Page 13 - 1915, Springs of CA.

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF CALIFORNIA. 13
reaches an elevation of 9,000 to 10,000 feet and rises southward to
its culmination in Mount Whitney, at an elevation of 14,501 feet.
Thence the elevation decreases southward to Tehachapi Pass.
In its northern and western parts there are large areas of more or
less extensively altered sedimentary and igneous rocks that have
yielded a great amount of gold and are known as the auriferous series.
These rocks are associated with intrusive granitic material that
makes up the larger portion of the range. Lava of Tertiary age
overlies a considerable area in the north, but farther southwajai the
range is composed almost wholly of granites and allied rocks^rhose
massive and homogeneous character has caused it to weather into
prominent barren, dome-shaped mountains. ~.
A number of small carbonated springs issue in several general
groups in the Sierra. There are also a few hot springs in isolated
localities and a number of cold perennial springs that yield large
flows.
SOUTHEASTERN DESERT.
The southeastern desert region of California consists of a number
of detached mountains and ranges which are separated by arid
valleys and by flat areas of desert alluvium. In the northern section
the ranges trend in general north and south. The White Mountains,
in the southeastern part of Mono Cbunty and northern Inyo County,
and the Inyo Mountains, farther west, have this trend. Between
Owens Lake and the eastern border of the State there are several
approximately parallel ranges which also extend from north to south.
The Coso Range, which lies southeast of Owens Lake, is composed
mainly of granitic rocks, though lava covers a small area in its central
part. The Argus and the Slate ranges, which lie farther east, are
composed largely of granitic rocks and altered sediments, as is also
the Panamint Range, which borders the western side of Death Valley.
The Amargosa Range, on the eastern side of the valley, includes the
Grapevine, Funeral, and Black mountains, whose rocks are mainly
quartzite, altered limestone, and other altered sediments. The Kings-
ton Range lies in the northeast corner of San Bernardino County, and
appears to have the same composition as the desert ranges farther
north. To the south, in San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial
counties, are a number of isolated ranges that appear to bear little
relation to one another. Most of these are composed of granitic
material, others are largely quartzite and other altered sediments,
and still others are of lava. Elevations of 3,000 to 10,000 feet are
reached by most of these mountain masses, the highest points being
in the White Mountains, which are but little lower than the Sierra,
and in the Panamint Range, where Telescope Peak attains an eleva-
tion of 11,045 feet.