Deposition and chronostratigraphic subdivision of the Quaternary sediments: Broward County, Florida

The southern Florida peninsula has experienced numerous oscillations of sealevel during the Quaternary Period. Lithologic and stratigraphic interpretation of geologic borings collected in the region suggest five separate marine transgressions separated by periods of prolonged exposure. Subdivision of the marine units was through the recognition of lithologic changes and the identification of paleosols. Paleosols generally signify periods of subaerial exposure suggesting a hiatus between similar shallow water siliciclastic and carbonate marine deposits. Amino acid racemization on mollusk shells collected from the upper three units confirm the stratigraphic subdivision and suggest high sealevel stands and associated marine depositional events during oxygen isotope stage 5E (125,000 years BP), stage 7 (210,000 years BP) and stage 9 (300,000 years BP).