Lilstock Formation
| Lilstock Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Rhaetian ~ | |
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | Penarth Group |
| Sub-units | Cotham Member, Langport Member |
| Underlies | Blue Lias Formation, Scunthorpe Mudstone Redcar Mudstone Formation |
| Overlies | Westbury Formation |
| Thickness | 1–10 m (3.3–32.8 ft) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Shale, siltstone, limestone, mudstone |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | Lua error in Module:Coordinates at line 489: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | Lua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found. |
| Region | England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Lilstock |
Lilstock Formation (the United Kingdom) Lilstock Formation (England) | |
The Lilstock Formation is a geologic formation in England. It preserves bivalve, insect and other invertebrate fossils, as well as fossil fish of Agkistracanthus mitgelensis and the basal theropod dinosaur Newtonsaurus cambrensis dating back to the Rhaetian of the Triassic period.[1][2]
White Lias
[edit | edit source]The White lias is a rare, fine-grained form of limestone from the late Triassic period, occurring only in certain parts of Somerset and infrequently in Warwickshire.[3] It gets the name ‘lias’ from the quarrymen's dialect for ‘layers’, referring to its natural state when quarried.
White lias is part of the Langport Member of the Lilstock Formation,[4] a multi-layered bed of stone formed from shale and limestone. At its base is a bone-bed yielding ancient marine, reptilian and ammonite fossils.[3]
White lias varies in colour from white-cream to pale grey and is traditionally used for building and flooring.[3] Evidence of its use can be seen in manor houses, churches and cathedrals all over the UK. It is most prevalent in the Somerset towns of Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Langport and Wincanton.[3] Bowdens quarry in Langport is the only supplier of white lias, and of the more commonly found blue lias and grey varieties.
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Lilstock Formation at Fossilworks.org
- ^ Galton PM. Bones of large dinosaurs (Prosauropoda and Stegosauria) from the Rhaetic Bone Bed (Upper Triassic) of Aust Cliff, southwest England. Revue de Paléobiologie, Genève. 2005; 24:51–74.
- ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Further reading
[edit | edit source]- P. B. Brodie. 1845. A History of the Fossil Insects in the Secondary Rocks of England Accompanied by a Particular Account of the Strata in which they Occur, and of the Circumstances Connected with their Preservation 1-130
- C. J. Duffin. 1994. Myriacanthid holocephalans (Chondrichthyes) from the British Late Triassic. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Abhandlungen 192(1):1-16
Saunders_Quarry-1.jpg){kind=link}
- Geologic formations of England
- Triassic System of Europe
- Triassic England
- Rhaetian Stage
- Shale formations
- Siltstone formations
- Limestone formations of the United Kingdom
- Mudstone formations of the United Kingdom
- Paleontology in England
- Geology of Somerset
- United Kingdom geologic formation stubs
- Triassic stubs
- Somerset geography stubs