Blesa Formation

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Blesa Formation
Stratigraphic range: Barremian
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C
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Type Geological formation
Unit ofMaestrazgo Basin
Sub-units
  • Upper Blesa Sequence - Valdejunco Member
  • Middle Blesa Sequence - Josa Member
  • Lower Blesa Sequence - Cabezo Gordo Member, Morenillo member
Underlies Alacón Formation
Overlies Unconformity with Jurassic strata
ThicknessUp to 150 m
Lithology
Primary Clay, Marl, Limestone
Other Conglomerate
Location
Region Europe
Los Quinones site.jpg
Distribution of the Belsa Formation within the Oliete Sub-Basin (in olive)

The Blesa Formation is a geological formation in Teruel and La Rioja, Spain whose strata date back to the Barremian of the Early Cretaceous. [1] Dinosaur remains as well as eggs [2] are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. [3] Along with the fragmentary anhanguerian pterosaur Iberodactylus . [4] While the lower and upper parts of the formation were deposited in a continental setting, the middle portion of the formation is largely nearshore marine, with remains of plesiosaurs.

Contents

Stratigraphy and Lithology

The Belsa Formation is found within the Maestrazgo Basin. Within the stratigraphic sequence it overlies Jurassic rocks in a syn-rift unconformity, and underlies the Alacón Formation.

The formation is up to 150 metres thick and is divided into three distinct unconformity bounded units, which are called the Lower, Middle and Upper Blesa Sequences. The Lower Blesa sequence varies greatly in thickness from less than 10 m up to 100 m is divided up into two members, the lower Cabezo Gordo Member, which consists of red clays and the upper Morenillo Member, which consists of limestones and marls, both of these sequences were deposited in a continental setting. The Middle Blesa Sequence is of a fairly uniform 25-50 metre thickness. Most of the sequence consists of the Josa Member, which consists of oyster rich marls and limestones deposited in a coastal or shallow restricted bay environment. The Upper Blesa Sequence is of variable thickness from 15–70 m. The lower 1–10 m consists of continentally derived clays and marls with sandstone and conglomerate intercalations while the upper 10–60 m are dominated by carbonates. [1]

Vertebrate paleofauna

Reptiles

Reptiles of the Blesa Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Iguanodontia IndeterminateLower Blesa Sequence3 distinct taxa, one of which has affinities with Delapparentia [1]
Iguanodontia UnnamedUpper Blesa Sequence"Vertebrae, ribs, left illium, partial sacrum, and partial left tibia." [5]
Ankylosauria IndeterminateLower Blesa Sequence"Isolated teeth, dermal plates and vertebra"
Spinosauridae IndeterminateLower, Upper Blesa SequenceIsolated Teeth
Dromaeosauridae IndeterminateLower Blesa SequenceIsolated Teeth
?Carcharodontosauridae IndeterminateLower, Upper Blesa SequenceIsolated Teeth
Euhelopidae IndeterminateLower Blesa SequenceIsolated Teeth
Sauropoda IndeterminateLower Blesa Sequence, La Cantalera-1Post-cranial material
Crocodylomorpha IndeterminateLower Blesa SequencePossibly four distinct taxa
Plesiosauria IndeterminateMiddle Blesa Sequence

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs of the Blesa Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Istiodactylidae IndeterminateLower Blesa SequenceIsolated Teeth
Ornithocheiridae IndeterminateLower Blesa SequenceIsolated Teeth
Iberodactylus I. andreuiMiddle Blesa SequencePartial skull

Mammals

Mammals of the Blesa Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Cantalera C. abadiLower Blesa SequenceTeeth Pinheirodontid
Eobataar IndeterminateLower Blesa SequenceTeeth

Correlation

Early Cretaceous stratigraphy of Iberia
Ma AgePaleomap \ Basins Cantabrian Olanyà Cameros Maestrazgo Oliete Galve Morella South Iberian Pre-betic Lusitanian
100 Cenomanian
Cenomanian-Coniacian Iberia.jpg
La Cabana Sopeira Utrillas Mosquerela Caranguejeira
Altamira Utrillas
Eguino
125 Albian Ullaga - Balmaseda Lluçà Traiguera
Monte Grande Escucha Escucha Jijona
Itxina - Miono
Aptian Valmaseda - Tellamendi Ol Gp. - Castrillo Benassal Benassal Olhos
Font En Gp. - Leza Morella /Oliete Oliete Villaroya Morella Capas
Rojas
Almargem
Patrocinio - Ernaga Senyús En Gp. - Jubela Forcall Villaroya Upper
Bedoulian
Figueira
Barremian Vega de Pas Cabó Abejar Xert Alacón Xert Huérguina Assises
Prada Artoles Collado Moutonianum Papo Seco
Rúbies Tera Gp. - Golmayo Alacón/Blesa Blesa Camarillas Mirambel
150 Hauterivian Iberia 120Ma Barremian zoom.tif Ur Gp. - Pinilla Llacova Castellar Tera Gp. - Pinilla Villares Porto da
Calada
hiatus
Huerva Gaita
Valanginian Villaro Ur Gp. - Larriba Ped Gp. - Hortigüela
Ped Gp. - Hortigüela Ped Gp. - Piedrahita
Peñacoba Galve Miravetes
Berriasian Iberia 150Ma Tithonian.jpg Cab Gp. - Arcera Valdeprado hiatus Alfambra
TdL Gp. - Rupelo Arzobispo hiatus Tollo
On Gp. - Huérteles
Sierra Matute
Tithonian Lastres Tera Gp. - Magaña Higuereles Tera Gp. - Magaña Lourinhã
Arzobispo
Ágreda
Legend Major fossiliferous , oofossiliferous , ichnofossiliferous , coproliferous , minor formation
Sources

See also

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References

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  2. Moreno-Azanza, Miguel; Canudo, José Ignacio; Gasca, José Manuel (September 2014). "Spheroolithid eggshells in the Lower Cretaceous of Europe. Implications for eggshell evolution in ornithischian dinosaurs". Cretaceous Research. 51: 75–87. Bibcode:2014CrRes..51...75M. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2014.05.017.
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