T-Bone Extension, Coocoran Opal Fields: Early Cenomanian - Middle Cenomanian, Australia
collected by Rob and Debbie Brogan

List of taxa
Where & when
Geology
Taphonomy & methods
Metadata & references
Taxonomic list
Reptilia
Frauenfelder et al. 2021 2 specimens
AM F121650 and LRF 3065 (teeth)
Hart et al. 2020 1 specimen
AM F121672
1 specimen
Holotype associated cranial-postcranial elements: quadrate, AM F121643; supraoccipital, AM F121646; anterior peripherals, AM F121579, AM F121580, AM F121581; anterior costal fragments, AM F121686, AM F121687; caudal vertebra, AM F121641; scapula AM F121587; ulna AM F121621; pedal phalanges, AM F121613.
see common names

Geography
Country:Australia State/province:New South Wales
Coordinates: 29.4° South, 147.8° East (view map)
Paleocoordinates:69.8° South, 147.2° East (Wright 2013)
Basis of coordinate:estimated from map
Geographic resolution:outcrop
Time
Period: Cretaceous Epoch: Late Cretaceous
Stage: Cenomanian 10 m.y. bin: Cretaceous 5
Key time interval: Early Cenomanian - Middle Cenomanian
Age range of interval: 100.5 - 93.9 m.y. ago
Stratigraphy
Geological group:Rolling Downs Formation:Griman Creek Member:Wallangulla Sandstone
Stratigraphic resolution:bed
Stratigraphy comments: informally defined ‘Finch Clay Facies’ of the Wallangulla Sandstone Member
Lithology and environment
Primary lithology: claystone
Includes fossils?Y
Lithology description: fine-grained, deeply weathered volcanogenic clays (60–65% silica-rich kaolinite, ~20% smectite with low alumina content, and 5% illite: Watkins 1984) that occur in discontinuous lenses up to 5 meters thick
Environment:estuary/bay
Geology comments: Invertebrate fossils, vertebrate taphonomy and sedimentary evidence has been used to infer a freshwater deltaic to estuarine depositional setting, and plant/isotopic data indicates a seasonal, cool temperate climate (Dettmann et al. 1992).
Taphonomy
Modes of preservation:cast,replaced with silica
Size of fossils:macrofossils
Collection methods and comments
Collection methods:selective quarrying,field collection
Reason for describing collection:taxonomic analysis
Collectors:Rob and Debbie Brogan
Collection method comments: Australian Museum collection.
The holotype specimens of Spoochelys ormondea were excavated from a single ‘paleochannel’ by opal miners Rob and Debbie Brogan
Metadata
Also known as:T Bone Extension
Database number:133649
Authorizer:R. Benson, P. Mannion Enterer:R. Benson, P. Mannion
Modifier:M. Carrano Research group:vertebrate
Created:2012-09-20 18:16:02 Last modified:2025-02-22 15:12:02
Access level:the public Released:2012-09-20 18:16:02
Creative Commons license:CC0
Reference information

Primary reference:
43064. E. T. Smith and B. P. Kear. 2013. Spoochelys ormondea gen. et sp. nov., an Archaic Meiolaniid-Like Turtle from the Early Cretaceous of Lightning Ridge, Australia. In D. B. Brinkman, P. A. Holroyd, J. D. Gardner (eds.), Morphology and Evolution of Turtles 121-146 [R. Benson/R. Benson/P. Holroyd]

Secondary references:

74243 T. G. Frauenfelder, N. E. Campione, E. T. Smith and P. R. Bell. 2021. Diversity and palaeoecology of Australia's southern‐most sauropods, Griman Creek Formation (Cenomanian), New South Wales, Australia. Lethaia 54:354-367 [P. Mannion/P. Mannion/M. Carrano]
74897 L. J. Hart, P. R. Bell, E. T. Smith, D. R. Mitchell, T. Brougham and S. W. Salisbury. 2020. A probable skeleton of Isisfordia (Crocodyliformes) and additional crocodyliform remains from the Griman Creek Formation (Cenomanian, New South Wales, Australia). Journal of Paleontology [P. Mannion/P. Mannion]
89724 S. F. Poropat, P. R. Bell, L. J. Hart, S. W. Salisbury, and B. P. Kear. 2023. An annotated checklist of Australian Mesozoic tetrapods. Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology 47(2):129-205 [M. Carrano/M. Carrano]