Eastern Mojave Vegetation Tom Schweich
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Eastern Mojave Vegetation | Field Notes (Continued) |
| Tom Schweich |
 Topics in this Article: 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Contents Literature Cited | When I first
read the field notes of Annie Alexander and Louise Kellogg, I was fascinated by the descriptions they wrote about the places they went and the plants and animals they found there. By publishing my field notes on the Internet I hope to follow a little bit in their tradition.
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| 2008
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| 3 April 2008
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A portion of the Chesnut and Drew collection of Abronia turbinata/
Other Articles: Mono Basin Flora: Chesnut and Drew Locations: Bloody Canyon. |
At the UC/JEPS Herbaria, I looked at the Chesnut and Drew collection determined as Abronia fragrans Nutt., made July 18, 1889. While most of Chesnut and Drew's collections were made in Bloody Canyon or at the foot of Bloody Canyon, the location of this collection is merely "near Mono Lake." Regardless of the location, the collection is unusual because the taxon, Abronia fragrams is not found in California, and is therefore likely misidentified. This collection certainly looks to me as A. turbinata. It has small ovoid leaves and the bracts are quite small. This voucher also has a small hand-written annotation of "A. turbinata," so at least one other person has the same opinion. Therefore, I have listed this collection as A. turbinata in my Mono Lake checklist flora.
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Just out of interest, I found collections of A. fragrans from: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Utah including Zion National Park, and Wyoming.
| |  A portion of the Marcus E. Jones collection of Abronia fragrans
Locations: Saint George. |
There are no collections from Nevada or California. The closest collection to California is a Marcus E. Jones collection, No. 5906, made at Saint George, Utah, April 26, 1894.
| | Locations: Milford.
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In Utah, the closest collection of A. fragrans to California was made east of Milford, Utah, by P. A. Rydberg and E. C. Carlton, No. 6272, on June 22, 1905.
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Looking through the North American collections, Abronia turbinata has been collected near Weiser, Idaho, and in the Alvord Desert and Harney County of Oregon.
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In northern Nevada, A. turbinata has been collected in Churchill, Humboldt, Pershing, Storey and Washoe counties.
| | Locations: Pinyon Hill. Sand Spring. Candelaria. Tonopah.
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Closer to Mono Lake, the closest locations in Esmeralda County are 10 miles northwest of Tonopah, 2.3 miles NE of Sand Spring in Fish Lake Valley, and north of Pinyon Hill at 2000 m elevation (White Mtns, Collector: Duran). There is one collection from Candelaria in Mineral County. There are collections from Nye County at Tonopah, and 10 miles south of Beatty.
| | Locations: Spring Mountains.
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In Clark County, there are numerous collections from the Spring Mountains (Cottonwood Springs, Vic Wilson's Ranch, and south of Red Rocks), and a single collection from Jean, Nevada.
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There is a single Marcus E. Jones collection from Salt Lake City, Utah, and there are also collections from Dona Ana County, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas.
| | Locations: Darwin.
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The collection at UC also includes an undetermined Abronia: UC128940, was collected by H. M. Hall and H. P. Chandler No 7166, 10 miles north of Darwin, May 24, 1906. This looks very much like A. turbinata.
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| April 17, 2008
|  Lower Pine Tree Canyon Other Articles: Pine Tree Canyon Road: near CA Hwy 14 FAQ: Pine Tree Canyon Locations: Pine Tree Canyon. |
In February, I received a query about Pine Tree Canyon from Cliff, wanting directions into and out of Pine Tree Canyon. I wasn't able to help because I had never visited Pine Tree Canyon. The canyon was listed on my web site only because of a collection of Salvia dorrii there.
| |  Fremont Valley from the mouth of Pine Tree Canyon
Other Articles: California Highway 14: in mouth of Pine Tree Cyn Pine Tree Canyon Road: near CA Hwy 14 Locations: Fremont Valley.
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On my way to Zzyzx, I detoured slightly to check out Pine Tree Canyon.
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Angeles Aqueduct crosses Pine Tree Canyon Other Articles: Pine Tree Canyon Road: at aqueduct Locations: Pine Tree Canyon. |
The lower canyon is open to the public. It seems to be a popular OHV location and there are many camp sites and OHV trails. The upper portion of the canyon is apparently private property, and there is a locked gate with a "No Trespassing" sign.
| |  Pine Tree Canyon at the locked gate. Other Articles: Pine Tree Canyon Road: at gate Locations: Pine Tree Canyon. |
This "locked gate" is fairly low in Pine Tree Canyon. Even though it was open when I was there, I did not go through, as I assumed it was unlocked only for the construction workers.
| | Literature Cited: Other Articles: Pine Tree Canyon Road: in construction zone Locations: Pine Tree Canyon. |
There was a construction crew working in the canyon, stringing power lines for the Pine Tree Wind Development Project.
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Collection No. 531, Streptantha, in canyon on north side of Pine Tree Canyon, 11S 0400485 4899939, 35.23989N -118.08823W WGS84, 857 m elev.
| |  CA
Hwy 14 at Pine Tree Canyon Other Articles: California Highway 14: near mouth of Pine Tree Cyn Locations: Jawbone Canyon.
