Geological Timeline, Palaeogene - showing detailed stratigraphy for each period

Bawdsey - London Clay

Barton-on-Sea - Barton Beds

Oligocene

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE: Australia separates from Antarctica. Climate cools.

TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL LIFE: Grazing mammals become more diverse, dogs, rats pigs, hyrax, giant sloth's.

PLANT LIFE: Grasses and trees cover most much of the land.

SEA LIFE: Toothed whales replace early whales.

Eocene

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE: North America and Europe separate. Mountains rise. Seas flood the land. Warm climate.

TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL LIFE: Whales and sea cows, rodents, bats, early horses. Elephants, lemurs and tarsiers. Marsupial mammals in South America.

PLANT LIFE: Flowering plants.

SEA LIFE: gastorpods, bivales, foraminifera, fish, sharks.

Paleocene

GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE: Sea retreat. South America isolated.

TERRESTRIAL ANIMAL LIFE: Age of mammals. Rodents, early primates,
Herbivorous and carnivorous mammals. Large flightless birds.

PLANT LIFE: Flowering plants become more successful.

SEA LIFE: Gastropods, Bivalves, foraminifer, fish, sharks successful.

British Stratification Tables
Updated and correct from 2004 MYA=Million Years Ago from present

Rupelian 28.5 to 33.7 MYA
Bouldnor Formation	Cranmore	Hamstead Yarmouth
	Hamstead	Hamstead Yarmouth

Priabonian 33.7 to 35.5 MYA
Bouldnor Formation	Bembridge Marls	Hamstead Yarmouth Whitecliff Bay Bembridge
Bembridge Limestone		Whitecliff Bay Bembridge
Headon Hill Formation	Seagrove Bay	Whitecliff Bay
	Osborne Marls	Whitecliff Bay
	Fishbourne	Whitecliff Bay
	Lacey's Farm	Whitecliff Bay
	Cliff End Member	Whitecliff Bay
	Hatherwood Limestone
	Linstone Chine
	Colwell Bay	Whitecliff Bay
	Totland Bay	Whitecliff Bay

Bartonian 35.5 - 40.5 MYA
Headon Beds	Milford-on-Sea Whitecliff Bay
Becton Sand	Whitecliff Bay
Chama Sand	Whitecliff Bay
Upper Barton Beds	Barton-on-Sea Whitecliff Bay
Middle Barton Beds	Barton-on-Sea Whitecliff Bay
Lower Barton Beds	Barton-on-Sea Whitecliff Bay

Bracklesham Group	Wittering Formation	Bracklesham Bay Whitecliff Bay
	Earnley Sand
	Marsh Farm Formation
	Selsey Sand

Lutetian 40.5 - 49.5 MYA
Bracklesham Group		Bracklesham Bay Whitecliff Bay


	Selsey Sand

Bournemouth Group

Bournemouth Formation

Ypresian 49.5 - 54.8 MYA
Bournemouth Group	Poole Formation	Studland Bay
London Clay	London Clay Basement Bed	Ramsholt Bawdsey Whitecliff Bay
	Division A-D	Isle of Sheppey Walton-on-the-Naze Ramsholt Maylandsea Nacton Levington Bawdsey Bognor Regis Herne Bay Whitecliff Bay Harwich Wrabness Stutton
Blackheath Beds		Abbey Wood
Harwich Formation		Harwich Wrabness
Claygate Beds
Oldhaven Beds		Herne Bay
Reading Formation		Herne Bay Whitecliff Bay

Thanetian 54.8 -57.0 MYA
Thanet beds	Herne Bay Pegwell Bay

Our International Rock and Fossil Magazine

(C)opyright 2008 - UKGE Limited, UK Fossils Network and Deposits Magazine, all rights reserved.
Whilst we try to ensure that all content is accurate and up to date we cannot guarantee this. UK Fossils takes no responsibility in the accuracy of this content, nor takes any liabilities for any trips, events or exchanges between visitors using either the discussion board or the UK Fossils planner. Any posted trips and events by UK Fossils are personal and not arranged by UK Fossils, therefore visitors should seek their own personal insurance cover. Please remember to always check the tide times.
Fossil Discussions | News | Stone Tumblers | Magazine | Search Geo | UKGE | Geological Timeline | A to Z | Contact us