Snow Hill Island Formation

Snow Hill Island Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early Maastrichtian
71.2–70.8 Ma
Artist's reconstruction of the paleoenvironment of the Snow Hill Island Formation.
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofMarambio Group
Sub-unitsGamma & Herbert Sound Members
UnderliesLopez de Bertodano Formation
OverliesSanta Marta Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
OtherMudstone
Location
Coordinates63°54′S 57°54′W / 63.9°S 57.9°W / -63.9; -57.9
Approximate paleocoordinates61°48′S 68°30′W / 61.8°S 68.5°W / -61.8; -68.5
RegionJames Ross Island, James Ross Island group
CountryAntarctica

Geologic map of Seymour Island, Antarctica with Snow Hill Island Formation in dark green

The Snow Hill Island Formation is an Early Maastrichtian geologic formation found on James Ross Island, James Ross Island group, Antarctica.[1] Remains of a paravian theropod Imperobator antarcticus[2] have been recovered from it, as well as the elasmarian ornithopods Trinisaura santamartaensis, Biscoveosaurus and Morrosaurus antarcticus, the ankylosaurian Antarctopelta oliveroi, and the shark Notidanodon sp. Alongside these described genera are also the remains of indeterminate elasmosaurids,[3] lithostrotian titanosaurs and an indeterminate pterosaur.[4]

In the Herbert Sound Member of the Snow Hill Island Formation, bivalves, ammonites, and fish were found.[5]

  1. ^ di Pasquo, M.; Martin, J.E. (2013). "Palynoassemblages Associated with a Theropod Dinosaur from the Snow Hill Island Formation (lower Maastrichtian) at the Naze, James Ross Island, Antarctica". Cretaceous Research. 45: 135–154. Bibcode:2013CrRes..45..135D. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2013.07.008. hdl:11336/80121.
  2. ^ Ely & Case, 2019
  3. ^ O'Gorman, 2012, p.2
  4. ^ Reguero, Marcelo & Gasparini, Zulma & Olivero, Eduardo & Coria, Rodolfo & Fernandez, Marta & O'Gorman, José & Gouiric Cavalli, Soledad & Acosta Hospitaleche, Carolina & Bona, Paula & Iglesias, Ari & Gelfo, Javier N. & Raffi, María & Moly, Juan. (2022). Late Campanian-Early Maastrichtian Vertebrates From The James Ross Basin, West Antarctica: Updated Synthesis, Biostratigraphy, And Paleobiogeography. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências. 20211142. 10.1590/0001-3765202220211142.
  5. ^ O'Gorman, 2012, p.3