| Malhada Vermelha Formation | |
| Type: | Geological formation |
| Age: | Valanginian-Hauterivian ~ |
| Period: | Hauterivian |
| Prilithology: | Sandstone |
| Otherlithology: | Siltstone |
| Region: | Ceará |
| Coordinates: | -6.3°N -39.1°W |
| Paleocoordinates: | -4.5°N -6.2°W |
| Unitof: | Iguatu Group |
| Underlies: | Lima Campos Formation |
| Overlies: | Quixoá Formation |
| Thickness: | 500- |
| Extent: | Lima Campos & Malhada Vermelha Basins |
The Malhada Vermelha Formation is an Early Cretaceous (Valanginian to Hauterivian) geologic formation in Ceará, northeastern Brazil. The formation preserves reptile, fish and ichnofossils.
The formation is characterized by a cyclic sequence of siltstones that are intercalated with fine to medium sandstones with the presence of festoon cross-stratification and climbing ripples, deposited in an alluvial environment in a hot semiarid paleoclimate.
The formation crops out in two minibasins, the Lima Campos and eponymous Malhada Vermelha Basins. The 500mto800mm (1,600feetto2,600feetm) thick formation overlies the Quixoá Formation and is overlain by the Lima Campos Formation.[1]
The following fossils were reported from the formation:[2]