Cerro Fortaleza Formation
Cerro Fortaleza Formation | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: Cenomanian | |
Type | Geological formation |
Underlies | La Irene Formation |
Overlies | Anita Formation |
Thickness | 460 metres (1,510 ft) |
Lithology | |
Primary | Sandstone |
Location | |
Coordinates | 49°54′S 72°06′W / 49.9°S 72.1°W |
Approximate paleocoordinates | 51°54′S 61°48′W / 51.9°S 61.8°W |
Region | Santa Cruz Province, southern Patagonia |
Country | ![]() |
Extent | Austral Basin |
The Cerro Fortaleza Formation, in older literature described as Pari Aike Formation, is a Late Cretaceous geologic formation of Cenomanian[1] (formerly believed to be Maastrichtian) age of the Austral Basin in southern Patagonia, Argentina.
Description
The sandstones of the formation were deposited in a fluvial environment. The formation has an estimated thickness of 460 metres (1,510 ft) and overlies the Anita Formation, while it is overlain by the La Irene Formation.[2] These formations are considered Campanian & Maastrichtian in age, respectively,[2][3] making the Cerro Fortaleza Formation aged between them.
The giant titanosaurs Puertasaurus and Dreadnoughtus, the megaraptoran Orkoraptor, Austrocheirus isasii, and the ornithopod Talenkauen have been recovered from the formation alongside turtles and crocodiles.[4]
See also
References
Bibliography
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Marenssi, Sergio A.; Silvio Casadío, and Sergio N. Santillana. 2003. Estratigrafía y sedimentología de las unidades del Cretácico superior-Paleógeno aflorantes en la margen sureste del lago Viedma, provincia de Santa Cruz, Argentina. Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina 58. 403–416. Accessed 2018-09-07.
- Novas, F.E.; M.D. Ezcurra, and A. Lecuona. 2008. Orkoraptor burkei nov. gen. et sp., a large theropod from the Maastrichtian Pari Aike Formation, Southern Patagonia, Argentina. Cretaceous Research 29. 468–480. Accessed 2018-09-07.
- Varela, A.N.; D.G. Poiré; T. Martin; A. Gerdes; F.J. Goin; J.N. Gelfo, and S. Hoffmann. 2012. U-Pb zircon constraints on the age of the Cretaceous Mata Amarilla Formation, Southern Patagonia, Argentina: Its relationship with the evolution of the Austral Basin. Andean Geology 39. 359–379. Accessed 2018-09-07.
- Geologic formations of Argentina
- Upper Cretaceous Series of South America
- Cretaceous Argentina
- Cenomanian Stage
- Sandstone formations
- Fluvial deposits
- Austral or Magallanes Basin
- Fossiliferous stratigraphic units of South America
- Paleontology in Argentina
- Geology of Patagonia
- Geology of Santa Cruz Province, Argentina