft)
and is mainly through exposures of Lower Cambrian sedimen-
tary rocks on the western limb of the White-Inyo antiform.
†
E-mail, barton@arizona.edu
27
Climbing toward the ridgeline the road passes down section
through folded and faulted exposures of Harkless (shale), Po-
leta (mixed carbonate and shale), and Campito (sandstone)
Formations. These units are present in the distal part of the
Birch Creek system where they locally host small quartz-base
metal replacements and veins. A few of these deposits pro-
duced modest amounts of lead, zinc, silver and gold in the
late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
STOP 1—Westgard Pass
Purpose: overview of the Birch Creek district from south.
Stop near the summit of Westgard Pass, 100 m southwest
of the entrance to Cedar Flat group campground (11.9 miles
from Big Pine). From here look north parallel to the road
along the axis of the White Mountains antiform. Low, boul-
der-dominated outcrops of the Birch Creek pluton form an
area of subdued relief below the high country. The ridge on
the far northesast skyline is Roberts Ridge which is in the
middle of the quartz base-metal vein systems on the north
side of the intrusive center (Fig. 1).
At this point, we can get a sense of the overall structure of
the southern White Mountains, with the major antiform
plunging south towards this area (see fig. 2 in Barton, 2000).
The Birch Creek intrusion is on the steeper, eastern limb of
the fold where it intruded mainly uppermost Proterozoic to
Lower Cambrian Reed Dolomite. The Reed and underlying
Upper Proterozoic Wyman Formation wrap around the plu-
ton on its northern and western margins. They change trend
by 90° and overturn as they approach the contact. In this part
of the aureole, folds that are broad and open to the north be-
come isoclinal and generally concordant with the pluton con-
tact (Nelson and Sylvester, 1971).
Drive up Mollie Gibson Canyon
From Stop 1 drive north on Highway 168 for about 3 miles
descending into the upper part of Payson Canyon. Turn north
(left) off the highway onto a very poor four-wheel drive road
that goes up Mollie Gibson Canyon (at elevation 6,880 ft, just
below the 7,000 ft elevation sign). Mileage is given from the
turnoff into the Canyon.
The drive up Mollie Gibson Canyon is slow. Since its con-
struction in the 1950s during tungsten exploration, the road
has been severely damaged by several flash floods. Intermit-
tent repairs by hunters, field camp participants, and others
has kept it marginally passable if driven slowly and with care.
In the lower part of Mollie Gibson Canyon, drive through
several tight bends in the narrow bottom where the canyon is
incised into the medium-bedded dark quartzites of the Campito
Formation. Several dikes of dark green, sparsely porphyritic
chlorite-actinolite-albite-epidote-bearing dikes cut through
this area (~0.5 miles). These dikes, although undated, have
28 MARK D. BARTON

Roberts Ridge

Schulman
Grove

Mexican
mine

outer lim
it o Camp
fh Birch Creek
yd Hill
r (Stop 3) pluton
ot
he
rm
al
fe a
tures

Stop 2 •
Canyon

Mollie
Gibson
mine
ibson
Mollie G

Payson Canyon

Field trip routes 0 kilometers 5

Cedar Flat &
driving
walking
Westgaard Pass
(Stop 1) 0 3
N
miles

FIG. 1. Aerial photograph of the Birch Creek area. The general route of the field trip is indicated. Compare with the sim-
plified district geologic map (fig. 2 in Barton, 2000).

been correlated with the Independence Dike swarm of east- dolomite, limestone) and Reed Dolomite make up the foot-
ern California and may be Late Jurassic (147–172 Ma) or wall (east side) of the Mollie Gibson fault zone. The hanging
Early Cretaceous (116–188 Ma) in age (Inan, 1996). These wall west of the fault consists primarily of Campito Formation
dikes parallel and locally intrude faults with normal displace- in this area, although farther to the north older units (Deep
ment, such as the Mollie Gibson fault system. Thus some or Spring, Reed and, ultimately, Wyman) lie in this position. The
all of the normal movement on these structures could be fault dips at variable angles to the west and has a normal sense
Early Cretaceous or older, consistent with evidence for ex- of movement, with stratigraphic offsets of >800 m where best
tensional tectonism elsewhere in the western Great Basin in developed (Campito against Wyman, north of Stop 2).
parts the Jurassic (cf. chapter on Humboldt mafic complex). Continuing north, isolated prospect pits occur along the
As the valley opens up (>1.1 mi), drive past outcrops of western strand of Mollie Gibson fault (one is visible on the
blue-gray Deep Spring Formation limestone on the east. In eastern canyon wall at 2.1 mi). Most of these veins contain
this area, the Deep Spring Formation (mixed sandstone, quartz, which ranges from massive in veins to spider web silica

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 28
 DAY ONE: BIRCH CREEK, WHITE MOUNTAINS, CA
in carbonate host rocks. Also present are carbonates, typically
tan-weathering calcite, and minor sulfides (pyrite, galena,
sphalerite, now mostly oxidized). Fluorite, muscovite and al-
kali feldspar join these minerals in veins along the Mollie Gib-
son fault system where it they are closest to the pluton on the
northwest side.
The only development in the southwest sector is the Mollie
Gibson mine, which is located 300 m east of where the road
turns east and the wash narrows substantially (2.85 miles).
The Mollie Gibson mine produced small amounts of silver
from sulfide-bearing ores along mafic dikes. Diggles and
others report a small resource averaging 0.1 oz/t (3 ppm) Au
(Diggles et al., 1983).
North of the Mollie Gibson turnoff, drive up a very rough,
bouldery section of road toward a saddle with an east-trending
drainage. Drop down, cross this drainage, and climb toward
the saddle to the north by way of a west-pointing switchback.
STOP 2—Saddle Southwest of Camp Hill
Purpose: overview of field trip traverses from southwest.
Stop at the saddle (4.2 mi) for an overview of the west side
of the Birch Creek system and the areas for the traverses at
the third and final stop. Boulders and spires of the northwest
quadrant of the Birch Creek pluton can be seen in middle
ground to the northeast (Fig. 2). This saddle is on a strand of
the Molly Gibson fault. Here, several slivers of Reed and
Deep Spring Formation carbonates and sandstones separate
Wyman formation on the east from dark quartzites of the
Campito Formation on the west. Quartz veins up to 2 m wide
with minor sulfides, alkali feldspar and carbonate are irregu-
larly exposed along the fault. Weakly foliated dolomitic mar-
ble to the south and east contains sporadic occurrences of
tremolite and talc.
The northwest quadrant of the pluton and aureole contains
some of the best and most easily accessed exposures of the
system (Fig. 3). In the metasedimentary sedimentary rocks
these include examples of many of the thermal, skarn and vein
associations found around the intrusion. In this segment of the
pluton are multiple intrusive phases with clear crosscutting
Schulman
Grove
Roberts Ridge
Camp Hill
pluton
FIG. 2. View to the north from Stop 2. The northwest edge of the pluton
is in the right center. Reed dolomite makes up white to tan outcrops in the
middle ground (Stop 3; Camp Hill area) and in the higher country to the left.
The Mollie Gibson fault zone continues to the north through this area.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
29
relationships to each other and metasomatic features as well
as some of the best evidence for timing and extent of syn-
magmatic deformation.
From Stop 2, continue driving north on the better pre-
served road toward Camp Hill. Just below Camp Hill (5.7 mi)
on the west side there is a very tight hairpin turn (5.5 mi). It
is important to take this turn as far up (north) as practical to
avoid getting stuck.
STOP 3—Traverses in the Aureole and Pluton
Beginning at Camp Hill (so called because it was the loca-
tion for camping during field work and field classes in the
area), two traverses illustrate key features of the Birch Creek
pluton and its aureole (Figs. 1, 3). A circuit of about 1 km
around the upper parts of Camp Hill illustrates many of the
structural, igneous and hydrothermal features of the aureole,
including evidence for distribution and relative timing of de-
formation, magmatism and metasomatism. The second tra-
verse, into the western part of the pluton, allows examination
of many of the internal igneous units, hydrothermal features,
and style and timing of deformation. One can see many cross-
cutting relationships at different scales that allow construc-
tion of the time-space model for the system as a whole (see
Barton, 2000).
Nelson and Sylvester (1971) documented the overall struc-
ture and general characteristics of the pluton and metamor-
phic aureole. They showed that strong penetrative foliation is
best developed on the northwest side of the intrusion and in-
terpreted this to be related to pluton emplacement analogous
to interpretations for the intensely studied Papoose Flat in-
trusion (Nelson et al., 1978; Sylvester et al., 1978). Because
they neither mapped the internal contacts in the intrusions
nor documented metasomatic features in detail, they were
not able to demonstrate unambiguously the timing of these
events relative to the emplacement history of the magmas.
This has led to considerable controversy in the literature
about synmagmatic deformation at Papoose Flat, Birch Creek
and elsewhere (Paterson et al., 1991; Paterson and Vernon,
1995; Morgan et al., 1998). A goal of this trip is to show how
simultaneous documentation of several types of field rela-
tionships can be used to sort out the integrated structural-
magmatic-metasomatic history where more topically oriented
studies might not.
In good weather and with ample daylight the Camp Hill
traverse is best done first, followed by an afternoon hike into
the northwest quadrant of the pluton. However when day-
light is at a premium, it is better to take the pluton traverse
first because there is little opportunity to modify that part of
the trip, whereas the Camp Hill traverse can easily be cut
short and is less physically demanding.
Camp Hill Traverse
Purpose: to see alteration, structure and igneous rocks in
the inner aureole.
The Camp Hill area contains a variety of reasonably well-
exposed features illustrating many of the characteristics of the
aureole and Border Suite of the Birch Creek system. Several
units of intrusive rocks are well exposed in dikes and in the
marginal part of the pluton. Synmagmatic deformation is clearly
expressed in several areas. This includes isoclinal folding
29
30 MARK D. BARTON

A. Lithology
pCwl
pCwl

0
Cr 7 820

00
2

90
6
8800 1 5 Kgcs 0
3 4 820

N Cds
Camp
Hill
840
0

Kgbs

pCwl Kgep
pCws
8200
8 600

Cc Cr
Kgbs
0
800

1000 meters
contour interval 200’ (61 meters)

Muscovite Garnet & Plagioclase/

B. Humite clinozoisite Hydrothermal Features
pCwl
pCwl

0
Cr 7 820
00

2
90

6
8800 1 5 Kgcs 0
3 4 820

N Cds
Camp
Hill
840
0

Kgbs

Kgep
pCws
pCws
0 8200
860

Cc Cr
C
pCwl

Kgbs
0
800
Quartz
base- 1000 meters
metal contour interval 200’ (61 meters)

Explanation Location in system

Lithology Hydrothermal Features
Late Proterozoic to Cretaceous Birch Creek granite
Early Cambrian Common veins in intrusion (>1
sedimentary rocks K-feldspar megacrysts to 2 per meter); multiple
(100 to 200 / m2; >200 / m2) generations of quartz & greisen
Cc Campito Formation veins, multiple generations
quartzites Aplite dike swarms
(0.25-0.5 per meter;
Cds
Deep Spring Formation >1 per meter) Limits of hydrothermal
carbonates & sandstone Central Suite assemblages in aureole
(two-mica granite)
Cr Reed Dolomite Contacts
Early Porphyry
pCwl Wyman Formation (two-mica granite)
limestones sharp gradational
Border Suite fault contact contact
pCws Wyman Formation (biotite±muscovite
siltstones & shales granodiorite to granite)

FIG. 3. Geology, generalized distribution of alteration and route of traverses on the western margin of the Birch Creek
intrusion. The inset shows the location relative to the entire pluton (see fig. 2 in Barton, 2000).

within the marginal phases of the intrusion and the Protero- STOP CH-1—Biotite (± muscovite) granodiorite dike
zoic metasedimentary rocks. Representative hydrothermal
assemblages are present including magnesian skarn, calcic The road ends at the parking area on a strongly foliated bi-
skarn, and hydrothermal vein assemblages in the metasedi- otite(±muscovite) granodiorite dike. The foliation is defined
mentary rocks, and veining and pervasive alteration within by alignment of the biotite. It is enhanced by reorientation
the intrusion (Fig. 4). and recrystallization of feldspar crystals and, especially, the
Exposures here are partly manmade. Several small prospect elongation and recrystallization of quartz aggregates (some
pits and bulldozer scrapes were probably all done in the were quartz phenocrysts up to 8 mm across). This dike locally
1950s for tungsten exploration (Clem Nelson, pers. commun., contains foliated aplite dikes and 1- to 50-cm-wide recrystal-
1984) and the area is known as the Buergner-Adams prospect lized quartz veins and segregations.
(Trim, 1990). This biotite granodiorite is the earliest phase of the pluton
Begin the traverse at the end of the road (parking area). as demonstrated elsewhere by map relationships (Fig. 4). The
The traverse is an 800-m clockwise circuit along the eastern older parts of the Border Suite are the only main intrusive
and southern parts of the hill with an optional stop at the hair- phases to have dike-like geometries. Internal contacts of the
pin turn on the road leading to the top. Field trip stops for other main phases (inner part of the Border Suite and the
this traverse are indicated on Figure 4. Central Suite) have gradational to sharp contacts that are

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 30
 DAY ONE: BIRCH CREEK, WHITE MOUNTAINS, CA
roughly concentric to the pluton as a whole (Fig. 3; see also
Barton, 2000). Among the younger rocks, only the aplite/peg-
matite dikes swarms and the Early and Central Porphyries
show dike- (or sill-)like geometries.
STOP CH-2—Foliated dolomitic marble with
high-T Mg veins
Walking to the immediate east-northeast, cross into strongly
foliated white- to tan- weathering Reed dolomite marble.
Strong foliation in the marble is enhanced by weathering and
by concordant veins. The foliation is defined by 2- to 10-mm-
thick lamellae of aligned dolomite crystals (Fig. 5A).
The pale veins and envelopes present here are high-tem-
perature magnesian skarn assemblages, in this case predomi-
nantly chlorite + calcite with lesser humite-group mineral
(clinohumite, chondrodite, or norbergite—here collectively
termed “humite”), diopside, talc, calcite and spinel. Envelopes
consist of calcite + humite and have uniform phase propor-
tions and a “graphic” texture that apparently represents con-
servation of the original 1:1 Ca/Mg in the dolostone. Some
veins are predominantly diopside. Grossularitic garnet is
rarely present in vein centers close to the granite. Most but
not all high-temperature magnesian veins have envelopes.
These veins are commonly folded (Fig. 5C). Pale yellow-
green serpentine and white tremolite retrograde humite-
group minerals and diopside, respectively. They also form in-
dependently, typically in veins (Fig. 5D).
Looking east-northeast down on the planes of foliation one
can see multiple pull-apart veinlets filled with various minerals,
most commonly calcite + chlorite (Fig. 5B; Trim, 1990). Here
and elsewhere, these features commonly align down the dip of
the foliation (indicating circumferential extension compatible
with the A.M.S. studies in the intrusion; Saint Blanquat et al.,
1998). They also commonly show a “chocolate tablet” pattern
indicating subequal flattening within the plane of foliation.
Sparse quartz float in this area is from scheelite-bearing
quartz + feldspar + carbonate veins. Also in this area are scat-
tered higher angle 1–3 mm white veins containing tremolite
and other calc-silicates lacking obvious envelopes (Fig. 5D).
These crosscut the humite-bearing veins and appear to post-
date most or all of the intense deformation. In her Ph.D. thesis,
Heather Trim documented three sets of tremolite veins: early
outward dipping, intermediate radial striking, and late inward
dipping. The same sequence in orientations occurs in the
dikes and higher temperature quartz veins in the intrusion.
Overall, most of the high-temperature magnesian skarns
form within 100–200 m of the main contact (Fig. 4; see fig. 2
in Barton, 2000). They correlate in space with early quartz
veins in the intrusion, but crosscutting relationships demon-
strate that these humite-group bearing assemblages formed
repeatedly (Trim, 1990). It seems likely that they reflect re-
peated bursts of high-temperature aqueous fluids from the
magma chamber. One gets the sense that both the marginal
phases of the pluton and the dolostone behaved plastically
with episodic cracking to accommodate the early fluid release.
STOP CH-3a, b OPTIONAL—Calcic skarn in
Wyman and veined granite
Walk east to a small prospect pit dug in calcic scheelite-
bearing garnet-rich skarn and calc-hornfels. This is developed
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
31
at the end of one of the many small fold noses in Wyman at
the contact with the Reed (Fig. 4). Phyllitic to schistose Wyman
is common in the float and subcrop.
Continue down the hill to the east where large bouldery
outcrops expose a biotite-rich dike which is cut by >10 vol
percent early quartz ± magnetite ± biotite ± K feldspar veins.
Quartz-vein-rich areas like this one are widespread but typi-
cally extend over only small areas (102 to 104 m2) in larger vol-
umes of moderate vein abundance (2–10 vol %).
From here walk south to the main contact with the pluton.
STOP CH-4—Border Suite with multiple dikes and veins
At this spot a southeast-facing outcrop in early biotite gra-
nodiorite contains at least four generations of dikes and veins
(Fig. 6). The early quartz veins are folded with axial planes
subparallel to the foliation in the granodiorite and host
dolomite. Later unfolded (but foliated) aplite dikes cut the
earliest quartz veins. The aplites in turn are cut by high-angle
recrystallized quartz veins. The latest hydrothermal features
are sparse northeast- to north-northeast-striking high-angle
greisen veins. The first three sets (quartz to aplite to quartz)
reflect, respectively, aqueous fluids derived from the earliest
dike emplacement, then aplites generated from the more
muscovite-rich internal phases of the early Border Suite, and,
lastly, aqueous fluid release from this same unit. The evidence
comes from the orientations, crosscutting relationships, and
distribution of these veins and dikes (Fig. 4).
After this outcrop, walk west across abundant float and
sparse outcrops of dolomitic marble with widespread high-
temperature magnesian skarn veins. Aplites and distal plagio-
clase-chlorite-clinozoisite-fluorite veins are rare here, al-
though common elsewhere in this zone. Serpentine and
tremolite veins are common here. Cross isoclines in Wyman
phyllites (antiform) with marginal weakly metasomatized cal-
cite marble and yellow to tan Reed dolomite marble (syn-
form). Some of the gullies expose sparsely garnet-bearing
Wyman marble. This is distal to the more massive skarns seen
at Stop 8.
STOP CH-5—Isoclinal fold of Reed Dolomite in
Wyman marble
At this location one can follow a small isoclinal synform of
yellowish Reed dolomite in variegated gray coarsely crys-
talline Wyman marble. A foliation triple point can be seen at
the north end of the fold where foliation in the Wyman wraps
around the Reed.
Calc-silicate minerals are scarce in the massive carbonates
here and elsewhere. Only structurally favorable zones and
dikes allowed influx of magmatic fluids to develop skarns and
veins, for example, along the axial plane of the major Reed
synform just east of this fold (next stop). This scarcity of al-
teration contrasts with pervasive fluid flow in much of the
thinly bedded Wyman siltstone(-carbonate) units (not to
mention the patterns seen in many metamorphic aureoles).
These conclusions are derived from both petrology and sta-
ble isotope results (Trim, 1990). Widespread clinozoisite in
the hornfels requires water-rich conditions. This, coupled with
the substantial decarbonation in these zones requires sub-
stantial water inflow. Carbonate and silicate oxygen isotopes
31
32 MARK D. BARTON

