Reading the Rock: Geologic Research Comes to Foothill Preserves
UC Davis researchers are studying the deep geologic history of protected foothill lands, using zircon dating to pin down where ancient volcanic sediment meets the serpentinite bedrock.
American River Canyon Alliance
The rock beneath the Sierra Nevada foothills holds a long story. New research is helping read it.
The Placer Land Trust reports that geologic research is underway on three of its protected properties. Scientists from UC Davis Earth and Planetary Sciences are studying the ground at Big Hill, the Harvego-Bear River Preserve, and Oest Ranch.
The work is led by Sarah Roeske. She is a research scientist at UC Davis and also serves as a docent for the land trust. She began formal studies at these sites in 2022.
One finding stands out. Using zircon dating, the team confirmed the contact between Smartville volcanic sediment and the serpentinite basement rock below it. That boundary marks where two very different chapters of the region's deep past meet.
This kind of research shows what protected land can offer beyond public access and habitat. Preserves become open-air laboratories. They give scientists a stable place to return to year after year, and each visit adds to what we understand about how these landscapes formed.
For those of us who care about the American River canyons, the lesson carries over. The foothills we work to protect are also worth studying. Every preserve is a page. Research like this helps us read it.
Learn more about the project through the Placer Land Trust.