STRATIGRAPHY OF CALIFORNIA COAST RANGES. 417 
not a portion of the Knoxville, but that they underlaid it uncon- 
formably. Since then in other publications? additional evidences 
have been given of the geological independence-of this series, of 
its distinct lithological character, and of its extent in the Coast 
Ranges. To the writer the evidences supporting this view seem 
to be conclusive. Nevertheless, the old view that these rocks 
constituted a metamorphosed portion of the Knoxville has been 
accepted so long, and has become so current in geological litera- 
ture, that the new one has been looked upon with more or less 
doubt. The writer ventures to assert, however, that if the geol- 
ogy of the Coast Ranges had never been touched until today, the 
confounding of the Knoxville with the older series beneath never 
would have occurred. In the light of these conditions it has 
seemed best to continue to put on record all observations which 
would aid in bringing out a full recognition of the important fact 
that there is an uncrystalline series of rocks in the Coast Ranges 
beneath the Knoxville. The importance of the correct classifica- 
tion will be understood when it is stated that the strata included 
in the Golden Gate series extend for a distance of 500 miles 
through California, and for an unknown distance in Oregon. 
The recent field work in Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties 
has been so fruitful in positive results that the existence of a 
pre-Knoxville series of uncrystalline strata must be considered 
proved. 
Lithologic character.—One of the distinct features of this 
series of rocks is its peculiar and comparatively uniform ltho- 
logic character. In general it is so different from that of any 
of the younger formations that it can be used as a criterion of 
distinction by one familiar with the general character of the for- 
mations in the Coast Ranges. This becomes of the greatest value 
when there is taken into consideration the scarcity of fossils and 
the rare occurrence of distinct contacts. The jasper has until 
recently been considered a metamorphic rock. Ina paper read 
before the Geological Society last August, the view was advanced 
t American Geologist, Vol. IX., 153-166. 
? American Geologist, Vol. XI., 69-84. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am., Vol. VI., 71-102. 
