HOME | ABOUT US | SERVICES | DOWNLOADS | NEWS | RESEARCH | SUPPORT

Back to the lab home page

Lake Tahoe Basin

The Lake Tahoe Basin, Sierra Nevada Mountains, Nevada-Calfornia. Several different widely-used
prehistoric sources of high-quality basalt toolstone have been identified in this region.

Tahoe Region Basalt Sources in the Northwest Research Database

The following Lake Tahoe region sources are currently included in the Northwest Research basalt source database. Systematic sampling of basalt sources and evaluation of prehistoric quarry sites in and near the Tahoe National Forest continues and additional sources will be added to this list as they are identified. The secondary distribution of the different sources (the potential lithic procurement source zone) remains uninvestigated and a complete inventory and geochemical survey of sources has not yet been completed. Geologic mapping coverage for the project area is provided by a number of sources, including Birkeland (1963), Burnett (1971), Burnett and Jennings (1962), and Saucedo and Wagner (1992). An earlier (and less complete) version of this source list originally appeared in Skinner and Davis (1996).

Geochemical Basalt Source Group Index: Lake Tahoe Area

For a regional map showing selected basalt source locations, click here.
Alder Hill, California

Alder Hill, California. High-quality basalt toolstone from this prehistoric quarry source
is found at archaeological sites in the Martis Valley and the region surrounding Truckee.

Alder Hill

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: 05-17-57-381, -382, -373
Location: T18N, R16E; Nevada County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Truckee 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Birkeland (1963; Unit Qla); Burnett and Jennings (1962; Unit Qpvb); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit Qvb)
Chemical Group: Alder Hill
Comments: Sometimes indistinguishable from Watson Creek source. Formerly known as the Alder Hill A or Alder Hill A/Watson Creek source group. This chemical source group, along with the Gold Lake source group, is one of the two most significant prehistoric sources of basalt toolstone located in the Lake Tahoe region.

Distribution of sites with Alder Hill or Watson Creek basalt

Year 2000 township distribution of sites in which Alder Hill and/or Watson Creek basalt sources have been identified.
Credits: Jay King, Tammara Ekness, and Sharon Waechter (Far Western Anthropological Research Group, Inc.).

Alder Hill B

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: 05-17-57-381, -382, -373
Location: T18N, R16E; Nevada County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Truckee 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Birkeland (1963; Unit Qla); Burnett and Jennings (1962; Unit Qpvb); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit Qvb)
Chemical Group: Independence Lake (formerly known as Alder Hill B)
Comments: Appears to be discarded material originating from the Independence Lake source group. Originally identified from samples collected at the Alder Hill source. This source name is no longer in use and has been superseded by the Independence Lake source name.

Boca Ridge, California

Boca Ridge, California. Basalt from the ridge lying east of the present-day Boca Reservoir
was only very occasionally used as a local prehistoric source of toolstone.

Boca Ridge

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: No associated site (geologic location recorded in Latham 1985)
Location: T18N, R17E; Nevada County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Boca 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Birkeland (1963; Unit Qlb); Burnett and Jennings (1962; Unit Qpvb); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit Qvb)
Chemical Group: Boca Ridge
Comments: Formerly included in the Alder Hill A/Watson Creek source group. Rarely, if ever, used as a prehistoric toolstone source.

Boca Spring

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: 05-17-57-372, 05-17-57-598, and 05-17-57-178
Location: T19N, R17E and 18N, 17E; Nevada County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Boca 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit MPv - andesites)
Chemical Group: Boca Spring
Comments: Appears to be only very occasionally used as a toolstone source.

Carnelian Bay, Lake Tahoe

A basalt pebble beach at Carnelian Bay, Lake Tahoe, California. Geochemical analysis of the
pebbles indicate that they originated from both the Watson Creek and Sawtooth Ridge sources.

Carnelian Bay

National Forest: Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Site No.: --
Location: T16N, R17E; Placer County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Kings Beach 7.5
Geologic Map Coverage: Coverage:Burnett (1971); Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Sawtooth Ridge, Watson Creek
Comments: Nodules of basalt from the Watson Creek and Sawtooth Ridge sources make up a significant component of the beach gravels along Carnelian Bay.

Carnelian Canyon

National Forest: Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Site No.: --
Location: T16N, R17E; Placer County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Kings Beach 7.5
Geologic Map Coverage: Coverage:Burnett (1971; Unit Qv); Burnett and Jennings (1962; Unit Qpvb); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit Qvb)
Chemical Group: Sawtooth Ridge, Watson Creek
Comments: Formerly included in the Alder Hill A/Watson Creek source group. One of several outcrops correlated with this chemical source.

Church Meadows

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: 05-17-53-074
Location: T21N, R12E; Sierra County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Clio 7.5
Geologic Map Coverage:Burnett and Jennings (1962; Unit Qpvb); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit Qvb)
Chemical Group: Gold Lake
Comments: One of several outcrops correlated with the Gold Lake chemical source group.

Davies Creek

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: --
Location: T19N, R16E; California
USGS Quadrangle: Sardine Peak 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage:Burnett and Jennings (1962; Unit Qpvb); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit MPvb)
Chemical Group: Davies Creek

Dogwood

National Forest: Plumas National Forest
Site No.: 05-11-53-610
Location: T22N, R9E; California
USGS Quadrangle: Dogwood Peak 7.5'?
Geologic Map Coverage: Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Onion Valley

Emigrant Ridge

National Forest: Plumas National Forest
Site No.: --
Location: T24N, R11E; California
USGS Quadrangle: Mt. Engalls 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Emigrant Ridge

Fillmore Hill

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: --
Location: T19N, R11E; California
USGS Quadrangle: Graniteville 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962; Unit Qpvb); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit Qvb)
Chemical Group: Fillmore Hill

Fowler Lake

National Forest: Plumas National Forest
Site No.: --
Location: T22N, R9E; California
USGS Quadrangle: Dogwood Peak 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Emigrant Ridge

Gold Lake, California

Gold Lake, California. Fine-grained basalt toolstone from a widely-dispersed source in this area was
extensively used for the manufacture of prehistoric stone tools in the central Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Gold Lake

National Forest: Plumas National Forest
Site No.: --
Location: T21N, R12E; Sierra County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Sierra City NW 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Gold Lake
Comments: This source group, along with the Alder Hill and Siegfried Canyon Ridge sources, is one of the most significant and extensively prehistoric sources of basalt toolstone located in the Lake Tahoe region.

Distribution of sites with Gold Lake basalt

Year 2000 township distribution of sites in which Gold Lake geochemical basalt sources have been identified.
Credits: Jay King, Tammara Ekness, and Sharon Waechter (Far Western Anthropological Research Group, Inc.).

Gooseneck Flat

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: CA-PLA-735
Location: T17N, R16E; California
USGS Quadrangle: Truckee 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit Qvb)
Chemical Group: Independence Lake
Comments: One of several outcrops correlated with this geochemical source group.

Incline Ridge

National Forest: Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Site No.: --
Location: T16N, R18E, Washoe County, Nevada
USGS Quadrangle: Mt. Rose 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett (1971)
Chemical Group: Incline Ridge

Kate's Quarry

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: 05-17-57-435
Location: T18N, R15E; Nevada County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Independence Lake 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Independence Lake
Comments: Formerly known as the Alder Hill B source group (based only on artifactual samples recovered at the Alder Hill source). One of several outcrops correlated with this geochemical source group.

Lagomarsino Basalt Quarry

National Forest: None
Site No.: --
Location: T18N, R21E; Washoe County, Nevada
USGS Quadrangle: Chalk Hills 7.5'
Chemical Group: Steamboat Hills
Comments: Similar in trace element composition to the Steamboat Hills source but is sometimes distinguishable as a separate source.

Little Grass Valley

National Forest: Plumas National Forest
Site No.: --
Location: T21N, R9E; California
USGS Quadrangle: American House 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Emigrant Ridge

Martis Creek

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: CA-PLA-485/H
Location: T17N, R17E; Placer County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Martis Peak 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit Pva)
Chemical Group: Martis Creek
Comments: Formerly known as Unknown D basalt source in most pre-1998 basalt characterization studies.

Meathouse Meadow

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: --
Location: T18N, R15E; Sierra County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Independence Lake 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit Qg)
Chemical Group: Meathouse Meadow
Comments: Located in same vicinity as Independence Lake and Secret Meadow basalt sources.

Mohawk Valley

National Forest: --
Site No.: CA-PLU-1248
Location: T22N, R12E; Plumas County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Clio 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Units Ql and Qg)
Chemical Group: Gold Lake
Comments: Glacially-transported nodules of raw material originating from the Gold Lake area are found in morainal deposits at this prehistoric quarry site. Forty-nine of 50 characterized artifacts from nearby CA-PLU-1541/H were correlated with the Gold Lake basalt source (Skinner 2001).

North Dry Valley

National Forest: --
Site No.: 26-WA-6363
Location: T29N, R19E; Washoe County, Nevada
USGS Quadrangle: Sheepshead Spring 7.5; Sand Pass 7.5
Geologic Map Coverage: Not available
Chemical Group: North Dry Valley
Comments: Evidence of prehistoric toolstone quarrying is associated with at least one oucrop of this extensive source. Recent major element analysis of the rock indicates that the North Dry Valley "basalt" is not a true basalt, but a higher silica volcanic rock.

Oakland Pond

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: 05-17-53-156
Location: T21N, R11E; Sierra County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Gold Lake 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Chemical Group: Gold Lake
Comments: One of several outcrops correlated with the Gold Lake chemical source group.

