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Agua de la Piedra Formation

The Agua de la Piedra Formation (FAP, Spanish names include Estratos de Agua de la Piedra and Complejo Volcano-sedimentario del Terciario inferior)[1] is a Late Oligocene (Deseadan in the SALMA classification) geologic formation of the Malargüe Group that crops out in the southernmost Precordillera and northernmost Neuquén Basin in southern Mendoza Province, Argentina.[2]

Agua de la Piedra Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Oligocene (Deseadan)
~26–23 Ma
↓
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofMalargüe Group
Sub-units"Rodados Lustrosos" level
Underliesalluvium
OverliesPircala-Coihueco Formation
Thickness37 metres (121 ft) (tuffs)
Lithology
PrimaryTuff
OtherPaleosols
Location
Coordinates36°36′S 69°42′W / 36.6°S 69.7°W / -36.6; -69.7
Approximate paleocoordinates37°48′S 62°54′W / 37.8°S 62.9°W / -37.8; -62.9
Regionsouthern Mendoza Province
CountryArgentina
Extentsouthernmost Precordillera
northernmost Neuquén Basin
Type section
Named byGorroño et al.
LocationQuebrada Fiera, Malargüe
Year defined1979
Coordinates36°33′13.3″S 69°42′3.5″W / 36.553694°S 69.700972°W / -36.553694; -69.700972
RegionMendoza Province
CountryArgentina
Thickness at type section37 metres (121 ft) (tuffs)
Agua de la Piedra Formation is located in Argentina
Agua de la Piedra Formation
Agua de la Piedra Formation (Argentina)

The strictly terrestrial tuffs and paleosols of the formation, geologically belonging to Patagonia, have provided a wealth of mammal fossils of various groups at Quebrada Fiera, including Mendozahippus fierensis, Pyrotherium, Coniopternium and Fieratherium. Terror birds reminiscent of the terror bird Andrewsornis and indeterminate remains of the phorusrhacid family have found in conjunction with the mammals.

Regional geology

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The Agua de la Piedra is geologically part of the Neuquén Basin, Argentina's most prolific onshore petroleum producing basin of northwestern Patagonia, and crops out in the geographical feature of the Andean orogeny; the Argentinian Precordillera of the higher Andes in the hinterland. The Malargüe Group, of which the Agua de la Piedra Formation is the uppermost unit, hosts among the most spectacular dinosaur fossils and nesting sites in the Allen Formation, the lowermost stratigraphic unit of the group.

The Jagüel Formation, overlying the Allen Formation, hosts the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary and has provided fossils of marine reptiles including mosasaurs[3] and the marine turtle Euclastes meridionalis. The Roca Formation, overlying the Jagüel Formation shows evidence of Atlantic waters depositing the evaporites, claystones and limestones of the formation.[4][5]

The Neuquén Basin started forming in the latest Jurassic as one of the rift basins resulting from the break-up of Pangea. While the earlier formations in the basin are mostly distal terrestrial in nature, the Agua de la Piedra Formation is a unique combination of purely terrestrial influence (paleosols) with the early Andean volcanism in the form of tuffs.

Oligocene South America

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See also: Category:Oligocene Series of South America and Category:Paleogene Argentina

Climate

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Global cooling occurred during the Oligocene
 
Eocene-Oligocene circum-Antarctic oceanic changes

Oligocene South America differed quite substantially from the Eocene period preceding it. Isolated from Gondwana for 70 million years, the continent had developed widespread lush forests with their own specific faunas. The climate drastically cooled at the Eocene-Oligocene boundary with global cooling as a result of the formation of the Antarctic Ocean current. The South American landscape became more arid than in the Eocene with ongoing volcanism related to the Andean orogeny affecting the local climates.

Oligocene fauna

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The Oligocene of South America is characterized by the arrival of the first monkeys, possibly rafting from Africa, which in the Oligocene was significantly removed from South America. The first rodents had arrived to the island continent in the Late Eocene before,[6] perhaps using similar methods of transoceanic transport. The rodents of South America diversified in the Oligocene. Cabeza Blanca, where the Sarmiento Formation outcrops, has provided the richest and most diverse Oligocene fauna of South America.[7]

The cooler Oligocene climate led to the widespread extension of savanna and other grassland biomes. In the Early Oligocene, these rodents inhabited open and arid landscapes with wind-blown dust and grasslands environments.[8]

Monkeys and rodents

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The oldest confirmed New World monkey fossils stem from the Deseadan formations Salla in presently Andean Bolivia (the approximately 1,000 grams (2.2 lb) weighing Branisella boliviana and Szalatavus attricuspis half the size of Branisella) and the 2,000 g (4.4 lb) heavy Canaanimico from the Chambira of Amazonian Peru.[9]

