EGGSHELL FROM THE UPPER CAMPANIAN KAIPAROWITS FORMATION

Eggshell from the Upper Campanian Kaiparowits Formation of south central Utah is abundant and consists of multiple morphotypes. The most abundant concentrations of eggshell come from laterally extensive horizons within the lower 400m of this 855m thick deposit. Preliminary analysis indicates that the Kaiparowits eggshell belongs to the orders Chelonia, Squamata, Crocodylia, Saurischia, Ornithischia, and Enantiornithiformes. The abundant eggshell within the Kaiparowits Formation weathers out in well-preserved, often large fragments from distinct horizons that differ in shell and faunal assemblage composition. The fluvial and floodplain deposits of the Kaiparowits are environmentally similar to those of North American eggshell bearing formations of Campanian and Maastrichtian ages. The Kaiparowits Plateau region contains concentrations of eggshell in formations of late Cenomanian and early Campanian age, extending back North America's late Cretaceous eggshell record. Analysis of eggshell from these formations indicates that they represent multiple eggshell morphotypes.