Lacustrine microbialite pinnacles in the Palaeogene of Patagonia, Argentina: Facies and controls

Large carbonate microbialite build-ups are relatively uncommon in ancient fresh-water lacustrine basins as compared with those marine and saline environments. This paper discusses the formation of a large continental lacustrine deposit, the Oligocene-Miocene Carinao Formation in Argentina, which contains large bioherms. The lacustrine formation occurs in N-S corridor and is mostly composed by meter scale pinnacles and sheet-like carbonate beds that grade to detrital deposits towards the more subsident southern areas. The main facies are autochthonous and allochthonous limestones and detrital deposits. The autochthonous limestones include the carbonate pinnacles, which are about 4 m high and 0.5 m in diameter and coalesce laterally to form very continuous beds (several kms). The pinnacles are formed by plate-like, dome, vertically elongated and irregular horizontal bioherms, most of them with radial structure. The bioherms are boundstones of fibrous (fans and spherulites) and feather calcite crystals, micrite and inequigranular calcite mosaics. Both biogenic and abiogenic processes interfered in carbonate precipitation. Allochthonous limestones include peloidal, ostracod and intraclastic limestones, some containing coated grains. Polymictic conglomerates and cross-bedded hybrid arenites deposited in a fluvial-deltaic system located at the southwest of the basin. δ13C values vary between −0.4 and −3.2‰ VPDB and δ18O are comprised between −5.7 and −8.6‰ VPDB. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios range between 0.7061 and 0.7056. The Carinao Formation deposited in a fresh-water lake, sourced by meteoric and deep-groundwater. Tectonics was a main control determining the configuration of the lake system, the water supply and the alignment of some bioherms. The vertical succession or the different bioherms morphologies reflects well the lake level changes controlled by both tectonic and climate.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MICINN)Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET)Depto. de Mineralogía y PetrologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Lacustrine microbialite pinnacles in the Palaeogene of Patagonia, Argentina: Facies and controls

Large carbonate microbialite build-ups are relatively uncommon in ancient fresh-water lacustrine basins as compared with those marine and saline environments. This paper discusses the formation of a large continental lacustrine deposit, the Oligocene-Miocene Carinao Formation in Argentina, which contains large bioherms. The lacustrine formation occurs in N-S corridor and is mostly composed by meter scale pinnacles and sheet-like carbonate beds that grade to detrital deposits towards the more subsident southern areas. The main facies are autochthonous and allochthonous limestones and detrital deposits. The autochthonous limestones include the carbonate pinnacles, which are about 4 m high and 0.5 m in diameter and coalesce laterally to form very continuous beds (several kms). The pinnacles are formed by plate-like, dome, vertically elongated and irregular horizontal bioherms, most of them with radial structure. The bioherms are boundstones of fibrous (fans and spherulites) and feather calcite crystals, micrite and inequigranular calcite mosaics. Both biogenic and abiogenic processes interfered in carbonate precipitation. Allochthonous limestones include peloidal, ostracod and intraclastic limestones, some containing coated grains. Polymictic conglomerates and cross-bedded hybrid arenites deposited in a fluvial-deltaic system located at the southwest of the basin. δ13C values vary between −0.4 and −3.2‰ VPDB and δ18O are comprised between −5.7 and −8.6‰ VPDB. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios range between 0.7061 and 0.7056. The Carinao Formation deposited in a fresh-water lake, sourced by meteoric and deep-groundwater. Tectonics was a main control determining the configuration of the lake system, the water supply and the alignment of some bioherms. The vertical succession or the different bioherms morphologies reflects well the lake level changes controlled by both tectonic and climate.Fil: Alonso Zarza, Ana María. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Cabaleri, Nora Graciela. 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: Huerta, Pedro. Universidad de Salamanca; EspañaFil: Armella, Claudia. 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: Rodríguez Berriguete, Álvaro. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil. Universidad Complutense de Madrid; EspañaFil: Monferran, Mateo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Gallego, Oscar Florencio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Ubaldon, María Cecilia. 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: Silva Nieto, Diego Gonzalo. Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino. Instituto de Geología y Recursos Minerales. Dirección de Geología Regional; Argentin