Geologic History of Florida: Major Events That Formed the Sunshine State (BOOK REVIEW)

Abstract

"A Florida Quincentennial Book." An explanation of the geological processes that formed Florida. Introduction -- Florida defined -- Florida lost: wandering the globe and finding home (700 Ma to 200 Ma) -- The big split: formation of three oceans and the establishment of the Florida basement (225 Ma to 140 Ma) -- The carbonate factory cranks up: Florida being born from the sea (160 Ma to present) -- An environmental crisis: drowning of the West Florida margin and development of the West Florida escarpment (100 Ma to 80 Ma) -- Clash of geologic terrains: colliding with Cuba (56 Ma to 40 Ma) -- Dissolution tectonics: sinkhole development (140 Ma to present) -- Sands from the north: the quartz sand invasion (30 Ma to present) -- Erosion in the ocean, marine fertility, and huge sharks: the Florida phosphate story (22 Ma to 5 Ma) -- The finish line in sight: approaching modern Florida and the emergence of South Florida (2.5 Ma to 10 Ka) -- Epilogue.