Kenneth Hahn Park is located in Los Angeles, California on land that was originally used for oil drilling and sits above an earthquake fault. The park was created on the site of the Baldwin Hills dam, which collapsed in 1963. The park has undergone changes by humans, including removing invasive plants and trees, and now focuses on preserving native wildlife and plants. It contains various sedimentary rocks like sandstone, mudstone, and limestone as well as metamorphic rocks such as slate and phyllite. Common animals in the park include ducks, oak trees, and local plant life.

1. Kenneth Hahn Park
Geology Field Assignment
by
Drew Sinclair
August 3, 2014

2. About Kenneth Hahn Park
Located 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

3. About Kenneth Hahn Park
The 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.

4. Eucalyptus Tree
Prior 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.

5. 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 Ducks
Mallard 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. Sedimentary Rock- Mudstone
Also 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

9. Sedimentary Rock- Limestone
Limestone 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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