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Cow Branch Formation facts for kids

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Cow Branch Formation
Stratigraphic range: Carnian-Norian (Tuvalian)
~235–210Ma
Type Geological formation
Unit of Dan River Group
Location
Coordinates 36°24′N 80°00′W / 36.4°N 80.0°W / 36.4; -80.0
Approximate paleocoordinates 5°30′N 20°24′W / 5.5°N 20.4°W / 5.5; -20.4
Region Virginia
Country  United States

The Cow Branch Formation is a Late Triassic (Carnian to Norian, or Tuvalian in the regional stratigraphy) geologic formation in the eastern United States. Indeterminate fossil ornithischian tracks have been reported from the formation.

Fossil content

The following fossils have been reported from the formation:

Reptiles
  • Mecistotrachelos apeoros
  • Tanytrachelos ahynis
  • cf. Pariostegus sp.
  • Anthophyta indet.
Fish
  • Diplurus cf. newarki
  • Cionichthys sp.
  • Semionotus sp.
  • Synorichthys sp.
  • Turseodus sp.
Ichnofossils
  • Anchisauripus milfordensis
Arachnids
  • Argyrarachne solitus
Insects
  • Alinka cara
  • Architipula youngi
  • Brachyrhyphus distortus
  • Cascadelcana virginiana
  • Crosaphis virginiensis
  • Holcoptera solitensis
  • Leehermania prorova
  • Metarchilimonia krzeminskorum
  • M. solita
  • Mormolucoides articulatus
  • Phyloblatta grimaldii
  • Prosechamyia dimedia
  • P. trimedia
  • Pseudopolycentropodes virginicus
  • Triassonepa solensis
  • Triassopsychoda olseni
  • Triassothrips virginicus
  • Veriplecia rugosa
  • Virginiptera certa
  • V. lativentra
  • V. similis
  • Yalea argentata
  • Y. rectimedia
  • Archescytinidae indet.
  • Blattodea indet.
  • Diptera indet.
  • Naucoridae indet.
  • Orthoptera indet.
  • Phoroschizidae indet.
  • Thysanoptera indet.
  • Tipulomorpha indet.
Flora
  • Lonchopteris virginiensis
  • Pagiophyllum diffusum
  • P. simpsoniae
  • Zamites powellii
  • cf. Acrostichites linnaeafolius
  • cf. Compsostrobus neotericus
  • Glyptolepis cf. platysperma
  • Neocalamites cf. knowltonii
  • cf. Zamiostrobus lissocardus
  • Dictyophyllum sp.
  • Glandulozamites sp.
  • Lepacyclotes sp.
  • Lepidodendron sp.
  • Pagiophyllum sp.
  • Pelourdea sp.
  • Podozamites sp.
  • Pterophyllum sp.
  • Sphenozamites sp.
  • Wingatea sp.
  • cf. Dechellyia sp.
  • cf. Elatocladus sp.
  • cf. Grammaephloios sp.
  • cf. Sagenopteris sp.

Images for kids

  • Cow Branch Formation (Upper Triassic; Pit B of Solite Quarry, near Eden, North Carolina, USA) 17

    Outcrop of the Cow Branch Formation, quarry near Eden, North Carölina

  • Conchostracans in nonmarine black shale (Cow Branch Formation, Upper Triassic; Route 220 roadcut north of the Dan River, Rockingham County, North Carolina, USA) 3

    Fossils in black shales of the Cow Branch Formation

  • Fish spine in nonmarine black shale (Cow Branch Formation, Upper Triassic; Route 220 roadcut north of the Dan River, Rockingham County, North Carolina, USA) 2

    Fossil fish spine in black shale of the Cow Branch Formation, North Carolina

  • Vertebrate tooth in nonmarine black shale (Cow Branch Formation, Upper Triassic; Route 220 roadcut north of the Dan River, Rockingham County, North Carolina, USA) 3

    Vertebrate tooth in nonmarine black shale, Cow Branch Formation, North Carolina

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