GSA Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA - 2018

Paper No. 182-5
Presentation Time: 9:00 AM-6:30 PM

PETROGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE LIMESTONE OF THE PRIMEVAL FOREST NATIONAL PARK ON NEW PROVIDENCE, THE BAHAMAS


MILLS, Kelsey L.1, SUMRALL, Jonathan B.2, SUMRALL, Jeanne Lambert3, MYLROIE, John E.4, MYLROIE, Joan R.4 and KAMBESIS, Patricia N.5, (1)Geosciences, Fort Hays State University, Tomanek Hall, 600 Park Street, Hays, KS 67601, (2)Department of Geosciences, Fort Hays State University, 600 Park St., Hays, KS 67601, (3)Kansas Academy of Math and Science, Fort Hays State University, Custer Hall, 600 Park Street, Hays, KS 67601, (4)Department of Geosciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (5)Center for Human Geoenvironmental Studies, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd, Department of Geography & Geology, Bowling Green, KY 42127

The Primeval Forest is a Bahamian National Park located on New Providence Island, The Bahamas. Samples collected on previous research trips were used to create petrographic thin sections for depositional environment determination. It was hypothesized that the lithology of these rocks was from the Late Pleistocene Cockburn Town Member of the Grotto Beach formation. This hypothesis was based on the field observations of sub-tidal indicators of herringbone cross bedding and the presence of trace fossils Ophiomorpha sp. and Conichnus conicus. Petrographic analysis consisted of 100- to 300-point counts of dominant allochems, porosity, and matrix/cement content. These data were consistent with previous field observations, specifically indicating a quiet lagoonal/low subtidal/beach environment. The petrographic confirmation of depositional environment was specifically based on the presence of pellets/pelloids, intraclasts, and micrite-to-sparite percentages.