DOCSLIB.ORG

Florida Geological Survey 903 W

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Florida Geological Survey 903 W United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission Official Hearing Exhibit Progress Energy Florida, Inc. In the Matter of: (Levy County Nuclear Power Plant, Units 1 and 2) ASLBP #: 09-879-04-COL-BD01 Docket #: 05200029 | 05200030 Exhibit #: PEF209-00-BD01 Identified: 10/31/2012 Admitted: 10/31/2012 Withdrawn: Rejected: Stricken: Other: PEF209 June 26, 2012 FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 903 W. TENNESSEE STREET TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32304-7700 Walter Schmidt, State Geologist and Chief ADMINISTRATIVE AND GEOLOGICAL DATA MANAGEMENT SECTION Jacqueline M. Lloyd, Assistant State Geologist Karen Achille, Administrative Secretary Jeremy Poarch, IT Assistant Carol Armstrong, Librarian Paula Polson, CAD Analyst Wanda Bissonnette, Administrative Assistant Andrew Rudin, GIS Analyst Paulette Bond, Research Geologist Frank Rupert, Research Geologist Kenji Butler, Research Assistant Christie Seale, Secretary Specialist Jessie Hawkins, Custodian Carolyn Stringer, Management Analyst Michael Miller, Research Assistant Susan Trombley, Secretary Specialist Chris Poarch, Systems Programmer GEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS SECTION Thomas M. Scott, Assistant State Geologist Jon Arthur, Hydrogeology Program Supervisor Rick Green, Stratigrapher David Arthur, Research Assistant Tom Greenhalgh, Hydrogeologist Kristin Bailey, Research Assistant Jacob Halfhill, Research Assistant Alan Baker, Hydrogeologist Eric Harrington, Engineering Technician Kristy Baker, Research Assistant Ron Hoenstine, Coastal Research Program Supervisor Jim Balsillie, Coastal Geologist Robby Jones, Research Assistant Craig Berninger, Driller Clint Kromhout, Research Assistant Lee Booth, Driller’s Assistant Robert Kurtz, Research Assistant Jonathan Bryan, Research Associate Michelle Lachance, Research Assistant Ken Campbell, Drilling Supervisor Jim Ladner, Coastal Geologist James Cichon, Hydrogeologist James McClean, Research Associate Bridget Coane, Research Assistant Harley Means, Research Geologist Rick Copeland, Hydrogeologist Ryan Means, Research Assistant Brian Cross, Research Assistant Rebecca Meegan, Research Assistant Adel Dabous, Research Associate Elizabeth Moulton, Research Assistant Roberto Davila, Research Assistant David Paul, Research Associate Kevin DeFosset, Research Assistant Dan Phelps, Coastal Geologist Rodney DeHan, Senior Research Scientist Steve Spencer, Economic Mineralogist Erin Dorn, Research Assistant Wade Stringer, Marine Mechanic Will Evans, Senior Research Associate Alan Willet, Research Assistant Cindy Fischler, Research Assistant Alex Wood, Hydrogeologist OIL AND GAS SECTION David Curry, Environmental Administrator Paul Attwood, Asst. District Coordinator John Leccese, District Coordinator Robert Caughey, District Coordinator Tracy Phelps, Secretary Brett Cimbora, Research Assistant David Taylor, Engineer Ed Garrett, Geologist Joel Webb, Research Assistant Al Keaton, Engineer Cover: Fern Hammock Spring, Marion County (photo by Tom Scott). STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Colleen M. Castille, Secretary DIVISION OF RESOURCE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT Edwin J. Conklin, Director FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Walter Schmidt, State Geologist and Chief Bulletin No. 66 SPRINGS OF FLORIDA By Thomas M. Scott (PG #99), Guy H. Means, Rebecca P. Meegan, Ryan C. Means, Sam B. Upchurch, R. E. Copeland, James Jones, Tina Roberts, Alan Willet Version 1.1 Revised October 12, 2004 Published for the FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Tallahassee, Florida 2004 Printed for the Florida Geological Survey Tallahassee 2004 ISSN 0271-7832 ii PREFACE FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Tallahassee, Florida 2004 The Florida Geological Survey (FGS), Division of Resource Assessment and Management, Department of Environmental Protection, is publishing as its Bulletin No. 66, Springs of Florida. In 2001, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Springs Initiative to further the State's ability to conserve and protect our valuable