Aquia Formation Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Aquia Formation Stratigraphic range: Late Paleocene ~59.0–55.5Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Thecachampsa crocodile coprolite (Aquia Formation; King George County, Virginia)
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Pamunkey Group
Sub-units	Paspotansa & Piscataway Members
Underlies	Nanjemoy Formation
Overlies	Brightseat Formation
Thickness	up to 100 feet (30 m)
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone
Location
Location	Hopewell, Virginia
Coordinates	38°18′N 77°18′W / 38.3°N 77.3°W / 38.3; -77.3
Approximate paleocoordinates	39°00′N 58°54′W / 39.0°N 58.9°W / 39.0; -58.9
Region	Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia
Country	United States
Extent	Upper Chesapeake Bay-James River
Type section
Named for	Aquia Creek

The Aquia Formation is a geologic sandstone formation that extends from the upper Chesapeake Bay to the James River near Hopewell, Virginia. It consists of clayey, silty, very shelly, glauconitic sand. Fossil records indicate that this stratigraphic unit was created during the Paleocene.

The Aquia formation was named for Aquia Creek where it is exposed in cliff faces along the banks.

Geology
- Lithology
- Stratigraphy
Age
Fossils
- Vertebrates
  - Bony fish
  - Chondrichthyes
    - Sharks
    - Rays
  - Reptiles
    - Crocodylians
    - Turtles
  - Mammals
  - Birds
- Molluscs
See also

Geology

Lithology

When uncovered, it appears dark green to gray-green, argillaceous, with well sorted fine- to medium-grained sand and locally indurated shell beds. It occurs between 0 and 100 feet thick. Quartz and phosphatic pebbles and/or very coarse glauconitic quartz sand mark the base of the unit. A few hard streaks of shells or thin "rock" layers are often reported but appear to be more abundant in the sections south of the James River.

Stratigraphy

The Aquia formation is overlain by the Nanjemoy Formation and overlies the Brightseat Formation.

The Aquia formation is broken down into two members: the lower Piscataway member and upper Paspotansa member.

Age

The Aquia Formation is thought to be 59.0-55.5 million years old. The Piscataway member is 59-56.25 million years old, and the Paspotansa member is 56-55.5 million years old.