QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF PALEONTOLOGICAL SITES OF IPU FORMATION, SILURIAN OF THE PARNAIBA BASIN, NORTHWESTERN CEARÁ

Abstract

The Ipu Formation (eastern edge of the Parnaíba Basin) houses paleontological sites of Silurian age, including invertebrate molds and marine ichnofossils. The objective of this research was to identify and quantitatively analyze the paleontological sites of the Ipu Formation in Ceará, creating the first inventory of these sites. Based on Brilha and Moura's methodology for the selection, classification and quantification of geosites, field missions were carried out in places of paleontological interest. Nine paleontological sites were identified: Pacujá (Contra Fogo and Zipu), Cariré (Caveira and Floresta), Ipu (Bica do Ipu, Três Pedras and Palmeirinha) and Santana do Acaraú (Sapó and Baixa Fria dos Santos). The scientific, cultural, educational, and tourist values were analyzed, along with the degree of degradation of fossil sites, and their protection priorities were ranked. The Contra Fogo sites (a geosite of international relevance) and Zipu (a geodiversity site of national relevance) achieved higher protection priority values. The average degradation risk value for all sites was moderate. As geoconservation strategies, it is suggested to widely disseminate this knowledge and create educational programs, museums and/or paleontological parks, considering cross-cutting aspects, such as culture and the tourism network of the municipalities, making the sites suitable for use in sustainable local development.