PSC 103 Rock Blog

 Fog on our field trip to Montana De Oro! During our field trip, we saw fog over the waters close by and in the distance. I believe that this would be considered coastal fog, as it is very common off the central coast. I also noticed that the fog was forming more towards the ground rather than high up. For the fog to form, there should be cool ocean air that moves inland. As this air passes over the warm land, the moisture is condensed, which often happens with a little bit more humidity forming this phenomenon. This fog can cover large areas. Being many miles horizontally and can reach up to hundreds of feet high, sometimes going above valleys and tall areas. Depending on the day, the fog could last for hours or even the whole day. If the Sun is out, it is more likely to last a short time as it will evaporate the water vapor, and it is easy for winds to push it out or away.  https://share.icloud.com/photos/09d5YQEcUy-XG9jklkBKGVOog A quick video of the fog over our first stop...

 Bishop Peak  Bishop Peak was formed when magma from the mantle below welled up and a layer of softer rock formed, then solidified about 20 million to 25 million years ago. Bishop is a volcanic plug and is the tallest morro in the city.  Bishop Peak does show characteristics of igneous rocks. When looking at the large rocks and the little ones along the hiking trails, you can see crystals inside the rocks, and it is also hard and dense. We could also identify that it is an igneous intrusive rock, because of its larger crystals that we can see in the rock.  Bishop Peak at Sunrise 5/23/25- 5:23

 Description: This photo was taken next to the Yakitutu lawn and next to Tsitkawayu (building A). From the picture, it looks to be a very pretty area with different plants, rocks, and flowers. As you can see, almost all of it is man-made and shows how humans laid everything else. However, within this area, there is also a drainage pipe and a drain that runs beneath all the greenery. The purpose of this area is to carry the rain water and leading it to the drain to avoid flooding. By r edirecting water , pipes help protect both natural land and human structures from being damaged by erosion. View from Building A

 I went up to the third floor of Baker, and the element Lithium caught my eye. The display was just so eye-catching and gorgeous. Lithium is typically used in the production of batteries due to its high energy density. It is also often commonly used in glass and ceramics  Lithium can be found in underground reservoirs of salty water and inside hard rock deposits. To extract lithium, Brine is pumped to the surface and left to evaporate for months to years. As the water evaporates, lithium and other salts are left behind and then processed. In open-pit or underground mines, the hard rock deposits are crushed and then heated with chemicals to extract lithium. Some concerns for these mining methods towards the environment is large amounts of water usage, land degradation, chemical pollution, and release of carbon emissions. Lithium extraction uses large quantities of water, which can deplete local water resources. While mining of the rock could lead to deforestation and habitat de...

Erosion This week, I hiked to the top of Bishop's Peak, where I noticed that the mountain had undergone physical and chemical erosion processes. The way Bishop's peak stood and the different rocks I saw, probably was affected a lot by weathering. I believe that the wind erosion and temperature changes helped transport the rocks and minerals. The wind could have caused the formation of the peak's surface to slowly wear away. Lastly, I noticed how there were many colors within the formation of the peak. I believe this could be due to oxidation. I noticed that there was some reddish tint, and the rocks started to become weaker, causing it to crumble. Bishop's peak seemed to have undergone erosion for a while now, where the form may have been shaped, and different characteristics have formed.     All the photos were taken at Bishop's Peak in San Luis Obispo, CA on Saturday, April 19, at 6:23 pm.

 I took this photo at Avila beach on the sidewalk.The object experiencing weathering is cement. Cement is usually very smooth with no cracks or damage when it is first formed. Weathering causes moisture, airflow, and other substances to seep into the cement. It also causes the degradation of the cement, breaking, cracking, and often lifting up from the surface. Cement experiences chemical weathering when rainwater falls it mixes with pollution such as nitrogen oxides. This chemical reaction causes the cement to weaken its structure. Lastly, winds and water wear away the surface of the cement leading to the deeper layers eventually. You could see in the picture the cracking and the different shades going on.  This was taken on Sunday, April 13, at 2:42

 Description: My rock is a dark grey color with white specks and spots. From afar I thought it was a piece of concrete but when I looked closer it did not seem like that.  When I found my rock there seemed to be no other rocks around that looked similar to it. I noticed a lot of white specks in the rock which I assume to be different types of minerals inside. I don't think my rock was made in the location I found it since I only found one, and I found it outside of my dorm building. I assume that my rock came about because someone dropped it there or maybe brought it to the location I found it in from somewhere nearby. Rock was spotted outside of Yakitutu Building 172A at 6:17 on Sunday, April 6. The rock and surroundings it was found in (outside of Yakitutu Building 172A at 6:17 on Sunday, April 6)