The Capistrano Formation is a geologic rock formation that stretches from southern Laguna Beach to San Clemente. It was uplifted due to faults over millions of years from the Pacific Ocean and contains many marine fossils. Near the top of the cliff are the youngest rocks, and near the bottom are the oldest rocks. There are two types of rocks that make up the Capistrano Formation and they are called Siltstone and conglomerate. Both are sedimentary rocks in nature.
Siltstone is exactly what it sounds like. It's a stone made out of silt. Silt that came from fine powdery sediments from the Pacific, and deposited on the ocean floor. Water from the ocean becomes trapped inside the rounded powder which turns it into a muddy substance. When the Fernando Formation finally uplifted, the water that was trapped in the mud evaporated, leaving behind mainly salt, but also a hard brown rock known as siltstone.
Conglomerate is very similar to siltstone. Instead of having fine powdery sediments, conglomerate is made of large sediments and is formed deeper in earth's crust. In order for conglomerate to form, you need heat and pressure to physically fuse large sediments together, unlike siltstone. Overtime, the land from the ocean uplifts, brining the rock with it. Conglomerate is located below the siltstone because it forms at a deeper depth.
Works Cited
http://archives.datapages.com/data/pac_sepm/012/012001/pdfs/50.htm
http://www.cobblearning.net/m1910/
http://study.com/academy/lesson/conglomerate-definition-uses-facts.html
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1. Capistrano Formation - Dana Point on the first line of your email.
2. Describe the erosion process here AND the effect it's having on the exposed rock.
3. Is the cliff growing or shrinking AND your explanation as to why this might be.
4. Out of the two types of sedimentary rock described in this cache, which one do you see most abundant on this cliffside?
5. For the rock you have chosen in the answer above, why do you think there is so much of it here?