Kokoamu Greensand
| Kokoamu Greensand | |
|---|---|
Ma | |
| Type | Canterbury, Otago |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Extent | Around Duntroon, South Island |
.png)  Kokoamu Greensand (New Zealand) | |
The Kokoamu Greensand is a
Canterbury region. The formation was named by geologist Maxwell Gage in the 1950s. In North Otago it underlies the thicker and harder Otekaike Limestone.[1] The formation gets its green colour from the mineral glauconite
which forms slowly on the ocean floor.
Fossil content
The formation was laid down in shallow seas some 26-30 million years ago. It contains abundant microfossils of
cetaceans. Many of the fossils discovered in the formation are held in the Geology Museum of the University of Otago.[1]
- Penguins
- Archaeospheniscus lopdelli, A. lowei[2][3]
- Duntroonornis parvus[3]
- Korora oliveri[6]
- Manu antiquus[3]
- Palaeeudyptes[3]
- Platydyptes amiesi, P. marplesi, P. novaezealandiae[6][3]
- Cetaceans
See also
- Geology of Canterbury, New Zealand
References
- ^ a b Fordyce, R. Ewan. "The Kokoamu Greensand – Late Oligocene, New Zealand". Geological Settings. Department of Geology, University of Otago. Retrieved 2012-02-29.
- ^ Maerewhenua at Fossilworks.org
- ^ a b c d e f g Duntroon at Fossilworks.org
- ^ J40/f190 - Waihao River at Fossilworks.org
- ^ Waipati Creek at Fossilworks.org
- ^ a b Hakataramea Valley at Fossilworks.org
- . Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Haughs Quarry at Fossilworks.org
- ^ J40/f70 - Waihao River at Fossilworks.org
- ^ The Earthquakes at Fossilworks.org
Further reading
- R. W. Boessenecker and R. E. Fordyce. 2016. A new eomysticetid from the Oligocene Kokoamu Greensand of New Zealand and a review of the Eomysticetidae (Mammalia, Cetacea). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology
- R. E. Fordyce. 2002. Oligocene origins of skim-feeding right whales: A small archaic balaenid from New Zealand. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 22(3):54A
- D. T. Ksepka, R. E. Fordyce, T. Ando and C. M. Jones. 2012. New fossil penguins (Aves, Sphenisciformes) from the Oligocene of New Zealand reveal the skeletal plan of stem penguins. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 32(2):235-254
- D. MacKinnon, S. S. Beus, and D.L. Lee. 1993. Brachiopod fauna of the Kokoamu Greensand (Oligocene), New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 36:327-347
- B. J. Marples. 1956. Cetotheres (Cetacea) from the Oligocene of New Zealand. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 126(4):565-580
- Y. Tanaka and R. E. Fordyce. 2016. Awamokoa tokarahi, a new basal dolphin in the Platanistoidea (late Oligocene, New Zealand). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology
- C. H. Tsai and R. E. Fordyce. 2016. Archaic baleen whale from the Kokoamu Greensand: earbones distinguish a new late Oligocene mysticete (Cetacea: Mysticeti) from New Zealand. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand