Aganane Formation

Aganane Formation
Stratigraphic range: Pliensbachian ~192–184 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Exposed lagoonal sequences of the Aganane Formation in South Todhra
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	High Atlas
Underlies	Ait Athmane Formation Azilal Formation Amezraï Formation Tagoudite Formation
Overlies	Jbel Rat Formation Imi-n-Ifri Formation Talmest-Tazoult Formation
Area	Central High Atlas
Lithology
Primary	Limestone, dolomite
Other	Sandstones, Claystone, Shale, Conglomerate
Location
Coordinates	31.6°N 6.4°W / 31.6; -6.4
Approximate paleocoordinates	25.9°N 4.3°W / 25.9; -4.3
Region	Central High Atlas
Country	Morocco
Type section
Named for	Aganane Village, near Tizouggaghiyn
Aganane Formation (Morocco)

The Aganane Formation is a Pliensbachian (Early Jurassic) geologic formation in the Azilal, Béni-Mellal, Ouarzazate, Tinerhir and Errachidia provinces, central Morocco, being the remnant of a local massive Carbonate platform, and known mostly for its rich tracksites (up to 1350 tracks in 1988) including footprints of thyreophoran, sauropod and theropod dinosaurs.^[1] It may also include the fossiliferous levels of the Calcaires du Bou Dahar, if true, it would be one of the richest Early Jurassic formations in the entire tethys area.^[2]

This formation has been dated to the Pliensbachian stage of the Lower Jurassic, thanks to the find of the ammonite Arieticeras cf. algovianum, indicator of Middle Domerian (=Uppermost Pliensbachian) in the upper zone, and lower delimitation by the foraminifers Mayncina termieri and Orbitopsella praecursor (indicators of Carixian=Lower Pliensbachian age).^[3] The dinosaur tracksites are all located a few metres below the Pliensbachian-Toarcian limit, being coeval and connected with the lowermost layers of the continental Azilal Formation. The Aganane Formation was also coeval with the Jbel Taguendouft Formation and the Tamadout 1 Formation, all developed along a local "platform-furrow" in the Middle Atlas Mountains, that act as a barrier controlling the western border of the Jurassic Atlas Gulf.^[4] The nearshore sections, including both carbonate platforms and close to sea terrestrial facies where located on an isolated internal domain thanks to the control of the barrier, allowing the Aganane Formation to develop on a hot and humid climate, where a local algal marsh had intermittent progradations, intercalated with a layer of terrigenous continental origin.^[4] The ichnosites were developed in tidal flats and coastal deposits suitable to sea flooding.^[5]

The Aganane Formation is a member of the Pliensbachian facies section of the Central Atlas, which are distributed from west to east: The Aït Chitachen Formation & Aït-Bazzi Formation at Demnate (continental-fluvial, coastal lagoon), the Aganane itself at Azilal.^[5] At Tazoult, part of the Azilal profile contacts the bottom with the karst Talmest-Tazoult Formation, then a section where the Aganane itself indicates an eastward expansion of the carbonate facies, finally, the most recent Pliensbachian strata belong to the Amezraï Formation (Intertidal to coastal marine), this last change being the result of a transgression where we see a westward advance of the Imilchil pelagic facies.^[5]

At Tazoult, the presence of a Diapir (the Tazoult salt wall) is remarkable. In the Pliensbachian, this area begins with the deposition of the Talmest-Tazoult Formation, and then is invaded from the west by the shallow marine carbonate platform of the Aganane Formation.^[6] At this time, a decrease in the growth rate of the diapir is detected compared to the Sinemurian. In fact, with the eastward extension of the Aganane Formation, the Tazoult salt wall registers a major change towards shallower facies, confirming a higher diapir relief and a decrease in water depth towards this area during the Pliensbachian, not excluding a complete stop of diapir activity in this interval.^[6]

Paleoenvironment

Middle Lias carbonate platform of the High Atlas of Morocco with first order autocyclic regressive cycles.

During the Pliensbachian epoch, the region was situated at a nearly tropical paleolatitude and marked the western boundary of the ancient "Atlas Gulf," which faced the Tethys Sea to the East. To the north of the Demnate fault, there existed an extensive subsiding tidal flat where carbonate deposits containing gypsum remnants and stromatolitic laminites formed, interspersed with desiccation polygons.^[7] Along the fault's edge, active during this period, lignite layers were intercalated, likely resulting from the degradation of forests located to the south, indicated by root traces in sandstones at the base of the Aït-Bazzi Formation in Ait Tioutline. The area was inhabited by both herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs that roamed the expansive coastal marshland.^[7] Towards the east, excluding the Demnat region, gypsum precipitated in sebkhas along the edge of a low continent, indicative of a possibly arid climate. Additionally, more massive facies with large lamellibranchs separated the tidal flat from the open sea with Ammonites, whose western extension bordered the eastern edge of Azilal.^[7]

The Aganane Formation is characterized as representing a carbonate platform, the most important Lower Jurassic platform in the central High Atlas, bounded to the west at Demnat by the Aït Chitachen Formation, which represents environments ranging from fluvial to coastal lagoons, with palynological residues Corollina quezelii & Corollina yvesi (Cheirolepidiaceae) as dominant, indicating an arid environment, accompanied by Cupressacites oxycedroides & Diadocupressacites moghrebiensis, both palynological residues of Cupressaceae.^[8]

The Carbonates of this unit were subjected to an examination of the diagenetic characteristics of the carbonates, allowing the construction of a model of diagenetic environments, where changes in the surface environment were consistently reflected in a sequence of rocks by diagenetic characteristics, maybe a tentative correlation of major events, such as Hurricanes.^[9] The carbonate rocks that form the massive "Aganane Platform" are clearly influenced by tidal and shallow marine flows, ascribed to three environments: supratidal, intertidal and subtidal.^[10] The supratidal sector is diverse, including continental deposits with abundant quartz-rich cricundant deposits and fluvial channels, as well as others composed of considerable thicknesses of stratified gypsum and chicken-wire cargneules, lime and dolomite shales and marls, with drying cracks, caliche crusts and vadose pisoliths. These sediments suggest a continental zone bordering river courses, connected to coastal sectors where shales and siltstones derived from Sabkhas in which interstitial evaporites were formed.^[11][12] Intertidal deposits are composed of algal laminates, bioturbated pelletiferous shales, uniformitarian shales and wackestones with disruptive channels and storm sequences. Algal laminated Boundstones developed in both supratidal and intertidal zones, following present-day patterns such as Shark Bay in Australia or the Persian Gulf. Whereas the pelletoid lime packstone/wackestone facies most likely represented tidal flat areas, or analogs to modern coastal mangrove growth.^[11][12] Subtidal deposits include both those of an intertidal nature, indicating shallow water or coastal lagoons, with extensive accumulations of skeletal lime packstones, oolitic tidal deltas and offshore bars, oncoliths and coral reefs, and occasional Opisoma spp. While further east the more open subtidal conditions are represented by flint-bearing calcareous shales and sparse faunas where ammonites begin to appear.^[11][12]

Modern Sebkha of Imlily, near Dakhla (left) and microbialite (right) in the Bahamas. The Aganane sediments record multiple environments within a carbonate platform: from supratidal arid settings to patch reefal areas to shallow microbialites, like the modern Bahamas.

The Carbonate Facies of the High Atlas "Middle Lias" (Pliensbachian) generally have a low bathymetry. They show a notable evolution from east to west from a lagoon-marine facies to brackish facies. At the level of the Azilal Atlas, the Middle Lias occurs on both sides of the Demnat Fault: to the southwest of the fault, the Aït Bazzi Formation with dolomitic and red marly facies (lagoonal and lagoon-evaporitic facies), while to the northeast develop the thicker facies of the Aganane Formation.^[13] In this area, formations of this stage begin either with conglomeratic facies associated with red marls or with scree and conglomerates associated with local erosion, recovering the same lower Pliensbachian emersion phase observed in the Beni-Mellal Atlas.^[13] Toward the south, the "basin" facies ends at the bottom of the gulf near the Jbel Oukarde accident, at the western end of the Tilougguit syncline. The southern limit of this basin, hidden by the later sediments, corresponds to the present-day course of the Azilal-Anergui submeridian fault. Toward the south, on the Amezraï and Aït Bouguemmez basins, a platform zone was established in the heart of the Central High Atlas, consisting of the Jbel Choucht, Aganane, Assemsouk, and Amezraï formations.^[13] The Jbel Choucht Formation is the type locality here, characterized by a great development of coralligenous facies. The Jbel Choucht Formation is also present towards the north-central High Atlas, but without any reef character, being rather rich in megalodont bivalves, while the Aganane Formation presents more or less the same characteristics as those described in the Beni-Mellal Platform. To the east, at the level of the Jbel Aroudane, the thickening and sedimentary polarity of the Jbel Choucht Formation occurs this time southward, with a W-E subsident basin centered on the Jbel Azourki and the Jbel Aroudane.^[13]