freshwater spring resources. As part of this larger program the FGS began a three year project to update and complete the state's inventory of these resources. The original report by the FGS on Florida's springs was published in 1947, as Bulletin No. 31. This was revised in 1977. In recent decades, much has been learned about additional spring resources unreported in earlier compila- tions. In addition, a great deal of water chemistry information has been gathered to enable long-term trend analysis and interpretative dynamics of our subsurface aquifer flow regimes. Further data is being compiled to better define various springsheds to aid policy makers as they try to address land-use decisions to foster sustainable fresh water resources. The information contained in this report, provides data for scientists, planners, environ- mental managers, and the citizens of Florida. Walter Schmidt, Ph.D, PG State Geologist and Chief Florida Geological Survey iii iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction . .1 Acknowledgements . .3 Definitions and Terms . .5 Florida Springs Task Force . .5 Task Force Members and Advisors . .7 Classification of Springs . .8 Archaeological and Paleontological Significance of Springs . .11 Hydrogeology of Florida Springs . .13 Springsheds . .19 Spring Water . .23 Natural Factors Affecting Water Quality . .23 Indicators of Water Quality Problems . .24 Offshore Springs . .26 Water Quality . .27 Methodology . .27 Field Parameters . .28 Water Samples . .29 Additional Data . .29 Discharge Measurements . .29 Characteristics of Spring Water . .31 Descriptions of Analytes . .31 Physical Field Parameters . .31 Dissolved Oxygen . .31 pH . .31 Specific Conductance . .32 Water Temperature . .32 Discharge . .32 Other Field Data . .33 Secchi Depth . .33 Laboratory Analytes . .33 Alkalinity . .33 Biochemical Oxygen Demand . .33 Chloride (Cl) . .33 Color . .33 Nitrate + Nitrite (NO3 + NO2) as N . .33 Organic Carbon . .34 Orthophosphate (PO4) . .34 Potassium (K) . .34 Radium 226 and 228 (Ra226 and Ra228) . .34 Sodium (Na) . .34 Sulfate (SO4) . .34 Total Ammonia (NH3 + NH4) . .34 Total Dissolved Solids . .34 Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen . .35 v Total Nitrogen . .35 Total Suspended Solids . .35 Turbidity . .35 Trace Metals . .35 Biological Analytes . .36 Descriptions of Individual Springs and Results of Analyses . .37 Alachua County . .38 Hornsby Spring . .39 Poe Spring . .41 Santa Fe River Rise . .44 Treehouse Spring . .46 Bay County . .48 Gainer Springs Group . ..
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A Brief Geologic History of Volusia County, Florida
    Prepared in cooperation with Volusia County A Brief Geologic History of Volusia County, Florida Volusia County is in a unique and beautiful setting (fig. 1). This Florida landscape is characterized by low coastal plains bordered by upland areas of sandy ridges and Volusia many lakes. Beautiful streams and springs abound within the vicinity. Underneath the County land surface is a deep layer of limestone rocks that stores fresh, clean water used to serve drinking and other needs. However, the landscape and the subsurface rocks have not always been as they appear today. These features are the result of environmental forces and processes that began millions of years ago and are still ongoing. This fact sheet provides a brief geologic history of the Earth, Florida, and Volusia County, with an emphasis on explaining why the Volusia County landscape and geologic structure exists as it does today. Figure 1. Florida and Volusia County. Figure 1. Florida and Volusia County. Continental Drift This theory starts with the introduction of the Earth’s crust from a planet-wide sea of molten lava and includes the initial formation and subsequent break up of two ancient super- continents. The first ancient supercontinent was called Gondwana. It broke apart and, eventually, its pieces came back together to form the second ancient supercontinent of Pangea, which contained all of the Earth’s present continents (Kious and Tilling, 2002). During this period that lasted from the beginning of the Earth until about 200 million years ago, the very foundation of Florida was formed that is often referred to Geologic Theories as the basement.
