Geological control of the igneous rocks of the Neuquén basin basement and the rifting stage in northern Neuquén and southern Mendoza

LLAMBIAS, E.J.

Jujuy

Congreso; 17 Congreso Geológico Argentino, Jujuy; 2008

ASOCIACIÓN gEOLÓGICA aRGENTINA

ABSTRACT The Neuquén basin is part of an extensional system developed along the entire active margin of South America, which starts in the Late Triassic and finishes in the Cretaceous. Distinctive features of the Neuquén basin are the significant thickness of the marine deposits and its gas and oil production. Throughout South America extension begins with a rifting stage (Middle Triassic to Early Jurassic) leading to the formation of isolated basins filled with volcanic and subaerial sedimentary deposits. This is followed by back arc-like extensional tectonics resulting in a widespread transgressive inundation of the Neuquén Basin in the Early Jurassic