Seems like a bad place to store trash, build houses, or place railroad track, doesn't it? How could that happen?
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I don't know the real answers but I found myself exploring the theory of plate tectonics. Plate tectonics is like piecing together a giant jigsaw puzzle and matching similar pieces. The most obvious connection is how the east coast of South America could fit right into the west coast of Africa. Scientists like Alfred Wegener began a deeper investigation of rocks and fossils and found matching evidence to prove the theory of moving plates. Although Wegener's work was in the early 1900s, his theories were quickly dismissed. It was not until the 1960s after being verified by the work of Harry Hess and Robert Diaz that Wegener's theory gained popularity. The landfill at Mussel Rock opened in 1957.
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It's difficult to imagine a time without the idea of Pangea, continental drift, and the processes of subduction, spreading, and uplift. We know now that the granite near Mussel Rock matches the granite under the southern Sierra Nevada Mountains, but what did the scientists know over a hundred years ago?
Although there had been many major earthquakes before it, the 1906 earthquake marked the beginning of true scientific interest in earth studies. Andrew Lawson, a geologist at UC Berkeley, headed up the team who investigated the aftermath of the earthquake. His team documented and mapped out the damage and were able to connect it all together as what is now known as the 600 mile long San Andreas Fault.
Although there had been many major earthquakes before it, the 1906 earthquake marked the beginning of true scientific interest in earth studies. Andrew Lawson, a geologist at UC Berkeley, headed up the team who investigated the aftermath of the earthquake. His team documented and mapped out the damage and were able to connect it all together as what is now known as the 600 mile long San Andreas Fault.
But why did the earth move? In 1910, H.F. Reid had a hypothesis that earthquakes were like rubber bands. They were stretched slowly and then snapped back. Using this theory of elasticity, geologists believed that the 1906 earthquake had released all the tension remaining in the land. We know differently now.
The landfill at Mussel Rock was closed in 1978 as it was finally decided that the site was too unstable. Today it is a coastal "park" heavily used by parasailers. The park is really a covered landfill with millions of dollars of clever engineering solutions hiding under the grass. All to prevent the tons of garbage from washing into the ocean through erosion, landslide, or earthquake. If only they had known, right?
Mussel Rock Park Skyline Dr and Westline Dr Daly City, CA 94015 *Mussel Rock can be visited as a self guided tour for individuals or families but I would not recommend going with school groups. .*There is a covered landfill with an active transfer station, many para sailers, dogs, and no restroom facilities. *There is a parking lot available. |
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