Sobral Formation Explained

Sobral Formation
Type:	Geological formation
Age:	Danian ~
Period:	Danian
Prilithology:	Siltstone, mudstone
Otherlithology:	Concretion, sandstone
Region:	Seymour Island, James Ross Island group
Country:	Antarctica
Coordinates:	-64.3°N -56.7°W
Paleocoordinates:	-63.2°N -66.6°W
Underlies:	Cross Valley & La Meseta Formations
Overlies:	Lopez de Bertodano Formation
Unitof:	Marambio Group
Thickness:	250m (820feet)
Map:	Geologic map of Seymour Island, Antarctica.png

The Sobral Formation is a palaeontological formation located in Antarctica. It dates to the Danian stage of the Lower Paleocene period.^[1]

Spectacular fossils documenting marine and terrestrial ecosystems soon after the (non-avian) dinosaurs became extinct at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary are found in this formation.^[2] One of the most significant sites is on Seymour Island.

See also

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Antarctica
• List of fossil sites

Further reading

• Baldoni M. A., Barreda V. D. . 1986 . Estudio palinológico de las formaciones López de Bertodano y Sobral, Isla Vicecomodoro Marambio, Antártida . Boletín del IG-USP, Serie Científica . 17 . 17 . 89–98 . 10.11606/issn.2316-8986.v17i0p89-96 . free .
• Filkorn H. F. . 1994 . Fossil scleractinian corals from James Ross Basin, Antarctica . Antarctic Research Series . 65 . 1–96 .
• Poole I., Mennega A. M. W., Cantrill D. J. . 2003 . Valdivian ecosystems in the Late Cretaceous and Early Tertiary of Antarctica: further evidence from myrtaceous and eucryphiaceous fossil wood . Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology . 124 . 1–2 . 9–27 . 10.1016/s0034-6667(02)00244-0. 2003RPaPa.124....9P . 1874/31608 . 129281012 .

Notes and References

1. Bowman, V. . The Paleocene of Antarctica: Dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy and implications for the palaeo-Pacific margin of Gondwana . 2016 . Gondwana Research . 38 . 132–148 . 10.1016/j.gr.2015.10.018 . Ineson, J. . Riding, J. . Crame, J. . Francis, J. . Condon, D. . Whittle, R. . Ferraccioli, F.. 2016GondR..38..132B . free .
2. Crame, J.A. . The Early Origin of the Antarctic Marine Fauna and Its Evolutionary Implications . 2014 . PLOS ONE . 7 . 12 . e114743 . 10.1371/journal.pone.0114743 . Beu, A.G. . Ineson J.R. . Francis J.A. . Whittle R.J. . Bowman V.C.. 4262473 . 25493546. 2014PLoSO...9k4743C . free .