Earth:Santa Cruz Mudstone

From HandWiki
Short description: Geologic formation in California, U.S.
Santa Cruz Mudstone
Stratigraphic range: Tortonian-Messinian
TypeFormation
UnderliesPurisima Formation
OverliesSanta Margarita Sandstone
Thickness>2,700 m (8,900 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySiliceous organic mudstone
Location
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 37°06′N 122°18′W / 37.1°N 122.3°W / 37.1; -122.3
Paleocoordinates [ ⚑ ] 36°36′N 119°48′W / 36.6°N 119.8°W / 36.6; -119.8
Region California
Country United States
ExtentSanta Cruz Mountains
Type section
Named forSanta Cruz County
Lua error in Module:Location_map/multi at line 27: Unable to find the specified location map definition: "Module:Location map/data/California" does not exist.

The Santa Cruz Mudstone is a geologic formation in California . The siliceous organic mudstones of the formation were deposited in deep water and fluvial environments. The formation overlies the Santa Margarita Sandstone and is overlain by the Purisima Formation. The Santa Cruz Mudstone was formerly considered part of the Monterey Formation. The formation preserves bivalve and echinoid fossils as well as vertebrates of Parabalaenoptera baulinensis and Otodus megalodon. The formation dates back to the Late Miocene (Tortonian to Messinian) period.[1][2][3]

See also

  • List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in California
  • Paleontology in California

References

Further reading

  • J. C. Clark. 1981. Stratigraphy, paleontology, and geology of the Central Santa Cruz Mountains, California Coast Ranges. United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 1168:1-51
  • D. S. Jordan and H. Hanibal. 1923. Fossil sharks and rays of the Pacific slope of North America. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 22:27-63
  • C. V. Zeigler, G. L. Chan, and L. G. Barnes. 1997. A new late Miocene balaenopterid whale (Cetacea: Mysticeti), Parabalaenoptera baulinensis, (new genus and species) from the Santa Cruz Mudstone, Point Reyes Peninsula, California. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 50(4):115-138