Golden Valley Formation
| Golden Valley Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Late Paleocene-Early Eocene (Clarkforkian-Wasatchian) ~ | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Sub-units | Bear Den & Camels Butte Members |
| Underlies | White River Group |
| Overlies | Sentinel Butte Formation |
| Thickness | up to 122 metres (400 ft) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Claystone, mudstone, siltstone, sandstone |
| Other | Lignite, conglomerate |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 48°30′N 102°42′W / 48.5°N 102.7°W |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 52°54′N 82°12′W / 52.9°N 82.2°W |
| Region | North Dakota |
| Country | United States |
| Extent | Williston Basin |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Golden Valley, North Dakota |
| Named by | Benson & Laird |
| Year defined | 1947 |
The Golden Valley Formation is a stratigraphic unit of Late Paleocene to Early Eocene age in the Williston Basin of North Dakota. It is present in western North Dakota and was named for the city of Golden Valley by W.E. Benson and W.M. Laird in 1947. It preserves significant assemblages of fossil plants and vertebrates, as well as mollusk and insect fossils.