Prince Creek Formation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Prince Creek Formation Stratigraphic range: Early Maastrichtian 70.6–69.1Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
General location of the Prince Creek Formation, in red
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Colville Group
Sub-units	Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry, Kogosukruk Tongue, Ocean Point, Coleville River Bluff
Underlies	Sagavanirktok Formation
Overlies	Schrader Bluff Formation
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone, mudstone
Other	siltstone, carbonaceous shale, ash-fall
Location
Coordinates	70°00′N 151°30′W / 70.0°N 151.5°W / 70.0; -151.5
Approximate paleocoordinates	83°12′N 115°54′W / 83.2°N 115.9°W / 83.2; -115.9
Region	Alaska
Country	USA

The Prince Creek Formation is a special place in Alaska where scientists find amazing fossils. It's like a giant time capsule made of rock! These rocks formed a very long time ago, during a period called the Early Maastrichtian. Many incredible dinosaur remains have been discovered here, giving us clues about what life was like in ancient Alaska.

When Did the Prince Creek Formation Form?

The rocks of the Prince Creek Formation were laid down between about 80 and 61.7 million years ago. Most of the dinosaur fossils come from a spot called the Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry. This part of the formation is about 70.6 to 69.1 million years old.

Some older parts, like the Kogosukruk Tongue, date back to 72 to 71 million years ago. The very youngest part, Ocean Point, goes into the Paleogene period. This means it formed right after the dinosaurs disappeared.

What Was the Ancient Habitat Like?

Hadrosaurids (duck-billed dinosaurs) of the Liscomb Bonebed in their habitat

When the Prince Creek Formation was forming, Earth was much warmer. It was a "greenhouse" phase, meaning there was no ice at the poles. The area was a muddy coastal plain, close to a large body of water.

Scientists know this because they found gypsum and pyrite in nearby rocks. These minerals often form near water. The land was full of plants, like leafy plants, roots, and pollen. There's even evidence that dinosaurs walked all over the plants!

The Prince Creek Formation was likely a cool, polar woodland. It didn't have ground ice, even though it was far north. Tall flowering plants and trees grew everywhere. Dinosaurs were the main animals roaming this ancient forest.

The average temperature was around 5 to 6 degrees Celsius (41 to 43 degrees Fahrenheit). In colder months, it was about 2 to 4 degrees Celsius (36 to 39 degrees Fahrenheit). Warmer months saw temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees Celsius (50 to 54 degrees Fahrenheit). It rained quite a bit, too, with about 500 to 1500 millimeters (20 to 59 inches) of rain each year.

Amazing Ancient Animals (Vertebrate Paleofauna)

Many different kinds of animals lived in the Prince Creek area long ago. Scientists have found fossils of dinosaurs and even tiny mammals!

Dinosaurs

Meat-Eating Dinosaurs (Theropods)

Scientists have found teeth from large meat-eating dinosaurs called tyrannosaurids. These teeth come from different fossil sites like Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry.

Theropods
Genus	Species	Location	Abundance	Notes	Images
Dromaeosaurus	D. cf albertensis	Liscomb Quarry, Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry, Byers Bed	Fossilized teeth	A dromaeosaur, a type of fast, meat-eating dinosaur.	A Dromaeosaurus
Gruipeda	G. vegrandiunis	Denali Park		Footprints from a small ancient bird.
Saurornitholestinae indet.	Indeterminate	Pediomys Point - Liscomb Quarry	Small jawbone tip from a young dinosaur.	A new type of dromaeosaurid, similar to Saurornitholestes.	An artist's idea of the Prince Creek Formation fauna
Nanuqsaurus	N. hoglundi	Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry	One partial skull, including parts of the upper and lower jaw.	Nanuqsaurus was a smaller tyrannosaurid. It was related to famous dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus.	A Nanuqsaurus
Saurornitholestes	S. cf. langstoni	Old Bone Beach	Teeth	Another type of dromaeosaur.	A Saurornitholestes
Troodon	T. sp	Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry, Liscomb Quarry, Byers Bed, Magical Mystery Bar	Teeth and braincases have been found.	These Troodon remains are about 50% larger than those found elsewhere. It was the most common meat-eating dinosaur here.	An Alaskan Troodon

Plant-Eating Dinosaurs (Ornithischians)

Ornithischians of the Prince Creek Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Abundance	Notes	Images
Alaskacephale	A. gangloffi	Kogosukruk Tongue	A skull bone and part of its head dome.	This was the first pachycephalosaur (a dinosaur with a thick, bony skull dome) found in Alaska.	An Alaskacephale
Pachyrhinosaurus	P. perotorum	Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry	Lots of bones, including a young dinosaur.	This is the youngest species of Pachyrhinosaurus, a horned dinosaur. It was found very far north. Scientists learned how its head crest grew by studying a young Pachyrhinosaurus.	A Pachyrhinosaurus perotorum
Edmontosaurus	E. sp	Liscomb Bonebed, Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry	Young dinosaurs	These duck-billed dinosaurs were once thought to be a different genus, but recent studies show they are young Edmontosaurus.	An Edmontosaurus
Lambeosaurinae indet.	Indeterminate	Liscomb Bonebed	A supraoccipital bone (part of the skull).	This was the first confirmed lambeosaurine (another type of duck-billed dinosaur with a crest) found in the Prince Creek Formation.	A Lambeosaurine

Ancient Mammals

Small mammals also lived alongside the dinosaurs in the Prince Creek Formation.

Ancient Plants

The Prince Creek Formation was home to many different types of plants. These plants helped create the environment where dinosaurs lived. Scientists find their pollen and leaf fossils.

Plants of the Prince Creek Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Abundance	Notes	Images
Parataxodium	P. wigginsii	Kogosukruk Tongue		A conifer tree that was common in the ancient forests.
Hollickia	H. quercifolia	Kogosukruk Tongue	Leaves	An angiosperm (flowering plant) known from its leaves.
Quereuxia	Q. angulata	Kogosukruk Tongue		An aquatic flowering plant that lived in the water.
Equisetites	E. sp.	Kogosukruk Tongue		A type of horsetail plant.
Botryococcus	B. braunii	Coleville River Bluff	Pollen	A type of green algae, also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.	Botryococcus braunii