White River Formation

White River Formation
Stratigraphic range: Eocene and Oligocene Epochs
Type Formation
Sub-units Brule Formation,
Chadron Formation [1]
Overlies Pierre Shale
Thickness 230–300 metres (750–980 ft) [2]
Lithology
Primary tuffaceous Claystone, Conglomerate [3]
Location
Region Colorado,
Nebraska,
South Dakota,
Wyoming
Country United States
Type section
Named for White River
(Missouri River tributary)

The White River Formation is a geologic formation of the Paleogene Period, in the northern Great Plains and central Rocky Mountains, within the United States.

It has been found in northeastern Colorado, Dawes County in western Nebraska, Badlands of western South Dakota, and Douglas area of southeastern Wyoming. [1]

Fossil record

The geologic formation preserves fossils dating back to the Eocene and Oligocene Epochs of the Paleogene Period, during the Cenozoic Era. [4] It contains the most complete Late EocenePriabonian and Early OligoceneRupelian vertebrate record in North America. [1] [5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 DonaldProthero.com: "Eocene-Oligocene climatic change in North America: the White River Formation"
  2. DouglasFossils.com: Paleontology and Geology of The White River Formation
  3. USGS: White River Formation
  4. Various Contributors to the Paleobiology Database. "Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database". Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  5. DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln: "Preliminary Biostratigraphy of the White River Group (Chadron and Brule Formations) in the Vicinity of Chadron, Nebraska", by Eric Paul Gustafson, January 1986.
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