Tick Canyon Formation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tick Canyon Formation Stratigraphic range: Early Miocene (Hemingfordian-Barstovian) ~20–16Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Geologic formation
Underlies	Mint Canyon Formation
Overlies	Vasquez Formation
Thickness	0–1,000 ft (0–305 m) (average)
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone, conglomerate
Other	Claystone
Location
Coordinates	34°25′56″N 118°23′32″W / 34.43222°N 118.39222°W / 34.43222; -118.39222
Approximate paleocoordinates	33°18′N 111°12′W / 33.3°N 111.2°W / 33.3; -111.2
Region	Los Angeles County, California
Country	United States
Extent	Sierra Pelona Ridge
Type section
Named for	Tick Canyon

The Tick Canyon Formation (also called Tt or Tick Canyon strata) is a special set of rock layers. It formed during the Early Miocene epoch, which was about 20 to 16 million years ago. You can find these rocks in the Sierra Pelona Ridge, which is part of the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, California.

The area where the Tick Canyon Formation is found drains into the Santa Clara River.

What is the Tick Canyon Formation?

A geologic formation is a group of rocks that formed around the same time and have similar features. The Tick Canyon Formation sits on top of older rocks called the Vasquez Formation. It is also covered by younger rocks known as the Mint Canyon Formation.

These rocks were mostly laid down by ancient streams and rivers on land. They are made up of green sandstone, rough conglomerate, and red claystone. Sandstone is like hardened sand, conglomerate is like natural concrete with pebbles, and claystone is made from hardened clay.

The Tick Canyon rocks also contain many pieces of volcanic rock. These pieces look a lot like the volcanic rocks found in the older Vasquez Formation. On average, the Tick Canyon Formation is about 600 feet (180 m) thick.

North of a crack in the Earth's crust called the Tick Canyon Fault, these rock layers stand almost straight up.

Ancient Life: Fossil Discoveries

The Tick Canyon Formation is important because it holds many fossils. Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of ancient plants and animals. These fossils tell us about the creatures that lived during the Lower Miocene subperiod, which was part of the Neogene Period and the Cenozoic Era.

Mammals Found in Tick Canyon

Scientists have found fossils of different mammals in these rocks:

• Artiodactyls: These are even-toed hoofed animals, like deer or pigs.
  • Miolabis californicus
  • Merychyus calaminthus
  • M. minimus
• Perissodactyls: These are odd-toed hoofed animals, like horses or rhinos.
  • Parahippus maxsoni
  • Parahippus sp. (This means a species of Parahippus that hasn't been fully identified yet)
• Rodents: These are gnawing mammals, like mice or squirrels.
  • Archaeolagus acaricolus
  • Trogomys rupinimenthae

Birds Found in Tick Canyon

One type of bird fossil has also been discovered:

• Falconiformes: These are birds of prey, like falcons or hawks.
  • Miohierax stocki