Jagua Formation, Geological formation in Pinar del Río Province, Cuba.
The Jagua Formation is a geological structure in Pinar del Rio Province that runs through the Sierra de los Organos and Sierra del Rosario mountain ranges. It consists of marine shales and limestone deposits exceeding 160 meters in thickness, with layers containing fossil remains throughout.
The formation dates to the Oxfordian period, roughly 158 to 156 million years ago, when this region lay beneath a sea. It records a crucial moment in Earth's history when conditions favored the preservation of life from those ancient waters.
Researchers from around the world come to study fossil remains of marine reptiles, flying reptiles, and turtles preserved in the rock layers. The formation has become a destination for those interested in understanding how ancient seas shaped the biological diversity we know today.
Access to the formation requires special permits and specialized equipment, with most field studies conducted during the dry season. Visitors should prepare for rugged terrain and work with local guides to reach the rock exposures safely.
Throughout the rock layers lie countless calcareous concretions that encase perfectly preserved Jurassic animals. These rounded stone structures protect the fossils like natural capsules, revealing surprising details about body features and soft tissues rarely seen elsewhere.
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