The Geology of Florida
Tiffany Sahadeo
GLG/101
1/19/2014
Geological Events
• Basement separated from African Plate when
Pangea rifted and sutured to North American Plate.
• Sinking formed the basin that was critical to formation of carbonates.
• Florida Platform formed during Cretaceous.
• Erosion of Appalachian Highlands introduced siliciclastic sediments
• Glacial and interglacial periods of Quaternary
Period led to sea level changes, erosion, deposition, and the formation of modern topography. Geological Feature
• Florida Platform
• Basement rocks part of African
Plate
• Carbonate sedimentation from mid-Jurassic to mid-Oligocene
• Pliocene to
Holocene
siliciclastic sedimentation Geologic Time
• Absolute ages determined from radioactivity studies.
• Relative ages determined from correlation between rock units using fossils. Plate Tectonics
• Florida once part of African Plate
• Pangea 230 million years ago
(top left)
• Triassic Period
195 million years ago (top right)
• Cretaceous
Period 65 million years ago
(bottom)
Weathering and Erosion
• Sea level fluctuations during Cenozoic and Quaternary led to periods of nondeposition, weathering, and erosion.
• Uplift and erosion of Appalachian
Highlands deposited siliciclastic sediments over Florida Platform during mid-Cenozoic to late Paleogene.
Igneous & Metamorphic Rocks
• Basement Rocks only • Pre-Cambrian to
Cambrian igneous rocks (granite)
– Central Florida
• Triassic to Jurassic volcanic rocks
– N. Florida
• Mesozoic volcanic rocks (basalt)
– South Florida
Water Features
• Everglades
– Largest subtropical wilderness in U.S.
– Unique fauna & flora
– National Park
– World Heritage Site
• Lake Okeechobee
– 730 sq. miles
– 2nd largest lake in continental U.S.
– Headwaters of
Everglades
– Used for commercial fishing, drinking water, and irrigation
