Cerro Fortaleza Formation

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Cerro Fortaleza Formation
Stratigraphic range: Campanian to Maastrichtian
~76–70  Ma
Type Geological formation
Underlies La Irene Formation
Overlies Anita Formation
Thickness460 m (1,510 ft)
Lithology
Primary Sandstone
Location
Coordinates 49°54′S72°06′W / 49.9°S 72.1°W / -49.9; -72.1
Approximate paleocoordinates 51°54′S61°48′W / 51.9°S 61.8°W / -51.9; -61.8
Region Santa Cruz Province, southern Patagonia
CountryArgentina
Extent Austral Basin
Relief Map of Argentina.jpg
Lightgreen pog.svg
Cerro Fortaleza Formation (Argentina)

The Cerro Fortaleza Formation, in older literature described as Pari Aike Formation, is a Late Cretaceous geologic formation of Campanian to Maastrichtian age [1] [2] (although it has formerly been reported to be Cenomanian to Santonian) [3] of the Austral Basin in southern Patagonia, Argentina.

Contents

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. [4] These formations are considered Campanian and Maastrichtian in age, respectively, [4] [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. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<i>Talenkauen</i> Extinct genus of dinosaurs

Talenkauen is a genus of basal iguanodont dinosaur from the Campanian or Maastrichtian age of the Late Cretaceous Cerro Fortaleza Formation, formerly known as the Pari Aike Formation of Patagonian Lake Viedma, in the Austral Basin of Santa Cruz, Argentina. It is based on MPM-10001A, a partial articulated skeleton missing the rear part of the skull, the tail, and the hands. The type and only species is Talenkauen santacrucensis.

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References

  1. Sickmann, Zachary T.; Schwartz, Theresa M.; Graham, Stephan A. (2018). "Refining stratigraphy and tectonic history using detrital zircon maximum depositional age: An example from the Cerro Fortaleza Formation, Austral Basin, southern Patagonia". Basin Research. 30 (4): 708–729. Bibcode:2018BasR...30..708S. doi:10.1111/bre.12272.
  2. Lacovara, Kenneth J.; Ibiricu, L.M.; Lamanna, M.C.; Poole, J.C.; Schroeter, E.R.; Ullmann, P.V.; Voegele, K.K.; Boles, Z.M.; Egerton, V.M.; Harris, J.D.; Martínez, R.D.; Novas, F.E. (September 4, 2014). "A gigantic, exceptionally complete titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from Southern Patagonia, Argentina". Scientific Reports. 4: 6196. doi:10.1038/srep06196. PMC   5385829 . PMID   25186586.
  3. 1 2 Varela et al., 2012
  4. 1 2 Marenssi et al., 2003, p.406
  5. Novas et al., 2008

Bibliography