Coordinates: 44°N 120°W / 44°N 120°W / 44; -120

John Day Formation

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John Day Formation
Stratigraphic range: Eocene-Early Miocene
File:Blue basin lower trail.jpg
Exposures of the Turtle Cove Member along a hiking trail in the Sheep Rock Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
TypeSedimentary (mostly from clasts of igneous origin), igneous
UnderliesColumbia River Basalt Group
OverliesClarno Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, tuff
OtherPyroclastic
Location
CoordinatesLua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
RegionCentral Oregon
CountryUnited States
Type section
Named forJohn Day River
John Day Formation (the United States)
File:NPS john-day-fossil-beds-geologic-map.jpg
John Day Fossil Beds map

The John Day Formation is a series of rock strata exposed in the Picture Gorge district of the John Day River basin and elsewhere in north-central Oregon in the United States. The Picture Gorge exposure lies east of the Blue Mountains uplift, which cuts southwest–northeast through the Horse Heaven mining district northeast of Madras. Aside from the Picture Gorge district, which defines the type section, the formation is visible on the surface in two other areas; another exposure is in the Warm Springs district west of the uplift, between it and the Cascade Range, and the third is along the south side of the Ochoco Mountains. All three exposures, consisting mainly of tuffaceous sediments and pyroclastic rocks rich in silica, lie unconformably between the older rocks of the Clarno Formation below and Columbia River basalts above.[1]

Stratigraphy

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The strata, which vary in age from 39 million years to 18 million years, were formed mainly from ashfalls from volcanoes due to a series of calderas now linked to the Yellowstone hotspot. Some of the major layers within the group exposed in the Picture Gorge district are the Big Basin Member and Bridge Creek Beds (35 to 32 million years), the Turtle Cove Member (30 to 28 million years), the Picture Gorge Ignimbrite (28.7 million years), the Kimberly Member (28 to 25 million years), and the Haystack Member (25 to 18 million years).[2][3]

Located in the general vicinity of what became the Cascade Range, the John Day volcanoes emitted large volumes of ash and dust, much of which settled in the John Day basin. The rapid deposition of the ash preserved the remains of plants and animals living in the region. Some of the solidified ash and the fossils they contain are found in the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. Because ash and other debris fell during varied climatic and volcanic conditions and accumulated from many eruptions extending into the early Miocene (about 20 million years ago), the sediment layers in the fossil beds vary in their substance, chemical composition and color.[4] The lowermost layer contains red ash, such as that exposed in the Painted Hills Unit of the national monument.[5] The layer above it is mainly pea-green clay. On top of the pea-green layer are buff-colored layers.[4]

Paleontology

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Fossils found in the John Day Formation include a wide variety of plants and more than 100 species of mammals, including dogs, cats, oreodonts, horses, camels, and rodents.[6] Among the notable plant fossils are Metasequoia (Dawn Redwood), a genus thought to have gone extinct worldwide until it was discovered alive in China in the early twentieth century.[7]

Among the paleobiota found in the formation is the Daeodon, whose type species, Daeodon shoshonensis, has been found in the formation.[8]

File:East face painted hills panorama.jpg
Panorama of some of the John Day Formation strata exposed in the Painted Hills Unit of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument
Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Mammals

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Apatotheres

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Apatotheres reported from the John Day Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Sinclairella S. dakotensis Blue Basin, Grant County, Oregon.[9] Turtle Cove Member.[9] Lower right incisor (JODA 15846) & upper right second molar (JODA 15850).[9] An apatemyid.

