Reconnaissance Geology and Vertebrate Paleontology of El Salvador, Central America

Research Article| November 01, 1949 RECONNAISSANCE GEOLOGY AND VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY OF EL SALVADOR, CENTRAL AMERICA R. A STIRTON; R. A STIRTON MUSEUM PALEONTOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar W. K GEALEY W. K GEALEY MUSEUM PALEONTOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information R. A STIRTON MUSEUM PALEONTOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. W. K GEALEY MUSEUM PALEONTOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 28 Nov 1947 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1949, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1949) 60 (11): 1731–1754. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1949)60[1731:RGAVPO]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 28 Nov 1947 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation R. A STIRTON, W. K GEALEY; RECONNAISSANCE GEOLOGY AND VERTEBRATE PALEONTOLOGY OF EL SALVADOR, CENTRAL AMERICA. GSA Bulletin 1949;; 60 (11): 1731–1754. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1949)60[1731:RGAVPO]2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The surface rocks in El Slavador consist primarily of ? Pliocene, early Pleistocene, late Pleistocene, and recent volcanics.In the Metapán area are exposures of ?pre-Mesozoic monzonite, the lower and middle Jurassic continental Metapán beds, and Cretaceous marine limestone, overlain unconformably by late Tertiary volcanics and continental sediment. The Tertiary is represented by a poorly consolidated sandstone and conglomerate approximately 650 feet thick, which overlies with unconformity 30 feet of gray andesite. The Mesozoic includes 400 feet of early Cretaceous limestone, underlain with apparent conformity by the Metapán beds, consisting of 180 feet of red and brown calcareous shale, 30 feet of hard vein quartz pebble conglomerate, and 75+ feet of interbedded fine-grained green sandstone and red, brown, and green shales.No identifiable vertebrate remains older than Pleistocene were found in El Salvador, though some of the beds referred to ?Pliocene or early Pleistocene may eventually yield late Pliocene fossils. Fossils have been found in 20 localities in 8 of the 14 departments in the country. The best locality was the Hormiguero quarry where a large series of Megatherium remains were uncovered. These ground sloths had been trapped and mired in a boghole. Other mammals found in the quarry were Smilodon, Bison, toxodont, and a small camelid. Mammuthus (mammoth) and Cuvieronius (spiral-tusked mastodon) were found at other localities. This probably is near the southernmost range of the mammoth and possibly near the northern limit for the South American toxodonts. Some poorly preserved fish and leaves, probably late Pleistocene, were found in barranca El Sisimico near San Vicente. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.