Matmor Formation

Matmor Formation (Callovian, Peltoceras athleta Zone) in Makhtesh Gadol, Israel.

The Jurassic Matmor Formation is the name given to the thick 100 meter unit that is exposed in Hamakhtesh Hagadol. The Matmor Formation contains fossils from a Jurassic equatorial shallow marine environment. Bivalves, gastropods, sponges, corals, echinoderms, and sclerozoans are present in the Matmor Formation to various degrees (Wilson et al., 2010). The stratigraphy of the Matmor Formation consists of alternating layers of limestone and marl (Hirsch and Roded, 1996).

Stratigraphy

The Iraq Petroleum Company originally described the Jurassic sequence in Hamakhtesh Hagadol of Israel in the 1930s (Hudson, 1958). These findings were later described and published by Blake (1935). Shaw (1947) published a limited summary of the stratigraphy. Hudson (1958) later subdivded the rocks into the Callovian, Divesian, Argovian, Sequanim biostratigraphic stages. In 1963, Goldberg subdivded the section into the Zohar, Kidod and Be'er Sheva formations. Goldberg (1963) further divided the Zohar formation into the Ziyya and Madsus members. In 1966, Mayac dated the Callovian and what appeared to be the Lower Oxfordian stages with forams (Mayac, 1966, in Hirsch and Roded, 1996).

References

• Goldberg, M. (1963). "Reference section of Jurassic sequence in Hamakhtesh Hagadol (Kurnub Anticline). Detailed binocular sample description, including field observations." Israel Geological Survey, Unpublished Report, pp. 1–50.
• Hirsch, F.; Roded, A. (1996). "The Jurassic stratigraphic nomenclature in Hamakhtesh Hagadol, northern Negev". Geological Survey of Israel, Current Research 10: 10–14. 
• Hudson, R.G.S. (1958). "The Upper Jurassic faunas of southern Israel". Geological Magazine 95 (5): 415–425. doi:10.1017/S0016756800062993. 
• Wilson, M.A.; Feldman, H.R.; Krivicich, E.B. (2010). "Bioerosion in an equatorial Middle Jurassic coral-sponge reef community (Callovian, Matmor Formation, southern Israel)". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 289: 93–101. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2010.02.019. 

• 

  Marls and limestones of the Matmor Formation exposed near the center of Makhtesh Gadol.

• 

  Gastrochaenolites boring in a coral from the Matmor Formation.

• 

  Echinoid spines from the Family Cidaridae, Matmor Formation.

• 

  Scleractinian coral from the Matmor Formation.