Fossil Mangrove Reef of Key Biscayne, Florida
Hoffmeister JE and Multer HG. 1965. Fossil Mangrove Reef of Key Biscayne, Florida. Geological Society of America Bulletin. 76:845-852
A small rock reef, extending along the northeastern shore of Key Biscayne, Florida, for a distance of about 400 yards and seaward for 115 yards, has been found to be composed of a framework of fossilized mangrove roots belonging to the black mangrove, Avicennia nitida. The roots, now turned into calcareous rods, are embedded in a friable calcareous-quartzitic sand which may be quickly washed away by wave action along the seaward edge of the reef. In this manner, a lattice of roots in their original position is exposed. It is believed that this may be the first reported occurence of the fossilization of mangrove roots. Radio-carbon dating indicates the age of the rods to be between 1000 and 2000 years.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Hoffmeister, J.; Multer, H.
- Units
- BISC
- Keywords
- Avicennia, Avicennia nitida, FL, Fossil, Key Biscayne, Mangrove, Reef