    [Show full text]
  • Geology of Florida Local Abundance of Quartz Sand
    28390_00_cover.qxd 1/16/09 4:03 PM Page 1 Summary of Content The geologic past of Florida is mostly out of sight with its maximum elevation at only ~105 m (in the panhandle) and much of south Florida is virtually flat. The surface of Florida is dominated by subtle shorelines from previous sea-level high-stands, karst-generated lakes, and small river drainage basins What we see are modern geologic (and biologic) environments, some that are world famous such as the Everglades, the coral reefs, and the beaches. But, where did all of this come from? Does Florida have a geologic history other than the usual mantra about having been “derived from the sea”? If so, what events of the geologic past converged to produce the Florida we see today? Toanswer these questions, this module has two objectives: (1) to provide a rapid transit through geologic time to describe the key events of Florida’s past emphasizing processes, and (2) to present the high-profile modern geologic features in Florida that have made the State a world-class destination for visitors. About the Author Albert C. Hine is the Associate Dean and Professor in the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida. He earned his A.B. from Dartmouth College; M.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; and Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina, Columbia—all in the geological sciences. Dr. Hine is a broadly-trained geological oceanographer who has addressed sedimentary geology and stratigraphy problems from the estuarine system out to the base of slope.
    [Show full text]
  • African Origins 200 Million Years of Calcium Carbonate Deposition
    The Florida We are all So Familiar With is a relatively new phenomenon, geologically speaking. This distinctive peninsula of land we live on, and the gently sloping, sandy shorelines we’re drawn to for recreation and renewal, have not always existed as they appear today. In fact, Florida was a very different-looking place not so long ago, and over the past 500 million years it has had quite a unique and surprising geological history. African Origins Believe it or not, the deep bedrock that underlies Florida was originally a part of Africa. Florida’s oldest Scott, Means) 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 (Kosche, Bryan,(Kosche, the modern continents of Africa and South America. About 250 million years ago, Gondwana (containing the geologic beginnings of Florida) collided with another megacontinent called Laurasia (which contained the rest of future North America). The result was the supercontinent Pangea. When Pangea eventually broke up, about 230 million years ago, that special wedge of African bedrock that would be Florida, rifted apart from its tectonic plate of origin, and remained sutured instead to what we’ve come to know as the continent of North America. 200 Million Years of Calcium Carbonate Deposition It is upon these very old, African-born igneous and metamorphic basement rocks that the sedimentary rocks of the Florida Platform would start to accumulate. Thick layers of carbonate rock—predominantly limestones and dolostones composed of the mineral calcium carbonate— built up over the next 200 million years to create Florida’s flat-topped, “carbonate platform” structure.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 3. Origin and Evolution of Tampa Bay 37
    Chapter 3. Origin and Evolution of Tampa Bay 37 Chapter 3. Origin and Evolution of Tampa Bay By Gerold Morrison (AMEC-BCI) and Kimberly K. Yates (U.S. Geological Survey–St. Petersburg, Florida) TAMPA BAY HAS AN UNUSUAL geologic history when compared to many other estuaries in the eastern U.S. (Brooks and Doyle, 1998; Hine and others, 2009). It lies near the center of the carbonate Florida Platform (fig. 3–1), and is associated with a buried “shelf valley system” (including a paleo-channel feature located beneath the modern Egmont Channel) that formed in the early Miocene, about 20 million years ago (Ma) (Hine, 1997; Donahue and others, 2003; Duncan and others, 2003). Since that time the area has been subject to substantial fluctuations in sea level and alternating periods of sediment deposition and removal. These events have produced a complex distribution of siliciclastic and carbonate-based sediments within the bay, its associated barrier islands, and the inner Florida shelf (Brooks and Doyle, 1998; Brooks and others, 2003; Duncan and others, 2003; Ferguson and Davis, 2003). Sinkholes and other karst features in the underlying carbonate strata, which are common throughout the west-central Florida region, have been important factors underlying the development of both Tampa Bay (Brooks and Doyle, 1998; Donahue and others, 2003) and Charlotte Harbor, a geologically similar estuary located about 100 mi to the south (Hine and others, 2009). In the case of Tampa Bay, the underlying shelf valley system consists of multiple karst controlled subbasins (separated by bedrock highs) that have been filled by sediments, some of which were deposited fluvially (Hine and others, 2009).
