{{Short description|Middle Eocene geologic formation in Florida, U.S.}} {{Infobox Rockunit | name = Avon Park Formation | image =File:Avon Park Formation.jpg | caption =Packstone from a dredge pile by the Cross Florida Barge Canal | type = Geological formation | age = Eocene | prilithology = Grainstone, packstone, wackestone | otherlithology = Mudstone | namedfor = Avon Park, Florida | namedby = Applin & Applin 1944 | region = Central Florida | country = United States | coordinates = | unitof = | subunits = None | underlies = Ocala Limestone (in part) | overlies = | thickness = | extent = Citrus and Levy County | area = | map = | map_caption = }} [[File:Avon Park Formation map.png|thumb|right|190px|The Avon Park Formation on the crest of the Ocala Platform.]] The '''Avon Park Formation''' is a Middle Eocene geologic formation and is the oldest exposed sediments in Florida, United States.
==Age== '''Period''': Paleogene<br> '''Epoch''': Middle Eocene~55.8 to 33.9 mya, calculates to a period of {{Mya|55.8-33.9|million years}}<br> '''Faunal stage''': Clarkforkian through early Chadronian
==Location== The Avon Park formation is located on the crest of the Ocala Platform in Levy County with three distinct outcroppings. Citrus County has one outcropping near the county line with Levy County.
==Composition== The Avon Park Formation consists of cream to light-brown or tan, poorly hardened to very hard, grainstone, packstone and wackestone, with rare mudstone. Fossils found throughout but not densely. These limestones are interbedded with vuggy dolomites which are soft to very hard and tan to brown, very fine to medium crystalline structure.
The Avon Park Formation, as with many formations, is part of the Floridan Aquifer system. Parts of the Avon Park Formation comprise important, subregional confining units within that system.
==Fossils== The fossils are in molds and casts and include: *Mollusks *Foraminifers *Echinoids *Algae *Carbonized plants
==References== {{reflist}} *[https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=FLEOap%3B0 USGS Avon Park Formation] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100604104725/http://www.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/portal/pg_grp_sfwmd_watersupply/subtabs%20-%20asr/tab16320095/fl-carbonate-formationsconflictinginterpretations-injwellreg.pdf Florida Carbonate "Formations" and Conflicting Interpretations of Injection Well Regulations]
Category:Paleogene Florida Category:Citrus County, Florida Category:Levy County, Florida Category:Geologic formations of Florida