Santa Cruz Mudstone
Geologic formation in California, U.S.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Santa Cruz Mudstone is a geologic formation in California. The siliceous organic mudstones of the formation were deposited in deep water and fluvial environments. The formation overlies the Santa Margarita Sandstone and is overlain by the Purisima Formation. The Santa Cruz Mudstone was formerly considered part of the Monterey Formation. The formation preserves bivalve and echinoid fossils as well as vertebrates of Parabalaenoptera baulinensis and Otodus megalodon. The formation dates back to the Late Miocene (Tortonian to Messinian) period.[1][2][3]
TypeFormation
UnderliesPurisima Formation
OverliesSanta Margarita Sandstone
Thickness>2,700 m (8,900 ft)
| Santa Cruz Mudstone | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Tortonian-Messinian | |
| Type | Formation |
| Underlies | Purisima Formation |
| Overlies | Santa Margarita Sandstone |
| Thickness | >2,700 m (8,900 ft) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Siliceous organic mudstone |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 37.1°N 122.3°W |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 36.6°N 119.8°W |
| Region | California |
| Country | United States |
| Extent | Santa Cruz Mountains |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Santa Cruz County |
  Santa Cruz Mudstone (California) | |
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Santa Cruz Mudstone.