Bedrock controls of sedimentation along a marsh-dominated, open-marine, low energy coastline: west-central Florida

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985 · Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)

OSTI ID:6200820

Hine, A C; Belknap, D F; Osking, E B; Evans, M R

The northwestern peninsular Florida coast is microtidal, low wave energy. Topographic complexity is due to karstified Tertiary limestone, actively discharging freshwater springs, and lack of pre-Holocene sediment veneer. This complexity helps control local sedimentary processes. In the southern part of the field area a near continuous, thin Pleistocene quartz sand allows a marsh-fronting berm and simpler shoreline morphology. To the north, freshwater springs have formed shallow estuarine embayments containing linear oyster bioherms, nucleated upon local bedrock highs. These molluscan reefs enclose interbiothermal basins, segmenting the embayments. Between the embayments are archipelagoes of marsh islands and tidal creeks. Their complex topography was formed from selective dissolution along rectilinear fractures, creating linear lows which when drowned by rising sea level formed the largest tidal creeks. Marsh islands formed on intervening low-relief knobs. These commonly support oases of less salt tolerant shrubs and trees, surrounded by Juncus roemerianus marsh. Landward to seaward changes in rock/sedimentation relationships suggest an evolutionary pattern during sea-level rise. Upland forests become hammocks surrounded by marsh. Hammocks become islands surrounded by tidal creeks. Submerged hammocks finally become highs supporting oyster reefs. Preservation potential during the present slow transgression is low, due primarily to the low relief.

• Research Organization: Univ. of South Florida, St. Petersburg (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6200820
• Report Number(s): CONF-8510489-
• Journal Information: Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States), Vol. 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
COASTAL REGIONS
GEOMORPHOLOGY
TOPOGRAPHY
FLORIDA
CAVES
CENOZOIC ERA
EROSION
GEOLOGIC HISTORY
MARSHES
REEFS
SEDIMENTATION
SEDIMENTS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CAVITIES
ECOSYSTEMS
FEDERAL REGION IV
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
GEOLOGY
NORTH AMERICA
USA
WETLANDS
580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)