Explanation for Maps of Camp Hill Area, Birch Creek

A. Lithology & Structure
Cretaceous (82 Ma, U-Pb)
Birch Creek granite
Early Porphyry
Biotite>muscovite granite: fine- to
medium-grained, foliated; sparse
quartz and K-feldspar phenocrysts
Border Suite
K-feldspar megacrystic granites:
abundance ≥ 50 / m2
Biotite ~ musovite granite:
moderately foliated medium- to
coarse-grained, locally megacrystic
Biotite > muscovite granodiorite:
moderately to strongly foliated
medium grained
Biotite (± muscovite) granodiorite:
strongly foliated medium-grained
equigranular to seriate
Late Proterozoic - Early Cambrian
Reed Dolomite: white to yellowish
tan medium- to coarse-grained
variably foliated dolomite marble
Wyman Formation limestone: gray
medium- to coarse-grained calcite
marble, local thin calc-hornfels beds
Wyman Formation siltstone: thin
bedded calc-hornfels to phyllite with
interbedded calcite marble
Attitudes Contacts
40
bedding &
contacts sharp
20
foliation & gradational
(in igneous rocks)
lineation
B. High-T Associations C. Moderate-T Associations
Calc-silicate associations Carbonate-hosted associations
Approximate limit of widespread Approximate limit of widespread
anhydrous skarn (>2 vol. percent) hydrous skarn (>2 vol. percent)
Dolomite host Dolomite host
Humite-group + calcite veins & Tremolite, talc, chlorite, serpentine
75 envelopes ± vein chlorite, diopside, 75 and calcite veins and replacement
grossular, spinel of high-T Mg(Ca) silicates
Limestone ± calc-siltstone host Disseminated tremolite + calcite,
Garnet skarn: Coarse grained iron- mainly in Reed Dolomite, but locally
rich garnet±idocrase±salite±quartz; in Wyman marbles
commonly boudinaged with open- Limestone ± calc-siltstone host
space filled by combinations of
idocrase-epidote-quartz-fluorite; Hydrous skarn: early epidote-albite-
gradational with skarnoid fluorite-idocrase; later biotite-chlorite-
Garnet-pyroxene skarnoid: fine to fluorite-muscovite-beryl-pyrite-
sphalerite-scheelite-quartz
medium grained grossularitic garnet
in calcite marble with diopside-biotite- Muscovite-fluorite-pyrite-beryl veins
clinozoisite hornfels after siltstones with phlogopite-fluorite envelopes;
rare clinozoisite-fluorite-chlorite veins
Quartz veins
Quartz±K-feldspar(±biotite+Fe-Ti Quartz-scheelite veins
oxide±muscovite) veins, 1 to 50 cm Quartz(-scheelite[pink circles]-
80 wide; recrystallized & locally folded; 30
carbonate-feldspar±sulfide) veins, 5
pegmatitc or aplitic phases (circles) to 25 cm thick, typically sheared
Abundance of all quartz veins Coarsely dolomitic carbonate, occurs
0.2-0.5 per meter, >0.5 per meter near distal quartz-scheelite veins
Aplite & pegmatite dikes Greisen & endoskarn
Greisens: muscovite+quartz±chlorite
Aplites: muscovite±biotite±garnet
aplite dikes with pegmatitic (dk. red ±albite±fluorite±pyrite replacing
80
circle) & quartz-feldspar (blue circle) granite; veins have muscovite+
Fold axes 80
zones; variably foliated pyrite±quartz±fluorite±beryl
Pegmatites: 2 to 10 cm quartz- Abundance of greisen veins
feldspar-mica dikes, grade to aplites 0.2-0.5 per meter, >0.5 per meter
80 (lt. red circle) and quartz-feldspar
veins (blue circle) Endoskarn (albitization): sodic
Abundance of aplite+pegmatite dikes plagioclase(±fluorite±epidote±
quartz±chlorite±actinolite±biotite) after
0.2-0.5 per meter, >0.5 per meter biotite granodiorite near contacts
30

Lithology &
A. structure
reniform aplite toward
dike with inner USTs

20
80
35

15

45
40 30
CH25 40 40
45
15 -9 35
30 40
45

N
35
25 40
25
45
45
35 30
31 CH
28 CH -3 50
25 -2 45
30 37 40
40 CH
-1 55
40 35
35 40 40
45

3030
CH CH
8600

40 30
-7 -8 40 55
50
50
50
30 25 35 35
25
45
45 35CH
10
45
55
65 30 40 -4
Qz
Q
40
5
45 CH 45
-5 35
32
55 70
CH 35 50
35
-6 25
55 30
00

35 40
85
25 60
84

20 40
30 60
65
50
Kf > 50 / m2
20 35 25 45
35 50
25 30 30
45
40
40 25 45
45

45
55
55

80
500 meters
45
45
CH Field trip stop 45
00

1000 feet 60
-5
82

contour interval = 40 feet 65

FIG. 4. Geologic maps of the Camp Hill area with field stops. A. Lithology and structure.45B. Aplites and high-tempera-
ture alteration assemblages. C. Moderate-temperature alteration assemblages.

