Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Desert Aeolian Processes pp 37–74Cite as

Geomorphic and Geochemical Evidence for the Source of Sand in the Algodones Dunes, Colorado Desert, Southeastern California

  • Chapter

Abstract

The Algodones dunes of southeastern California comprise one of the largest active dune fields in the United States. The source of sand of the Algodones dunes is controversial, and the source of stabilized aeolian sand in the adjacent East Mesa area has not been investigated at all. We used mineralogical compositions and trace element concentrations to ascertain the most likely source of sand for these active and stabilized dunes. Results indicate that alluvium derived from the San Bernardino Mountains, which enters the Salton trough to the northwest of the dune fields, and alluvium derived from the Chocolate Mountains, which is deposited immediately to the northeast of the dunes, do not appear to be significant sources of sediment for the Algodones and East Mesa dunes. Both active aeolian sand from the Algodones dunes and stabilized aeolian sand on East Mesa are probably derived from sediments of ancient Lake Cahuilla, which formerly occupied part of the Salton Trough and left sandy shoreline sediments to the west and northwest of where the dune fields are now found. Lake Cahuilla sediments, in turn, were apparently derived from the Colorado River, when the river shifted its course and emptied into the Salton Trough, rather than the Gulf of California.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ahlbrandt, T. S., and Fryberger, S. G. (1980) Aeolian deposits in the Nebraska Sand Hills. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1120-A, 24 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beheiry, S. A. (1967) Sand forms in the Coachella Valley, southern California. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, v. 57, p. 25–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blake, W. P. (1857) Geological Report. In Reports of Explorations and Surveys to Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economical Route for a Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. 33rd Congress, 2nd Session, Senate Executive Document No. 78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blount, G., and Lancaster, N. (1990) Development of the Gran Desierto sand sea, northwestern Mexico. Geology, v. 18, p. 724–728.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brazel, A. J., and Nickling, W. G. (1986) The relationship of weather types to dust storm generation in Arizona (1965–1980). Journal of Climatology, v. 6, p. 255–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breed, C. S. (1977) Terrestrial analogs of the Hellespontus dunes, Mars. Icarus, v. 30, p. 326–340.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breed, C. S., Fryberger, S. G., Andrews, S., McCauley, C., Lennartz, F., Gebel, D., and Horstman, K. (1979) Regional studies of sand seas using Landsat (ERTS) imagery. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1052K, p. 305–397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, E. R., and Coles, D. G. (1980) Use of immobile trace elements to determine original tectonic setting of eruption of metabasalts, northern Sierra Nevada, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 91, p. 665–671.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. S. (1923) The Salton Sea Region, California. U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 497.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bull, W. B. (1991) Geomorphic Responses to Climatic Change. Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cutts, J. A., and Smith, R.S.U. (1973) Aeolian deposits and dunes on Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 78, p. 4139–4154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dibblee, T. W., Jr. (1964) Geologic map of the San Gorgonio Mountain quadrangle San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, California. U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations Map I-431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dohrenwend, J. C., and Smith, R.S.U. (1991) Quaternary geology and tectonics of the Salton Trough. In R.B. Morrison (ed.) Quaternary Nonglacial Geology: Conterminous U.S. Geological Society of America, Boulder, Colorado, The Geology of North America, v. K2, p. 334–337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ezcurra, E., and Rodrigues, V. (1986) Rainfall patterns in the Gran Desierto, Sonora, Mexico. Journal of Arid Environments, v. 10, p. 13–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fryberger, S. G., and Ahlbrandt, T. S. (1979) Mechanisms for the formation of aeolian sand seas: Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie, v. 23, p. 440–460.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fryberger, S. G., and Dean, G. (1979) Dune forms and wind regime: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1052-F, p. 137–169.

