Geologic Map of Quaternary and Upper Tertiary Deposits, Tucson 1o x 2o Quadrangle, Arizona
Issue Date
1988Keywords
Arizona Geological Survey Open File ReportsPima County
Arizona
Tucson
Basin and Range
Ranges
Annual
basin
alluvial deposits
Upper Tertiary
geologic map
Late Tertiary
Pleistocene
Holocene
Quaternary
San Xavier
Rincon Mountains
Little Dragoon Mountains
Winchester Mountains
Coronado National Forest
Galiuro Mountains
Picacho Mountains
Santa Cruz River
San Pedro River
Tucson Basin
Tucson Mountains
Tortolita Mountains
Santa Catalina Mountains
oxidized soils
soil horizon
stream terrace
floodplain
Fanglomerate
alluvial fan
pediment
piedmont
channel deposits
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Pearthree, P.A., McKittrick, M.A., Jackson, G.W. and Demsey, K.A., 1988, Geologic Map of Quaternary and Upper Tertiary Deposits, Tucson 1o x 2o Quadrangle, Arizona. Arizona Geological Survey Open File Report, OFR-88-21, 1 map sheet, map scale 1:250,000.Description
The Tucson 1o x 2o quadrangle exhibits a wide variety of basin landforms and late Cenozoic surficial geologic deposits. Several factors contribute to this diversity. The Tucson quadrangle spans the transition between the relatively low ranges and typically undissected basins of south-central Arizona and the higher ranges and typically dissected basins of southeastern Arizona. Dissected basins have been dominated by base-level lowering of axial streams and their tributaries, while undissected basins have had relatively stable base-levels. The higher ranges of the eastern half of the quadrangle receive more precipitation due to orographic lifting of moist air. This Is superimposed on a distinct regional climatic gradient, with increasing annual precipitation and cooler annual temperatures from west to cast across the quadrangle. Lithologies vary dramatically both within mountain ranges and between ranges; in some cases, rock type appears to profoundly affect piedmont evolution. Scale 1:250,000Additional Links
http://repository.azgs.az.gov/uri_gin/azgs/dlio/890Language
enSeries/Report no.
OFR-88-21Collections
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Mountain-front recharge from the Santa Rita Mountains to the Tucson Basin(The University of Arizona., 1985)This study analyzes mountain-front recharge from the Santa Rita mountains. Trilinear diagrams, finger-print diagrams, and scattergrams suggest that two types of water recharge the regional aquifer by effluent seepage as Madera Canyon Stream flows onto Madera Canyon fan. One type of water is dominated by calcium and bicarbonate ions, and the other type is dominated by calcium and sulfate ions. Deuterium and oxygen-18 data support these interpretations and indicate that recharge occurs over a broad range of elevations. Furthermore, the isotopic data indicate that the deuterium and oxygen-18 gradients are -3.5 0/00 and -0.4 0/00, respectively, per 1000 foot increase. Evidence is lacking for the presence of deeply circulating waters. Calculations based on a flow-net analysis and a water balance approximate annual mountain-front recharge to be between 200 and 400 ac-ft/yr/mi of mountain-front recharge. Recharge studies from the nearby Santa Catalina mountains estimate recharge to be between 25 and 50 ac-ft/yr/mi of mountain front and present evidence for minor amounts of deep circulation through the mountain block into the basin. The Santa Rita Mountains, significantly, have a more permeable alluvial fan which favors recharge.
