Page 15 - lopezrobert1974

5

[" _______ , __ ---------·
i
!identified by a 1920 soil survey, which is generally
I
!from 8 to 15 inches deep and contains shale fragments and
\
~caliche concentrations both of which occur locally in the

formations of the upper portion of the basin. Soils

along the creek's channel appear to be mostly young spor-

adically located alluvia.l soils, characteristic of these

is Yolo Sandy Loam, but these soils generally only vary

in thickness from 12 to 30 inches and are of a lighter

textured nature than the standard Yolo Sandy Loam

(Carter 1956; Edwards §t al 1970; Nelson ~t al 1920;

Storie and Weir 1941).

The mineral materials locally available for tool

manufacture by prehistoric aboriginal inhabitants are

quite limited. The most plentiful locally occurring min-

eral is quartzite, which can be found weathering from the

banks of the Piru Creek's channel.. Some chalcedony and

felsite were noted in small quantities; but it could not

be determined if these occurred locally or if they were

imported~ If they do occur locally the only possible

quarrying source would have t:o be the old strean• beds

which make up the overlying depo.si ts of 1nost of the high

benches in the upper portion of the drainage basin~

Imported materials range from Vasquez basalt found
7
30 miles to the southeast in the Vasquez Rocks Area of

•Agua Dulce Canyon; Franciscan Chert, from the Santa

Barbara area 60 miles to the northwest; and banded chert