Building Jamaica

Jamaica is an island which resides on the Caribbean plate, specifically in the northern region. This plate is located between the North American plate, Cocos plate, Nazca plate, as well as the South American plate.

Thus the formation of this island is attributed to various processes and phases of convergence and subduction, primarily between the Caribbean plate and the North American plate. These phases of convergence lead to the formation, rising, and faulting of mountains and plateaus.

 (For instance the beautiful Blue Mountains)

(As well as Cockpit Country)

The Island was built by active volcanos, in what is known as an island arc, which is a chain of volcanic islands, formed in the overriding tectonic plates of subduction zones as the result of rising magma from the down moving plate. ( As illustrated below)

Jamaica contains a wide spectrum of rock. Primarily, Western Jamaica is made of Limestone, which is a biologic sedimentary rock, which consists of coral, shells, skeletons,etc. As well as various other sedimentary rocks, this is logical seeing that this island was formed from the ocean floor up. However, Eastern Jamaica is made up of primarily volcanic or igneous rock due to the location of volcanic activity, these processes come together and, thus Jamaica is born!!!

Sources:
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=16256.0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Jamaica
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/island+arc
http://www.geol.umd.edu/~lsschlei/CoolGeologyLinks/Tectonics_Website/ScotiaArc.htm