Upper Carboniferous retroarc volcanism with submarine and subaerial facies at the western Gondwana margin of Argentina

During Late Carboniferous times a continental magmatic arc developed at the western margin of Gondwana in South America, as several marine sedimentary basins were formed at the same time in the retroarc region. North of 33°S, at Cordón Agua del Jagüel, Precordillera of Mendoza, Argentina, a volcanic sequence crops out which was emplaced in a submarine environment with some subaerial exposures, and it is intercalated in marine sediments of Agua del Jagüel Formation, which fills of one of these retroarc basins. This paper presents, for the first time, a facies analyses together with geochemical and isotopic data of this volcanic suite, suggesting its deposition in an ensialic retroarc marine basin. The volcanic succession comprises debris flows with either sedimentary or volcanic fragments, base surge, resedimented massive and laminated dacitic-andesitic hyaloclastite, pillow lava, basic hyaloclastite and dacitic-andesitic lavas and hyaloclastite facies. Its composition is bimodal, either basaltic or dacitic-andesitic. The geochemistry data indicate a subalkaline, low K calk-alkaline and metaluminous affinity. The geochemistry of the basalts points to an origin of the magmas from a depleted mantle source with some crustal contamination. Conversely, the geochemistry of the dacites-andesites shows an important participation of both crustal components and subduction related fluids. A different magmatic source for the basalts than for the dacites-andesites is also supported by Sr and Nd isotopic initial ratios and Nd model ages. The characteristics of this magmatic suite suggest its emplacement in an extensional setting probably associated with the presence of a steepened subduction zone at this latitude during Upper Carboniferous times.Fil: Koukharsky, Magdalena Maria L.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Kleiman, L.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Etcheverría, M.. Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Quenardelle, Sonia Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Bercowski, Felisa. No especifica

Geochemistry, U-Pb SHRIMP zircon dating and Hf isotopes of the Gondwanan magmatism in NW Argentina: Petrogenesis and geodynamic implications

We have carried out zircon U-Pb SHRIMP dating and Hf isotope determinations as well as geochemical analyses on three plutonic units of Gondwanan magmatism that crop out in NW Argentina. Two episodes of different age and genesis have been identified. The older one includes gabbros and diorites (Río Grande Unit) of 267±3 Ma and granitoids (belonging to the Llullaillaco Unit) of 263±1 Ma (late Permian, Guadalupian); the parent magmas were generated in an intraplate environment and derived from an enriched mantle but were subsequently contaminated by crustal components. The younger rocks are granodiorites with arc signature (Chuculaqui Unit) and an age of 247±2 Ma (middle Triassic-Anisian). Hf isotope signature of the units indicates mantle sources as well as crustal components. Hf model ages obtained are consistent with the presence of crustal Mesoproterozoic (mainly Ectasian to Calymnian (TDM(c) =1.24 to 1.44 Ga-negative Hf(T)) and juvenile Cryogenian sources (TDM=0.65 to 0.79 Ga-positive eHf(T)), supporting the idea of a continuous, mostly Mesoproterozoic, basement under the Central Andes, as an extension of the Arequipa-Antofalla massif. The tectonic setting and age of the Gondwanan magmatism in NW Argentina allow to differentiate: a. Permian intra-plate magmatism developed under similar conditions to the upper section of the Choiyoi magmatism exposed in the Frontal Cordillera and San Rafael Block, Argentina; b. Triassic magmatism belonging to a poorly known subduction-related magmatic arc segment of mostly NS trend with evidence of porphyry type mineralization in Chile, allowing to extend this metallotect into Argentina

Stratigraphy, facies analysis and paleoenvironments of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation, Jurassic Cerro cóndor depocenter, Chubut province

The Cerro Cóndor depocenter represents the most complete stratigraphic sequence of the continental Jurassic of the Cañadón Asfalto basin and southern South America. It is situated in extraandean Patagonia, on both sides of the middle Chubut river valley. The sedimentation in this pull-apart basin begins early in the Middle Jurassic, accompanied by effusions of olivinic basalts. The prevailing lacustrine deposits are characterized by carbonatic and siliciclastic facies associations, interfingering with volcanic deposits grading from lavic in the base to predominantly pyroclastic towards the top. The facies evolution from north to south is described, embracing the sections of farm El Torito and the canyons of Los Loros, Las Chacritas, Carrizal, Asfalto and Lahuincó. The carbonatic facies/microfacies are represented by mudstones, wackestones, packstones, grainstones and microbialitic limestones, characteristic of littoral/marginal and palustrine environments. In the Cañadón Asfalto Formation are distinguished a lower member (Las Chacritas composed by limestones, shales, sandstones and conglomerates intercalated with olivinic basalts, and an upper member (Puesto Almada) composed by tuffs, tuffites, shales and sandstones. The first is bearing a palynologic assemblage of Bajocian-Bathonian age and the second dinosaurs of Tithonian age. The stratigraphic sections of both members of the formation are described and illustrated at their type localities cañadón Las Chacritas and farm El Torito and the paleoenvironments of the depocenter, from the Aalenian to the Tithonian are described and illustrated. The age of the Puesto Almada Member at its type locality was obtained by radiometric dating (K/Ar) of biotites from a thin layer of volcanic tuff (147.1 + 3.3 Ma, Tithonian) from the upper part of the unit.Fil:Cabaleri, N. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Armella, C. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Silva Nieto, D. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Cagnoni, M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Ramos, A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Panarello, H. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina.Fil:Koukharsky, M. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Magnetotelluric characterization through the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range: The connection between the northern and southern trace of the Río de La Plata Craton – Pampean Terrane tectonic boundary

The South American Platform was part of the Western Gondwana, a collage of plates of different ages assembled in late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian times. The Transbrasiliano Lineament, a continental shear belt that transversely intersects this platform from NE to SW, has its southern expression in the tectonic boundary between the Río de La Plata Craton and the Pampean Terrane. Magnetotelluric long-period data in a W-E profile (29°30' S) that crosses the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range and the Chaco-Pampean Plain were obtained to connect information of this mostly inferred tectonic boundary. A 2-D inversion model shows the Chacoparanense basin, Río Dulce lineament, Ambargasta-Sumampa Range and Salina de Ambargasta in the upper crust. At mid-to-lower crust and 40km to the east of the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range, a discontinuity (500-2000Ωm) of 20-km-wide separates two highly resistive blocks, the Río de La Plata Craton (6000-20,000Ωm) in the east, and the Pampean Terrane (5000-20,000Ωm) in the west. This discontinuity represents the tectonic boundary between both cratons and could be explained by the presence of graphite. The geometry of the Pampean Terrane suggests an east-dipping paleo-subduction. Our results are consistent with gravimetric and seismicity data of the study area. A more conductive feature beneath the range and the tectonic boundary was associated with the NE-SW dextral transpressive system evidenced by the mylonitic belts exposed in the Eastern Pampean Ranges. This belt represents a conjugate of the mega-shear Transbrasiliano Lineament and could be explained by fluid-rock interaction by shearing during hundreds of years. The eastern border of the Ambargasta-Sumampa Range extends the trace of the Transbrasiliano Lineament. Theelectrical Moho depth (40km to the west and 35km to the east) was identified by a high electrical contrast between the crust and upper mantle. The upper mantle shows a resistive structure beneath the Río de La Plata Craton that could have been originated by stationary delamination by the presence of hydrated lithosphere.Fil: Peri, Verónica Gisel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica; ArgentinaFil: Barcelona, Hernan. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica; ArgentinaFil: Pomposiello, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica; ArgentinaFil: Favetto, Alicia Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geocronología y Geología Isotópica; Argentin

Fluid evolution in a volcanic-hosted epithermal carbonate–base metal–gold vein system: Alto de la Blenda, Farallón Negro, Argentina

ISSN:0026-4598ISSN:1432-186

Nuevos registros de Braquiópodos y consideraciones sobre las faunas de Tivertoniastreptorhynchus (Moscoviano) y Costatumulus amosi (Pérmico temprano) del oeste argentino: reexamen de las secciones clave de las Quebradas Agua del Jagüel y Santa Elena

The brachiopod Coolkilella aredesi sp. nov. and Calytrixia piersoni sp. nov. are proposed on the basis of specimens from the Del Salto, Río del Peñón and Agua del Jagüel formations. Their biostratigraphic implications are discussed together with new records of Septosyringothyris (Precosyringothyris) jaguelensis Lech and Streptorhynchus inaequiornatus Leanza at the top of the latter unit. The stratigraphic record, paleontological content and age of both the Tivertonia-Streptorhynchus assemblage (Moscovian) and the younger Costatumulus amosi fauna (Sakmarian–Artinskian) were reviewed and assessed based on outcrops at Quebrada Agua del Jagüel and Quebrada Santa Elena. Faunal content confirms the most recent stratigraphic, biostratigraphic and paleoclimatic frameworks. These a diachronic nature of the Agua del Jagüel and Cordón del Jagüel formations, supporting the absence of an early Permian glacial event in western Argentina.Se proponen las nuevas especies de braquiópodos Coolkilella aredesi sp. nov. y Calytrixia piersoni sp. nov. sobre la base de especímenes provenientes de las formaciones Del Salto, Río del Peñón y Agua del Jagüel. Se analizan sus implicancias bioestratigraficas junto al significado de nuevos registros de Septosyringothyris (Precosyringothyris) jaguelensis Lech y Streptorhynchus inaequiornatus Leanza en el techo de la última unidad mencionada. Se revisan y precisan el registro estratigráfico, contenido paleontológico y edades de la asociación de Tivertonia-Streptorhynchus (Moscoviano) y de la fauna más joven de Costatumulus amosi (Sakmariano—Artinskiano) en los afloramientos de las Quebradas de Agua de Jagüel y Santa Elena. El contenido faunístico permite corroborar los más recientes esquemas estratigráficos, bioestratigráficos y paleoclimáticos, reconociendo las formaciones Agua del Jagüel y Cordón del Jagüel como unidades diacrónicas y desestimando a su vez la existencia de un evento glacial Pérmico en el oeste de Argentina.Fil: Taboada, Arturo Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Facultad de Ciencias Naturales - Sede Esquel. Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Evolución y Biodiversidad; Argentin