The Paleontology of Central New Jersey
Presentation Type
Poster
Faculty Advisor
Greg Pope
Access Type
Event
Start Date
26-4-2023 9:45 AM
End Date
26-4-2023 10:44 AM
Description
This study investigates the paleontology of central New Jersey, through examination and verification in order to define the fossil index of the region. The two major fossil beds within the area are Poricy Park and the Big Brook Nature Preserve, both in Monmouth County. The central New Jersey area is entirely Cretaceous in age (145.5 million to 65.6 million years ago) , and that Cretaceous layer extends into parts of southern New Jersey. Fossils were collected and recorded from each site. The specimens collected were viewed regarding previous research that had been done on the region. This was done to verify the accuracy of the fossils collected and to note the many that were not found but were present in the area based on previous studies. The fossils collected included mollusks such as agerostrea, brachiopods, exogyra costata, and a belemnite. A shark tooth belonging to a goblin shark was also discovered. Other fossils that can be found in this region that were not collected during field research include ammonites, mosasaurs, coelacanths, plesiosaurus, and various other sharks and rays. These are the most commonly found fossil types found at Poricy Park and the Big Brook Nature Preserve. These fossil beds allow us to understand what this region was like during the Cretaceous period. Central and parts of southern New Jersey were primarily marine environments. Some researchers have found fossils of land animals, and Cupressaceae (cypress species) meaning that shallow coniferous coastal swamp environments also must have been present.
The Paleontology of Central New Jersey
This study investigates the paleontology of central New Jersey, through examination and verification in order to define the fossil index of the region. The two major fossil beds within the area are Poricy Park and the Big Brook Nature Preserve, both in Monmouth County. The central New Jersey area is entirely Cretaceous in age (145.5 million to 65.6 million years ago) , and that Cretaceous layer extends into parts of southern New Jersey. Fossils were collected and recorded from each site. The specimens collected were viewed regarding previous research that had been done on the region. This was done to verify the accuracy of the fossils collected and to note the many that were not found but were present in the area based on previous studies. The fossils collected included mollusks such as agerostrea, brachiopods, exogyra costata, and a belemnite. A shark tooth belonging to a goblin shark was also discovered. Other fossils that can be found in this region that were not collected during field research include ammonites, mosasaurs, coelacanths, plesiosaurus, and various other sharks and rays. These are the most commonly found fossil types found at Poricy Park and the Big Brook Nature Preserve. These fossil beds allow us to understand what this region was like during the Cretaceous period. Central and parts of southern New Jersey were primarily marine environments. Some researchers have found fossils of land animals, and Cupressaceae (cypress species) meaning that shallow coniferous coastal swamp environments also must have been present.