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The Geological and Paleontological History of South Carolina

Explore the fascinating geological and paleontological history of South Carolina, from its beginnings as an exotic volcanic island arc to its role in the formation of Pangaea. Discover the diverse range of fossils and rock formations that tell the story of this ancient land.

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The Geological and Paleontological History of South Carolina

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  1. The Geological and Paleontological History of South Carolina

  2. Geologic Provinces of South Carolina Carolina Terrane

  3. Unexpected beginnings… • The land on which we now live started as an “exotic volcanic island arc” in the proto-Atlantic Ocean 650 million years ago! This land is known geologically as the “Carolina Terrane.”

  4. Laurentia (ancient North America) South Carolina ? Carolina Terrane ? ? Precambrian (650 Ma)

  5. Ediacaran Fauna of the Late Precambrian or Proterozoic Eon Pteridinium, an Ediacaran index fossil found in the Carolina Slate Belt near Albemarle, NC These soft-bodied “metazoans” were some of the first multi-cellular organisms. Precambrian (650 Ma)

  6. Laurentia (ancient North America) Carolina Terrane Cambrian (550 Ma)

  7. Paradoxides (above) is a genus of trilobite found near Batesburg, SC. These and other fossils (Peronopsis – right) support the hypothesis that the Carolina Terrane is exotic to North America. Cambrian (520 Ma)

  8. Laurentia (ancient North America) Carolina Terrane Ordovician (485 Ma)

  9. The Carolina Slate Belt • The eastern flank of the Carolina Terrane bears witness to ancient volcanic activity, as well as ocean environment east of the island arc… Tillery slate – a meta-mudstone from the ancient sea floor. Meta-siltstones – compressed volcanic ash Basalt – erupted, crystallized lava

  10. Laurentia (ancient North America) Carolina Terrane Carolina Terrane “docks” but is not yet “accreted” to Laurentia. Ordovician (450 Ma)

  11. The Charlotte Belt • The central axis of the Carolina Terrane is composed of more plutons and the metamorphosed (altered) granites and gabbros. Meta-diorite Meta-gabbro Meta-granite

  12. Laurentia (ancient North America) Carolina Terrane Silurian (430 Ma)

  13. Baltica (ancient Europe) Laurentia (ancient North America) Carolina Terrane Carolina Terrane is “accreted” to Laurentia as parts of Baltica (ancient Europe) begin to collide with northern Laurentia. Devonian (400 Ma)

  14. The Kings Mountain Belt • The northwest margin of the Carolina Terrane is composed of meta-sedimentary rocks of oceanic and near-shore origin from the ancient island arc. Barite from hydrothermal vents (?) Marble – altered limestone from offshore deposits Meta-conglomerates from the ancient rocky shoreline?

  15. The collision of Baltica with Laurentia forms the supercontinent “Laurasia.” Carolina Terrane Devonian (360 Ma)

  16. Laurasia Carolina Terrane “Gondwana,” a supercontinent composed of ancient Africa, South America, etc. is also on a collision course… Mississippian (345 Ma)

  17. Laurasia Carolina Terrane Gondwana Mississippian (345 Ma)

  18. Laurasia Outcrop of Pageland granite at 40 Acre Rock, a 300 Ma pluton of the Carolina terrane. Gondwana Pennsylvanian (300 Ma)

  19. With the collision of Laurasia and Gondwana, the supercontinent PANGAEA is formed…the Carolina Terrane is shoved farther to the northwest onto the continental margin… Permian (290 Ma)

  20. PANGAEA The Permian ended with a mass extinction that wiped out ~ 90% of all of Earth’s species. Permian (260 Ma)

  21. PANGAEA Pangaea begins to rift (continents are pulling apart), forming the “Triassic Basins”. Triassic (230 Ma)

  22. The Triassic Basins have yielded numerous fossils, and although the Crowburg Basin of SC has been unproductive, The NC Basins are another story… Stegomus Rutiodon Triassic (210 Ma) Postosuchus

  23. In the eastern region of North America during the Early Jurassic, before actual onset of opening of the Atlantic Ocean basin, magma welled up in cracks in the crust, forming diabase dikes . Jurassic (195 Ma)

  24. Diabase dikes Jurassic (180 Ma)

  25. Only a few Early Jurassic fossils have been found on the East Coast (CT, NJ, MA) and none specifically from the Carolinas. Why? Anchisaurus Ammosaurus Eubrontes Jurassic (170 Ma)

  26. Jurassic (150 Ma) Jurassic (150 Ma)

  27. Cretaceous fossils are better represented within the Carolina Coastal Plain. Several species have been found. Hadrosaur Dromeosaur Ornithomimid Deinosuchus Cretaceous (115 Ma)

  28. Because the Carolina Coastal Plain was inundated during the late Cretaceous, numerous fossils of marine reptiles have also been found there… Cretaceous (85 Ma)

  29. At 65 Ma, a 10 mile wide Asteroid collided with Earth at Chicxulube. The impact caused global climate changes that resulted in mass extinction of approximately 70% of Earth’s species, including the dinosaurs. Cretaceous (65 Ma)

  30. For over 160 million years small, furry creatures had lived in the shadow of the dinosaurs, eking out a nocturnal existence. The very adaptations that suited mammals for nighttime existence and the ability to excavate burrows and hibernate may have been the keys to their surviving the dark, desolate conditions following the asteroid impact.

  31. The only known mammal fossils of Paleocene age in eastern North American were found near St. Stephen in Berkeley County, SC. Ectoganus Phenacodus Paleocene (60 Ma)

  32. During the Eocene, global warming began anew and sea level rose again as far inland as Columbia. Carbonates were deposited in offshore shelf waters (i.e. Santee Limestone) and tidal sands were deposited in inlets at the coast (i.e. Peachtree Rock). Eocene (50 Ma)

  33. The sea levels fell once again during the Oligocene, and grasses filled the lowlands. The Florida fossil record is richer than that of any other southeastern state. Oligocene (25 Ma) Titanis walleri Amphiocyonid Mesohippus

  34. As grasslands continued to expand, hoofed mammals radiated into new forms. Isolated fossils from the Carolinas offer a glimpse into the Miocene. Miocene (10 Ma) Miocene (10 Ma) Teleoceras Daedon

  35. A significant event was the connection of South America to North America. The resulting land bridge initiated the ‘Great American Biotic Exchange.’ Pliocene fossils include ground sloths from SC and horses & gomphotheres from NC. Gomphotherium Megalonyx Cormohipparion Pliocene (3.5 Ma)

  36. Although the Pleistocene is called the ‘Ice Age,’ climate fluctuated and glaciers advanced & retreated several times during the Pleistocene. The last glacial maximum was 18Ka, and sea levels were low. Numerous animals inhabited the coastal savannas of the Carolinas. Mammut Smilodon Arctodus Pleistocene (15 Ka) Bison latifrons Hemiauchenia

  37. At the end of the Pleistocene a mass extinction occurred. Was it due to climate change, interspecific competition, paleo-humans, or a combination of these factors? A few species of megafauna persisted into the Holocene of South Carolina Holocene (Recent)

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