Lime Ridge
Map SatelliteA moderately steep-sloped ridge trending in a general north-south direction, the land is covered by chaparral and patches of grassland dominated by exotics. The rare Arctostaphylos auriculata, which is restricted to a relatively small area in the vicinity of Mount Diablo (also Nortonville Coulter Pine Groves), is found here.
There is a varied animal population typical of the inner Coast Ranges.
The shallow limestone deposits, from which the ridge takes its name, appear to have been precipitated on Eocene marine sedimentaries in relatively recent times from hot springs. It has been conjectured that this lime-laden water was from the same deep source that formed the mercury deposits on the eastern side of Mount Diablo.
Integrity: Quarries, roads, power lines and a relay station, as well as a few buildings, are found in the area.
Use: Private
Ref: Bowen, Oliver, 1951. Oakland to Byron via Broadway Tunnel in Geologic Guidebook of the San Francisco Bay Counties. Calif. Div. of Mines, San Francisco, pp. 344-357.
July 1976
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman