Coquimbo Formation

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Coquimbo Formation
Stratigraphic range: Miocene–Mid Pleistocene
~23–1.2 Ma
TypeGeological formation
UnderliesAlluvium
Overlies
Thickness63 m (207 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryConglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, shale and coquina
OtherClay lenses, terra rossa
Location
Coordinates30°20′21″S 71°32′03″W / 30.33917°S 71.53417°W / -30.33917; -71.53417Coordinates: 30°20′21″S 71°32′03″W / 30.33917°S 71.53417°W / -30.33917; -71.53417
Approximate paleocoordinates30°06′S 70°18′W / 30.1°S 70.3°W / -30.1; -70.3
RegionCoquimbo Region
Country Chile
ExtentTongoy Bay
Type section
Named forCoquimbo
Coquimbo Formation is located in Chile
Coquimbo Formation
Coquimbo Formation (Chile)

Coquimbo Formation (Spanish: Formación Coquimbo) is a Miocene to Middle Pleistocene sedimentary formation located in Coquimbo Region in Norte Chico, Chile. The lowermost unit belongs to the lower Miocene, with the third-deepest unit dated at 11.9 ± 1.0 Ma. The uppermost unit of the formation is estimated at 1.2 Ma. In the area of Tongoy, the Coquimbo Formation was deposited in an ancient bay that was formed in a graben or half-graben, with a normal fault dipping east. Sea level changes during the Holocene have caused erosion to cut several marine terraces into the formation.[1]

Fossil content[]

The following fossils have been found in the formation:

SALMA Group Fossils Notes
Montehermosan Mammals , , , ?Squalodon sp., Balaenidae indet.
[2][3]
[4]
Birds cf. Palaeospheniscus sp., Spheniscus sp., Diomedeidae indet., Spheniscidae indet.
[5][6]
Fish Carcharodon carcharias
[7]
Mayoan Cosmopolitodus hastalis
[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Le Roux, J.P.; Olivares, Danisa M.; Nielsen, Sven N.; Smith, Norman D.; Middleton, Heather; Fenner, Juliane; Ishman, Scott E. (2006). "Bay sedimentation as controlled by regional crustal behaviour, local tectonics and eustatic sea-level changes: Coquimbo Formation (Miocene–Pliocene), Bay of Tongoy, central Chile" (PDF). Sedimentary Geology. 184 (1–2): 133–153. Bibcode:2006SedG..184..133L. doi:10.1016/j.sedgeo.2005.09.023. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  2. ^ Coquimbo at Fossilworks.org
  3. ^ Bahia de Guayacan at Fossilworks.org
  4. ^ Bahia Herradura at Fossilworks.org
  5. ^ La Cantera at Fossilworks.org
  6. ^ Chanaral de Aceituno at Fossilworks.org
  7. ^ Tongoy area Unit 11 at Fossilworks.org
  8. ^ Tongoy area Unit 4 at Fossilworks.org

Further reading[]

  • C. Acosta Hospitaleche, J. Canto, and C. P. Tambussi. 2006. Pingüinos (Aves, Spheniscidae) en Coquimbo (Mioceno Medio-Plioceno Tardio), Chile y su vinculación con las corrientes oceánicas. Revista Española de Paleontología 21(1):115-122
  • Staig, Felipe; Sebastián Hernández; Patricio López; Jaime A. Villafaña; Cristian Varas; Luis Patricio Soto, and Jorge D. Carrillo Briceño. 2015. Late Neogene Elasmobranch fauna from the Coquimbo Formation, Chile. 18. 261–272. Accessed 2017-08-15.
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