Dinosaur Tracks at Tabant

In the Aganane Formation towards terminal Carixian (Lias biozone C2 in the High Atlas of Morocco) several sedimentary environments are distinguished in the carbonate inner platform. These environments are characterized by rhythmic sedimentation composed of metric sedimentary sequences analogous to present-day "marnières".^[14] Lithologically, there are two juxtaposed sedimentary units that represent two types of complex environments: a first assemblage that includes the marlodolomitic unit of the Aganane Formation and the Aït Bazzi Formation; these units are also equivalent to lagoonal and lagoon-evaporitic facies.^[14] This sedimentary assemblage corresponds to a carbonate supratidal coastal plain environment regularly overlain by red marl deposits of continental origin, which can be compared to the modern Sabkhas in the Persian Gulf, but in a less arid climatic context, for the frequent presence of dinosaur tracks suggests extensive vegetation cover in the hinterland, and thus high annual precipitation, suggesting overall tropical conditions reminiscent of the Andros Island model in the Bahamas.^[14] A second set (a light gray limestone-dolomite subunit) more distal to the inner platform, in which the environment varies, repeatedly, from subtidal to supratidal conditions, from marine to coastal plain deposits, sometimes showing red terrigenous intercalations, revealing the presence of local cycles evolving from temporary lagoon to "sabkha", while in the outermost part of the platform the existence of a permanent lagoon can be assumed.^[15] The facies of this lagoon are muddy and highly bioturbated, with numerous marine organisms colonizing the soft substrate of the lagoon: Lamellibranchs, Gastropods, Brachiopods, with calcareous algae (Palaeodasycladus, Solenopores, etc.) oncoliths and Foraminifers. These levels with large Lamellibranchs (especially "Lithiotidae") are rather rare in the Carixian.^[14]

Locations such as Ait Athmane recover the typical Sinemurian-Pliensbachian mediterranean lithiotid bivalve reefs, composed by aggrupation of aberrant bivalves.^[16] These "Reefs" had a strong zonation, starting with the bivalves Gervilleioperna and Mytiloperna, restricted to intertidal and shallow-subtidal facies. Lithioperna is limited to lagoonal subtidal facies and even in some low-oxygen environments. Finally Lithiotis and Cochlearites are found in subtidal facies, constructing buildups.^[17] Locally, these reefs were developed as shallow subtidal, cross-bedded floatstones, later evolving to layers with evidence of subaerial exposure, including lagoonal marls, and bioturbated red mudstones with root traces and calcrete.^[16] These layers are abundant on the aberrant bivalves Lithioperna and Cochlearites, as well common corals, gastropods, the bivalve Opisoma and oncoids, all living in a sheltered lagoon in the interior of the local carbonate platform, similar to the Rotzo Formation of the Trento Platform.^[16]

At Ait Bou Guemmez, the upper Aganane Formation records the development of a lagoonal environment south of the Jbel Tizal-Jbel Azourki accident, which evolves to a more or less open subtidal platform environment north of this accident.^[18] The local transgressive procession is marked by the dominance of subtidal facies with a microfauna of biozone C1, whereas the high marine level procession is represented by a succession of intertidal to supratidal dolomitic limestones, its top is surmounted by an important subaerial discontinuity materialized by red clay with paleosols and abundant plant roots (e.g. at Tizi n'Terghist).^[18] In other localities are mainly biodetritic limestones, showing emersion structures at their top (dolomitization, mud cracks, roots and plant remains, footprints of Dinosaurs).^[18]

Paleogeography

Early Jurassic Paleogeography of the Sahara Craton, including source Highlands, Jurassic basins and CAMP outcrops.

The Aganane Formation is located largely within the "Grand e Accident du Nor d'Altasien" or North Atlas Fault, the largest and most important of the Central High Atlas faults.^[12] During the late Pliensbachian, 200 m of carbonate sediments accumulated south of the fault on an overturned block, while to the north more than 700 m of similar material accumulated.^[12] This fault line probably marked the northern boundary of a Paleozoic basement peninsula that advanced eastward from the Tichka Massif into the Atlas Trench.^[12]

The paleogeographic evolution of our region can be described in three main stages:

• The Lower Pliensbachian ("Carixian"), which follows the typical Sinemurian paleogeographic pattern with foreshores and prolonged emersion facies (paleosols, karsts and teepee-shaped structures), the latter being mainly observed on the southern slopes of the central High Atlas, evolving on the subtidal platform of the Upper Sinemurian, with the "Lithiotidae" colonizing for the first time the main areas located in line with the active accidents, notably the fault located NE-SW, separating the Tilougguit trough to the SE from its limiting platform to the NW.^[13]
• The "middle" Pliensbachian ("Carixian" - lower "Domerian") marine environment gradually resettles along the western edge of the High Atlas Basin, with maximum opening of depositional environments in the Carixian-Domerian transition (rhythmic mamocalcic sedimentation in the Tilougguit Trench, turbidite facies on the SE edge of the Beni-Mellal platform and subsident lagoons in the other sectors). At the same time, the NW-SE-trending Demnat Fault and the N70-trending North Atlas Fault become evident, whereas the southern edge of the Telouet Graben does not appear to have changed significantly during the Middle Lias like its counterpart in the northern part of the range, being here the main site of the shallow sedimentation of the Aganane Formation.^[13] Towards the Tincghir meridian, open sea facies are encountered.^[13]
• The last facies belong to the Upper Pliensbachian (Upper Domerian) where the paleogeography of the Central High Atlas becomes very contrasted, with emersion of a vast sector of the platform (At Demnat), leading to the development of paleosols and karst and the accumulation of lignite deposits along tectonically active faults.^[13] At the same time, there is a filling of the Tilougguit ditch by carbonate and terrigenous sedimentation, showing small basins like Tamadout and Taquat N'Agrd with a sedimentation with a gravity component, and shoals (Jbel Taguendouft) with condensed deposits.^[13] Finally an intensification of the activity of the North leading to the deepening of the central platform (creation of the new basin of Amezraï), to the individualization of strongly subsident zones in the aplomb of this accident (gutter of Jbel Azourki-Jbel Aroudane) and to the birth of the first wrinkles in the center of the high-Atlasic basin.^[13]

