Geologic Studies in the Vicinity of Dry Canyon, Los Angeles County, California

Citation

Nelson, Loyal Edward (1936) Geologic Studies in the Vicinity of Dry Canyon, Los Angeles County, California. Bachelor's thesis, California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/YKY8-7N10. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:12222009-111648744

Abstract

The area studied is located approximately 40 miles northwest of Pasadena, about 5 miles north of Saugus, and around Dry Canyon Reservoir. It covers about 3.5 square miles, extending from Haskell Canyon west to San Francisquito Canyon. This field problem was undertaken in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Bachelor of Science Degree.

A Brunton compass and an enlarged portion (1"-1000') of the Saugus Quadrangle were used in the mapping work. Though the region is one of moderate relief, good outcrops are few. This is perhaps principally due to the softness of the sediments.

A coordinate system is used to facilitate the location of specific points on the geologic map. Numerals are used to give east-west positions and letters are used on the north-south coordinate lines.

Only sedimentary rocks are found in the field area. These have been divided into four formations which, beginning with the oldest, are the Mint Canyon, Dry Canyon, and Saugus formations, and Quaternary gravels. Unconformities separate each of these formations. The Mint Canyon formation is known to be of continental origin since remains of land vertebrates have been found in these strata. Marine fossils are found in the Dry Canyon formation. The Saugus formation and Quaternary gravels are very likely continental deposits.

In general, the sedimentary beds have been gently deformed into fold structures whose axes trend in an E - W direction. Faulting may have accompanied the folding since several reverse types of faults were found. Later faulting of the Quaternary gravels also took place. A majority of the larger faults appear to be approximately parallel to the fold structures.

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