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Abstract

Summary

New geologic mapping of the Spruce Well 7.5’ quadrangle in Nevada reveals new insights into the composition, source, and timing of the informally named Spruce Mountain landslide. A combination of remote sensing, field mapping, and tephrochronology and cosmogenic dating constrain the age of the deposit.

The landslide deposit was sourced from Spruce Mountain peak, which is a 3.5 km-long ridge located 3.75 km east of the study area. The landslide had a drop of ∼1.4 km with a maximum runout distance of ∼11.5 km. The landslide deposit is predominantly limestone breccia of the Devonian Guilmette Formation, with notable input from the Carboniferous Diamond Peak and Pennsylvanian Ely formations.

Field mapping and differentiation using topographic roughness suggest the landslide deposit extends significantly farther source-ward relative to previous mapping. In this eastern portion the landslide deposit is mantled by younger alluvium. The new extent of the landslide deposit covers up to 22 km2. Tephra layers low in the section underlying the landslide deposit are tentatively correlated with the Middle Miocene, yielding a maximum emplacement age.

This study has yielded insight into the timing and extent of the Spruce Mountain landslide, and these methods will be useful in analysis of landslide deposits.

EAGE Publications BV © 2025 The Authors © European Association of Geoscientists and Engineers
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/content/papers/10.3997/2214-4609.2025520027
2025-09-15
2026-01-17

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/content/papers/10.3997/2214-4609.2025520027
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Depositional History and Timing of the Spruce Mountain Landslide, Elko County, Nevada
Conference Proceedings 2025, 1 (2025); https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.2025520027
/content/papers/10.3997/2214-4609.2025520027
/content/papers/10.3997/2214-4609.2025520027
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