El Mers Group | |
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Stratigraphic range: Bajocian–Callovian ~ | |
Type | Group |
Sub-units | El Mers Formations 1–3 |
Underlies | Unconformity with Barremian or Plio-Pleistocene sediments |
Overlies | Ich Timellaline–Bou Akrabene Formation |
Thickness | Over 500 m (1,600 ft) |
Lithology | |
Primary | Marl, gypsum (only in unit 3) |
Other | Sandstone, limestone |
Location | |
Coordinates | 33°30′N4°18′W / 33.5°N 4.3°W |
Approximate paleocoordinates | 28°18′N2°00′W / 28.3°N 2.0°W |
Region | Boulemane and Azilal Provinces |
Country | Morocco |
Extent | Middle Atlas |
The El Mers Group is a geological group in the Middle Atlas of Morocco. It is subdivided into three formations named the El Mers I, II, and III Formations, respectively. It is a marine deposit primarily consisting of marl, with gypsum present in the upper part of unit 3. It is the lateral equivalent of the terrestrial Guettioua Sandstone. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the group, most notably those of sauropods and the unusual thyreophorans Adratiklit , Thyreosaurus , and Spicomellus .
The El Mers formations are composed primarily of marls with intermittent layers of limestone and sandstone, characterized by abundant organic matter and benthic fauna. [1] It is delineated into five distinct members, each exhibiting diverse lithological characteristics. The three members comprise a combination of layers of marls, sandstones, and limestones, marked by various unique fossils and organic materials. Sedimentary discontinuities reveal deltaic sequences that exhibit varying sedimentary structures and lithological compositions, reflecting dynamic depositional environments ranging from subtidal to continental. The facies associations within the El Mers Formation are organized into elementary and mesosequences, delineating the transition from prodelta to deltaic plain environments. These sequences capture the evolution of tidal regimes and depositional dynamics. [2]
The shifts in facies and microfauna evolution in our study area reveal intriguing patterns, from the establishment of initial supratidal environments characterized by charophytic marls and ostracod limestones followed by a resurgence of marine conditions, evident from the reappearance of coastal facies and the diversification of ostracod faunas, indicating a significant transgressive phase during the Upper Bathonian–Lower Callovian period. While in the Central High Atlas marine influences ceased by the Upper Bajocian–Lower Bathonian giving way to continental red layers, in the Middle Atlas marine influences persisted until the Upper Bathonian–Lower Callovian boundary, indicating a diachronic filling of the Atlas gulfs towards the Tethyan domain from west to east. [3]
Color key
| Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Heteroporella [3] |
|
| Calcareous imprints | A dasycladacean algae of the family Dasycladaceae | |
Sarfiatella [3] |
|
| Calcareous imprints | A dasycladacean algae, associated in adjacent regions with Aalenian–Bajocian faunas |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bullopora [3] |
|
| Calcareous imprints | A benthic foraminiferan of the family Polymorphinidae | |
Pfenderella [3] |
|
| Calcareous imprints | A benthic foraminiferan of the family Pfenderininae | |
Praekurnubia [3] |
|
| Calcareous imprints | A benthic foraminiferan of the family Pfenderinidae; a genus found in the Tethys between Bajocian and Oxfordian-aged layers | |
Pseudocyclammina [3] |
|
| Calcareous imprints | A benthic foraminiferan of the family Hauraniidae | |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cytherella [3] |
|
| Valves | A freshwater/brackish ostracod of the family Cytherellidae | |
Fastigatocythere [3] |
|
| Valves | A freshwater/brackish ostracod of the family Progonocytheridae | |
Kinkelinella [3] |
|
| Valves | A freshwater ostracod of the family Progonocytheridae | |
Metacypris [3] |
|
| Valves | A freshwater ostracod of the family Limnocytheridae. Local members of the genus genus would not be confined to limnic environments, but would be euryhaline or brackish, since they disappear when faunal diversity is at its maximum. | |
Procytheridea [3] |
|
| Valves | A freshwater ostracod of the family Schulerideidae |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Selenichnites [4] |
|
| Isolated crescent-shaped trace fossils | Traces of xiphosurans, representing the second occurrence of this ichnogenus in Morocco |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cadomites [3] |
|
| Isolated shells | An ammonite of the family Stephanoceratidae and indicator of the Bathonian age | |
Choffatia [5] |
|
| Isolated shells | An ammonite of the family Perisphinctidae and indicator of the Callovian age | |
Clydoniceras [5] [6] |
|
| Isolated shells | An ammonite of the family Clydoniceratidae | |
Modiolus [6] |
|
| Isolated shells | A marine mussel of the family Mytilidae | |
Morphoceras [5] |
|
| Isolated shells | An ammonite of the family Morphoceratidae and indicator of the Bathonian age | |
Oraniceras [5] |
|
| Isolated shells | An ammonite of the family Parkinsoniidae and indicator of the Bathonian age | |
Ostrea [5] [6] |
|
| Isolated shells | A marine oyster of the family Ostreidae | |
Parkinsonia [3] |
|
| Isolated shells | An ammonite of the family Parkinsoniidae and indicator of the Bajocian age for the lower portions of the Group | |
Protocardia [5] [6] |
|
| Isolated shells | A marine cockle of the family Cardiidae |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lepidotes [7] |
|
| Cranial material, isolated teeth and scales | A marine/brackish bony fish of the family Lepidotidae | |
Scheenstia [7] |
|
| Partial specimen wirth cranial material | A marine/brackish bony fish of the family Lepidotidae |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Testudinata [5] [6] |
|
| Very numerous debris: escutcheons, plates, vertebrae, ribs, long bones | Turtle remains of uncertain affinity |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hatcherichnus [8] |
|
| Footprints | Indeterminate Crocodrylomorph Tracks | |
" Megalosaurus " [5] [6] |
|
| Isolated teeth and vertebra | A marine crocodylomorph of the family Teleosauridae. Mistaken as Theropod remains in the past. [9] | |
|
| Isolated teeth, cranial and postcranial material, both isolated and semi-articulated | A marine crocodylomorph of the family Teleosauridae. The referral to the genus Steneosaurus should be taken with caution, as this genus was overlumped. |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carmelopodus [8] |
|
| Footprints | Theropod tracks of uncertain affinity, suggested to come from Ceratosauria members | |
Grallator ? [8] |
|
| Footprints | Theropod Tracks, referred usually to small-medium sized Genera | |
Hispanosauropus ? [8] |
|
| Footprints | Theropod tracks of uncertain affinity, different from Megalosauripus in the larger metatarsophalangeal region | |
Megalosauripus [10] [8] |
|
| Footprints | Traces of theropods; members of the ichnofiber family Eubrontidae, incertae sedis within Theropoda | |
Averostra [5] [10] |
|
| Isolated Teeth | Isolated teeth of unidentified or undescribed/studied theropods. Teeth associated with the Teleosaur "Megalosaurus"mersensis have recently been suggesting to come from indeterminate Averostrans. Other remains need revision. [11] [12] | |
Theropodipedia [8] [13] [10] |
|
| Footprints | Theropod tracks of uncertain affinity, suggested to come from "allosaurs or megalosaurs" [13] |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Breviparopus [10] [8] |
|
| Footprints | Traces of sauropods typical of the ichnofamily Parabrontopodidae, incertae sedis within Sauropodomorpha. Includes traces with pes similar to Diplodocoidea. [10] | |
|
| Complete skeleton and referred co-types of partially complete and incomplete specimens | A eusauropod of the family Cetiosauridae, currently awaiting revision and likely not a member of the genus Cetiosaurus [15] | ||
Sauropoda [16] [17] |
|
| Isolated and articulated bones | Indeterminate or undescribed sauropod remains | |
Sauropodina [8] [13] [18] |
|
