Santa Rosita Formation Research Articles

Early Tremadocian cephalopods from Santa Rosita Formation in NW Argentina: the oldest record for South America

Early Tremadocian cephalopods from Santa Rosita Formation in NW Argentina: the oldest record for South America

Tectonic controls on late Cambrian-Early Ordovician deposition in Cordillera oriental (Northwest Argentina)

The western Gondwana margin underwent a complex geodynamic history during the early Paleozoic, and major uncertainties remain as to the role of tectonism in sedimentary dynamics. This study focuses on the lower part Santa Rosita Formation and the coeval Guayoc Chico Group (Cordillera Oriental; Northwest Argentina), ranging from the late Cambrian (Furongian; Age 10) to Early Ordovician (early Tremadocian; Tr1). This stratigraphic interval has been previously interpreted as deposited in an extensional basin to a retro-arc basin without major regional tectonic-induced deformation during its deposition, only recording long-term relative sea-level fluctuations. Four areas (Sierra de Cajas, Angosto del Moreno, Quebrada de Trancas, and Quebrada de Moya) were chosen because they host the most complete and temporally well-constrained stratigraphic sections of the Cordillera Oriental. Throughout the stratigraphic sections, four main facies zones are described and attributed to deposition in estuarine, foreshore-shoreface, delta-front, and offshore environments. Trilobite biozones are used as the biostratigraphic framework. By integrating sedimentary facies analysis, biostratigraphy, and sequence stratigraphy from the four selected sections, a new scenario showcasing the evolution of the basin is proposed. This scenario interprets a tectonically induced deformation during the deposition of the Santa Rosita Formation and the coeval Guayoc Chico Group. The newly acquired sedimentological data show that physiographical changes took place during the Cambrian-Ordovician transition and are expressed in various localities. This major change is recorded in the stratigraphic architecture, where extensive wave-ravinement surfaces and sedimentary hiatus are the result of local, syn-depositional basement uplifts. The initiation of the Puna-Famatinian volcanic arc during the Early Ordovician on the western margin was likely responsible for deformation in the retro-arc basin and the proposed scenario is consistent with the stratigraphic evolution in other areas of the Cordillera Oriental (e.g., Sierra de Mojotoro) and the Sierra de Famatina. Therefore, this study helps to constrain the evolution of the western Gondwana margin during the early Paleozoic, showing changes in the stratigraphic architecture and basin evolution from an extensional to a retro-arc style.

Paleogeographic and tectonic evolution of the Pampia Terrane in the Cambrian: New paleomagnetic constraints

Paleomagnetic, magnetic fabric and rock magnetic studies were carried out in the late Middle to early Late Cambrian Campanario Formation exposed in NW Argentina. The study also presents preliminary results from the Early Cambrian metasediments of the Puncoviscana Formation and from Mojotoro intrusive. A new paleomagnetic pole, C2, was computed for the Campanario Formation (23.6°N, 346.5°E, A95, 7.0°, N: 11 sites) from the localities of Tilcara (T), Terma de Reyes (R) and El Perchel (EP), including previous data from Santa Victoria Oeste (M), in northernmost Argentina. A positive fold test was obtained for Tilcara locality while a positive regional tilt test was obtained for mean site directions for the four localities. This pole can be considered as the representative pole position for the Pampia terrane for the late Middle to Late Cambrian. Previous paleomagnetic data for the same formation from the Iruya-Matancillas locality show an in situ clockwise rotation of about 30° around a vertical axis when compared with the mean Pampia pole. The same is observed when comparing the early Ordovician pole for the Santa Rosita Formation at those localities with the recently obtained coeval pole of the La Pedrera Formation, indicating that local tectonic rotations, affected that area. These results suggest that previous paleomagnetic interpretations for these Late Cambrian and Early Ordovician rocks in the region as recording displacement of the Pampia terrane in Cambrian times are probably incorrect. Additionally, two virtual geomagnetic poles were computed for the Puncoviscana Formation (TP1: 34.5°N, 52.3°E, A95: 5.0°, n: 22 specimens and TP2: 38.3°N, 33.6°E, A95: 5.7°, n: 14 specimens) and one for the Mojotoro Intrusive (MO: 9.1°N, 345.6°E, A95: 16.4°, n: 11 specimens). These and previous Early Cambrian paleomagnetic data from the Pampia terrane differ from Gondwana coeval reference directions in inclination and/or declination, lacking a simple pattern.

