Previous studies have shown that the early Cretaceous
batholith (130-110 Ma) contains the least chemically and
isotopically evolved lithologies of the composite Sierra
Nevada batholith.
Mapping at 1:24,000 of a 360 km^2 area
in the foothills ESE of Fresno (the Stokes Mountain region;
latitude 36°30') reveals a smoothly continuous range (SiO_2 = 44-78%) of calcic lithologies dominated by norites,
hornblende gabbros, quartz diorites, tonalites and
granodiorites
