Kirtland Formation

The Kirtland Formation (originally the Kirtland Shale) is a sedimentary geological formation.[1]

Not to be confused with the Kirkland Formation, a Silurian geologic formation in New York, US.
Kirtland Formation
Stratigraphic range: Campanian (typically Kirtlandian)
Kirtland Formation at its type location south of Kirtland, New Mexico
TypeGeological formation
Sub-unitsHunter Wash, Farmington and De-na-zin Members
UnderliesOjo Alamo Formation
OverliesFruitland Formation
Thickness594 m (1,949 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
OtherShale, mudstone, conglomerate
Location
Coordinates36.708°N 108.350°W / 36.708; -108.350
Approximate paleocoordinates42.6°N 76.3°W / 42.6; -76.3
Region New Mexico
Country USA
ExtentSan Juan Basin
Type section
Named forKirtland Post Office
Named byC.M. Bauer
Year defined1916
Kirtland Formation is located in the United States
Kirtland Formation
Kirtland Formation (the United States)
Kirtland Formation is located in New Mexico
Kirtland Formation
Kirtland Formation (New Mexico)
Kirtland Formation outcrops near Coal Creek

Description

The Kirtland Formation is the product of alluvial muds and overbank sand deposits from the many channels draining the coastal plain that existed on the inland seashore of North America, in the late Cretaceous period. It overlies the Fruitland Formation. It is found in the San Juan Basin in the states of New Mexico and Colorado, in the United States of America.

The base of the Kirtland Formation and its lowest sub-unit, the Hunter Wash member, has been dated to 75.02 ± 0.13 Ma.[2] Together with the upper part of the underlying Fruitland Formation, this contains fossils representing the Hunter Wash local fauna. The border between the Hunter Wash member and overlying Farmington member dates to approximately 74 million years ago. The top of the Farmington member and bottom of the overlying De-na-zin member has been radiometrically dated to 73.83 ± 0.18 Ma ago. The top of the De-na-zin member, which contains the Willow Wash local fauna, has been dated to 73.49 ± 0.25 Ma ago.[1]

Overlying the De-na-zin member is a unit called the Naashoibito member This has often been considered to be part of the Kirtland formation, but more recently has been transferred back to the overlying Ojo Alamo Formation, which it had originally been part of.[1]

History of investigation

The formation was named by C.M. Bauer in 1916 for exposures near the Kirtland Post Office.[3]

Stratigraphy
Main article: San Juan Basin § Stratigraphy
Upper Cretaceous stratigraphy of the San Juan Basin

Vertebrate paleofauna

Saurischians
Saurischians of the Kirtland Formation
Genus Species Member Material Notes Images

Alamosaurus[4]

A. sanjuanensis[4]

 Specimens actually from the Naashoibito member of the Ojo Alamo Formation[5]
Alamosaurus
Bistahieversor
Saurornitholestes
Struthiomimus

Aublysodon[6]

A. mirandus[6]

 Remains are now referred to Bistahieversor, although these remains may possibly have come from the Fruitland Formation.[7]
Bistahieversor[8] B. sealeyi[8] An articulated skull and undescribed postcranial skeleton of an adult individual, and an incomplete skull and postcranial skeleton of a juvenile individual.[8] A eutyrannosaur tyrannosauroid also known from the Fruitland Formation.[8]

Daspletosaurus[6]

Indeterminate[6]

 Remains are now referred to Bistahieversor, although these remains may possibly have come from the Fruitland Formation.[7]
Dromaeosauridae[9] Indeterminate[9] Numerous isolated teeth.[9] Indeterminate dromaeosaurid remains.[9]
Ornithomimidae[9] Indeterminate[9] A distal end of a phalanx, and [two] partial manual unguals.[9] Indeterminate ornithomimid remains.[9]
Saurornitholestes[10] S. sullivani[10] A nearly complete frontal.[10] A saurornitholestine dromaeosaurid, sister taxa to Saurornitholestes langstoni.[10]
"Saurornitholestes" "S." robustus[11] A nearly complete frontal.[11] Originally assigned to Saurornitholestes, actually a troodontid.[12]
cf. Struthiomimus[9] cf. S. altus[9] A centrum of a dorsal vertebra, distal portion of a metatarsal, and proximal phalanx.[9] Indeterminate remains that may belong to Struthiomimus altus.[9]
Tyrannosauridae[9] Indeterminate[9] A partial skeleton, dentary, metatarsal, and numerous teeth.[9] Indeterminate tyrannosaurid material.[9]

Ornithischians
Ornithischians reported from the Kirtland Formation
Genus Species Member Material Notes Images

Ahshislepelta[13]

