50 



POSITION AND POWER OF THE STRATA 



Gneiss, wliicli is rare in the State, is found in the rolling country east of Cuyama valley, where 

 it is met with in the hed of the stream, (Carizo,) and occupying a width of several miles of the 

 undulating land east of this range ; the gneiss is hornhlendic, and accompanies the granite in 

 its further southern course, keeping on its eastern edge until this sierra merges into the mass of 

 San Emilo and the country round ahout the Tejon. The gneiss was cut up in several places 

 by dykes of granite, in the vicinity of Panza ranche. The sedimentary strata dip, both east 

 and west, from this axis, which through its whole course has tilted the strata on its western 

 side to a much higher angle than those on its eastern. The latter country being the much 

 higher ground. In crossing from the Santa Maria river at Cuyama valley, eastward toward 

 Carizo, the ascent is toilsome and precipitous across strata, some of which are at an angle of 

 70°; the bed next to the granite, a greenish conglomerate, standing with its weathered pin- 

 nacles almost erect, forming the lofty and prominent crest of the range, which then drops down 

 by slow descents over rounded granitic hills until, after a few miles, the sedimentary strata are 

 again met with, dipping in an opposite direction at an angle of not more than 25° to the north- 

 east, which drop gently into the upland swells of Carizo. 



This chain was crossed in two places four several times, viz : at Camp 19, in the valley San 

 Jose, and again about twenty-five miles further to the south, to enter Cuyama valley. The 

 strata presented to view differed but slightly in the two places, viz : 



A. — Section at crossing from Camp in San Jose to Panza. 

 On west side. 



Granite. 



1. Green grits and conglomerate - 



2. Coarse porphyritic conglomerate — 



3. Brown and yellow sandstones ■ 



4. Conglomerate of serpentine and quartz pebbles 



5. Whitish sandstones and layers of argillite, with gypsum ; remains of Ostrea 



and Pallium 



Dip. 



64° to 70° SW. 

 56° SW. 



45° SW. 



Total. 



Thickness. 



150 feet. 



200 " 



600 " 



50 " 



250 " 



1,250 feet. 



On east side. 



Granite. 



1. Green grits 



2. Coarse porphyry conglomerate. 



3. Brown and yellow sandstones.. 



4. Serpentine conglomerate 



5. Gypseous beds, with argillite.. 



Dip. 



35° NE. 

 20° NE. 

 15° NE. 

 Total 



Thickness. 



300 feet. 



500 " 



SO " 



200 " 



1,080 feet. 