Trilobites and Sedimentary Settings from the Lower Ordovician (Tremadocian; Bienvillia tetragonalis Biozone) of Iturbe, Jujuy Province, Argentina

In the Argentinian Cordillera Oriental, the Iturbe River area represents an intermediate territory between Sierra de Santa Victoria to the north and the Quebrada de Humahuaca to the south. Lower Ordovician outcrops of this region were cited in the literature as highly fossiliferous, although they are still imperfectly known. A Tremadocian succession of the Santa Rosita Formation near the village of Iturbe, Jujuy Province, is described herein. It displays different marine paleoenvironments and a relatively high-diversity trilobite assemblage. The sedimentary features of the lower and middle parts of the succession denote deposition in upper offshore and offshore transition environments, whereas those of the upper part are characteristic of a deeper, lower offshore setting. Taxa recognized include Gymnagnostus sp., Micragnostus iturbensis sp. nov., Geragnostus callaveiformis Harrington and Leanza, Geragnostus sp., Conophrys cf. salopiensis (Callaway), Leptoplastides granulosus (Harrington), Bienvillia tetragonalis (Harrington), B. rectifrons (Harrington), Parabolinella boliviana Juarez Huarachi, Asaphellus stenorhachis (Harrington), Apatokephalus tibicen P?ibyl and Van?k, and Pyrimetopus sp. This association indicates correspondence with the Bienvillia tetragonalis Zone (lower upper Tremadocian); a unit that to date is recorded with confidence only in a few localities of the Cordillera Oriental, in diverse facies. This study provides information on the morphology of several key taxa of the biozone, as well as new evidence in favour of a correlation with the Conophrys salopiensis Zone of England. The assemblage studied is assignable to the middle Tremadocian Olenid-Asaphellus biofacies, which occurs typically in upper offshore to offshore transition deposits.

Early Ordovician conodonts from the Santa Rosita Formation at Pantipampa, Iruya area, northwestern Argentina

A conodont assemblage recovered from the middle part of the Santa Rosita Formation at Pantipampa (Iruya area, northwestern Argentina) is described herein. It includes Cordylodus angulatus Pander, C. cayesi Druce and Jones, C. lindstromi Druce and Jones, C. hastatus Barnes, Furnishina furnishi Müller, Kallidontus gondwanicus Zeballo and Albanesi, Phakelodus elongatus An, Phakelodus tenuis (Zhang), Proconodontus muelleri Miller, Semiacontiodus sp. and Teridontus nakamurai Nogami, which are characteristic of the Cordylodus angulatus Zone (upper lower Tremadocian). In the Iruya area, the C. angulatus Zone correlates with the trilobite Kainella meridionalis Zone and the lower part of the Kainella teiichii Zone. Taxonomic diversity and relative frequency of conodont species enables the recognition of the Semiacontiodus-Teridontus community, which is characteristic of shallow marine environments.

High Resolution Trilobite Biostratigraphy for the Early Late Tremadocian (Tr2) Interval (Early Ordovician) Santa Rosita Formation, Argentine Cordillera Oriental

The early late Tremadocian (Tr2) interval is exceptionally well-represented in eastern areas of the Argentine Cordillera Oriental. New field collections and detailed taxonomic reassessments, as well as a reevaluation of regional data, permit the development of a highly resolved trilobite-based biostratigraphic framework. The concept of the traditional Bienvillia tetragonalis biozone is emended and the new Asaphellus nazarenensis biozone is proposed. Hence, the Tr2 interval encompasses a succession of four trilobite biozones including in ascending order the Kainella teiichii, the Bienvillia tetragonalis, the Asaphellus nazarenensis, and the Notopeltis orthometopa biozones. This resolution is notably higher than that provided by biostratigraphically significant groups such as graptolites and conodonts, and allows a detailed basinwide correlation. New taxonomic information on A. nazarenensis Tortello and Esteban and N. orthometopa (Harrington), is provided and the new species Asaphellus albae sp. nov. is defined. Detailed correlation of the trilobite fauna from the Tr2 interval with that of other paleocontinents is difficult. Taxa are mostly endemic or display wide geographic distributions but with long stratigraphic ranges. Overall, both trilobite-based and indirect international correlations highlight that this interval is hardly recognized, incompletely preserved, or the trilobite fauna is poorly known in most areas of Gondwana. Consequently, due to the completeness of the stratigraphic and fossil records of the Tr2 in the Cordillera Oriental, this region represents a global reference site for the study of this interval.

