Lecture: 48 hours.
Lab (field): 80 hours.

Instructors:
Dr. H. Gary Greene
E-mail: greene@mlml.calstate.edu
Phone: (831) 632-4438 (MLML office)

Dr. Robert Garrison
E-mail: regarris@cats.ucsc.edu
Phone: (831) 423-4401

Teaching Assistant:
Patrick Mitts
E-mail: pmitts@mbay.net
Phone: (831) 632-4447

No required texts
Publications on reserve at the MLML Library:

Geology and Tectonics of the Central California Coastal Region, San Francisco to Monterey, Volume and Guidebook by R.E Garrison et al., (Eds.), 1990. Pacific Section AAPG.

Oligocene Stratigraphy, Tectonics and Paleogeography Southwest of the San Andreas Fault, Santa Cruz Mountains and Gabilan Range, California Coast Ranges, by J.C. Clark and J.D Reitman, (Eds.), 1973. USGS Professional Paper 783.

Late Cenozoic fluid seeps and tectonics along the San Gregorio Fault Zone in the Monterey Bay region, California, by Garrison, R.E., Aiello, R.E., and Moore, C.E., (Eds.), 1999. Pacific Section, American Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Volume and Guidebook, GB-76.

Course evaluation based on:
Conceptual part: (75%)
Midterm exam, (25%)
Final Exam, (25%)
Research proposal/project (25%)

Hands-on part: (25%)
Active participation in class & on field trips

This class addresses the topics of geology, tectonics and other geologic processes in the Monterey Bay region and in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The geologic history of central California will be reviewed and plate tectonic processes that affect the Monterey Bay region will be discussed. The entire representative stratigraphy of the region will be outlined and explained in light of present day geomorphology.
This is an interactive class with considerable field activity. We will examine significant Tertiary rock exposures along with older formations. Students will collect marine geophysical data to correlate offshore and onshore geology. Tectonic deformation associated with the San Andreas fault system will be studied. An emphasis of the curriculum is to relate how knowledge of geology and tectonics improves our understanding of naturally occurring hazards such as earthquakes, mass wasting and severe storm events (i.e., El Nino).

Schedule

Week 1 Introduction. Review of basic field geology and plate tectonics.

Week 2 Review of stratigraphy of the California Coast Ranges and Monterey Bay region

Week 3 Continue review of plate tectonics and review central California geology and the role of allocthonous blocks and fault displacement history. Outline class projects.

Week 4 Continue review of central California geology with emphasis on Monterey Bay region. Possible Seminar Speaker or half day in field. Basement rocks, roof pendants and older rocks (Jurassic-Cretaceous), Gabilan Range and role of Salinian block.

Week 5 Eocene and Miocene stratigraphy, Southern Monterey Bay. In field.

Week 6 Neogene stratigraphy and volcanics. Field trip to Monterey Bay Fault Zone exposure (Jack's Peak County Park), Arroyo Seco and Pinnacles.

Week 7 Review in preparation for mid-term exam. Field trip to Santa Cruz Mountains. Take home mid-term.

Week 8 Mid-term exams due. Possible class cruise. Offshore structure and stratigraphy.

Week 9 No class.

Week 10 Field trip to the San Andreas Fault, Hollister.

Week 11 Overnight (Fri. night) field trip to Great Valley sequence (turbidites at Lake Berriessa) and basement rocks.

Week 12 Field trip to Miocene seep structures.

Week 13 Field trip to Pleistocene terraces and San Gregorio Fault Zone.

Week 14 Field trip to Big Sur and Indians.

Week 15 Review, prepare for take home exam

Week 16 Possible optional field trip to Yosemite or other areas (to be chosen by class). Exams due.

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