The Mt. Eden Formation is a geologic formation in Riverside County, California. It underlies the San Timoteo Formation, and preserves fossils dating back to the Neogene period.Matti, J. et al. Geologic and Geophysical Maps of the El Casco 7.5′ Quadrangle, Riverside County, Southern California, with Accompanying Geologic-Map Database, p. 1 (USGS, 2015).
Discovery and nomenclature This geologic formation was initially described in 1921 by paleontologist Childs Frick,English, H. Duncan. The Geology of the San Timoteo Badlands, Riverside County, California, p. 36 (Claremont College, 1953). who considered the San Timoteo Badlands to be split into three lithologic parts: (1) the Potrero Creek deposits, (2) the San Timoteo Formation, and (3) the Eden beds.Albright, L. Barry. Biostratigraphy and Vertebrate Paleontology of the San Timoteo Badlands, Southern California, p. 5 (University of California Press, 2000). The word "Eden" was taken from a large hill of schist located just west of the San Jacinto quadrangle.Wilmarth, M. Grace. Bulletin 896, Lexicon of Geologic Names of the United States, p. 1433 (U.S. Dept. of Interior, 1938). By 1931, the term "Mt. Eden formation" became prevalent while the term "Eden beds" fell into disuse, and the Potrero Creek deposits ceased to be considered a separate entity.
See also
List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in California Paleontology in California
References
Bibliography
USGS map USGS description of map