ICHNOLOGY OF THE LATE PALEOZOIC PAGANZO AND CALINGASTA-USPALLATA BASINS OF WESTERN ARGENTINA

PABLO JOAQUIN ALONSO MURUAGA; LUIS A. BUATOIS; CARLOS O. LIMARINO; M. GABRIELA MANGANO

Ichnology of Latin America - Selected Papers.

Sociedade Brasileira de Paleontologia

Lugar: Porto Alegre; Año: 2012; p. 69 - 81

Several trace fossil assemblages have been recorded in theupper Paleozoic Paganzo and Calingasta-Uspallata basinsof northwestern Argentina. In the Paganzo Basin, ichnofossilassemblages are widespread, being present in boththe Lower and Upper sections of the Paganzo Group. TheMermia, depauperate Cruziana and depauperate MermiaIchnofacies are common in the lower section. They occurin glacial-postglacial settings and in transgressive settingsnot connected directly with ice masses. In the Upper section,the Scoyenia Ichnofacies, as well as eolian-relatedtrace fossil assemblages, occur in connection to more aridcontinental facies. The ichnological record of the Calingasta-Uspallata Basin is relatively scarce. In this basin, thedepauperate Cruziana Ichnofacies has been documentedin post-glacial deposits of the Hoyada Verde Formation,suggesting stressed conditions related to a wave-dominatedprograding deltaic system. Archetypal and morediverse Cruziana Ichnofacies have not been recorded yetin these basins, contrary to the situation observed in otherGondwanic settings. The vertebrate trace fossil record ofthe late Paleozoic in Argentina is still poor.