Fezouata Formation

Fezouata Formation
Stratigraphic range: Tremadocian – Floian [1]
Fossil of a marrellomorph from one of the exceptionally preserved intervals.
TypeGeological formation
UnderliesZini Formation
Thickness>1,000 m (3,300 ft), combined for upper and lower formations, the two exceptionally preserved intervals ~25 m (82 ft) and 15 m (49 ft) respectively
Lithology
PrimaryShale
Location
Coordinates30°36′N 5°42′W / 30.6°N 5.7°W / 30.6; -5.7
Approximate paleocoordinates73°54′S 108°06′E / 73.9°S 108.1°E / -73.9; 108.1
RegionDrâa-Tafilalet
Country Morocco
Fezouata Formation is located in Morocco
Fezouata Formation
Fezouata Formation
Fezouata Formation
Fezouata Formation (Morocco)

The Fezouata Formation or Fezouata Shale is a geological formation in Morocco which dates to the Early Ordovician.[2][3][4][5] It was deposited in a marine environment, and is known for its exceptionally preserved fossils, filling an important preservational window beyond the earlier and more common Cambrian Burgess shale-type deposits.[6] The fauna of this geological unit is often described as the Fezouata biota, and the particular strata within the formation which exhibit exceptional preservation are generally termed the Fezouata Lagerstätte.

  1. ^ Lefebvre, Bertrand; Gutiérrez-Marco, Juan C; Lehnert, Oliver; Martin, Emmanuel L. O; Nowak, Hendrik; Akodad, Mustapha; El Hariri, Khadija; Servais, Thomas (2017). "Age calibration of the Lower Ordovician Fezouata Lagerstätte, Morocco". Lethaia. 51 (2): 296–311. doi:10.1111/let.12240.
  2. ^ Fezouata Formation Archived 2022-05-18 at the Wayback Machine at Fossilworks.org
  3. ^ Fezouata Shale Archived 2022-05-18 at the Wayback Machine at Fossilworks.org
  4. ^ Lower Fezouata Formation Archived 2022-05-18 at the Wayback Machine at Fossilworks.org
  5. ^ Upper Fezouata Formation Archived 2022-05-18 at the Wayback Machine at Fossilworks.org
  6. ^ Van Roy, P.; Orr, P. J.; Botting, J. P.; Muir, L. A.; Vinther, J.; Lefebvre, B.; Hariri, K. E.; Briggs, D. E. G. (2010). "Ordovician faunas of Burgess Shale type". Nature. 465 (7295): 215–8. Bibcode:2010Natur.465..215V. doi:10.1038/nature09038. PMID 20463737. S2CID 4313285.