were collected by hand from the upper few centimeters of bottom sediment from 46 
locations selected along traverses which cross the various types of depositional 
environments within Florida Bay. Three traverses (39 samples) transect the Bay; and 
one traverse (7 samples) crosses the platform margin. Foraminifera greater than 62 
pm were identified under the binocular microscope from approximately 10 cc of 
washed material, and their abundance was estimated. This paper was excerpted, with 
modifications, from an earlier publication by the authors in 1977. 
1977 0 
Mitterer, R. N., and P. W. Carter (1977) Some analytical and experimental data on 
organic-carbonate interaction. Proc., 3rd Internatl. Coral Reef Symp., Miami, FL. 
2(Geology): 541-48. 
[DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] There are basic differences, in 
general, between the organic matter of carbonate and non-carbonate sediments. 
Analyses of sediments from the Flower Garden Reef, offshore Texas, show that the 
carbonate fraction is characterized by (1) coarse size, (2) less total organic matter, 
(3) a greater proportion of the organic matter as amino acids, and (4) a predominance 
of aspartic acid compared to the noncarbonate fraction. The non-carbonate fine fraction 
has a lesser proportion of amino acids with glycine and alanine predominant. This 
contrast is consistent with the suggestion that an aspartic acid-rich proteinaceous 
fraction plays an influential role in calcification. To further elucidate this role, soluble 
fulvic acid extracted from the <62 pm fraction of Florida Bay sediment was titrated 
with Ca solutions in the presence of pH and calcium-specific ion electrodes. The organic 
matter, which has an aspartic acid content of about 40%, was able to bind Ca. 
Additional experiments confirmed the metal binding capability of the organic matter. 
The characteristic occurrence of aspartic acid-rich organic matter in carbonate 
sediments of various types (skeletal and non-skeletal), the selective absorption of this 
organic matter to carbonate surfaces, ant the ability of the organic matter to bind Ca 
suggest that it exerts a strong influence on carbonate geochemistry in the marine 
environment. 
1977 0 
Perkins, R. D. (1977) Quaternary sedimentation in south Florida. Part II. Depositional 
framework of Pleistocene rocks in south Florida. US Geol. Surv. Mem. . 147:131-97. 
[DATE OF SAMPLING UNKNOWN OR NOT APPLICABLE.] Detailed stratigraphic analysis of 
the Pleistocene of South Florida, based on 56 measured sections, indicates that these 
deposits are divisible into five marine units separated by regional discontinuity 
surfaces. Marine units are correlated with eustatic high sea-level stands and 
discontinuity surfaces with subaerial exposure during low stands. Criteria for 
recognizing discontinuity surfaces include: (1) vadose sediment, (2) land-plant root 
structures, (3) laminated crusts, (4) diagenetic soilstones, (5) soils and soil breccias, 
(6) solution surfaces, (7) bored surfaces, and (8) freshwater limestones. Discontinuity 
surfaces are often found to be intraformational when related to formal stratigraphic 
designations presently in use. The Fort Thompson and Anastasia Formations contain four 
such surfaces, the Key Largo Limestone contains two, and the Miami Limestone contains 
two. When considered in detail, discontinuity surfaces in South Florida are found to 
vary in the amount of time they represent and the degree to which they are developed 
and preserved. The five marine units recognized in this study have been informally 
termed from oldest to youngest, Q1 through Q5 (Q for Quaternary). Each stratigraphic 
unit is analyzed from the following viewpoints: (1) role of pre-unit topography, (2) 
isopach patterns, (3) lithofacies patterns, (4) ecologic facies patterns, and (5) 
interpretation of depositional environments. Pre-unit paleotopography strongly 
influenced isopach thicknesses and lithofacies patterns within individual Pleistocene 
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