THE VERTEBRATE FAUNA AND DEPOSITIONAL ENVIRONMENTS OF THE LATE CRETACEOUS BLACK CREEK GROUP, BLADEN COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA

Research on the late Cretaceous (Campanian) vertebrate fauna of the Black Creek Group in North Carolina has a long but sporadic history. By combining historical research with modern-day microvertebrate techniques we are producing a more precise paleoenvironmental context of the late Cretaceous vertebrate fauna in Bladen County, North Carolina. These findings will enhance understanding of the Campanian age vertebrate fauna and permit both local and regional scale biogeographic correlation of the North Carolina vertebrate fauna.

A new site near Elizabethtown, North Carolina has produced a wealth of Campanian age microvertebrate fossils revealing a variety of new taxonomic, paleoecologic, and biogeographic information. Of particular significance is the abundance of dinosaurian remains at this site. This locality has more than doubled the North Carolina Campanian age dinosaurian record – a record previously recognized and described mainly from Phoebus Landing, a site located approximately 7 km southeast of Elizabethtown.

Bulk sampling was conducted from the new locality and a faunal abundance analysis was performed. These results were then compared to similar faunal abundance data from new bulk samples collected at Phoebus Landing. Selected microvertebrate specimens were analyzed using X-ray diffraction to define mineral content which assisted in determining taphonomic history and depositional environment. Specimens were identified to the family and, where possible, to the genus level.