Nugget Sandstone | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: Norian-Toarcian ~ | |
![]() Salmon-pink and white sandstones of the upper part of the Nugget Formation, Wind River Mountains, Wyoming | |
Type | Geological formation |
Unit of | Glen Canyon Group |
Underlies | Carmel Formation |
Overlies | Chinle Formation |
Thickness | 200 m (660 ft) |
Lithology | |
Primary | Sandstone |
Other | Mudstone, siltstone |
Location | |
Coordinates | 40°24′N 109°18′W / 40.4°N 109.3°W |
Approximate paleocoordinates | 27°24′N 46°36′W / 27.4°N 46.6°W |
Region | Colorado, Idaho, Utah |
Country | ![]() |
Extent | Colorado Plateau |
The Nugget Sandstone is a Late Triassic to Early Jurassic geologic formation that outcrops in Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah, western United States.
In Wyoming, it is composed of a lower hematite-stained siltstone and thin-bedded sandstone. The upper part is a salmon-pink and light-gray, fine- to medium-grained cliff-forming sandstone that exhibits massive bedding to large scale cross-beds of dunes. Thickness ranges up to 86.9 m (285 feet).[1]
Fossil theropod tracks have been reported from the formation.[2]
Intermediate theropod, sphenosuchian, drepanosaurid and sphenodontian remains are known.[3]
Paleofauna reported from the Nugget Sandstone | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Material | Notes | Images | ||
Caelestiventus[4] | C. hanseni | Most of the skull, a complete lower jaw, a finger bone | A dimorphodontid pterosaur, the first known diagnostic pterosaur in North America. |