    Google Scholar 

  • Govindaraju, K. (1989) 1989 compilation of working values and sample description for 272 geostandards. Geostandards Newsletter, v. 13, p. 1–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Havholm, K. G., and Kocurek, G. (1988) A preliminary study of the dynamics of a modern draa, Algodones, southeastern California, USA. Sedimentology, v. 35, p. 649–669.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haxel, G. B., Budahn, J. R., Fries, T. L., King, B.-S.W., White, L. D., and Aruscavage, P. J. (1987) Geochemistry of the Orocopia schist, southeastern California: summary. Arizona Geological Digest, v. 18, p. 49–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jennings, C. W. (1967) Geologic Map of California Salton Sea sheet. California Division of Mines and Geology, Sacramento, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jorgensen, D. W. (1992) l Ise of soils to differentiate dune age and to document spatial variation in aeolian activity, northeast Colorado, U.S.A. Journal of Arid Environments, v. 23, p. 19–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kocurek, G., and Nielson, J. (1986) Conditions favorable for the formation of warm-climate aeolian sand sheets. Sedimentology, v. 33, p. 795–816.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster, N. (1988) Development of linear dunes in the southwestern Kalahari, southern Africa. Journal of Arid Environments, v. 14, p. 233–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster, N. (1990) Palaeoclimatic evidence from sand seas. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, v. 76, p. 279–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster, N. (1993) Origins and sedimentary features of supersurfaces in the northwestern Gran Desierto sand sea. In K. Pye and N. Lancaster (eds.) Aeolian Sediments Ancient and Modern. International Association of Sedimentologists Special Publication No. 16, p. 71–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lancaster, N., Greeley, R., and Christensen, P. R. (1987) Dunes of the Gran Desierto sand-sea, Sonora, Mexico. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, v. 12, p. 277–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lea, P. D., and Waythomas, C. F. (1990) Late-Pleistocene aeolian sand sheets in Alaska. Quaternary Research, v. 34, p. 269–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J. A. (1991) The role of desert shrub size and spacing on wind profile parameters. Physical Geography, v. 12, p. 72–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loeltz, O. J., Irelan, B., Robison, J. H., and Olmsted, F. H. (1975) Geohydrologic reconnaissanceof the Imperial Valley, California. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 486-K.

    Google Scholar 

  • Long, J. T., and Sharp, R. P. (1964) Barchan-dune movement in Imperial Valley, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 75, p. 149–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacKinnon, D. J., Elder, D. F., Helm, P. J., Tuesink, M. F., and Nist, C. A. (1990) A method of evaluating effects of antecedent precipitation on duststorms and its application to Yuma, Arizona, 1981–1988. Climatic Change, v. 17, p. 331–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Madole, R. F. (1992) Recurring deposition of aeolian sand during the late Quaternary in northeastern Colorado. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 24, p. A314.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCoy, F. W., Jr., Nokleberg, W. J., and Norris, R. M. (1967) Speculations on the origin of the Algodones dunes, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 78, p. 1039–1044.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKee, E. D. (1979) Introduction to a Study of Global Sand Seas. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1052-A, p. 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merriam, R. (1969) Source of sand dunes of southeastern California and northwestern Sonora, Mexico. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 80, p. 531–534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merriam, R., and Bandy, O. L. (1965) Source of upper Cenozoic sediments in Colorado delta region. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 35, p. 911–916.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morton, D. M., Cox, B. F., and Matti, J. C. (1980) Geologic map of the San Gorgonio Wilderness, San Bernardino County, California. U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-1161A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muffler, L.J.P., and Doe, B. R. (1968) Composition and mean age of detritus of the Colorado River delta in the Salton Trough, southeastern California. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 38, p. 384–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muhs, D. R. (1985) Age and paleoclimatic significance of Holocene sand dunes in northeastern Colorado. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, v. 75, p. 566–582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muhs, D. R., and Maat, P. B. (1993) The potential response of aeolian sands to greenhouse warming and precipitation reduction on the Great Plains of the U.S.A. Journal of Arid Environments, v. 25, p. 351–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muhs, D. R., Bush, C. A., Stewart, K. C., Rowland, T. R., and Crittenden, R. C. (1990) Geochemical evidence of Saharan dust parent material for soils developed on Quaternary limestones of Caribbean and western Atlantic islands. Quaternary Research, v. 33, p. 157–177.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nielson, J., and Kocurek, G. (1986) Climbing zibars of the Algodones. Sedimentary Geology, v. 48, p. 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norris, R. M. (1966) Barchan dunes of Imperial Valley, California. Journal of Geology, v. 74, p. 292–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norris, R. M., and Norris, K. S. (1961) Algodones dunes of southeastern California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 72, p. 605–620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olmsted, F. H., Loeltz, O. J., and Irelan, B. (1973) Geohydrology of the Yuma area, Arizona and California. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 486-H.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearce, J. A., and Cann, J. R. (1973) Tectonic setting of basic volcanic rocks determined using trace element analyses. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, v. 19, p. 290–300.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Price, A. B., Nettleton, W. D., Bowman, G. A., and Clay, V. L. (1988) Selected properties, distribution, source, and age of aeolian deposits and soils of southwest Colorado. Soil Science Society of America Journal, v. 52, p. 450–455.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pye, K., and Tsoar, H. (1990) Aeolian Sand and Sand Dunes: Unwin Hyman, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rempel, P. J. (1936) The crescentic dunes of the Salton Sea and their relation to the vegetation. Ecology, v. 17, p. 347–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rockwell, T., and Gurrola, L. (1993) Dating of earthquakes and determination of the slip rate for the Superstition Mountain strand of the San Jacinto fault, southern California. U.S. Geological Survey Technical Report 14–08–0001–G1669.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, D. M., and Hunter, R. E. (1987) Bedform alignment in directionally varying flows. Science, v. 237, p. 276–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, R. H., Jr. (1989) The arid zones of Mexico: climatic extremes and conceptualization of the Sonoran Desert. Journal of Arid Environments, v. 16, p. 241–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharp, R. P. (1979) Intradune flats of the Algodones chain, Imperial Valley, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 90, p. 908–916.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shelton, J. S., Papson, R. P., and Womer, M. (1978) Aerial guide to geological features of southern California. In R. Greeley, M. B. Womer, R. P. Papson, and P. D. Spudis (eds.) Aeolian Features of Southern California: A Comparative Planetary Geology Guidebook. Office of Planetary Geology, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., p. 216–249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R.S.U. (1982) Sand dunes in the North American deserts. hi G.L. Bender (ed.) Reference Handbook on the Deserts of North America. Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut, p. 481–524.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, R.S.U. (1984) Eolian geomorphology of the Devils Playground, Kelso dunes and Silurian Valley, California. In J.C. Dohrenwend (ed.) Surficial Geology of the Eastern Mojave Desert, California. Geological Society of America, 1984 Annual Meeting, Field Trip 14 Guidebook, p. 162–174.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strand, R. G. (1962) Geologic Map of California San Diego-El Centro sheet. California Division of Mines and Geology, Sacramento, California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sweet, M. L., Nielson, J., Havholm, K., and Farrelley, J. (1988) Algodones dune field of southeastern California: case history of a migrating modern dune field. Sedimentology, v. 35, p. 939–952.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sweet, M. L., Kocurek, G., and Havholm, K. (1991) A field guide to the Algodones dunes of southeastern California. In M. J. Walawender and B. B. Hanan (eds.) Geological Excursions in Southern California and Mexico (Guidebook for 1991 annual meeting of the Geological Society of-America). Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, p. 171–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sykes, G. (1937) The Colorado Delta. American Geographical Society Special Publication No. 19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, D.S.G., and Shaw, P. A. (1991) “Relict” desert dune systems: interpretations and problems. Journal of Arid Environments, v. 20, p. 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomthwaite, C. W., and Mather, J. R. (1957). Instructions and tables for computing potential evapotranspiration and the water balance. Publications in Climatology (Laboratory of Climatology, Centerton, NJ), v. 10, p. 185–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van de Kamp, P. C. (1973) Holocene continental sedimentation in the Salton Basin, California: a reconnaissance. Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 84, p. 827–848.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waters, M. R. (1983) Late Holocene lacustrine chronology and archaeology of ancient Lake Cahuilla, California. Quaternary Research, v. 19, p. 373–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells, S. G., McFadden, L. D., and Schultz, J. D. (1990) Bohan landscape evolution and soil formation in the Chaco dune field, southern Colorado Plateau, New Mexico. Geomorphology, v. 3, p. 517–546.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman, R. P. (1981) Soil Survey of Imperial County, California, Imperial Valley Area. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, USA

    Daniel R. Muhs, Charles A. Bush, Scott D. Cowherd & Shannon Mahan

Authors
  1. Daniel R. Muhs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Charles A. Bush
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Scott D. Cowherd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Shannon Mahan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Texas A&M University, 77843, College Station, TX, USA

    Vatche P. Tchakerian

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1995 Vatche P. Tachakerian

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Muhs, D.R., Bush, C.A., Cowherd, S.D., Mahan, S. (1995). Geomorphic and Geochemical Evidence for the Source of Sand in the Algodones Dunes, Colorado Desert, Southeastern California. In: Tchakerian, V.P. (eds) Desert Aeolian Processes. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0067-7_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-0067-7_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6519-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-0067-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation