First magnetostratigraphic results of the upper jurassic-cretaceous Vaca Muerta Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina

IGLESIA-LLANOS, M.P.; PALMA, R.M.; KIETZMANN, D.A.

Montevideo

Congreso; LATINMAG; 2013

Asociación Latinoamericana de Paleomagnetismo y Geomagnetismo

   A palaeomagnetic research was carried out in the Arroyo Loncoche area (provincia de Mendoza), where a 300 m thick succession of sedimentary rocks bearing ammonites: Vaca Muerta Formation (Tithonian- Berriasian) is outcropping. Levels of paleomagnetic sampling were located according to the ammonite zoning in the Andean region, which comprises from Virgatosphinctes mendozanus Zone to Spiticeras damesi Zone. Afterwards imparting alternating field and thermal demagnetizations, reliable magnetic behaviors were observed. Then, it was possible isolate a reverse polarity zone toward the base of Vaca Muerta Formation and another normal polarity zone toward the upper part. These preliminary results are consistent with the international geomagnetic polarity scale.