The Santa Clarita Valley has a very diverse geologic history and makeup.
Fossils abound here, as well as gold, howlite, and oil.
During the mid to late 1800's, there was gold fever here. Only Acton remains as a gold producing area today. There was an actual gold rush in Placerita Canyon starting in 1842 - six years before the discovery at Sutter's Mill. Oil was also discovered here during the same time period. During the 1870's and 1880's, oil was king here.