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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′N 122°18′W / 37.1°N 122.3°W / 37.1; -122.3 |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 36°36′N 119°48′W / 36.6°N 119.8°W / 36.6; -119.8 |
| Region |  California |
| Country |  United States |
| Extent | Santa Cruz Mountains |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Santa Cruz County |
  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.
See also
References
- Balinas Point at Fossilworks.org
- Bolinas Bay at Fossilworks.org
- Waddell Creek at Fossilworks.org
Further reading
- J. C. Clark. 1981. Stratigraphy, paleontology, and geology of the Central Santa Cruz Mountains, California Coast Ranges. United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 1168:1-51
- D. S. Jordan and H. Hanibal. 1923. Fossil sharks and rays of the Pacific slope of North America. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 22:27-63
- C. V. Zeigler, G. L. Chan, and L. G. Barnes. 1997. A new late Miocene balaenopterid whale (Cetacea: Mysticeti), Parabalaenoptera baulinensis, (new genus and species) from the Santa Cruz Mudstone, Point Reyes Peninsula, California. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 50(4):115-138