The research study into the location, rate, and kinematics of deformation in the San Joaquin Hills (SJH) is a collaborative research effort with fellow SCEC researchers Lisa Grant at Chapman College and Karl Mueller at the Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, in association with George Kennedy of SDSU and Rosalind Munro of Leighton and Associates. My support for 1997 was: 1) to assist in support for George Kennedy's analysis of the paleontologic faunal assemblages and search for datable corals; and 2) to assist Grant and Mueller in the writing and preparation of figures for the intended Science paper.
The paleontologic analysis is underway, with George Kennedy having been provided three large faunal assemblies collected from two differing terrace platforms. Although the analysis is not complete enough to determine probable terrace ages, the preliminary results indicate conformity with the geomorphic mapping-two differing water temperatures implying two different platform ages. Conclusions as to the most probable marine oxygen isotope stage for the two platforms awaits still further analysis. Additional collecting will be completed by the end of the year.
Under Lisa Grant's direction, George Kennedy also reviewed all of the coral samples collected to date. Three corals were then were submitted to Larry Edwards at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN for U-Series dating. Results are somewhat mixed. They are discussed further in Lisa Grants Progress Report. Additional samples are being identified for more analysis.
An initial draft of the manuscript was prepared by Lisa Grant for team review. Drafts of the figures were also completed in time for the SCEC field trip. The field trip took up a significant amount of unanticipated, nor budgeted time. Three organizational meetings were held, and two pre-trip field days were used in assembling the trip. Graphical aids were developed and poster boards were prepared and printed. Thanks to the SCEC staff for handling the logistical aspects of the field trip. After all of the organizational effort, I was unable to attend the field trip because of a prior and long-standing, out-of-state commitment to the Association of Engineering Geologists.