Geology of the San Francisco Bay Region

Doris Sloan

Published by University of California Press 2006

Geology of the San Francisco Bay Region

Doris Sloan

Volume 79 in the series California Natural History Guides

https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520937819

About this book

Why does a bit of ocean floor lie on top of Mt. Diablo? Why is Red Rock, that small, knobby island in San Francisco Bay, red? Why is Loma Prieta high? This book is for San Francisco Bay Area residents and visitors who want to explore the geologic world of this spectacular area, to learn about its shapes, colors, and rocky foundations. Doris Sloan illuminates the colorful geologic mosaic that surrounds San Francisco Bay and lucidly explains the complex and fascinating processes that have forged it over millions of years.

In a lively and engaging style, Sloan describes forces such as the movement of tectonic plates, erosion, the waves on the coast, and human activity. She provides background information on the processes, time frame, and rocks that are the key to understanding the Bay Area landscape and geologic history, then turns to distinct regions of the Bay Area and to San Francisco Bay itself.

* Superbly illustrated with 139 color photographs, 41 drawings, and 29 maps

* Covers Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties

* Gives clear, nontechnical explanations of complex topics including plate tectonics and the Bay Area's fault systems

* Suggests locales in parks and open space preserves to view Bay Area geology in action

Author / Editor information

Sloan Doris :

Doris Sloan is Adjunct Professor in the Department of Earth and Planetary Science at the University of California, Berkeley.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
CONTENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Publicly Available Download PDF	xi
INTRODUCTION Publicly Available Download PDF	xiii
1. THE BAY AREA AND THE PROCESSES THAT SHAPE ITS GEOLOGY Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. THE PLATE TECTONIC FRAMEWORK Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	25
3. THE REMARKABLE ROCKS OF THE BAY AREA Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	47
4. MARIN COUNTY: A DIVIDED LANDSCAPE Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	77
5. SAN FRANCISCO: GEOLOGY BENEATH THE PAVEMENT Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	109
6. THE BAY AND THE ISLANDS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	133
7. THE PENINSULA: COAST, REDWOODS, AND BAY Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	157
8. THE SOUTH BAY Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	185
9. THE EAST BAY Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	217
10. THE NORTH BAY Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	253
GLOSSARY Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	289
FURTHER READING Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	295
FIGURE AND MAP SOURCES Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	299
PHOTO CREDITS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	303
ADDITIONAL CAPTIONS Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	305
GEOLOGIC MAPS INDEX Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	307
INDEX Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	315