 A. minor[13] A partial girdle, scapulocoracoids, humerus, proximal portion of the radius, cervical and/or dorsal vertebrae, complete and fragmentary thoracic osteoderms, and other unidentifiable postcranial fragments.[13] An ankylosaurine ankylosaurid part of the Hunter Wash Member.[13]
Bisticeratops
Kritosaurus
Naashoibitosaurus
Nodocephalosaurus (right)
Pentaceratops
Sphaerotholus
Stegoceras
Terminocavus
Navajoceratops
Titanoceratops
Ziapelta

Anasazisaurus[14]

 A. horneri[14] An incomplete skull consisting of premaxillae, nasals, maxilla, lacrimal, jugal, prefrontal, postorbital, squamosal, frontal, parietal, and fragment of dentary with teeth.[14] A kritosaurin hadrosaurid from the De-Na-Zin Member.[14]
Bisticeratops[15] B. froeseorum[15] A nearly complete skull.[15] A chasmosaurine ceratopsid, originally identified as a specimen of Pentaceratops.[15]
Kritosaurus[14] K. navajovius[14] [Two] incomplete skulls, an atlas, axis and cervical vertebrae.[14] A kritosaurin hadrosaurid also known from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation of Mexico.[14]
Naashoibitosaurus[14] N.ostromi[14] A skull lacking the premaxillae and mandible, a partial humerus, cervical vertebrae and dorsal vertebrae.[14] A kritosaurin hadrosaurid, distinct from Kritosaurus.[14]
Nodocephalosaurus[16] N. kirtlandensis[16] A partial skull.[16] An ankylosaurine ankylosaurid that has cranial ornamentation similar to Akainacephalus, an ankylosaur from the Kaiparowits Formation.[16][17]
Parasaurolophus[18] P. tubicen[18] [Two] incomplete and fragmentary skulls.[18] A lambeosaurine hadrosaurid known from partial cranial remains.[18]

Pentaceratops[19]

 P. fenestratus[19]
  • De-na-zin Member[20]
 A crushed but nearly complete skull, mandible, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, chevrons, scapulae, coracoids, radii, ulnae, ischia, ilia, pubes, femora, tibiae, astragali, manual phalanxes and manual unguals.[20] A junior synonym of Pentaceratops sternbergii, diagnostic characteristics of the species were pathologies.

P. sternbergi[19]

 A crushed but nearly complete skull, mandible, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, chevrons, scapulae, coracoids, radii, ulnae, ischia, ilia, pubes, femora, tibiae, astragali, manual phalanxes and manual unguals.[20] A chasmosaurine ceratopsid also known from the Fruitland Formation.[20]
Sphaerotholus[22] S. goodwini[22] A partial skull lacking the facial and palatal elements.[22] A pachycephalosaurine pachycephalosaurid also known from the Hell Creek and Horseshoe Canyon Formation.[22]
Stegoceras[23] S. novomexicanum[23] An incomplete parietal.[23] A basal pachycephalosaurid also known from the upper Fruitland Formation.[23]
Terminocavus[24] T. sealeyi[24] A parietal, partial squamosal, jugal, epijugal, partial quadratojugal, partial sacrum and vertebral fragments.[24] A chasmosaurine ceratopsid that has been hypothesized to form an anagenetic series with several other chasmosaur species, including Navajoceratops.[24]
Navajoceratops[24] N. sullivani[24]
  • Hunter Wash
 A parietal, squamosal fragments, fused jugal\epijugal and other unidentified cranial fragments.[24] A chasmosaurine ceratopsid that has been hypothesized to form an anagenetic series with several other chasmosaur species, including Terminocavus.[24]
Titanoceratops[25] T. ouranos[25] A partial skull, syncervical vertebrae, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, ribs, humeri, radius, femora, tibiae, fibula, ilia, ischia, and ossified tendons.[25] Possibly represents a junior synonym of Pentaceratops, holotype may possibly have come from the Fruitland Formation.[25]

Ziapelta[26]

 Z. sanjuanensis A complete skull, [two] first cervical half-rings, fragmentary second cervical half ring, and numerous fragmentary osteoderms.[26] An ankylosaurine ankylosaurid closely related to Scolosaurus.