Foraminifera

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Habitat	Notes	Images
Everticyclammina[19][20]	E. praevirguliana E. sp.	Aganane/Assist Ait Athmane Bernai	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Everticyclamminidae family. It represents a species similar to E. virguliana, known from the Middle Jurassic of Morocco.
Glomospira[20]	G. sp.	Ait Athmane	Calcareous Skeleton	Lagoon	A foraminifer of the family Ammodiscidae.
Glomospirella[20]	G. sp	Ait Athmane	Calcareous Skeleton	Lagoon	A foraminifer of the family Ammovertellininae.
Lituosepta[19]	L. recoarensis L. compressa	Aganane Aît Bou Guemez Aït Blal Assist Bernai Assist Lakhdar Gorges de Taghia Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Nit Blal—Tacht Tadghouit Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Mesoendothyridae family.
Mayncina[19]	M. termieri	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Nezzazatoidea family.
Mesoendothyra[19][20]	M. sp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assist Bernai Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Mesoendothyridae family.
Nodosaria[20]	N. sexcostata N. sp.	Ait Athmane	Calcareous Skeleton	Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the family Nodosariinae.
Ophtalmidium[20]	O. concentricum O. sp.	Ait Athmane	Calcareous Skeleton	Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the family Ophthalmidiidae.
Orbitopsella[19]	O. primaeva O. praecursor	Aganane Aït Blal Alt Bou Guemez Assif Bernal Assif Lakhdar Assif Imejdag Col d'Adoumaz Col du R'nim Col (Tizi) n-Toudat Gorges du Makin Gorges de Taghia Jbel Choucht Jbel Mahan Jbel Rhat Taclghouit Jbel Tadaghas Jbel Tafenfent Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Mesoendothyridae family.
Planisepta[20]	P. compressa	Ait Athmane	Calcareous Skeleton	Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Mesoendothyridae family.
Pseudocyclammina[19]	P. liasica	Aït Blal Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Pfenderinidae family.
Pseudopfenderina[19]	P. butterlini	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Pfenderinidae family.
Siphovalvulina[19][20]	S. colomi S. gibraltarensis S. sp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assist Bernai Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A foraminifer of the Pfenderinidae family.

Algae

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Habitat	Notes	Images
Boueina[14][21]	B. hochstetteri B. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga alga of the Halimedaceae or Udoteaceae family.
Cayeuxia[19][21]	C. liasica C. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga alga of the Halimedaceae or Udoteaceae family.
Paleodasycladus[19][21]	P. fragilis P. mediterraneus P. dolomiticus P. anae P. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Ibaqalliwn Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga alga of the Dasycladaceae family.
Sestrosphera[19][21]	S. liasina	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga alga of the Triploporellaceae family. This genus is the most common algal type found in the Biozone A (Lituosepta recoarensis).
Solenopora[21]	S. liasica S. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcified specimens	Marine or Lagoonal	A Red Alga of the family Solenoporaceae
Thaumatoporella[19][21]	T. parvovesiculifera T. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Skeletons	Marine or Lagoonal	A Green alga of the Thaumatoporellales group

