Geologists estimate the age of the Earth at more than 4.5 billion years. The Florida plateau, which is the platform upon which Florida is perched, was formed about 530 million years ago by a combination of volcanic activity and marine sedimentation during the early Ordovician Period.
How do you find the geologic history of an area?
There are two important tools that geologists use to portray the history of the Earth: the geologic time scale and paleogeographic maps . The geologic time scale is a standard timeline used to describe the age of rocks and fossils, and the events that formed them.
What are the 6 geologic regions in Florida?
Florida Coastal Mapping Program (FCMaP) location map shows the six regions for gap analysis and prioritization; the Panhandle, Big Bend, West Florida Peninsula, the Florida Keys, the southeast coast, and the northeast coast .
How did limestone get to Florida?
Florida has unique origins. ... During the early part of the Cenozoic Era, Florida was submerged under a warm, shallow , ocean which explains why our entire state has hundreds to thousands of feet of limestone beneath it! Land emerged from the ocean as sea level fell during the Oligocene Epoch.
How old are the rocks in Florida?
Florida’s oldest rocks formed about 500 million years ago on the “megacontinent” Gondwana. They were wedged between other masses of rock that would eventually separate—through the activity of plate tectonics—into the modern continents of Africa and South America.
Is Florida floating?
Throughout most of its history, Florida has been under water . Portions of the Florida peninsula have been above or below sea level at least four times. As glaciers of ice in the north expanded and melted, the Florida peninsula emerged and submerged. ... The sea level was as much as 100 feet lower than at present.
How deep is the limestone in Florida?
It is only about 3 to 4 feet . Below the sand (or organic material) is limestone. The survey refers to the limestone as part of the Biscayne aquifer, and it specifies the limestone as “Miami Limestone.” The depth to limestone can be inches with rock outcropping in places.
What are the two types of crust?
Earth’s crust is divided into two types: oceanic crust and continental crust . The transition zone between these two types of crust is sometimes called the Conrad discontinuity. Silicates (mostly compounds made of silicon and oxygen) are the most abundant rocks and minerals in both oceanic and continental crust.
What is geologic history called?
Geologic time is, in effect, that segment of Earth history that is represented by and recorded in the planet’s rock strata. ... Geologic Time. Related Topics: Precambrian Geochronology Mesozoic Era Phanerozoic Eon Lipalian interval. The geologic time scale is the “calendar” for events in Earth history.
What are the four principles of stratigraphy?
Steno’s laws of stratigraphy describe the patterns in which rock layers are deposited. The four laws are the law of superposition, law of original horizontality, law of cross-cutting relationships, and law of lateral continuity .
Why is there so much limestone in Florida?
Limestone, shell and dolomite are types of marine deposits that have accumulated in Florida over millions of years during times when the state was covered over with seawater or shallow marshes. During this time, limestones formed by chemical deposition and the accumulation of shells from sea creatures.
When was Florida last underwater?
About 23 million years ago sea level dropped enough that portions of Florida became dry land and land animals occupied the area for the first time. This was well after the Age of Dinosaurs, which explains why there are no dinosaurs in Florida, even in the deep subsurface.
Does Florida have a lot of limestone?
LIMESTONE: Various types of limestone underlie all of Florida , but in many parts of the state, the limestone is covered by the sand and clay that forms the land surface. ... Coquina has been used as a building stone in Florida for over 400 years. It is found at land surface along the east coast from St.
What gems can you find in Florida?
- Fossils (particularly marine)
- Crystals.
- Quartz.
- Staurolite.
- Limestone.
- Dolomite.
- Chert.
- Petrified Wood.
Can you find flint in Florida?
Flint does occur in Florida, in limestone deposits and phosphate beds , but I have never seen it in anything other than a pale color. (By the way, “Dover” flint from chalk deposits occurs inland as well, and all along the eastern England coast just offshore.)
Is there gold in Florida?
There are no known gold deposits in Florida . In fact, it may be the only state in the United States where there has been no gold discoveries. ... There are many documented, yet undiscovered shipwrecks around Florida, and coins can be found washed ashore on many beaches.
