Katiki Formation
Late Cretaceous geologic formation in New Zealand
Katiki Formation | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: Campanian-Maastrichtian (Haumurian) ~83.5–66 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N | |
Type | Geological formation |
Overlies | Herbert Formation |
Thickness | 100 m (330 ft) |
Lithology | |
Primary | Siltstone |
Location | |
Coordinates | ![]() ![]() Katiki Formation (New Zealand) |
The Katiki Formation is a Late Cretaceous (Campanian to Maastrichtian, or Haumurian in the regional stratigraphy) geologic formation of the South Island of New Zealand.[1] Plesiosaur remains of Kaiwhekea katiki, named after the formation, are among the fossils that have been recovered from the deltaic siltstones.
Description
The Katiki Formation was defined by McKay in 1887 and comprises about 100 metres (330 ft) of gently north to northeast dipping and generally massive, dark grey, indurated, sandy siltstones. The Katiki Formation overlies more proximal marine sandstones of the Herbert Formation and, below that, non-marine quartzose sandy to pebbly coal measures of the Shag Point Group.[2]
Fossil content
- Belemnites
- Reptiles
- Dinophyceae
- Gonyaulacaceae
- Cribroperidinium edwardsii
- Peridiniaceae
- Chatangiella campbellensis
- Palaeocystodinium granulatum
- Gonyaulacaceae
See also
- Plesiosaur stratigraphic distribution
- South Polar region of the Cretaceous
- Conway Formation
- Tahora Formation
References
- ^ Katiki Formation in the Paleobiology Database
- ^ Shag Point in the Paleobiology Database
- ^ Cruickshank & Fordyce, 2002
Bibliography
- Cruickshank, A.R.I.; Fordyce, R.E. (2002), "A new marine reptile (Sauropterygia) from New Zealand: further evidence for a Late Cretaceous Austral radiation of cryptoclidid plesiosaurs", Palaeontology, 45 (3): 557–575, Bibcode:2002Palgy..45..557C, doi:10.1111/1475-4983.00249