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These formations were extensively mined for phosphate during the 1800's, and today provide a glimpse into life of the Late Oligocene embayment. The Eocene deposits don't quite make it to the coast.Īshley and Chandler Bridge Formations: Around the area of Summerville are two of the more famous formations in South Carolina, the Late Oligocene Ashely and Chandler Bridge formations.

One of the more famous ones, called the Harleyville formation (near Harleyville) contains the remains of Eocene giants, such as teeth form the predecessor to the megalodon shark, Otodus Auriculatus, and early whales, such as Basilosaurus. Harleyville formation: Starting further inland, near I-95 are a few Eocene formations.

Modern rivers and harbors cut through these formations, eroding out numerous fossils, making the South Carolina Coastal plain one of the best places to find fossils, including fossil shark teeth.īelow is a rundown of some of the more famous formations that contain fossils. These sediments from different time periods are layered into formations, like pancakes, right on top of one another. As a result, when sediments built up over millions of years, so did a record of the diverse life living there. These nutrient rich waters also contained phosphate which greatly aids in the fossilization process. This embayment was full of warm, nutrient rich waters, teaming with life. The Charleston Embayment has a rich 65-million-year history throughout the Cenozoic. Fossil locations include the Calvert Cliffs - Salisbury Embaymet, the mine at Aurora - Albemarle Embayment, the rivers and beaches in the Charleston area - Charleston Embayment, and the old phosphate spoil islands along the Savannah river and Tybee Island in Georgia - Southeast Georgia Embayment. All of these embayments have fossil bearing sediments. Diagram of ancient embayments along the Eastern United States modified from Cicimurri and Knight, 2009.

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