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 DAY ONE: BIRCH CREEK, WHITE MOUNTAINS, CA 33

B. High-temperature
alteration associations 55
65

1' Qz-Mu vein

80 45
75
35 f
75 20 80
f
tes
nf
r apli
unge
biot after
80 30 75 amph next

of yo
35 to dolom
35 35
30
55
50 trend
tren

N
75 70-75
25 40 40 d of
40
85 olde
25 70
45 r ap
biot after
75
lites
amph next
to dolom 35 40 35
75 40 f
85 45
35 40
80 cuts
70 Qz
40 30 50 55
veins80 50
mainly
px 60 65
75 ox
8600

75 75 65
35 60 70
55 50 80
40 45 60
65
25 35 75
px 10
75 65
25 25sp 80
ox
85 70
75 45
20 70 70
80 70
80
n
40 30 li atio
75 || to
fo
t
s cu 75
ox ike
45 ox wd 80
a fe

00
Hu env sheared,
50

84
on bdngd 80 down
aplite 30,boudgd 75 to east
75
sp 40,Il
55
80 55
70 60
35
25 20 75
sp
70
60
50 60
80
45 65

80

80

500 meters 80 60 75 70
bi

00
1000 feet
75

82
contour interval = 40 feet
55

50
mylonitic
shear

C. Moderate-temperature
alteration associations
75
80

80 85

80
80
80 80
75 85 85
40

N
55

80
75
50
40
8600

85
35 85
25 65

55
35 80 75

30 65
00

60 70
84

65
65 75
70
30 60
50
Chl 75
40
80
50 85
45 75

65

500 meters
70
00

1000 feet
82

contour interval = 40 feet

FIG. 4. (Cont.)

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34 MARK D. BARTON

A. B. C. D.

FIG. 5. High-temperature magnesian skarn veins. A. View down foliation (field of view is ca. 60 × 40 cm). B. View per-
pendicular to foliation showing pull-apart veinlets filled with calcite + chlorite (magnet for scale). C. Ptygmatic diopside-rich
veinlet (ca. 0.5 cm wide) in dolomitic marble from same area. D. Late tremolite + calcite veinlets cutting chlorite + calcite
+ spinel + humite vein with calcite + humite envelope.

require flushing of the Wyman hornfelses by magmatic fluids,
whereas in the thicker Wyman marbles and in the Reed, only
the veins and their envelopes are significantly shifted from
unaltered (ca. marine) values. Other geochemical indicators
of magmatic fluids (e.g., trace elements such as Bi, F, Sn)
should have similar distributions.
STOP CH-6—Deformed quartz-scheelite veins and
greisenized dikes
Along this nose of Reed marble—an isoclinal synform—
several thin (5–25 cm) scheelite-bearing quartz veins crop
out. They contain accessory dolomitic carbonate, alkali
feldspar, and rare sulfides. These veins were prospected for
scheelite and are fairly widespread along the top of Camp
Hill. They extend north-northeast and south-southwest from
the area of intensely greisenized granite near the parking area
(Fig. 4B). The quartz crystals in these veins have a pronounced
down-dip lineation as can be seen at this locality. Near the
southwest tip of the ridge is a boudinaged greisenized aplite
dike (Fig. 7B). This dike is flattened in two directions and
may represent the earliest of the aplite diking events.
At one location, quartz-absent muscovite-fluorite-pyrite
vein fill composes a vein margin. Lack of definitive crosscut-
ting relationships precludes age assignment, even at this loca-
tion. Elsewhere, scheelite typically accompanies hydrous
skarn assemblages. The veins and hydrous skarn late hydrous
skarn assemblages could be time equivalent. They predate or
are coeval with the late stages of fabric development and thus
are placed clearly in the later, but not final stages of Border
Suite emplacement.
Walk to the north-northeast along the axis of the Reed syn-
form. Pass considerable float of deformed scheelite-bearing
quartz veins and walk into calcite-bearing dolomitic marbles
with sparse to common needles of tremolite just before an
apophysis of greisenized granite.
STOP CH-7—Greisenized granite
This small area contains pervasively greisenized biotite
granodiorite. The majority of the rock has been altered to
quartz + muscovite + albite ± chlorite (after biotite) ± pyrite
(mafic sites) ± fluorite. Quartz + muscovite ± fluorite veins
are common and have northeast strikes that broadly par-

SSW NNE
all features are oriented
at high angles to face
later Border Suite
Qz (not folded)

earliest Qz
(folded)

aplite dikes

~1 m
FIG. 6. Photo and sketch of folded quartz veins cut by deformed but unfolded aplite and quartz veins. All derive from the
outermost phases of the intrusion (cf. Fig. 4). The foliation in the granodiorite is subparallel (within 20˚) of the axial planes
of the folds in the quartz veins. These quartz veins are irregularly distributed within the outermost 30 m of the early dikes.
The crosscutting quartz veins and aplites that emanate from the interior, more muscovite-rich portions of the Border Suite
(Fig. 4).

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 DAY ONE: BIRCH CREEK, WHITE MOUNTAINS, CA 35

A. B.

aplite

sheared
quartz vein

foliated dolomitic marble

foliated dolomitic marble

FIG. 7. Photos of deformed greisen-linked associations along the axis of the large Reed isoclinal synform, Camp Hill. A.
Deformed 8-cm-thick quartz-dolomite(-scheelite-galena-K feldspar) vein in strongly foliated dolomitic marble. View to
northwest. Quartz crystals have pronounced top to the west-southwest rake. B. Boudinaged greisenized aplite dike with thin
calcite-humite group envelope.

allel the quartz-scheelite veins in the Reed dolomite to the
southwest. Thin, quartz-poor muscovite ± fluorite ± pyrite
veins are also present (cf. Fig. 8E). Pods of greisenization
similar to this one are common along the margins and locally
within the intrusion. They typically extend over areas of a few
hundred to a few thousand square meters.
STOPS CH-8a,b—Wyman skarn near dike
Along this zone, one can see progressive development of
many of the assemblages seen elsewhere in the Wyman mar-
ble. Distally, grossularitic garnet is sparsely developed in mar-
ble beds between thin-bedded pyroxene hornfels. This early,
distal garnet may be largely bimetasomatic, the product of
local mass transfer between the clastic and carbonate layers.
Idocrase is locally present with plagioclase, epidote, and fluo-
rite. Garnet gradually increases toward the dike eventually
becoming massive replacement of marble. Later garnet is
euhedral, red-brown, and more iron-rich. It is overgrown in
veins and in tensional gashes in massive garnet skarn by com-
binations of idocrase, deep green epidote, plagioclase, quartz
and fluorite (Fig. 8A).
Within 50 m of the dike, and best developed within 20 m,
hydrous fluorite-rich skarn assemblages overprint the garnet-
idocrase-epidote assemblages. These contain fluorite, phlogo-
pitic biotite, albitic plagioclase, chlorite, muscovite, pyrite,
scheelite and beryl (Fig. 8B). Quartz is rare. Sphalerite and
other sulfides may have been present, but are hard to find in
weathered samples. The early part of this paragenesis is epi-
dote-rich whereas the later is dominated by biotite + chlorite
+ fluorite ± muscovite ± pyrite. The equivalent in the Wyman
clastic rocks are thin beryl-bearing veins of muscovite-fluorite-
pyrite-quartz-feldspar veins (rare here; Fig. 8C).
Endoskarn is weakly developed around the margins of the
intrusion and this area is no exception. The best developed
examples have been found against Reed dolomite and consist
of sparse secondary epidote, oligoclase-andesine, and calcic
amphibole developed at the expense of igneous plagioclase,
K feldspar and biotite (Fig. 8D). Greisen assemblages with

A. B. C. D. E.
grandite
garnet Fl-Mu Brl-Mu
skarn ±Py-Brl -Py-Qz-Fl Fl-Mu

Chl-Ep Bi(Act(Bi))
Di-rich -Bi-Fl(-Ab)
hornfels

Ep(Bi)-Qz- Qz(-Kf)
Pc(Kf) veinlet
Pc-Ep- endoskarn
Id-Fl 1 cm 1 cm 1 cm
veins 1 cm

FIG. 8. Alteration associations in Wyman Formation near biotite granodiorite dike and endoskarn within the biotite
granodiorite. A. Block of boudinaged garnet skarn in diopside-rich hornfels with hydrous (epidote-idocrase-fluorite-plagio-
clase) filling extension gashes. B. Banded fluorite-rich sheet-silicate-rich hydrous skarn overprinting epidote(-garnet) skarn.
C. Muscovite-beryl-pyrite with minor fluorite and quartz in Wyman hornfels. D. Plagioclase-epidote(-quartz) endoskarn in
biotite grandodiorite at contact with garnet skarn. Cut by fluorite-muscovite greisen vein with mica-rich envelope. E.
Shreddy biotite replacing secondary amphibole in plagioclase-rich endoskarn. Note the quartz-feldspar vein vein. Collected
within 5 m of Reed dolomite on Camp Hill.