Invertebrata

Ichnofossils

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Type	Made by	Notes	Images
Arenicolites[14][19]	A. isp.	Aganane Aït Blal Alt Bou Guemez Assif Bernal Assif Lakhdar Assif Imejdag Col d'Adoumaz Col du R'nim Col (Tizi) n-Toudat Gorges du Makin Gorges de Taghia Jbel Choucht Jbel Mahan Jbel Rhat Taclghouit Jbel Tadaghas Jbel Tafenfent Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Borrowing Traces	Domichnia	Polychaetes (Spionida and Carpitellida) Crustaceans (Amphipodan suspension feeders). Sipuncula	Marine, brackish, or freshwater Unbranched U-shaped burrows, subvertical in orientation, with or without lining and passive infill. Are common in modern coastal environments.
Chomatichnus[14][19]	C. wegberensis		Tubular Fodinichnia	Fodinichnia	Decapoda Annelids (Polychaeta) Sipuncula	Interpreted as the feeding burrow of a sediment-feeding animal.
Chondrites[14][19]	C. isp.		Tubular Fodinichnia	Fodinichnia	Annelids (Polychaeta) Sipuncula	Burrow-like ichnofossils. Interpreted as the feeding burrow of a sediment-ingesting animal. A more recent study has found that Scoloplos armiger and Heteromastus filiformis, occurring in the German Wadden Sea in the lower parts of tidal flats, make burrows that are homonymous with numerous trace fossils of the ichnogenus.[22]	Illustration of Chondrites bollensis
Rhizocorallium[14][19]	R. parallelum R. ispp.		Tubular Fodinichnia	Domichnia and/or fodinichnia.	Crustaceans Annelids Fishes	Dwelling and feeding burrow of a suspension-feeder or deposit-feeder, associated usually with shallow waters	Specimens
Skolithos[14][19]	S. isp.		Cylindrical to subcylindrical burrows	Domichnia	Polychaetes Phoronidans	Burrow-like ichnofossils made by organisms advancing along the bottom surface. Very narrow, vertical or subvertical, slightly winding unlined shafts filled with mud. Interpreted as dwelling structures of vermiform animals; specifically, the domichnion of a suspension-feeding worm or phoronidans	Skolithos ichnofosil reconstruction, with possible fauna associated
Thalassinoides[14][19]	T. suevicus T. isp.		Tubular Fodinichnia	Fodinichnia	Thalassinidea Several Crustaceans (Anomura, Decapoda) Annelids (Polychaeta Sipuncula Dipnoi	Burrow-like ichnofossils. Large burrow-systems consisting of smooth-walled, essentially cylindrical components. Common sedimentary features are Thalassinoides trace fossils in the fissile marlstone to claystone intervals	Thalassinoides burrowing structures, with modern related fauna, showing the ecological convergence and the variety of animals that left this Ichnogenus.
Zoophycos[14][19]	Z. isp.		Dwelling traces	Domichnia & Fodinichnia	Polychaetes (Spionida and Carpitellida) Deposit-feeding Sipuncula	Burrow-like ichnofossils. It has been related to Echiurans, but also from moving and feeding polychaete worms.	Example of Zoophycos fossil

Anthozoa

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic Position	Material	Notes	Images
Ampakabastraea[16]	A. sp.	Ait Athmane	Calcified skeleton pieces	A Coral of the family Stylinidae.
Archaeosmilia[16]	A. beata A. sp.	Ait Athmane	Calcified skeleton pieces	A Coral of the family Zardinophyllidae. Late Pliensbachian corals of the Aganane Formation are mainly limited to Retiophyllia, Thamnasteria and Archaeosmilia.
Archaeosmiliopsis[16]	A. sp.	Ait Athmane	Calcified skeleton pieces	A Coral of the family Archaeosmiliidae.
Oppelismilia[23]	O. sp.	Assemsouk	Calcified skeleton pieces	A Coral of the family Oppelismiliidae.
Phacelostylophyllum[23]	P. sp.	Assemsouk	Calcified skeleton pieces	A Coral of the family Stylophyllidae.
Phacelophyllia[23]	P. sp.	Ait Athmane	Calcified skeleton pieces	A Coral of the family Dermosmiliidae.
Periseris[23]	P. sp.	Ait Athmane	Calcified skeleton pieces	A Coral of the family Latomeandridae.
Retiophyllia[16]	R. zizensis R. spp.	Ait Athmane	Calcified skeleton pieces	A coral of the family Reimaniphylliidae. The phaceloid genus at this site is similar to the common Triassic genus Retiophyllia.
Thamnasteria[16]	T. cf. mettensis	Ait Athmane	Calcified skeleton pieces	A coral of the family Thamnasteriidae.

Demospongea

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Habitat	Notes	Images
Cladocoropsis[14]	C. mirabilis	Aganane Aït Blal Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Wazzant	Calcareous Skeleton	Marine or Lagoonal	A sponge of the family Cladocoropsidae. Fossils of this and other unidentified sponges are commonly found in reef deposits, associated with corals.

Crustacea

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Habitat	Notes	Images
Favreina[14]	F. salevensis F. spp.	Aganane Ait Athmane Aït Blal Assemsouk Jbel Tarkeddid	Coprolites	Marine, Tidal Flat or Lagoon	Crustacean fossil coprolites, assigned to the ichnofamily Favreinidae. Possibly coprolites of taxa similar or belonging to Thalassinidea	Extant Thalassinidea
Parafavreina[14]	P. thoronetensis P. spp.	Aganane Ait Athmane Aït Blal Assemsouk Jbel Tarkeddid	Coprolites	Marine, Tidal Flat or Lagoon	Crustacean fossil coprolites, assigned to the ichnofamily Favreinidae. Possibly coprolites of taxa similar or belonging to Thalassinidea

