Trip Leaders: Mike Oskin and Kim Le
Date: September 7, 2008

In southernmost California, the activity of the San Jacinto fault rivals that of the San Andreas fault. This field trip will take students to two field sites along the southernmost San Jacinto fault in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Here we will view evidence for fault rupture in alluvial fans that range in age from a few thousand to over thirty thousand years. We will also have the opportunity to compare the field observations to high-resolution topography of the 'B4' survey. During the trip we will also discuss evidence for variability in the rate of slip on the San Jacinto fault, both in space and over time. Time permitting we will also stop to view the Peninsular Ranges mylonite zone - an exposure of the roots of an ancient fault zone near the brittle-ductile transition.

Participants should be prepared for warm weather (hat! sunscreen!) and short (20 minute) hikes across rough desert terrain. We will leave at 8:00 am sharp to take advantage of the cooler morning temperatures.