Allenby Formation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Allenby Formation Stratigraphic range: Ypresian 52.5–48Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Princeton Group
Sub-units	Princeton Chert, Vermillion Bluffs Shale
Area	300 km2 (120 sq mi)
Thickness	1,860–2,100 m (6,100–6,890 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Shale, sandstone
Other	Coal–breccia, coal–chert
Location
Coordinates	49°22.6′N 120°32.8′W / 49.3767°N 120.5467°W / 49.3767; -120.5467
Approximate paleocoordinates	53°06′N 107°30′W / 53.1°N 107.5°W / 53.1; -107.5
Region	British Columbia
Country	Canada
Extent	Princeton Basin
Type section
Named for	Allenby, British Columbia
Named by	Shaw
Year defined	1952

The Allenby Formation is a special layer of sedimentary rock found in British Columbia, Canada. It was formed a very long time ago, during a period called the Eocene (about 52.5 to 48 million years ago). This rock layer is made up of different types of rocks like shale and sandstone, and it also contains layers of coal.

What makes the Allenby Formation really cool is that it's packed with amazing fossils! Scientists have found many ancient insects, fish, and plants here. These fossils have been known since 1877, but the best ones come from a special type of rock called the Princeton Chert.

Discovering Ancient Life: Fossils in the Allenby Formation

The Allenby Formation is like a giant time capsule, preserving clues about life millions of years ago. Scientists have found many different kinds of fossils here, from towering trees to tiny insects. Let's explore some of the incredible ancient creatures and plants discovered in these rocks!

Ancient Trees and Plants

Imagine a forest from millions of years ago! The Allenby Formation has preserved many types of ancient trees and plants, including ancestors of trees we see today. These fossils help us understand what the environment was like back in the Eocene.

Conifers, Ferns, and Ginkgos

Here are some of the ancient trees and plants found in the Allenby Formation:

Name	Family	Notes	Images
Abies milleri	Pinaceae	This is the oldest true fir tree ever found!	Abies milleri
Azolla primaeva	Salviniaceae	An ancient mosquito fern, a small floating plant.	Azolla primaeva
Ginkgo biloba	Ginkgoaceae	A fossil of the famous ginkgo tree, which still lives today!	Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgo dissecta	Ginkgoaceae	Another type of ancient ginkgo tree.	Ginkgo dissecta
Metasequoia occidentalis	Cupressaceae	A fossil of a dawn redwood, a tree once thought to be extinct.	Metasequoia branchlet

Flowering Plants

Many types of flowering plants, or angiosperms, have also been found. These include ancient versions of maples, alders, and even a relative of the golden-club.

Name	Family	Notes	Images
Acer rousei	Sapindaceae	An ancient maple tree.
Acer stewarti	Sapindaceae	Another type of ancient maple.
Acer stonebergae	Sapindaceae	A third kind of ancient maple.
Acer toradense	Sapindaceae	A fourth type of ancient maple.
Alnus parvifolia	Betulaceae	An ancient Alder tree.	Alnus parvifolia
Betula leopoldae	Betulaceae	A fossil birch tree.	Betula leopoldae
Fagopsis undulata	Fagaceae	An ancient beech tree.	Fagopsis undulata
Neviusia dunthornei	Rosaceae	A type of ancient snow wreath plant.
Orontium wolfei	Araceae	A fossil golden-club plant.	Orontium wolfei
Palaeocarpinus stonebergae	Betulaceae	A plant related to birch trees.
Sassafras hesperia	Lauraceae	An ancient sassafras tree.	Sassafras hesperia
Stonebergia	Rosaceae	A plant related to the rose family.
Tetracentron hopkinsii	Trochodendraceae	A relative of the Tetracentron tree.	Tetracentron hopkinsii
Tsukada davidiifolia	Nyssaceae	A relative of the dove-tree.	Tsukada davidiifolia
Ulmus okanaganensis	Ulmus	An ancient elm tree.	Ulmus okanaganensis

Ancient Animals

The Allenby Formation is also a treasure trove for animal fossils, especially insects and fish. These fossils give us a glimpse into the ancient animal life that once thrived in this region.

Insects and Fish

Here are some of the fascinating animal fossils discovered:

See Also

• Princeton Chert

Images for kids

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  Sequoia affinis

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  Pinus latahensis

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  Pseudolarix wehrii

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  Rhus malloryi

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  Paleoallium billgenseli

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  Cercidiphyllum obtritum

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  Fothergilla malloryi

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  Comptonia columbiana

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  Macginitiea gracilis

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  Dipteronia brownii

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  Chaneya tenuis

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  Cryptocephalites punctatus (1895 illustration)

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  Galerucella picea (1890 illustration)

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  Cryptohypnus? terrestris (1890 illustration)

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  Elateridae sp. indet (1890 illustration)

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  Limonius impunctus (1895 illustration)

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  Tenebrio primigenius (1890 illustration)

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  Trox oustaleti (1890 illustration)

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  Penthetria (?) fryi

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  Penthetria whipsawensis

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  Plecia avus

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  Plecia canadensis

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  Plecia curtula

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  Plecia dilatata

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  Plecia elatior

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  Plecia minutula

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  Plecia nana

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  Plecia pictipennis

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  Plecia pulchra

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  Plecia pulla

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  Plecia reducta

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  Plecia similkameena

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  Plecia transitoria

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  Plecia tulameenensis

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  Microphor defunctus (1910 illustration)

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  Etoptychoptera tertiaria (1910 illustration)

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  Tipula tulameena

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  Aphrophora angusta (1910 illustration)

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  Palaeoptysma venosa (1895 illustration)

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  Ptysmaphora fletcheri (1895 illustration)

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  Cercopis grandescens (1895 illustration)

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  Cercopis selwyni (1890 illustration)

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  Cercopites torpescens (1895 illustration)

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  Dawsonites veter (1895 illustration)

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  Stenecphora punctulata (1895 illustration)

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  Stenolocris venosa (1895 illustration)

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  Coelidia columbiana (1890 illustration)

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  Telmatrechus stali (1890 illustration)

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  Planophlebia gigantea (1890 illustration)

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  Bracon sp. (1890 illustration)

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  Xorides lambei

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  Eriocampa tulameenensis

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  Ricaniella antiquata (1895 illustration)

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  "Amia" hesperia scale