Peedee Formation

Peedee Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early to Late Maastrichtian, 71.0–66.9 Ma
Cucullaea, a fossil bivalve from the Peedee Formation (South Carolina)
TypeFormation
Sub-unitsRocky Point Member, Island Creek Member
UnderliesCastle Hayne Limestone
OverliesBlack Creek Group
ThicknessUp to 886 ft (270 m)
Lithology
PrimaryGlauconitic to argillic sandstone
OtherClaystone, limestone
Location
Region North Carolina
 South Carolina
Country United States
Type section
Named forPee Dee River, type locality: Burches Ferry, South Carolina[1]

The Peedee Formation is a geologic formation in North and South Carolina. A marine deposit, named for exposures along the Great Peedee River, it preserves invertebrate (primarily belemnites, echinoderms and foraminifera) and vertebrate (primarily shark teeth, with some marine reptile remains) fossils dating to the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian).[1]

The formation is notable for its occurrence of Belemnitella americana, known as the Pee Dee Belemnite (PDB), a long-standing standard in stable carbon isotope research. A single pterosaur femur, possibly an Azhdarchid, from the Peedee formation is one of the few pterosaur body fossils found in Eastern North America.[2]

The stratigraphy of the formation spans from the early Maastrichtian (in South Carolina)[3] to the late Maastrichtian shortly before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. The formation is divided into several members, including the early-mid Maastrichtian Rocky Point Member and the late Maastrichtian Island Creek Member.[4] Based on its fauna, it appears to be roughly concurrent with the Navesink Formation from New Jersey.[2]

  1. ^ a b USGS Peedee Formation South Carolina and USGS Peedee Formation North Carolina
  2. ^ a b Parris, David, C.; Smith Grandstaff, Barbara; Clements, Donald (August 2004). "A Pterosaur Femur from the Upper Cretaceous of North Carolina". Southeastern Geology. 43 (1): 51–55.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Case, Gerard R.; Cook, Todd D.; Saford, Eric M.; Shannon, Kevin R. (2016). "A late Maastrichtian selachian assemblage from the Peedee Formation of North Carolina, USA". Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology. 3. doi:10.18435/B5T88N. ISSN 2292-1389.