Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

A photo of a wave-cut bench.

June 1990 (approx.)

Detailed Description

The cliffs and wave-cut bench consist of light gray siliceous marine mudstone and sandstone of the Purisima Formation along Drakes Beach, near the Kenneth C. Patrick Visitor Center. The Pleistocene wave-cut terraces in the foreground are exposed during the winter months, when increased wave-action exposes them by eroding the beach sand. The Purisima Formation (Clark and Brabb, 1997) contains marine fossils that indicate the sedimentary rocks are of Miocene to Pliocene age.   

Sources/Usage

A photo of a wave-cut bench.

Was this page helpful?