Dinosaur Beds

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Dinosaur Beds
Stratigraphic range: Barremian–Aptian
Type Geological formation
Unit of Lupata Group
Sub-unitsLower Member, Upper Member
UnderliesUnconformity with Pliocene Chiwondo Beds
Overlies Precambrian metamorphic basement
ThicknessUpper member is 210 m (690 ft) thick in vicinity of CD-9 locality
Lithology
Primary Sandstone, siltstone, mudstone
Location
Coordinates 10°17′S34°02′E / 10.28°S 34.04°E / -10.28; 34.04
Region Northern Region
CountryFlag of Malawi.svg  Malawi
Extent Karonga District
Malawi relief location map.jpg
Lightgreen pog.svg
Dinosaur Beds (Malawi)

The Dinosaur Beds is a geological formation in Malawi whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous. The age of the deposit is poorly constrained, but is likely to date from the Barremian to Aptian. [1] Dinosaurs, turtles and crocodylomorphs remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. [2] It is correlated with the Galula Formation in Tanzania. It consists of two members, a lower unfossiliferous member consisting of deep red stained sandstones, and an upper fossiliferous member consisting of white sands and grey to red mudstones and siltstones. The upper member is 210 m thick in the vicinity of the CD-9 locality. [3]

Contents

Vertebrate paleofauna

Invertebrate fauna

See also

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References

  1. Widlansky, Sarah J.; Clyde, William C.; O'Connor, Patrick M.; Roberts, Eric M.; Stevens, Nancy J. (March 2018). "Paleomagnetism of the Cretaceous Galula Formation and implications for vertebrate evolution". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 139: 403–420. Bibcode:2018JAfES.139..403W. doi: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.11.029 . ISSN   1464-343X.
  2. Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 571-573. ISBN   0-520-24209-2.
  3. WINKLER, DALE A.; GOMANI, ELIZABETH M.; JACOBS, LOUIS L. (2000). "COMPARATIVE TAPHONOMY OF AN EARLY CRETACEOUS SAUROPOD QUARRY, MALAWI, AFRICA". Paleont. Soc. Korea Special Publication. 4: 99–114.
  4. "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 269.