Age and Origin of the Citronelle Formation in Alabama

Abstract

Research Article| March 01, 1971 Age and Origin of the Citronelle Formation in Alabama WAYNE C ISPHORDING; WAYNE C ISPHORDING Department of Geology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36608 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GEORGE M LAMB GEORGE M LAMB Department of Geology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36608 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1971) 82 (3): 775–780. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[775:AAOOTC]2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 09 Oct 1970 first online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation WAYNE C ISPHORDING, GEORGE M LAMB; Age and Origin of the Citronelle Formation in Alabama. GSA Bulletin 1971;; 82 (3): 775–780. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1971)82[775:AAOOTC]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The sediments forming the Citronelle Formation occur as a nearly continuous blanket along the southern margin of the Coastal Plain and can be traced from Texas across the Gulf Coast into peninsular Florida. The lack of fossil evidence, however, has made this formation the subject of a heated age controversy since it was first described in 1916. At present, its age is given by various investigators as late Miocene, Pliocene, Plio-Pleistocene or Pleistocene.The recent discovery of abundant vertebrate fossils, at a site in northern Mobile County, Alabama, near the base of the formation, indicates that the maximum age of the Citronelle is mid-Pliocene (Hemphillian). Other evidence is present to indicate that the rocks of fossil zone represent a brackish estuary that was later filled by river encroachment, forming the overlying fluviatile sediments typical of the Citronelle Formation. Hence, the faunal evidence, coupled with existing pollen data from the upper sediments of the Citronelle in nearby Florida, now indicates that deposition of this formation began in the middle Pliocene and continued into the pre-Nebraskan Pleistocene. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.