50 
POSITION AND POWER OF THE STRATA 
Gneiss, which is rare in the State, is found in the rolling country east of Cuyama valley, where 
it is met with in the bed 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 about 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 
^O 0 ; 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 
hv 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 hut slightly in the two places, viz : 
A .—Section at crossing from Camp in San Jose to Panza. 
On west side. 
Granite. 
Dip. 
Thickness. 
1. Green grits and. conglomerate----------__„ „__------_ 
64° to 70° gw. 
56° SW. 
150 feet. 
200 “ 
600 “ 
50 “ 
250 “ 
2 Coarse porphyritic conglomerate_-_-_-------------------------_ 
3 Thrown and yp.llow sandstones __,_-------- 
4. Conglomerate of serpentine and quartz pebbles_ 
5. Whitish sandstones and layers of argillite, with gypsum; remains of Ostrea 
and Pallium _ _______ 
45° SW. 
Total_._ 
1, 250 feet. 
On east side. 
Granite. 
Dip. 
Thickness. 
1. Green grits_____..._ 
| 300 feet. 
j 500 “ 
| 80 “ 
200 “ 
2. Coarse porphyry conglomerate_____._ 
35° NE. 
| 20° NE. 
150 NE. 
Total. 
3. Biown and yellow sandstones..._I________ 
4. Serpentine conglomerate_ 
5. Gypseous beds, with argillite...___..... 
1, 080 feet. 
