The mid-Miocene Wilson Ridge Pluton and River Mountains volcanic section, Lake Mead area of Nevada and Arizona; linking a volcanic and plutonic section

This field trip will visit the River Mountains volcanic section (12.17+ or -0.02 to 13.45+ or -0.02 Ma) and Wilson Ridge pluton (13.10+ or -0.11 Ma) in southern Nevada and northwestern Arizona. Although this volcanic-plutonic system was disrupted by the Saddle Island detachment fault during Miocene crustal extension, there are convincing lithological. mineralogical, geochemical and geochronological indicators that suggest a cogenetic relationship. The trip consists of 17 stops that emphasize evidence that links the volcanic and plutonic sections. In addition we will visit the Saddle Island detachment fault at its type locality on Saddle Island.