Ordovician (Floian-lower Darriwilian) conodont biofacies of the San Juan Formation in the Cerro Viejo of Huaco, Argentine Precordillera

Abstract

The conodont biofacies from the San Juan Formation at the Cerro Viejo of Huaco, Central Precordillera of Argentina, are analyzed for the identification of faunal dynamics and sea-level changes. The Prioniodus elegans and Oepikodus evae zones, Floian in age (Lower Ordovician), are identified in the lower San Juan Formation at the inner part of the Huaco anticline. In the western flank of the anticline the succession of the carbonate stratigraphic unit extends from the Floian/Dapingian boundary (Lower-Middle Ordovician) up to the lower Darriwilian (Middle Ordovician) Lenodus variabilis Zone. For the interpretation of conodont biofacies through the Los Gatos creek section, 5044 conodonts from rock samples of the Floian to the lower Darriwilian are studied. Conodont abundance and generic diversity graphs, and cluster analysis, reveal the following biofacies. The Juanognathus-Bergstroemognathus, Protopanderodus-Reutterodus-Drepanodus, Protopanderodus-Oepikodus, Juanognathus-Semiacontiodus and Rossodus-Periodon-Protopanderodus biofacies are determined, which indicate various deposits stacking from inner to middle and outer carbonate ramp environments of the San Juan Formation. The associated analysis of biofacies and lithology allow for the recognition of two transgressive events in the San Juan Formation at the Los Gatos creek section, which could be related to transgressive systems tracts (TST) that occurred during the Lower and Middle Ordovician. The recovered conodonts have a CAI that varies from 2 to 2.5, indicating a burial paleotemperature between 60 and 155 °C. Furthermore, the variation of CAI in conodonts of the same sample, the presence of conodonts with corroded surface lamella, recrystallization and crystal overgrowths, and the presence of stylolites in limestone beds of the San Juan Formation indicate the circulation of hydrothermal fluids.