Kirtland Formation, Geological formation in San Juan Basin, New Mexico, United States.
The Kirtland Formation is a geological layered deposit in the San Juan Basin and consists of alternating bands of sandstone, shale, mudstone, and conglomerate. These strata extend upward about 594 meters (1,950 feet) and reveal the complex history of ancient river deltas and coastal environments.
The formation was named in 1916 by C.M. Bauer after the nearby Kirtland Post Office. It dates to the Late Cretaceous period, roughly 75 to 73.5 million years ago.
Scientists have discovered multiple dinosaur species within the formation, including Alamosaurus, Bistahieversor, Daspletosaurus, Pentaceratops, and Kritosaurus specimens.
Visitors can explore the formation in the San Juan Basin region, where several exposures reveal the rock layers. Best access comes during dry seasons when approaching the visible strata is more straightforward.
The Hunter Wash member at the base contains traces of ancient river systems and coastal plains from the Cretaceous. Fossils of large sauropods and horned dinosaurs have been uncovered within these layers.
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