The Geology of California Coast National Monument at Trinidad Head

Cost: $60

Dates

• Fri., April 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Time: 10:00 AM

Location: In person: Trinidad

With Elliott Dabill, BLM Volunteer Docent:

Explore the geology of the California Coastal Monument from Trinidad Head, the Trinidad Lighthouse, and Trinidad State Beach, taking a close look at an ancient convergent plate boundary, and associated faults, that have since been pushed up to the surface and are clearly evident on many of the rocky beaches in Humboldt County.

Trinidad Head has a 1.3 mile loop trail managed by the City of Trinidad. The 13-acre lighthouse viewing area, perched on the tip of Trinidad Head, is managed by the BLM as part of the California Coastal National Monument.

The rocks on the beaches of Trinidad originally formed on the ocean floor over a 100 million years ago. The original oceanic rocks were transported by plate tectonics and eventually collided with the ancient North American continent. This collision of the plates generated mixture of rock types collectively called the Franciscan Complex, and includes oceanic basalts, sandstones, cherts, serpentinite, and schist. Coastal uplift and subsequent wave erosion exposed more resistant Franciscan rocks that make up the sea stacks we see off the coast today. 

Register by April 22.

Class #: 24062

Elliott Dabill

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