The Ksar Metlili Formation is a
geological formation
A geological formation, or simply formation, is a body of rock having a consistent set of physical characteristics (lithology) that distinguishes it from adjacent bodies of rock, and which occupies a particular position in the layers of rock expo ...
in eastern
High Atlas
The High Atlas, also called the Grand Atlas, is a mountain range in central Morocco, North Africa, the highest part of the Atlas Mountains.
The High Atlas rises in the west at the Atlantic Ocean and stretches in an eastern direction to the Moro ...
of
Morocco
Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...
, it is late
Tithonian
In the geological timescale, the Tithonian is the latest age (geology), age of the Late Jurassic Epoch and the uppermost stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 149.2 ±0.7 annum, Ma and 143.1 ±0.6 (mi ...
to
Berriasian
In the geological timescale, the Berriasian is an age/ stage of the Early/Lower Cretaceous. It is the oldest subdivision in the entire Cretaceous. It has been taken to span the time between 143.1 ±0.6 Ma and 137.05 ± 0.2 (million years ago) ...
in age. It is approximately thick and primarily consists of mudstone and sandstone, with thin calcareous beds. One of these calcareous beds near the middle of the sequence is an important microvertebrate locality.
Subsequent to the original site, several other localities have been sampled. The depositional environment is thought to be near shore deltaic.
Fossil content
Fish
Amphibians
Lepidosaurs
Turtles
Choristoderes
Crocodrylomorphs
Pterosaurs
Dinosaurs
Mammals
Plants
References
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Jurassic System of Africa
Tithonian Stage
Jurassic Morocco
Upper Cretaceous Series of Africa
Berriasian Stage
Cretaceous Morocco
Sandstone formations
Mudstone formations
Paleontology in Morocco
Limestone formations
Marl formations
Geologic formations of Morocco