    [Show full text]
  • Ginsburg IAS Volume
    05/02/2007/1420hrs Karst Subbasins and Their Relation to the Transport of Tertiary Siliciclastic Sediments on the Florida Platform Running Title: Karst Subbasins on the Florida Platform ALBERT C. HINE1, *BEAU SUTHARD1, STANLEY D. LOCKER1, KEVIN J. CUNNINGHAM2, DAVID S. DUNCAN3, MARK EVANS4, AND ROBERT A. MORTON5 1 College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, [email protected] 2 U.S. Geological Survey,3110 SW 9th Ave, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33315 3 Department of Marine Science, Eckerd College, 4200 54th Ave So., St. Petersburg, FL 33711 4 Division of Health Assessment and Consultation, NCEH/ATSDR, Mail Stop E-32, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30333 5 U.S. Geological Survey, 600 4th St. So., St. Petersburg, FL 33701 *Present Address Coastal Planning and Engineering 2481 NW Boca Raton Blvd Boca Raton, FL 33431 [email protected] 1 ABSTRACT Multiple, spatially-restricted, partly-enclosed karst subbasins with as much as 100 m of relief occur on a mid-carbonate platform setting beneath the modern estuaries of Tampa Bay and Charlotte Harbor located along the west-central Florida coastline. A relatively high-amplitude seismic basement consists of the mostly carbonate, upper Oligocene to middle Miocene Arcadia Formation, which has been significantly deformed into folds, sags, warps and sinkholes. Presumably, this deformation was caused during a mid-to-late Miocene sea-level lowstand by deep-seated dissolution of carbonates, evaporates or both, resulting in collapse of the overlying stratigraphy, thus creating paleotopographic depressions. Seismic sequences containing prograding clinoforms filled approximately 90% of the accommodation space of these western Florida subbasins.
    [Show full text]
  • U.S. Department of the Interior Geological Survey a Preliminary Mid-Cretaceous to Late Pleistocene Seismic Stratigraphy For
    U.S. Department of the Interior Geological Survey A preliminary Mid-Cretaceous to Late Pleistocene seismic stratigraphy for the deep eastern Gulf of Mexico adjacent the Florida Escarpment David J. Lubinskil David C. Twichell2 Open-File Report 92-255 This report is preliminary and has not been reviewed for conformity with U.S. Geological Survey editorial standards. Any use of trade names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. 1. U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole MA 02543 and the University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder CO 80309-0250 2. U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole MA 02543 ABSTRACT An investigation of predominantly USGS single-channel seismic reflection data in the deep eastern Gulf of Mexico has identified six prominent and regionally extensive unconformity and correlative conformity surfaces which bound six seismic units. The deepest unconformity mapped, the Mid-Cretaceous Unconformity (MCU), underu'es all six seismic units and is exposed along the Florida Escarpment North of approximately 27°N the gradient of both the exposed MCU and the subbottom MCU are less steep than the MCU gradients south of 27°N. South of 27°N, the large canyons which incise the Florida Escarpment extend westward into the subbottom for at least 15 km. The similarity between the exposed and buried parts of the MCU implies that the erosional and depositional processes controlling the morphology of the Florida Escarpment have operated for a considerable, but still unknown length of time. Initial canyon cutting began before the deposition of canyon floor sediment fill, interpreted to be Middle Tertiary in age.
