South Coast Geological Society

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South Coast Geological Society

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Established in 1971, we are one of the most active geological societies in California. Company sponsorship is encouraged.

South Coast Geological Society Background and Mission:

The South Coast Geological Society (SCGS) is one of the most active geological societies in California. This is due to the continued excellent participation of its members, the celebrated monthly speakers, and the renowned annual field trips and guidebook publications. The SCGS is devoted to promoting the Earth Sciences and minimize business and political debate. SGGS members include persons in geologic professions largely living and/or working in Orange County, California. Membership includes all disciplines, ranging from hydrogeologists, geotechnical engineers, petroleum geologists, mining geologists, environmental geologists, college professors, to students. It is a society run by volunteers, with the purpose of sharing geologic ideas and fellowship during monthly meetings and an annual field trip. To encourage student membership and participation, the student membership dues are reduced, and dinner costs are reduced for all professors and students attending a meeting. Sponsorships assist by funding guidebook publication, offsetting the food and supply costs for the annual field trip, and funding scholarships.

08/05/2026

Thank you Paul Parmentier on the engaging talk, Mining in the Congo ⛏️ and everyone who joined us virtually or in person at OCC🤗

07/30/2026

🌍⛏️ SCGS August 2026 Meeting & Lecture

Join the South Coast Geological Society on Monday, August 3 at 6:00 PM for an engaging presentation by Paul Parmentier, former SCGS President, exploring the geology, mineral wealth, and global significance of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

From coltan, tin, copper, and cobalt to the minerals powering our cell phones, electronics, and electric vehicles, the Congo plays a critical role in the modern world. Paul will share insights into the country’s geology, abundant natural resources, and the societal impacts of mineral extraction on a global scale.

📍 Attend In-Person or Virtually
• In-Person: Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA
• Virtual: Zoom (link distributed after registration closes)

👨‍🏫 About the Speaker
Born in the copper-rich southern region of the former Belgian Congo, Paul Parmentier earned degrees from the University of Brussels and Kyushu University in Japan. After careers in geothermal exploration and environmental geology, he remained active in SCGS and now serves as Secretary of the New Mexico Geological Society.

💲 Meeting Costs
🍽️ In-Person (Dinner Included)
• Member: $35
• Non-Member: $40 (+ Eventbrite fees)
• Students & Early-Career Professionals: $15

💻 Virtual (Zoom)
• Member: $10
• Non-Member: $10 (+ Eventbrite fees)
• Students & Early-Career Professionals: FREE

🗓️ Agenda
6:00 PM – Check-in & Social Hour
7:00 PM – Presentation Begins

🎟️ Register by Monday, August 3 at 5:00 PM

A special thank you to our individual and corporate sponsors whose support helps make these events possible. Interested in becoming a 2026 corporate sponsor? Contact [email protected].

07/28/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to our July hike to Red Rock Canyon😄🥾

07/21/2026

🥾🌎 SCGS July 2026 Geology Hike to Red Rock Canyon! 🌎🥾

Join the South Coast Geological Society on Saturday, July 25th at 8:30 AM for an exciting geology hike through Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park and Red Rock Canyon in Foothill Ranch!

We’ll explore the geologic history of Orange County and the greater Los Angeles Basin while hiking through a sequence of formations including the Puente Formation, Topanga Group, Vaqueros Formation, and Sespe Formation. This informal field experience is a great opportunity to learn, discuss local geology, and enjoy the outdoors with fellow geology enthusiasts.

📍 Meeting Location:
Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park Trail, Portola Parkway
26701 Portola Parkway
Foothill Ranch, CA 92610
🥾 Distance: Approximately 4.3 miles round-trip
💧 Bring plenty of water and appropriate hiking footwear
🐕 Dogs are not permitted in the park
🗺️ SCGS will provide geology handouts for participants

💲 Cost:
• Professional Members: $10
• Students: FREE
• Parking: $3 per vehicle (OC Parks fee)

🕗 Schedule:
• 8:15 AM – Meet at trailhead parking lot
• 8:30 AM – Hike begins

🍻 After the hike, we’ll gather at a local restaurant/bar for food, drinks, and continued geologic discussions!

‼️Registration closes Friday, July 24 at 8:00 PM. Be sure to reserve your spot through Eventbrite.

We hope to see you on the trail for a morning of geology, learning, and community!

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-2026-geology-hike-red-rock-canyon-foothill-ranch-tickets-1994584265230?aff=oddtdtcreator

07/18/2026

📚🪨 FREE GEOLOGY BOOK GIVEAWAY! 🪨📚

Looking to expand your geology library? Join us this Saturday from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM for a FREE giveaway of geology textbooks, reports, journals, maps, and more!

