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Guide to Rocks and Minerals of Florida, Florida Geological Survey Special Publication No. 8, by Ernest W. Bishop and Lawrence L. Dee, Jr., Illustrated by Andrew R. Janson. (See the Florida Geological Survey web site for an explanation of the dates of publication for this document.) [PDF]
Florida Photographs from the Florida Photographic Collection, presented by the Florida Memory Project.
Florida (southeastern) - Water Resources of Southeastern Florida with Special Reference to the Geology and Ground Water of the Miami Area (entire document), by Garald G. Parker, G. E. Ferguson, S. K. Love, and others, United State Department of the Interior, Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 1255, United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1955 (Out of print). Prepared in cooperation with the Florida Geological Survey, Dade County, cities of Miami and Miami Beach, and other agencies [South Florida Water Management District].
Guide to Rocks and Minerals of Florida, Florida Geological Survey Special Publication No. 8, by Ernest W. Bishop and Lawrence L. Dee, Jr., Illustrated by Andrew R. Janson. (See the Florida Geological Survey web site for an explanation of the dates of publication for this document.) [PDF]
Historic Florida Photographic Collection and Video Clips, presented by Florida Memory, State Library and Archives of Florida.
A Location Guide for Rockhounds, (PDF) Collected by Robert C. Beste, PG, St. Louis, Missouri: Hobbitt Press, 2nd ed., December 1996, 148 pp. (Includes chapters on “Mineral Locations by State,” “Appendix and Glossary,” and “Bibliography.”)
Exposure of Caloosahatchee Marl (from Mineral Industries and Resources of Florida, by E. H. Sellards, From the Sixth Annual Report of the Florida State Geological Survey, pp. 21-114, 1914, Statistics on production collected in co-operation with the United States Geological Survey. Courtesy of DEP’s Florida Geological Survey.)
| Fig. 19. Exposure of Caloosahatchee marl (pp. 58) |  |
| Fig. 21. Sample of phosphate illustrating the formation of phosphate by the replacement process. The rock was clearly originally limestone at the Vicksburg formation, the form of the shells being well preserved. The carbonate has been replaced by phosphate, and the rock as shown by analysis is now a high grade phosphate. Natural size. Specimen contributed by H. R. Keyster, of the Dunnellon Phosphate Company, Rockwell, Florida. (pp. 85) |  |
Photographs of Florida Stones and Fossils (from Geology of Florida, by C. Whythe Cooke and Stuart Mossom, from the Twentieth Annual Report of the Florida State Geological Survey, 1929. Courtesy of DEP’s Florida Geological Survey)
| Pl. 3. Fossils from the Ocala Limestone. 1. Amusium ocalanum Dall. 2. Oligopygus wetherbyi DeLoriol. 3. Oligopygus haldermani Conrad. 4. Echinocyamus vaughani Twitchell. 5. Lagunum floridanum Twitchell. 6. Lagunum archerensis Twitchell. 7. Rumphia eldridgei (Twitchell). (All echinoids after Clark and Twitchell.) (pp. 51) |  |
| Pl. 7. Fossils from the Vicksburg Group (After Cooke). 1. Pecten poulsoni Morton. 2. P. anatipes Morton. 3. Scapharea lesueuri Dall. 4. Ostrea vicksburgensis Conrad. 5. Astarte triangulate Meyer. 6. Orthaulax pugnax (Heilprin). 7. Clypeaster rogersi (Morton). 8. Lepidoeyelina mantelli (Morton). (pp. 62) |  |
| Pl. 8. Fossils from the Tampa Limestone. (All after Dall.) 1. Archais floridanus (Conrad). 2. Murex trophoniformis Heilprin. (3. Turritella tampae Heilprin. 4. T. systoliata Dall. 5. Pyrazisinus campanulatus Heilprin. 6. Lyria musician Heilprin. 7. Strombus lioeyelus Dall. 8. Chione rhodia Dall. 9. Antigona glyptoconcha Dall. 10. Trigoniocardia alicula Dall. 11. Cyrena pompholyx Dall. 12. Ampullina amphora Heilprin. (pp. 81) |  |
| Pl. 10. Fossils from the Alum Buff Group. (After Gardner.) 1-2. Ostrea rugifera Dall. 3-4. Ostrea normalis Dall. (pp. 97) |  |
| Pl. 11. Fossils from the Alum Bluff Group. (After Gardner.) 1. Cardium taphrium Dall. 2. Pecten nicholsi Gardner. 3. Pecten scanikos Gardner. 4. Pecten sayanus Dall. (pp. 99) |  |
| Pl. 12. Fossils from the Alum Bluff Group. (After Gardner.) 1. Chione trimeris Gardner. 2. Chione glyptocyma Dall. 3. Glycymeris waltonensis Gardner. 4. G. drymanos Gardner. 5. Pecten acanikos Gardner. 6. Area waltonia Gardner. (pp. 101) |  |
| Pl. 15. Rock Springs, 6 miles north of Apoka. (pp. 132) |  |
| Pl. 16. Fossils from the Choctawhatchee Formation. 1. Ptychosalpinx laqueata (Conrad). 2. Cancellaria propevenusta Mansfield (MS). 3. Dorsanum? plicatilum (Bose). 4. Peristernia filicata (Conrad). 5. Solenosteira Vaughani Dall. 6. Eupleura Miocenica Dall. 7. Ecphora quadricostata umbilicata Wagner. 8. Polinices coensis Dall. 9. Tegula exoleta (Conrad). (pp. 139) |  |
| Pl. 17. Fossils from the Choctawhatchee Formation. 1. Cardita (Carditamera) vaughani Dall. 2. Anadara aresta Dall. 3. A. campsa Dall. 4. Chione xesta Dall. 5. C. ulocyma Dall. 6. Cardium virginianum Conrad. 7. Crassatellites meridionalis Dall. (pp. 141) |  |
Florida Memory, presented by the State Library and Archives of Florida
Florida Memory, presented by the State Library and Archives of Florida
Historic Preservation Overview – Historic Federal Buildings, U. S. General Services Administration (GSA)
The State of Florida’s Office of Cultural & Historical Resources, presented on the My Florida.com web site.
