Pleistocene bedrock. The banks attain a maximum thickness of about 4.5 ft. Radiocarbon 
dates show that they have been formed in the past 4,000 yrs. The carbonate mud is 
composed principally of aragonite with lesser proportions of dolomite and both highl¬ 
and low-magnesium calcite. The proportion of dolomite varies, ranging up to about 5% 
by weight of the total carbonate. Other constituents are quartz and opaline sponge 
spicules, but these rarely form more than 1 or 2%. Dolomite crystals are euhedral 
rhombohedrons varying in size from less than 1 urn to approximately 60 ^im. They 
commonly have dark internal rhombohedrons that appear to be intergrowths of dolomite 
and organic materials. Complex clusters of interpenetrating rhombohedrons are 
present, but rare. The occurrence of interpenetrating rhombohedrons and intergrowths 
of organic and carbonate material suggest that dolomite has been formed in situ in 
Florida Bay; however, radiocarbon dating shows that the dolomite is older than 35,000 
yrs and must be detrital. 
1962 0 
Taft, W. H. (1962) Mineralogy of carbonate sediments along the western margin of Florida 
Bay. Proc., First. Natl. Coastal and Shallow Water Res. Conf., 1961. Washington, DC. 
676-7. 
[DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] This citation reviews the 
mineralogy of carbonate sediments in Florida Bay. 
1962 - 1963 
Lynts, G. W. (1966) Relationship of sediment-size distribution to ecologic factors in 
Buttonwood Sound, Florida Bay. J. Sediment. Petrol. . 36:66-74. 
Seventy-four sediment samples were collected from 19 stations located in Buttonwood 
Sound, in 1962 and 1963. At each occupation of stations, the following environmental 
parameters of sediment-water interface were measured: depth, temperature, salinity, 
pH and Eh. Techniques outlined for measuring pH and Eh must be strictly adhered to in 
order to obtain valid measurements of in situ environment. Factor-vector analysis of 
numerical data indicate that ecologic factors were not linearly related to sediment-size 
and were not linearly interrelated amongst themselves. Sediment-size distribution is 
closely correlated to turtle grass occurrence, which acts as an effective sediment 
stabilizer and trapper. Temperature and salinity are related to climate, while pH and Eh 
are related to organic activity. Carbonate sediments of Buttonwood Sound are probably 
almost wholly organically derived. 
1962 - 1963 
Lynts, G. W. (1971) Distribution and model studies on foraminifera living in Buttonwood 
Sound, Florida Bay. Memoir 1, Miami Geological Society. A Symposium of Recent South 
Florida Foraminifera. J. I. Jones and W. D. Bock (eds.). Miami Geological Society, Miami, FL. 
73-1 1 5. 
A total of 74 samples were collected from a grid system consisting of 19 stations. 
Stations were occupied three times during august 1962, and once during February 
1963. The following environmental parameters of the water-sediment interface were 
measured: depth, temperature, salinity, pH and Eh. Each sample was analyzed for 
forminiferal standing crop and ratio of sand, silt and clay. Q-modal factor-vector 
analysis divided the standing crop into 17 faunal assemblages, consisting of five 
assemblages in a single collection. Distribution of most of these assemblages appeared 
to be controlled by an interaction of ecological parameters. A fauna which was related 
to sediment size and one which was related to bathymetry persisted throughout all 
collections. Distribution of foraminiferal species and environmental parameters 
indicated some such relationships. The faunal information indicated there was no simple 
linear relationship between distribution of foraminifera and environmental parameters. 
162 
