Sobral Formation

{{Short description|Paleontological Formation in Antarctica}}

{{For|the part of the Portuguese Lourinhã Formation|Sobral Unit}}

{{Infobox rockunit

| name = Sobral Formation

| image =

| caption =

| type = Geological formation

| age = Danian
~{{fossil range|66|61.6}}

| period = Danian

| prilithology = Siltstone, mudstone

| otherlithology = Concretion, sandstone

| namedfor =

| namedby =

| region = Seymour Island, James Ross Island group

| country = Antarctica

| coordinates = {{coord|64.3|S|56.7|W|display=inline,title}}

| paleocoordinates = {{coord|63.2|S|66.6|W|display=inline}}

| underlies = Cross Valley & La Meseta Formations

| overlies = Lopez de Bertodano Formation

| unitof = Marambio Group

| subunits =

| thickness = {{convert|250|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| extent =

| area =

| map = Geologic map of Seymour Island, Antarctica.png

| map_caption = Geologic map of Seymour Island, Antarctica with the Sobral Formation in brown

}}

The Sobral Formation is a palaeontological formation located in Antarctica. It dates to the Danian stage of the Lower Paleocene period.{{cite journal |author1=Bowman, V. |title=The Paleocene of Antarctica: Dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy and implications for the palaeo-Pacific margin of Gondwana |year=2016 |journal=Gondwana Research |volume=38 |pages=132–148 |doi=10.1016/j.gr.2015.10.018 |author2=Ineson, J. |author3=Riding, J. |author4=Crame, J. |author5=Francis, J. |author6=Condon, D. |author7=Whittle, R. |author8=Ferraccioli, F.|bibcode=2016GondR..38..132B |doi-access=free }}

Spectacular fossils documenting marine and terrestrial ecosystems soon after the (non-avian) dinosaurs became extinct at the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary are found in this formation.{{cite journal |author1=Crame, J.A. |title=The Early Origin of the Antarctic Marine Fauna and Its Evolutionary Implications |year=2014 |journal=PLOS ONE |volume=7 |issue=12 |pages=e114743 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0114743 |author2=Beu, A.G. |author3=Ineson J.R. |author4=Francis J.A. |author5=Whittle R.J. |author6=Bowman V.C.|pmc=4262473 |pmid=25493546|bibcode=2014PLoSO...9k4743C |doi-access=free }} One of the most significant sites is on Seymour Island.