Old Church Formation

The Old Church Formation is a geologic formation in Virginia and possibly Maryland. It preserves fossils dating back to the Oligocene epoch of the Neogene period. It rarely exposes on land and is under-studied. However, deposits from this period are rare and the Old Church Formation likely contains many scientifically significant taxa. Ward (1985) recommended placing this formation in the Chesapeake Group.[1]

Old Church Formation
Stratigraphic range: Oligocene
Xenorophid(?) Cetacean tooth from the Old Church formation of Virginia
TypeFormation
Unit ofTrent Supergroup
UnderliesCalvert Formation, Popes Creek Sand
OverliesPamunkey Group, Piney Point Formation
Location
RegionVirginia, Maryland
CountryUnited States

Species

Some of the species known from the Old Church Formation are included below. Further study will likely reveal a more diverse fauna.[2]

Chondrichthyians

Cetaceans

Chelonians

Invertebrates[1]

See also

References

  1. Ward, Lauck W. (1985). "Stratigraphy and characteristic mollusks of the Pamunkey Group (lower Tertiary) and the Old Church Formation of the Chesapeake Group; Virginia Coastal Plain". Professional Paper. doi:10.3133/pp1346. ISSN 2330-7102.
  2. Weems, Robert (2014). "Paleogene chelonians from Maryland and Virginia" (PDF). PaleoBios. 31 (1).


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