Comments for Oakland Geology

Comment on Sulfur mine creek by Steve

Steve — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:16:21 +0000

Alma Mine Information, from “Report XVII of the State Mineralogist, April 1920″.
This property, opened in 1892, is operated by the Stauffer Chemical Company, 624 California street, San Francisco. The ore body lies 1 mile north of the Leona Mine and strikes northwest and southeast, varying in width from 12 to 18 feet. It has been developed by over 5000 feet of tunnels and drifts. The old workings caught fire and were abandoned, and a new adit was driven to cut the ore body at a lower level. Gravity trams are used for hauling ore to a small crushing plant and bunkers alongside of the railroad. The ore is used by the Stauffer Chemical Company, in their plant at Stege, Contra Costa County, for the manufacture of sulphuric acid.

Before the houses were built above the gas station at Lincoln square, I remember one of the entrances to the mine shaft. It still produces a nasty runoff when the hills get saturated by rain as no house could be build on that site. One of the shafts was right at the corner of Redwood Rd and Terrabella way. BTW – McDonnell Ave is named after President and General Manager D.A. McDonnell of the Leona Chemical Company.

Comment on Montclair ballfield and the Hayward fault by Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:10:05 +0000

Yes, the Warren Freeway.

Comment on Montclair ballfield and the Hayward fault by Kevin

Kevin — Sun, 05 May 2013 05:11:58 +0000

Is that Highway 13 running through the middle of the map?

Comment on Leona Canyon by Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 04 May 2013 17:02:59 +0000

Dennis, you’ll see on the geologic map that a fault is inferred all the way around that block. Perhaps it was a small seamount or volcanic pile of some sort that remained relatively intact. The faults are what favored the erosion that carved these hills. I can’t say more since the map shows no stratigraphic information.

Comment on Leona Canyon by Dennis Evanosky

Dennis Evanosky — Thu, 02 May 2013 23:40:57 +0000

Andrew, do you know what that big knob is and how it got there (and why its’ there)?

Comment on Leona Canyon by Andrew

Andrew — Thu, 02 May 2013 18:48:24 +0000

Gabriel, I would contact the city and/or the county. They have all the well records, and you can see what’s nearby. I am not licensed to practice geology. The specific bedrock of the area isn’t very important for the availability of water.

Comment on Leona Canyon by Gabriel

Gabriel — Thu, 02 May 2013 01:29:16 +0000

Hi Andrew,Thanks for all you write about Oakland and geology. This is truly fascinating.
I live on the other side of the hill from the Quarry, down the hill from the park, sort of above Rifle Drive, and I’m considering drilling a well. Curious what you know about the geology of this area.

Comment on Leona Canyon by rabbiadar

rabbiadar — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 22:27:34 +0000

Ahhhh! Thank you! It always seemed weird to me to be looking for a lone redwood in that park, since the habitat, as you say, seems all wrong. Cool, now I can go look in the right place. I love love love your blog – a real connection to the bones of this beautiful place! I am the daughter of a quarryman back in Tennessee, and had been mystified by the rocks here until I began reading your blog. Thanks!

Comment on Leona Canyon by Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:04:16 +0000

Rabbiadar, it can be a little confusing. The tree is in Laundry Farm Canyon, in the city’s Leona Heights Park. I think that Leona Canyon is not redwood habitat.

Comment on Leona Canyon by gen katz

gen katz — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:23:45 +0000

Pictures are very helpful and the dicussion on maps enlightling. Ended up in Oakland stone and Oakland rock. What is the actual distinction between both? I remember from an earlier post a recommendation for a geology book. I need to upgrade my knowledge.