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Geological Formation

Crato Formation

Fossil Lagerstatten and Fossil Sites

The Crato Formation is a geological formation of Early Cretaceous, Aptian age in the Araripe Basin of northeastern Brazil, part of the Santana Group. It is an important lagerstatte for paleontologists, laid down roughly 113 million years ago in what is thought to have been a semi-arid lacustrine wetland, and is composed mainly of mudstone and limestone with siltstone. Around 25 species of fossil fish have been found in the formation with their stomach contents preserved, letting paleontologists study predator-prey relationships in this ancient ecosystem.

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Source Crato Formation (Wikipedia)

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Source Crato Formation (Wikipedia)
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Crato Formation (Wikipedia)
  • In Discipline: Stratigraphy, Lead paragraph
    The Crato Formation is a geologic formation of Early Cretaceous (Aptian) age in northeastern Brazil's Araripe Basin
  • Caused By: Sedimentation, Lead paragraph
    It thought to have been deposited in a semi-arid lacustrine wetland environment
  • In Group: Mesozoic Fossil Sites, Lead sentence
    The Crato Formation is a geologic formation of Early Cretaceous (Aptian) age in northeastern Brazil's Araripe Basin.
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