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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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Associated With

Cretaceous, Eras
Source Crato Formation (Wikipedia)
Limestone, Materials
Source Crato Formation (Wikipedia)

Caused By

Source Crato Formation (Wikipedia)

In Discipline

Source Crato Formation (Wikipedia)
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Sources
Crato Formation (Wikipedia)
  • Associated With: Cretaceous, Lead paragraph
    The Crato Formation is a geologic formation of Early Cretaceous (Aptian) age in northeastern Brazil's Araripe Basin.
  • Associated With: Limestone, Lead paragraph
    The unusual taphonomy of the site resulted in limestone accretions that formed nodules around dead organisms, preserving even soft parts of their anatomy.
  • Associated With: Cretaceous, Lead, age Cretaceous
    The Crato Formation is a geologic formation of Early Cretaceous (Aptian) age in northeastern Brazil's Araripe Basin.
  • 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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