The rodents had arrived in the Late Eocene and diversified greatly during the Deseadan following the appearance of Andemys with species A. frassinettii and A. termasi in the Tinguirirican (Abanico Formation; Tinguiririca fauna). Caviomorphs arrived in Patagonia during the latest Eocene or early Oligocene, and by the Late Oligocene they were highly diversified, with representatives of the four main lineages. A great morphological disparity, at least in tooth morphology, was then acquired mainly by the development of hypsodonty in several lineages. The early evolution of each of the major clades was complex, especially for chinchilloids and octodontoids. The first stages of the evolution of cavioids are more obscure because they are recognized through the relatively derived Deseadan species of Cavioidea.[10]

The Oligocene (Tinguirirican and Deseadan SALMAs plus La Cantera fauna) has a rich record of caviomorphs showing a greater morphological disparity than older faunas. Representatives of the four superfamilies, with the archetypal dental features that characterize species of the subsequent SALMAs, can be clearly recognized, at least since the Deseadan SALMA. Although a few genera (e.g., Andemys, Branisamys) cannot be assigned with certainty to any supra generic taxa. The Acaremyidae were likely a group of austral differentiation. The first representatives, the Deseadan Platypittamys brachyodon, Galileomys baios and Changquin woodi,[11] attest to its differentiation into several lineages.[12]

Oligocene volcanism

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Payún Matrú volcano

Early Andean volcanism in the Southern Cone of South America dating to the Oligocene has been found in:

Description

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The formation comprises the "Rodados Lustrosos" level, formed by clastic heterogeneous conglomerates in a silty matrix, considered as the stratigraphic evidence of the Pehuenche orogenic phase of the Andean orogeny, followed by uniform sequences, variable in thickness, of whitish-ocher tuffaceous paleosols with concretions and whitish-gray tuffs with intercalations of pyroclastic deposits.[19]

The upper part of the Agua de la Piedra Formation consists of 37 metres (121 ft) of white-grayish tuffs and tobaceous paleosols, with laminated or massive parallel stratification constitute the fossiliferous level of Quebrada Fiera.[20] The formation overlies the Pircala-Coihueco Formation.[21]

Depositional environment

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The studied profiles of the Agua de la Piedra Formation show large lateral lithological varieties, typical of alluvial fan depositional setings. The climate during deposition has been estimated to be semi-arid and the differential thicknesses of facies associations within the Agua de la Piedra Formation may represent the infill of minibasins in the forming foreland of the Andes. Sedimentary loading can enhance the effect of tectonic forces in foreland basins. The variety in volcanic fragments and composition indicates local ash fall caused by contemporaneous volcanism in the area of deposition.[22]

2017 research on the Deseadan fauna (late Oligocene) from Quebrada Fiera, south of Mendoza Province, Argentina, evidences a rich mammal assemblage that shows the existence of common elements with Deseadan faunal associations of Patagonia and those of lower latitudes such as Salla, Bolivia, as well as endemic taxa of different groups.[23]

Endemism refers to Notohippidae (Mendozahippus fierensis), Leontiniidae (Gualta cuyana), Homalodotheriidae (Asmodeus petrasnerus) and Metatheria (Fieratherium sorex); to these mammals a new terrestrial snail has been added in 2016.[24]

Faunal data published in 2019 confirm the Deseadan age, but as per 2020, absolute dating is lacking for Quebrada Fiera.[19]

Paleontological significance

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Quebrada Fiera

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The Quebrada Fiera site is situated in the Malargüe Department,[25] southern Mendoza Province, Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes Range. The fossiliferous levels are located at around 36°33′13.3″S 69°42′3.5″W / 36.553694°S 69.700972°W / -36.553694; -69.700972 at 1,300 to 1,406 metres (4,265 to 4,613 ft) elevation. The site was discovered during a geological prospection carried out by Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF) in the late 1970s (Gorroño et al., 1979). Later on, other fossil bearing levels were found at the southern side of the ravine,[26] located at around 36°33′26″S 69°41′35″W / 36.55722°S 69.69306°W / -36.55722; -69.69306, 1,316 metres (4,318 ft) elevation.[19]

The site is one of five recognized fossiliferous sites in Mendoza Province, with Divisadero Largo, where the Santacrucian Mariño Formarion is found, Huaquerías, defining the Huayquerian in the Huayquerías Formation, the Aisol Formation of central Mendoza and the Uspallata Group and Carrizal Formations in the north of the province.[21]

