Kenneth Hahn Park Geology Field Assignment

by Drew Sinclair

August 3, 2014

About Kenneth Hahn ParkLocated in Los Angeles, California

The land was originally reclaimed for use as an oil drilling site

This park was created above the ground that was once the Baldwin Hills dam

Baldwin Hill dam was used to provide water storage in 1951, however it collapsed in 1963

Kenneth Hahn is one of the largest remaining natural space in the Los Angeles Basin

The makeup of this park has been constantly changed by human interference/ invasion

Lies above an earthquake fault

About Kenneth Hahn ParkThe Native Plant & Wildlife Garden

Invasive weeds and plants such as castor bean, fox tail grass, gazania, and species had to be removed.

Some Eucalyptus trees were removed because they smothered native plants, leaves and branches were fire hazards.

Native plants contribute to clean air and water by reducing irrigation

Plants have evolved with native wildlife helping to attract birds, insects an reptiles.

Eucalyptus TreePrior to the 1850, this tree did not

grow in California.

Originated in Australia

Abbot Kinney in 1886 to 1887 is responsible for the distribution of

the tree’s seeds throughout Southern California.

“The tree was well-suited as an ornamental tree or as a windbreak”

(Masters, 2012)

Today, the eucalyptus tree is a very popular staple in the architecture of

Southern California.

Pekin and Mallard Ducks

Originally bred in China

Brought to the U.S. in 1873

Characterized with a yellow bill , white fur, and orange shanks

“Too heavy to get airborne, gregarious and will usually group together.”

(Johnson, 2009)

Pekin DucksMallard Duck

Very popular in North America and Eurasia

Commonly fond in parks and ponds

Prefer wetlands whether natural or artificial

Characterized by dark green head and yellow bill

Oak TreeHistorically know for thriving in California

Adapted to different conditions such as “raced

hillsides, forested mountain slopes, and grew

on the savannas of the inland San Fernando, San Gabriel, and Santa Clarita valleys.” (Masters, 2013)

Sustained life for the indigenous people of Southern California.

The amount of oak trees began to decline once

people began to axe them for profit and lack of

proper care.

Sedimentary Rock- Sandstone

Made of sand-sized grains of mineral, rock or organic

material

Contains a mixture of clay sized particle mixed in between

the sand and grain

Used in manufacturing

The sand in the standstone can range from 1/16 millimeter to 2

millimeters.

Sedimentary Rock- MudstoneAlso referred to as claystone and slit stone

fine- grained, soft, yet hard and brittle

Clastic texture, clasts not visible to the naked eye

Grain is abut 0.06 mm

Colors vary

Commonly found with sandstone

Sedimentary Rock- LimestoneLimestone precipitated from water

Formed from marine organisms such as algae and coral

Can form from the cementation of sand

Resembles the appearance of sandstone or even mudstone

Varies in color

Smooth to rough touch often used for the base of cement

Shale and Phyllite

Shale

Similar to Phyllite

Can metamorphose into phyllite

depending on degree of heat and pressure

More susceptible to heat and pressure

Phyllite

Gives off light “reflection or

sheen” (Hobart, n.d)

Made up of fine- grained- mica.

Metamorphic Rock- Slate

Formed by the metamorphosis of mudstone or shale.

Very similar to Phyllite

Coarse- grained

Colors vary from black to certain shades of blue

Commonly used for roof or floor tile

Reference(2014). In Baldwin Hills Park. Retrieved August 3, 2014, from http://www.baldwinhills.info/

Anderson, V. (n.d.). In Vegetation of the Baldwin Hills. Retrieved August 3, 2014, from http://www.bhc.ca.gov/documents/vegetation.pdf

Rognan, C. (n.d.). In All About Birds. Retrieved August 3, 2014, from http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/mallard/id

Masters, N. (2012, May 16). In KCET. Retrieved August 3, 2014, from http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/who-eucalyptized-southern-california.html

Johnson, S. (2009). In Beauty of Birds. Retrieved August 3, 2014, from http://beautyofbirds.com/pekinducks.html

Masters, N. (2013, February 7). In KCET. Retrieved August 3, 2014, from http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/the-oak-trees-of-southern-california-a-brief-history.html

Hobart, K. (n.d.). In Geology.com. Retrieved August 3, 2014, from http://geology.com/rocks.html

(2005). In Geology Rocks and Minerals. Retrieved August 3, 2014, from http://flexiblelearning.auckland.ac.nz/rocks_minerals/rocks/limestone.html