Santee Limestone

Front inscription

Sir Charles Lyell (1797-1875), noted British geologist, visited S.C. in 1842 and described its geology in his Travels in North America..., published in several editions. He named the bedrock limestone underlying this area “Santee Limestone.” Lyell estimated Santee Limestone to date from the Eocene epoch, more than 40 million years ago.

Limestone and Marl Formations

Many kinds of fossil marine animals are found embedded in Santee Limestone. This limestone, in solution, forms sinks and subsurface caves. Eutaw Springs, now flooded by Lake Marion, flowed from such channels. An impure limestone-based clay known as “Cooper Marl” overlies Santee Limestone throughout the lowcountry. Both are primary raw materials in portland cement produced nearby.