Dansirit Formation
| Dansirit Formation | |
|---|---|
Ma | |
| Type | Alborz Mountains |
  Dansirit Formation (Iran) | |
The Dansirit Formation is a geological formation in Iran. It is Middle Jurassic in age, dating from the Aalenian to Bajocian.
Fossils
The fossils of Dansirit Formation mainly include plant fossils and dinosaur footprints[1][2][3]
Plant fossils
Plant fossils of the Dansirit Formation mostly include
Filicales, Bennettitales, Cycadales, Corystospermales, Caytoniales, Czekanowskiales, Ginkgoales and Pinales. Filicophyta, Coniferales, Bennetitales and Equisetales dominate the flora, which indicates the deposition of this formation in relatively tropical and rainy environments in islands, deltas and river banks.[1][4]
Dinosaur footprints
The dinosaur footprints of this formation in Mazandaran province include theropods with an average length of about 2 meters, small two-toed Deinonychosaurs, relatively giant sauropods about 9 meters long, and small two-legged ornithopods. These works are limited to footprints and dinosaur fossils have not been reported in this formation.[3][2]
Description
It is part of the
Alborz Mountains.[4] The outcrop of sediments is strongly controlled by numerous fault structures in the region. The formation predominantly consists of sandstone, with subordinate siltstone and shale. Dinosaur tracks are known from the formation, including sauropods, and tridactlyl[3] and didactyl theropods.[2] A diverse fossil flora is also known from the formation.[1]