Geology of Bluff Cove

Bluff Cove is situated on the west side of the San Pedro Hills and lies about twenty miles south-west of Los Angeles. The area mapped includes Flat Rock Point to the north of Bluff Cove and Rocky Point to the south, a distance of about two and one-half miles (pl. 1). Only the sea cliffs were mapped, the hope being that from these cliffs the inland structures could be extrapolated. I am indebted to Mr. D.J. Varnes, who worked with me constantly both in the field and in the office, and offered many valuable suggestions; and to my instructor, Dr. F.D. Bode. The map is of the north half of the area. It is a hand drawn enlargement (x4) taken from the 1932 reprint of 1928 edition of the U.S.G.S. topographic map of the San Pedro Hills Quadrangle. The Geologic mapping was done by Brunton compass in 1939-40. The topography of the area is one of rolling hills sloping to the ocean. The present sea cliffs, to which the mapping was confined, average about 150 feet high and afford good exposures. However, the lower parts of the cliffs are usually masked by landsliding.