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Belgrade Formation

The Belgrade Formation is a limestone geologic formation in North Carolina characterized by limestone coquina mixed with sand, and thinly laminated clays. It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period.

Description

The Belgrade Formation is composed of two subunits: the Pollocksville member and the Haywood Landing member. The Pollocksville member is composed of unconsolidated oyster shells and sand. It was deposited in the Oligocene and early Miocene. The Haywood Landing member is composed of shelly sands and thinly laminated clays. The Belgrade Formation was originally considered part of an Eocene formation called the Trent Marl before it was identified as being deposited in the Miocene and split off.

Strontium isotope dating suggests that the marine invertebrates in the formation primarily originate from an older Late Oligocene-aged facies, while the vertebrates (including the land mammals and sharks) date to a younger, earliest Miocene-aged facies.

Fossil content

Mammals

A small but diverse land mammal fauna is known from the formation.

Rodents

Lagomorphs

Carnivorans

Perissodactyls

Artiodactyls

Cetaceans

Sirenians

Reptiles

Fish

Invertebrates

See also

References