A late Furongian trilobite assemblage from the eastern Cordillera Oriental (Santa Rosita Formation; Jujuy, Argentina) and its biostratigraphic significance

The trilobite Parabolina frequens argentina Zone is widely represented in the upper Furongian of northwestern Argentina. A fossil assemblage from the lower Santa Rosita Formation at Quebrada de Abra Blanca, Jujuy Province, is described herein. Parabolina frequens argentina (Kayser) and Parabolinella coelatifrons Harrington & Leanza have previously been reported from other localities of the biozone, whereas Lotagnostus hedini (Troedsson) is here described from South America for the first time. The latter provides high resolution data on the age of the P . frequens argentina Zone in the eastern Cordillera Oriental, where conodont-bearing strata have not been found yet. L . hedini exhibits a short biostratigraphic range, restricted to the latest Furongian of China (Xinjiang, Bulbolenus Zone; western Zhejiang, Lotagnostus hedini Zone), Kazakhstan ( Euloma limitaris - Taoyuania Zone) and ?Canada (western Newfoundland, Phylacterus saylesi Fauna). In China and Kazakhstan, it occurs in association with, or a few meters below, the first appearance of the conodont Cordylodus proavus ; a fact that increases the potential for global correlation.

Early Ordovician trilobites from the Iruya area (Cordillera Oriental, northwestern Argentina) and their stratigraphic significance

AbstractThe middle part of the Santa Rosita Formation (Tremadocian) is well exposed in the Iruya area, northwestern Argentina. At the Pantipampa and Rodeo Colorado localities, it is composed of shale and sandstone representing a wave-dominated shelf with influence of storm activity. Twenty-two trilobite species are described from these localities. Low-diversity assemblages from the lower part of the succession (Kainella meridionalisKobayashi,Asaphellus catamarcensisKobayashi,Leptoplastides marianus[Hoek]) are diagnostic of the early TremadocianKainella meridionalisZone. Trilobites from the middle part of the sequence are much more diverse.Kainella teiichiiVaccari and Waisfeld,Gymnagnostus kobayashiin. sp.,Conophryssp. indet.,Asaphellus clarksonin. sp.,A.stenorhachis(Harrington),A.isabelaeMeroi Arcerito, Waisfeld and Balseiro,Ogygiocaris?iruyensisn. sp.,Niobe(Niobella)inflecta(Harrington and Leanza) n. comb.,Metayuepingia riccardiin. sp.,Pseudokainella keideliHarrington,Apatokephalus rugosusn. sp.,Onychopyge acenolazain. sp.,O.gonzalezaen. sp.,Nileus cingolaniin. sp.,N.ericin. sp.,Leptoplastides marianus,Parabolinellasp. indet.,Hapalopleurasp. indet., and Ceratopygidae gen. et sp. indet., occur at different levels of theKainella teiichiiZone. This biostratigraphic unit includes the oldest records ofNileusDalman andOgygiocaris? Angelin;MetayuepingiaLiu,Niobe(Niobella) Reed, andOnychopygeHarrington are here first reported from the Tremadocian of southwest Gondwana. Finally, the uppermost part of the succession is characterized by the absence of the genusKainellaWalcott and the occurrence ofBienvillia tetragonalis(Harrington),Asaphellus stenorhachis,Pseudokainella keideliandLeptoplastidessp. indet., which are indicative of the middle TremadocianBienvillia tetragonalisZone. The trilobites described in this paper provide a basis for the refinement of correlations with other Lower Ordovician sections of the Cordillera Oriental. The genera recognized have their closest affinities with faunas from Scandinavia, Great Britain, and China.

