Eumeralla Formation

The Eumeralla Formation is a geological formation in Victoria, Australia whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous. It is Aptian to Albian in age. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, particularly from the Dinosaur Cove locality.

Geology

The Eumeralla Formation was deposited within the Otway Basin, which at the time of deposition was part of an extensional rift valley system formed between Australia and Antarctica. The lithology primarily consists of fluvially deposited siliciclastics derived from volcanic material. The strata of the Eumeralla Formation are folded as a result of northwest–southeast crustal compression during the Neogene, which also reactivated some Cretaceous aged normal faults. It is one of three major fossiliferous deposits in Victoria dating to the Early Cretaceous, including the older Wonthaggi Formation and the Koonwarra fossil bed (which some authors have considered part of the Eumeralla Formation).

Paleoclimate

Paleosol facies in the Eumeralla Formation record climate fluctuations between warm and cool intervals. Warm, temperate periods are represented by Ultisols while cooler intervals at the Cape Paton locality record associated thin, gleyed Inceptisols and Entisols, which are characteristic of modern boreal forests.

Paleobiota

Invertebrate traces named as Skolithos sp. and Arenicolites sp., as well as indeterminate ornithischian tracks are present in Victoria, Australia. Indeterminate ornithopod remains are present at Eric the Red West locality and Elliot River, including material that possibly belongs to a new taxon. Indeterminate theropod and possible indeterminate dromaeosaurid remains are present in Victoria, Australia. An indeterminate unenlagiine is known from the formation.

Dinosaurs

Ornithischians

Theropods

Fish

Mammals

Reptiles

See also

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
• South Polar region of the Cretaceous