Brachiopoda

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Calcirhynchia[24]	C. moghrabiensis C. spp.	Tizi n’Talrhemt Telouet	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan of the family Cirpinae. Relatively abundant on seashore deposits. It was originally identified as part of the genus Rhynchonella
Hesperithyris[24][25]	H. atlantis H. termieri H. reinerii	Aïn Kahla Aïn Leuh Almis du Guigou Taïlilout Tazergount Tazioualt Vallée d’Ounila	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan of the family Zeilleriidae
Homoeorhynchia[25]	H. batalleri	Ait Athmane	Isolated Shells	A Rhynchonellidan, member of the family Rhynchonellidae
Spiriferina[24][25]	S. betacalcis S. mediterranea	Chebbout bou Hedli	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan of the family Spiriferinidae
Stolmorhynchia[25]	S. bouchardi	Ait Athmane	Isolated Shells	A Rhynchonellidan, member of the family Basiliolidae
Tauromenia[24]	T. aretusa T. polymorpha T. itoensis T. brevicostata	Col de Talrhemt Ito SW du Jbel Anremeur	Isolated Shells	A Brachiopodan of the family Zeilleriidae

Bivalves

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Arcomytilus[23][26]	A. furcatus	Assemsouk Tazioualt	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Mytilidae.
Cochlearites[16][23][26][27]	C. loppianus C. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Plicatostylidae. A large bivalve, with a subequal shell, that can reach 60–70 cm in height. It is one of the three principal bivalves found on the Lithiotis facies, whose accumulations generally cover megalodontid coquinas.
Eomiodon[23][26]	E. serradensis E. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater/brackish bivalve of the family Neomiodontidae. This genus is considered an opportunistic suspension feeder of shallow infauna, and the marker genus for brackish environments.[28]
Fimbria[23][26]	F. trulla F. spp.	Assemsouk Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Lucinidae.
Gervilleia[11]	G. termieri G. spp.	Tazergount	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Bakevelliidae.
Gervilleioperna[23][26]	G. atlanta G. spp.	Ait Athmane Assemsouk	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Plicatostylidae. Abundant along the rootlets, indicating a very shallow and restricted lagoon or swamp environment
Liogryphaea[29][23][26]	L. arcuata L. spp.	Ait Athmane Assemsouk	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Gryphaeidae. This genus develops a noted material oyster biostrome at Aït Athmane, where a discontinuous, patchy layer is formed, developed under submarine lithification and a relative enrichment in terrigenous matter.[29]
Lithioperna[16][23][27]	L. scutata L. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Plicatostylidae. This genus was founded to be a bivalve with a juvenile byssate stage that developed different lifestyles in adulthood depending on the density of individuals and the firmness of the bottom	Specimen of the genus
Lucina[23][26]	L. spp.	Assemsouk Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater/brackish bivalve of the family Lucinidae. Linked with intertidal settings
Modiolus[11]	M. tirolensis M. cf. hillana	Ait Athmane	Isolated Shells	A mussel, member of the family Mytilidae inside Mytilida	Example of extant specimen
Mytiloperna[16][23][27]	M. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Plicatostylidae.
Opisoma[16][23][27][29][30]	O. menchikoffi O. excavatum O. spp.	Ait Athmane Assemsouk Bou Dahar Grand Pic de l'Ouarsenis Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater/brackish bivalve of the family Astartidae. Is considered a genus that evolved from shallow burrowing ancestors, secondarily becoming an edge-lying semi-fauna adapted to photosymbiosis.[30] In the Aganane Formation, this genus is both associated with Corallinaceous facies and tidal flats, even recovered on intertidal channels similar to the ones recovered on modern mangroves
Pachyrisma[23][27][29]	P. crassa P. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Pachyrismatidae
Pecten[23][26]	P. juhanus	Assemsouk Tizi n'Tizint	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Pectinoidae
Pholadomya[23][26]	P. scutata	Assemsouk	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Pholadomyidae
Protodiceras[23][27][29]	P. pumilum P. spp.	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid	Isolated Shells	A saltwater bivalve of the family Pachyrismatidae

Gastropoda

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Nerinea[26][23]	N. spp.	Ait Athmane Assemsouk	Isolated Shells	A saltwater gastropod of the family Nerineidae. Local specimens appear to have algal material on the shells, indicating a restricted lagoon environment.
Pseudonerinea[24]	P. terebra P. spp.	Tazergount	Isolated Shells	A saltwater gastropod of the family Nerineidae
Scurria[23][26]	S. spp.	Assemsouk	Isolated Shells	A saltwater gastropod of the family Nerineidae. "Scurria" was found in the Assemsouk structure on a "Cochlearites" valve and a shallow ovoid excavation, similar to the resting trace of a limpet, was found inside a transported "Lithiotis".

Ammonites

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Arieticeras[3]	A. ceratitoïdes A. cf. algovianum	Aït Blal Jbel Aït Abess Midelt Zawyat Ahançal	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Hildoceratidae. Arieticeras cf. algovianum is indicative of the Middle Domerian (Upper Pliensbachian) in the upper zone
Fuciniceras[3]	F. mellahense F. volubile	Beni-Mellal	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Hildoceratidae
Seguenziceras[3]	S. cf.algovianum	Tamsift	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Polymorphitidae
Tropidoceras[3]	T. cf. demonense T. spp.	Ifrane	Isolated Shells	An ammonite of the family Polymorphitidae

Annelida

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Habitat	Notes	Images
Serpulidae[14]	Indeterminate	Aganane Aït Blal Ait Athmane Assemsouk Assist Bernai Gorges du Tisakht Jbel Choucht Jbel Rhat Jbel Tarahalt Jbel Tarkeddid	Calcareous skeleton	Marine or Lagoonal	A Sabellida of the family Serpulidae. These annelids are found as well in the reef facies as in the lagoon deposits

Dinosaur Tracks

Theropoda

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Anchisauripus[1][31][32]	A. ispp.	Aït Blal Akourbi Assif-n-Sremt Issil-n-Aït Arbi tracksite Tabant	Footprints	Traces of theropods, members of the ichnofamily Anchisauripodidae, incertae sedis within Neotheropoda. Attributed to dinosaurs of type Coelophysidae	The prints of Anchisauripus belong to a genus similar to that of Procompsognathus
Argoides[1][31][32]	A. ispp.	Aït Blal Assif-n-Sremt Ibaqualiwn Iskatafene	Footprints	Theropod tracks, member of the ichnofamily Anchisauripodidae, incertae sedis inside Neotheropoda. Mistaken originally as coelurosaur tracks, this specimens have pes that resemble those of Noasaurids and other Abelisauroids.[33] Includes a pathologic trackway with evidence of limping, as well three morphotypes: Didactyl, tridactyl and tetradactyl theropod trackways.[1]	The footprints of Argoides belong to a genus with a pes similar to Velocisaurus, yet does not implicate is a member of the family or a relative
Carmelopodus[31][32]	C. isp.	Ibaqualiwn Tizi-n-Aït	Footprints	Theropod tracks, member of the ichnofamily Eubrontidae, incertae sedis inside Theropoda. Ceratosaur tracks. Includes the largest theropod track from the Early Jurassic of Morocco.[33]	The footprints of Carmelopodus belong to a genus with a pes similar to Ceratosaurus, yet does not implicate is a member of the family or a relative
Eubrontes[34]	E. isp.	Aït Blal Aït Kelelch Assif-n-Sremt Tizi-n-Aït Waougoulzat	Footprints	Theropod tracks, type member of the ichnofamily Eubrontidae, incertae sedis inside Theropoda. Eubrontes is related to the Genus Dilophosaurus, representing a basal Neotheropods.
Grallator[1][31][35]	G. tuberosus G. variabilis G. ispp.	Akourbi Aït Blal Ansous Assif-n-Sremt Ibaqualiwn Issil-n-Aït Arbi Tabant Sidi Moussa tracksite Waougoulzat	Footprints	Theropod tracks, typical member of the ichnofamily Grallatoridae, incertae sedis within Theropoda. Attributed to dinosaurs of type Coelophysidae and Dilophosaurus
Megalosauripus[31][32]	M. isp.	Akourbi Ibaqualiwn Talsnant Tizi-n-Aït	Footprints	Traces of theropods, members of the ichnofiber family Eubrontidae, incertae sedis within Theropoda. Traces of tetanurans, some with a resemblance to Allosauroids.[33]	The footprints of Megalosauripus belong to a genus with a pes similar to Allosaurus, yet does not implicate is a member of the family or a relative
Plesiornis?[1]	P.? isp.	Aït Blal	Footprints	Traces of theropods, members of the ichnofamily Anchisauripodidae, incertae sedis within Neotheropoda. Theropods with bird-like legs or similar to that of Coelurosaurs
Theropodipedia[1][31][35]	Indeterminate	Akourbi Aït Blal Ansous Ibaqualiwn Iba Ziz Issil-n-Aït Arbi Tabant Sidi Moussa Waougoulzat	Footprints	Theropod Tracks of uncertain affinity

