Santa Cruz Mudstone

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Santa Cruz Mudstone
Stratigraphic range: Tortonian-Messinian
Type Formation
Underlies Purisima Formation
Overlies Santa Margarita Sandstone
Thickness>2,700 m (8,900 ft)
Lithology
Primary Siliceous organic mudstone
Location
Coordinates 37°06′N122°18′W / 37.1°N 122.3°W / 37.1; -122.3 Coordinates: 37°06′N122°18′W / 37.1°N 122.3°W / 37.1; -122.3
Approximate paleocoordinates 36°36′N119°48′W / 36.6°N 119.8°W / 36.6; -119.8
RegionFlag of California.svg  California
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Extent Santa Cruz Mountains
Type section
Named for Santa Cruz County
Relief map of California.png
Yellow ffff00 pog.svg
Santa Cruz Mudstone (California)

The Santa Cruz Mudstone is a geologic formation in California. The siliceous organic mudstones of the formation were deposited in deep water and fluvial environments. The formation overlies the Santa Margarita Sandstone and is overlain by the Purisima Formation. The Santa Cruz Mudstone was formerly considered part of the Monterey Formation. The formation preserves bivalve and echinoid fossils as well as vertebrates of Parabalaenoptera baulinensis and Otodus megalodon . The formation dates back to the Late Miocene (Tortonian to Messinian) period. [1] [2] [3]

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Further reading