Galula Formation

Galula Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late CretaceousAptian–Campanian
Type Geological formation
Unit of Red Sandstone Group (Rukwa Rift Basin)
Sub-units Mtuka Member, Namba Member
Underlies Unconformity with Nsungwe Formation
Overlies Unconformity with Karoo Supergroup or basement
Thickness 600–3,000 m (2,000–9,800 ft)
Lithology
Primary Sandstone
Other Conglomerate, mudstone
Location
Region African Great Lakes
Country  Tanzania
Extent Rukwa, Mbeya Region
Type section
Named for Galula
Named by Roberts et al.
Location Galula Coalfields
Year defined 2010
Coordinates 8°40′55.6″S 32°53′33.5″E / 8.682111°S 32.892639°E / -8.682111; 32.892639Coordinates: 8°40′55.6″S 32°53′33.5″E / 8.682111°S 32.892639°E / -8.682111; 32.892639
Thickness at type section 520 m

The Galula Formation is a geological formation located south of Lake Rukwa in Tanzania, part of the Red Sandstone Group of the Rukwa Rift Basin. Along with the unconformably overlying Oligocene Nsungwe Formation. It is divided into two members, the lower Mtuka Member and the upper Namba Member.[1]

The age of the deposit is poorly constrained, with the Mtuka Member likely being Aptian to Cenomanian in age, while the Namba Member being Cenomanian to Campanian in age based on Geomagnetic reversals.[2] It is correlated with the Dinosaur Beds of Malawi.

The formation is fossiliferous, with Dinosaurs and Crocodyliformes being known from the formation.

Geology

Lithology

The Lithology of the formation is a sequence of red, pink, purple and occasionally white colored sandstones, conglomerates and mudstones. The Mtuka member is 160-180 m thick in the type section, and is typified by coarser sandstone, a higher frequency of conglomerates, higher proportions of extraformational clasts, thicker and a greater frequency of overbank siltstone and mudstone lenses and a higher proportion of paleosols. While the Namba member is between 340-360 m in the type section, and is less variable in facies, predominated by very fine-to medium-grained sandstones with less overbank mudstone and siltstone lenses.

Vertebrate paleofauna

Fish

Fish of the Galula Formation
Genus SpeciesLocality Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Lupaceradotus L. useviaensis RRBP 2004-06-30 Lungfish
Ceratodontidae Indeterminate Mtuka Member Lungfish

Sauropsids

Sauropsids of the Galula Formation
Genus SpeciesLocality Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Pakasuchus[3] P. kapilimai RRBP 2007-04 Namba Member Articulated skull and skeleton, and referred partial skull
Rukwasuchus[4] R. yajabalijekundu Namba 2 Middle Namba member Partial skull Peirosaurid
Rukwatitan[5] R. bisepultus Locality RRBP 2007-02 (Namba 2) Middle Namba member Partial skeleton Titanosaur
Shingopana[6] S. songwensis TZ-07 Namba Member Partial Skeleton Titanosaur
Notosuchia Indeterminate Namba Member
Testudines Indeterminate Mtuka and Namba Members Plastron and carapace fragments
Theropoda[7] Indeterminate Mtuka and Namba Members pair of articulated proximal caudal vertebrae, 11 Teeth

Mammals

Mammals of the Galula Formation
Genus SpeciesLocality Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Sudamericidae[8] Indeterminate TZ-07 Namba Member Left dentary

References

  1. ↑ Roberts, Eric M.; O’Connor, Patrick M.; Stevens, Nancy J.; Gottfried, Michael D.; Jinnah, Zubair A.; Ngasala, Sifael; Choh, Adeline M.; Armstrong, Richard A. (2010-05). "Sedimentology and depositional environments of the Red Sandstone Group, Rukwa Rift Basin, southwestern Tanzania: New insight into Cretaceous and Paleogene terrestrial ecosystems and tectonics in sub-equatorial Africa". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 57 (3): 179–212. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.09.002. ISSN 1464-343X. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ↑ Widlansky, Sarah J.; Clyde, William C.; O'Connor, Patrick M.; Roberts, Eric M.; Stevens, Nancy J. (2018-03). "Paleomagnetism of the Cretaceous Galula Formation and implications for vertebrate evolution". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 139: 403–420. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.11.029. ISSN 1464-343X. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ↑ O’Connor, Patrick M.; Sertich, Joseph J. W.; Stevens, Nancy J.; Roberts, Eric M.; Gottfried, Michael D.; Hieronymus, Tobin L.; Jinnah, Zubair A.; Ridgely, Ryan; Ngasala, Sifa E. (2010-08). "The evolution of mammal-like crocodyliforms in the Cretaceous Period of Gondwana". Nature. 466 (7307): 748–751. doi:10.1038/nature09061. ISSN 0028-0836. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ↑ Sertich, Joseph J. W.; O’Connor, Patrick M. (2014-04-16). "A new crocodyliform from the middle Cretaceous Galula Formation, southwestern Tanzania". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 34 (3): 576–596. doi:10.1080/02724634.2013.819808. ISSN 0272-4634.
  5. ↑ Gorscak, Eric; O'Connor, Patrick M.; Stevens, Nancy J.; Roberts, Eric M. (2014-07-29). "The basal titanosaurianRukwatitan bisepultus(Dinosauria, Sauropoda) from the middle Cretaceous Galula Formation, Rukwa Rift Basin, southwestern Tanzania". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 34 (5): 1133–1154. doi:10.1080/02724634.2014.845568. ISSN 0272-4634.
  6. ↑ Gorscak, Eric; O'Connor, Patrick M.; Roberts, Eric M.; Stevens, Nancy J. (2017-07-04). "The second titanosaurian (Dinosauria: Sauropoda) from the middle Cretaceous Galula Formation, southwestern Tanzania, with remarks on African titanosaurian diversity". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 37 (4): e1343250. doi:10.1080/02724634.2017.1343250. ISSN 0272-4634.
  7. ↑ O’Connor, Patrick M.; Gottfried, Michael D.; Stevens, Nancy J.; Roberts, Eric M.; Ngasala, Sifa; Kapilima, Saidi; Chami, Remigius (2006-03). "A new vertebrate fauna from the Cretaceous Red Sandstone Group, Rukwa Rift Basin, Southwestern Tanzania". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 44 (3): 277–288. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2005.11.022. ISSN 1464-343X. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ↑ KRAUSE, DAVID W.; GOTTFRIED, MICHAEL D.; O’CONNOR, PATRICK M; ROBERTS, ERIC M. (2003). "A Cretaceous mammal from Tanzania" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 48 (3): 321–330.


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