Geomorphology Field Research Project: Geomorphology Field Research Project: Mountain Front Faulting & Alluvial FansMountain Front Faulting & Alluvial Fans

San Gabriel Mountain Foothills, San Gabriel Mountain Foothills, Southern, CaliforniaSouthern, California

Dr. Jeff Marshall - GSC 323Geological Sciences Department

Cal Poly Pomona University

Abbreviated Version for the Web

2008 Cutting Edge Workshop: Teaching Geomorphology in the 21st Century

Project OverviewProject Overview

Capstone project for Capstone project for

required upper division required upper division

Geomorphology course Geomorphology course

(GSC 323)(GSC 323)

Students work in teams Students work in teams

to investigate a local to investigate a local

landscape system: landscape system:

Mountain front alluvial Mountain front alluvial

fans & terraces of the fans & terraces of the

San Gabriel MountainsSan Gabriel Mountains

Project OverviewProject Overview

Integrates learning in:Integrates learning in:

• fluvial geomorphologyfluvial geomorphology

• Quaternary stratigraphy Quaternary stratigraphy

• soils & weatheringsoils & weathering

• tectonic geomorphologytectonic geomorphology

• climate changeclimate change

• landscape evolutionlandscape evolution

San Gabriel Mountains

Project GoalsProject Goals

The students will…The students will…

……integrate and apply integrate and apply

their geomorphology their geomorphology

course learning through course learning through

independent researchindependent research

Project GoalsProject Goals

The students will…The students will…

……develop skills in:develop skills in:

• teamworkteamwork

• project design project design

• literature reviewliterature review

• fieldworkfieldwork

• data analysis data analysis

• interpretationinterpretation

• report writingreport writing

• oral presentationoral presentation

Project GoalsProject Goals

The students will…The students will…

……learn to think like a learn to think like a

Geomorphologist !Geomorphologist !

Project Study Area:Project Study Area:San Gabriel Mtn. FoothillsSan Gabriel Mtn. Foothills

Fault Map of Study Area:Fault Map of Study Area:From a student reportFrom a student report

Aerial Photo of Study Area:Aerial Photo of Study Area:Taken by students in the classTaken by students in the class

Sierra Madre fault scarpSierra Madre fault scarp

Suburban sprawl along Suburban sprawl along mountain front thrust faultsmountain front thrust faults

Mt. Baldy & Mt. Baldy & San Antonio Creek San Antonio Creek

WatershedWatershed

An Iconic Southern An Iconic Southern California LandscapeCalifornia Landscape

Red HillRed HillRancho CucamongaRancho Cucamonga

Classic field site for Alluvial Classic field site for Alluvial Fan & Fault StudiesFan & Fault Studies

Eckis, R., 1928Eckis, R., 1928

Alluvial fans of the Cucamonga Alluvial fans of the Cucamonga district, southern California:district, southern California:

Journal of Geology, v. 36, p. 224-247Journal of Geology, v. 36, p. 224-247

Eckis, R., 1928Eckis, R., 1928

Alluvial fans of the Cucamonga Alluvial fans of the Cucamonga district, southern California:district, southern California:

Journal of Geology, v. 36, p. 224-247Journal of Geology, v. 36, p. 224-247

Shelton, J.S., 1955Shelton, J.S., 1955 Glendora volcanic rocks, Los Angeles Glendora volcanic rocks, Los Angeles basin, California:basin, California: Geological Society of Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 66, p. 45-90America Bulletin, v. 66, p. 45-90

Baird, A., 1956Baird, A., 1956 Geology of a portion of San Antonio Geology of a portion of San Antonio Canyon, San Gabriel Mountains, California:Canyon, San Gabriel Mountains, California: M.S. Thesis, Pomona College, Claremont, M.S. Thesis, Pomona College, Claremont, CA, 91 pCA, 91 p

Calif. Div. of Mines & Geology, 1998Calif. Div. of Mines & Geology, 1998Seismic Hazard Zone Report for the Seismic Hazard Zone Report for the Glendora 7.5’ Quadrangle, Los Angeles Glendora 7.5’ Quadrangle, Los Angeles County, CaliforniaCounty, California

Morton, D.M. & Matti, J.C., 2001Morton, D.M. & Matti, J.C., 2001Geologic Map of the Cucamonga Peak 7.5’ Geologic Map of the Cucamonga Peak 7.5’ Quadrangle, San Bernardino County, Quadrangle, San Bernardino County, California:California: USGS OFR 01-311 USGS OFR 01-311

Thomas Dibblee Foundation, 2003Thomas Dibblee Foundation, 2003 Geologic Maps of the Glendora & Mount Geologic Maps of the Glendora & Mount Baldy 7.5’ QuadranglesBaldy 7.5’ Quadrangles

Nourse, J.A., 2007Nourse, J.A., 2007 Digital Geologic Map of the Eastern San Digital Geologic Map of the Eastern San Gabriel MountainsGabriel Mountains

Other Resources:Other Resources:

Project LogisticsProject Logistics Research teams ofResearch teams of

3 to 4 students3 to 4 students

Each team assigned a Each team assigned a

discrete field areadiscrete field area

Two project lab sessions:Two project lab sessions: Week 2: Intro Field TripWeek 2: Intro Field Trip Week 8: Follow-up TripWeek 8: Follow-up Trip

Teams work outside of Teams work outside of

class time to complete class time to complete

field and office workfield and office work

Other activities & field Other activities & field

trips on related topicstrips on related topics

Field Techniques & SkillsField Techniques & SkillsA few examples…A few examples…

Final ReportFinal Report Professional Format: Professional Format:

5 Pages of Text, plus 5 Pages of Text, plus

Illustrations & Reference ListIllustrations & Reference List

Introduction, Methods, Field Introduction, Methods, Field

Observations, Data & Results, Observations, Data & Results,

Discussion, ConclusionsDiscussion, Conclusions

Quaternary Geologic MapQuaternary Geologic Map

Stratigraphic Column & Stratigraphic Column &

2 Cross Sections2 Cross Sections

Soil Profile & Terrace Soil Profile & Terrace

Longitudinal ProfilesLongitudinal Profiles

Field Photographs, Sketches, Field Photographs, Sketches,

data appendices, etc.data appendices, etc.

Team PresentationTeam Presentation

Professional Powerpoint Professional Powerpoint

presentationpresentation

30 minutes long (during 30 minutes long (during

last lab session)last lab session)

Each team member Each team member

participates equallyparticipates equally

Follow same organization Follow same organization

as reportas report

Use illustrations and Use illustrations and

photos effectively photos effectively

Question & Answers: Question & Answers:

Class participationClass participation

Project OutcomesProject Outcomes

For students:For students:

Enhanced confidence Enhanced confidence

Their own geomorphic Their own geomorphic problem solving “Tool Kit”problem solving “Tool Kit”

Better understanding & Better understanding & appreciation of researchappreciation of research

Grad school interest (?)Grad school interest (?)

For the professor:For the professor:

New research questions New research questions & preliminary data & preliminary data

Senior thesis studentsSenior thesis students

Better teaching “buzz”Better teaching “buzz”

Allison Ruotolo & Rob Ellis presenting their project results

2006 GSA Cordilleran Section Meeting, Anchorage, AK

The end.The end.