Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 19, 2026

Wind River Formation

The Wind River Formation is a geologic formation in Wyoming in the Wind River Basin. It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period. A recent study by Stanford suggests that fracking has contaminated the entire ground water resource in the basin.

Last revised
Jun 19, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
514 w
Citations
23
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Wind River Formation
Stratigraphic range: Paleogene
TypeGeological formation
Location
RegionWyoming
CountryUnited States
Wind River Formation at Hell's Half Acre, Natrona County, Wyoming. source ↗

The Wind River Formation is a geologic formation in Wyoming in the Wind River Basin. It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period. A recent study by Stanford suggests that fracking has contaminated the entire ground water resource in the basin.1

Fossil content

Mammals

Apatotheres

Apatotheres reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Apatemys A. bellulus Lost Cabin Member.2 Also found in the Willwood Formation.2

Cimolestans

Cimolestans reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Palaeosinopa P. incerta Lost Cabin Member.2 A pantolestid also known from the Willwood and San Jose formations .2
P. sp. Lost Cabin Member.3 A pantolestid.

Leptictids

Leptictids reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Palaeictops P. bicuspis Lost Cabin Member.2 Also known from the Willwood Formation.2

Primatomorphs

Primatomorphs reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Absarokius A. sp. Cottonwood Creek, Lysite Member.3 An omomyid.
Arapajovius A. cf. gazini 3
Copelemur C. feretutus Lysite Member.3 "ACM 4326, an isolated right M1".3 A notharctine.

Rodents

Rodents reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Paramys P. sp. Lost Cabin Member.3 "ACM 327, a right mandible with M1 through M3 and partial P4".3

Ungulates

Ungulates reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Diacodexis D. secans AMNH 4899 (left and right P4-M3).3 A dichobunid.

Reptiles

Squamates

Squamates reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Ototriton O. solidus Lysite Member.4 ACM 3539.4 A worm lizard.
Protorhineura P. hatcherii 4 A worm lizard also known from the Brule & White River formations.
Spathorhynchus S. fossorium 4 A worm lizard also known from the Bridger Formation.

Invertebrates

Insects

Insects reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Phyllocnistis Near Dubois, Wyoming.5 Mine on a leaflet impression of Cedrela.5

Plants

Plants reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Cedrela Near Dubois, Wyoming.5 Leaflet impression.5
See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Fracking Can Contaminate Drinking Water". Scientific American.
  2. Bown, T.; Schankler, David M. (1982). "A review of the Proteutheria and Insectivora of the Willwood Formation (Lower Eocene), Bighorn Basin, Wyoming". doi:10.3133/B1523. S2CID 127861247. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Johnson, Edward (2005-06-01). "A New Early Eocene Mammalian Fauna from the Great Divide Basin, Southwestern Wyoming: Vertebrate Paleontology, Paleoclimatology, and Biostratigraphy". Masters Theses.
  4. Hembree, Daniel I. (April 30, 2007). "Phylogenetic revision of Rhineuridae (Reptilia: Squamata: Amphisbaenia) from the Eocene to Miocene of North America". The University of Kansas Paleontological Contributions (15): 1–20. doi:10.17161/PCNS.1808.3763. hdl:1808/3763. S2CID 59354440.
  5. Hickey, Leo J.; Hodges, Ronald W. (1975-08-29). "Lepidopteran Leaf Mine from the Early Eocene Wind River Formation of Northwestern Wyoming". Science. 189 (4204): 718–720. Bibcode:1975Sci...189..718H. doi:10.1126/science.189.4204.718. ISSN 0036-8075.