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CORAL CAM LESSON PLANS |
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Bermuda Today: Who Were Its Geologic Ancestors? |
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OBJECTIVE: To understand how the island of Bermuda came to be... |
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MATERIALS |
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Modeling clay ( black or another dark color, green or yellow, white) |
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Procedure and some Background Information: |
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Concept 1: Bermuda began as a seamount produced at the mid-Atlantic ridge approximately 110 million years ago. It moved westward with the plate and then 33 million years ago passed over a geologic hot spot that promoted volcanic activity. This resulted in the production of the island of Bermuda. Concept 2: The hardened layers of basalt lava were eroded for millions of years by wave, wind and rain action. This produced a sandy platform. Concept 3: Corals and other marine life settle and grow on rim of platform. A circular reef (atoll) forms with a central lagoon that fills with water. Concept 4: Ice Age begins approximately 2 million years ago. Sea level falls significantly. Soil forms on top of dead Coral and as rain seeps into soil and sediments. Limestone forms. Concept 5: Ice Age winds down between 18,000 – 10,000 years ago. Sea level rises but ocean doesn't cover platform. Concept 6: Corals again begin to develop at rim of platform. Weathering occurs and much sand is produced by weathering. Sand settles to form Bermuda. Model 7: Refer to diagrams below – Show Bermuda Today! |
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Questions to consider: |
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1.In Model 3 a lagoon is created. What could be collected in the lagoon? In November of 1963, Surtsey, a volcanic island rose from the Atlantic Ocean near Iceland. Explain why a coral reef is unlikely to form here, as it did near Bermuda. Support your answer with facts you research |
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© BBSR and TCOE Coral Web Site Team 1999 http://www.coexploration.org/bbsr/coral |