GEOLOGY
Much of our knowledge about the deeper rocks underlying Falling Waters Hill was derived from geologic samples recovered from one of Florida's first oil wells, drilled during the period 1919 to 1921 near Falling Water Sink. The well is situated just off the nature trail about 400 feet northwest of the sink overlook. It was drilled to a total depth of 4,912 feet below land surface. Although no oil was discovered, the rock cuttings brought up during drilling revealed a wealth of information about the deeper geologic formations. The deepest rocks encountered are marine sediments originally deposited in a vast sea which covered much of the southeastern United States during the Cretaceous Era, about 150 million years ago. Most of the overlying rocks are younger marine limestones, attesting to this area's long inundation by the sea. The near-surface rocks, including those exposed in the park today, represent
Derrick on the site of the Chipley Oil Company well, 400 feet northwest of Falling Water Sink, March 20, 1920. The well was a dry hole (FG$ archives).