Tafraout Group

The Tafraout Group (Full name: Douar Tafraout Group, to not confuse it with Tafraout in other region, also known as "Zawyat Ahançal Group") is a geological group of Toarcian-Aalenian (Lower Jurassic-Middle Jurassic) age in the Azilal, Béni-Mellal, Imilchil, Zaouiat Ahansal, Ouarzazate, Tinerhir, Tinejdad and Errachidia areas of the High Atlas of Morocco. The Group represents the remnants of a local massive Siliciclastic-Carbonate platform ("Tafraout Platform"), best assigned to succession W-E of fluvial to tidal flat to inner platform to open marine settings, recording a dramatic decrease of the carbonate productivity under increasing terrigenous sedimentation, as well the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event. Fossils include large reef biotas with richness in "lithiotidae" bivalves and coral mounts ("Patch reef", Tafraout Formation), but also by remains of vertebrates such as the sauropod Tazoudasaurus and the basal ceratosaur Berberosaurus, along with several undescribed genera. While there have been attributions of its lowermost layers to the Latest Pliensbachian, the current oldest properly measured are part of the Earliest Toarcian regression ("MRST10").

This group is composed of the following units W-E: the Azilal Formation (continental to subtidal, including its synonyms the "Wazzant Formation", "Continental Series of Toundoute" as well the "Aguerd-nˈTazoult Formation"); the Tafraout I-IV Formations (deposited in a subtidal to inner platform environment, includes the "Amezraï Fm"). They are connected with the offshore Tagoudite Formation, Ait Athmane Formation and the deeper shelf deposits of the Agoudim Formation.