SUBMARINE GEOLOGY OF 

 SANTA MONICA BAY, CALIFORNIA 



INTRODUCTION 



Marine scientists at the University of Southern California 

 began an oceanographic survey of Santa Monica Bay, California 

 in June 1955, utilizing the facilities of the Allan Hancock 

 Foundation for Marine Research. One of the major phases of the 

 investigation involved a study of the topography, geology, and 

 bottom materials of the sea floor. Interest in the bathymetry 

 centered around the need for locating regions which were 

 essentially free of significant relief, so that each submarine 

 outfall pipe could be laid without excessive excavation. 



A study of the bottom material was necessary to allow proper 

 engineering design of the pipes, for the construction would have 

 to be accomplished on material ranging from rock and gravel to 

 fine sediments with appreciable clay content. It was necessary 

 to investigate the subsurface sediments, because significant 

 vertical changes in lithology are known to occur in short dis- 

 tances in shelf areas. Thus, borings, jettings, and cores were 

 taken to determine the nature of the subsurface material. 



PREVIOUS WORK 



When making a marine geological investigation of an area 

 such as Santa Monica Bay, pertinent information may be gained by 

 examining the geology along the adjacent coastal region. Sedi- 

 ments derived from mountains, the coastal plain, and sea cliffs 

 may be transported long distances before being deposited on the 