| Footprints | Sauropod tracks of uncertain affinity. There are both small and enormous sauropod tracks, including some among the largest known worldwide, with a pes track length of up to 130 cm. [8] |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adratiklit [19] |
|
| NHMUK PV R37366 (A dorsal vertebra), three cervical vertebrae (NHMUK PV R37367; R37368), a dorsal vertebra (NHMUK PV R37365), and a left humerus (NHMUK PV R37007) | A dacentrurine stegosaur | |
Ornithopodichnus ? [8] |
|
| Footprints | Ornithichian Tracks, referred to short-toed forms such as Gilmoreosaurus | |
Spicomellus [20] |
|
| NHMUK PV R37412, a partial rib bearing four co-ossified spines | An early ankylosaurian | |
Thyreosaurus [21] |
|
| HIIUC-BN00, a partial postcranial skeleton that includes nine dorsal vertebrae and 21 dorsal rib remains, a limb bone (fibula?), and six dermal elements | A dacentrurine stegosaur with unusual recumbent osteoderms |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Porochara [3] |
|
| Oogonia | A characean algae of the family Porocharaceae; charophytes are abundant in lower levels, associated with freshwater ostracods |
Genus | Species | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Protocupressinoxylon [22] |
|
| Fossil wood | Conifer wood of the family Hirmeriellaceae, considered to be a potential synonym of the genus Brachyoxylon |
Cetiosaurus meaning 'whale lizard', from the Greek keteios/κήτειος meaning 'sea monster' and sauros/σαυρος meaning 'lizard', is a genus of herbivorous sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic Period, living about 168 million years ago in what is now Britain and probably France.
Tazoudasaurus is a genus of gravisaurian, probably a vulcanodontid sauropod dinosaurs hailing from the late Early Jurassic (Toarcian), that was recovered in the "Toundoute Continental Series" located in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco in North Africa. Along with Patagosaurus, Volkheimeria, Bagualia and Perijasaurus represents one of the few sauropods named from this stage on Gondwana, as well as the only one from Africa.
Lapparentosaurus is a genus of sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic. Its fossils were found in Madagascar. The type species is L. madagascariensis.
Spinostropheus is a genus of carnivorous neotheropod theropod dinosaur that lived in the Middle Jurassic period and has been found in the Tiouraren Formation, Niger. The type and only species is S. gautieri.
Berberosaurus is a genus of neotheropod dinosaur, possibly a ceratosaur, from the Toarcian-age "Toundoute Continental Series" found in the Central High Atlas of Toundoute, Ouarzazate, Morocco. The type species of the genus Berberosaurus is B. liassicus, in reference to the Lias epoch. Berberosaurus might be the oldest known ceratosaur, and is based on partial postcranial remains. This genus represents the oldest formally identified theropod from the North of Africa, as well one of the few from the region in the Early Jurassic.
The Isalo III Formation is a geological formation in Madagascar, off the eastern coast of Africa. It dates back to the Middle Jurassic. The use of the term "Isalo III" is somewhat controversial as the two prior units Isalo I and II are Triassic cross-bedded sandstone units that form a continuous depositional sequence, while the "Isalo III" sandstones are not part of the same depositional sequence, and were deposited considerably later. and are perhaps better treated as part of several separate formations. It is traditionally divided into two subunits the lower, Bajocian aged Isalo IIIa unit also known as the Beronono Formation and the upper, Bathonian aged Isalo IIIb unit also known as the Sakaraha Formation or Sakahara Formation. The Sakaraha Formation consists of sandstones, marls and carbonates and represents a coastal plain environment, and is laterally equivalent to the predominantly carbonate Bemaraha Formation, which represents a coastal barrier lagoon complex. The formation is found in the northwest and in the southeast of the country and has provided a variety of fossils.