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 35
36 MARK D. BARTON
fluorite and micas commonly overprint these zones. In a few
cases, the endoskarn amphibole has back-reacted with mag-
matic fluids to produce shreddy secondary biotite pseudo-
morphs (Fig. 8E).
STOP CH-9 OPTIONAL—Hairpin curve
This is on the northwest side of Camp Hill along road where
the tips of biotite granodiorite dikes cut Wyman Formation.
Several outcrops expose 2–10 cm interbedded limestone and
siltstone that has been converted to diopside-biotite-clino-
zoisite-quartz hornfels with marble interbeds. Marble is com-
monly replaced by spotted grossularitic garnet grading to
massive intermediate composition garnet. Wollastonite, which
is uncommon overall at Birch Creek, is found in some of
these limy interbeds. The more massive garnet skarn has
good examples of pull-apart zones infilled with idocrase, pla-
gioclase, fluorite, epidote, etc. The dikes are finer-grained, lo-
cally aplitic, and partly converted to endoskarn (desilicated).
About 30 m southeast of the hairpin, foliation in the Reed
dolomite is exceptionally well illustrated in large flaggy blocks
just uphill from the road. These occur in a narrow isoclinal
synform along this side of the hill (Fig. 4A).
Pluton Traverse
Purpose: to see variability in igneous rocks, internal struc-
tures, diking and metasomatic features in the intrusion, mag-
matic to hydrothermal transition.
Beginning at the parking area on Camp Hill, walk diago-
nally down the hill slope to the northeast into the drainage
that goes east into the pluton (Fig. 3). Along this route one
can see a variety of early igneous rock types including aplites,
pegmatites, strongly foliated biotite-rich granitoids, less
strongly foliated, more muscovite-rich materials, deformed
(early) K feldspar + biotite unidirectional solidification tex-
tures, and early (biotite-magnetite-K feldspar-bearing) and
late (muscovite-bearing) quartz veins.1 In the dolomitic mar-
ble of the Reed Dolomite, one can see various skarn associa-
tions including early magnetite-epidote-andradite-diopside-
chalcopyrite skarn, humite-calcite (-chlorite) veins and
envelopes, chlorite-clinozoisite/epidote-biotite-fluorite veins
and reaction rims (on aplites), tremolite veins, various states
of fabric development in the dolomitic marbles, and other as-
semblages.
In this area it is possible to identify several discrete dike
episodes in this area by mapping features including (1) a few
internal contacts decorated by unidirectional solidification
textures (here mainly 4–15 cm crudely dendritic K feldspar
1 stops.
unidirectional solidification textures (or “comb layers” or “stockschei-
der”) are key features because, first, the crystals branch and terminate toward
the magma at the time of their formation and, second, these zones likely rep-
resent areas of low-density fluid accumulation during crystallization
(Kirkham, R.V., and Sinclair, W.D., 1988, Comb quartz layers in felsic intru-
sions and their relationship to porphyry deposits: Special Volume - Canadian
Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, v. 39, p. 50–71.
Moore, J. G., and Lockwood, J. P., 1973, Origin of Comb Layering and Or-
bicular Structure, Sierra Nevada Batholith, California: Geological Society of
America Bulletin, v. 84, p. 1–19.
Shannon, J. R., Walker, B. M., Carten, R. B., and Geraghty, E. P., 1982,
Unidirectional solidification textures and their significance in determining
relative ages of intrusions at the Henderson mine, Colorado: Geology, v. 10,
p. 293–297.; see the overview paper for further discussion).
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
crystals with interstitial biotite and quartz), (2) variations in
mica ratios and K feldspar megacryst contents, and (3) con-
tacts with the sedimentary rocks (see Fig. 4). Nonetheless,
the map relationships shown do not represent a unique inter-
pretation as internal contacts are difficult to follow and the
petrographic variations are subtle.
As we walk into the main mass of the intrusion we cross
through a several medium- to coarse-grained, equigranular
biotite-muscovite granites. These have prominent but vari-
ably developed foliation generally diminishing in intensity
with increasing muscovite content. Sparse K feldspar
megacrysts (up to 2 cm long) and quartz eyes (up to 1 cm
across) are present. Muscovite is typically late crystallizing
and can be observed in small (1 to 4 mm long) diamond-
shaped tan crystals.
STOP IN-1—Early porphyry, eastern contact
Continuing to the east, we cross the western contact of a
westward dipping sill (a dike in orientation when emplaced)
of medium grained (2 to 5 mm) biotite-muscovite granite
with sparse phenocrysts of K feldspar (1 to 3 cm long) and
quartz eyes (0.5 to 1 cm across). This is one of about a half-
dozen bodies of “Early Porphyry.” This texturally distinct rock
type cuts the more voluminous phases of the pluton. This par-
ticular unit cuts the various, generally muscovite-rich phases
of the Border Suite. In turn it is cut by aplites and quartz
veins from the Central Suite (ca. 0.5 km to the east). Younger
units, including the “Central Porphyry” have similar charac-
teristics but cut rather than are cut by the Central Suite group
of rocks. Unlike the early porphyry units, the Central Porphyry
has well developed aplites, quartz veins and, especially,
greisen veins within it and along strike from its exposure.
Although these units were originally identified and mapped
based on their textures and crosscutting relationships, it turns
out that the Early and Central porphyries represent an iso-
topically and chemically distinct batch of magma which was
emplaced alternately with the magmas of the Border and
Central Suites (see Barton, 2000). This is one of several fea-
tures that constrains the scale of magmatic processes in the
Birch Creek system.
We stop briefly on the eastern contact to look at a good ex-
posure of the contact where there are several sheets of Early
Porphyry in Border Suite rocks (Fig. 9). Note the sparse early
quartz veins and later greisen veins here as well as the vari-
ably developed shearing along the contact. Outcrops just to
the north have east-west-striking aplites cutting Early Por-
phyry. These are the distal expression of one of the larger
Central Suite aplite dike swarms that is seen in following
Continue to the east-northeast across small ridge separat-
ing the main south-directed and east-directed drainages. In-
creasing aplite float is seen here in biotite-dominated granite.
In this area, and many others, circular arrangments of aplite
blocks (Fig. 10) are the remains of campsites and piñon nut
caches (Bettinger, 1991) from the Owens Valley Indians who
spent parts of their summers in the high country of the White
Mountains collecting piñon nuts and hunting. The aplite
swarms tend to make higher ground because of their abun-
dance and resistance to weathering. Typical dike widths of 10
cm to 1 m and their tendency to weather into equant blocks
36
 DAY ONE: BIRCH CREEK, WHITE MOUNTAINS, CA 37

S N

Early
Porphyry

Border
quartz Suite
veins
greisen
veins

~2 m
FIG. 9. Sketch of early porphyry, Border Suite contact. The contact is lo-
cally sheared and is cut by early quartz-feldspar veins and aplites, and later
quartz-muscovite and muscovite-pyrite veins.

FIG. 11. Aplites offsetting (left lateral) outward dipping quartz veins.
apparently made them ideal for construction of these rings.
Many dozens of such rings have been located. The vast ma-
jority are constructed of aplite blocks.
STOP IN-2—Aplite cutting early quartz veins
at bend in creek
Drop down into the main east-west drainage across the plu-
ton where it turns northwest (Fig. 3). Exposed in a small out-
crop here are east-west-trending aplite and pegmatite dikes
cutting and systematically offsetting (left-lateral sense) out-
ward-dipping (west) quartz (+ K feldspar) veins (Fig. 11).
This location is on the fringe of one of the main Central Suite
aplite dike swarms and in an area where quartz + feldspar
veins begin to reappear in abundance.
At this point take a 75 m side trip north up the drainage to
walk into the core of one dike swarm at this distance from the
Central Suite contact. Along the way on the left a broadly
folded quartz vein is exposed in an outcrop to the left (west)
and cut by a small, unfolded aplite dike (Fig. 12). Here again
is evidence for substantial internal deformation developed in
an internal set of outward-dipping quartz veins. This folding FIG. 12. Folded quartz veins below waterfall area cut by aplite.
must postdate that seen on Camp Hill as it is developed in
rocks that crystallized after that event. This theme will be re-
peated again, closer to the Central Suite contact.
STOP IN-3—Waterfall aplite swarm
After you make a short boulder scramble, the waterfall area
exposes water-polished granite outcrops with approximately
30 vol percent complex aplite and pegmatite dikes along with
multiple kinds of veins (Fig. 13A). Because of the water pol-
ish this is one of the best areas to see the complex internal re-
lationships that are present in aplite dikes.
As can be seen in the map of this outcrop, the dikes are tex-
turally diverse, with variable mineralogy. Many are composi-
tionally evolved with abundant Mn-rich garnet plus muscovite.
This assemblage replaces muscovite ± biotite that is common
in variably porphyritic leucogranite and aplitic dikes farther to
the east in this swarm (see also Barton, 2000). Large, elongate
K feldspar crystals grow into several of the dikes, several of
which have distinctly pegmatitic textures. Some dikes grade
into east-west-trending steeply dipping quartz veins—a com-
mon transition elsewhere. These veins form a consistently
FIG. 10. Ring of aplite boulders typical of those constructed by Owens younger generation than the outward dipping quartz veins.
Valley Indians for shelter and piñon-nut caches. These veins typically contain accessory K feldspar, muscovite,

