The Late Palaeozoic of Western Gondwana: New insights from South American records

SPALLETTI, L.A.; LIMARINO, C.O.; GEUNA, S.E.

GEOLOGICA ACTA

UNIV BARCELONA

Año: 2010 vol. 8 p. 341 - 347

1695-6133

Late Palaeozoic basins of southern South America offer an excellent opportunity to studying sequences deposited in contrasting tectonic regimes, shifting climatic conditions and different sea level position. From the tectonic point of view, these Late Palaeozoic basins developed in three different scenarios (Limarino and Spalletti, 2006): arc-related or Proto-Pacific basins, retroarc or peripheral basins, and large intracratonic or intraplate basins (Fig. 1). Arc-related or Proto-Pacific basins formed along the westernmost and highly mobile area of Gondwana, in which volcanism played a fundamental role. In turn, retroarc or peripheral basins are characterized by a thick fossiliferous Late Mississippian up to Late Permian record, less magmatic activity and minor degree of deformation. Finally, large intracratonic or intraplate basins developed under more stable tectonic regimes and their sedimentary record was mainly controlled by significant climatic and eustatic oscillations (e.g. Paraná Basin).