SPRING FIELD TRIP, Friday–Sunday, March 7-9, 2025
Sedimentology, Stratigraphy, Diagenesis, and Structural Deformation of the Monterey Formation, Coastal Santa Barbara
Please join Rick Behl (Professor Emeritus, CSU Long Beach) in examining the stratigraphy, lithology and sedimentary structures of the Monterey Formation along the beautiful Santa Barbara coast. These dates were selected to take advantage of especially long, low tides that will permit access to spectacular outcrops of interesting and unusual rocks.
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PLEASE REGISTER BY FRIDAY, January 31st, 2025 – You can register using the Google Form available at https://forms.gle/G1NZAMY7xWubAcMS7
The Monterey Formation played a critical role in the global carbon cycle during the Mid-Miocene climate transition from global greenhouse to icehouse conditions. The Monterey is also the key source rock and an important reservoir for oil in California. Over 1 1/2 days, we will walk through three classic sedimentary successions at Haskells Beach, Gaviota Beach and Arroyo Burro Beach. At these locations, we will observe organic-rich and diatomaceous mudstone, chert, porcelanite, dolomite, phosphatic hardgrounds, oil-saturated breccias, sandstone and conglomerate. Bedding varies in thickness and stacking patterns and, in contrast to many other mudstones, beautiful sedimentary structures are preserved and remain visible in these rocks due to deposition in an oxygen-depleted setting. At a larger scale, we will see sandstone injectities, and channelized slope conglomerate deposits and slope collapse with bus-size shale blocks into a lowstand submarine canyon incised at the 6..3 Ma sequence boundary. This trip will focus on the inherent and important relationships between paleoceanography, depositional setting and process, sedimentary rock composition, diagenesis, rock properties and deformational style.
To whet your appetite, here are a few pictures of our field locations! https://photos.app.goo.gl/CwcWb9QTTy9eyNJb6
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For the first 60 people and 15 vehicles, registration includes camping at Cachuma Lake from Friday-Sunday, March 7-9. Field trip registration also includes dinner on Saturday evening, possibly bus transportation on Saturday, and a copy of SEPM Field Guide 14:
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Friday, March 7, 2025
Cachuma Lake
Reunions and Socializing
Check-in after 3PM. Camping at Pawnee Plateau Group Campsite for the first 60 registrants who indicate that they would like to camp. If there are more than 60 people/15 vehicles, later registrants will have to obtain their own campsite ($30/night for 1 vehicle and $45 for 2) or place their car in overflow parking ($15/night per vehicle).
Saturday, March 8, 2025
Stop 1. Haskells Beach
Stop 2. Gaviota State Beach
Barbecue dinner at Cachuma Lake
Sunday, March 9, 2025
Stop 3. Arroyo Burro Beach County Park/Mesa Lane Steps
Depart for home by about lunch time
Transportation information:
Cachuma Lake in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara county is within 3 or 4 hours’ drive of most of southern and central California. All driving to the Field Stops will be on paved roads. Parking space can be limited at some of the stops. So, if there are a sufficient number of registrants in January, we will obtain a bus for transportation. For those not wishing to ride along, or registering late and not able to be accommodated by the bus, carpooling is recommended to deal with limited parking or State Park entry fees at Gaviota Beach (only covered for bus riders).
Overnight accommodations:
Camping: Friday, March 7 to Sunday, March 9, 2025 at Cachuma Lake, Pawnee Plateau Group Campsite is included for the first 60 registrants. This is available on a first-come first-serve basis on the registration form. If you want to be included in the group camp site, please check the box on the form. Once the group site fills up, additional camp sites (and yurts!) may be available at Cachuma Lake if you reserve one ahead of time.
https://reservations.sbparks.org/
Hotels: Numerous hotels in Solvang, Buellton, Santa Barbara or Goleta are also available but they must be booked separately by participants who choose to stay in a hotel and are not included in the registration price of the trip.
Registration Fees: Professional: $100 Student: $40
Registration includes camping for the first 60 registrants, possibly bus transportation on Saturday, state park entry for bus-riders, dinner on Saturday evening, and a copy of SEPM Field Guide 14. It does not include breakfasts, lunches or libations of your choice.
PLEASE REGISTER BY FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2025 – You can register using the Google Form available at https://forms.gle/G1NZAMY7xWubAcMS7
Questions? Email Rick Behl at Richard.behl@csulb.edu