Globigerina.

Globigerina limestone underlies the Blue Clay formation and overlies the Lower Coralline limestone. Most of the low lying north-eastern part of Malta is underlain by Globigerina. The impact of this is most obvious if one looks from the ramparts of Mdina towards Valletta. Mdina lies on an Upper Coralline limestone deposit and overlooks the low lying Globigerina plain, which is the site of Luqa airport and much of Malta's urban sprawl. The deposit comprises largely planktonic globigerinid foraminifera, but vertebrate remains have been recovered including those of crocodiles, turtles and seals.

Globigerina is easily quarried and cut into blocks and used as building material. Try to get a look at the island from the air as the plane lands, you will see the dramatic extent of quarrying, both legal and illegal on the island. Viewed from the air the extent of this problem is obvious, and large areas appear to have been quarried away.

A Globigerina quarry, blocks carved and ready for use.

Points to consider:

• Is the exploitation of this resource conducted in an environmentally sensitive fashion?
• Assess the extent to which this formation is used for building stone.
• Assess the suitability of this formation for construction purposes.
• What uses could the abandoned quarries in the Globigerinid formations be put to?

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