Led by Cara Gentry
Please bring sun protection and plenty of water.
Stop 1 - Haile Quarry
Haile Quarry is an active quarry owned by Limestone Products, Inc. The bedrock is the Ocala Limestone, which an Eocene age fossiliferous limestone interbedded with a vuggy dolostone. This limestone is filled with typical shallow marine fossils like crabs, echinoderms, and shells. After a drop in sea level the area was heavily karstified. Later these sinkholes were in-filled with clay and bog sediments. These clay filled pits have proved a plethora of land vertebrate fossils such as tortoises, horses, tapirs, and giant sloths.
Invertebrate Paleontologist Roger Portell from the Florida Museum of Natural History will be our guide around the quarry. Fossil collecting will be allowed in specified areas.
For this stop you will need close toed shoes, water, your rock hammer, and eye protection.
Haile Quarry
Stop 2 - Bat Cave
Bat Cave is a wild cave owned by Santa Fe Community College and is run as a geological research station. Dr. Gregory A. Mead from The Department of Natural Resources at Santa Fe Community College will be on site to talk to us about the natural history of Bat Cave. The cave is typical for a dry cave in Florida. Rooms are wider then they are high, a feature common in a fracture controlled water table cave. The bedrock is the Ocala limestone.
We will descend into the cave by walking down a spiral staircase. We will visit the Lake Room and the Root Cellar. Both rooms can be accessed without crawling and only minor crouched walking between the two rooms. Helmets will be needed - so please bring one if you have one.
We will eat lunch at this stop. People will take turns checking out the cave and eating lunch at picnic tables under a covered pavilion.
For this stop you need close toed shoes, caving helmet, and a flashlight. Restroom facilities are available.
A UF geology class field trip to Bat Cave
Ocalina floridana Rathbun 1929 (crab carapace)
Oligopygus cf. O. haldemani (Conrad, 1850) (echinoid test)
Stop 3 - O'Leno State Park
We will walk along the River Trail, which is a 1.44-mile loop trail along the Santa Fe River to the River Sink. The river then flows underground for 3.5 miles to the River Rise. Along the River Trail we will also see other karst features such as sinkholes, blind valleys, and a spectacular karst window giving us a peak of the subterranean Santa Fe River.
Paul J Moore, a PhD Candidate with the University of Florida's Department of Geology, will present the geologic and hydrologic history of O'leno State Park and provide insight into some of the current research occurring at the park.
For this stop you need comfortable walking shoes and water. Restroom facilities and water fountains are available.
River Sink at O'leno State Park, where the Santa Fe River
begins it's 3.5 mile subterranean journey
Stop 4 - Ichetucknee Springs State Park
Ichetucknee Springs is a group of nine second order magnitude springs and hundreds of smaller springs along the Ichetucknee River. We will visit two of the large springs at the north entrance of Ichetucknee Springs State Park, the Head Spring and Blue Hole Spring.
Jason Gulley, a PhD Student with the University of Florida's Department of Geology, will present the geologic and hydrologic history of Ichetucknee Springs as well as some of the current research conducted on the springs.
The springs in this area of Florida are a cool 73 deg F. We will have time to take a dip to cool off after a hot day in the Florida sun.
For this stop you will need your swimsuit. Restroom facilities are available.
The Head Spring at Ichetucknee Springs State Park
An underwater photo showing the vent to the head spring
