Salta Basin
Cuenca Salta
Map showing the location of Salta Basin
Map showing the location of Salta Basin
Location of the basin in Argentina
Coordinates23°40′S 66°07′W / 23.667°S 66.117°W / -23.667; -66.117
EtymologySalta Province
RegionArgentine Northwest
Country Argentina
 Bolivia
 Chile
State(s)Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán
Potosí
Antofagasta
CitiesSalta
Characteristics
On/OffshoreOnshore
BoundariesAndes
Part ofAndean foreland basins
Geology
Basin typeForeland-on-rift basin or
intracontinental rift basin
PlateSouth American
OrogenyAndean
AgeNeocomian-Neogene
StratigraphyStratigraphy

Salta Basin or Salta Rift Basin is a sedimentary basin located in the Argentine Northwest.[1][2] The basin started to accumulate sediments in the Early Cretaceous (Neocomian) and at present it has sedimentary deposits reaching thicknesses of 5,000 metres (16,000 ft). The basin contains seven sub-basins: Tres Cruces, Lomas de Olmedo, Metán, Alemanía, Salfity, El Rey, Sey and Brealito. The basin environment has variously been described as a "foreland rift" and an "intra-continental rift". The basin developed under conditions of extensional tectonics and rift-associated volcanism.[1]

Description

The basin basement is composed of rocks belonging to the Puncoviscana Formation.[2] The volcanism that began in the Late Jurassic was initially of subalkaline character (low sodium and potassium content), but turned increasingly alkaline in the Early Cretaceous.[1]

The rifts of Salta Basin developed in a time of generalized extensional tectonics along western South America.[3] It has been proposed that the Salar de Atacama depression in Chile was once a westward rift arm of the Salta Basin.[4]

Stratigraphy

Age Group Subgroup Formation Lithologies Basin stage Notes
Pliocene Payogastilla San Felipe Conglomerates Foreland [5]
Huayquerian Jujuy Piquete [6][7]
Huayquerian Guanaco Sonso [8]
Montehermosan Palo Pintado [9]
Chasicoan
Laventan Angastaco [10][11]
Friasian
Friasian Metán Jesús María [11]
Friasian Anta [11]
Early Miocene Río Seco [11]
Priabonian Los Colorados [11]
Casamayoran Quebrada de los Colorados [10]
Salta Santa Bárbara Lumbrera Late post-rift [12][13]
Lutetian
Itaboraian Maíz Gordo [12][14]
Thanetian
Peligran Mealla Sandstones, siltstones, conglomerates, paleosols [12][15]
Selandian Balbuena Tunal Early post-rift [12]
Danian Olmedo [12]
Yacoraite Sandstones, limestones [12]
Maastrichtian
early Maastrichtian Lecho Sandstones [12]
Campanian Pirgua Los Blanquitos Sandstones Late synrift [12]
Las Curtiembres Early synrift [12]
Santonian
Coniacian
Turonian
Cenomanian Isonza Basalt [12]
Albian La Yesera [12]
Aptian

References

  1. ^ a b c Marquillas et al., 2005
  2. ^ a b Grier et al., 1991
  3. ^ Ramos, 2009
  4. ^ Reutter et al., 2006
  5. ^ Galli et al., 2019, p.380
  6. ^ González & Abascal, 2012
  7. ^ Galli et al., 2019, p.369
  8. ^ López Rodríguez, 2018
  9. ^ Galli et al., 2011
  10. ^ a b Del Papa et al., 2013
  11. ^ a b c d e Galli & Hernández, 1999, p.171
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Marquillas et al., 2005, p.96
  13. ^ Del Papa, 2006
  14. ^ Narváez, 2009
  15. ^ Sánchez & Marquillas, 2010

Bibliography

General
Guanaco Sonso Formation
Lumbrera Formation
Maíz Gordo Formation
Mealla Formation
Palo Pintado Formation
Piquete Formation
Quebrada de Los Colorados Formation

Further reading

Categories