What is the Kimmeridge Clay Formation?
Q: What is the Kimmeridge Clay Formation?
A: The Kimmeridge Clay Formation is a sedimentary deposit of fossiliferous marine clay and mudstones.
Q: How old is the Kimmeridge Clay?
A: The Kimmeridge Clay is of Upper Jurassic age, lasting from 157.3–152.1 million years ago.
Q: Why is the Kimmeridge Clay important?
A: The Kimmeridge Clay is an important unit of rocks in Europe because it is the major source for oil fields in the North Sea.
Q: Where does the name "Kimmeridge" come from?
A: The name "Kimmeridge" comes from a village on the Dorset coast of England where it can be found as part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site.
Q: Where else can you find Kimmeridge Clay deposits?
A: In addition to its presence in Dorset, England, deposits of Kimmerridge Clay can also be found stretching north-east to East Anglia and Hull, as well as under the Humber estuary near River Humber Bridge's foundations.
Q: What types of fossils are present in the Kimmerdige clay formation?
A: Fossils present in this formation include reptiles such as turtles, crocodiles, dinosaurs, plesiosaurs, pliosaurs and ichthyosaurs, as well as many invertebrate species such as Gryphaea.
