Aoufous Formation, Geological formation in Errachidia Province, Morocco.
The Aoufous Formation is a geological rock sequence in southeastern Morocco composed of sandstone, clay, and limestone layers that reach about 100 to 200 meters thick. These strata hold remains of ancient vertebrates and reveal how life developed during the Late Cretaceous period.
First documented by Dubar in 1948, the formation dates to the Late Cretaceous period and contains fossils from the Cenomanian age. These rock layers preserve a window into the animal life of North Africa from around 100 million years ago.
The formation provides essential data for researchers studying North African paleontology and contributes to understanding prehistoric life in the region.
The OT1 locality near Tafraout offers accessible exposures with abundant fossils for visitors to examine. Visiting the site requires preparation for the southern location and local conditions in the area.
The sediments hold fossils of Carcharodontosaurus saharicus and Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, species also found in Egypt's Bahariya Formation. This reveals that these predators roamed across the entire North African continent.
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