What kind of geologic structure is the Palos Verdes Peninsula?

As described in the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan Natural Environment Element, the Palos Verdes Peninsula is underlain by a sequence of middle Miocene and younger bedded sedimentary rocks that are draped anticlinally over a core of Mesozoic schist “basement rocks.” Both the schist and sedimentary rocks have been …

How was Palos Verdes formed?

The Palos Verdes Peninsula is a tectonic fault block of seafloor sediments and volcanics draped atop a submerged mountain of metamorphic rocks that began rising out of the Pacific Ocean 1.5 million years ago. Lava flows erupted upon or within the ocean sediments during the early phases of deposition.

What rocks make up the Palos Verdes Peninsula?

The Monterey Formation is more than 2000 feet thick on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. It has been divided into three members on the basis of rock type: the Altamira Shale, the Valmonte Diatomite, and the Malaga Mudstone (from oldest to youngest).

What biome is Palos Verdes?

Mediterranean climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Palos Verdes has a Mediterranean climate, abbreviated “Csa” on climate maps.

What are the geology of the Palos Verdes Peninsula?

As you look down the road to the beach, notice the steep cliff faces, ripe for landslides like the one you just saw at Pt Fermin, and which you’ll see shortly at STOP 2b. Fig. 13) Look along the beach and you see a point of rock sticking out.

Why are so many houses built in Palos Verdes?

This is due to what geologists call tectonic uplift, produced by compressive stresses within tectonic plates. Marine terraces make great flat surfaces for developers to build on, and most of the developments you see in Palos Verdes are built on uplifted marine terraces.

What kind of rock is the Palos Verdes volcano made of?

These points are made of stronger more erosion-resistant rocks; in Palos Verdes these are typically comprised of basalt. Basalt is a dark iron-magnesium rich volcanic rock that poured out on the earth’s surface as lava.

What kind of rocks are in Southern California?

Now… on to the rocks! Almost all of the rocks you will see today are part of what is known as the Monterey Formation. The Monterey Formation is a large assemblage of sedimentary rock layers that extends through much of southern and central California.