Skip to main content

The Geology of the Bahama-Blake Plateau Region

  • Chapter
The Ocean Basins and Margins
  • 146 Accesses

Abstract

The fit of the continental blocks around the Atlantic achieved by Bullard et al. (1965) while generally striking contains features which militate against its too facile acceptance. The most obvious shortcoming is failure to deal with the whereabouts of much of Mexico and all of Central America. The second major difficulty is posed by the considerable overlap which occurs between the Florida-Blake plateau-Bahama region on the southeastern extremity of North America and the Senegal-Gambia-Portuguese Guinea-Cape Verde Islands region of Africa. This overlap signals a forbidden configuration—if the crust in these regions is as old or older than the time of the suggested fit. This chapter attempts to summarize what is known of the Bahama-Blake plateau area that may prove pertinent to an understanding of the history and origin of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Contribution No. 84, Department of Geology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Applin, P. L., 1951, Preliminary report on buried pre-Mesozoic rocks in Florida and adjacent states: U. S. Geol. Survey Circ. 91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Applin, P. L. and Applin, E. R., 1965, The Comanche Series and associated rocks in the subsurface in Central and South Florida: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Pap. 447.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball, M. M., Dash, B. P., Harrison, C. G. A., and Ahmed, K. O., 1971, Refraction seismic measurements in the northeastern Bahamas: Trans. Am. Geophys. Union, v. 52, no. 4, p. 252 (abst).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bass, M. N., 1969, Petrography and ages of crystalline basement rocks of Florida—some extrapolations, in: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Mem. 11, Logan and McBirney, eds.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bracey, D. R., 1968, Structural implications of magnetic anomalies north of the Bahama-Antilles islands: Geophysics, v. 33, p. 1950.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bullard, E. D., Everett, J. E., and Smith, A. G., 1965, The fit of the continents around the Atlantic, in: A Symposium on Continental Drift, Blackett, Bullard, and Runcorn, eds.: Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. (London), v. A258, p. 41–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chase, R. L. and Bunce, E. T., 1969, Underthrusting of the eastern margin of the Antilles by the floor of the western North Atlantic Ocean and the origin of the Barbados ridge: J. Geophys. Res., v. 74, p. 1413–1420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, C. S., 1965, The Regional Lithostratigraphic Analysis of Paleogene and Eocen Rocks of Florida: Fla. Geol. Survey Geol. Bull. 45, p. 1–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, G. L., Tilton, G. R., and Wetherill, G. W., 1962, Mineral ages from the Appalachian Province in North Carolina and Tennessee: J. Geophys. Res., v. 67, p. 1987–1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denison, R. E., Raveling, H. P., and Rouse, J. T., 1967, Age and descriptions of subsurface basement rocks, Pamlico and Albemarle Sound areas, North Carolina: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 51, p. 268–272.

    Google Scholar 

  • Drake, C. L., Ewing, J. I., and Stockard, H. P., 1968, The continental margin of the eastern United States: Can. J. Earth Sci., v. 5, p. 933.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drake, C. L., Heirtzler, J., and Hirshman, J., 1963, Magnetic anomalies off eastern North America: J. Geophys. Res., v. 68, p. 5259–5276.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edgar, N. T., Ewing, J. I., and Hennion, J., 1971, Seismic refraction and reflection in the Caribbean Sea: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 55, p. 833–870.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery, K. O., Uchupi, E., Phillips, J. D., Bowin, C. O., Bunce, E. T., and Knott, S. T., 1970, Continental rise off eastern North America: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 54, p. 44–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emery, K. O. and Zarudski, E. F. K., 1967, Seismic reflection profiles along the drill holes on the Continental Margin off Florida: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Pap. 581-A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewing, J., Ewing, M., and Leyden, R., 1966, Seismic-profiler survey of Blake Plateau: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 50, p. 1948–1971.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewing, M., et al., 1969, Initial reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, v. 1: National Science Foundation Spec. Publ. 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewing, J., et al., 1970, Deep Sea Drilling Project, Leg 11: Geotimes, v. 15, p. 14–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fullagar, P. D., 1971, Age and origin of plutonic intrusions in the Piedmont of the Southeastern Appalachians: Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 82, p. 2845–2862.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goodell, H. G. and Garman, R. K., 1969, Carbonate geochemistry of Superior deep test well, Andros Island, Bahamas: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 53, p. 513–536.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heezen, B. C. and Sheridan, R. E., 1966, Lower Cretaceous rocks (Neocomian-Albian) dredged from Blake Escarpment: Science, v. 154, p. 1644–1647.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrick, S. M. and Wait, R. L., 1965, Subsurface stratigraphy of coastal Georgia and South Carolina (abst.): Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 49, p. 344.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hess, H. H., 1933, Interpretation of geological and geophysical observations: U.S. Hydrographic Office, Navy-Princeton Gravity Expedition to the West Indies in 1932, p. 27-54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hess, H. H., 1960, The origin of the Tongue of the Ocean and other great valleys of the Bahama Bank: 2nd. Caribbean Geol. Conf. Trans., U. of Puerto Rico, Jan. 4–9, 1959, p. 160-161.