Carnivorans

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Canids
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Canids reported from the John Day Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Archaeocyon A. pavidus Picture Gorge 30, Blue Basin level 1.[10] Turtle Cove Member.[10] Maxillary & mandible fragments (UCMP 76652).[10] A borophagine dog.
File:Archaeocyon head restoration.jpg
Cormocyon C. copei Wheeler & Grant counties, Oregon.[10] Turtle Cove Member.[10] Numerous specimens.[10] A borophagine dog also known from the Troublesome Formation.
File:Turtle Cove mural - Cormocyon copei.jpg
Cynarctoides C. lemur Wheeler & Grant counties, Oregon.[10] Turtle Cove Member.[10] Skull & jaw elements.[10] A borophagine dog also known from the Brule, Sharps & Browns Park formations.
File:Cynarctoides.jpeg
Daphoenodon D. robustum Grant County, Oregon.[11] Rose Creek Member.[11] Teeth & astragalus.[11] A bear-dog also found in the Runningwater & Zia Sand formations.
Desmocyon D. thomsoni Probably from the Haystack Valley Member.[10] Isolated right molars (AMNH 7238).[10] A borophagine dog also known from the Harrison Beds, Runningwater Formation & Zia Formation.
Enhydrocyon E. basilatus Grant & Wheeler counties.[12] ?Kimberly Member.[12] Skull and jaws.[12] A hesperocyonine dog also known from the Harrison Formation.
E. sectorius Central Oregon, no detailed locality given.[12] Fragment of right maxillary (AMNH 6905).[12] A hesperocyonine dog.
E. stenocephalus Grant County, Oregon.[12] Turtle Cove Member.[12] 4 skulls.[12] A hesperocyonine dog.
File:Enhydrocyon stenocephalus.jpg
Leptocyon L. douglassi Between the Picture Gorge Ignimbrite & Deep Creek Tuff.[13] Turtle Cove Member.[13] Anterior part of skull (UCMP 79365).[13] A canine dog also known from the Toston & Sharps formations.
L. mollis Turtle Cove, John Day River, Grant County, Oregon.[13] Turtle Cove Member.[13] Skull (UCMP 90).[13] A canine dog.
L. vulpinus Wheeler County, Oregon.[13] Haystack Valley Member.[13] Fragment of right ramus.[13] A canine dog also known from the Harrison & Runningwater formations.
Mesocyon M. brachyops May be from the Turtle Cove Member.[12] Skull elements & pelvis.[12] A hesperocyonine dog.
File:Mesocyon (white background).png
M. coryphaeus Turtle Cove Member.[12] Numerous specimens.[12] A hesperocyonine dog.
File:Mesocyon coryphaeus skull.jpg
Paradaphoenus P. cuspigerus Skull elements.[14] A bear-dog.
Paraenhydrocyon P. josephi Grant County, Oregon.[12] Turtle Cove Member.[12] Skull elements.[12] A hesperocyonine dog.
File:Paraenhydrocyon josephi.jpg
P. wallovianus "John Day Badlands, Oregon".[12] May be from the Turtle Cove Member.[12] Crushed rostral part of skull (AMNH 6858).[12] A hesperocyonine dog also known from the Marsland & Harrison formations.
Philotrox P. condoni Turtle Cove & Morgan Locality, Oregon.[12] Turtle Cove Member.[12] Skulls & vertebrae.[12] A hesperocyonine dog also known from the Sharps Formation.
File:Philotrox condoni.jpeg
Phlaocyon P. latidens Grant & Wheeler counties, Oregon.[10] Turtle Cove Member.[10] Jaw elements.[10] A borophagine dog.
Rhizocyon R. oregonensis Wheeler & Grant counties, Oregon.[10] Turtle Cove Member.[10] Skulls & jaw elements.[10] A borophagine dog.
Feliformia
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Feliforms reported from the John Day Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Dinaelurus D. crassus Turtle Cove Member.[15] A mostly complete cranium.[15] A nimravid.
File:Dinaelurus crassus.jpg
Dinictis D. felina Turtle Cove Member.[15] A nimravid.
File:ExtmDinictis1921-029-11.jpg
Hoplophoneus H. cerebralis Turtle Cove Member.[15] A nimravid.
File:Skull of a rare Eusmilus cerebralis often called a toy sabertooth at the John Day Fossil Beds Visitors Center.jpg
H. strigidens Exact stratigraphic level unknown.[15] AMNH 6942, medial fragment of an upper canine.[15] A nimravid.
Machaerodus M. cerebralis Turtle Cove Member.[15] A mostly complete cranium.[15] Reassigned to Hoplophoneus.
Nimravus N. brachyops Turtle Cove & Kimberly members.[15] A nimravid.
File:Nimravus gomphodus.jpg
Palaeogale P. dorothiae Kimberly Member.[16] A left and a right dentary from separate individuals.[16] A palaeogalid.
P. sp. Turtle Cove Member.[16] A largely complete cranium.[16] A palaeogalid & the oldest known occurrence of the genus in the Pacific Northwest.[16]
Pogonodon P. davisi Turtle Cove & Kimberly members.[15] Skull elements.[15] A nimravid also known from the White River, Brule & Sharps formations.
P. platycopsis Turtle Cove Member.[15] Skull elements.[15] A nimravid also found in the White River Group & Brule Formation.
File:Pogonodon NT.jpg
Mustelids
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Mustelids reported from the John Day Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Corumictis C. wolsani Grant County, Oregon.[17] Turtle Cove & Kimberly members.[17] A nearly complete skull (JODA 8167) & a right dentary (JODA 396).[17] A small mustelid.