The geological characterization and the preliminary faunal list were published by Gorroño et al. (1979). The faunal assemblage was then assigned to the Late Oligocene (Deseadan SALMA) based on the presence of two typical representatives of the Deseadean fauna of Patagonia; Pyrotherium Ameghino 1888 and Proborhyaena gigantea Ameghino 1897,[19] both also found in the Puesto Almendra member of the Sarmiento Formation.[27]

The species epithet Mendozahippus fierensis and genus Fieratherium refer to Quebrada Fiera.[25][26][28][29][30]

Fossil content

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The formation has provided fossils of:[2]

Group Clade Taxa Site Images Notes
Ungulates Macraucheniidae Coniopternium andinum Quebrada Fiera North
 
[25][31]
Proterotheriidae cf. Lambdaconus suinus Quebrada Fiera North
 
[25][32]
Pyrotheriidae Pyrotherium romeroi Quebrada Fiera North
 
[25][33]
Pyrotherium sp. Quebrada Fiera South
[26]
Litopterna Litopterna indet. Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
Cingulata Dasypodidae Meteutatus aff. lagenaformis Quebrada Fiera North
[25][34]
?Prozaedyus aff. impressus Quebrada Fiera North
[25][34]
Stenotatus aff. ornatus Quebrada Fiera North
[25][34]
Xenarthra Glyptodontinae Glyptodontinae indet. Quebrada Fiera North
 
[25]
Megalonychidae ?Megalonychidae indet. Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
Notoungulata Notohippidae Mendozahippus fierensis Quebrada Fiera South
[26]
Quebrada Fiera North
[25][35]
Notohippidae indet. Quebrada Fiera North
 
[25][36]
Archaeohyracidae cf. Archaeotypotherium sp. Quebrada Fiera North
[25][37]
Archaeohyrax suniensis Quebrada Fiera North
[25][37][38]
Hegetotheriidae Prosotherium garzoni Quebrada Fiera North
[25][39]
cf. Prosotherium sp. Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
Prohegetotherium malalhuense Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
P. schiaffinoi Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
P. cf. sculptum Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
Prohegetotherium sp. Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
Hegetotheriopsis sulcatus Quebrada Fiera North
[25][40]
Homalodotheriidae Asmodeus petrasnerus Quebrada Fiera North
[25][29][41]
Interatheriidae Argyrohyrax proavus Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
Progaleopithecus sp. Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
Interatheriidae indet. Quebrada Fiera South
[26]
Leontiniidae Gualta cuyana Quebrada Fiera North
[25][42]
Mesotheriidae Trachytherus cf. spegazzinianus Quebrada Fiera North
[25][43]
Toxodontidae Proadinotherium sp. Quebrada Fiera North
 
[25][44]
Toxodontidae indet. Quebrada Fiera North
[25][45]
Rodents Acaremyidae Acaremyidae indet. Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
Sparassodonta Borhyaenidae Pharsophorus sp. Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
Proborhyaenidae Proborhyaena gigantea Quebrada Fiera North
[25]
Theriiformes Fieratherium sorex Quebrada Fiera North
[25][46]
Birds Phorusrhacidae cf. Andrewsornis sp. Quebrada Fiera North
 
[25]
Phorusrhacidae indet. Quebrada Fiera South
 
[26]
Invertebrates Gastropods Gastropoda indet. Quebrada Fiera North
[25]

SALMA correlations

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Main articles: Deseadan and South American land mammal age

The Deseadan South American land mammal age (SALMA) is equivalent to the Arikareean in the North American land mammal age (NALMA) and the Harrisonian in the 2000 version of the classification. It overlaps with the Hsandagolian of Asia and the MP 25 zone of Europe, the Waitakian and the Landon epoch of New Zealand.

Deseadan correlations in South America
Formation   Rancahué Guillermo Mariño Deseado Sarmiento Salla Lacayani Fray Bentos Moquegua Chambira Barzalosa Tremembé Cascadas Map
Basin Neuquén Austral Cuyo Deseado San Jorge Salla Subandean Norte Moquegua Ucayali VSM Taubaté Panama
Agua de la Piedra Formation (South America)
Country   Argentina   Bolivia   Uruguay   Peru   Colombia   Brazil   Panama
Archaeohyrax        
Prohegetotherium              
Pyrotherium      
Pharsophorus    
Trachytherus              
Proadinotherium      
Proborhyaena      
Meteutatus      
Andrewsornis    
Terror birds              
Rodents                  
Reptiles                  
Primates      
Flora    
Insects  
Environments Alluvial Fluvial Eolian
Alluvial-fluvial		 Fluvial Alluvial Fluvial-alluvial Fluvial Fluvio-lacustrine Alluvial-fluvial Lacustrine Fluvial
  Deseadan volcanoclastics