Sauropodomorpha

Genus	Species	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Breviparopus[31][36]	B. isp.	Ibaqalliwn	Footprints	Traces of sauropods, typical member of the ichnofamily Parabrontopodidae, incertae sedis within Sauropodomorpha. Includes traces with pes similar to Diplodocoidea.[36][37]	The footprints of Breviparopus may have belong to a genus with a similar pes to that of Haplocanthosaurus, yet it doesn't mean they were made by a Neosauropod
Eosauropus[31][36]	E. isp.	Assif-n-Sremt Ibaqalliwn	Footprints	Traces of sauropods, typical member of the ichnofamily Parabrontopodidae, incertae sedis within Sauropodomorpha. Includes traces with pes similar to those of Blikanasaurus.[37]
Lavinipes?[38]	L.? isp.	Ibaqalliwn	Footprints	Traces of sauropods, typical member of the ichnofamily Parabrontopodidae, incertae sedis within Sauropodomorpha.
Otozoum[39][40]	O. moodii O. isp.	Assif-n-Sremt Ibaqalliwn Issil-n-Aït Arbi Timit	Footprints	Traces of sauropodomorphs, a type member of the ichnofamily Otozoidae, incertae sedis within Sauropodomorpha. Includes a gigantic 84 or 75 cm track that represents the largest Otozoum ever described in the literature.[40]	The local Footprints of Otozoum may have belonged to a genus similar to that of Lamplughsaura
Parabrontopodus[36]	P. isp. A P. isp. B P. isp. C	Assif-n-Sremt Aguer-n-Ouzrou Aguerd Ibaqalliwn Tabant Tigharguenine Tizi-n-Aït Waougoulzat	Footprints	Traces of sauropods, typical member of the ichnofamily Parabrontopodidae, incertae sedis within Sauropodomorpha. Includes tracks with pes similar to those of Vulcanodon (perhaps left by Tazoudasaurus?) and other morphotype more similar to Rhoetosaurus.[37]	The Footprints of Parabrontopodus may have belonged to a genus similar to that of Vulcanodon
Pseudotetrasauropus[39]	P. isp.	Issil-n-Aït Arbi	Footprints	Traces of sauropodomorphs, a type member of the ichnofamily Otozoidae, incertae sedis within Sauropodomorpha.	The prints of Pseudotetrasauropus may have belonged to a genus similar to that of Leonerasaurus
Sauropodomorphidia[39][35]	Indeterminate	An Assif-n-Sremt Jbel Azourki Ibaqalliwn Iba'ziz Issil-n-Aït Arbi Tabant Tizi-n-Aït Tigharguenine Timit tracksite	Footprints	Sauropodomorph tracks of uncertain affinity
Sauropodina[31][32]	Indeterminate	Ahbak Ait Waggown Ansous Assif-n-Sremt Tizi-n-Aït Tabant Timit Iba'ziz Tigharguenine Waougoulzat	Footprints	Sauropod tracks of uncertain affinity	Metric tracks of a giant sauropod dinosaur, at the top of an emersive "shallowing upward" carbonate cycle

Ornithischia

Genus	Species	Location	Material	Notes	Images
Deltapodus?[41]	D.? isp.	Ansous	Footprints	Thyreophoran tracks, type member of the ichnofamily Moyenisauropodidae, incertae sedis inside Neornithischia. Is considered synonymous with the ichnogenus Anomoepus. The tracks adscribed resemble basal Thyreorphora feet. The tracks related to the genus are vinculated with genera such as Scelidosaurus, whose fossils have been found on Pliensbachian strata of England. Due to its morphology, this tracks have been latter identified as possible Deltapodus, yet this does not mean they are of Stegosaur origin.[42]	Scelidosaurus, one of the best known Early Jurassic Thyreophorans, matches with the bodyplan assigned to the ichnogenus Moyenisauropus

Photo Gallery

• 
  Metric emersive cycle in the carbonate platform. Deposition of marine lagoon with foraminifera then dolomitized algal laminations in intertidal to supratidal environment.
• 
  Desiccation cracks on the surface of a dolomitized limestone bench, metric emersive cycle top of the Liassic Platform Lagoon, at the limit between the continental Azilal Formation and the older Aganane Fm.
• 
  Ammonites and belemnites displaced on the supratidal plain ("teepee") by a storm wave or a tidal current
• 
  Storm breach at the top of a metric regressive sequence.
• 
  Vadose pisoliths and "birdseyes" in coastal carbonate sand, emergent; outer shelf.
• 
  Aerial, supratidal (vadose) diagenesis in a carbonate sand with foraminifera displaced by tidal currents and storm waves on the shelf.
• 
  Thin layer: calcretes (calcareous crusts) reworked in a gravelly coastal sediment, partly dolomitized.
• 
  Stalactite cement at the top of a "keystone vug" typical of diagenesis in a vadose environment, at the top of an emersive cycle (L=0.3 mm).
• 
  Calcretes (calcareous crust) and "birdseyes" in a gravelly coastal sediment.
• 
  Diagenetic structure in "teepee" on the supratidal plain, formed by the increase in volume of the sediment following the crystallization of carbonates (dolomite).

See also

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
  • List of stratigraphic units with theropod tracks
  • List of stratigraphic units with sauropodomorph tracks
  • List of stratigraphic units with ornithischian tracks

References

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