Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation
Stratigraphic range: Barremian-early Aptian
~126–124 Ma
↓
TypeGeological formation
UnderliesAlbian aged "Meules"
OverliesBreccia, Pennsylvanian basement
ThicknessVariable, 50 m (160 ft) at Bernissart
Lithology
PrimaryClay
OtherLignite
Location
Coordinates50°30′N 3°36′E / 50.5°N 3.6°E / 50.5; 3.6
Approximate paleocoordinates40°42′N 13°42′E / 40.7°N 13.7°E / 40.7; 13.7
Country Belgium
ExtentLocalised within the northern margins of the Mons Basin
Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation is located in Belgium
Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation
Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation (Belgium)

The Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation is a geological formation in Belgium. It is found in localised areas of the northern margin of the Mons Basin, alongside the equivalently aged Hautrage and Baudour Clay Formations.[1] It is Upper Barremian-Lower Aptian in age.[2] It predominantly consists of laminated clay, with some lignite.[3] It is well known for the "Iguanodon sinkhole" locality near Bernissart where many specimens of Iguanodon bernissartensis were described by Louis Dollo in the late 19th century.

Geologic context

The Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation are part of the stratigraphy of the Mons Basin, a Cretaceous-Cenozoic sedimentary basin in western Belgium. The subsidence of the basin floor is caused by the dissolution of anhydrite in the Carboniferous basement. Wealden facies are the oldest units within the basin, and are only found on the northern margin of the basin, being absent from the central and southern parts of the basin. Localised areas of significant subsidence, referred to as "sinkholes" are observed. The Wealden facies are overlain by "mixed siliciclastic–carbonate formations" called Meules dating to the Albian.[1]

Fossil content

Tetrapods

Tetrapods of the Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Anteophthalmosuchus A. epikrator[4] Bernissart "Two ... fully articulated skeletons, one missing the skull and mandible."[5] Goniopholidid crocodyliform
Bernissartia B. fagesii IRSNB R46, mostly complete skeleton Bernissartiid crocodyliform
Chitracephalus C. dumonii Carapace with preserved limbs Cryptodiran turtle[6]
Iguanodon I. bernissartensis Multiple skeletons Iguanodontian dinosaur
Mantellisaurus M. atherfieldensis IRSNB 1551, single mostly complete skeleton Iguanodontian dinosaur, formerly considered holotype of "Dollodon bampingi"[7]
Hylaeobatrachus H. croyii Slab and counterslab of a complete skeleton Salamander
Peltochelys P. duchastelii Shell fragments Paracryptodire, probable close relative of Compsemys[8]
Theropoda Indeterminate Phalanx

Fish

Fish of the Sainte-Barbe Clays Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Aethalionopsis A. robustus Bernissart Formerly referred to Anaethalion
Amiopsis A. dolloi
Barbalepis B. macroptera Coccolepid fish, formerly referred to Coccolepis[9]
Pleuropholis P. germinalis Pleuropholid fish[10]
Callopterus C. insignis Genus is later considered as nomen nudum and Ainia is used for Jurassic species, but validity of this species is not discussed[11]
Pattersonella P. formosa Formerly referred to Leptolepis
Scheenstia S. bernissartensis Multiple specimens Previously referred to Lepidotes, L. brevifulcratus is a junior synonym.[12]
Turbomesodon T. bernissartensis Multiple specimens Previously referred to Mesodon and Macromesodon.[13]
Other fish


Insects

The Tettigarctid cicada Hylaeoneura lignei is known from the formation.[19]

