Bahariya Formation

Bahariya Formation Stratigraphic range: Lower Cenomanian[1]
Type	Geological formation
Underlies	El Heiz Formation
Thickness	~100m
Lithology
Primary	sandstone
Other	mudstone, siltstone
Location
Region	Western Desert
Country	Egypt
Type section
Named for	Bahariya Oasis
Named by	Said 1962

The Bahariya Formation (Baharija Formation) is a fossil bearing geologic formation dating back to the Early Cenomanian, which outcrops within the Bahariya depression, and is known from oil exploration drilling across much of the Western Desert where it forms an important oil reservoir.^[1][2][3]

Extent

The Bahariya Formation forms the base of the depression, the lower part of the enclosing escarpment and all of the small hills within.^[4] The type section for the formation is found at Gebel El-Dist, a hill at the northern end of the Bahariya depression.^[5]

Stratigraphy and sedimentology

Four depositional sequences have been recognised in the Bahariya Formation in the Bahariya depression, separated by three sub-aerial unconformities. The formation was deposited during a period of relative rise in sea level, with each unconformity representing a relative fall in sea level.^[1] Each of the individual sequences contains sediments deposited under fluvial, shoreline and shallow marine conditions.

Fauna of the Baharija Formation

Lepidosaurs

Lepidosaurs of the Bahariya Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Abundance	Notes
Simoliophis

Sauropods

Indeterminate sauropod remains.^[2]

Sauropods of the Bahariya Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Aegyptosaurus[2]	A. baharijensis[2]			"Partial postcranial skeleton."[6]		Paralititan
cf. Dicraeosaurus[2]	cf. Dicraeosaurus sp.[2]
Paralititan[2]	P. stromeri[2]			"Partial postcranial skeleton."[7]

Theropods

Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon		Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Theropods of the Bahariya Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Abundance	Notes	Images
Bahariasaurus	B. ingens[2]					Carcharodontosaurus Spinosaurus
Carcharodontosaurus[2]	C. saharicus[2]
Elaphrosaurus	Indeterminate				Bahariya material previously referred to Elaphrosaurus now considered to be indeterminate theropod remains.[2]
Spinosaurus[2]	S. aegyptiacus[2]
	Spinosaurus sp.[2]

See also

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations

References

1. Catuneanu O., Khalifa M.A. & Wanas H.A. (2006). "Sequence stratigraphy of the Lower Cenomanian Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt" (PDF). Sedimentary Geology 190 (1-4): 121–137. doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2006.05.010.
2. Weishampel, David B; et al (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 604. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
3. Macgregor D.S. & Moody R.T.G. (1998). "Mesozoic and Cenozoic petroleum systems of North Africa". In Macgregor D.S., Moody R.T.G. & Clark-Lowes D.D. Petroleum geology of North Africa. Special Publications 132. Geological Society. pp. 201–216. ISBN 9781862390041.
4. Khalifa M.A. & Catuneanu O. (2008). "Sedimentology of the fluvial and fluvio-marine facies of the Bahariya Formation (Early Cenomanian), Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt". Journal of African Earth Sciences 51 (2): 89–103. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2007.12.004.
5. Tanner L.H. & Khalifa M.A. (2010). & Khalifa 2009.pdf "Origin of ferricretes in fluvial-marine deposits of the Lower Cenomanian Bahariya Formation, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert, Egypt" Check |url= value (help) (PDF). Journal of Anfrican Earth Sciences 56 (4-5): 179–189. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2009.07.004.
6. "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 267.
7. "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 269.

Coordinates: 28°24′20″N 28°48′20″E / 28.40556°N 28.80556°E