We often forget about what surrounds us; we get too caught up in the task at hand or the commotion. We would not be where we are if it was not for our surroundings. Geology has taught me to really see my environment for more than just its current state. Though my family is from Germany, I was born and raised in South Florida so I have decided to investigate further into the geology of Florida, particularly Miami. To begin understanding Florida, it is important that the early history and formation is known. Florida is a peninsula apart of North America. This peninsula is known as the Florida platform because it is a porous plateau of karst limestone that sits on top bedrock. The foundation of the Florida platform came from the African plate over 200 million years ago.1 This occurred during the early Mesozoic Era in which the supercontinent of Pangea began to break apart and a small piece of land became stuck to North America as it separated from Africa. A while later in the period, a thick pile of dead marine organisms created a sediment that then turned into limestone, which underlies all of Florida. .
Florida turned into its current shape during the Cenozoic Era. During this time, sea levels dropped and Florida rose from the ocean. Florida was not finished being formed yet. After the Cenozoic Era, the Oligocene Era created deposits of clays and sands because of the fluctuations in sea-levels. In the Micone Era, the Appalachians were uplifted, erosional rates increased, and continental siliciclastic sediments filled the Gulf Trough. The Gulf Trough is an ancient geological feature of Florida which was present during the Paleogene period. Nutrient-laden ocean water soaked the land causing large deposits of phosphorite. This was caused by a substantial increase in marine organisms such as plankton dying and being deposited on the sea floor. When they were mixed with sediments it formed francolite.