Ware Formation

The Ware Formation (Spanish: Formación Ware) is a fossiliferous geological formation of the Cocinetas Basin in the northernmost department of La Guajira. The formation consists of fine lithic to quartzitic sandstones, mudstones, pebbly conglomerates with sedimentary and metamorphic rock fragments, fossiliferous packstones and sandy to conglomeratic beds with high fossil content. The Ware Formation dates to the Neogene and Quaternary periods; Late Miocene to Early Pleistocene epochs, typically Pliocene (3.5 to 2.8 Ma), Uquian, Chapadmalalan and Montehermosan in the SALMA classification, and has a maximum thickness of 25 metres (82 ft).

Ware Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Miocene-Early Pleistocene, typically Pliocene
~5.2–1.22 Ma
↓
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofCocinetas Basin
UnderliesAlluvium
OverliesCastilletes Formation
Thicknessup to 25 m (82 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, mudstone
OtherConglomerate
Location
Coordinates11°51′4.32″N 71°19′26.4″W
Approximate paleocoordinates11.7°N 70.8°W / 11.7; -70.8
RegionLa Guajira
 Caribbean region
Country Colombia
Type section
Named forWayuunaiki: "friend"
Named byMoreno et al.
LocationUribia
Year defined2015
Coordinates11°51′4.32″N 71°19′26.4″W
RegionLa Guajira
Country Colombia

Type locality of the formation in La Guajira

Etymology

The formation was defined in 2015 by Moreno et al., and given the name Ware, meaning "friend" in Wayuunaiki, the language of the local indigenous Wayuu, meaning "friend". The name has been given to pay tribute to the friendship between Colombia and Venezuela.[1]

Description

Lithologies

The Ware Formation consists of fine lithic to quartzitic sandstones, mudstones, pebbly conglomerates with sedimentary and metamorphic rock fragments, fossiliferous packstones and sandy to conglomeratic beds with high fossil content.[2]

Stratigraphy and depositional environment

The Ware Formation overlies the Castilletes Formation and is overlain by Quaternary alluvium. The age has been estimated to be Late Miocene to Early Pleistocene (5.2 to 1.22 Ma), Uquian, Chapadmalalan and Montehermosan in the SALMA classification, with a narrow definition in the Pliocene (3.5 to 2.8 Ma). The marine invertebrate fauna of the Ware Formation shows a greater similarity with modern assemblages offshore of the Guajira Peninsula than with those of the underlying units.[3] The base of the Ware Formation was deposited in a fluvio-deltaic environment, whereas the marine invertebrate assemblage at the top of the unit contains taxa typical of exposed open-ocean shoreface and nearshore settings, but with proximity to coral reef habitats. The Ware Formation correlates with the San Gregorio Formation in the Venezuelan Falcón Basin.[4]

Fossil content
Group Fossils Notes
MammalsCamelidae, Glyptodontidae, Pampatheriidae, Proterotheriidae, Toxodontidae, Caviidae, Erethizontidae
[5]
Tardigrada gen. et sp. indet.
[6]
Mylodontidae gen. et sp. indet.
[6]
Lestodontini gen. et sp. nov.
[7]
Scelidotheriinae gen. et sp. indet., ?Hyperleptus sp.
[8]
Megalonychidae gen. et sp. nov.
[9]
Pliomegatherium lelongi
[10]
Nothrotherium sp.
[11]
Chapalmalania sp.
[12]
Hydrochoeropsis wayuu
[13]
ReptilesCrocodylus sp., Crocodylidae indet., Alligatoridae, Podocnemididae
[5][14]
FishCharacidae, Cynodontidae, Serrasalmidae, Cichlidae, Sciaenidae, Doradidae, Pimelodidae, Carcharhinidae, Sphyrnidae, Myliobatidae, Pristidae
[5]
InvertebratesArgopecten sp., Euvola sp., Nodipecten sp., Crassostrea sp., Plicatula sp., Spondylus sp., Anodontia sp., Codakia sp., Bulla sp., Laevicardium sp., Trachycardium sp., Macrocallista sp.
[3]

See also
Geology of the Eastern Hills
Cesar-Ranchería Basin
Honda Group
Chorrera, Pisco, Tilatá, Tunjuelo Formations
Urumaco

References
  1. Moreno et al., 2015, p.32
  2. Moreno et al., 2015, pp.32-34
  3. Moreno et al., 2015, p.33
  4. Moreno et al., 2015, p.34
  5. Moreno et al., 2015, p.35
  6. Amson et al., 2016, p.3
  7. Amson et al., 2016, p.4
  8. Amson et al., 2016, p.7
  9. Amson et al., 2016, p.8
  10. Amson et al., 2016, p.9
  11. Amson et al., 2016, p.12
  12. Amson et al., 2016, p.15
  13. Pérez et al., 2017
  14. Police Station 470062 at Fossilworks.org

Local geology

Paleontology

Maps
  • Zuluaga, Carlos A.; Alberto Ochoa; Carlos A. Muñoz; Camilo E. Dorado; Nathalia M. Guerrero; Ana M. Martínez; Paula A. Medina; Edgar F. Ocampo, and Alejandro Pinilla and Paula A. Ríos, Bibiana P. Rodríguez, Edward A. Salazar, Vladimir L. Zapata. 2008. Plancha 3 - Puerto Estrella - 1:100,000, 1. INGEOMINAS. Accessed 2017-06-06.
  • Zuluaga, Carlos A.; Alberto Ochoa; Carlos A. Muñoz; Camilo E. Dorado; Nathalia M. Guerrero; Ana M. Martínez; Paula A. Medina; Edgar F. Ocampo, and Alejandro Pinilla and Paula A. Ríos, Bibiana P. Rodríguez, Edward A. Salazar, Vladimir L. Zapata. 2008. Plancha 5 - Bahía Portete - 1:100,000, 1. INGEOMINAS. Accessed 2017-06-06.
  • Zuluaga, Carlos A.; Alberto Ochoa; Carlos A. Muñoz; Camilo E. Dorado; Nathalia M. Guerrero; Ana M. Martínez; Paula A. Medina; Edgar F. Ocampo, and Alejandro Pinilla and Paula A. Ríos, Bibiana P. Rodríguez, Edward A. Salazar, Vladimir L. Zapata. 2008. Plancha 10 - Rancho Grande - 1:100,000, 1. INGEOMINAS. Accessed 2017-06-06.
  • Zuluaga, Carlos A.; Alberto Ochoa; Carlos A. Muñoz; Camilo E. Dorado; Nathalia M. Guerrero; Ana M. Martínez; Paula A. Medina; Edgar F. Ocampo, and Alejandro Pinilla and Paula A. Ríos, Bibiana P. Rodríguez, Edward A. Salazar, Vladimir L. Zapata. 2008. Plancha 10bis - Rancho Grande - 1:100,000, 1. INGEOMINAS. Accessed 2017-06-06.
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