Sawtooth Ridge

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: 05-17-57-452, -454, -456, -458, -459
Location: T16N, R16E; Placer County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Truckee 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett (1971); Burnett and Jennings (1962; Unit Qpvb); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit Qvb)
Chemical Group: Sawtooth Ridge

Secret Meadow

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: 05-17-56-156
Location: T19N, R15E; California
USGS Quadrangle: Independence Lake 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Secret Meadow

Siegfried Canyon Ridge

National Forest: Plumas National Forest
Site No.: --
Location: T25N, R14E; Plumas County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Squaw Valley Peak 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Not known
Chemical Group: Siegfried Canyon Ridge

Skylandia Beach

National Forest: --
Site No.: --
Location: T16N, R17E; Placer County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Kings Beach 7.5
Geologic Map Coverage: Coverage:Burnett (1971); Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Sawtooth Ridge, Watson Creek
Comments: Nodules of basalt from the Sawtooth Ridge source are found in the lakeshore beach gravels near Lake Forest.

Squaw Valley Drainage

National Forest: Plumas National Forest
Site No.: --
Location: T25N, R14E; Plumas County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Squaw Valley Peak 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Not known
Chemical Group: Siegfried Canyon Ridge

Steamboat Hills

National Forest: Located on private land
Site No.: --
Location: T18N, R19E; Washoe County, Nevada
USGS Quadrangle: Mt. Rose NE 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Not known
Chemical Group: Steamboat Hills

Truckee River outlet, Lake Tahoe

15 samples collected from beach gravels at the outlet for the Truckee River, Lake Tahoe,
were analyzed and correlated with the Sawtooth Ridge basalt source.

Truckee River Outlet

National Forest: Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Site No.: CA-PLA-718
Location: T15N, R17E; California
USGS Quadrangle: Tahoe City 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Sawtooth Ridge

Walker Plain

National Forest: Plumas National Forest
Site No.: --
Location: T23N, R6E; California
USGS Quadrangle: Soapstone Hill 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Burnett and Jennings (1962); Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Emigrant Ridge

Wanna Be

National Forest: Tahoe National Forest
Site No.: 05-17-57-412
Location: T18N, R16E; Nevada County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Hobart Mills 7.5'
Geologic Map Coverage: Saucedo and Wagner (1992)
Chemical Group: Independence Lake
Comments: Formerly known as the Alder Hill B source group (based only on artifactual samples recovered from the Alder Hill source).

Watson Creek

National Forest: Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Site No.: --
Location: T.16N, R.17E; Placer County, California
USGS Quadrangle: Kings Beach 7.5 (1969)
Geologic Map Coverage:Burnett (1971; Unit Qv); Burnett and Jennings (1962; Unit Qpvb); Saucedo and Wagner (1992; Unit Qvb)
Chemical Group: Watson Creek
Comments: Sometimes indistinguishable from Alder Hill geochemical source. Formerly grouped in the Alder Hill A/Watson Creek source group.

Distribution of sites with Alder Hill or Watson Creek basalt

Year 2000 township distribution of sites in which Watson Creek and/or Alder Hill basalt sources have been identified.
Credits: Jay King, Tammara Ekness, and Sharon Waechter (Far Western Anthropological Research Group, Inc.).

References Cited

Birkeland, Peter W. 1963. Pleistocene Volcanism and Deformation of the Truckee Area, North of Lake Tahoe, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin 74:1453-1464.

Burnett, John L. 1971. Geology of the Lake Tahoe Basin. California Geology 24:119-127.

Burnett, John L. and Charles W. Jennings. 1962. Geologic Map of California: Chico Sheet. California Division of Mines and Geology, Sacramento, California, scale 1:250,000.

Saucedo, G. J. and D. L. Wagner. 1992. Geologic Map of the Chico Quadrangle, Scale 1:250,000. California Division of Mines and Geology Regional Geologic Map Series No. 7A, Sacramento, California.

Skinner, Craig E. 2001. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis of Artifact Basalt from CA-PLU-130/H and CA-PLU-1541/H, Mohawk Valley, Plumas County, California. Report 2001-03 prepared for Far Western Anthropological Research Group, Inc., Davis, California, by Northwest Research Obsidian Studies Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon.

Skinner, Craig E. and M. Kathleen Davis. 1996. X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis of Artifact Basalt from the Tahoe and Eldorado National Forests, California: The Oakland Pond Quarry Project. Report 95-41 prepared for the Tahoe National Forest, Nevada City, California, by Northwest Research Obsidian Studies Laboratory, Corvallis, Oregon.

Back to the Basalt Characterization Page
Return to the Northwest Research Home Page
Last Updated: 12/05/2005
Northwest Research Obsidian Studies Laboratory