A Trip to ParkfieldDanny Silva

Part IRock samples

For my lab assignment I decided to go to Parkfield, California. In the vicinity I was able to find all of my rock specimens.

Sandstone◦ Sedimentary Rock

I found this while driving out of Parkfield on Turkey Flat road.

Sample 1

Sample 2 Granite

◦ Intrusive◦ Igneous◦ FelsicTaking a side trip to

the Parkfield cemetery where this stream cut through the road and I found this rock.

Sample 3

Phyllite• Metomorphic

This was a difficult rock to identify, the closest I could find was Phyllite, but according to my research it isn’t common in this area.

I saw this large rock on the side of the road near the main highway and stopped to break a piece off.

Sample 4

Red Munsungan Chert•Sedimentary

First find on the way to Parkfield on the side of the road where I pulled over to look at a variety of rocks.

Pumice IgneousFound near the

“Phyllite” sample.

Sample 5

Part IIGeological Observations

Fault Line

The San Andreas fault line also runs along a creek which is basically all you can see.

Parkfield, “the earthquake capital of the world.”

Here is the bridge that crosses over the San Andreas Fault. As you can see, the bridge isn’t exactly straight because of the Pacific plate pulling the west side of the bridge to the north. The bridge is in constant upkeep by the county officials, so it doesn’t look as bad as it can look.

Here is the metal expansion joint they had to put in the bridge so it can give a little. You can see the metal added there to fill up the spaces.

ErosionWhere the creek crossed the road.

Transitional Environment

Marina Environment

Continental

Mr. Andy SnyderHe is a real Geologist. He was kind enough to

talk to me about the San Andres Fault, the Parkfield Project, earthquakes in general and

anything else I wanted to talk about.

End