Candelária Formation, Geological formation in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
The Candelária Formation is a geological layer in southern Brazil composed mainly of red mudstones interbedded with sandstone lenses. It belongs to the Santa Maria Group within the Paraná Basin and spans several hundred meters in thickness.
The formation developed between 231.4 and 222 million years ago during the Late Triassic, a time of major geological shifts across South America. It records the early stages when dinosaurs and other vertebrates first appeared on the continent.
Scientists and researchers from multiple countries study the formation to understand the evolution of early dinosaurs and ancient species in South America.
Visiting this area requires coordination with local scientific institutions and possibly special permits. The best time to explore is during the dry season when the rock outcrops are most accessible.
The formation contains two distinct fossil zones named Hyperodapedon and Riograndia, which preserve remains of early dinosaurs and therapsid reptiles. These two zones reveal different animal communities that lived at different times during the Triassic period.
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