Calvert Formation | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: Miocene | |
Type | Formation |
Unit of | Chesapeake Group |
Underlies | Choptank Formation |
Overlies | Old Church Formation |
Location | |
Region | Maryland, Virginia, Delaware |
Country | United States |
Type section | |
Named for | Calvert County |
The Calvert Formation is a geologic formation in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. It preserves fossils dating back to the early to middle Miocene epoch of the Neogene period. It is one of the three formations which make up the Calvert Cliffs, all of which are part of the Chesapeake Group.
The Calvert Formation is extremely fossiliferous. Some of the fossil species represented include the following: [1] [2]
Carcharodon is a genus of sharks within the family Lamnidae, colloquially called the "white sharks." The only extant member is the great white shark. The extant species was preceded by a number of fossil (extinct) species including C. hubbelli and C. hastalis. The first appearance of the genus may have been as early as the Early Miocene or Late Oligocene. Carcharocles megalodon is still argued by some paleontologists to be a close relative of Carcharodon carcharias - as well as being in the same genus. The megalodon's scientific name was originally "Carcharodon" megalodon, but more recently, the giant shark has been assigned by most scientists to either the genus Carcharocles or Otodus.
Calvert Cliffs State Park is a public recreation area in Lusby, Calvert County, Maryland, that protects a portion of the cliffs that extend for 24 miles along the eastern flank of the Calvert Peninsula on the west side of Chesapeake Bay from Chesapeake Beach southward to Drum Point. The state park is known for the abundance of mainly Middle Miocene sub-epoch fossils that can be found on the shoreline.
The Aquia Formation is a geologic sandstone formation that extends from the upper Chesapeake Bay to the James River near Hopewell, Virginia. It consists of clayey, silty, very shelly, glauconitic sand. Fossil records indicate that this stratigraphic unit was created during the Paleocene.
Gavialosuchus is an extinct genus of gavialoid crocodylian from the early Miocene of Europe. Currently only one species is recognized, as a few other species of Gavialosuchus have since been reclassified to other genera.
The Williamsport Sandstone is a sandstone geologic formation in West Virginia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The formation includes the Cedar Creek Limestone member. Near Cumberland, Maryland it includes the Cedar Creek Limestone member. It preserves fossils dating back to the Silurian period.
The Chesapeake Group is a geologic group in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and North Carolina. It preserves mainly marine fossils dating back to the Late Oligocene through the Pliocene epochs of the Neogene period. This group contains one of the best studied fossil record of Neogene oceans in the world. Professional Paleontologists and amateur fossil hunters alike collect from this group intensely. The Calvert Cliffs stretch the length of Calvert County, Maryland and provide the best continuous stretch of the Calvert, Choptank, and St. Marys Formations. Ward (1985) recommended including the Old Church Formation in this group.
The Rockdale Run Formation is a geologic formation in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. It preserves fossils dating back to the Ordovician period.
The St. Marys Formation is a geologic formation in Maryland and Virginia, United States. It preserves fossils dating back to the Miocene Epoch of the Neogene period. It is the youngest Miocene formation present in the Calvert Cliffs and is part of the Chesapeake Group.
The Old Church Formation is a geologic formation in Virginia and possibly Maryland. It preserves fossils dating back to the Oligocene epoch of the Paleogene period. It rarely exposes on land and is under-studied. However, deposits from this period are rare and the Old Church Formation likely contains many scientifically significant taxa.
The Choptank Formation is a geologic formation in Virginia and Maryland. It preserves fossils dating from the Miocene epoch of the Neogene period.
The Piney Point Formation is a geologic formation in Virginia. It preserves fossils dating back to the Lutetian Stage of the Eocene Epoch of the Paleogene period.
The Alachua Formation is a Miocene geologic formation in Florida. The claystones, sandstones and phosphorites of the formation preserve many fossils of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, among others megalodon.
The Bashi Formation is a geologic formation in Alabama and Mississippi. It is named for Bashi Creek in northern Clarke County, Alabama, which cuts through some of its exposures. It preserves fossils dating back to the Eocene period, or Wasatchian in the NALMA classification.
The Runningwater Formation is a geologic formation in Nebraska. It preserves fossils dating back to the Hemingfordian of the Early Miocene of the Neogene period. The sandstones and conglomerates of the formation were deposited in a fluvial environment. The formation has provided many fossil mammals.
The Temblor Formation is a geologic formation in California. It preserves fossils dating back from the Late Oligocene to the Middle Miocene of the Neogene period. It is notable for the famous Sharktooth Hill deposit.
The Jewett Sand Formation is a geologic formation in California, USA. It preserves fossils dating back to the Miocene Epoch of the Neogene period.
The Tirabuzon Formation is a geologic formation in Mexico. It preserves fossils dating back to the Neogene period, Pliocene epoch.
The Weissenegg Formation is a geologic formation in Austria. It preserves fossils dating back to the Miocene period.