Wallumbilla Formation

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Wallumbilla Formation
Stratigraphic range: Aptian-Albian,
~125–101  Ma
Type Geological formation
Unit of Rolling Downs Group
Sub-unitsTrimble Member, Ranmoor Member, Jones Valley Member, Doncaster Member, Coreena Member
Underlies Toolebuc & Griman Creek Formations
Overlies Cadna-Owie & Bungil Formations
Thickness600 m (2,000 ft)
Lithology
Primary Mudstone, siltstone
Other Sandstone, limestone
Location
Coordinates 20°48′S143°42′E / 20.8°S 143.7°E / -20.8; 143.7
Approximate paleocoordinates 60°12′S124°24′E / 60.2°S 124.4°E / -60.2; 124.4
RegionNew South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
CountryAustralia
Extent Eromanga Basin
Australia relief map.jpg
Green pog.svg
Wallumbilla Formation (Australia)

The Wallumbilla Formation is an Aptian geologic formation found in Australia. Plesiosaur and theropod remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from its strata.

Contents

Description

The formation is present in the Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, and New South Wales. It is a sedimentary unit, principally made up of mudstone and siltstone, with calcareous concretions. Its maximum thickness is 600 metres. Its age is somewhere from Aptian to Albian, that is between 125 and 101 Mya. The formation is part of the Wilgunya Subgroup, which in turn is part of the Rolling Downs Group of the Eromanga and Surat Basins. The named beds are the Coreena, Doncaster, Jones Valley, Ranmoor, and Trimble Members. [1]

Fossil content

Paleofauna of the Wallumbilla Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages
Notopala Cotton, 1935 Notopala albascopularis (Etheridge, 1902) White Cliffs, New South Wales The oldest freshwater snail in Australia. [2]
Kronosaurus IndeterminateWhite CliffsA pliosaur, also found in Queensland's Toolebuc Formation and Colombia's Paja Formation
Theropoda Indeterminate
Platypterygius IndeterminateAn ichthyosaur

See also

References

  1. Geoscience Australia: Stratigraphic Units Database
  2. Kear B. P., Hamilton-Bruce R. J., Smith B. J. & Gowlett-Holmes K. L. (2003). "Reassessment of Australia's oldest freshwater snail, Viviparus (?) albascopularis Etheridge, 1902 (Mollusca : Gastropoda : Viviparidae), from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian, Wallumbilla Formation) of White Cliffs, New South Wales". Molluscan Research 23(2): 149-158. doi : 10.1071/MR03003, PDF.

Further reading