| Tar Heel/Coachman Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Early-Middle Campanian ~ | |
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | Black Creek Group |
| Underlies | Bladen Formation |
| Overlies | Middendorf Formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Siltstone, sandstone |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 34°36′N 78°30′W / 34.6°N 78.5°W |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 35°00′N 50°12′W / 35.0°N 50.2°W |
| Region |  North Carolina  South Carolina |
| Country |  United States |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Tar Heel, North Carolina |
The Tar Heel Formation, also known as the Coachman Formation in South Carolina, is a Late Cretaceous (early to middle Campanian-aged) geologic formation in North Carolina and South Carolina, USA. It preserves fossils, including amber dating back to the Cretaceous period. A locality known as Phoebus Landing, has been dated to 78.5-77.1 Ma, and the formation has been overall dated to the early Campanian based on fossil pollen.[1][2][3]
Likely deposited in a nearshore coastal environment representing a lower shoreface, it contains a high diversity of vertebrate remains. It has one of the most diverse dinosaur faunas known from the former landmass of Appalachia, the majority of which are known from two sites: Phoebus Landing along the Cape Fear River in Bladen County, North Carolina, as well as Stokes Quarry in Darlington County, South Carolina.[4][5][6]
Fossil pollen grains suggest a subtropical to warm, moist temperate climate for the region, with an ecosystem largely dominated by flowering plants.[3] The Tar Heel/Coachman Formation appears to be roughly concurrent with the Marshalltown Formation of New Jersey, which preserves a similar fauna.[4]
- ^ Longrich, Nicholas R. (2016). "A ceratopsian dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of eastern North America, and implications for dinosaur biogeography". Cretaceous Research. 57: 199–207. Bibcode:2016CrRes..57..199L. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2015.08.004.
- ^ "Geolex — TarHeel publications". ngmdb.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ a b Mitra, Madhumi (2002-07-29). Paleopalynology of the Tar Heel Formation of Atlantic Coastal Plain of North Carolina, United States (Thesis).
- ^ a b Brownstein, Chase D. (2018-02-08). "The biogeography and ecology of the Cretaceous non-avian dinosaurs of Appalachia". Palaeontologia Electronica. 21 (1): 1–56. doi:10.26879/801. ISSN 1094-8074.
- ^ "PBDB Collection". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2024-11-13.
- ^ Schwimmer, David R.; Sanders, Albert E.; Erickson, Bruce R.; Weems, Robert E. (2015). "A Late Cretaceous Dinosaur and Reptile Assemblage from South Carolina, Usa". Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 105 (2): i–157. ISSN 0065-9746.