Florida Memory, presented by the State Library and Archives of Florida
Florida State University Libraries, Tallahassee, Florida.
"Florida.-Production of stone of any kind in this State is limited to the past few years. The value of the limestone output in 1894 was $30,639, and its use was divided about equally between the building of jetties and burning into lime."
According to this web site, the Anastasia Formation Coquina “is composed of Pleistocene...interbedded sands and coquinoid limestones.” The color is described as an orangish brown “consisting of whole and fragmented mollusk shells in a matrix of sand, cemented by calcite.” For over 400 years coquina has been used as a building stone in Florida. You can read more about the locations of the exposures at the link above.
According to this web site, the “...Avon Park Formation is composed of cream to light-brown or tan, Middle Eocene..., fossiliferous marine limestone interbedded with dolostone.” Exposures of this stone occur near the crest of the Ocala Platform in Citrus and Levy Counties throughout the Florida Peninsula and the eastern panhandle. The stone is composed of cream to light-brown or tan colors.
“The building stone of the State consists chiefly of limestones, of which several varieties occur.
Coquina: - The coquina rock of Anastasia Island near St. Augustine has been known as a building stone for more than three hundred years. This coquina was in fact the first stone used for building purposes in America, its use having begun with the settlement of St. Augustine about 1565. Coquina consists of a mass of shells of varying size or fragments of shells cemented together ordinarily by calcium carbonate. A small admixture of sand is in some instances included with the shells. When first exposed the mass of shells is imperfectly cemented and the rock is readily cut into blocks of the desired size. Upon exposure, however, the moisture contained in the interstices of the rock evaporates and in doing so deposits the calcium carbonate which it held in solution, thus firmly cementing the shell mass into a firm rock. Thus indurated the resisting qualities of the rock are good. The shells from this formation have been extensively used with concrete in the construction of modern buildings at St. Augustine. Aside from its occurrence on Anastasia Island coquina is found at many other points along both the east and west side of the peninsula.
Vicksburg Limestone: - The Vicksburg limestone has been used to some extent for building purposes. This is true especially of that phase of the Vicksburg known as the ‘chimney rock’ described in the preceding reports as the Marianna and the Peninsular limestones. The chimney rock when first taken from the ground is very soft and can be easily sawed into blocks. Upon exposure to the air it hardens, due, as in the case of the coquina, to the evaporation of moisture from the interstices of the rock. The chimney rock was early used both in Alabama and Florida for the construction of chimneys and to some extent for building purposes.
“Locally the Vicksburg and some of the other limestones in Florida become very close grained and compact. In this condition the limestone is hard, approaching marble in appearance. Although little used this phase of the limestone formation is capable of producing a good building stone.
“Miami Oolite: - The Miami oolitic limestone has been used successfully as a building stone at Miami. This formation extends for some distance along the eastern border of the Everglades north and south from Miami. As in the case of the other limestones when first taken from the quarry it is relatively soft and easily worked, but hardens upon exposure. The court-house, Halcyon Hall hotel and some other buildings at Miami are constructed of this rock.
