Toolebuc Formation, Geological formation in Queensland, Australia
The Toolebuc Formation is an Early Cretaceous geological layer in Queensland, Australia, made up mainly of limestone packed with fossilized marine life. The layer surfaces at several locations across western Queensland, including Richmond, Julia Creek, Hughenden, and Boulia.
The formation was laid down during the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous, when a shallow inland sea covered much of eastern Australia. As the sea retreated, the remains of marine creatures were sealed into the sediment that hardened into the rock seen today.
Researchers travel to sites near Richmond and Julia Creek to study fossils in the field. Visitors can watch teams carefully removing and recording bone fragments from the rock.
The main places to visit related to the formation are the local fossil centers in Richmond and Hughenden, where excavations and finds are on display. It is worth contacting the visitor centers in advance, as access and conditions vary from one site to another.
The formation has produced fossils of large sea turtles and crocodile relatives that tend to attract less attention than the bigger marine reptiles. Some of these finds have helped fill gaps in the understanding of how those animal groups evolved.
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