This document is a geology field assignment that explores the Oakhurst, California region. It discusses the geology, plants, animals and human history of the area. Oakhurst is located in the Sierra Nevada foothills and is a gateway to Yosemite National Park. The document describes the various rock types found in the region like igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. It also summarizes the plant and animal life, including trees, deer, and mountain lions. Finally, it discusses the native peoples who originally inhabited the area and how the landscape has changed over time.

1. Geology 3
Field Assignment
Exploring and Learning Nature
By: Laura Lopez

2. Oakhurst, Ca
• Oakhurst is part of the
Sierra Nevada Foothills
• Oakhurst is the Gateway
to the most beautiful park
in the world Yosemite
• Oakhurst, Ca is part of
Madera County as well as
the Sierra Nevada region.
• Oakhurst is formerly
known as Fresno Flats
(Oakhurst History, 2000)

3. Lake Tahoe
• Lake Tahoe is the largest
alpine lake. It is located
between California and
Nevada.
• Snow falls from November
and April and with some rain
causing snow to melt; This
causes massive floods.
• There are many pine trees.
These in the background seem
to be Lodgepole Pine.
*My mother-in-law in Lake Tahoe 2010
• It drains into Nevada’s Great
Basin via the Truckee River
(Peters, 2004)

4. How has it changed? • Made up of mostly Quaternary
sediments and granite rocks.
(Geologic map)
• Rocks older than 600 million
years are rare in California.
• The oldest rocks, which are more
than 1,000 million years old, are
located in the eastern deserts and
the eastern Transverse Ranges
(San Bernardino and San Gabriel
Mountains). (Williams, 2008)
• With the erosions so powerful
it propelled sediment into the
valley which then became
thousands of feet thick (Geology
Overview, 2006)

5. • Trees here at Oakhurst have
been around for many
years.
• Trees you see are: Oak,
Pine and many plants
Ex: bushes, flowers, etc
• These trees are located
all around the Oakhurst
area
• In the winter there are
covered with snow and
change color with the
changing seasons

6. How has it changed?
• Trees have been called the *One of the oldest trees in
structural elements of the California from the Giant
Sequoias (Alex, 2007)
ecosystem
• They are very tall and big all
around, some reach 250 and 300
feet tall
• They have existed longer than
we have. For thousands of
years, trees have grown.
• It is important that the trees
retain their needles through
the winter. So they can
immediately begin
photosynthesis once spring
returns. (Plants, 2011)

7. Lake Tahoe Animals
Lake Tahoe is home to a wide variety of animals. Animals that
live in the forest, on ground or in the water. I didn’t get to see any
animals while in Lake Tahoe. In addition, I did some research
(Keep Tahoe Blue, 2011) and I learned about some of the animals
that roam around Lake Tahoe. Therefore, when visiting this
wonderful place, you just might encounter an animal or two.
Mountain Whitefish
Pika
Willow
Flycatcher *Pictures from
Black Bear KeepTahoeBlue.com

8. Animals I Encountered in
Oakhurst
As I took a walk into the woods in Oakhurst. I did come
across a paw print though I am not too sure what animal it may
be. Lion came in mind and I was a bit terrified so I had to leave.
Moreover, I went to another location about 10 miles away I seen a
deer walking across the dirt road it’s a far away picture I didn’t
want to get too close and scare it away. Though I was a bit scared
and even though I didn’t see a mountain lion I am glad that I got
to take a picture. In the state of California there are many animals
and plants. From different birds, fishes, bears to trees, plants, etc.

9. *Brown deer possibly
looking for food.
-Deer live about 9 to 11
years.
*Big paw print
*Pictures while on a nature walk in
Oakhurst

10. How has it changed?
Mountains outside of Oakhurst
•Mountains are formed is when magma from
beneath the Earth’s surface is pushed up, but
Many mountains are made up of doesn’t actually crack through (Cain, 2009).
volcanic activity. Or simply by the Then it will harden like a granite rock.
Earth’s crusts. Mountains consist of
sedimentary rocks. Snow and rain •Another way mountains are formed is along
fault lines. Blocks of Earth are uplifted and
don’t change the appearance of these
tilted over as two plates grind together. The
mountains. Also, this mountain seem uplifted part forms a mountain, and the lowered
to be a glacial. You can see a bit of parts are filled in with eroded material. An
snow on top. example of this is the Sierra Nevada mountain
range in California. (Cain, 2009)

11. Igneous rocks
• Means fire-formed
• Formed from the
solidification of molten
rock material
• It can be weathered and
broken down to form
sediment
• Most igneous rocks
contain quartz and will be
granite
*Two top rocks from my house which I found in the
outskirts of Firebaugh, Ca.
*Bottom rock found on the side of the road on Hwy
152

12. Sedimentary Rocks
There are three basic types:
• Clastic sedimentary rocks-
sandstone and shale
• Chemical sedimentary rocks-
rock salt and some
limestones
• Organic sedimentary rocks-
such as coal and some
limestones which form from
the accumulation of plant or
*Top photo was taken in Oakhurst
*Bottom photo found on Hwy 152 animal debris.