“The limestones of the Everglades of Florida constitute a resource that will become valuable as that section of the state is developed. In this connection may be included a brief paper on the geology of this interesting region, prepared originally for the State Drainage Commission, in which is included descriptions and analyses of the several limestones that are found underlying the Everglades. In making the examination of the exposures along the canals and in Lake Okeechobee, May 19 to 23, 1914, a small launch was used, placed at the writer’s disposal through the courtesy of the Chief Engineer of the State Drainage Commission.” *
(* Please note that the section entitled, “The Geology of the Everglades of Florida,” will not be included here. If you wish a copy of this section, feel free to contact me. Peggy B. Perazzo)
“Lime or ‘quick lime’ is chemically an oxide of calcium or calcium and magnesium. It is formed ordinarily by burning limestone, although shells and other calcium carbonates may be used for the same purpose. Limestone when burned gives up carbon dioxide. The residue after burning forming a lime, consists of a calcium oxide, when a pure calcium carbonate limestone is used; or of calcium and magnesium oxide when a dolomitic limestone is used. The reaction in the case of a pure limestone is as follows: CaCO3 when heated breaks up into CaO+CO2. In the case of dolomitic limestone a magnesium oxide as well as calcium oxide is formed.
“The character of the lime varies according to the amount of magnesium present in the limestone form which it is made. Peppel* offers the following classification of the ordinary or ‘white limes’, including in that term limes containing not more than 5 per cent sandy and clayey impurities:
(* Page 36 footnote: Bulletin No. 4, 4 th Series, Ohio Geol. Survey, p. 254, 1906.)
(1) High-calcium, or ‘hot’ or ‘quick’ limes. Made from limestones containing not less than 85 per cent. of carbonate of calcium.
(2) Magnesium limes. Made from limestone containing between sixty-five and eighty-five per cent. carbonate of calcium and between ten and thirty per cent. of carbonate of magnesium.
(3) Dolomitic, or ‘cool’ or ‘slow’ limes. Made from limestones containing more than thirty per cent. of carbonate of magnesium.
“These limes differ slightly among themselves. The high calcium or ‘hot’ or ‘quick’ limes set more quickly, while the magnesium and dolomitic limes set more slowly. Limes thus serve different purposes, the high calcium limes being used when a quick-setting limes are desired. After calcination, the lime may be placed on the market as quick lime, or it may be slaked and placed on the market as hydrated lime. Hydrated lime is said to be desirable for certain purposes since the lime if properly slaked breaks up into exceedingly fine powder.
“The total quantity of quick and hydrated lime made in Florida during 1913 amounted to 18,917* tons, valued at $100,335.* The companies reporting production of lime in Florida during 1913 were as follows:
(* The Errata at the beginning of the book states: “Page 36, third line from the bottom of the page, for ’18,917,’ read 16,845; and for $100,335,’ read $89.873.)
Florida Lime Company, Ocala, Florida.
Live Oak Limestone Company, Live Oak, Florida.
Marion Lime Company, Ocala, Florida.
Standard Lime Company, Kendrick, Florida.
“In addition to these, the Virginia-Florida Lime Company, and the Blowers Lime and Phosphate Company, organized during 1913, were expected to begin operations during 1914.”
“In addition to that used in making lime, limestone is produced in Florida for other purposes as follows: Broken limestone used for railroad ballast, concrete and road material, and ground limestone for application to soils. A limited amount of limestone was probably also used in building, although not reported. The quantity of limestone produced for the various purposes mentioned are as follows: Railroad ballast, 93,750 tons, valued at $37,500; concrete, 123, 506 tons, valued at $72,432; road material, rock valued at $156,589; ground for application to soils, 16,908 tons, the total production amounting to $156,589.00.
“The following is a list of firms reporting the production of limestone in Florida during 1913:
Blowers Lime and Phosphate Company, Ocala, Florida.
Crystal River Rock Company, Crystal River, Florida.
Florida Lime Company, Ocala, Florida.
Marion Lime Company, Ocala, Florida.
E. P. Maule, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach, Florida.
Standard Lime Company, Kendrick, Florida.
Marianna Limestone located near Marianna, Florida, information and photograph by the Florida Geological Survey.
The Marianna Limestone was quarried near Marianna, Florida, in the past for use as building stone. The color of the stone ranges from white to cream, and it is fossiliferous, variably argillaceous marine limestone occurring in the central panhandle.
According to this web site, the “... Miami Limestone consists of two facies: an oolitic facies and a bryozoan facies. The oolitic facies consists of white to orangish gray, oolitic limestone with scattered concentrations of fossils. Ooliths are small rounded grains so named because they look like fish eggs. Ooliths are formed by the deposition of layers of calcite around tiny particles, such as sand grains or shell fragments. The bryozoan facies consists of white to orangish gray, sandy, fossiliferous limestone. Beds of quartz sand and limey sandstones may also be present....” Use the above link to learn more about the fossils present and specific locations of Miami limestone outcrops.
Summary Statement of Mineral Production in Florida During 1913.
Collected in Co-operation with the United States Geological Survey.
Common or building brick, 42,450 M., valued at $240,126.00.
Lime, including quick and hydrated lime, 18,917* short tons, valued at $100,335.00.*
Limestone, including ground limestone for agricultural use and crushed rock for railroad ballast, concrete and road material - $156,589.00.
Mineral waters, 343,123 gallons, valued at $37,474.00.
Phosphate rock, 2,545,276 long tons, valued at $9,563,084.00.
Sand and gravel, including building and moulding sand and gravel, 87,061 short tons, valued at $21,194.00.
Sand-lime brick, including common and front brick, 73,415 thousand, valued at $79,679.00.**
Mineral products not separately listed, including ball clay, drain tile, diatomaceous earth, fullers earth and other miscellaneous materials, valued at $448,147.00.
Total mineral products in Florida during 1913, valued at $10,646,628.00.**
(* The Errata at the beginning of the book states: “Page 36, third line from the bottom of the page, for ’18,917,’ read 16,845; and for $100,335,’ read $89.873.)
( ** The Errata at the beginning of the book states: “...twelfth line from the top of the page, for ’73,415,’ read 13,371; and in last line on page, for ‘$10,646,628.00’ read $10,636,266.00.”)
According to this web site, the “...Ocala Limestone consists of white to cream, Upper Eocene...marine limestones and occasional dolostones....” The color ranges from white to cream, and is composed of almost pure calcium carbonate. The Ocala Limestone underlies most of Florida and is used as roadbase and cement. Visit the above link for more information about this limestone.
“The road materials of the State include chiefly the limestone, marl, and shell deposits, the flint, chert and gravel, and the sandy or road-making clays. The production of road materials can scarcely be estimated. The sandy clays in particular are used locally, no record being kept of the amount handled. The calcareous and siliceous materials find more general usage, the production and value being frequently reported. The value of this class of road-making material is recorded, so far as obtained under the headings ‘Limestone’ and ‘Gravel.’
“At the close of 1912 the total mileage of improved roads in Florida was approximately 2,848 miles. Of this number 857.8 miles are surfaced with marl or crushed stone; 1,408.75 are surfaced with sand-clay; 218 miles are surfaced with shell; 5.2 miles with cement; 26.5 miles with gravel;.4 mile with asphalt, and 8.5 miles with brick. These statistics are for the year 1912, the reports for the succeeding years not being sufficiently complete to justify publication. It is known, however, that the total mileage of improved roads in Florida was materially increased during 1912 and 1913. This applies particularly to the brick roads, several counties, among which are Duval, Hillsboro, Orange, St. Johns and Seminole counties, being now actively engaged in building paved brick roads along the important highways of travel....”
According to this web site, the “...St. Marks Formation is a white to yellowish gray, sandy, fossiliferous Lower Miocene...marine limestone. It is exposed in sinks and streambeds in Wakulla, Leon and western Jefferson Counties. Mollusk molds and casts are often abundant.”
According to this web site, the color of the Suwannee Limestone is white to cream and there are limited occurrences of dolostone in other colors. Visit the above web site for a more specific description and locations of exposures.
According to this web site, the Tamiami Formation comprises “...a wide range of rock types, including: light gray to tan fossiliferous sands, light gray to green fossiliferous sandy clays and clayey sands, and white to light gray, poorly consolidated, sandy, fossiliferous limestone....”
According to this web site, the Tampa Member “...is a white to light gray, fossiliferous, Upper Oligocene to Lower Miocene...marine limestone....” Visit the above web site for more specific information on this formation.
Guide to Rocks and Minerals of Florida, Florida Geological Survey Special Publication No. 8, by Ernest W. Bishop and Lawrence L. Dee, Jr., Illustrated by Andrew R. Janson. (See the Florida Geological Survey web site for an explanation of the dates of publication for this document.) [PDF]
A Location Guide for Rockhounds, (PDF) Collected by Robert C. Beste, PG, St. Louis, Missouri: Hobbitt Press, 2nd ed., December 1996, 148 pp. (Includes chapters on “Mineral Locations by State,” “Appendix and Glossary,” and “Bibliography.”)
“Rural Southern Gravestones: Sacred Artifacts in the Upland South Folk Cemetery,” by Donald Gregory Jeane, in Markers IV, pp. 55-84, Association for Gravestone Studies. (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, USA)
The Technology of Marble Quarrying, U. S. Bureau of Mines Bulletin 106, by Oliver Bowles, Washington: Government Printing Office, 1916.
“Under Grave Conditions: African-American Signs of Life and Death in N. Florida,” by Robin Franklin Nigh, in Markers XIV, Association for Gravestone Studies, 1997.
Commercial use of material within this site is strictly prohibited. It is not to be captured, reworked, and placed inside another web site. � . All rights reserved. Peggy B. and George (Pat) Perazzo.