Melovatka Formation

Melovatka Formation
Stratigraphic range: Middle Cenomanian ~99–95  Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
The Melovatka Formation in 1941
Type	Geological formation
Lithology
Primary	Phosphorite
Other	Sandstone
Location
Coordinates	50°54′N44°42′E / 50.9°N 44.7°E / 50.9; 44.7
Approximate paleocoordinates	43°06′N38°48′E / 43.1°N 38.8°E / 43.1; 38.8
Region	Volgograd Oblast
Country	Russia
Extent	Saratov
Type section
Named for	Melovatka
Melovatka Formation (Russia) Show map of Russia Melovatka Formation (Volgograd Oblast) Show map of Volgograd Oblast

The Melovatka or Melovatsskaya Formation is a Cenomanian geologic formation in Russia. Pterosaur fossils have been recovered from the formation.

Description

The two phosphorite horizons are separated in places by a yellowish sand interbed up to 1 m thick; however, they sometimes merge into a single horizon. The lower interbed or part of the integrated phosphorite horizon shows in places straight diagonal bedding, which is manifested in the orientation of almost flat pellets, pebbles, and pseudomorphs on bivalve shells. The phosphate concretions are irregular aggregates and rounded pebbles, ranging in size from several millimeters to 5–10 cm. They are dark brown or nearly black. ^[1]

Fossil content

The following vertebrate fossils were reported from the formation: ^[1]

• Cerebavis cenomanica
• Cretolamna appendiculata
• Edaphodon sedgwicki
• Elasmodectes kiprijanoffi
• Elasmodus sinzovi
• Eostriatolamia subulata
• Ischyodus latus
• Paraorthacodus recurvus
• Pseudoisurus denticulatus
• Synechodus dispar
• Lonchodectes sp.
• Odontaspis sp.
• Polyacrodus sp.
• Saratovia glickmani ^[2]
• Squatina sp.
• ?Platypterygius sp.
• Chelonioidea indet.
• Chimaeridae indet.
• Elasmosauridae indet.
• Enchodontidae indet.
• Ornithocheiroidea indet.
• Osteichthyes indet.
• Pliosauridae indet.

See also

• List of pterosaur-bearing stratigraphic units
• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Russia
  • Sekmenevsk Formation

References

1. Melovatka 3 at Fossilworks.org
2. Averianov, A. O. (2025). "A new ornithocheiran pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of Saratov, Russia". Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências. 97 (Suppl. 1). e20241063. doi: 10.1590/0001-3765202520241063 . PMID   40298668.