Jobos Bay Reserve, Puerto Rico

Jobos Bay Reserve, Puerto Rico

Tidal Range

One of the major characteristics of the tides in the Caribbean is their small vertical range. The mean tidal level is at + 0.5 ft. above MLW. Tide table data shows a mean high water level of + 1.0 ft. above MLW and the extreme low water level at - 1.0 ft. MLW

Soil Types

Lagoon and swamp deposits cover most of the surface of the reserve. They consist of unconsolidated clay, silt and organic matter. These deposits are covered almost entirely by mangroves. Beach deposits occur along the islets of Cayos Caribe. They are composed of sand, gravel, volcanic rock cobbles and shell fragments. Alluvial plain deposits dominate over the northern part of the Reserve and consist of unconsolidated sand, gravel and pebbles.

Geology

Jobos Bay Reserve is mostly located in the Central Aguirre quadrangle. All of the superficial unconsolidated deposits within the reserve are mainly Quaternary in age and consist of lagoon, swamp, beach and alluvial deposits.

An ancient inactive fault, known as the Esmeralda Fault, runs in a northwest-southeast direction north of Jobos Bay. A projection of the fault suggests that it probably passes under Jobos Bay towards the Caribbean Sea. Calcite deposits tightly seal this system below weathering penetration.

There are no metallic mineral deposits of commercial value in the general area of the reserve. Small amounts of hematite are found several kilometers northeast of Jobos Bay.