Geoconservation Research (Geoconserv. Res.) The Enigmatic Upper Ordovician of the Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark (Portugal) Volume 4 (2021) Issue 1, June 2021 - Paleontological Heritage and Geoconservation in the UNESCO European Geoparks (I), edited by Dan Grigorescu, Michael Benton, Vachik Hairapetian 2024 01 01 The Enigmatic Upper Ordovician of the Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark (Portugal) 10.30486/gcr.2021.1913408.1053 EN Sofia Pereira Centro de Geociências, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal 0000-0003-1117-6629 Jorge Colmenar Centro de Geociências, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal Cristiana J.P Esteves Department of Geology, Ghent University. Krijgslaan 281, S8. 9000 Ghent, Belgium Ícaro Dias Da Silva Instituto Dom Luiz, Departamento de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal Miguel Pires Centro de Geociências, Universidade de Coimbra, Rua Sílvio Lima, 3030-790 Coimbra, Portugal Carlos Neto De Carvalho Instituto Dom Luiz, Departamento de Geologia, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal Geopark Naturtejo Meseta Meridional. Centro Cultural Raiano. Avenida Joaquim Morão, 6060-101, Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal 0000-0002-3365-6626 Journal Article 2024 01 01 Naturtejo UNESCO Global Geopark (Portugal) area includes deposits from the Neoproterozoic to the Quaternary. Despite its limited exposure area in major Variscan folded structures, the Ordovician series hosts some of its most famous geological heritage features, such as the Penha Garcia Ichnological Park.  The Upper Ordovician of the Central Iberian Zone is still far from being as well-understood as it is in other areas. Extensional tectonics, magmatism, global eustatic and climatic changes generated a great variability of sequences in a reduced geographical area. The Upper Ordovician of the Naturtejo region, often considered poorly represented, is here demonstrated to have a great potential and to be more complete than previously assumed. New stratigraphic and paleontologic data are presented for the three Upper Ordovician-bearing structures within Naturtejo: Fajão-Muradal, Vila Velha de Ródão and Penha Garcia synclines. Remobilized upper Katian fossiliferous clasts were found for the first time within the Hirnantian Casal Carvalhal from the Fajão-Muradal Syncline and a new fossil site is added to the Orvalho GeoTrail. In the Vila Velha de Ródão Syncline, the Barroca da Senhora stream fossil site constitutes a new geosite within the protected area of Portas de Ródão Natural Monument, presenting the most complete Upper Ordovician sequence of this structure. Finally, the stratigraphic and paleontologic record of the Vale Feitoso estate offers all the conditions to propose a new theme geotrail, diversifying the tourism in the Monfortinho village (Penha Garcia Syncline).