Graptolite-Trilobite Biostratigraphy in the Santa Victoria Area, Northwestern Argentina. A Key for Regional and Worldwide Correlation of the Lower Ordovician (Tremadocian—Floian)

Abstract. New graptolite-trilobite records provide relevant information for the biostratigraphic framework of the lower Paleozoic in western Gondwana. Aorograptus victoriae (T. S. Hall), together with Adelogratus cf. A. altus Williams and Stevens and Ancoragraptus bulmani (Spjeldnaes) are described for the first time in the Santa Victoria area. These species come from the upper beds of the Santa Rosita Formation, expanding the distribution of the A. victoriae Biozone. The complete succession of the Aorograptus victoriae, Araneograptus murrayi, Hunnegraptus copiosus, Tetragraptus phyllograptoides, T. akzharensis, Baltograptus cf. B. deflexus and Didymograptellus bifidus biozones is confirmed for the first time at a single locality in the Cordillera Oriental, indicating a late Tremadocian—late Floian age for the upper deposits of the Santa Rosita Formation and the Acoite Formation in the studied area. The co-occurrence of trilobites with the records of these graptolite biozones enables a better resolution o...

Diversification ofAsaphellusCallaway, 1877 (Asaphidae: Trilobita) during the Tremadocian in South West Gondwana (Cordillera Oriental, Argentina)

Fil: Meroi Arcerito, Facundo Rene. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Conicet - Cordoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra. Universidad Nacional de Cordoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Fisicas y Naturales. Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Tierra; Argentina

Early Ordovician Trilobites from the Nazareno Area, Northwestern Argentina

The upper part of the Santa Rosita Formation (Ordovician, Tremadocian) in the Nazareno area, Cordillera Oriental, northwestern Argentina, records the vertical passage of high-energy, shallow water platform environments to offshore settings. Eighteen trilobite species are described from this locality for the first time. Although the taxa from the lower part of the succession (Leptoplastidessp.,Asaphellussp.) are scarce and non-age diagnostic, those from the upper part include diverse assemblages partially assigned to the late TremadocianNotopeltis orthometopaZone. Systematic descriptions of several species (Geragnostus nesossiiHarrington and Leanza,G. callaveiformisHarrington and Leanza,Asaphellus jujuanusHarrington,Notopeltis orthometopa[Harrington],Mekynophrys nannaHarrington,Ceratopyge forficuloidesHarrington and Leanza,Apatokephalus tibicenPřibyl and Vanĕk) are improved, the genusNileusDalman (includingN. australisn. sp.) is first reported from the Tremadocian of western Gondwana, and new species ofAsaphellusCallaway (A. nazarenensisn. sp.),ConophrysCallaway, andApatokephalusBrøgger are described. The trilobites have their closest affinities with faunas from Norway and Sweden.Notopeltis orthometopaandMekynophrys nannaare restricted to the uppermost part of the succession, well above the first records of most other trilobites recognized.

Early Ordovician Trilobites from the Nazareno Area, Northwestern Argentina

The upper part of the Santa Rosita Formation (Ordovician, Tremadocian) in the Nazareno area, Cordillera Oriental, northwestern Argentina, records the vertical passage of high-energy, shallow water platform environments to offshore settings. Eighteen trilobite species are described from this locality for the first time. Although the taxa from the lower part of the succession (Leptoplastides sp., Asaphellus sp.) are scarce and non-age diagnostic, those from the upper part include diverse assemblages partially assigned to the late Tremadocian Notopeltis orthometopa Zone. Systematic descriptions of several species (Geragnostus nesossii Harrington and Leanza, G. callaveiformis Harrington and Leanza, Asaphellus jujuanus Harrington, Notopeltis orthometopa [Harrington], Mekynophrys nanna Harrington, Ceratopyge forficuloides Harrington and Leanza, Apatokephalus tibicen Přibyl and Vanĕk) are improved, the genus Nileus Dalman (including N. australis n. sp.) is first reported from the Tremadocian of western Gondwana, and new species of Asaphellus Callaway (A. nazarenensis n. sp.), Conophrys Callaway, and Apatokephalus Brøgger are described. The trilobites have their closest affinities with faunas from Norway and Sweden. Notopeltis orthometopa and Mekynophrys nanna are restricted to the uppermost part of the succession, well above the first records of most other trilobites recognized.

