The Eocene Age of the Supposed Late Upper Cretaceous Greensand Marls of New Jersey

Abstract

A new analysis of the "Jerseyian" faunas described by Weller in 1907 shows an almost total absence of characteristic Cretaceous species or genera which are abundant in the late Cretaceous of the Gulf states, and the presence of a large number of Eocene species. Comparison of these faunas with the fossils of the Pamunkey group (Eocene) of Maryland reveals a marked similarity, and a tentative correlation of the Shark River marl, the Manasquan marls, and the Rancocas group of New Jersey with the Nanjemoy and Aquia formations of Maryland is proposed. This correlation is supported by lithologic and diastrophic evidence.