The Geologic Story of Yosemite National Park (1987) by N. King Huber

GEOLOGIC MAPS OF YOSEMITE

A geologic map shows the distribution of different types of rocks at the Earth’s surface. Construction of such a map is usually prerequisite to understanding the geology of any given area. Geologic quadrangle maps at the same scale as topographic quadrangle maps of the U.S. Geological Survey’s 15-minute series (1 in. to 1 mi) currently are available for only a little more than half of the park area. Two other geologic maps are especially suitable to this volume because they show details of Yosemite geology not possible to show at the small scale of the geologic maps herein. A new geologic map of Yosemite National Park and vicinity, at a scale of 1 in. to about 2 mi, has recently been compiled from both published and unpublished geologic mapping by many individuals (Huber and others, in press [Editor’s note: 1989—dea]). A more detailed geologic map of Yosemite Valley is also available (Calkins and others, 1985). The fieldwork for this latter map was carried out by Frank Calkins between 1913 and 1916, but Calkins, the consummate perfectionist, was never completely satisfied with his map and would not let it be published during his lifetime. Though now belatedly published as a historical document, it is still the best geologic map of Yosemite Valley available. These two geologic maps, reduced and generalized, are the basis for the geologic maps in this volume (pls. 1, 2).