The Balumtun Sandstone is a
geologic formation
A geological formation, or simply formation, is a body of rock having a consistent set of physical characteristics ( lithology) that distinguishes it from adjacent bodies of rock, and which occupies a particular position in the layers of rock exp ...
in
Chiapas
Chiapas (; Tzotzil language, Tzotzil and Tzeltal language, Tzeltal: ''Chyapas'' ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Chiapas ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas), is one of the states that make up the Political divisions of Mexico, ...
,
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
. The formation is up to 760 metres thick, and consists of gray
sandstone
Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks.
Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...
, that were deposited during the Upper
Aquitanian stage of the Early
Miocene
The Miocene ( ) is the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about (Ma). The Miocene was named by Scottish geologist Charles Lyell; the name comes from the Greek words (', "less") and (', "new") and means "less recen ...
.
See also
*
List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Mexico
This is a list of stratigraphic units (groups, formations and members), containing fossils and pertaining to the North American country of Mexico.
List
See also
* Lists of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in North America
References
...
*
Mexican amber
Mexican amber, also known as Chiapas Amber is amber found in Mexico, created during the Early Miocene and middle Miocene epochs of the Cenozoic Era in southwestern North America. As with other ambers, a wide variety of taxa have been found as inc ...
References
*
Further reading
M. d. C. Perrilliat, F. J. Vega, and M. A. Coutiño. 2010. Miocene mollusks from the Simojovel area in Chiapas, southwestern Mexico. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 30:111-119* S. D. Webb, B. L. Beatty, and G. Poinar, Jr. 2003. New evidence of Miocene Protoceratidae including a new species from Chiapas, Mexico. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 279:348-367
Geologic formations of Mexico
Neogene Mexico
Aquitanian (stage)
Sandstone formations
Conglomerate formations
Lagerstätten
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