Tangahoe Formation
{{Short description|Geologic formation in the southwestern North Island of New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2024}}{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox rockunit
| name = Tangahoe Formation
| image = Waihi Beach Reserve 12.jpg
| caption = Exposed rock at Waihi Beach Reserve, South Taranaki, New Zealand
| type =
| period = Pliocene
| age = Middle Pliocene ~{{fossil range|3.4|3.0}}
| prilithology = Mudstone
| otherlithology =
| coordinates = {{coord|39|30|S|174|50|E|type:landmark_region:NZ_dim:100000|display=inline,title}}
| paleocoordinates =
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| map = {{Location map+ | New Zealand
| relief = 1
| width = 250
| float = center
| places =
{{Location map~ | New Zealand
| lat_deg = -39.3
| lon_deg = 175
| mark = Orange ff8040 pog.svg
| marksize = 12
}}
}}
| map_caption =
| location =
| region = Taranaki
| country = New Zealand
| extent = Wanganui Basin, North Island
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The Tangahoe Formation is a geologic formation in the southwestern North Island of New Zealand.
The formation occurs in the Taranaki and Manawatū-Whanganui Regions, spreading in an east–west band for {{convert|200|km|mi}} from the volcanic deposits of Mount Taranaki in the west to the Ruahine Ranges in the east, in a band with an average width of around {{convert|20|km|mi}}.Kamp, P. J. J., et al. (2023) "[https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Geology-map-of-western-North-Island-showing-the-main-stratigraphic-units-in-the_fig1_41446186 Geology map of western North Island, showing the main stratigraphic units in the Taranaki, King Country and Wanganui basins]," www.researchgate.net. Accessed 9 February 2023. It becomes exposed at its western end close to the Tasman Sea coast near Hāwera in a series of cliff faces.Naish, T. R., et al. (2005) "[https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/handle/10289/3485 An integrated sequence stratigraphic, palaeoenvironmental, and chronostratigraphic analysis of the Tangahoe Formation, southern Taranaki coast, with implications for mid-Pliocene (c. 3.4–3.0 Ma) glacio-eustatic sea-level changes]," Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 35(1&2), 151-196. Accessed 9 February 2023. The formation takes its name from the Tangahoe River, close to the exposed cliffs.
The formation is sedimentary, composed largely of muddy sandstones, and was formed beneath sea level in the Waipipian stage of the mid-Pliocene some 3.4 to 3.0 million years ago.
Fossil content
{{Paleobiota-key-compact}}
The formation is an important fossil site. Many marine fossils have been recovered from its mudstones, including the megalodon shark, giant petrel Macronectes tinae, penguin Eudyptes atatu, monk seal Eomonachus belegaerensis, and cetaceans.Lambert, R., "[http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/taranaki-region/page-2 Taranaki region - Geology and climate]," Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand Accessed 9 February 2023.{{Cite journal|last1=Tennyson|first1= A.J.D.|last2=Salvador|first2=R.B.|year=2023|title=A New Giant Petrel (Macronectes, Aves: Procellariidae) from the Pliocene of Taranaki, New Zealand|journal=Taxonomy|volume=3|issue=1|pages=57–67|doi=10.3390/taxonomy3010006|doi-access= free|hdl=10037/29075|hdl-access=free}}
=Mammals=
=Birds=
=Fish=
=Invertebrates=
| class="wikitable" align="center" | ||||
| colspan="6" align="center" | Invertebrates reported from the Tangahoe Formation | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | Species | Presence
!Material | Notes | Images |
| Palaega{{Cite journal |last1=Feldmann |first1=Rodney M. |last2=Rust |first2=Seabourne |date=2006 |title=Palaega kakatahi n. sp.: The first record of a marine fossil isopod from the Pliocene of New Zealand |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233468280 |journal=New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics |language=en |volume=49 |issue=4 |pages=411–415 |doi=10.1080/00288306.2006.9515177 |issn=0028-8306}}
|P. kakatahi |Between Raukawa Falls & Kakatahi. |A single specimen. |A cirolanid isopod. | |
References
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Category:Geologic formations of New Zealand
Category:Landforms of Taranaki
Category:Long stubs with short prose
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