Trilobites Tremadocianos en Facies de Lutitas Oscuras del Miembro Alfarcito (Formación Santa Rosita), Quebrada de Moya, Jujuy, Argentina

TREMADOCIAN TRILOBITES FROM DARK SHALE FACIES OF THE ALFARCITO MEMBER (SANTA ROSITA FORMATION), QUEBRADA DE MOYA, JUJUY, ARGENTINA. The Quebrada de Moya constitutes a distinctive locality of the Santa Rosita Formation (uppermost Furongian—lowermost Ordovician) in the Quebrada de Humahuaca (Sierra de Tilcara, Cordillera Oriental of Jujuy, Argentina). The trilobites Leptoplastides marianus (Hoek), Parabolinella sp., Hapalopleura acantha Malanca and Brandán, and Asaphellus sp. are described from the dark shale facies of the upper part of the Alfarcito Member. A grainstone interstratified in the mudstones contains a low-diversity conodont assemblage of the Cordylodus angulatus Zone (lower Tremadocian). The Ordovician age of the section is confirmed, in addition, by the record of the graptolite Rhabdinopora flabelliformis ssp. in a sandstone underlying the studied levels. The dark shales accumulated by suspension fall-out during periods of maximum flooding, in a reducing, distal offshore marine environment. The trilobite fauna is largely dominated by L. marianus. The upper part of the Alfarcito Member does not show dark facies in other sectors of the Sierra de Tilcara. The sedimentologic characters of the section described, the low diversity of the conodont assemblage, and the scarcity of agnostoid trilobites may be indicative of a partial isolation of the basin.

An Early Ordovician conodont fauna from the Santa Rosita Formation at its type area in the Santa Victoria Range, Cordillera Oriental, Northwestern Argentina

The Cambrian - Lower Ordovician stratigraphic units from the Cordillera Oriental were originally defined in the Santa Victoria Range, Salta Province, northwestern Argentina, however, the extensive outcrops of this region lack detailed biostratigraphic studies. We describe and analyse the first reported conodont fauna from the Santa Rosita Formation at its type area, which produced significant biostratigraphic information. Over 4,500 well-preserved conodont elements were recovered from outcrops of the Santa Rosita Formation at the southern margin of the Santa Victoria River, near the homonymous locality. Collected specimens exhibit a CAI 3 and correspond to the Paltodus deltifer deltifer Subzone of the P. deltifer Zone (middle Tremadocian, Tr2). A number of species are described for the genera Acanthodus, Acodus, Decoriconus, Drepanodus, Drepanoistodus, Filodontus, Granatodontus, Hammannodus, Iapetonudus, Kallidontus, Paltodus, Paroistodus, Teridontus, Tilcarodus, Utahconus, Variabiloconus, Gen. and sp. indet., the protoconodont Phakelodus and the paraconodont Coelocerodontus. Two new conodont species, Drepanoistodus andinus Voldman, Zeballo and Albanesi and Filodontus carolinae Voldman, Albanesi and Zeballo, are diagnosed herein. The studied assemblages include conodont species of wide intercontinental distribution as well as endemic forms from the Central Andean Basin, which characterize a faunal province with a particular signature from the Shallow Water Realm.

Biofacies and palaeoenvironments of conodonts in Cambro‐Ordovician sequences of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cordillera Oriental of Jujuy, Argentina

The taxa frequencies and cluster analysis of 10 837 conodonts recovered from the Santa Rosita Formation on the eastern flank of the Quebrada de Humahuaca, Cordillera Oriental of Argentina, were carried out for palaeoenvironmental interpretations. The first type of analysis allowed us to identify three conodont biofacies: Variabiloconus‐Teridontus, Utahconus‐Acanthodus and Tilcarodus‐Drepanoistodus, and the cluster analysis helps define respective sub‐biofacies. The first biofacies is not constrained to a particular environment, the second biofacies, which is characterized by typical Laurentian genera, is related to sandstones from shallow‐water environments, while the third one is better represented in deeper water siliciclastic lithofacies. A nektobenthic mode of life is suggested for Utahconus and Acanthodus, but a pelagic behaviour is apparent for the rest of the taxa, well adapted to off‐shore biotopes in particular cases (proto‐ and paraconodonts). The faunal composition reveals a mixture of Baltic and Laurentian taxa, as well as endemic forms that define the Southwestern Gondwana Province from the Cold Domain in the Shallow‐Sea Realm. The presence of typical species from low latitudes (e.g. Australia) confirms the installation of an oceanic perigondwanian corridor, which was open to faunal migration during the late Cambrian–early Ordovician. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

