Barbados Geology

Geology of Barbados.

Barbados is the most eastern island of the Caribbean chain of islands (Lesser Antilles) at Latitude 13º10′ N and Longitude 59º 32′ W.

Barbados came about as a result of a natural impact that occurred between the Atlantic and Caribbean plates whereas most of the islands of the Lesser Antilles — are composed of volcanic rock.

The geology of Barbados consists of sedimentary rock, a great wedge of layers scraped off the top of the down-going tectonic plate below like a mound of snow piling up on a shovel.

Westward Ho! - Charles Kingsley - Engraving

How they came to Barbados and found no men therein…

Amyas Preston was an English privateer of the Elizabethan period. Preston came from Cricket, St Thomas in Somerset.   He took part in many wars and battles in support of England. Among these were the Preston Somers Expedition in 1595. The Preston–Somers expedition was a series of military actions that took place from late May till …

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Beautiful Barbados - fly tipping

Beautiful Barbados

Beautiful Barbados is being spoilt by ecologically uncaring, illegal and unscrupulous fly tippers dumping waste off-the beaten track. Here are some pictures of our beautiful island that only those of us who enjoy hiking and walking in the gullies and trails will ever see. Every parish has similar dumping hot-spots – there are way too many to include …

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Barbados Manjak

Manjak

Manjak and the origins of Barbados and the oil deposits we see in the Scotland area began about 50 million years ago and approximately 4 km below the sea level.  The rivers of South America were depositing layers of gravel, sand and organic material across the ocean floor.  The sea was populated with small marine …

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Lime Kiln - Ragged Point

Arthur Hutchinson’s abandoned Lime Kiln at Ragged Point, Barbados

To extract sugar from sugar cane Calcium Oxide (CaO) known as lime has to be added to the cane juice. This allows the impurities to precipitate and be removed from the juice. This is done in large settling tanks after the cane juice is heated. The residue, called mud, is filtered out and used to fertilise …

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Bottom Bay Barbados

Scientific Studies of Coral Rock in Barbados

While researching the article on the Inverted Boulder at Bottom Bay I remembered that a test hole (well) was drilled on the coral cliff overlooking Bottom Bay Beach. Hans Machel told me that John Humphrey was involved in that project. I contacted John and he kindly supplied the following information. Hi William I believe we …

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Bottom-up boulder - Bottom Bay Barbados

The bottom-up boulder between Bottom Bay and Harry Smith Beach, Barbados

I am not a geologist nor do I have training in any related field. This article is based on my own observations and reading. The land between Ragged Point and the Airport from the coast stretching inland between 500 meters and 1Km is flat coral rock with very little soil covering it. Before humans arrived it …

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Fountain Square Barbados

Ben’s Spring

Ben’s Spring is one of the fresh water springs that flow from the base of the upper coral rock terrace that make up the centre of the island. These coral rocks were the first to rise above the sea 1 to 2 million years ago. In 1860 the Barbados Government decided that it was time …

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