The Tiourarén Formation is a geological formation in the Agadez Region of Niger whose strata were originally thought to be Early Cretaceous. However, re-interpretation of the sediments showed that they are probably Middle or Late Jurassic (Bathonian-Oxfordian) in age. Other works suggested it reaches the Barremian. It is the uppermost unit of the Irhazer Group. Dinosaur remains & other vertebrates are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. Originally part of the "Argiles de l'Ihrazer", the Tiouaren Formation primarily comprises reddish to purple siltstones with occasional marls, limestones, and scarce channel sandstones.
Tizi-n-Aït tracksite is a fossil trackway location in Morocco in the Azilal province. It is Jurassic in age, with tracks attributed to sauropods or stegosaurs, and an unidentified carnosaur. The tracksite is part of the Aganane Formation and the tracks are located at base of formation.
The Tilougguit Formation, also known as the Tillouguit Formation, is an Early Bathonian geologic formation in Morocco. An indeterminate sauropod is known from the formation
The Aganane Formation is a Pliensbachian geologic formation in the Azilal, Béni-Mellal, Ouarzazate, Tinerhir and Errachidia provinces, central Morocco, being the remnant of a local massive Carbonate platform, and known mostly for its rich tracksites including footprints of thyreophoran, sauropod and theropod dinosaurs. It may also include the fossiliferous levels of the Calcaires du Bou Dahar, if true, it would be one of the richest Early Jurassic formations in the entire tethys area.
Vouivria is a genus of herbivorous sauropod dinosaur, belonging to the Brachiosauridae, that lived in the area of present France during the Late Jurassic. The type species is Vouivria damparisensis.
The Anoual Formation is a geological formation in the High Atlas of Morocco. It is early Bathonian in age. It consists of two members. The lower member is several hundred metres thick, and consists largely of mudstone with lens beds of cross bedded sandstone, with thin intercalations of limestone that was deposited in a freshwater continental setting, likely lacustrine or palustrine, with small marine influences. The upper member is several tens of metres thick and consists of limestone deposited in a shallow marine setting. The formation is fossiliferous, with several of the limestone intercalations yielding a diverse fauna, including amphibians, reptiles, dinosaurs and mammals.
Adratiklit is an extinct genus of herbivorous stegosaurian dinosaur that lived on the supercontinent Gondwana during the Middle Jurassic period. The genus contains a single species, Adratiklit boulahfa. Its remains were found in the El Mers III Formation (Bathonian–?Callovian), near Boulahfa, south of Boulemane, Fès-Meknès, north Morocco.
The Azilal Formation, also known as "Aguerd-nˈTazoult" Formation,Toundoute Continental Series and "Wazzant" Formation, is a geological unit in the Azilal, Béni-Mellal, Imilchil, Zaouiat Ahansal, Ouarzazate, Tinerhir and Errachidia areas of the High Atlas of Morocco, part of the Tafraout Group that covers the Early Toarcian to Middle Aalenian stages of the Jurassic Period. While there have been atributions of it´s lowermost layers to the Latest Pliensbachian, the current oldest properly measured are part of the Earliest Toarcian regresion ("MRST10"), part of the Lower-Middle Palymorphum biozone. The Azilal Formation consists mainly of claystones rich in continental plant debris and laminated microbial facies. It is a continental deposit which overlies marine dolomites of equivalent age to the Rotzo Formation of Italy, mostly part of the Aganane Formation. The formation is the continental to marginal marine part of a massive Siliciclastic-Carbonate platform, best assigned to an alluvial environment occasionally interrupted by shallow marine incursions and marks a dramatic decrease of the carbonate productivity under increasing terrigenous sedimentation. Dinosaur remains, such the sauropod Tazoudasaurus and the basal ceratosaur Berberosaurus are known from the unit, along with several undescribed genera. The toarcian High Atlas is divided in 5 units: the continental layers with paralic deposits belong to the Azilal, along the shoreface layers of the Tagoudite Formation & Tafraout Formation, connected with the offshore Ait Athmane Formation and the deeper shelf deposits of the Agoudim 1 Formation.