New conodont species and biostratigraphy of the Santa Rosita Formation (upper Furongian–Tremadocian) in the Tilcara Range, Cordillera Oriental of Jujuy, Argentina

A new conodont collection from the Alfarcito area of the Tilcara Range, Cordillera Oriental of northwestern Argentina, has been studied. The Santa Rosita Formation exposed in this area consists of the Tilcara, Casa Colorada, Pico de Halcón, Alfarcito, Rupasca and Humacha members, which have a combined total thickness of ca. 1100 m. The sequence is composed of interbedded shales and sandstones, including calcarenites and coquinas, mostly appearing in the upper parts of the units. An abundant fauna of conodonts (ca. 11 000 elements), associated with graptolites and trilobites, was recorded. The biostratigraphic analysis allows for the identification of the Cordylodus intermedius and C. lindstromi sensu lato zones at the base of the Alfarcito Member. The C. angulatus Zone spans the upper part of the latter unit, and the Paltodus deltifer Zone (Paltodus deltifer pristinus and P. deltifer deltifer subzones) is identified in the Rupasca and Humacha members. The new species Acanthodus raqueli, A. humachensis, Utahconus tortibasis, U. scandodiformis, U. purmamarcensis, Variabiloconus crassus, Kallidontus gondwanicus and Acodus primitivus are recorded from the two latter biozones and they are described herein. The genera Acanthodus and Variabiloconus are emended, and a new genus Tilcarodus is created to include T. humahuacensis (Albanesi and Aceñolaza). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Cosmic spherules from the Ordovician of Argentina

The discovery of magnetic spherules in acid‐insoluble residues from conodont samples encouraged a systematic search for Ordovician micrometeorites from northwestern Argentina. Some 220 melted micrometeorites were recovered from the magnetic fraction of six samples (total rock weight: 23 kg) from the Cordillera Oriental (Santa Rosita Formation) and 17 from five samples (total rock weight: 8.9 kg) from the Argentine Precordillera (Las Aguaditas, Gualcamayo and Las Vacas formations). The specimens resemble I‐type cosmic spherules, in their chemistry and distinct dendritic and polygonal crystalline structures. They represent a flux of micrometeorites several orders of magnitude greater than present. The wide differences in spherule abundance between the Precordillera and the Cordillera Oriental samples could reflect uncertainties in the sedimentary rates or temporal variations in the flux of extraterrestrial matter to Earth. The micrometeorite‐bearing formations span the late Tremadocian to the late Darriliwian (~480–460 Ma), which is consistent with a period of elevated flux of extraterrestrial material, as recorded several thousand kilometres away from coeval horizons in Scotland, Sweden and central China. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Conodontes y Graptolitos del Tremadociano Tardío (Ordovícico) de la Sierra de Zenta, Cordillera Oriental de Jujuy, Argentina

