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How was Jamaica formed? And When? Did Jamaica have any volcanoes? Is Jamaica hilly? What are the main physical features of Jamaica?
These questions, and more, are answered here in a special excerpt from Senior's book on the history of Jamaica.
See also: The Geography of Jamaica
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The oldest part of Jamaica is at least 120 million years old, judging from the age of the oldest rocks.
However, the island as we know it now, is no more than ten and fifteen million years old, following its final emergence from the sea, a phenomenon that has led to the development of some unique flora and fauna.
Geologists tend to divide Jamaica’s geological history into three phases.
The first occurring in early Cretaceous times when the island emerged as one of a chain of active volcanoes thrust up from the sea.
This phase of volcanic activity continued intermittently until about 45 million years ago when volcanism ceased and the landmass became submerged.
During this period of submergence, thick layers of sediment mainly in the form of calcium carbonate accumulated.
When the third phase, final uplift of the island, occurred about 10 million years ago, the land was covered with these deposits of white limestone up to 1,500 meters thick in places.
Since then, some of this limestone at higher elevations has been eroded, exposing the older cretaceous rock.
Three distinct types of landscapes have emerged from the geological past.
They include:
Though the island is no longer subjected to volcanic activity, it is affected by the activities of earthquakes and hurricanes, which can alter the landscape.
The geological process is continuous, though perhaps not immediately perceptible, with severe erosion in the upland areas and sedimentary deposits below, as well as the slow build up of coral on the coast.
The first geological survey of Jamaica was undertaken in 1823 by Sir Henry de la Beche.
For additional insights and even greater detail, I recommend you consult the following books and publications:
Also, to learn more about the physical structure, unique features, climate and vegetation, read the geography of Jamaica here.
And for additional insights, here's quite informative and intelligent summary of Jamaica's geological structure by Benniese Facey on YouTube.com (below). Click the play button.
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