Carters Limestone

Carters Limestone
Stratigraphic range: Middle Ordovician
Type	Formation
Unit of	Lower and Upper Members
Underlies	Hermitage Formation
Overlies	Lebanon Limestone
Thickness	9–28 m (30–92 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Thin-bedded to massive limestone
Other	Thin shale and bentonite beds
Location
Region	Central Basin, Tennessee
Country	United States
Extent	Central Tennessee
Type section
Named by	J. M. Stafford

The Carters Limestone is a geologic formation in Tennessee. It preserves fossils dating back to the Ordovician period. ^{[1] [2] [3]} The Carters contains abundant invertebrate fossils, including corals, stromatoporoids, brachiopods and bryozoans, mollusk (gastropods, bivalves and orthoconic cephalopods) and trilobites. Trace fossils also occur. The unit has several volcanic ash (bentonite) beds and is known to have isolated reef development.

See also

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

References

1. "Geolex — Carters publications". ngmdb.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
2. "Tennessee Fossils". tennesseefossils.com. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
3. "NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, Georgia and Tennessee (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2025-01-02.