Abstract
Geology of the Empire Mountains of Arizona is briefly reviewed. Evidence indicating thrust faults at other sites (Santa Rita Mountains and Tortolita Mountains) are presented. The Empire Mountain "thrust fault" has been analyzed for usual marks of tectonic activity. Negative results are reported. Therefore, it is concluded that no such "thrust" has occurred in the Empire Range, and that Permian (Paleozoic) rocks lying above are actually younger than the cretaceous (Mesozoic) layer beneath! Implications of these inferences for uniformitarian geology and evolution theory are evaluated. It is suggested that presence or absence of thrust faulting be judged hereafter solely upon the physical criteria, aside from any evolutionary preconceptions.