
Coquina is a type of limestone composed of calcium carbonate shells, shell fragments, and other sand-sized fossil debris. It forms in the shallow waters of coastal areas with a tropical or subtropical climate. The particles are weakly cemented together, and therefore coquina is a very porous material that can function as an aquifer or a reservoir for oil and natural gas. Public Domain photo by Mark A. Wilson of the Department of Geology, The College of Wooster.