The Black Peaks Formation is a geological formation in Texas whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains (from the sauropod Alamosaurus) and the pterosaur Quetzalcoatlus northropi[1] have been among the fossils reported from the formation.[2][3] The boundary with the underlying Javelina Formation has been estimated at about 66.5 million years old.[4] The formation preserves the rays Rhombodus and Dasyatis, as well as many gar scales.[5]

Black Peaks Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian-Danian (Tiffanian)
~66.5–60 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofTornillo Group
OverliesJavelina Formation
Lithology
PrimaryMudstone
OtherLimestone
Location
Coordinates29°18′N 103°24′W / 29.3°N 103.4°W / 29.3; -103.4
Approximate paleocoordinates36°00′N 82°48′W / 36.0°N 82.8°W / 36.0; -82.8
Region Texas
Country USA
Black Peaks Formation is located in the United States
Black Peaks Formation
Black Peaks Formation (the United States)
Black Peaks Formation is located in Texas
Black Peaks Formation
Black Peaks Formation (Texas)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Andres, Brian; Langston, Wann (2021-12-14). "Morphology and taxonomy of Quetzalcoatlus Lawson 1975 (Pterodactyloidea: Azhdarchoidea)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 41 (sup1): 46–202. doi:10.1080/02724634.2021.1907587. ISSN 0272-4634.
  2. ^ Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, North America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 574-588. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  3. ^ Lehman, T. M. and A. B. Coulson. 2002. A juvenile specimen of the sauropod dinosaur Alamosaurus sanjuanensis from the Upper Cretaceous of Big Bend National Park,Texas. Journal of Paleontology 76(1): 156-172.
  4. ^ Woodward, H. N. (2005). Bone histology of the sauropod dinosaur Alamosaurus sanjuanensis from the Javelina Formation, Big Bend National Park, Texas.
  5. ^ Hunt, ReBecca K., Vincent L. Santucci and Jason Kenworthy. 2006. "A preliminary inventory of fossil fish from National Park Service units." in S.G. Lucas, J.A. Spielmann, P.M. Hester, J.P. Kenworthy, and V.L. Santucci (ed.s), Fossils from Federal Lands. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 34, pp. 63-69.

Further reading edit

  • J. A. Fronimos and T. M. Lehman. 2014. New specimens of a titanosaur sauropod from the Maastrichtian of Big Bend National Park, Texas. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 34(4):883-899
  • T. M. Lehman and K. Barnes. 2010. Champsosaurus (Diapsida: Choristodera) from the Paleocene of West Texas: Paleoclimatic Implications. Journal of Paleontology 84(2):341-345
  • J. A. Schiebout. 1974. Vertebrate paleontology and paleoecology of Paleocene Black Peaks Formation, Big Bend National Park, Texas. Texas Memorial Museum Bulletin 24:1-88
  • J. A. Wilson. 1967. Early Tertiary mammals. In R. A. Maxwell, J. T. Lonsdale, R. T. Hazzard, & J. A. Wilson (eds.), Geology of Big Bend National Park, Brewster County, Texas. The University of Texas Publication 6711:157-169