- Arundel Formation
-
Arundel Formation
Stratigraphic range: Upper CretaceousType sedimentary Unit of Potomac Group Underlies Patapsco Formation Overlies Patuxent Formation Thickness up to 125 feet[1] Lithology Primary clay Location Named by W. B. Clark, 1897[1] Region 
Maryland, Washington D. C.Country United States The Arundel Formation, also known as the Arundel Clay, is a clay-rich sedimentary rock formation, within the Potomac Group, found in Maryland[2] of the United States of America. It is of Aptian age (Lower Cretaceous). This rock unit had been economically important as a source of iron ore, but is now more notable for its dinosaur fossils. Although often considered a formation, it may be only oxbow swamp facies within the Potomac Group.[3]
Contents
Vertebrate paleofauna
Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs present include possibly the large theropod Acrocanthosaurus,[4][5] the poorly known theropods "Allosaurus (or "Dryptosaurus") medius", "Creosaurus (or "Dryptosaurus") potens" (also known as "Capitalsaurus"), and "Coelurus gracilis", the ornithomimosaurian "Coelosaurus affinis", the sauropods Astrodon and Pleurocoelus, the nodosaurid Priconodon,[6] a possible basal ceratopsian, and potentially the ornithopod Tenontosaurus.[3] Other vertebrates are not as well-known from the formation, but include a freshwater shark, a lungfish, at least three genera of turtles, and at least one crocodilian.[3]
Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Discredited taxon Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon Notes
Uncertain or tentative data are in small text;crossed outdata are discredited.Dinosaurs reported from the Arundel Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images A. medius[7]
- Maryland[7]
"Tooth."[8]
A. johnstoni[9]
"Tooth."[11]
Coelosaurus[7]
C. affinis[7]
- Maryland[7]
"Limb elements."[12]
"Coelurus"[7]
"C." gracilis
"Manual ungual and teeth."[8]
Probably a dromaeosaurid.
Creosaurus[7]
C. potens[7]
- Maryland[7]
"Vertebra."[8]
Indeterminate[7]
- Maryland[7]
P. altus[7]
- Maryland[7]
"Tibia [and] fibula."[13]
P. nanus[7]
- Maryland[7]
Indeterminate[10]
- Washington D. C.[10]
P. crassus[7]
- Maryland[7]
"Teeth, tibia."[14]
Indeterminate[15]
- Maryland[7]
Pterosaurs
Unassigned pteradactyloid tracks.[16]
Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Discredited taxon Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon Notes
Uncertain or tentative data are in small text;crossed outdata are discredited.Pterosaurs of the Arundel Formation Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images Pteraichnus[16]
Other fossils
W. B. Clark (1897) described lignitized trunks of trees often found in upright positions with their roots still intact.[1]
G. J. Brenner (1963) described spores and pollen within the formation.[17]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ a b c Clark, W.B., 1897, Outline of present knowledge of the physical features of Maryland: Maryland Geological Survey Volume Series, v. 1, pt. 3, p. 172-188. [1]
- ^ "Geologic Map Legends". Coastal Plain Rocks and Sediments. Maryland Geological Survey. http://www.mgs.md.gov/esic/geo/lgcp.html. Retrieved 27 June 2011.
- ^ a b c Kranz, Peter M. (1998). "Mostly dinosaurs: a review of the vertebrates of the Potomac Group (Aptian Arundel Formation), USA". In Lucas, Spencer G.; Kirkland, James I.; & Estep, J.W. (eds.). Lower and Middle Cretaceous Terrestrial Ecosystems. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 14. pp. 235–238.
- ^ Harris, Jerald D. (1998). "Large, Early Cretaceous theropods in North America". In Lucas, Spencer G.; Kirkland, James I.; & Estep, J.W. (eds.). Lower and Middle Cretaceous Terrestrial Ecosystems. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 14. pp. 225–228.
- ^ Lipka, Thomas R. (1998). "The affinities of the enigmatic theropods of the Arundel Clay facies (Aptian), Potomac Formation, Atlantic Coastal Plain of Maryland". In Lucas, Spencer G.; Kirkland, James I.; & Estep, J.W. (eds.). Lower and Middle Cretaceous Terrestrial Ecosystems. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 14. pp. 229–234.
- ^ Weishampel, David B.; Barrett, Paul M.; Coria, Rodolfo A.; Le Loueff, Jean; Xu Xing; Zhao Xijin; Sahni, Ashok; Gomani, Elizabeth M.P.; and Noto, Christopher N. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution". In Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.). The Dinosauria (2nd ed.). Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 517–606. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "3.25 Maryland, United States; 1. Arundel Clay," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 556.
- ^ a b c "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 78.
- ^ a b "3.25 Maryland, United States; 1. Arundel Clay" and "3.34 Washington D. C., United States; 1. Arundel Clay," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 556.
- ^ a b c "3.34 Washington D. C., United States; 1. Arundel Clay," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 556.
- ^ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 270.
- ^ "Table 6.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 139.
- ^ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 266.
- ^ "Table 17.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 368.
- ^ a b Listed as "?Tenontosaurus sp." in "3.25 Maryland, United States; 1. Arundel Clay," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 556.
- ^ a b c Lockley, M.; Harris, J.D.; and Mitchell, L. 2008. "A global overview of pterosaur ichnology: tracksite distribution in space and time." Zitteliana. B28. p. 187-198. ISSN 1612 - 4138.
- ^ Brenner, Gilbert J., 1963, The spores and pollen of the Potomac Group of Maryland: Maryland Geological Survey Bulletin, no. 27, 215 p. [2]
References
- Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
Coordinates: 39°3′N 76°38′W / 39.05°N 76.633°W
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