Barran Press
Mukalla, Yemen – On Thursday, November 28, 2024, the Geological Survey Authority of Hadramaut announced that a geological team has completed a field visit to the "Marzahat Al-Kafir" site, located 10 kilometers west of Mukalla, to investigate rock formations containing fossilized plant leaf impressions.
In a statement reviewed by Barran Press, the authority explained that the rock outcrops in the area revealed fossilized leaf prints embedded within travertine rock—sedimentary rocks formed from the chemical deposition of calcium carbonate minerals from freshwater sources. These formations belong to the Fuwwah Formation, which is part of the Shahr Group and dates back to the late Miocene epoch, approximately 5 million years ago.
The authority noted that the Fuwwah Formation is situated non-conformably above metamorphic igneous rocks from the Precambrian era. Field measurements of the fossilized leaves showed they vary in shape and size, with an average length ranging from 11 cm to 22 cm and a width of approximately 7 cm to 17 cm. The travertine rock is characterized by variously sized circular voids, with the rock exposure extending about 1,300 meters in length.
The geological team estimated the thickness of the exposure to be around 8 to 10 meters. The authority confirmed that the fossilized leaves were documented scientifically, with photographs taken to accurately represent their size.
The statement also addressed previous claims circulating on social media, where pictures of these formations were referred to as "treasures." The authority clarified that these images, shared by an activist on Facebook, were taken without a scale, which misrepresented the actual size of the formations, making them appear larger and more impressive than they are in reality.
Fayez Baserah, the Director General of the Geological Survey and Mineral Resources Authority in Hadramaut, emphasized that rumors regarding treasure or hidden artifacts within these rocks are unfounded. He stated these formations are natural, reflecting the geological history and environments of the area from millions of years ago.
According to the authority, travertine rocks are commonly used in decorative applications, mosaics, and marble work due to their attractive shapes and colors.
