Marine geology of San Pedro and Santa Monica Basins and vicinity, California

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Marine geology of San Pedro and Santa Monica Basins and vicinity, California
Abstract: No formal abstract is given.
Supplemental_Information:
All stations were occupied with the University of Southern California's Research Vessel, Velero IV. Data digitized by the USGS for inclusion into usSEABED (<http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/usseabed>)
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Gorsline, Donn S. , 1958, Marine geology of San Pedro and Santa Monica Basins and vicinity, California: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.

    Other_Citation_Details:
    Support from the California Research Corporation to K.O. Emery. Ship, office, and laboratory facilities support from the Allan Hancock Foundation.

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -119.904
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -118.097
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 34.064
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 33.019

  3. What does it look like?

    Gorsline_PhD_1958 (.jpg)
    Sample distribution with coastline and bathymetry for reference.

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Calendar_Date: 1958
    Currentness_Reference: Publication date

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Paper

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Entity point (278)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.00028. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.00028. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Point
    SDTS point (Source: Source report)

    AHF Sta. #
    Station number (Source: Allan Hancock Foundation)

    Sequential alpha numeric code

    Water depth
    Water depth (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:13
    Maximum:903
    Units:Meters
    Resolution:1.0

    Subsample depth
    Depth of subsample in core (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:5.38
    Units:Meters
    Resolution:0.01

    Gravel
    Gravel (Source: Krumbein and Pettijohn, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:61.4
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.1

    Sand
    Sand (Source: Krumbein and Pettijohn, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:100
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.1

    Silt
    Silt (Source: Krumbein and Pettijohn, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.4
    Maximum:89.6
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.1

    Clay
    Clay (Source: Krumbein and Pettijohn, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:2.7
    Maximum:54.4
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.1

    Mud
    Mud (Source: Krumbein and Pettijohn, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:11.5
    Maximum:99.3
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.1

    Median
    Median grainsize distribution (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.74
    Maximum:8.38
    Units:Phi
    Resolution:0.01

    Sorting
    Standard deviation of grainsize distribution (sorting) (Source: Trask, 1932)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.26
    Maximum:7.3
    Units:Phi
    Resolution:0.01

    Q1
    First quartile of grainsize distribution (Source: Trask, 1932)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.79
    Maximum:6.64
    Units:Phi
    Resolution:0.01

    Q3
    Third quartile of grainsize distribution (Source: Trask, 1932)

    Range of values
    Minimum:2.94
    Maximum:10.2
    Units:Unitless
    Resolution:0.01

    CaCO3
    CaCO3 in sample (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.8
    Maximum:9
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.1

    Nitrogen
    Nitrogen in sample (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.042
    Maximum:0.441
    Units:Percent
    Resolution:0.001

    Petrographic analyses
    Petrographic analyses (Source: Source report)

    Percents of foraminifera, detrital grains, and mica; grain counts of plagioclase, potash-feldspar, calcite, and quartz.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Donn S. Gorsline at the University of Southern California for the collection and analysis of data. For inclusion into usSEABED: digitization: Jane Reid (USGS); Formatting corrections: Jane Reid (USGS) and Chris Jenkins (University of Colorado).

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Donn S. Gorsline
    University of Southern California
    Zumberge Hall
    Los Angeles, CA 90089

    213- 740-5125 (voice)
    gorsline@earth.usc.edu

Why was the data set created?

"It is evident...that the study of the source of basin sediments in a modern basin in a fairly well known area can be a most valuable contribution. Information of this type is of prime importance in working with the economic deposits of ancient basins, and it implements the related studies of basin-sediment characteristics and organic accumulation. It can also form a basis for the development of a systematic picture of the evolution of basin-sediment types, and of the stages in the development of the associations of these various types in time. For such a study the San Pedro and Santa Monica Basins are ideal. They represent basins in an intermediate stage of fill, bordered by areas whose characteristics are quite well known, and they are easily accessible. In addition, they are part of a basin and range area, which offers examples of basins of similar size, origin, and history, and in various stages of that history. It was for these reasons that the two basins were chosen as subjects for the present study."

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: Unknown (process 1 of 1)
    "Surface sediment samples were split in the laboratory and their size parameters determined. In several instances, one cut was given to geochemists of the Allan Hancock Foundation staff for special organic analyses. Carbonate content was also determined for this sample series by the chemists. The sands (coarse fractions) of the sampler were classified using a heavy liquid medium (acetylene tetrabromide, sp. Gr. About 2.9) and the composition of the fractions was then determined by stain techniques and by microscopical examination (LeRoy, 1949; Twenhofel and Tyler, 1941). ... Because of the large number of samples studied (more than 1,200), the writer made many modifications of the standard techniques(Krumbein and Pettijohn, 1941). These modifications include partial textural analyses (Plumley and Davis, 1956), visual composition estimates of coarse fractions (Shepard and Moore, 1954), and comparative techniques after the basic principles discussed (Emery and Gould, 1948). In all textural analyses and computations, the parameter defined by Trask were used (Trask, 1932).

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Donn S. Gorsline
    University of Southern California
    Zumberge Hall
    Los Angeles, CA 90089

    213- 740-5125 (voice)
    gorsline@earth.usc.edu

    Data sources used in this process:
    • LeRoy, 1949
    • Twenhofel and Tyler, 1941
    • Krumbein and Pettijohn, 1941
    • Plumley and Davis, 1956
    • Shepard and Moore, 1954
    • Trask, 1932
    • Emery and Gould, 1948

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • Gorsline_PhD_1958

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    Locations, descriptions, statistical data were digitized by hand (typed in), visually compared to source and corrected as needed. Where appropriate, data were tested for completeness using MS Excel. Locations checked using GIS.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Navigational techniques not noted in the report. Locations given to minutes, seconds.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    Depth determination techniques not noted in the report. Locations given to nearest fathom.

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    For usSEABED, appendices 1,2, and 3 were completely digitized, except pages 262 and 285. Some information from the report text is also included in usSEABED.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    Data fall within normal ranges for analytical results.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints:
None. Report is available at the USGS Library and other libraries.
Use_Constraints:
Cite Donn S. Gorsline and the University of Southern California as originators of the data.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    University of Southern California
    Zumberge Hall
    Los Angeles, CA 90089

    213-740-6106 (voice)

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    Gorsline PhD 1958

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although this dataset has been used by the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data. Users of the data should be aware of limitations of the data due to possible imprecision due to navigational inaccuracies and limitations of the statistical data.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    None

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 2005
Metadata author:
U.S. Geological Survey
c/o Jane A. Reid
Geologist
400 Natural Bridges Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95060

831-427-4727 (voice)
jareid@usgs.gov

Contact_Instructions: Email preferred
Metadata standard:
CSDGM Version 2 (FGDC-STD-001-1998)

Generated by mp version 2.8.17 on Tue May 16 21:11:37 2006