Alum Bluff in Liberty County has been named Florida’s first State Invertebrate Paleontological Site and the ninth State Geological Site by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). This designation recognizes Alum Bluff as a significant location for geological and paleontological research in the state.
Alum Bluff is located within The Nature Conservancy’s Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve. The bluff rises about 120 feet above the Apalachicola River, where natural erosion has revealed layers of fossil-bearing limestone, sand, silt, and clay. These deposits are among the most diverse and well-preserved fossil sites in the southeastern United States.
“Alum Bluff is the tallest natural exposure in Florida and one of the few places where you can see four different geological formations,” said Florida State Geologist and Florida Geological Survey Director Guy “Harley” Means, P.G. “Each formation contains clues, like diverse and well-preserved fossil assemblages, that help geologists interpret Florida’s geologic history over the past 18 million years. Geologists have been studying the strata exposed at this important site for more than 100 years, and we are still learning new things about it.”
The area also features steep-sided ravines known as steepheads. These ravines provide habitats for plant and animal species that have existed since the last ice age.
“When The Nature Conservancy acquired the property, now known as Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve, in the 1980s, we named it for the unique geologic features, the bluffs and ravines, that motivated the organization to protect this landscape,” said The Nature Conservancy’s Apalachicola Bluffs and Ravines Preserve Manager Catherine Ricketts. “After decades of restoration and management work to conserve the preserve’s biodiversity, The Nature Conservancy is proud to continue to support and protect Florida’s natural heritage with these designations for Alum Bluff from the Florida Geological Survey.”
State Invertebrate Paleontological Sites are designated to protect areas containing rare or scientifically important invertebrate fossils. State Geological Sites highlight locations where people can learn about Florida’s geological features, their role in local ecosystems, and their cultural significance.
Visitors to Alum Bluff are asked to follow Leave No Trace guidelines by staying on trails, removing trash, and leaving natural features undisturbed.
A dedication ceremony was held at Alum Bluff followed by a boat tour along the Apalachicola River so attendees could view its geological formations. According to state law, sites can be designated if they hold ongoing scientific value for understanding Florida’s geological history. Other locations with similar recognition include Jennings Bluff Tract; Torreya State Park; Falling Waters State Park; Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park; Florida Caverns State Park; Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park; Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park; and Windley Key Fossil Reef Geological State Park.
Florida State Geologist Guy “Harley” Means presented an official designation certificate to Catherine Ricketts during a ceremony at Liberty County.
A notable feature at Alum Bluff includes a fossilized palm frond visible on its exposed bluff face.
