of fossil content (biostratigraphic units), absolute age dating (time strati- 

 graphic units) , and soil properties (soil stratigraphic units) . 



28. One aim of the exploration program is to provide data for the con- 

 struction of an informal stratigraphic framework for the exploration area that 

 will: (a) facilitate correlation between data points; (b) show the extent, 

 thickness , lateral discontinuities , and outcrop areas of units containing 

 potential fill material; and (c) show the relationship of these units to other 

 units in the exploration area. A generalized stratigraphic diagram for the 

 inner continental shelf off northern Florida is shown in Figure 1. Larger 

 scale and more detailed diagrams are usually developed for subareas . 



29. Unlike many terrestrial parts of the United States, little is known 

 about the stratigraphy of marine and large lacustrine areas because of the 

 expense and difficulty of obtaining stratigraphic data in subaqueous environ- 

 ments. Consequently, in most places the required stratigraphic data must be 

 obtained in the field. 



30°40'N 30°00'N 29°00'N 28 o 30'N. 



Figure 1. Generalized stratigraphic diagram for the northern Florida inner 

 continental shelf showing informal stratigraphic units and stratigraphic 

 breaks identified by a color name. From Meisburger and Field (1975) 



14 



