Plio-Pleistocene sediments at Sarasota |
The fossil-rich sediments exposed in quarries near Sarasota were deposited between 1 and 5 million years ago, when sea levels were slightly higher than they are today. The geological history of this area is surprisingly complicated, and has been the subject of some scientific controversy.
Typical exposure of fossil-bearing sediments.
Most of the sediments are assigned by geologists to a layer called the "Pinecrest Sand". The Pinecrest is densely packed with the remains of mollusks and other marine animals.
How did so many fossils come to be deposited here? |
This is the subject of much ongoing research. Recent findings suggest that these shell beds formed as a result of:
