San Benito Formation, Bolivia

San Benito Formation Stratigraphic range: Katian ~460–446 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Unit of
Underlies	Cancañiri Formation
Overlies	Anzaldo Formation
Thickness	500 m (1,600 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone, siltstone
Other	Shale
Location
Coordinates	17°00′S 66°00′W / 17.0°S 66.0°W / -17.0; -66.0Coordinates: 17°00′S 66°00′W / 17.0°S 66.0°W / -17.0; -66.0
Approximate paleocoordinates	45°36′S 126°36′W / 45.6°S 126.6°W / -45.6; -126.6
Region	Cochabamba Department
Country	Bolivia
Extent	Cordillera Oriental
Type section
Named for	Cerro San Benito
San Benito Formation, Bolivia (Bolivia)

The San Benito Formation is a Katian geologic formation of central Bolivia. The formation belongs to the , overlies the Anzaldo Formation and is overlain by the Cancañiri Formation. The 500 metres (1,600 ft) thick formation comprises a succession of shallow water quartzitic sandstones with minor interbeds of dark grey micaceous siltstones. Shelly fossils have been found at few horizons and consist mainly of linguliformean brachiopods, bivalves, and a few homalonotid trilobite remains. Poorly preserved graptolites occur occasionally in the shaly beds.^[1]

Fossil content[]

The formation has provided the following fossils:

See also[]

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Bolivia

References[]

Further reading[]

• J. L. Benedetto. 2013. Upper Ordovician Brachiopods from the San Benito Formation, Cordillera del Tunari, Bolivia. Ameghiniana 50(4):418-428
• R. Suárez Soruco. 1976. El sistema ordovícico en Bolivia. Revista Tecnica YPF Bolivia 5(2):111-123