Why does the color of this hillside rock vary? Below is a roadcut in central Marin County, California, in an area maps show to have Franciscan melange.  I assume this is graywacke, but as you can see it varies from gray on the sides to a buff color in the center.  Is the buff section due to some chert content, or did that section weather differently (and if so why)?  Thanks!
It's pretty hard to say anything about this kind of weathering without actually being there and having a closer look.

Usually, the simplest explanation for reddish or brownish colours in otherwise grey rocks is the presence of iron oxides. You can see that the brown area is on a fault or joint face. This leads me to think that maybe this was a conduit for groundwater that oxidised the rock. When the road cut (or whatever it is) was made, this part was exposed. Notice that you have some brown elsewhere - it could be that those are faults or joints cut perpendicular to the face, so that's why you only see a brown streak instead of a surface.