Parasites

Flora

Ichnofossils

References

  1. ^ a b Godefroit, Pascal (2012). "A Short Introduction to the Geology of the Mons Basin and the Iguanodon Sinkhole, Belgium". Bernissart dinosaurs and early Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems. Indiana University Press. pp. 35–42. ISBN 978-0-253-35721-2. OCLC 721905743.
  2. ^ Dejax, J.; Pons, D.; Yans, J. (April 2007). "Palynology of the dinosaur-bearing Wealden facies in the natural pit of Bernissart (Belgium)". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 144 (1–2): 25–38. Bibcode:2007RPaPa.144...25D. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2005.10.004.
  3. ^ Schnyder, Johann; Dejax, Jean; Keppens, Edward; Nguyen Tu, Thanh Thuy; Spagna, Paul; Boulila, Slah; Galbrun, Bruno; Riboulleau, Armelle; Tshibangu, Jean-Pierre; Yans, Johan (October 2009). "An Early Cretaceous lacustrine record: Organic matter and organic carbon isotopes at Bernissart (Mons Basin, Belgium)". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 281 (1–2): 79–91. Bibcode:2009PPP...281...79S. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.07.014.
  4. ^ Ristevski, Jorgo; Young, Mark T.; de Andrade, Marco Brandalise; Hastings, Alexander K. (April 2018). "A new species of Anteophthalmosuchus (Crocodylomorpha, Goniopholididae) from the Lower Cretaceous of the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, and a review of the genus". Cretaceous Research. 84: 340–383. Bibcode:2018CrRes..84..340R. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2017.11.008.
  5. ^ Martin, Jeremy E.; Delfino, Massimo; Smith, Thierry (2016-11-01). "Osteology and affinities of Dollo's goniopholidid (Mesoeucrocodylia) from the Early Cretaceous of Bernissart, Belgium". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 36 (6): e1222534. Bibcode:2016JVPal..36E2534M. doi:10.1080/02724634.2016.1222534. hdl:2318/1635521. ISSN 0272-4634. S2CID 89199731.
  6. ^ Pérez-García, Adán (September 2012). "The European Early Cretaceous Cryptodiran Turtle Chitracephalus dumonii and the Diversity of a Poorly Known Lineage of Turtles". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 57 (3): 575–588. doi:10.4202/app.2011.0065. ISSN 0567-7920.
  7. ^ McDonald, Andrew T. (February 2012). "The status of Dollodon and other basal iguanodonts (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Lower Cretaceous of Europe". Cretaceous Research. 33 (1): 1–6. Bibcode:2012CrRes..33....1M. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2011.03.002.
  8. ^ Joyce, Walter G.; Rollot, Yann (2020-05-14). "An alternative interpretation of Peltochelys duchastelii as a paracryptodire". Fossil Record. 23 (1): 83–93. doi:10.5194/fr-23-83-2020. ISSN 2193-0074.
  9. ^ Olive, Sébastien; Taverne, Louis; López-Arbarello, Adriana (March 2019). "A new genus of coccolepidid actinopterygian from the Cretaceous Iguanodon-bearing locality of Bernissart, Belgium". Cretaceous Research. 95: 318–335. Bibcode:2019CrRes..95..318O. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2018.11.020. S2CID 134207366.
  10. ^ Olive, Sébastien; Taverne, Louis; Brito, Paulo M. (2022-04-28). "Pleuropholis germinalis n. sp., a new Pleuropholidae (Neopterygii, Teleostei) from the Early Cretaceous of Bernissart, Belgium". Geodiversitas. 44 (17). doi:10.5252/geodiversitas2022v44a17. ISSN 1280-9659. S2CID 248516226.
  11. ^ Rauhut, O. W. M.; López-Arbarello, A.; Röper, M.; Rothgaenger, M. (2017). "Vertebrate fossils from the Kimmeridgian of Brunn: the oldest fauna from the Solnhofen Archipelago (Late Jurassic, Bavaria, Germany)" (PDF). Zitteliana. 89: 305–329.
  12. ^ Cavin, Lionel; Deesri, Uthumporn; Olive, Sébastien (2020-03-18). "Scheenstia bernissartensis (Actinopterygii: Ginglymodi) from the Early Cretaceous of Bernissart, Belgium, with an appraisal of ginglymodian evolutionary history". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 18 (6): 513–527. doi:10.1080/14772019.2019.1634649. ISSN 1477-2019. S2CID 199631685.
  13. ^ Poyato-Ariza, F. J.; Wenz., S. (2004). "The new pycnodontid fish genus Turbomesodon, and a revision of Macromesodon based on new material from the Lower Cretaceous of Las Hoyas, Cuenca, Spain". Mesozoic Fishes 3—Systematics, Paleoenvironments and Biodiversity.: 341–378.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Quinet, 1969
  15. ^ Schrøder, Ane Elise; Carnevale, Giorgio (2023-02-01). "The argentiniform Surlykus longigracilis gen. et sp. nov., the most abundant fish from the Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark". Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark. 72: 1–18. doi:10.37570/bgsd-2023-72-01. ISSN 2245-7070.
  16. ^ a b c d e f Dupont, 1892
  17. ^ a b c d e f du Pauw, 1902
  18. ^ Taverne, L. (1999). "Ostéologie et position systématique d'Arratiaelops vectensis gen. nov., téléostéen élopiforme du Wealdien (Crétacé inférieur) d'Angleterre et de Belgique" (PDF). Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique (in French). 69: 77–96.
  19. ^ Lameere & Severin, 1897
  20. ^ a b c d Poinar & Boucot, 2006
  21. ^ Yans et al., 2006
  22. ^ a b Woodward, 1885

Bibliography

Further reading

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