Portland Formation

The Portland Formation is a geological formation in the northeastern United States. It dates back to the Early Jurassic period.[1] The formation consists mainly of sandstone laid down by a series of lakes (in the older half of the formation) and the floodplain of a river (in the younger half). The sedimentary rock layers representing the entire Portland Formation are over 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) thick and were formed over about 4 million years of time, from the Hettangian age (lower half) to the late Hettangian and Sinemurian ages (upper half).[2]

Not to be confused with Portland Group (geology) or Portland stone.
Portland Formation
Stratigraphic range: Hettangian-Sinemurian
~199–195 Ma
↓
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofNewark Group
Sub-unitsDeerfield Basin, Turners Falls Sandstone & Mount Toby Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
OtherMudstone, siltstone, limestone
Location
Coordinates42.3°N 72.5°W / 42.3; -72.5
Approximate paleocoordinates24.0°N 18.6°W / 24.0; -18.6
RegionConnecticut, Massachusetts
Country USA
Portland Formation (the United States)
Portland Formation (Massachusetts)

Vertebrate fauna

Dinosaur coprolites located in Massachusetts, USA.[1] Ornithischian tracks located in Massachusetts and Connecticut, USA.[1] Theropod tracks located in Massachusetts and Connecticut, USA.[1] Prosauropod tracks located in Massachusetts and Connecticut, USA.[1]

Dinosaurs
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Anchisaurus[1]

A. polyzelus[1]
  • Connecticut[1]
  • Massachusetts[1]
Anchisaurus

Podokesaurus[1]

P. holyokensis

Partial postcranial skeleton.[3]

All known remains of this species have been destroyed.

See also
  • List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations

References
  1. Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Jurassic, North America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 530–532. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  2. Olsen, P.E. (2002). "STRATIGRAPHY AND AGE OF THE EARLY JURASSIC PORTLAND FORMATION OF CONNECTICUT AND MASSACHUSETTS: A CONTRIBUTION TO THE TIME SCALE OF THE EARLY JURASSIC". Archived from the original on 2018-11-28. Retrieved 2017-07-07.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link). Session No. 26 Studies of Depositional Systems and Sedimentary Rocks: In Honor of Edward Scudder Belt. 37th Annual Meeting (March 25-27, 2002).
  3. "Table 3.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 48.

Bibliography
  • Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. ISBN 0-520-24209-2
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