Narindasaurus is a genus of turiasaurian sauropod dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic Isalo III Formation of Madagascar. The type species, N. thevenini was formally described by Royo-Torres et al. in 2020. The holotype, which consists of one specimen, is currently stored at the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle and has been since 1906 or 1907.
Spicomellus is an extinct genus of early ankylosaurian dinosaur from the El Mers III Formation (Bathonian-Callovian) of Morocco. The genus contains a single species, S. afer, known from a single rib with fused osteoderms. Spicomellus represents the oldest named ankylosaur.
Thyreosaurus is an extinct genus of stegosaurian dinosaur from the Middle Jurassic El Mers III Formation of Morocco. The genus contains a single species, Thyreosaurus atlasicus, known form a partial disarticulated partial skeleton consisting of several dorsal vertebrae, ribs, a limb bone, and dermal bones. Thyreosaurus is characterized by a unique dermal armor with an asymmetrical texture, indicating that it may have been recumbent. Alongside Adratiklit, Thyreosaurus increases the diversity of unique stegosaurs occurring in the Middle Jurassic of Africa.
The Tafraout Group is a geological group of formations of Toarcian-Aalenian age in the Azilal, Béni-Mellal, Imilchil, Zaouiat Ahansal, Ouarzazate, Tinerhir and Errachidia areas of the High Atlas of Morocco. The Group represents the remnants of a local massive Siliciclastic-Carbonate platform, best assigned to succession W-E of alluvial environment occasionally interrupted by shallow marine incursions and inner platform to open marine settings, and marks a dramatic decrease of the carbonate productivity under increasing terrigenous sedimentation. Fossils include large reef biotas with richness in "lithiotid" bivalves and coral mounts, but also by remains of vertebrates such as the sauropod Tazoudasaurus and the basal ceratosaur Berberosaurus, along with several undescribed genera. While there have been attributions of its lowermost layers to the Latest Pliensbachian, the current oldest properly measured are part of the Earliest Toarcian regression ("MRST10"), part of the Lower-Middle Palymorphum biozone. This group is composed of the following units, which extend from west to east: the Azilal Formation ; the "Amezraï" Formation ; the Tafraout Formation & the Tagoudite Formation. They are connected with the offshore Ait Athmane Formation and the deeper shelf deposits of the Agoudim 1 Formation. Overall, this group represents a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic system of several hundred meters thick, dominated by deposits of shallow marine platforms linked to a nearby hinterland dominated by conglomerates. The strata of the group extend towards the central High Atlas, covering different anticlines and topographic features along the mountain range.
The Irbzer Formation is a geological formation located in Morocco in the area of Fes-Boulmane of latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) to Paleocene age. The lower section of this formation consists of yellowish, cross-bedded calcareous sandstone containing shark teeth, while the layer above comprises phosphatic marls with vertebrate bone beds, including dinosaur remains.
The Calcaires du Bou Dahar is a geological formation or a sequence of formations of Late Sinemurian to Pliensbachian-Toarcian boundary age in Bni Tadjite, the Central High Atlas, Morocco. This unit represents an excepcional record of an evolving reef complex, platform slopes and a emerged shoal developed inside a carbonate platform, recording the evolutionary cycles of this environment with notorious precision, also yielding what is considered one of the greatest/most diverse marine biotas of the entire Jurassic Tethys Ocean. The Bou Dahar carbonate platform shoal stands prominently and structurally above surrounding plains, spanning 35-40 km in length and 4-15 km in width, with a relief of 100-450 m. This carbonate formation originated on metamorphosed Silurian to Ordovician siliciclastic rocks and tholeiitic volcanic layers tied to Central Atlantic Magmatic Province basalts, forming a corridor oriented WSW to ENE. Surrounding alluvial plains expose green marls, shales, and dark lime-mudstones representing basinal deposits contemporaneous or subsequent to the platform. It has been considered to be a sequence of different coeval inner geological formations, including the Foum Zidet Formation, the Aganane Formation and Ouchbis Formation, but is usually interpreted as a single major unit due to it´s unique preservation.