Cerro Fortaleza Formation

The Cerro Fortaleza Formation, in older literature described as Pari Aike Formation, is a Late Cretaceous geologic formation of Campanian to Maastrichtian age[1][2] (although it has formerly been reported to be Cenomanian to Santonian)[3] of the Austral Basin in southern Patagonia, Argentina.

Cerro Fortaleza Formation
Stratigraphic range: Campanian to Maastrichtian
~84–66 Ma
TypeGeological formation
UnderliesLa Irene Formation
OverliesAnita Formation
Thickness460 m (1,510 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
Location
Coordinates49.9°S 72.1°W / -49.9; -72.1
Approximate paleocoordinates51.9°S 61.8°W / -51.9; -61.8
RegionSanta Cruz Province, southern Patagonia
Country Argentina
ExtentAustral Basin
Cerro Fortaleza Formation (Argentina)

Description

The sandstones of the formation were deposited in a fluvial environment. The formation has an estimated thickness of 460 metres (1,510 ft) and overlies the Anita Formation, while it is overlain by the La Irene Formation.[4] These formations are considered Campanian & Maastrichtian in age, respectively,[4][5] making the Cerro Fortaleza Formation aged between them.

The giant titanosaurs Puertasaurus and Dreadnoughtus, the megaraptoran Orkoraptor, Austrocheirus isasii, and the ornithopod Talenkauen have been recovered from the formation alongside turtles and crocodiles.[6]

See also

  • List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations

References

  1. Sickmann, Zachary T.; Schwartz, Theresa M.; Graham, Stephan A. (2018). "Refining stratigraphy and tectonic history using detrital zircon maximum depositional age: An example from the Cerro Fortaleza Formation, Austral Basin, southern Patagonia". Basin Research. 30 (4): 708–729. Bibcode:2018BasR...30..708S. doi:10.1111/bre.12272.
  2. Lacovara, Kenneth J.; Ibiricu, L.M.; Lamanna, M.C.; Poole, J.C.; Schroeter, E.R.; Ullmann, P.V.; Voegele, K.K.; Boles, Z.M.; Egerton, V.M.; Harris, J.D.; Martínez, R.D.; Novas, F.E. (September 4, 2014). "A gigantic, exceptionally complete titanosaurian sauropod dinosaur from Southern Patagonia, Argentina". Scientific Reports. 4: 6196. Bibcode:2014NatSR...4E6196L. doi:10.1038/srep06196. PMC 5385829. PMID 25186586.
  3. Varela et al., 2012
  4. Marenssi et al., 2003, p.406
  5. Varela et al., 2012
  6. Novas et al., 2008

Bibliography

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