Earth:Goliad Formation

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Goliad Formation
Stratigraphic range: Clarendonian-Blancan
~13.6–5.2 Ma
TypeFormation
Sub-unitsLapara, Lagarto Creek & Labahia Members
UnderliesPleistocene terrace deposits
OverliesFleming Formation
Thickness60–425 m (197–1,394 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, claystone
OtherMarl, caliche, limestone, conglomerate
Location
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 28°36′N 97°42′W / 28.6°N 97.7°W / 28.6; -97.7
Paleocoordinates [ ⚑ ] 29°00′N 95°18′W / 29.0°N 95.3°W / 29.0; -95.3
RegionBee, Goliad, Hidalgo & Live Oak counties, Texas
Country United States
ExtentTexas coastal plain
Type section
Named forGoliad County
Named byPlummer
Year defined1932
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The Goliad Formation (Tg)[1] is a geologic formation in Texas . It preserves fossils dating back to the Serravallian to earliest Pliocene stages (Clarendonian, Hemphillian and earliest Blancan in the NALMA classification) of the Neogene period,[2] including the gomphothere Blancotherium among many other fossil mammals, reptiles, birds and fish.

The formation hosts uranium deposits and forms the Evangeline aquifer underneath the city of Houston.

Description

The Goliad Formation was described by Plummer in 1933,[3] as consisting of three members; the Lapara Sand, overlain by the Lagarto Creek Beds, in turn overlain by the Labahia Beds with outcrop thicknesses ranging from 35 to 200 feet (11 to 61 m).[4] The Goliad Formation comprises claystone, sand, sandstone, marl, caliche, limestone, and conglomerates and reaches in certain areas a thickness of 180 metres (590 ft).[5] The formation overlies the Fleming Formation and dates from the Clarendonian to the earliest Blancan.[6] In the southwest of its range, the formation overlies the Catahoula and Gueydan Formations.[7] The Goliad Formation is recognized regionally across the Texas coastal plain as an interval of dominantly fluvial siliciclastic strata that overlies the Miocene Fleming Formation and underlies Pleistocene terrace deposits. The formation is now interpreted as a basinward-thickening progradational wedge of Middle and Late Miocene age. Stratigraphic thicknesses in outcrop range from 60 to 120 metres (200 to 390 ft), but offshore the interval thickens to as much as 365 to 425 metres (1,198 to 1,394 ft).[4]

Together with the Catahoula, Fleming and Oakville Formation, the Goliad Formation is part of the Gulf Coast aquifer, an extensive artesian aquifer that produces water primarily for irrigation and municipalities.[8] The Evangeline aquifer is hosted by the Goliad Formation underlying the city of Houston.[9] The formation hosts uranium deposits in the South Texas Uranium Province and is mined for caliche in Hidalgo County, Texas.[5]

Fossil content

Tertiary mammal fossils from South Texas were first reported by Dumble (1894) as coming from the Lapara division, later the Lapara Beds (Dumble, 1903).[10]

The following fossils have been reported from the formation:[2]

Group Taxa Notes Images
Mammals Aelurodon taxoides [4]
Aelurodon taxoides.JPG
Blancotherium buckneri [4]
Calippus martini
Calippus placidus
Calippus regulus
Ceratogaulus rhinocerus [4][11]
Ceratogaulus rhinocerus.jpg
Cormohipparion ingenuum [12]
Cormohipparion occidentale.jpg
Cranioceras teres [4]
Cranioceras unicornis life restoration.jpg
Dinohippus subvenus
Dinohippus 32.JPG
Hipparion tehonense [4]
Hipparion sp 87348.jpg
Hypohippus affine
Hypohippus skeleton.jpg
Hypohippus affinis
Ischyrocyon gidleyi [4]
Leptocyon vafer
Leptocyon head restoration.jpg
Megatylopus primaevus
Titanotylopus.JPG
Neohipparion affine
Neohipparion affine (Robert Bruce Horsfall).jpg
Nothotylopus camptognathus
Pliohippus pernix [4]
Pliohippus Pernix.jpg
Procamelus grandis
NMNH-USNM244271 2.jpg
Procamelus occidentalis [4]
Prosthennops xiphidonticus [4]
Protohippus supremus [13]
The Horse - its treatment in health and disease, with a complete guide to breeding, training and management (1905) (14591795580).jpg
Protolabis coartatus
Pseudhipparion curtivallum
Pseudoceras skinneri [4][14]
Ramoceros ramosus [4]
Merycodus osborni.jpg
Synthetoceras tricornatus [4]
Synthetoceras tricoronatus.jpg
Teleoceras major [15]
Teleoceras.jpg
Ustatochoerus medius novomexicanus
Protolabis cf. yavapaiensis [4]
Ustatochoerus cf. medius [4]
Aepycamelus sp.
Amphicyon sp.
Aphelops sp.
Bison sp.
Blastomeryx sp.
Calippus sp.
Glyptodon sp.
Hypohippus sp.
Hippotherium sp. [13]
Hypolagus sp.
Megatylopus sp.
Merychippus sp.
Merychyus sp.
Merycodus sp.
Nannippus sp.
Neohipparion sp.
Pliauchenia sp.
Pliohippus sp.
Procamelus sp.
Prosthennops sp.
Protolabis sp.
Teleoceras sp.
cf. Domninoides sp.
cf. Eucyon sp. [4]
cf. Gomphotherium sp. [4]
Amphicyoninae indet.
Merycodontinae indet.
Protoceratinae indet.
Tayassuinae indet. [13]
Antilocapridae indet. [13]
Canidae indet.
Equini indet.
Palaeomerycidae indet.
Protoceratidae indet. [14]
Rhinocerotidae indet.
Rodentia indet.
Ruminantia indet. [13]
cf. Mustelidae indet. [4]
Birds cf. Anserinae indet. [4]
Aves indet.
Reptiles Alligator cf. mississippiensis [4]
Alligator mississippiensis yawn.jpg
Apalone sp. [4]
Hesperotestudo sp. [4]
Testudo sp. [4]
Trionyx sp.
cf. Gopherus sp. [4]
cf. Mycteria sp. [4]
cf. Terrapene sp. [4]
cf. Trachemys sp. [4]
Emydidae indet. [4]
Fish Pylodictis olivaris [4]
Pylodictis olivaris.jpg
Ictalurus cf. lambda [4]
Ameiurus sp.
Lepisosteus sp. [4]

See also

  • List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Texas
  • Paleontology in Texas

References

  1. Page et al., 2005, p.5
  2. 2.0 2.1 Goliad Formation at Fossilworks.org
  3. Baskin & Hulbert, 2008, p.94
  4. 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 May, 2019
  5. 5.0 5.1 Page et al., 2005, p.7
  6. Baskin & Hulbert, 2008, p.96
  7. Nicot et al., 2010, p.38
  8. Page et al., 2005, p.4
  9. Campbell et al., 2018, p.14
  10. Baskin & Hulbert, 2008, p.93
  11. Baskin & Hulbert, 2012, p.187
  12. Baskin & Hulbert, 2008, p.97
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Alroy, 2002
  14. 14.0 14.1 Webb, 2008
  15. Prothero, 2005

Bibliography

Geology
Paleontology

Further reading

  • Weeks, A. W., 1945, Oakville, Cuero, and Goliad formations of Texas Coastal Plain between Brazos River and Rio Grande: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 29, p. 1721–1732
  • E. H. Sellards. 1941. Final report covering the period from March 4, 1939 to September 30, 1941 for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project iii-85
  • Anonymous. 1941. The ninth quarterly report covering the quarter ending June 30, 1941 for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project. O.P. No. 665-66-3-233. State Serial No. 300-88 1-41
  • Anonymous. 1940. The seventh quarterly report covering the quarter ending December 31, 1940 for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project. O.P. No. 665-66-3-233. State Serial No. 300-88 1-44
  • Anonymous. 1940. The sixth quarterly report covering the quarter ending September 30, 1940 for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project. O.P. No. 665-66-3-233. State Serial No. 300-88 1-44
  • Anonymous. 1939. The second quarterly report covering the quarter ending September 30,1939 for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project. O.P. No. 665-66-3-233. State Serial No. 300-88 1-26
  • Anonymous. 1939. The first quarterly report covering the quarter ending June 30,1939 for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project. O.P. No. 665-66-3-233. State Serial No. 300-88 1-22+