LATE TREMADOCIAN (ORDOVICIAN) CONODONTS AND GRAPTOLITES FROM THE SIERRA DE ZENTA, CORDILLERA ORIENTAL OF JUJUY, ARGENTINA. A thick heterolithic Ordovician succession lies exposed in the Zenta Range of the Cordillera Oriental, Jujuy Province, Argentina. It is mostly siliciclastic with subordinated calcareous concretions, coquinas and calcarenites, and bears a significant conodont and graptolite fauna. The sampled localities are situated on the road running from Abra de Zenta to Santa Ana, within a wide anticline structure. Exposures of gray shales and coquinas near Abra de Santa Ana, yielded a low diversity conodont fauna that includes Acodus apex n. sp., Drepanoistodus chucaleznensis Albanesi and Aceñolaza, and Drepanoistodus costatus (Abaimova), which are referred to the lower part of the Acodus deltatus — Paroistodus proteus Zone. The diagnosis of the conodont genus Acodus is emended. The A. murrayi Zone is suggested by a graptolite assemblage including Araneograptus murrayi (J. Hall), Kiaerograptus cf. K supremus Lindholm and Kiaerograptus? sp., which was collected from strata overlying the conodont-bearing levels. These conodont and graptolite faunas indicate a late Tremadocian age. Another locality on the road to Abra de Zenta, west of Santa Ana, contains Hunnegraptus cf. H. novus (Berry), Hunnegraptus spp. and Paradelograptus sp., indicating the Hunnegraptus copiosus Zone of the latest Tremadocian. The biostratigraphic succession is equivalent to that from the upper part of the Santa Rosita Formation and to the Parcha Formation exposed in other areas of the Eastern Cordillera in northwestern Argentina. The faunas contain elements of wide intercontinental distribution as well as endemic forms. The occurrence of concentrations of graptolites and lingulids showing evidence of transport in some strata indicates bottom reworking by erosive episodes in the basin.

Assembly of Pampia to the SW Gondwana margin: A case of strike-slip docking?

Different hypotheses have been proposed to account for the geologic evolution of the southwestern margin of Gondwana in the Early Paleozoic, involving accretion and displacement of different terranes in a protracted convergent margin. In order to constrain and understand the kinematic and paleogeographic evolution of the Pampia terrane a paleomagnetic study was carried out in different Cambrian to Devonian units of the Eastern Cordillera (Cordillera Oriental) and the Interandean Zone (Interandino) of NW Argentina. Paleomagnetic poles from the Campanario Formation (Middle to Upper Cambrian): 1.5°N 1.9°E A95=9.2° K=37.46N=8; and Santa Rosita Formation (Lower Ordovician): 8.6°N 355.3°E A95=10.1° K=26.78 n=9, representative of the Pampia terrane, are interpreted to indicate a Late Cambrian significant displacement with respect to the Río de la Plata and other Gondwana cratons. A model, compatible with several geological evidences that explains this displacement in the framework of the final stages of Gondwana assembly is presented. We propose a simple dextral strike-slip kinematic model in which Pampia and Antofalla (−Arequipa?) blocks moved during Late Cambrian times from a position at the present southern border of the Kalahari craton into its final position next to the Rio de la Plata craton by the Early Ordovician.

A New Ichnospecies of Arthrophycus from the Upper Cambrian-Lower Tremadocian of Northwest Argentina: Implications for the Arthrophycid Lineage and Potential in Ichnostratigraphy

A new ichnospecies of Arthrophycus Hall 1852, A. minimus , is described from Upper Cambrian-Lower Tremadocian, shallow-marine strata of northwest Argentina. This new ichnospecies consists of small, long, regularly annulated hypichnial elements displaying subcircular to squarish cross-section and a ventral median groove. Side branches are occasionally present, but palmate, fan-like structures and scribbling patterns are absent. We adopt a relatively narrow diagnosis of Arthrophycus , suggesting that roughly annulated, cylindrical structures should not be included in this ichnogenus, unless other diagnostic features (i.e., squarish cross-section, median groove, zipper-like annulations) are also present. Arthrophycus is a common ichnotaxon in Ordovician-Silurian shallow-marine siliciclastic environments. Post-Paleozoic occurrences are removed from Arthrophycus . Arthrophycus has been proposed as a biostratigraphic index fossil in Ordovician-Silurian rocks. The presence of A. minimus in the Santa Rosita Formation of northwest Argentina indicates that Arthrophycus ranges at least from the Upper Cambrian-Lower Tremadocian with probable representatives in the Lower Cambrian and, therefore, its biostratigraphic utility is extended. Arthrophycus minimus represents the first Cambrian occurrence exhibiting not only fine, diagnostic morphologic features, but also the classical Arthrophycus behavioral pattern in dense monoichnospecific assemblages. The exploratory behavioral pattern displayed by A. minimus is simpler than that of the younger ichnospecies, particularly A. brogniartii, A. alleghaniensis, and A. lateralis . This is consistent with the basal position of A. minimus within the arthrophycid lineage.