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 37
38 MARK D. BARTON

B. Veins in 70
85
drainage
e
75 N

35
85

50
84 65

note multiple episodes

~1 meter of left-lateral offset
45

85
55

A. Waterfa
Waterfall area

N
0 meters 3
0 feet 10

85 65 85

40
C. Zoned dike
30
35
75 70
N 60
55
85
0 meters 3
80
0 feet 10

Explanation
aplite dikes, commonly
USTs: comb-layered K-feldspar gradational with pegmatitic dikes
greisen veins (Mu±Py±Qz±Fl),
+biotite, oriented toward intrusion = Mn-Fe garnet common
typically < 5 mm wide

pegmatite dikes, commonly Mu+Qz±Ab±Chl±Py±Fl

Bi(-Mt-Kf-Zirc-Mon)-rich cumulate grade into aplites & Qz veins; alteration; typically as envelopes
= Mn-Fe garnet common on greisen veins
Mu+Alb±Chl±Py±Fl±Qz alteration
porphyritic granite (crowded with fine- to medium-grained envelopes on quartz or greisen
K-feldspar megacrysts±Qz eyes) unfoliated Mu(±Bi) leucogranite veins and as independent zones
Biotite(-muscovite) granite, fine- to medium-grained Qz veins, 5-50 mm wide
medium to coarse grained, unfoliated Mu-Bi leucogranite Kf±Bi±oxide present
weakly to moderately foliated with sparse Kf megacrysts Mu±Kf present
FIG. 13. Outcrop maps of several key stops in the intrusion. A. Map of complex aplite-pegmatite dikes and associated veins
in the waterfall area (IN-3). B. Sketch and photograph of crosscutting veins and dikes in the main drainage ca. 100 m out-
side of the Central Suite contact (Stop IN-4). C. Map of a section of a zoned dike and other veins, dikes and unidirectional
solidification textures at the Central Suite contact (Stop IN-7b).

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00 38
 DAY ONE: BIRCH CREEK, WHITE MOUNTAINS, CA
biotite, and an oxide mineral. Most lack obvious envelopes;
however, small (≤1 cm) quartz veins with similar orientations
commonly have thin (<1 cm) K feldspar envelopes (cf. Fig.
14C). These thin veins become more common toward the
Central Suite contact. Younger veins have muscovite in addi-
tion to quartz and subordinate alkali feldspar (generally K
rich). The youngest veins in this locality are sparse greisen
veins. These have muscovite ± quartz ± pyrite centerlines and
thin muscovite + quartz + chlorite ± albite ± pyrite ± fluorite
envelopes.
Retrace the path down the drainage, past stop IN-2. Con-
tinue about 75 m east through a zone of abundant east-west-
trending aplite and pegmatite dikes to a prominent outcrop
across the main drainage.
STOP IN-4—Greisen/quartz veins in aplite-rich
outcrop in main drainage
This outcrop (Fig. 13B) nicely illustrates much of the se-
quence of dike and vein types seen in this area and, indeed,
in much of the pluton. Moderately foliated biotite (± mus-
covite) granite dips westward along with a roughly concordant
early quartz vein. These are cut and offset by aplite and peg-
matite veins with approximately east-west orientations. In
turn, these are cut and offset by a quartz-muscovite vein with
an albite + muscovite + quartz ± chlorite ± pyrite envelope.
The youngest veins are thin muscovite ± quartz ± pyrite ± flu-
orite greisen veins with muscovite ± quartz ± albite ± pyrite
envelopes. Note that the envelopes on the late veins are
poorly developed in the less reactive aplites where biotite is
scarce and the plagioclase is albitic.
All offsets are left-lateral as viewed in plan, demonstrating
that a broadly similar shear regime existed through much of
this outcrop’s history (Fig. 13B). Shear sense on this side the
dike swarm is typically left-lateral (cf. Stop IN-2) and may re-
flect making space for emplacement of the Central Suite and
associated dikes.
Another feature worthy of note in this outcrop is the sys-
tematic rotation with time of vein orientations. Early veins
dip outward parallel to foliation and the pluton contacts, sub-
sequent dikes and veins are normal to the pluton contacts, the
last few dikes and a few correlative veins dip inward, and, finally
A.
UST layer 1
UST layer 2
Kf megacryst
crowded dike
FIG. 14. Dikes and veins along Central Suite contact. A. Photo looking west (outwards) of K feldspar crowded vein dike
originating on a K feldspar-rich unidirectional solidification texture layer at the Central Suite/Border Suite contact. The dike
cuts and offsets an older unidirectional solidification texture layer. B. Quartz vein with aplite centerline. Staple is 1 cm wide.
C. Quartz veins with thin K feldspar envelopes. Note that these are perpendicular to foliation. Staple is 1 cm wide.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
39
the latest veins (greisen associations) are northeast-striking
reflecting regional stress control. This pattern is repeated
throughout the pluton at all stages (Fig. 3; see also Barton,
2000).
STOP IN-5—Border Suite/Central Suite
contact in drainage
Walking east down the drainage, one can see 20–50 vol per-
cent aplitic and pegmatitic dikes in the outcrops. Stop at a
bold outcrop that enters the stream from the north. On the
west side (first seen) aplitic and pegmatitic dikes constitute
over a third of the exposure (this can be challenging to see).
The host rock is moderately foliated, megacryst-poor biotite
(-muscovite) granite.
Immediately around the corner, the dikes abruptly disap-
pear, and their abundance drops to at most a few percent of
the rock. This is the Central Suite contact, which is abrupt in
this location. In the stream bottom a small outcrop on the
southern side has a west-dipping zone of biotite-rich large K
feldspar crystals which flare downwards and to the east. On
the north side of the drainage the crystals are progressively
larger and the contact becomes more complex. Fig. 14A
shows a photo of a dike that originates on this contact in one
unidirectional solidification texture layer and offsets a slightly
earlier unidirectional solidification texture layer.
Note that the granite has changed here from moderately fo-
liated biotite-rich, megacryst-poor rock to one that is some-
what coarser grained, megacryst-rich and, at best, weakly fo-
liated. This textural change defines the mapped border of the
Central Suite. In reality, there is a continuum in most places
from the Border Suite to the Central Suite. Also, as will be
seen at a later stop, there are clearly Central Suite type fea-
tures that extend some distance west of this contact.
This stop lies between two of the largest aplite dike swarms
and has some of the simplest relationships. From here make
a loop to the east, then north and back to the west, to see,
first, the simplicity of the internal part of the Central Suite,
then a far more complex set of contacts in the center and on
the northern part of this major dike swarm (Fig. 15).
B. C.
K-feldspar
aplite envelope
quartz quartz
39
 mafic
dikelets??
b(m)
mcQ3

40
Folded early 85
85

50

35 85
quartz veins Mt

Mt
and aplites n/f
cuts Pg Q1
80 70E

40
35 25W
40 40 IN
70 bm
80 mmQ

65
80
-7d 35 ?

