The Goliad Formation (Tg)Page et al., 2005, p.5 is a geologic formation in Texas. It preserves fossils dating back to the Serravallian to earliest Pliocene stages (Clarendonian, Hemphillian and earliest Blancan in the NALMA classification) of the Neogene period,Goliad Formation at Fossilworks.org including the gomphothere Blancotherium among many other fossil mammals, reptiles, birds and fish.

The formation hosts uranium deposits and forms the Evangeline aquifer underneath the city of Houston.

Description The Goliad Formation was described by Plummer in 1933,Baskin & Hulbert, 2008, p.94 as consisting of three members; the Lapara Sand, overlain by the Lagarto Creek Beds, in turn overlain by the Labahia Beds with outcrop thicknesses ranging from . The Goliad Formation comprises claystone, sand, sandstone, marl, caliche, limestone, and conglomerates and reaches in certain areas a thickness of .Page et al., 2005, p.7 The formation overlies the Fleming Formation and dates from the Clarendonian to the earliest Blancan.Baskin & Hulbert, 2008, p.96 In the southwest of its range, the formation overlies the Catahoula and Gueydan Formations.Nicot et al., 2010, p.38 The Goliad Formation is recognized regionally across the Texas coastal plain as an interval of dominantly fluvial siliciclastic strata that overlies the Miocene Fleming Formation and underlies Pleistocene terrace deposits. The formation is now interpreted as a basinward-thickening progradational wedge of Middle and Late Miocene age. Stratigraphic thicknesses in outcrop range from , but offshore the interval thickens to as much as .May, 2019

Together with the Catahoula, Fleming and Oakville Formation, the Goliad Formation is part of the Gulf Coast aquifer, an extensive artesian aquifer that produces water primarily for irrigation and municipalities.Page et al., 2005, p.4 The Evangeline aquifer is hosted by the Goliad Formation underlying the city of Houston.Campbell et al., 2018, p.14 The formation hosts uranium deposits in the South Texas Uranium Province and is mined for caliche in Hidalgo County, Texas.

Fossil content Tertiary mammal fossils from South Texas were first reported by Dumble (1894) as coming from the Lapara division, later the Lapara Beds (Dumble, 1903).Baskin & Hulbert, 2008, p.93

The following fossils have been reported from the formation:

Group Taxa Notes Images Mammals Aelurodon taxoides Blancotherium buckneri Calippus martini Calippus placidus Calippus regulus Ceratogaulus rhinocerus Baskin & Hulbert, 2012, p.187 Cormohipparion ingenuum Baskin & Hulbert, 2008, p.97 Cranioceras teres Dinohippus subvenus Hipparion tehonense Hypohippus affine Hypohippus affinis Ischyrocyon gidleyi Leptocyon vafer Megatylopus primaevus Neohipparion affine Nothotylopus camptognathus Pliohippus pernix Procamelus grandis Procamelus occidentalis Prosthennops xiphidonticus Protohippus supremus Protolabis coartatus Pseudhipparion curtivallum Pseudoceras skinneri Webb, 2008 Ramoceros ramosus Synthetoceras tricornatus Teleoceras major Prothero, 2005 Ustatochoerus medius novomexicanus Protolabis cf. yavapaiensis Ustatochoerus cf. medius Aepycamelus sp. Amphicyon sp. Aphelops sp. Bison sp. Blastomeryx sp. Calippus sp. Glyptodon sp. Hypohippus sp. Hippotherium sp. Alroy, 2002 Hypolagus sp. Megatylopus sp. Merychippus sp. Merychyus sp. Merycodus sp. Nannippus sp. Neohipparion sp. Pliauchenia sp. Pliohippus sp. Procamelus sp. Prosthennops sp. Protolabis sp. Teleoceras sp. cf. Domninoides sp. cf. Eucyon sp. cf. Gomphotherium sp. Amphicyoninae indet. Merycodontinae indet. Protoceratinae indet. Tayassuinae indet. Antilocapridae indet. Canidae indet. Equini indet. Palaeomerycidae indet. Protoceratidae indet. Rhinocerotidae indet. Rodentia indet. Ruminantia indet. cf. Mustelidae indet. Birds cf. Anserinae indet. Aves indet. Reptiles Alligator cf. mississippiensis Apalone sp. Hesperotestudo sp. Testudo sp. Trionyx sp. cf. Gopherus sp. cf. Mycteria sp. cf. Terrapene sp. cf. Trachemys sp. Emydidae indet. Fish Pylodictis olivaris Ictalurus cf. lambda Ameiurus sp. Lepisosteus sp.

See also List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Texas Paleontology in Texas

References

Bibliography

Geology

Paleontology

Further reading

Weeks, A. W., 1945, Oakville, Cuero, and Goliad formations of Texas Coastal Plain between Brazos River and Rio Grande: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 29, p. 1721–1732 E. H. Sellards. 1941. Final report covering the period from March 4, 1939, to September 30, 1941, for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project iii-85 Anonymous. 1941. The ninth quarterly report covering the quarter ending June 30, 1941 for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project. O.P. No. 665-66-3-233. State Serial No. 300-88 1-41 Anonymous. 1940. The seventh quarterly report covering the quarter ending December 31, 1940 for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project. O.P. No. 665-66-3-233. State Serial No. 300-88 1-44 Anonymous. 1940. The sixth quarterly report covering the quarter ending September 30, 1940 for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project. O.P. No. 665-66-3-233. State Serial No. 300-88 1-44 Anonymous. 1939. The second quarterly report covering the quarter ending September 30, 1939 for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project. O.P. No. 665-66-3-233. State Serial No. 300-88 1-26 Anonymous. 1939. The first quarterly report covering the quarter ending June 30, 1939 for the state-wide paleontologic-mineralogic survey in Texas. A Federal Works Agency Work Projects Administration Project. O.P. No. 665-66-3-233. State Serial No. 300-88 1-22+