Eulipotyphlans

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Eulipotyphlans reported from the John Day Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Micropternodus M. morgani Courtrock quadrangle, Grant County, Oregon.[18] Middle beds.[18] Rostrum (UCMP 60801).[18] A soricomorph.

Metatherians

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Metatherians reported from the John Day Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Herpetotherium H. merriami Logan Butte, Crook County, Oregon.[19] Partial skull with teeth & mandible (UCMP 24240).[19] A herpetotheriid.
File:Herpetotherium.jpg

Rodents

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Rodents reported from the John Day Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes[20] Images
Allotypomys A. pictus Grant & Wheeler counties.[20] Turtle Cove & possibly Kimberly members.[20] Jaw elements & teeth.[20] An eutypomyid.
Apeomys A. whistleri Campbell Ranch, Gilliam County, Oregon.[20] Kimberly Member.[20] Jaw elements & teeth.[20] An eomyid.
Bursagnathus B. aterosseus Grant County, Oregon.[20] Johnson Canyon & Rose Creek members.[20] 2 nearly-complete skulls.[20] A perognathine.
Leptodontomys L. sp. Campbell Ranch, Gilliam County, Oregon.[20] Kimberly Member.[20] Partial right dentary (JODA 12699).[20] An eomyid.
Microtheriomys M. brevirhinus Grant County, Oregon.[20] Turtle Cove Member.[20] Skull elements.[20] A castorid.
Miosciurus M. ballovianus Grant, Wheeler & Gilliam counties, Oregon.[20] Turtle Cove, Kimberly & Haystack Valley members.[20] Jaw elements & crushed skulls.[20] A squirrel.
M. covensis Crook & Grant counties, Oregon.[20] Turtle Cove Member.[20] Jaw elements.[20] A squirrel.
M. sp. Hayes Haven, Grant County, Oregon.[20] Turtle Cove Member.[20] Right partial dentary & associated postcranial fragments (JODA 4447).[20] A squirrel.
Mookomys M. sp. Wheeler County, Oregon.[20] Haystack Valley Member.[20] Partial maxilla & left distal femur (JODA 7900).[20] A heteromyid.
Neoadjidaumo N. arctozophus Crook & Grant counties, Oregon.[20] Turtle Cove Member.[20] Left dentary (JODA 16005) & right dentary (JODA 3615).[20] An eomyid.
Palaeocastor P. fossor Grant & Wheeler counties.[20] Kimberly, Haystack Valley & possibly Johnson Canyon members.[20] Skull elements.[20] A castorid.
Petauristodon P. sp. Campbell Ranch, Gilliam County, Oregon.[20] Kimberly Member.[20] Left molar (JODA 12597).[20] A flying squirrel.
Plesiosminthus P. fremdi Campbell Ranch, Gilliam County, Oregon.[20] Kimberly Member.[20] Jaw elements.[20] A sicistine.
Proapeomys P. condoni Grant & Crook counties, Oregon.[20] Turtle Cove Member.[20] Dentary & teeth.[20] An eomyid.
?P. lulli Hayes Haven, Grant County, Oregon.[20] Turtle Cove Member.[20] Partial dentary (YPM 10573) & dentary fragment (JODA 16002).[20] An eomyid originally reported as Florentiamys lulli & Jimomys lulli.
Proheteromys P. latidens Gilliam County, Oregon.[20] Kimberly Member.[20] Multiple specimens.[20] A heteromyid.
P. thorpei Grant & Gilliam counties, Oregon [20] Turtle Cove & Kimberly members.[20] Partial dentaries & teeth.[20] A heteromyid.
Protosciurus P. mengi Grant, Gilliam & Wheeler counties, Oregon.[20] Turtle Cove, Kimberly & Haystack Valley members.[20] Multiple specimens.[20] A squirrel.
P. rachelae Grant, Gilliam & Wheeler counties, Oregon.[20] Turtle Cove & Kimberly members.[20] A nearly complete skull (UCMP 86367) & several teeth.[20] A squirrel.
Tenudomys T. sp. Grant County, Oregon.[20] Haystack Valley Member.[20] Left dentary (JODA 3548).[20] A geomyoid.
Trogomys T. oregonensis Hayes Haven, Grant County, Oregon.[20] Turtle Cove Member.[20] Left dentary (JODA 4534).[20] A heteromyid.

