Recent sediments of the central California continental shelf (Pillar Point to Pigeon Point); Part A. Introduction and grain size data

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Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Recent sediments of the central California continental shelf (Pillar Point to Pigeon Point); Part A. Introduction and grain size data
Abstract:
"The following work is part of a continuing study of the sediments and sedimentary processes of the continental shelf of central California done in cooperation between the University of California, Berkeley, and the Coastal Engineering Research Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Sediment analyses of the samples were done at the University of California, Berkeley, utilizing the facilities of the Department of Civil Engineering, and Geology, and the Institude of Marine Resources."
Supplemental_Information:
This work was supported by Contract 72-67-C-0015 with the Coastal Engineering Research Center, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army. Data digitized by the USGS for inclusion into usSEABED (<http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/usseabed>)
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Yancey, T.E., Isselhardt, C., Osuch, L., Lee, J., and Wilde, P., 1970, Recent sediments of the central California continental shelf (Pillar Point to Pigeon Point); Part A. Introduction and grain size data: Hydraulic Engineering Laboratory Technical Report HEL-2-26, University of California, Berkeley, CA.

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.6300
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -122.4233
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.4550
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 37.2017

  3. What does it look like?

    HEL2-26 (.jpg)
    Sample distribution with bathymetry and coastline for reference

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

    Calendar_Date: 1969
    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):

      • Point (52)

    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 .00167. Longitudes are given to the nearest .00167. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    Point
    SDTS point (Source: Source report)

    Depth
    Water depth (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:91.6
    Units:Meters
    Resolution:0.1

    Sample description
    Lithologic description (Source: Source report)

    Written sample description including color

    Median
    Median grainsize (Source: Source report)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.358
    Maximum:4.54
    Units:Phi
    Resolution:0.001

    Sorting coefficient
    Degree of grainsize scatter (Source: Trask, 1932)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.09
    Maximum:2.85
    Units:Phi
    Resolution:0.01

    Skewness
    Symmetry of grainsize distribution (Source: Trask, 1932)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.44
    Maximum:2.9
    Units:Unitless
    Resolution:0.001

    Kurtosis
    Comparision of central portion of curve to spread of whole curve (Source: Krumbein and Pettijohn, 1938)

    Range of values
    Minimum:0.06
    Maximum:0.36
    Units:Unitless
    Resolution:0.01

    Q1
    Quartile value of sand fraction at 25 percent (Source: Trask 1932)

    Range of values
    Minimum:-1.8
    Maximum:4.1
    Units:Phi
    Resolution:0.1

    Q3
    Quartile value of sand fraction at 75 percent (Source: Trask 1932)

    Range of values
    Minimum:1.7
    Maximum:5.1
    Units:Phi
    Resolution:0.1

    Mineral identification in given size fraction
    Mineral identification in given size fractions (Source: Source report)

    Heavy mineral analyses in various sand size fractions are included; minerals include zircon, garnet, biotite, apatite, clinozoisite & epidote, lawsonite, green hornblende, oxyhornblende, glaucophane, sphene, zoisite, augite, jadeite, bypersthene, enstatite, termolite & actinolite. Grain counts of other minerals are provided.

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?

    T. E. Yancey, C. Isselhardt, L. Osuch, J. Lee and P. Wilde at the University of California Berkeley for the collection and analysis of data. For inclusion into usSEABED: Digitization: Jennifer Mendonca (USGS); Formatting corrections: Jane Reid (USGS) and Chris Jenkins (University of Colorado)

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

    University of California
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Berkeley, CA 94720-1710

    510-642-3261 (voice)

Why was the data set created?

No specific purpose was cited in the report.

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: 1969 (process 1 of 1)
    Marine bottom samples were obtained with an orange peel grab sampler from the converted fishing boat San Michele; marine samples were obtained from the shoreline to 300 feet below sea level. Intertidal beach samples were obtained using a pipe coring device, inserted into the beach at approximately mid to low tide level, obtaining upper six to ten inches of sediment. In the laboratory, the samples were analyzed at half phi intervals through the entire range of sediment size spread. The finer grained samples were supplemented by pipette analysis. ... was made at half phi intervals and carried to a lower limit of 7 phi.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    University of California
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Berkeley, CA 94720-1710

    510-642-3261 (voice)

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • HEL-2-26

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

    Lee, J., Yancey, T., Glogoczowski, M., and Wilde, P., 1971, Recent sediments of the Central California continental shelf (Pillar Point to Pigeon Point): Part B. Mineralogical data: Hydraulic Engineering Laboratory Technical Report HEL-2-30, University of California, Berkeley, CA.

    Other_Citation_Details: Graphical representation of heavy mineral analyses

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

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    No estimate made for the accuracy of the data in the original report. Data digitized by the USGS and partners were visually compared to the source data, and corrected. Where appropriate, data were tested for completeness using MS Excel. Locations checked using GIS.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Navigation by Decca radar bearings on shore landmarks. Latitude/longitudes are given to degrees minute-tenths.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

    Water depths by echo sounder with a Raytheon depth finder. Depths recorded in fathoms, feet, and meters.

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

    All data were digitized, except graphical cumulative and class grainsize values.

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

    Data fall within normal ranges for phi-size classes and statistical values.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

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

Access_Constraints: Available at some libraries.
Use_Constraints:
Cite T. Yancey, C. Isselhardt, L. Osuch, J. Lee, and P. Wilde and the University of California, Berkeley as the source of the information

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

    University of California
    Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
    Berkeley, CA 94720-1710

    510-642-3261 (voice)

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

    HEL Report 2-26

  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 21:26:16 2006