Earth:Los Bastos Formation

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Los Bastos Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early-mid Coniacian
~89.8–88 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofNeuquén Group
 Río Neuquén Subgroup
UnderliesSierra Barrosa Formation
OverliesPortezuelo Formation
ThicknessUp to 35 m (115 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryMudstone
OtherSandstone
Location
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 38°50′20″S 68°47′05″W / 38.83889°S 68.78472°W / -38.83889; -68.78472
Paleocoordinates [ ⚑ ] 42°18′S 49°00′W / 42.3°S 49.0°W / -42.3; -49.0
RegionMendoza Province
Neuquén Province
CountryArgentina
ExtentNeuquén Basin
Type section
Named forLos Bastos Field
Named by2010
Year definedGarrido
Los Bastos Formation is located in Argentina
Los Bastos Formation
Los Bastos Formation (Argentina)

Los Bastos Formation is a geologic formation of the Neuquén Basin in the northern Patagonian provinces of Mendoza and Neuquén. The formation dates to the Late Cretaceous, early to middle Coniacian, and belongs to the Río Neuquén Subgroup of the Neuquén Group. The formation overlies the Portezuelo Formation, in which it was formerly included and is overlain by the Sierra Barrosa Formation. Los Bastos Formation comprises mudstones and sandstones deposited in a fluvial environment. The dinosaur Malarguesaurus florenciae and a meridiolestid mammal were recovered from the formation.

Description

The formation was named by Garrido in 2010 as shaly unit conformably and transitionally overlying the Portezuelo Formation, to which the layers were formerly defined and in the same manner underlying the Sierra Barrosa Formation, all belonging to the Río Neuquén Subgroup of the Neuquén Group in the Neuquén Basin. The unit now known as Los Bastos Formation was included in the original definition by Herrero Ducloux (1938, 1939) as "Portezuelo Medio", as part of the "Portezuelo Beds" he described.[1]

The type locality of the formation is located at the foot of the outcrop of the eponymous Los Bastos Field, between the localities of Sierra Barrosa and Cerro Senillosa. The formation at its type section reaches a thickness of 35 metres (115 ft). The formation comprises red mudstones intercalated by thin levels of siltstones and fine well-sorted yellowish to greenish grey sandstones. The formation has similar lithological characteristics as the Lisandro Formation and was deposited in a fluvial environment characterized by sinuous channels. Based on the stratigraphic relations with the overlying and underlying units, the age has been estimated to be early to middle Coniacian.[2]

Fossil content

The formation has provided fossils of:[3]

See also

  • List of dinosaur bearing rock formations

References

  1. Garrido, 2011, p.236
  2. Garrido, 2011, p.237
  3. Los Bastos Formation at Fossilworks.org
  4. Forasiepi et al., 2012

Bibliography

  • Forasiepi, A. M.; R. A. Coria; J. Hurum, and P. J. Currie. 2012. First dryolestoid (Mammalia, Dryolestoidea, Meridiolestida) from the Coniacian of Patagonia and new evidence on their early radiation in South America. Ameghiniana 49. 497-504.
  • Garrido, Alberto C. 2011. El Grupo Neuquén (Cretácico Tardío) en la Cuenca Neuquina, 231–244. XVIII Congreso Geológico Argentino. Accessed 2020-07-07.