Hornitos Formation

Hornitos Formation
Stratigraphic range: Campanian
Type Geological formation
Lithology
Primary Limestone, sandstone, conglomerate
Other Marl, tuff
Location
Coordinates 28°00′S 70°18′W / 28.0°S 70.3°W / -28.0; -70.3Coordinates: 28°00′S 70°18′W / 28.0°S 70.3°W / -28.0; -70.3
Approximate paleocoordinates 30°36′S 54°30′W / 30.6°S 54.5°W / -30.6; -54.5
Region Atacama
Country  Chile
Extent Algarrobal Basin

The Hornitos Formation is a Campanian geologic formation of the Algarrobal Basin in the Atacama Region of northern Chile. The formation comprises limestones, sandstones, conglomerates, marls and tuff. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been referred to a specific genus.[1]

Description

The Hornillos Formation, deposited in the Algarrobal Basin,[2] comprises sandstones, limestones, conglomerates, and caliches, intercalated with lavas and andesitic breccias and various volcanic rocks. Between these last is a conspicuous layer of rhyo-dactitic lithic tuff, which reaches up to 10 metres (33 ft) in thickness. Bones of indeterminate titanosaurs appear in a marly limestone stratum of 10 metres (33 ft) thick with decimeter-sized calcareous concretions. The smallest pieces were found as rollings, whereas the larger piece was included in the limestone.[3]

The Hornitos Formation formerly was though to be of Paleocene to Eocene age.[4] The formation may be older and belong to the Early Cretaceous, as a granite intruded the rocks about 105 ± 10 Ma.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
  2. ↑ Abad, 1982, p.5
  3. ↑ Hornitos at Fossilworks.org
  4. ↑ Rivera Cabello, 1985, p.5
  5. ↑ Rivano et al., 1986, p.28

Bibliography

  • Abad E., Eduardo. 1982. Un modelo de depositación de uranio en la Cuenca de Algarrobal, Vallenar, Chile, 1–37. III Congreso Geológico Chileno. Accessed 2018-09-08.
  • Rivano G., Sergio et al.. 1986. Antecedentes radiométricos para una edad cretácica inferior de la Formación Las Chilcas. Andean Geology 27. 27–32. Accessed 2018-09-08.
  • Rivera Cabello, Sergio. 1985. Una discusión sobre la edad de las formaciones Cerrilos y Hornitos, Región de Atacama, 1–13. IV Congreso Geológico Chileno. Accessed 2018-09-08.
  • Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp.  ISBN 0-520-24209-2.

Further reading

  • G. Chong Diaz. 1985. Hallazgo de restos oseos de dinosaurios en la Formación Hornitos – Tercera Region de Atacama – Chile. IV Congreso Geologico Chileno 152-161
  • P. Salinas, P. Sepúlveda, and L. G. Marshall. 1991. Hallazgo de restos oseos de dinosaurios (saurópodos) en la Formación Pajonales (Cretácico Superior), Sierra de Almeyda, Región de Antofagasta, Chile: implicancia cronológica [Discovery of skeletal remains of dinosaurs (sauropods) in the Pajonales Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Sierra de Almeyda, Antofagasta Region, Chile: chronological implications]. 6e Congreso Geológico Chileño, Viña del Mar. Resumenes Expandidos. Servicio Nacional de Geología y Mineria, Chile 534-537
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.