Adaffa Formation

Last updated
Adaffa Formation
Stratigraphic range: Campanian
~72  Ma
O
S
D
C
P
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Pg
N
Type Geological formation
Unit of Suqah Group
UnderliesUnconformity with Lower Miocene Al Wajh Formation
Overlies Proterozoic granite basement
ThicknessUp to 200 m (660 ft)
Lithology
Primary Sandstone, siltstone, marl
Other Conglomerate
Location
Location Midyan Peninsula, Tabuk Region
Coordinates 27°18′N35°42′E / 27.3°N 35.7°E / 27.3; 35.7 Coordinates: 27°18′N35°42′E / 27.3°N 35.7°E / 27.3; 35.7
Approximate paleocoordinates 9°42′N29°12′E / 9.7°N 29.2°E / 9.7; 29.2
Region Arabian Peninsula
CountryFlag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia relief location map.jpg
Lightgreen pog.svg
Adaffa Formation (Saudi Arabia)

The Adaffa Formation is a Geological formation in Saudi Arabia, and the lowermost unit of the Suqah Group. It dates back to the Campanian of the Late Cretaceous. The lithology consists of sandstone, siltstone and marl, with a basal granitic conglomerate with phosphatic nodules. Also present are ferricrete horizons. It was deposited in marginal marine conditions close to land. Fish, [1] marine reptile [2] and dinosaur [3] remains have been recovered from the formation.

Contents

Vertebrate paleofauna

Fish

Fish of the Adaffa Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages
Ceratodus IndeterminateToothplates Lungfish
cf. Enchodus IndeterminateTeeth
cf. Protosphyraena IndeterminateTeeth Pachycormid
 ?Anacoracidae IndeterminateVertebrae
Lepisosteidae IndeterminateVertebral centra
Pycnodontiformes IndeterminateTeeth

Crocodyliformes

Crocodyliformes of the Adaffa Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages
Dyrosauridae IndeterminateTwo vertebrae
Crocodyliformes IndeterminateCranial fragment

Plesiosaurians

Plesiosaurians of the Adaffa Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages
Elasmosauridae IndeterminateRostral portion of a skull

Squamates

Squamates of the Adaffa Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages
Prognathodon IndeterminateTeeth Mosasaur
cf. Pachyvaranus IndeterminateVertebraeAquatic varanoid
Mosasauridae Pygal vertebra
Plioplatecarpinae IndeterminateDorsal vertebra

Turtles

Turtles of the Adaffa Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages
Bothremydidae IndeterminateShell fragments and a femur

Non-avian Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs of the Adaffa Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages
Abelisauridae IndeterminateTwo teeth
Titanosauria IndeterminateSeven caudal vertebrae, seemingly from the same individual

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References

  1. Kear, Benjamin P.; Rich, Thomas H.; Ali, Mohammed A.; Al-Mufarrih, Yahya A.; Matiri, Adel H.; Al-Masary, Abdu M.; Attia, Yousry (October 2009). "An Upper Cretaceous (Campanian-Maastrichtian) actinopterygian fish assemblage from the marginal marine Adaffa Formation of Saudi Arabia". Cretaceous Research. 30 (5): 1164–1168. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2009.05.002. ISSN   0195-6671.
  2. Kear, B. P.; Rich, T. H.; Ali, M. A.; Al-Mufarrih, Y. A.; Matiri, A. H.; Masary, A. M.; Attia, Y. (September 2008). "Late Cretaceous (Campanian—Maastrichtian) marine reptiles from the Adaffa Formation, NW Saudi Arabia". Geological Magazine. 145 (5): 648–654. doi:10.1017/S0016756808005062. ISSN   1469-5081. S2CID   128412516.
  3. Kear, Benjamin P.; Rich, Thomas H.; Vickers-Rich, Patricia; Ali, Mohammed A.; Al-Mufarreh, Yahya A.; Matari, Adel H.; Al-Massari, Abdu M.; Nasser, Abdulaziz H.; Attia, Yousry (2013-12-26). "First Dinosaurs from Saudi Arabia". PLOS ONE. 8 (12): e84041. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084041 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   3873419 . PMID   24386326.