    [Show full text]
  • A Revision of the Lithostratigraphic Units of the Coastal Plain of Georgia
    A Revision of the Lithostratigraphic Units of the Coastal Plain of Georgia THE OLIGOCENE Paul F. Huddleston DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DIVISION GEORGIA GEOLOGIC SURVEY I BULLETIN 105 Cover photo: Seventy feet of Bridgeboro Limestone exposed at the the type locality in the southern-most pit of the Bridgeboro Lime and Stone Company, 6.5 miles west-southwest of the community of Bridgeboro, south of Georgia 112, Mitchell County. A Revision of the Lithostratigraphic Units of the Coastal Plain of Georgia THE OLIGOCENE Paul F. Huddlestun ·Georgia Department of Natural Resources Joe D. Tanner, Commissioner Environmental Protection Division Harold F. Reheis, Director Georgia Geologic Survey William H. McLemore, State Geologist Atlanta 1993 BULLETIN 105 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ............................................................................................................................................... v ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................................................ 1 ACKN"OWLEIJGMENTS ................................................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. :.............................. 2 Methods ........................................... ,...................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of the Lithological and Petrographical Changes Across The
    Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2015 A Study of the Lithological and Petrographical Changes Across the Eocene- Oligocene Transition of the Ocala and Suwannee Formations in Northern Florida and Southern Georiga Kayla Smith Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES A STUDY OF THE LITHOLOGICAL AND PETROGRAPHICAL CHANGES ACROSS THE EOCENE-OLIGOCENE TRANSITION OF THE OCALA AND SUWANNEE FORMATIONS IN NORTHERN FLORIDA AND SOUTHERN GEORIGA By KAYLA SMITH A Thesis submitted to the Department of Earth, Ocean, & Atmospheric Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science 2015 Kayla Smith defended this thesis on June 24, 2015. The members of the supervisory committee were: William Parker Professor Directing Thesis Stephen Kish Committee Member James Tull Committee Member The Graduate School as has verified and approved the above-named committee members, and certifies that thesis has been approved with accordance with university requirements. ii I dedicate this thesis to my parents and friends. Without their encouragement, I would have never embarked on this journey. iii AKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my committee for all the help and support they gave on my endeavors. Dr. William Parker, my major professor, was invaluable in helping me obtain materials and funding for this project as well as giving me the proper guidance needed to complete my research. Without him I could not have finished this work. Dr. Stephen Kish was always willing to lend a helping hand and exceedingly patient with me.
    [Show full text]
  • Charles K. Paull
    Charles K. Paull Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute [email protected] 7700 Sandholdt Road Office 831-775-1886 Moss Landing, California 95039-9644 FAX 831-775-1620 Education: 1980-1986 Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California; Ph.D. in Oceanography 1976-1978 University of Miami, Miami, Florida; M.S. in Marine Geology and Geophysics 1970-1975 Harvard College, Cambridge, Massachusetts; B.A. cum laude in Geology Professional Activities: 1999 – present, Senior Scientist, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, California (Research Chair 2008 – 2012) 1996 –1999, Amos L. Hawley Distinguished Professor, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 1987-1998, Assistant (1987-1991), Associate (1991-1993), and Full (1993-1999) Professor, Geology Department and Marine Sciences Curriculum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 1986-1993, Assistant (1986-1988) and Associate (1988-1993) Research Scientist, Marine Physical Laboratory, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 1985-1986, Visiting Scientist, ETH Zurich, Switzerland 1980-1985, Research Assistant, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 1977-1980 & 1975-1976, Geologist, Resource Assessment Group of the U. S. Geological Survey's Office of Marine Geology, Woods Hole, Massachusetts Research Interests: Determining the frequency, distribution and environmental significance of continental margin pore water seeps is a central theme of my research efforts. In the past I have worked on diverse seeps including those in the floors of coastal lagoons, on continental slopes, at bases of carbonate escarpments, within sinkholes, over the crests of diapirs, and on the continental rise that contain extensive amounts of gas hydrates.