13. Metamorphoric Rocks
• Modified by heat, pressure and chemical
process usually while buried deep below
Earth's surface
Quartzite
• There are foliated and non-foliated rocks
G
r
• Foliated consists of slate, gneiss, etc a
which consists of layered that is n -----------
i
produced and exposed to heat and t
directed pressure e
• Non-foliated consists of quartzite and
marble that don’t have a layers
Slate

14. Angular Disconformity
where horizontally between parallel layers of
parallel strata of sedimentary rocks which
sedimentary rock are represents a period of
deposited on tilted erosion or non-deposition
and eroded layers,
producing an angular
discordance with the Non Conformity
overlying horizontal
exists between sedimentary rocks
layers.
and metamorphic or igneous rocks
when the sedimentary rock lies
above and was deposited on the pre-
existing and eroded metamorphic or
*Definitions from Wikipedia, 2011 igneous rock.

15. Humans
Homo Sapiens
• Population is about 18,000 excluding
visitors. (Oakhurst History, 2000)
• Residents and visitors/tourists keep
this town as well as the foothills clean.
They do not harm any of the plants
and animals.
• Everything and everyone are affected
by air. Humans create pollution that
can harm all living things and can
affect the mountains as well. We must
take care of our environment.
That’s Me 

16. Humans
How has it changed?
Chukchansi Yokut
Captain John (Shibana Chief
or Poko-Tucket “Horse Eater”),
Mono Paiute MiWok Indian Chief
There have been many people who wondered the now Oakhurst, Ca.
Mi Wok, Mono and Chukchansi people graciously lived and
flourished, surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of the rolling
Sierra Foothills peppered with oak and pine trees. (Oakhurst History,
2000) Miwok once relied on its 135 acres of meadows, mixed pine
forest and oak woodlands to furnish materials for shelter, tools and
food (Maurer). However, many settlers (white folks) in 1850 came to
the Indian land and wanted raise their children, farm and to seek for
gold.

17. References
• Alex. (2007, March). Retrieved November 1, 2011. from 10 Most Magnificent Trees in the World. Website:
http://www.neatorama.com/2007/03/21/10-most-magnificent-trees-in-the-world/
• Animals & Plants. (2011). Retrieved November 1, 2011. from http://keeptahoeblue.org/abouttahoe/animals-plants
• Barrow, Mandy. (2011). Retrieved November 1, 2011 from The Mountain Environment. Website:
http://primaryhomeworkhelp.co.uk/mountains/types.htm
• Cain, Fraser. (2009, April). Retrieved November 1, 2011 from How Mountains are formed. Website:
http://www.universetoday.com/29833/how-mountains-are-formed/
• Images. From www.google.com
• Maurer, Debi D. Retrieved November 1, 2011. from Native Americans: Chaw-Se: Honoring the Californians
Who Were Here First. Website: http://www.sierrafoothillmagazine.com/natives.html
• Native Languages. (1998-2011) Retrieved November 1, 2011. from
http://www.native-languages.org/languages.htm
• Oakhurst History. (2000). Retrieved November 1, 2011from Oakhurst History travel through time…on Hwy 49.
Website: http://www.historichwy49.com/oakhurst/oakhist.html
• Peters, G. L. (2004). California. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing.
• Plants. (2011, July). Retrieved November 1, 2011. from
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/P/Plants.html#Gymnosperms
• Short, Nicholas M. Retrieved November 1, 2011. from Geologic Map of California. Website:
http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect6/Sect6_9.html
• Vartan, Starre. (2011, February).Retrieved November 1, 2011 from Mother nature Network. Website:
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/more-trees-than-there-were-100-
years-ago-its-true
• Wikipedia. (2011). Retrieved November 1, 2011. from Sierra Nevada U.S. & Unconformity Website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.) & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unconformity
• Williams, M. (2008) California Geologic History. Retrieved November1, 2011. From University of Colorado.
Website:snobear.-colorado.-edu/-Markw/-Mountains/-08/-CaliforniaMtns/-California_geolo-
gic_history.-pdf