  Deseadan fauna

  Deseadan flora
Volcanic Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Combina et al., 1994, p.418
  2. ^ a b Agua de la Piedra Formation in the Paleobiology Database
  3. ^ Hoja 3969-II Neuqúen, 2007
  4. ^ Archuby et al., 2016
  5. ^ Malamuián & Náñez, 2011
  6. ^ Vassallo & Antenucci, 2015, p.6
  7. ^ Vucetich et al., 2015, p.21
  8. ^ Ojeda et al., 2015, p.123
  9. ^ Silvestro et al., 2017, p.14
  10. ^ Vucetich et al., 2015, p.11
  11. ^ Vucetich et al., 2014, p.692
  12. ^ Vucetich et al., 2015, p.18
  13. ^ a b Elgueta et al., 2000
  14. ^ Alfaro & Gantz, 1997
  15. ^ Villablanca et al., 2003
  16. ^ Mella & Quiroz, 2010
  17. ^ García et al., 1999
  18. ^ Zeilinger et al., 2015
  19. ^ a b c d Schmidt et al., 2019, p.370
  20. ^ Cerdeño, 2012, p.378
  21. ^ a b Cerdeño, 2012, p.376
  22. ^ Combina et al., 1994, p.420
  23. ^ Hernández Pino et al., 2017, p.195
  24. ^ Miquel & Cerdeño, 2016
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai Quebrada Fiera at Fossilworks.org
  26. ^ a b c d e f Quebrada Fiera South in the Paleobiology Database
  27. ^ Gran Blanca in the Paleobiology Database
  28. ^ Cerdeño & Reguero, 2015
  29. ^ a b Seoane & Cerdeño, 2014
  30. ^ Cerdeño & Vera, 2014a
  31. ^ Schmidt et al., 2019, p.371
  32. ^ Schmidt et al., 2019, p.375
  33. ^ Cerdeño & Vera, 2017
  34. ^ a b c Carlini et al., 2009
  35. ^ Cerdeño & Vera, 2010
  36. ^ Cerdeño & Vera, 2014b
  37. ^ a b Cerdeño et al., 2010
  38. ^ Vera et al., 2017
  39. ^ Seoane et al., 2019
  40. ^ Kramarz & Bond, 2017
  41. ^ Hernández Pino et al., 2017, p.206
  42. ^ Hernández Pino et al., 2017, p.201
  43. ^ Cerdeño, 2014
  44. ^ Hernández Pino et al., 2017, p.198
  45. ^ Hernández Pino et al., 2017, p.200
  46. ^ Forasiepi et al., 2014

Bibliography

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General
  • Woodburne, M.O.; Goin, F.J.; Bond, M.; Carlini, A.A.; Gelfo, J.N.; López, G.M.; Iglesias, A.; Zimicz, A.N. (2013), "Paleogene Land Mammal Faunas of South America; a Response to Global Climatic Changes and Indigenous Floral Diversity", Journal of Mammalian Evolution, 21: 1–73, doi:10.1007/s10914-012-9222-1, retrieved 2019-02-15
  • Johnson, K. G.; Sánchez Villagra, M. R.; Aguilera, O. A. (2009), "The Oligocene-Miocene Transition on Coral Reefs in the Falcon Basin (NM Venezuela)" (PDF), PALAIOS, 24 (1): 59–69, Bibcode:2009Palai..24...59J, doi:10.2110/palo.2008.p08-004r
Regional geology
Oligocene volcanism
Paleontology
New World monkeys
Terror birds
South American rodents

Regional correlations

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Mariño Formation
Rancahué Formation
Río Guillermo Formation
Deseado Formation
Sarmiento Formation
Salla Formation
Lacayani fauna
Fray Bentos Formation
Moquegua Formation
Chambira Formation
Barzalosa Formation
  • Acosta, Jorge E.; Guatame, Rafael; Caicedo A., Juan Carlos; Cárdenas, Jorge Ignacio (2002), Mapa Geológico de Colombia - Plancha 245 - Girardot - 1:100,000 - Memoria Explicativa, INGEOMINAS, pp. 1–92
  • Acosta, Jorge E.; Ulloa, Carlos E. (2001), Mapa Geológico de Colombia - Plancha 246 - Fusagasugá - 1:100,000 - Memoria Explicativa, INGEOMINAS, pp. 1–77
Tremembé Formation
Las Cascadas Formation

Further reading

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