ABSTRACT

Predominant rocks: Mesozoic granitic plutons, intruded into Late Paleozoic and Mesozoic metasedimentary rocks

Plate tectonic setting: Plutonic source of Andeanstyle arc volcanoes during the Jurassic and Cretaceous, plus accreted Paleozoic exotic terranes and Triassic-Jurassic accretionary wedges

Other events: Extensive Pleistocene mountain glaciation

Geologic resources: Gold, water (snowpack and rivers)

National parks: Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Sequoia

State parks: Marshall Gold Discovery Site State Historic Park, Emerald Bay on Lake Tahoe, Empire Mine, Malakoff Diggings, State Mining and Mineral Museum

The Sierra Nevada (Figure 8.1) is the highest mountain range in the Lower 48 states, with the tallest peak (Mt. Whitney at 4421 m, or 14,505 feet) and 10  other peaks above 14,000 feet. There are 500 peaks that are more than 3700 m (12,000 feet) high. Most of the foothills are at least 1500 m (about a mile) in elevation, and the crest of the Sierras is 2700-3000 m (9000-10,000 feet) high. The range runs almost 640 km (400 miles) from north to south, and is 105 km (65 miles) wide. It covers an area of 63,100 km2 (24,370 square miles).