Hell Creek Formation

E73998

fossiliferous stratigraphic unit geologic formation sedimentary rock unit

The Hell Creek Formation is a famous Late Cretaceous rock unit in North America renowned for its exceptionally rich dinosaur fossils, including iconic specimens like Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops.

Aliases (1)

Hell Creek ×1

Statements (77)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	fossiliferous stratigraphic unit → geologic formation → sedimentary rock unit →
ageRange	approximately 66 to 68 million years ago →
associatedWith	Chicxulub impact event →
contains	Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary layer → iridium anomaly near K–Pg boundary → paleosols →
containsFossil	Acheroraptor temertyorum → Anzu wyliei → Champsosaurus → Crocodyliformes → Dakotaraptor steini → Denversaurus → Edmontosaurus annectens → Leptoceratops gracilis → Nodosauridae → Ornithomimus → Pachycephalosaurus wyomingensis → Struthiomimus → Thescelosaurus neglectus → Torosaurus latus → Triceratops horridus → Triceratops prorsus → Tyrannosaurus rex → amphibians → angiosperm leaves → conifer wood → early placental mammals → ferns → freshwater turtles → insects → mammals → marsupials → multituberculates → pollen → rays → sharks → spores → teleost fishes → trace fossils →
country	United States →
depositionalEnvironment	deltaic → floodplain → fluvial →
geologicAge	Maastrichtian →
geologicPeriod	Late Cretaceous →
hasResearchSite	Badlands of North Dakota → Fort Peck area → Makoshika State Park →
isTypeLocalityFor	Acheroraptor temertyorum → Anzu wyliei → Dakotaraptor steini → Triceratops horridus → Tyrannosaurus rex →
lithology	coal → mudstone → sandstone → shale → siltstone →
locatedIn	Montana → North Dakota NERFINISHED → South Dakota NERFINISHED → Wyoming →
namedAfter	Hell Creek →
namedBy	Barnum Brown →
namingYear	1907 →
notableFor	Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary studies → rich dinosaur fauna →
overlies	Fox Hills Formation → Pierre Shale →
paleoclimate	humid → warm temperate →
paleogeography	coastal plain of Western Interior Seaway →
partOf	Western Interior Basin →
region	Great Plains →
underlies	Fort Union Formation →

Referenced by (3)

Subject (surface form when different)	Predicate
SUE the T. rex →	discoveredInFormation
FMNH PR 2081 →	discoveredInGeologicalFormation
Hell Creek Formation ("Hell Creek") →	namedAfter