Kope Formation
| Kope Formation | |
|---|---|
Plattin Formation, and Point Pleasant Formation | |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Shale |
| Other | Limestone |
| Location | |
| Region | Cincinnati Arch of North America |
| Extent | Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana |
The Kope Formation is one of the three component bedrock formations of the Maquoketa Group that primarily consists of shale (75%) with some limestone (25%) interbedded. In general, it has a bluish-gray color that weathers light gray to yellowish-gray and it occurs in northern Kentucky, southwest Ohio, and southeast Indiana, United States.
Description
Depositional environment
The
Jennette and Pryor (1993) interpret the Kope, along with the Bellevue and Fairview Formations, as a progradational succession on a carbonate ramp. The Kope is the most distal facies of the ramp complex.[2]
Notable outcrops
The type section of the Grand Avenue Member is a cliff to the west of Grand Avenue in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio.[3]
The type section of the Wesselman Tongue of the Kope Formation is an east-facing embankment on an unnamed creek that is followed by Wesselman Road in Miami Township, Hamilton County, Ohio. The embankment is 400 feet (120 m) south of Zion Hill bridge.[3]
Fossil content
The brachiopods Dalmanella sp., Hebertella sp., Leptaena sp., Petrocrania sp., Philhedra sp., Platystrophia sp., Pseudolingula sp., Rafinesquina sp., Sowerbyella sp., Strophomena sp., Trematis sp., and Zygospira sp. have been recorded from the Cincinnatian Series, which includes the Kope Formation.[4]
The trilobites such as Triarthrus eatoni, Cryptolithus tessellatus, and Proetidella parviusculus have been identified in the Kope, and the Ohio State Fossil, Isotelus maximus, can most likely be found in it.[5]
The bryozoans Ceramophylla sp., Eridotrypa mutabilis, Peronopera vera, Batostoma jamesi, Dekayia aspera, Heterotrypa ulrichi, Parvohallopora sp., and Amplexopora septosa have been found in the Kope.[6]
Among echinoderms, the crinoids Cincinnaticrinus varibrachialis, Ectenocrinus sp., and Iocrinus sp. are present in the Kope. Edrioasteroids and asteroids (starfish), generally rare, are common in overlying formations, and may be present in the Kope.[7]
A very large and unusual fossil, informally named "Godzillus", was discovered in the Kope Formation in 2011 by amateur paleontologist Ron Fine, of the Cincinnati Dry Dredgers.
Age
Relative age dating of the Kope places it in the Late Ordovician period.
References
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 2017-11-21.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Jennette, D.C., and Pryor, W.A., 1993, Cyclic alternation of proximal and distal storm facies; Kope and Fairview Formations (Upper Ordovician), Ohio and Kentucky: Journal of Sedimentary Petrology, v. 63, no. 2, p. 183-203.
- ^ a b Ford, J.P., 1967, Cincinnatian geology in southwest Hamilton County, Ohio: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 51, no. 6, p. 918-936.
- ^ Fossils of Ohio, p. 216-18
- ^ Fossils of Ohio, Fig. 8.1
- ^ Fossils of Ohio, Fig. 15.1, Fig. 15.2, Fig. 15.3
- ^ Fossils of Ohio, p. 245-246
- ^ Hand, Greg (2012-04-24). "Mysterious 'Monster' Discovered By Amateur Paleontologist". University of Cincinnati News. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ "Mystery Sea Beast of Cincinnati Found". Discovery News. April 25, 2012. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- ^ "Godzillus' fossil find stumps experts". stuff.co.nz. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2012.
- ^ Kaplan, Jeremy A. (May 2, 2012). "Mystery deepens surrounding sea beast of Cincinnati". Fox News. Retrieved 22 December 2012.
- S2CID 133052047.
Bibliography
- Fossils of Ohio, Bulletin 70, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological Survey, Edited by Rodney M. Feldmann and Merrianne Hackathorn, 577 p., 232 plates (some in color), drawings, maps, and tables, 1996.