Fluvial and eolian ichnofaunas from the Lower Permian of South America (Patquía Formation, Paganzo Basin)

The Lower Permian Patquía Formation is the youngest unit of the Paganzo Basin, western Argentina. The lower section consists of red mudstones, and fine- and coarse-grained sandstones deposited in fluvial systems with extensive and thick floodplain deposits. These rocks contain a low-diversity and re...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Krapovickas, V., Mancuso, A. C., Arccuci, A. B., Caselli, A. T.
Tipo de documento: artigo
Data de publicação:2010
País:España
Recursos:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositório:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglês
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:85190
Acesso em linha:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/85190
https://dx.doi.org/urn:doi:10.1344/105.000001582
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:Scoyenia ichnofacies
Eolian ichnofacies
Tetrapod footprints
Early Permian
Patquía
Formation
Descrição
Resumo:The Lower Permian Patquía Formation is the youngest unit of the Paganzo Basin, western Argentina. The lower section consists of red mudstones, and fine- and coarse-grained sandstones deposited in fluvial systems with extensive and thick floodplain deposits. These rocks contain a low-diversity and relatively abundant association of trace fossils suggesting the activity of a sub-superficial to superficial fauna. The association is characterized by Rusophycus carbonarius (Cubichnia), Cruziana problematica (Repichnia), and Palaeophycus tubularis (Domichnia) of the Scoyenia ichnofacies. Disarticulated fish remains are also present. The upper section is dominated by red, cross-bedded, medium- to fine-grained sandstones deposited in eolian systems that host a lowdiversity and low-abundance association of trace fossils that indicates the activity of a mainly superficial fauna. Tetrapod footprints (Chelichnus duncani, oval digit imprints, short parallel grooves, and sinusoidal grooves), horizontal to vertical burrows (Palaeophycus tubularis and Skolithos isp. respectively), and arthropod trackways are the typical components of these deposits. The association shows elements of the three presently proposed eolian ichnofacies (Chelichnus, Octopodichnus and Entradichnus ichnofacies) suggesting the necessity of revision and the possible integration of these separate ichnofacies into a single model. The record of fossil vertebrate tracks is uncommon in Lower Permian strata of South America. Therefore, the ichnologic record of the Patquía Formation is a significant contribution to the understanding of Lower Permian South American ichnofaunas.