The Navesink Formation is a 66 to 70 mya greensand

glauconitic Glauconite is an iron potassium phyllosilicate (mica group) mineral of characteristic green color which is very friable and has very low weathering resistance. It crystallizes with a monoclinic geometry. Its name is derived from the Greek () m ...

marl Marl is an earthy material rich in carbonate minerals, Clay minerals, clays, and silt. When Lithification, hardened into rock, this becomes marlstone. It is formed in marine or freshwater environments, often through the activities of algae. M ...

and sand

geological formation A geological formation, or simply formation, is a body of rock having a consistent set of physical characteristics (lithology) that distinguishes it from adjacent bodies of rock, and which occupies a particular position in the layers of rock expo ...

New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...

. It is known for its

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...

period fossil shell beds and dinosaur bones.

Description

The Navesink Formation, named after

Navesink, New Jersey Navesink (, ) is an Local government in New Jersey#Unincorporated communities, unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) located on the northernmost stretch of the Jersey Shore in Middletown Township, New Jersey, Middletown Town ...

, is typically found above the Mount Laurel Formation and under the Red Bank Formation. There is a 5 mya gap between the Navesink and Mount Laurel Formations. The Navesink varies in depth from to across its range from Sandy Hook to Pennsville. The Navesink has the highest

radon gas Radon is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Rn and atomic number 86. It is a radioactive decay, radioactive noble gas and is colorless and odorless. Of the three naturally occurring radon Isotope, isotopes, only radon-222, Rn ha ...

potential of the New Jersey geologic formations.

Sites

There are several locations where the Navesink Formation is visible including

Poricy Park Poricy Park is a nature preserve and park in Middletown Township, New Jersey, Middletown Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey. It is known for its Cretaceous period fossil shell beds along the Poricy Brook streambed, open to the public for li ...

Middletown, New Jersey Middletown Township is a township in northern Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the township was the state's 20th-most-populous municipality and the largest in the county,

which has several exposures along Poricy Brook. There is also exposure in Big Brook Park in Marlboro, NJ.

Paleofauna

References

{{Reflist Cretaceous geology of New Jersey Maastrichtian Stage of North America