Whether you’re a student, professional, rock enthusiast, or simply curious about Earth science, there’s something for everyone.

🍔 Free food provided
📖 Free geology resources
🗺️ Maps, reports, journals, and textbooks available
⏰ Saturday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Come on down, browse the collection, and take home some geology treasures!

07/11/2026

SCGS Book Giveaway and Barbeque📚🍗
Saturday, July 11 and 18, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

SCGS has been collecting books📕 for 50 years and on Saturday July 11th and 18th, we will be giving them all away for free! We also are providing free BBQ🥩! What a deal! Come and browse our collection, take home some great literature, and enjoy some food!

Field Trip Guidebooks - Geologic Maps - Geology Textbooks - Scientific Journals - Technical Manuals

Earth Consultants International (ECI) has generously been hosting our storage space for decades, but the building has recently been sold. We need to downsize as much as possible so it would really help if you could swing by. ECI also needs to downsize so they will be having an estate sale during this time. They will be selling and giving away, desks, computers💻, bookshelves, tables, and so much more.

Location:

Earth Consultants International (ECI)*
1642 East 4th Street
Santa Ana, California

*🚙Parking will not🚫 be available at ECI. Please park across the street, or wherever available. Please bring your own folding chair!

07/01/2026

🌎 SCGS July 2026 Meeting & Lecture

Join the South Coast Geological Society for our July 2026 virtual meeting and lecture on Monday, July 6 at 6:30 PM (Zoom)!

🎤 Speaker: Jeff Bennett
Vice President & Geologist, WSP USA Earth & Environment

📚 Lecture Title:
“Tales from the Trenches of an Environmental Geologist/Hydrologist”

Jeff Bennett brings more than 35 years of environmental consulting experience throughout the southwestern United States, including extensive work with mining operations and environmental compliance. In this presentation, Jeff will share real world case studies and lessons learned from projects involving mine operators, environmental regulations, waste management, remediation efforts, and the value of engaging environmental consultants to help navigate complex challenges.

🖥️ Register via Eventbrite by 5:00 PM on July 6, 2026.

06/08/2026

🌊⛰️ Thank You for Joining Us! ⛰️🌊

A huge thank you to everyone who joined the South Coast Geological Society and Los Angeles Basin Geological Society for our geology hike and brew along the beautiful Orange County coast!

We were fortunate to explore the spectacular folded exposures of the Monterey Formation between Little Corona del Mar Beach while learning from Dr. Rick Behl. From examining complex rock structures to discussing the differences between synsedimentary and tectonic deformation, it was a fantastic day of field-based learning and geological discovery.

See everyone at our next event🤙🏽🍻

06/04/2026

🪨 Join us for the South Coast Geological Society’s June 2026 Meeting & Lecture!
📅 Wednesday, June 10, 2026 🕕 6:00 PM
SCGS is excited to co-host this month’s meeting with the San Diego Association of Geologists (SDAG) featuring Dr. Kate Metcalf, Assistant Professor of Geological Sciences at California State University, Fullerton.
🎤 Lecture: “Something Old, Something New: Revisiting Permian to Jurassic Tectonics in the Klamath Mountains, Northern California”
The Klamath Mountains are one of the most geologically complex regions in western North America and played a key role in developing the concept of tectonostratigraphic terranes. Dr. Metcalf will share new research combining field mapping, petrography, and zircon geochronology to better understand the origins and tectonic history of the enigmatic Rattlesnake Creek terrane.

🔬 Don’t miss this fascinating presentation on terrane tectonics, convergent margins, and the geologic history of the Klamath Mountains!

06/02/2026

🥾🌊 SCGS Geology Hike at Crystal Cove! 🌊🥾
Join the South Coast Geological Society and Los Angeles Basin Geological Society (LABGS) on Saturday, June 6, for a special geology field excursion led by Dr. Rick Behl of California State University, Long Beach!
We’ll explore the spectacularly folded Monterey Formation between Little Corona del Mar Beach and Crystal Cove State Beach, examining evidence of both tectonic and synsedimentary deformation along this beautiful stretch of coastline.
📅 Saturday, June 6 2026 🕣 8:30 AM 📍 Little Corona del Mar Beach

This informal geology hike will include beach walking, coastal scrambling, tidepools, and wet outcrops, so sturdy hiking footwear is required. The trip is coordinated with low tide for optimal exposure of geological features.

👀Registration is limited to just 20 participants!👀
💲 Professional Members: $10 🎓 Students: Free
Optional: We’ll also gather afterward for food and drinks at a nearby restaurant.

Register today before spaces fill up!

Address

20 City Blvd. West
Orange, CA
92868

Website

http://www.southcoastgeology.org/

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