70
b/m 6
85

55
Zoned dike
Ilm 60 (porphyritic granite to
55

0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
•
85 75

94-13
85 K-feldspar-crowded granite
60
25
Mt
dead tree
to leucogranite to aplite)
55 65

piñon
45?
40 30
80 40
70 55
45 40
65 60
70 Mt
35 IN IN
80 50 40
70 fg
-7b 25
-7c 70
Mt 70
45

55 • 94-11 ?
65 late slicks
80 50W
45 N15E
45 55
70
60 50
)W 75
70
bm 60 Mt 5(-
mc <2 N8 55
55
fg
Mt 20cm
50
75 75
cg 35 55?
75 Mt 70 80
45
40
fold? 50 IN 70 65

arch
-7e
? 75 35 35
<1% Q
more ab. K megs
early dike? 60 40
systematic
right-lat offset
? Mt 65 on sheared QF
45 ? vein
? 50
?
possible
internal
contact 45 IN
between
mg & fg

35 45
-7a
50
boudinaged
Early UST zone 65
40W
high
point

fg 35

trunk
alb
(internal contact, inner 75 20
85 35
70 80
70W 45 75
85W 85E limit of oxides in veins)
Ilm 80 80W
50 Mt 45
65

bmm 2
30 80

40
80 ? ?80
80 ?
70W 60
?
60
Quartz ?
Ilm

50 80
vein
MARK D. BARTON

oxides 70

vertical
Main UST zone
(base of aplite swarm)
60
90
W

85

65
Base and Margin of Aplite Dike Swarm,

30 cm apl
USTs into
inside dike
80

internal IN
contact b(m)
cm / b mm
-7f
western Contact of Central Suite
75
80
Older granitoids
Aplite dikes (Border Suite, early
Central Suite) N 16˚
80 Pegmatite dikes Leucogranite, coarse-grained
1 cm

75

Leucogranite, fine-grained M.N.

Mt Quartz veins
(Mt = magnetite,

b
80 85

mm
20?

fn
mb
35 55
circle = pegmatitic) Leucogranite, porphyritic
sheared
85

Qz
1 cm

photo
core of

b
K-poor

mm
eCs?
UST (unidirectional Bi-Mu granite, crowded
85
60 solidification texture,
aplite dike divergence indicates
55
direction of growth) Bi-Mu granite, crowded porphyritic
oldest? swarm
youngest

