Neuquén Group
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The Neuquén Group is a group of geologic formations found in Argentina. Rocks in the Neuquén Group fall within the Cenomanian to early Campanian stages of the Late Cretaceous Period, about 100 million to 80 million years in age. It overlies the older Lohan Cura Formation and is itself overlain by the younger Allen Formation of the Malargüe Group, separated from both by unconformities.
Deposits have been located in the provinces of Río Negro, Neuquén, and Mendoza. Although several different types of environments are represented in various sections of the Neuquén Group, the dominant regime is alluvial deposition. Many dinosaurs and other fossils have been discovered in these sediments.
There are seven formations within the Neuquén Group, divided into three subgroups named after major rivers in the area.
- Neuquén Group (Cenomanian to early Campanian)
- Río Limay Subgroup (Cenomanian to early Turonian)
- Candeleros Formation (early Cenomanian)
- Huincul Formation (late Cenomanian)
- Cerro Lisandro Formation (early Turonian)
- Río Neuquén Subgroup (late Turonian to Coniacian)
- Portezuelo Formation (late Turonian to early Coniacian)
- Plottier Formation (late Coniacian)
- Río Colorado Subgroup (Santonian to early Campanian)
- Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Santonian)
- Anacleto Formation (early Campanian)
- Río Limay Subgroup (Cenomanian to early Turonian)
[edit] References
- Leanza, H.A,, Apesteguia, S., Novas, F.E. & de la Fuente, M.S. 2004. Cretaceous terrestrial beds from the Neuquén Basin (Argentina) and their tetrapod assemblages. Cretaceous Research. 25(1): 61-87.
