In 2019, I completed an 8-week class to become a Certified California Naturalist, a program created by the University of California. For my capstone project, I created a Mini Field Guide to San Luis Obispo Area Rocks, applying knowledge I gained while earning my degree in geology. You can download the field guide below.
The field guide was meant to help my Certified California Naturalist classmates continue the process of geology exploration that was begun when we had a guest lecture on local geology, so that they can incorporate geology into their own naturalist leadership activities. The guide is also intended to help anyone and everyone in the San Luis Obispo area dig into the joy and wonder of rocks! Since it is only a brief introduction, I have provided suggestions for further reading, at the bottom of this page.
Download and print the field guide
You may download and print out the mini field guide--take it with you on outdoor explorations and start becoming a "geo-nerd"! To download it, click on the file icon:
Cut each piece of paper in half, following the line of the fold, for accuracy.
Stack the papers in order; page numbers are in the upper right corner.
Put two or three staples in the left-hand edge to hold the booklet together. You may want to put a long strip of tape on the "spine" of the booklet to cover those nasty staples.
Go find some rocks!
Suggestions for further reading/viewing:
Alt, David, and Donald W. Hyndman. Roadside Geology of Northern and Central California. Mountain Press, 2016.
Chipping, David H. The Geology of San Luis Obispo County. Cal Poly State University, 1987.
Hayes, Miles O., and Jaqueline Michel. A Coast to Explore: Coastal Geology and Ecology of Central California. Pandion Press, 2011.
McPhee, John. Assembling California. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1994.
Weise, Katryn. "Plate Tectonics and California Geology." EarthRocks! City College of San Francisco. https://youtu.be/2TSTVCIZ-dg