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| April 19, 2008
| Literature Cited: Other Articles: U. S. Highway 66: just north of Amboy Locations: Amboy. Bristol Lake.
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| |  Desert pavement Other Articles: Glossary: desert_pavement Eastern Mojave Geology: 380000 |
| |  Bouse Formation near Amboy
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| |  Examining the Bouse Formation Other Articles: U. S. Highway 66: just north of Amboy |
| |  Lawlor Tuff (Sonoma Volcanics) in the Bouse Formation
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 Stromatolite at base of Bouse Formation Other Articles: Glossary: stromatolite
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| |  View southeast along Cadiz Road Other Articles: Cadiz Road: near Ship Mtns Locations: Cadiz Valley. |
| |  Cadiz Dunes Other Articles: Cadiz Road: near Ship Mtns Locations: Cadiz Dunes. |
| | Literature Cited: Other Articles: Cadiz Road: near Ship Mtns |
| |  Arizona and California Railroad Other Articles: Cadiz Road: near Ship Mtns Locations: Ship Mountains. |
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| April 20, 2008
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 Mule Mountain Archaeological Area Locations: Mule Mountains.
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| | Literature Cited: Locations: Mule Mountains. |
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 Mule Mountain Archaeological Area Locations: Mule Mountains.
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| | Literature Cited: Other Articles: Hart Mine Road: at Bouse Fm locality |
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| |  Trigo Mountains behind the Quarry Wash fossil locality.
Locations: Trigo Mountains. |
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 Monument on Ben Hulse Highway Other Articles: California Highway 78: at Ben Hulse Monument Locations: Ben Hulse Monument.
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|  CA
Hwy 78 north of Ben Hulse Monument Other Articles: California Highway 78: north of Ben Hulse Mnt |
California Highway 78, north of Ben Hulse Monument. |
|  CA
Hwy 78 south of Ben Hulse Monument Other Articles: California Highway 78: south of Ben Hulse Mnt |
California Highway 78, south of Ben Hulse Monument. |
| Literature Cited: Other Articles: California Highway 78: east of Ben Hulse Mnt |
| |  Entrance to Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge
Other Articles: Sinclair Road: at Salton Sea NWA Locations: Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge.
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| |  Geology talk at Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
Other Articles: Sinclair Road: at Salton Sea NWA Locations: Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge.
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| |  Cottontail rabbit at Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
Other Articles: Sinclair Road: at Salton Sea NWA Locations: Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge.
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| |  Elmer Power Plant of the California Energy Company
Other Articles: Sinclair Road: at power plant |
| |  Rock Hill and Obsidian Butte from Red Island Other Articles: Red Hill Road: Red Hill Locations: Obsidian Butte. Red Island. Rock Hill.
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 Mud
Volcanoes Other Articles: Davis Road: Mud Volcanoes
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 Mud
Volcanoes Other Articles: Davis Road: Mud Volcanoes
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 Mud
Volcanoes Other Articles: Davis Road: Mud Volcanoes
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| April 21, 2008
|  Fish Creek Campground Other Articles: Fish Creek Wash: Fish Creek Campground Locations: Fish Creek Campground.
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| |  Field Trip Stop 3-1. Fish Creek Gypsum Other Articles: Fish Creek Wash: 80839
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The Fish Creek Gypsum is present at the base of the Imperial Group. It interfingers with the top of the Elephant Trees Conglomerate at its base and is laterally equivalent to the fossiliferous near-shore Latrania Formation. It has been interpreted as a sabkah-like deposit, but largely lacks calcite, and otherwise has a distinctive metallic trace element signal of a geothermal vent. The gypsum is 90% pure, over 30 m thick, and has been mined since the 1920s.
| |  Field Trip Stop 3-2. Elephant Trees Conglomerate.
Other Articles: Fish Creek Wash: 77948
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Dorsey, et al., 2007 provide a the most recent stratigraphic column for the Vallecito Creek / Fish Creek stratigraphic section.
| | Literature Cited: Other Articles: Fish Creek Wash: 70924
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 Fagonia laevis in Fish Creek.
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| |  Field Trip Stop 3-3. Base of the Latrania Formation
Other Articles: Fish Creek Wash: 70924
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| |  Axis of drag fold
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| |  Field Trip Stop 3-4. First Evidence of Ancestral Colorado River
Other Articles: Fish Creek Wash: 66473
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 Wind Caves in sandstone above Fish Creek
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| |  Fossil Reef Interpretive Sign Other Articles: Fish Creek Wash: 63918 |
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|  Field Trip Stop 3-6. Colorado River delta rythmites
Other Articles: Fish Creek Wash: 56345
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| |  Field Trip Stop 3-7. Yuha Formation. Other Articles: Fish Creek Wash: 50830
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| |  Field Trip Stop 3-8. Arroyo Diablo Formation. Other Articles: Loop Wash Jeep Trail: in Loop Wash |
| |  Vallecito Mountains above Fish Creek Other Articles: Loop Wash Jeep Trail: in Loop Wash |
| |  Ocotillo on Borrego Springs Road
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| April 22, 2008
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 Cottonwood Spring Other Articles: Cottonwood Springs Road: at Cottonwood Sprs Locations: Cottonwood Spring.
