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Geological Formation

Wessex Formation

Fossil Lagerstatten and Fossil Sites

The Wessex Formation is a fossil-rich geological formation in southern England, dating from the Berriasian to Barremian stages of the Early Cretaceous. It forms part of the Wealden Group, underlying the younger Vectis Formation and overlying the Durlston Formation, and is composed mainly of mudstone with some interbedded sandstone, ironstone and conglomerate. It is best exposed on the Isle of Wight, where it has produced the richest and most diverse fauna known from the Early Cretaceous of Europe, and reaches as much as 1,000 meters thick near Swanage in Dorset.

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Source Wessex Formation (Wikipedia)

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Source Wessex Formation (Wikipedia)
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Wessex Formation (Wikipedia)
  • In Discipline: Stratigraphy, Lead paragraph
    The Wessex Formation is a fossil-rich English geological formation that dates from the Berriasian to Barremian stages of the Early Cretaceous
  • Caused By: Sedimentation, Lead section (caused-by Sedimentation)
    The dominant lithology of this unit is mudstone with some interbedded sandstones.
  • In Group: Mesozoic Fossil Sites, Lead sentence
    The Wessex Formation is a fossil-rich English geological formation that dates from the Berriasian to Barremian stages of the Early Cretaceous.
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