Origen de una roca de playa en la región costera de Bahía Blanca, Argentina.

ALIOTTA, S.; SPAGNUOLO, J.O.; FARINATI, E.A.

PESQUISAS EM GEOCIENCIAS

Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil

Año: 2009 p. 107 - 116

1518-2398

Abstract - ORIGIN OF A BEACHROCK IN THE COASTAL REGION OF BAHÍA BLANCA, ARGENTINA. Sedimentological and stratigraphical analysis were carried out in order to determine the paleoenvironmental conditions that originated a large beachrock outcrop in the northern coast of the Bahía Blanca estuary, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. This beachrock outcrops along a 2.5- km-long intertidal, muddy plain with a slight inclination towards the sea (SE). Its calcitecemented matrix is composed of coarse to very coarse sand and gravel with scarce fragments of molluscs. Acoustic data reveal a submarine continuity of the sandy sediment forming this beachrock outcrop. A progradational seismic stratigraphic configuration can be observed at the subbottom, on Pleistocene materials. The quartzitic gravel of this beachrock evidences the contribution of the Napostá Chico River, which retracted its base level and reduced its volume and competency during the Holocene transgression. Littoral drift subsequently redistributed the material incorporating biogenic remains. This sediment had been buried during transgression, reached sediment stability. Its porosity favoured the phreatic circulation of saturated solutions coming from Pleistocene carbonatic sediments. The mixture of continental and marine groundwaters consolidated the material. Subsequent shallowing of the lithified platform, wave action and low sedimentation rate left the rock exposed as a result of erosion. The presence of mud on the intertidal flat, partially covering this beachrock, is indicative of current low-energy sedimentary conditions. Sedimentological and stratigraphical analysis were carried out in order to determine the paleoenvironmental conditions that originated a large beachrock outcrop in the northern coast of the Bahía Blanca estuary, Buenos Aires province, Argentina. This beachrock outcrops along a 2.5- km-long intertidal, muddy plain with a slight inclination towards the sea (SE). Its calcitecemented matrix is composed of coarse to very coarse sand and gravel with scarce fragments of molluscs. Acoustic data reveal a submarine continuity of the sandy sediment forming this beachrock outcrop. A progradational seismic stratigraphic configuration can be observed at the subbottom, on Pleistocene materials. The quartzitic gravel of this beachrock evidences the contribution of the Napostá Chico River, which retracted its base level and reduced its volume and competency during the Holocene transgression. Littoral drift subsequently redistributed the material incorporating biogenic remains. This sediment had been buried during transgression, reached sediment stability. Its porosity favoured the phreatic circulation of saturated solutions coming from Pleistocene carbonatic sediments. The mixture of continental and marine groundwaters consolidated the material. Subsequent shallowing of the lithified platform, wave action and low sedimentation rate left the rock exposed as a result of erosion. The presence of mud on the intertidal flat, partially covering this beachrock, is indicative of current low-energy sedimentary conditions.