    Google Scholar 

  • Khudoley, K. M., 1964, Principal features of Cuban geology: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 51, p. 668–677.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, E. R., 1959, Regional magnetic map of Florida: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 43, p. 2844–2854.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leve, G. W., 1961, Reconnaissance of the ground-water resources of the Fernandina Area, Nassau Co., Florida: Florida Geol. Survey Inf. Cirq. 28, p. 1-24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malloy, R. J. and Hurley, R. J., 1970, Geomorphology and geologic structure; Straits of Florida: Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 81, p. 1947–1972.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milliman, J., 1967, Guyot-like features in the southeastern Bahamas—a preliminary report: Proc. Int. Conf. on Tropical Oceanography: U. of Miami, Inst. Marine Sci. Press, p. 45-55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Milton, C., and Grasty, R., 1969, “Basement” rocks of Florida and Georgia: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 53, p. 2483–2493.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molnar, P. and Sykes, L. R., 1969, Tectonics of the Caribbean and Middle American regions from focal mechanisms and seismicity: Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 80, p. 1639–1684.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newell, N. D., 1959, The coral reefs, Pt. 1—Questions of coral reefs, Pt. 2—Biology of corals: Nat. Hist., v. 68, p. 119-131, p. 226–235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pressler, E. D., 1947, Geology and occurrence of oil in Florida: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 31, p. 1851–1862.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheridan, R. E., Drake, C. L., Nafe, J. E. and Hennion, J., 1966, Seismic-refraction study of continental margin east of Florida: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol., v. 50, p. 1972–1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, M., 1967, Bahamas deep test: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 51, p. 263–268.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundelius, H. W., 1970, The Carolina Slate Belt, in: Studies of Appalachian Geology, Central and Southern, Fisher, et al., eds.: Interscience, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilton, G. R., Wetherill, G. W., Davis, G. L., and Hopson, C. A., 1958, Ages of minerals from the Baltimore gneiss near Baltimore, Maryland: Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 69, p. 1469–1474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uchupi, E., 1968, Atlantic Continental Shelf and Slope of the United States — Physiography: U.S. Geol. Survey Prof. Pap. 529-C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uchupi, E., Milliman, J. D., Luyendyk, B. P., Bowin, C. O., and Emery, K. O., 1971, Structure and origin of the southeastern Bahamas: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol. Bull., v. 55, p. 687–704.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogt, P. R., Anderson, C. N., and Bracey, D. R., 1971, Mesozoic magnetic anomalies, seafloor spreading, and geomagnetic reversals in the southwestern North Atlantic: J. Geophys. Res., v. 76, p. 4796–4823.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Windisch, C. C., Leyden, R. J., Worzel, J. L., Saito, T., and Ewing, J., 1968, Investigation of horizon Beta: Science, v. 162, p. 1473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1974 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Stehli, F.G. (1974). The Geology of the Bahama-Blake Plateau Region. In: Nairn, A.E.M., Stehli, F.G. (eds) The Ocean Basins and Margins. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3033-2_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-3033-2_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-3035-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-3033-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics