Mackunda Formation

Mackunda Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early Cretaceous (Albian) 113.2–100.5 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofRolling Downs Group
UnderliesWinton Formation
OverliesAllaru Formation
ThicknessBetween 91.5 m (300 ft) and 240 m (790 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, mudstone
OtherSiltstone
Location
Coordinates22°44′03″S 142°08′30″E / 22.73417°S 142.14167°E / -22.73417; 142.14167
Approximate paleocoordinates52°54′S 132°00′E / 52.9°S 132.0°E / -52.9; 132.0
RegionQueensland
CountryAustralia
ExtentEromanga Basin
Mackunda Formation is located in Australia
Mackunda Formation
Mackunda Formation (Australia)
Mackunda Formation is located in Queensland
Mackunda Formation
Mackunda Formation (Queensland)

The Mackunda Formation is a geological formation in Queensland, Australia whose strata date back to the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous. It is named after the Mackunda Creek, located in the Mackunda Sheet area. The type section is around the headwaters of Mackunda Creek, on the grounds of the Gnalta Station.

Geology and fossils

The beds which make up the Mackunda Formation consist of primarily thin-bedded, arenaceous sandstone; and blue-grey argillaceous mudstone sediments, which were deposited in marine and paralic environments. Exposures are more numerous than those of the Allaru Formation, but are rarely thicker than a few feet. The thickness of the Mackunda Formation ranges from 91.5 m (300 ft) in the south-west to 240 m (790 ft) in the northeast, estimated from water-bore logs.

Dinosaur remains, most notably those of Muttaburrasaurus langdoni, are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, as well as a pterosaur, ammonites, belemnites, bivalves and sharks.

Paleobiota

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon

Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text
crossed out taxa are discredited.

Vertebrates

Vertebrates of the Mackunda Formation
Genus Species Clade Image
Muttaburrasaurus M. langdoni Ornithopoda,

Elasmaria? incertae sedis
Skeleton of Muttaburrasaurus.
Ctenochasmatoidea indet. sp. indet. Archaeopterodactyloidea,

Ctenochasmatoidea incertae sedis

Iguanodontidae indet.

sp. indet.

Ornithopoda,

Iguanodontidae
Lamniformes indet. sp. indet. Lamniformes,

incertae sedis

Ammonites

Ammonites of the Mackunda Formation
Genus Species Clade Image
Labeceras L. sp. Ancyloceratina,

Labeceratidae
Reconstruction of various ammonites (Labeceras in upper left).
Myloceras M. sp. Ancyloceratina,

Labeceratidae

Bivalves

Bivalves of the Mackunda Formation
Genus Species Clade Image
Acesta A. sp. Limida,

Limidae
Aucellina A. sp. Pectinida,

Buchiidae
Cyrenopsis C. hudlestoni Cardiida,

Veneroidei incertae sedis
Inoceramus I. sp. Pteriida,

Inoceramidae
Fossil of the related Inoceramus cycloides.
Maccoyella M. rookwoodensis Pectinida,

Oxytomidae
Panopea P. sp. Adapedonta,

Hiatellidae
Pseudavicula P. papyracea Pectinida,

Oxytomidae
Tatella T. sp. Bivalvia incertae sedis
Solemyidae indet. sp. indet. Solemyida,

Solemyidae

Gastropods

Gastropods of the Mackunda Formation
Genus Species Clade Image
Anchura A. cf. wilkinsoni Littorinimorpha,

Aporrhaidae
Avellana A. spp. Uncertain
Cancellaria C. terraereginensis Neogastropoda,

Cancellariidae
Euspira E. cf. reflecta Littorinimorpha,

Naticidae

See also

References

  1. ↑ Ryan, T. T.; Eric, M. R.; Hu, Y.; Anthony, I. S. K.; Steven, W. S. (2013). Detrital zircon age constraints for the Winton Formation, Queensland: Contextualizing Australia's Late Cretaceous dinosaur faunas. Gondwana Research. 24(2), 767-779.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Vine, R.R.; Day, R.W., (1965). Nomenclature of the Rolling Downs Group, Northern Eromanga Basin, Queensland. Queensland Government Mining Journal. 66(767), 416-421.
  3. 1 2 Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Australasia)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 573-574. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  4. 1 2 Cook, Alex G. (2012-03-01). "Cretaceous faunas and events, northern Eromanga Basin, Queensland". Episodes Journal of International Geoscience. 35 (1). International Union of Geological Sciences: 153–159. doi:10.18814/epiiugs/2012/v35i1/014.
  5. 1 2 Kemp, Nocl R; Kemp, Nocl R. (1991). "CHONDRICHTHYANS IN THE CRETACEOUS AND TERTIARY OF AUSTRALIA". Vertebrate palaeontology of Australasia: 497––568.
  6. ↑ Fletcher, T. L.; Salisbury, S. W. (2010). "New pterosaur fossils from the Early Cretaceous (Albian) of Queensland, Australia". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 30 (6): 1747–1759. Bibcode:2010JVPal..30.1747F. doi:10.1080/02724634.2010.521929. S2CID 128479527.
  7. ↑ Bartholomai, A. (1966). "Fossil footprints in Queensland". Australian Natural History. 15 (5): 147–150.