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| |  Cottonwood Spring Other Articles: Cottonwood Springs Road: Cottonwood Springs Locations: Cottonwood Spring. |
| |  Interpretive Sign About Pinto Basin Other Articles: Pinto Basin Road: Pinto Basin Locations: Pinto Basin. |
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|  Pinto Mountain, the highest peak in the Pinto Mountains, as seen across the Pinto Basin
Other Articles: Pinto Basin Road: in Pinto Basin Locations: Pinto Basin. |
| |  Turkey Flats Other Articles: Pinto Basin Road: 65000 Locations: Turkey Flat. |
| |  Turkey Flats Other Articles: Pinto Basin Road: 65000 Locations: Turkey Flat. |
| |  Ocotillo in the Pinto Basin Other Articles: Pinto Basin Road: 55000 |
| |  Ocotillo in the Pinto Basin Other Articles: Pinto Basin Road: 55000 |
| |  Desert Lavender in Pinto Basin. Other Articles: Pinto Basin Road: 50000 |
| |  Teddy Bear Cholla Other Articles: Pinto Basin Road: 45000 |
| |  Teddy Bear Cholla Other Articles: Pinto Basin Road: 45000 |
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 Silver Bell Mine Other Articles: Pinto Basin Road: near Silver Bell Mine Locations: Silver Bell Mine.
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 Silver Bell Mine Other Articles: Pinto Basin Road: near Silver Bell Mine Locations: Silver Bell Mine.
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| |  Amboy Road toward Sheephole Pass Other Articles: Amboy Road: at Iron Age Rd Locations: Sheep Hole Mountains. |
| |  Pediment in Sheephole Pass Other Articles: Amboy Road: Sheep Hole Pass Glossary: pediment Locations: Sheep Hole Pass. |
| |  Salt Plant on Bristol Lake Other Articles: Amboy Road: on Bristol Lk Playa Locations: Bristol Lake.
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| |  National Chloride Company Other Articles: Amboy Road: 20000 Locations: Bristol Lake. |
| | Literature Cited: Other Articles: Kelbaker Road: near Amboy Limestone Quarry Eastern Mojave Geology: at Amboy Limestone Deposit
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Omya (California) operates the Amboy Limestone quarry located 6 miles east of Amboy, California, in the southern Bristol Mountains. The Amboy Limestone deposit, a very high purity, high brightness (white) crystalline limestone deposit is of such high purity it is suitable for pharmaceutical and food grade limestone applications, and can be utilized in products for human consumption. The limstone is mined from an extensive dip slope of Mississippian age Monte Cristo Limestone, Bullion Member, up to 300 feet thick, and 1500 feet long. Current mine life is 55 years, plus reclamation phases for a total operation life of 70 years. The current Phase 1 quarry development occurs in an area of about 10 acres. The ultimate quary will cover approximately 50 acres.
| |  Looking north toward Kelso Other Articles: Kelbaker Road: near Kelso Dunes Locations: Kelso Valley. |
| |  Desert Lily beside Kelbaker Road Other Articles: Kelbaker Road: near Kelso Dunes |
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| April 23, 2008
|  Mesquite Spring Campground Other Articles: North Highway: Mesquite Spring Campground |
| |  Northern part of Death Valley from Ubehebe Crater
Other Articles: Racetrack Valley Road: near Ubehebe Crater |
| |  Dry
Mountain from Ubehebe Crater Locations: Dry Mountain.
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| |  Tin
Mountain from Ubehebe Crater Locations: Tin Mountain.
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| |  Foothills of the Grapevine Mountains along Death Valley Road
Other Articles: Death Valley Road: on Death Valley Road |
| |  View into the most northern end of Death Valley
Other Articles: Death Valley Road: on Death Valley Road |
| |  General view of Little Sand Spring Other Articles: Death Valley Road: near Little Sand Spring Locations: Little Sand Spring. |
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 Vegetation in Little Sand Spring Other Articles: Death Valley Road: near Little Sand Spring Locations: Little Sand Spring.
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| |  General view of Sand Spring Other Articles: Death Valley Road: 62500 Locations: Sand Spring. |
| |  General view south into Death Valley. Other Articles: Death Valley Road: near Crankshaft Crossing |
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 Crankshaft Crossing Other Articles: Death Valley Road: Crankshaft Junction Locations: Crankshaft Crossing.
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| |  Death Valley Road climbs the Last Chance Range
Other Articles: Death Valley Road: near Crankshaft Crossing |
| |  Northern end of Death Valley. Other Articles: Death Valley Road: on Death Valley Road |
| |  Death Valley Road traverses the Last Chance Range
Other Articles: Death Valley Road: on Death Valley Rd |
| |  General view of Crater Other Articles: Death Valley Road: near Crater Locations: Crater. |
| |  View west of Little Cow Horn Valley Other Articles: Death Valley Road: near Little Cow Horn Valley Locations: Little Cow Horn Valley. |
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| Date and time this article was prepared: 5/12/2008 7:50:23 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||
