Geological Tour of Poly Canyon Serpentinite Outcrops

View of serpentinite outcrops across an unnamed creek on the south side of the Architectural area. The serpentinite weathers to soils deficient in many soluble metals such as K and Na, resulting in nutrient-poor conditions that result in poorer vegetation cover. This in turn results in soil erosion, revealing the rock. There is a fault line approximately along the line of the creek, or at this location below the spring (seep) on the far side. Under the photographer is shale associated with the Franciscan Formation melanges.