Earth:Lautaro Formation
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| Lautaro Formation Stratigraphic range: Toarcian–Aalenian, ~184–170 Ma | |
|---|---|
Strata of the Lautaro Formation outcropping at La Puerta locality | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Underlies | Quebrada Monardes Formation |
| Overlies | La Ternera Formation |
| Thickness | ~2,600 m (8,500 ft) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Limestone |
| Other | Sandstone |
| Location | |
| Region | Atacama Region |
| Country | Chile |
| Extent | Lautaro Basin |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Lautaro |
The Lautaro Formation is sedimentary and fossiliferous geological formation that largely crops out near Copiapó (Atacama Region), Chile. It is dated back to the Jurassic period (Toarcian through Aalenian stages). The lithology of the formation comprises limestone and sandstone, formed in marine settings. The Lautaro Formation preserves a marine fossil record, representing molluscs (bivalves, gastropods) and marine reptiles (metriorhynchids, plesiosaurs).[1][2][3]
The strata of the Lautaro Formation and its basin of deposition (the Lautaro Basin) have been subject to intense tectonic movement during the Mesozoic, producing large-scale stratigraphic discontinuity and tectonic inversion.[2][4][5][6][7]



Paleobiota of the Lautaro Formation
Ammonites
| Genus | Species | Material | Locality | Unit | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arieticeras | Indeterminate | Not specified.[8] | Tranque Lautaro | A hildoceratid ammonite. | ||
| Oxynoticeras | O. oxynotum | Not specified.[8] | Tranque Lautaro | An oxynoticeratid ammonite. |
Bivalves
| Genus | Species | Material | Locality | Unit | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gryphaea | G. darwini | Partial and complete shells.[2] | La Puerta, Tranque Lautaro | A gryphaeid bivalve. | ||
| Weyla | W. alata | Partial and complete shells.[8][2] | La Puerta, Tranque Lautaro | A pectinid bivalve. |
Brachiopods
| Genus | Species | Material | Locality | Unit | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rhynchonella | R. variabilis | Not specified.[8] | Tranque Lautaro | A rhynchonellid brachiopod. |
| Genus | Species | Material | Locality | Unit | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metriorhynchus | Indeterminate | Partial skull.[1] | Quebrada La Iglesia | Upper part | A metriorhynchid. |
Gastropods
| Genus | Species | Material | Locality | Unit | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lithotrochus | L. humboldtii | Partial and complete shells.[2] | La Puerta, Tranque Lautaro | A trochid gastropod. |
Plesiosaurs
| Genus | Species | Material | Locality | Unit | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plesiosauria indet. | Indeterminate | Three vertebrae.[3] | Quebrada La Iglesia | Upper part | A plesiosaur. |
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Gasparini, Z.; Vignaud, P.; Chong, G. (2000). "The Jurassic Thalattosuchia (Crocodyliformes) of Chile: a paleobiogeographic approach". Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France 171 (6): 657−664. doi:10.2113/171.6.657. https://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/bitstream/handle/10915/123708/Documento_completo.pdf-PDFA.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Martínez, F.; Arriagada, C.; Mpodozis, C.; Peña, M. (2012). "The Lautaro Basin: A record of inversion tectonics in northern Chile". Andean Geology 39 (2): 258−278. doi:10.5027/andgeoV39n2-a04. https://www.scielo.cl/pdf/andgeol/v39n2/art04.pdf.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Otero, R. A.; Acuña, S. S.; Rojas, J.; Rojas, O. (2020). "Primer registro de un plesiosaurio del Jurásico Medio de Ojo Opache, Calama, norte de Chile, con comentarios sobre registros similares en la Región de Atacama". Museo de Historia Natural y Cultural del Desierto de Atacama (Ocassional Publication N° 2): 1−57. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343797017.
- ↑ Martínez, F.; Arriagada, C.; Valdivia, R.; Deckart, K.; Peña, M. (2015). "Geometry and kinematics of the Andean thick-skinned thrust systems: Insights from the Chilean Frontal Cordillera (28°–28.5°S), Central Andes". Journal of South American Earth Sciences 64: 307−324. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2015.05.001.
- ↑ Martínez, F.; Arriagada, C.; Peña, M.; Deckart, K.; Charrier, R. (2016). "Tectonic styles and crustal shortening of the Central Andes "Pampean" flat-slab segment in northern Chile (27–29°S)". Tectonophysics 667: 144−162. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2015.11.019.
- ↑ Martínez, F.; Bonini, M.; Montanari, D.; Corti, G. (2016). "Tectonic inversion and magmatism in the Lautaro Basin, northern Chile, Central Andes: A comparative approach from field data and analog models". Journal of Geodynamics 94-95: 68−83. doi:10.1016/j.jog.2016.02.003.
- ↑ Peña, M.; Quiroga, R.; Fuentes, G.; Arellano, M.; Norambuena, J.; Bascuñán, S. (2023). "Kinematic analysis of the mesozoic - Early Cenozoic deformation in the paipote basin (27°10′S)". Journal of South American Earth Sciences 129. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2023.104543.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Segerstrom, K. (1967). "Geology and Ore Deposits of Central Atacama Province, Chile". Geological Society of America Bulletin 78 (3): 305−318.
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