55
100 feet
bmmK

IN
-7a Field trip stop 50 meters

Gt

FIG. 15. Outcrop map of igneous and some hydrothermal features on part the northern sector of the principal east-west aplite swarm at the Central Suite contact.
See Figure 3 for location.
 DAY ONE: BIRCH CREEK, WHITE MOUNTAINS, CA
STOP IN-6—Central Suite internal features
Walk east about 100 m along drainage before scrambling
through boulders on thenorth side of the drainage onto a low
east-west ridge. Note along this traverse that K feldspar
megacrysts are common, foliation is weak to absent, and
aplite and pegmatitic dikes are scarce. Megacrysts are most
abundant at the inner limit of the aplite dike swarms in the
Central Suite (Fig. 3) and diminish gradually inward and may
be virtually absent outward of the Central Suite contact. Sim-
ilar patterns with distal aplites and proximal megacryst-rich
granites are seen in some of the other intrusive units (e.g., in
the Border Suite, cf. Fig. 4). These patterns appear to reflect
a compositional or kinetic control related to fluid release from
a portion of the magma chamber.
In this area, greisen veins and zones of albitization (albite +
muscovite + fluorite ± chlorite ± pyrite) are common, typi-
cally as irregular masses a few meters long and up to 1 m
wide. These feather out along northeast-trending fractures
that may have thin quartz + muscovite or muscovite center-
lines. Quartz is generally lost during albitization even though
some should be produced by reactions such as
KAlSi3O8 + CaAl2Si2O8 + 2HF =
CaF2 + KAl2[AlSi3O10](OH)2+ 2SiO2.
These rocks (and the intensely greisenized rocks) show sub-
stantial loss of silica accompanied by an increase in Na or K
relatively to the original content. Calcium, too, can increase
substantially particularly when fluorite is abundant (Barton,
unpublished data). The abundance of greisenization and al-
bitization in this area is typical of the abundance near the con-
tact of the Central Suite (see fig. 2, Barton, 2000). Along with
the distribution of the K feldspar megacrysts, this pattern re-
veals something of the scale and timing of fluids sourced from
the Central Suite magma chamber.
STOP IN-7—Details of Central Suite/Border Suite
contact zone
The area to the immediate west has several spires of gran-
ite which are held up by leucogranites and aplites of the large
east-west dike swarm that originates there. Figure 15 is part
of an outcrop map for this area. A color copy will be distrib-
uted on the field trip or can be obtained from the author. One
should remember that this plan map cuts obliquely across the
west-dipping contact and that melt and aqueous fluids likely
moved up or down through this plane (likely both), not nec-
essarily outwards in the horizontal.
Walking to the west-northwest approach the prominent
knobs where one can see abundant aplites and other dikes.
The first outcrops to examine are on the northeastern base of
more northerly of the two largest granite spires.
STOP IN-7a—Unidirectional solidification textures: This
location has complex, multiple-generation dendritic K feldspar
+ biotite comb layers (unidirectional solidification textures;
stockscheider) pointing downward and eastward into the
Central Suite. K feldspar megacrysts are particularly abun-
dant and can be seen choking the base of dikes that extend
westward from this contact. Many of these dikes have large
feldspars pointing inwards from their margins – a bilaterally
symmetric version of the unidirectional solidification tex-
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
41
tures. Steeply dipping generally west-striking quartz-feldspar
veins, pegmatitic dikes, and aplitic dikes increase dramatically
in abundance from much less then 5 percent of the exposure
to more than 50 percent of the exposure. Many of these can
be traced back into their origins along the unidirectional so-
lidification texture zone. Features resembling “vein dikes”
and other evidence of magmatic to hydrothermal transitions
can be found in this area (Fig. 14).
Also present are meter-scale festoons or biotite- and mag-
netite-rich material. Although volumetrically minor, these
local accumulations of mafic material constitute an important
part of the igneous mass balance for some minor and trace el-
ements (Barton, 2000). Magnetite susceptibilities in the ig-
neous rocks vary by over two orders of magnitude; high val-
ues correlate with high biotite (and magnetite) contents.
Stop IN-7b—Laterally zoned dike: Immediately to the
northwest of this location, a 1–2 m wide dike can be followed
for about 100 m to the west-northwest (Fig. 15). It begins at
the unidirectional solidification texture zone and the first 10
m is crowded with K feldspar megacrysts. Twenty meters to
the west, the megacrysts drop off and the dike is predomi-
nantly a medium-grained muscovite-biotite leucogranite. Fig-
ure 13C shows key relationships at this location. unidirec-
tional solidification texture zones can be seen immediately
inboard of the dike margin along with a number of small
dikes. An early quartz-feldspar vein is cut and partially rotated
by the dike. A late inward- (east) dipping pegmatite dike rep-
resenting the last of the local igneous events cuts outcrops
just to the west and north. All dikes are cut by several styles
of quartz and greisen veins with albitic and/or greisen en-
velopes (Fig. 3C).
This area illustrates multiple diking and veining events all
within a few meters of the relatively undiked and quartz-vein
poor Central Suite. Magma and aqueous fluids were released
repeatedly along this contact at the culmination of the em-
placement of the Central Suite.
Walking to the northwest around several of the large out-
crops, one can follow this dike as it changes from megacryst-
choked porphyritic granite (near its source) through medium
to fine-grained biotite-bearing leucogranite to biotite-absent
leucogranite and ultimately into aplite. Numerous quartz (-
feldspar) veins and dikes are cut by this dike, consistent with
the field relationships at its source showing it to be one of the
very latest dikes to form. It is lost between outcrops near the
outer unidirectional solidification texture zone. There it may
contribute to one or more of the east-west-trending aplites.
STOP IN-7c—Outer unidirectional solidification texture
zone: This area has a thin feldspar-biotite unidirectional so-
lidification texture zone that can be followed across several
outcrops (Fig. 15). Although unidirectional solidification tex-
tures and similar features are widespread interior to the
aplite-rich parts of the pluton, they are by far best developed
over an irregular zone <1 to 10 m wide immediately outward
of the dike-poor, megacryst-rich part of the Central Suite.
Nonetheless, thin unidirectional solidification textures zones
are observed elsewhere and are likely common, but because
they subtle they are hard to follow and were rarely mapped.
Oxide-bearing quartz veins are largely exterior to this con-
tact, as are the more intensely deformed (folded, strongly
sheared) quartz veins and aplites. Readily recognizable folia-
41
42
tion in the host granitoid is present on both sides. This zone
is lost in both directions. To the south it is cut out by dikes
which constitute virtually all of the exposure. To the north, ei-
ther the unidirectional solidification texture disappears or the
key zone does not crop out.
STOP IN-7d—Folded quartz-aplite dikes: Coming around
the corner with the early unidirectional solidification textures,
walk west to take a look at several large obviously folded
quartz veins and aplites (Fig. 16A). Younger dikes cut the out-
ward (west) dipping quartz-feldspar veins.
This area outside the outer unidirectional solidification tex-
ture zone contains a third example and, at minimum, a second
generation of folded and penetratively deformed quartz veins
and dikes. The first example was on the contact on Camp Hill
(Stop CH-4) where folding was clearly bracketed by em-
placement of several units of the Border Suite. The second
example was between stops IN-2 and IN-3 (Fig. 12). The
folded veins and dikes in this outcrop are spatially and miner-
alogically linked to the outer unidirectional solidification tex-
ture zone – folding and oxides are common only exterior to
that layer – and are cut by undeformed dikes and veins gen-
erated no later than the main unidirectional solidification tex-
ture zone. This demonstrates that large finite strains accumu-
lated in no more time than it took to form (crystallize) about
50 m of the intrusion.
STOP IN-7e—Arch area, early magnetite-bearing veins
and dikes: The sloping surface near this small natural arch
shows a number of variably deformed magnetite-bearing
dikes and quartz veins (Fig. 16B, D). This type of material oc-
curs only outside of the early unidirectional solidification tex-
ture zone. These are cut by later, oxide-absent dikes and
quartz veins that lack the obvious deformation (Fig. 16C).
The latest igneous events are two inward dipping pegmatitic
dikes. Everything is cut by the ubiquitous greisen assem-
blages (Fig. 16E).
These distal and early oxide-rich veins could reflect early
release of more chloride-rich fluids, whereas the later, more
widespread greisenization and albitization could reflect late
fluorine-rich fluids derived from the residual melt. Lack of
structural or magmatic focusing of fluid release is evident
from the dispersed nature of these features over large areas in
sheeted greisen
A. B. / albite veins
backpack
Mt-bearing
dikes etc.
Qz
later
vein aplites
arch
late
peg
FIG. 16. Outcrops and hand specimens from outside the early unidirectional solidification texture zone associated with
the Central Suite. A. Folded quartz veins and aplites in moderately foliated granite (hat for scale). B. View down and to the
southwest of early to late dikes and veins. Taken from the top of the arch with backpack for scale. C. Magnetite-rich veins
and dikes cut by later dike. D. Deformed quartz(-K feldspar) vein with magnetite centerline. Field of view 10 cm. E. Greis-
enized granite with less altered pegmatitic dike. From muscovite-albite-quartz-fluorite pod. Field of view ca. 12 cm.
0361-0128/98/000/000-00 $6.00
MARK D. BARTON
the intrusion. This is one of several differences with better
mineralized granitic systems in other parts of the world (see
overview article).
Walk south toward core of dike swarm for a quick look at
the complexities (and sparse exposure) in that area. Pass
quickly from exposures with 5–20 percent dikes into a zone
with >75 percent dikes (as exposed). Undoubtedly much of
the intervening material is host granite, but laterally continu-
ous outcrops to the south indicate that the center of the
swarm is essentially all dike material.
STOP IN-7f—Core of swarm with early and late quartz
veins: This outcrop shows multiple generations and textures
of the evolved granitoids and the quartz veins. Early quartz
veins with feldspar dip outward and are preserved only in a
few thin screens of material. A few east-west-trending later
quartz veins are present as well.
From here we walk southwest dropping down the slope to
the drainage where we retrace our steps to the west and
Camp Hill. On this route stay to the north. It is easy to stray
too far to the south making the climb out more tiresome. Sev-
eral spectacular, but hard to find, greisen and clinozoisite
veins cut the Reed dolomite on the hill to the northwest.
From here retrace route to the highway in Payson Canyon.
Alternative routes go east or west from here to Yerington. We
will drive west to Big Pine and then take U.S. 395 north to
Bridgeport. In Bridgeport turn east driving past the Sweet-
water Mountains, and ultimately through the Walker River
Canyon into Mason Valley with Yerington toward the north.
REFERENCES
Barton, M.D., 2000, Overview of the lithophile-element-bearing magmatic-
hydrothermal system at Birch Creek, White Mountains, California: Society
of Economic Geologists Guidebook Series, v. 32, p. 9–26.
Bettinger, R.L., 1991, Native land use: Archeology and anthropology, in Hall,
C.A., Jr., ed., Natural History of the White-Inyo Range, Eastern California,
55. California Natural History Guides: Berkeley, University of California
Press, p. 463–486.
Diggles, M.F., Blakely, R.J., Schmauch, S.W., Rains, R.L., Lipton, D.A., Win-
ters, R.A., and Iverson, S. R. L., 1983, Mineral resource potential map of
the White Mountains and Birch Creek Roadless Areas, White Mountains,
California and Nevada: Reston, VA, United States, U.S. Geological Survey,
Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1361-D, p. 25.
C. D. E.
Mt
Peg
Qz
Kf
Mu-Qz-Ab
(-Fl-Py)
greisen
42
 DAY ONE: BIRCH CREEK, WHITE MOUNTAINS, CA
Inan, E.E., 1996, Metamorphism and geochronology of mafic dikes, central
White-Inyo Range, California: Unpublished master’s thesis, California,
Stanford University, 115 p.
Kirkham, R.V., and Sinclair, W.D., 1988, Comb quartz layers in felsic intru-
sions and their relationship to porphyry deposits: Canadian Institute of
Mining and Metallurgy, Special Volume, v. 39, p. 50–71.
Moore, J.G., and Lockwood, J.P., 1973, Origin of comb layering and orbicu-
lar structure, Sierra Nevada Batholith, California: Geological Society of
America Bulletin, v. 84, p. 1–19.
Morgan, S.S., Law, R.D., and Nyman, M.W., 1998, Laccolith-like emplace-
ment model for the Papoose Flat Pluton based on porphyroblast-matrix
analysis: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 110, p. 96–110.
Nelson, C.A., and Sylvester, A.G., 1971, Wall rock decarbonation and forcible
emplacement of Birch Creek pluton, southern White Mountains, Califor-
nia: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 82, p. 2891–2903.
Nelson, C.A., Oertel, G., Christie, J. M., and Sylvester, A.G., 1978, Geologic
map of Papoose Flat Pluton, Inyo Mountains, California with palinspastic
map and cross sections, Map and Chart Series, 20: Boulder, CO, Geologi-
cal Society of America.
Nelson, C.A., Hall, C.A., Jr., and Ernst, W.G., 1991, Geologic history of the
White-Inyo Range, in Hall, C. A., Jr., ed., Natural History of the White-
Inyo Range, Eastern California, 55. California Natural History Guides:
Berkeley, University of California Press, p. 42–74.
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43
Paterson, S.R., and Vernon, R.H., 1995, Bursting the bubble of ballooning
plutons; a return to nested diapirs emplaced by multiple processes: Geo-
logical Society of America Bulletin, v. 107, p. 1356–1380.
Paterson, S.R., Brudos, T., Fowler, K., Carlson, C., Bishop, K., and Vernon,
R.H., 1991, Papoose Flat Pluton; forceful expansion or postemplacement
deformation?: Geology, v. 19, p. 324–327.
Saint Blanquat, M., Law, R., Barton, M., and Morgan, S., 1998, Internal
structure of the Birch Creek pluton, White Mountains, California: New
A.M.S. and microstructural data and relationships to intrusive suites: Geo-
logical Society of America Abstracts with Program, v. 30, p. 63.
Shannon, J.R., Walker, B.M., Carten, R. B., and Geraghty, E.P., 1982, Unidi-
rectional solidification textures and their significance in determining rela-
tive ages of intrusions at the Henderson mine, Colorado: Geology, v. 10, p.
293–297.
Sylvester, A.G., Oertel, G., Nelson, C.A., and Christie, J.M., 1978, Papoose
Flat Pluton; a granitic blister in the Inyo Mountains, California: Geological
Society of America Bulletin, v. 89, p. 1205–1219.
Trim, H.E., 1990, Genesis of granite-related lithophile element-rich miner-
alization in the Great Basin; Kern Mountains, Nevada, and Birch Creek,
California: Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, Los Angeles, University of Califor-
nia, 337 p.
43
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