Umm Irna Formation

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Umm Irna Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Permian
Type Geological formation
Underlies Ma'in Formation
Overlies Unconformity with Umm Ishrin Sandstone
Thickness60–70 m (200–230 ft)
Lithology
Primary Claystone, siltstone, sandstone
Location
Coordinates 31°18′N35°33′E / 31.3°N 35.55°E / 31.3; 35.55
Country Jordan
ExtentSeveral exposures along the eastern Dead Sea coast
Type section
Named byBandel & Khoury
LocationWadi Himara
Year defined1981
Thickness at type section63 m (207 ft)
Reliefkarte Jordanien.png
Red pog.svg
Umm Irna Formation (Jordan)

The Umm Irna Formation is a geological formation in Jordan. It is found in several outcrops in Jordan in the area around the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. It is Late Permian (likely Changhsingian) in age, and is the oldest unit in the succession, overlying the Cambrian aged Umm Ishrin Sandstone Formation. The formation predominantly consists of sandstones, claystones and mudstones deposited in fluvial and lacustrine conditions. [1] The formation is of considerable paleobotanical interest, as it preserves the earliest known remains of plant groups that would become widespread during the Mesozoic, including corystosperm "seed ferns", represented by the widespread Triassic genus Dicroidium, cycads (cf. Ctenis ), conifers (which were originally suggested to be podocarps, but this was later questioned [2] ), as well as Bennettitales. [3] Other plant groups present in the formation include Noeggerathiales, gigantopterids, lyginopterids and possible ginkgophytes. [3] [4]

References

  1. Stephenson, Michael H.; Powell, John H. (2013-07-01). "Palynology and alluvial architecture in the Permian Umm Irna Formation, Dead Sea, Jordan". GeoArabia. 18 (3): 17–60. Bibcode:2013GeoAr..18...17S. doi: 10.2113/geoarabia180317 . ISSN   1025-6059. S2CID   140176430.
  2. Andruchow-Colombo, Ana; Escapa, Ignacio H; Aagesen, Lone; Matsunaga, Kelly K S (2023-08-04). "In search of lost time: tracing the fossil diversity of Podocarpaceae through the ages". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 203 (4): 315–336. doi:10.1093/botlinnean/boad027. hdl: 11336/227952 . ISSN   0024-4074.
  3. 1 2 Blomenkemper, Patrick; Kerp, Hans; Hamad, Abdalla Abu; DiMichele, William A.; Bomfleur, Benjamin (2018-12-21). "A hidden cradle of plant evolution in Permian tropical lowlands". Science. 362 (6421): 1414–1416. Bibcode:2018Sci...362.1414B. doi: 10.1126/science.aau4061 . ISSN   0036-8075. PMID   30573628.
  4. Zavialova, Natalia; Blomenkemper, Patrick; Kerp, Hans; Hamad, Abdalla Abu; Bomfleur, Benjamin (2021-03-04). "A lyginopterid pollen organ from the upper Permian of the Dead Sea region" . Grana. 60 (2): 81–96. Bibcode:2021Grana..60...81Z. doi:10.1080/00173134.2020.1772360. ISSN   0017-3134. S2CID   224931916.