Vectis Formation

The Vectis Formation is a geological formation on the Isle of Wight and Swanage, England whose strata were formed in the Barremian, approximately 125 million years ago.^[1][2] The environment of deposition was that of a freshwater coastal lagoon with occasional marine influence after the early Aptian marine transgression, transitioning from the floodplain environment of the underlying Wessex Formation. The primary lithology is of laminated grey mudstones. The Vectis Formation is composed of three geological members: the Shepherds Chine member, the Barnes High Sandstone member, and the Cowleaze Chine member. It is overlain by the fully marine Atherfield Clay Formation, part of the Lower Greensand Group. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.^[3]

Vectis Formation
Stratigraphic range: Barremian ~125 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Wealden Group
Sub-units	Shepherds Chine, Barnes High Sandstone & Cowleaze Chine Members
Underlies	Atherfield Clay Formation
Overlies	Wessex Formation
Thickness	Up to 66 m (217 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Siltstone, mudstone
Other	Sandstone, limestone, ironstone
Location
Coordinates	50.7°N 1.1°W / 50.7; -1.1
Approximate paleocoordinates	40.8°N 9.7°E / 40.8; 9.7
Region	England
Country	UK
Extent	Dorset, Isle of Wight
Vectis Formation (England)

Fauna

• Theropod tracks^[3]
• Polacanthus foxii^[3]
• Hypsilophodon foxii^[3]
• Euornithopoda indet.^[3]
• Euornithopod tracks^[3]
• Mantellisaurus atherfieldensis^[3]
• Spinosaurinae indet.^[4]
• Vectocleidus pastorum^[5]
• Hylaeochampsa vectiana^[6]

See also

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations