Abstract
The development of the Cretaceous-early Eocene basin of northwestern Argentina can be divided into three main magmatic phases on the basis of preliminary petrologic data. The oldest phase (130-100 Ma) is divided into an early stage of anorogenic plutonism, with subalkaline, alkaline, and minor peralkaline granitic intrusives, and a volcanic stage in which alkaline rocks characterized by trachytes, basanites and foidites prevail. The second phase (80-75 Ma) is characterized by an alkaline suite with basanites, hawaiites and tephriphonolites. The last phase (65-60 Ma) consists of lamproitic sills and basic lava flows. The two first phases correspond, respectively, to prerifting and initial rifting stages. According to the magmatic, tectonic, and sedimentary features observed, it is suggested that this basin is a foreland paleorift, of low volcanicity type, that developed along the western side of South America from the Early Cretaceous to the Eocene—at which time the rift basin was closed by the Incaic diastrophic phase.
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