GROUP C 



Florida 

 Bay 



Figure 26. Taylor Slough sedimentary zones and core types (adapted from 

 Gleason et al. 1974). 



in the "marl prairie" communities to 

 the east and west of Taylor Slough. 

 This ongoing deposition of calcite 

 is believed analogous of the condi- 

 tions which produced the strata of 

 the Lake Flirt Formation. The con- 

 tinuous calcite strata in these 

 cores suggests the recent environ- 

 ment has remained fairly constant in 

 these vicinities. 



Croup C, located on the eastern 

 margin of the slough and running 

 parallel to its axis, consists of an 

 upper layer of calcite underlain by 

 alternating layers of peat. Gleason 

 et al. (1974) interpret this struc- 

 ture as a "filling up" of the basin 

 with sediments. Deep water peats 

 gradually build up, then transi- 

 tional peats, and finally, as the 

 hydroperiod shortens, calcareous 

 periphyton begin depositing a calci- 

 tic mud layer. 



Group D, located on the western 

 margin of the upper slough, consists 

 of a peat layer sandwiched in be- 

 tween two calcite layers. Gleason 

 interprets this structure to repre- 

 sent an historical shift in hydro- 

 period allowing peat to build up in 

 a relatively wetter area. A subse- 

 quent drop in water level forced the 

 return of a calcite producing, rela- 

 tively drier environment. 



Group E, located along the 

 upper fringe zone between Taylor 

 Slough and Florida Bay, represents a 

 transitional environment reflecting 

 the oscillations of Holocene sea 

 level. The many alternating layers 

 of red mangrove peat and calcitic 

 mud indicate that neither marine nor 

 freshwater conditions have dominated 

 during recent time. 



62 



