Posted by Bailey Kaufman | 12.21.2023 | Marine Science, Sea Turtle Camp

Coquina Rocks!

The Coquina Outcrop in Wilmington holds a fascinating story about how the land by the coast was formed!

But first, what exactly is Coquina?

Picture this: over a long time, seashells gather and stick together, making a special kind of rock. This rock is called coquina limestone because it’s made by binding shells with minerals. Scientists who study rocks, called geologists, look at the layers and materials in coquina limestone to learn about what happened in the environment long ago. This helps them understand things like how deep the sea used to be, where sediments settled, and how the coast changed over time.

The Coquina Outcrop is like a history book for the environment.

Coquinas are tough and can handle ocean forces without breaking apart easily. This makes them helpful in telling us about the weather and sea conditions from a long time ago. Scientists and researchers look at the layers of coquina limestone to learn more about the history of the Earth and how sea creatures and the land have interacted over a really, really long time. Exploring the Coquina Outcrop in Wilmington gives us a special way to understand how the sea and the Earth have been working together, teaching us more about the history of our planet!