Portezuelo Formation

Portezuelo Formation
Stratigraphic range: Upper Cretaceous
Type Geological formation
Unit of Neuquén Group
Underlies Plottier Formation
Overlies Cerro Lisandro Formation
Location
Country  Argentina

The Portezuelo Formation is a geologic formation outcropping in the Mendoza, Río Negro and Neuquén provinces of Argentina. It is the fourth-oldest formation in the Neuquén Group and the older of the two formations in the Río Neuquén Subgroup. Formerly that subgroup was treated as a formation, and the Portezuelo Formation was known as the Portezuelo Member.[1]

The type locality of the Portezuelo Formation is the mountain range known as Sierra del Portezuelo in Neuquén province.[2] This formation conformably overlies the Lisandro Formation of the Río Limay Subgroup. In the top layers it grades into the Plottier Formation, the younger formation within the Río Neuquén Subgroup.

Sandstones and siltstones, probably deposited under fluvial conditions, make up the Portezuelo Formation. There are also occasional cemented claystone deposits, as well as numerous paleosols (fossil soils). The formation varies between 95 and 130 meters thick throughout its range.[3]

Age

Megaraptor namunhuaiquii
The winged theropod Unenlagia

Era: Mesozoic
Period: Late Cretaceous
Age: late Turonian to early Coniacian
Absolute Age: ~91 to ~88 mya

Paleontology

Many dinosaur fossils have recently been described from this formation, as well as remains of several other types of animals:

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Sánchez et al. (2006)
  2. ↑ Wichmann (1929)
  3. ↑ Leanza et al. (2004), Sánchez et al. (2006)
  4. 1 2 3 4 Agnolin et al. (2006)

References

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