The Williamsburg Formation 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
South Carolina
)''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no)
, anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind"
, Former = Province of South Carolina
, seat = Columbia
, LargestCity = Charleston
, LargestMetro = ...
consisting of sandy
shale
Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock formed from mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolin, Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4) and tiny fragments (silt-sized particles) of other minerals, especial ...
and clayey
sand
Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class of s ...
.
[Williamsburg Formation]
at Fossilworks
Fossilworks is a portal which provides query, download, and analysis tools to facilitate access to the Paleobiology Database
The Paleobiology Database is an online resource for information on the distribution and classification of fossil animals ...
.org It is a member of the
Black Mingo Group and overlays the
Rhems Formation
The Rhems Formation, also called the Rhems Shale, is a geologic formation in South Carolina. The Rhems Formation is considered part of the Black Mingo Group. It was named after Rhems, SC which is located five miles from the type locality at Perk ...
. It preserves
fossils
A fossil (from Classical Latin , ) is any preserved remains, impression, or trace of any once-living thing from a past geological age. Examples include bones, shells, exoskeletons, stone imprints of animals or microbes, objects preserved in ...
, among others
coprolite
A coprolite (also known as a coprolith) is fossilized feces. Coprolites are classified as trace fossils as opposed to body fossils, as they give evidence for the animal's behaviour (in this case, diet) rather than morphology. The name is de ...
s, dating back to the
Paleogene
The Paleogene ( ; British English, also spelled Palaeogene or Palæogene; informally Lower Tertiary or Early Tertiary) is a geologic period, geologic period and system that spans 43 million years from the end of the Cretaceous Period million yea ...
period
Period may refer to:
Common uses
* Era, a length or span of time
* Full stop (or period), a punctuation mark
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Period (music), a concept in musical composition
* Periodic sentence (or rhetorical period), a concept ...
.
Fossil content
The following fossils were reported from the formation:
[
]
Mammals
* ''Ectoganus gliriformis
''Ectoganus'' is a fossil genus of mammals belonging to the family Stylinodontidae.
The species of this genus are found in Northern America.
Species:
* ''Ectoganus bighornensis'' Schoch, 1981
* ''Ectoganus copei
''Ectoganus'' is a fossil ge ...
''
* '' E. lobdelli''
* '' Mingotherium holtae''
Reptiles
* '' Agomphus pectoralis''
* '' A. aff. alabamensis''
* '' Osteopygis emarginatus''
* '' Trionyx virginiana''
* '' Adocus sp.''
* '' ?Bothremys sp.''
* Chelonioidea indet.
* Cheloniidae indet.
* Pelomedusoides indet.
* Taphrosphyini indet.
* Toxochelyinae indet.
;Crocodylians
* '' Bottosaurus sp.''
* '' Hyposaurus sp.''
* '' Thoracosaurus sp.''
* Eusuchia indet.
;Snakes
* '' Palaeophis sp.''
See also
* List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in South Carolina
This article contains a list of fossil-bearing stratigraphic units in the state of South Carolina, U.S.
Sites
See also
* Paleontology in South Carolina
References
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fossiliferous stratigraphic units in South Carolina
Sou ...
* Paleontology in South Carolina The location of the state of South Carolina
Paleontology in South Carolina refers to paleontological research occurring within or conducted by people from the U.S. state of South Carolina.
Evidence suggests that at least part of South Carolina wa ...
References
Bibliography
*
*
*
* {{cite LSA , last=Van Nieuwenhuise , first=Don , last2=Colquhoun , first2=Donald , title=The Paleocene-lower Eocene Black Mingo Group of the east-central coastal plain of South Carolina , journal=South Carolina Geology , year=1982 , volume=26 , issue=2 , pages=47–67 , url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314162569_The_Paleocene-Lower_Eocene_Black_Mingo_Group_of_the_East_Central_Coastal_Plain_of_South_Carolina , accessdate=2018-06-26
Paleogene geology of South Carolina
Paleocene Series of North America
Thanetian Stage
Clarkforkian
Shale formations
Sandstone formations
Phosphorite formations
Shallow marine deposits
Fossiliferous stratigraphic units of North America
Paleontology in South Carolina