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Day One ; Locality Three.

Midelt

19th February 2019

 

The Berber nomads are hospitable, generous and very tough : 

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The snow disappears soon after you get onto the High Plains between the Middle and High Atlas ranges. 

Here are the High Atlas looming in the distance :

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As one approaches the town of Midelt, the layered geology of what is mostly Dogger, the old name for the Middle Jurassic, still used here, becomes clear :

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Midelt is full of fossil shops, however most of the fossils, including a kazillion trilobites, actually come from elsewhere. Jurassic ammonites may be from here, and many of the small cut and polished ammonites are from around here, but Midelt is most famous for its minerals, vanadinite especially. Also lead ores, barite and flourite. 

Top Tip : Don't buy fossils in Midelt unless it's a cut and polished small ammonite you want. Minerals, yes, many are beautiful and very cheap. 

Hmm, this looks interesting.................

"Stop the car!" 

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Fossils that I found at this stop. 

It's interesting as though the fossils look the typical yellowish grainy type of the Middle Jurassic, once you clean them, or split them open, they are often a grey Devonian like limestone.

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This one looks like a spiriferid to me. If so it's one of the last as they became extinct just after. I'll try and dig a bit more of it out with a pin to be sure.

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Bryozoan?

Not like my familiar Palaeozoic species.

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And I have no idea what this is. It's 1.8 cm in diameter. 

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Side : 

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Again, i'll dig this one out and see a bit more, hopefully.  

Hmmmm.

A Devonian inlier in the roadcut ? 

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thx foor the pictures Adam.

 

I wasn't expecting to see snow in Morocco :)

 

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growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.

 

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8 hours ago, Al Tahan said:

For me, hard to say what you have there.....but really great trip and finds! :D

Thank you. :)

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3 hours ago, Manticocerasman said:

thx foor the pictures Adam.

 

I wasn't expecting to see snow in Morocco :)

 

We don't get snow where I am, but the mountains can be over 4 km high and some are capped with snow all year. 

There is a ski resort within driving distance of where i live, but only active in the winter months, in the summer there is a golf course there! :D

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Beautiful mountains you have there, what a contrast to the pictures of a desert what we use to from Morocco. Thanks for sharing. 

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4km high!  The snow shots were unexpected for me too but that explains it.

Nice to see you out there finding your own stuff in Morocco, the ultimate fossil country. That round thing is odd... doesn't ring a bell.

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6 hours ago, rebu said:

Beautiful mountains you have there, what a contrast to the pictures of a desert what we use to from Morocco. Thanks for sharing. 

Desert pics coming soon, hopefully they'll surprise you as well. :)

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6 hours ago, Wrangellian said:

4km high!  The snow shots were unexpected for me too but that explains it.

Nice to see you out there finding your own stuff in Morocco, the ultimate fossil country. That round thing is odd... doesn't ring a bell.

I'll dig it out with my pins. 

One day...................

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35 minutes ago, ynot said:

Nice Adam, thanks for the tour.

Cheers, Tony. :)

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Great photos, Adam!  

 

And congratulations on the finds!  Your "bryozoan" reminds me of Alveolites at first glance, but tabulate corals went extinct before the Jurassic, so that would be impossible!  Best of luck in uncovering the mystery of your fossils... :)

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7 hours ago, Pemphix said:

Thank you for the pics !

 

Thanks for looking. :)

5 hours ago, Monica said:

Great photos, Adam!  

 

And congratulations on the finds!  Your "bryozoan" reminds me of Alveolites at first glance, but tabulate corals went extinct before the Jurassic, so that would be impossible!  Best of luck in uncovering the mystery of your fossils... :)

Much of Morocco is so barely explored it could be Palaeozoic, in fact that's the feeling I have. More research needed! 

Thanks, Monica.:)

4 hours ago, Troodon said:

Beautiful  country, love those mountains.

Me, too, it's an amazing place. :wub:

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Nice report and pics Adam! So glad that you were able to get out!

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Dipleurawhisperer5.jpg

I like Trilo-butts and I cannot lie.

 

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8 hours ago, Darktooth said:

Nice report and pics Adam! So glad that you were able to get out!

Me too! 

Thanks, Dave, but the best is yet to come...........:)

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 3 years later...

Here is the link to locality four

 

 

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And for those who wish to start at the beginning :

 

 

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Tortoise Friend.

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