Paleo Slide Sets

Paleo Slide Set: Climate and the Classic Maya Civilization

Pie diagram illustrating the dissolved ion content of Lake Punta Laguna

The water chemistry of Punta Laguna is quite different from Lake Chichancanab. Punta Laguna is relatively fresh with total dissolved solids of 835 mg/L. The dominant anion is bicarbonate (HCO₃). The lake water is saturated with respect to the mineral calcium carbonate(CaCO₃), which many aquatic organisms use to form their shells.

Photo Credits:
David A. Hodell
Department of Geology, University of Florida

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