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The Schoharie Formation consists of a well-bedded argillaceous
limestone to calcareous mudstone. Moving vertically upward the content
of carbonate in the formation increases. This formation contains
finer grained makeup than the underlying bed of the Carlisle Center.
The Schoharie formation reaches a maximum of 180 feet in thickness in
the Kinston area, and it extends to 215 feet of thickness west of Accord,
New York. Traditionally most of the fossil record has been discovered within
the nodules, with relatively few body fossils recovered from outside these
units.
The Schoharie formation contains a fauna much more diverse than that of the Carlisle Center. Brachiopods remain the dominate fauna, but bryozoan colonies, large dalminitid trilobites, spiriferid brachiopods, and rugose corals are characteristic of this formation as well. The depositional environment of the formation has been divided into two categories: the Aquetuck and the Saugerties. The Aquetuck is the older member, lying in contact with the Carlisle Center Formation. The Carlisle Center is characterized by a deepening marine environment for which there is a continuing pattern into the Aquetuck. The Aquetuck shallows closer to the Saugerties Member which represents a middle shelf environment that follows the shallow continuation up into a quiet near shore area. (1) |
