Aquia Formation

Aquia Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Paleocene
~59.0–55.5 Ma
↓
Boulder of Aquia Formation along Chester River. Contains casts of large mollusks. (c. 1917)
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofPamunkey Group
Sub-unitsPaspotansa & Piscataway Members
UnderliesNanjemoy Formation
OverliesBrightseat Formation
Thicknessup to 100 feet (30 m)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
Location
LocationHopewell, Virginia
Coordinates38°18′N 77°18′W / 38.3°N 77.3°W / 38.3; -77.3
Approximate paleocoordinates39°00′N 58°54′W / 39.0°N 58.9°W / 39.0; -58.9
RegionMaryland, New Jersey, Virginia
Country United States
ExtentUpper Chesapeake Bay-James River
Type section
Named forAquia Creek
Thecachampsa crocodile coprolite from Aquia Formation, King George County, Virginia)

The Aquia Formation is a geologic sandstone formation that extends from the upper Chesapeake Bay to the James River near Hopewell, Virginia.[1] It consists of clayey, silty, very shelly, glauconitic sand.[1] Fossil records indicate that this stratigraphic unit was created during the Paleocene.[1]

The Aquia formation was named for Aquia Creek where it is exposed in cliff faces along the banks.[2]

  1. ^ a b c Geology of the National Capital Region - Field Trip Guidebook. Reston, Virginia: U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior. 2004. p. 270.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference phatfossils was invoked but never defined (see the help page).