Sundays River Formation
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| Sundays River Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Valanginian-Hauterivian ~ | |
 Sandstone layer overlying siltstone/mudstone | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Unit of | Uitenhage Group |
| Underlies | Algoa Group |
| Overlies | Kirkwood Formation |
| Thickness | Up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Sandstone, claystone |
| Other | Siltstone, mudstone |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 33°36′S 25°36′E / 33.6°S 25.6°E |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 45°06′S 11°30′W / 45.1°S 11.5°W |
| Region | Eastern & Western Cape |
| Country | South Africa |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Sundays River |
 Map showing extent of the Sundays River Formation in the Algoa Basin | |
The Sundays River Formation is a geological formation found in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces in South Africa. It is the second youngest of the four formations found within the Uitenhage Group of the Algoa Basin, its type locality, and the only location where outcrops have been located. The Sundays River has been measured at a maximum thickness of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft).[1]
The Sundays River Formation overlies the Kirkwood Formation which it grades laterally into in certain areas, meaning that they correlate in age in some localities.[2][3] The sedimentary rock of the Sundays River comprises mainly fine to medium grained grey sandstones which often contain shell fragments, siltstones, and mudstones. The sandstone layers are frequently cemented with calcite layers. These were deposited in a shallow marine environment which likely included estuarine and lagoonal settings.[4][5]