    [Show full text]
  • Mesophotic and Deep Sea Corals in the Gulf of Mexico – Impacts from Deepwater Horizon Bibliography
    Mesophotic and Deep Sea Corals in the Gulf of Mexico – Impacts from Deepwater Horizon Bibliography Hope Shinn, Librarian, NOAA Central Library NCRL subject guide 2019-10 doi: 10.25923/5mc9-dy45 September 2019 U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research NOAA Central Library – Silver Spring, Maryland Table of Contents Background & Scope ................................................................................................................................. 3 Sources Reviewed ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Section I: Mesophotic and Deep Sea Corals after Deepwater Horizon .................................................... 4 Section II: Status of Mesophotic and Deep Sea Corals in the Gulf of Mexico prior to Deepwater Horizon .................................................................................................................................................... 16 Section III: Mapping Mesophotic and Deep Sea Corals .......................................................................... 30 Section IV: Restoring Mesophotic and Deep Sea Corals ......................................................................... 42 2 Background & Scope NOAA’s Office of Habitat Protection (OHP) in the National Marine Fisheries Service is participating in an Open Ocean Trustee Implementation Group studying marine life in the Gulf of Mexico and the impact of
    [Show full text]
  • Turkey Point Units 6 & 7 COLA
    Turkey Point Units 6 & 7 COL Application Part 2 — FSAR SUBSECTION 2.5.1: BASIC GEOLOGIC AND SEISMIC INFORMATION TABLE OF CONTENTS 2.5.1 BASIC GEOLOGIC AND SEISMIC INFORMATION .............................2.5.1-1 2.5.1.1 Regional Geology .....................................................................2.5.1-1 2.5.1.2 Site Geology ...........................................................................2.5.1-56 2.5.1.3 References .............................................................................2.5.1-69 2.5.1-i Revision 1 Turkey Point Units 6 & 7 COL Application Part 2 — FSAR SUBSECTION 2.5.1 LIST OF FIGURES Number Title 2.5.1-201 Site Region Geologic Map (Sheet 1 of 2) 2.5.1-201 Site Region Geologic Map Legend, Florida Geology (Sheet 2 of 2) 2.5.1-202 Coastal Plain Physiographic Region: Florida 2.5.1-203 Paleozoic — Mesozoic Stratigraphy 2.5.1-204 Simplified North-South Profile of Mesozoic-Age Rocks in Florida 2.5.1-205 Regional Cenozoic Stratigraphy 2.5.1-206 North-South Geologic Cross Section of Upper Mesozoic and Lower Cenozoic Rocks in Southern Florida 2.5.1-207 Simplified North-South Geologic Profile of Florida 2.5.1-208 East-West Geologic Cross Section of Upper Cenozoic-Age Rocks in Southern Florida 2.5.1-209 East-West Geologic Cross Section of Eocene through Pliocene-Age Rocks in Southern Florida 2.5.1-210 East-West Geologic Cross Section of Miocene through Pleistocene-Age Rocks in Miami-Dade County Florida 2.5.1-211 Great Bahama Bank Geologic Environment 2.5.1-212 Miocene-Pliocene Siliciclastic Transport Pathways
    [Show full text]
  • Florida's Geological History1
    WEC189 Florida's Geological History1 Ginger M. Allen and Martin B. Main2 Introduction from Laurasia and drifted northwesterly, it dragged the Florida plateau with it. Geology is the branch of natural science that studies the Earth, its rocks and minerals, and the Sea levels have had a profound effect on both changes that have created the Earth as we know it Florida's geology and ecology. The fossil record today. Geology incorporates other fields of study indicates a mass migration of plants and animals including hydrology (water resources), paleontology occurred between North and South America (fossils and ancient life), stratigraphy (the formation, approximately 2 million years ago, when sea levels composition, sequence, and correlation of rocks), were much lower and a land bridge connected North geomorphology (the form of the Earth's surface and America. During the last ice age, Florida was as changes that take place), and petrology (history of much as three times the current land area (red line on rocks, their origins, changes, and decay). Figure 1). 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. When the Florida plateau was part of the supercontinent Pangaea, Florida was sandwiched between what were to become North and South America and Africa. Figure 1. Previous Florida land area. Credits: U.S.G.S. Movement of the tectonic plates that compose the Earth's crust eventually caused Pangaea to split into In addition to being much larger, Florida was Laurasia (North America, Europe, and portions of also much drier during the last ice age.
    [Show full text]