Ungulates

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Artiodactyls
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Artiodactyls reported from the John Day Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Daeodon D. shoshonensis Bridge Creek, Wasco County, Oregon.[21] Symphyseal fragment (AMNH 7387).[21] An entelodont.
File:Daeodon shoshonensis .png
Desmatochoerus D. curvidens North Fork John Day River.[22] ?Middle John Day deposits.[22] Partial skull & mandible (YPM 10997).[22] An oreodont.
D. leidyi John Day Valley.[22] Upper John Day.[22] Multiple specimens.[22] An oreodont.
Gentilicamelus G. sternbergi "The Cove" and possibly other localities.[23] Upper John Day Beds & possibly other parts of the Turtle Cove & Kimberly members.[23] Multiple specimens.[23] A camelid.
Fremdohyus F. osmonti "About 6 miles north of Clarno's Ferry, Gilliam County, Oregon".[24][25] "Diceratherium beds, Middle John Day".[24] A nearly complete skull & mandible (UCMP 393).[24][25] A peccary.
Marshochoerus M. socialis Level unknown but presumed to be late Arikareean.[24] Associated molars.[24] A peccary.
Oreodontoides O. (Paroreodon) marshi Middle John Day.[26] 10 specimens.[26] An oreodont.
O. oregonensis ?Middle John Day.[26] 14 specimens.[26] An oreodont.
O. (Paroreodon) stocki 10 specimens.[26] An oreodont.
Pseudodesmatochoerus P. wascoënsis Wasco County, Oregon.[22] Middle or upper John Day.[22] Partial skulls.[22] An oreodont.
Superdesmatochoerus S. lulli Turtle Cove, John Day Valley.[22] Upper John Day.[22] Multiple specimens.[22] An oreodont.
S. microcephalus Middle John Day.[22] 6 specimens.[22] An oreodont.
Thinohyus T. lentus Unknown level.[24] Broken juvenile skull (YPM 11783).[24] A peccary.
T. rostratus Unknown level.[24] A complete skull (AMNH 7395).[24] A peccary.
Perissodactyls
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Perissodactyls reported from the John Day Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Diceratherium D. annectens Numerous specimens.[27][28] A rhinoceros.
D. armatum Numerous specimens.[27][28] A rhinoceros.
D. niobrarense Numerous specimens.[27][28] Specimens reassigned to D. armatum & D. annectens.[28]
Moropus M. oregonensis Rose Creek Member.[29] Teeth & foot bones.[29] A chalicothere.
M. sp. Rose Creek Member.[30] A juvenile maxilla.[30] A chalicothere.

Reptiles

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Squamates

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Squamates reported from the John Day Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Dyticonastis D. rensbergeri North-central Oregon.[31][32] Uppermost Turtle Cove Member.[32] UCMP 76878-76883.[31] A worm lizard.

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to John Day Formation.

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Bibliography

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  • Orr, Elizabeth L., and Orr, William N. (1999). Geology of Oregon, 5th ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
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