Pterosaurs
Pterosaurs of the Kirtland Formation
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes Images

Navajodactylus[27]

N. boerei[27]
  • Hunter Wash Member[27]

Partial phalanx and ulna fragment[27]

A possible azhdarchid pterosaur known from fragmentary remains.[27]

Crurotarsans
Crurotarsans of the Kirtland Formation[20]
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes Images

Brachychampsa

B. montana
  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Denazinosuchus

D. kirtlandicus
  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Leidyosuchus[28]

Indeterminate[28]
  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Turtles
Turtles of the Kirtland Formation[20]
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes Images

Basilemys

B. nobilis
  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Denazinemys

D. nodosa
  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Neurankylus

N. baueri
  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Plastomenus

P. robustus
  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Thescelus

T. hemispherica
  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Bony fish
Bony fishes of the Kirtland Formation[20]
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes

Melvius

M. chauliodous
  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Cartilaginous fish
Cartilaginous fish of the Kirtland Formation[20]
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes

Myledaphus

M. bipartitus
  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
 Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

See also

References
  1. Sullivan & Lucas 2006.
  2. Fowler 2017.
  3. Bauer 1916.
  4. Weishampel, Dodson & Osmólska 2004, pp. 580–581, 3.3 New Mexico, United States; 10. Lower Kirtland Formation and 11. Upper Kirtland Formation.
  5. Jasinski & Sullivan 2011.
  6. Carr & Williamson 2010, p. 1, Systematic Paleontology.
  7. Carr & Williamson 2010, p. 1, Systematic Paleontology; Referred Specimens.
  8. Carr & Williamson 2010, p. 1, Systematic Paleontology; Holotype.
  9. Lucas, Spencer G.; Mateer, Niall J.; Hunt, Adrian P.; O'Neill, F. Michael (1987). Dinosaurs, the age of the Fruitland and Kirtland Formations, and the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico.
  10. Jasinski 2016.
  11. Sullivan 2006, p. 253, Abstract.
  12. Evans et al. 2014.
  13. Burns & Sullivan 2011.
  14. Prieto-Márquez, A. (2013). "Skeletal morphology of Kritosaurus navajovius (Dinosauria:Hadrosauridae) from the Late Cretaceous of the North American south-west, with an evaluation of the phylogenetic systematics and biogeography of Kritosaurini". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 12 (2): 133–175. doi:10.1080/14772019.2013.770417. S2CID 84942579.
  15. Dalman SG, Jasinski SE, Lucas SG (2022). "A new chasmosaurine ceratopsid from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Farmington Member of the Kirtland Formation, New Mexico". New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 90: 127–153.
  16. Sullivan, R. (1999). "Nodocephalosaurus kirtlandensis, gen et sp nov., a new ankylosaurid dinosaur (Ornithischia; Ankylosauria) from the Upper Cretaceous Kirtland Formation (Upper Campanian), San Juan Basin, New Mexico". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 19 (1): 126–139. Bibcode:1999JVPal..19..126S. doi:10.1080/02724634.1999.10011128.
  17. Jelle P. Wiersma; Randall B. Irmis (2018). "A new southern Laramidian ankylosaurid, Akainacephalus johnsoni gen. et sp. nov., from the upper Campanian Kaiparowits Formation of southern Utah, USA". PeerJ. 6: e5016. doi:10.7717/peerj.5016. PMC 6063217. PMID 30065856.
  18. Sullivan & Williamson 1999.
  19. Weishampel, Dodson & Osmólska 2004, p. 580, 3.3 New Mexico, United States; 10. Lower Kirtland Formation.
  20. Sullivan & Lucas 2006, p. 11, Table 1.
  21. Sullivan & Lucas 2006, p. 10, Kirtlandian Index Fossils.
  22. Williamson Thomas E.; Carr Thomas D. (2002). "A new genus of highly derived pachycephalosaurian from western North America". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 22 (4): 779–801. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2002)022[0779:angodp]2.0.co;2. S2CID 86112901.
  23. Steven E. Jasinski; Robert M. Sullivan (2011). "Re-evaluation of pachycephalosaurids from the Fruitland-Kirtland transition (Kirtlandian, late Campanian), San Juan Basin, New Mexico, with a description of a new species of Stegoceras and a reassessment of Texascephale langstoni" (PDF). Fossil Record 3. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Bulletin. 53: 202–215.
  24. Fowler, D.W.; Freedman Fowler, E.A. (2020). "Transitional evolutionary forms in chasmosaurine ceratopsid dinosaurs: evidence from the Campanian of New Mexico". PeerJ. 8: e9251. doi:10.7717/peerj.9251. PMC 7278894. PMID 32547873.
  25. Longrich, N.R. (2011). "Titanoceratops ouranos, a giant horned dinosaur from the Late Campanian of New Mexico". Cretaceous Research. 32 (3): 264–276. Bibcode:2011CrRes..32..264L. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2010.12.007.
  26. Arbour et al. 2014.
  27. Sullivan & Fowler 2011.
  28. Listed as "cf. Leidyosuchus sp."

Bibliography
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