Day 15, Sunday, 1/21/18

by Sam Kaelin (‘19.5) and Kye Moffat (’19)

Today we left Santa Rosa early and headed out to Bahía Cuajiniquil where we chartered a couple of small boats and motored to the Bahia Santa Elena on the Parque peninsula. After meeting up with a local expert, Maria Marta, we made our way past some dramatic coastal sedimentary outcrops dipping 45 degrees into the ocean.

On the boat from Cauhiniquil to Bahia Santa Elena.

On the boat from Cauhiniquil to Bahia Santa Elena.

Ramped bedding planes of marine sediments dipping into the sea.

Getting to towards the end of the peninsula, we arrived at the famous Santa Elena ophiolite exposure.

We spent about 2 hours investigating the rocks, seeing a great exposure of serpentinites and course-grained gabbro dikes.

Hand sample of a coarse-grained gabbro from Bahia Santa Elena.

Pete Ryan sampling serpentinites at Bahia Santa Elena.

Leaving the serpentinites, we boated off to a nearby beach for lunch under the mangroves and some swimming. After, we took a quick trip across the bay to an archeological site of shells and fragmented clay pots dating back 2.6ka. By the time we had to push off, the wind and waves had picked up. Passing back along the wall of angled beds the boat ride became a little turbulent and wet, but spirits stayed high through the roller coaster ride!  In all, it was an amazing day for those on the right side of the boat, and a very good one for those less fortunate who had picked the left side.

Folded marine sediments exposed at Bahia Santa Elena.