Salta Basin

Salta Basin or Salta Rift Basin is a sedimentary basin located in the Argentine Northwest.[1][2] The basin started to accumulate sediments in the Early Cretaceous (Neocomian) and at present it has sedimentary deposits reaching thicknesses of 5,000 metres (16,000 ft). The basin contains seven sub-basins: Tres Cruces, Lomas de Olmedo, Metán, Alemanía, Salfity, El Rey, Sey and Brealito. The basin environment has variously been described as a "foreland rift" and an "intra-continental rift". The basin developed under conditions of extensional tectonics and rift-associated volcanism.[1]

Salta Basin
Cuenca Salta
Map showing the location of Salta Basin
Map showing the location of Salta Basin
Location of the basin in Argentina
Coordinates23°40′S 66°07′W
EtymologySalta Province
RegionArgentine Northwest
Country Argentina
 Bolivia
 Chile
State(s)Salta, Jujuy, Tucumán
Potosí
Antofagasta
CitiesSalta
Characteristics
On/OffshoreOnshore
BoundariesAndes
Part ofAndean foreland basins
Geology
Basin typeForeland-on-rift basin or
intracontinental rift basin
PlateSouth American
OrogenyAndean
AgeNeocomian-Neogene
StratigraphyStratigraphy

Description

The basin basement is composed of rocks belonging to the Puncoviscana Formation.[2] The volcanism that began in the Late Jurassic was initially of subalkaline character (low sodium and potassium content), but turned increasingly alkaline in the Early Cretaceous.[1]

The rifts of Salta Basin developed in a time of generalized extensional tectonics along western South America.[3] It has been proposed that the Salar de Atacama depression in Chile was once a westward rift arm of the Salta Basin.[4]

Stratigraphy
AgeGroupSubgroupFormationLithologiesBasin stageNotes
PliocenePayogastillaSan FelipeConglomeratesForeland[5]
HuayquerianJujuyPiquete[6][7]
HuayquerianGuanaco Sonso[8]
MontehermosanPalo Pintado[9]
Chasicoan
LaventanAngastaco[10][11]
Friasian
FriasianMetánJesús María[11]
FriasianAnta[11]
Early MioceneRío Seco[11]
PriabonianLos Colorados[11]
CasamayoranQuebrada de los Colorados[10]
SaltaSanta BárbaraLumbreraLate post-rift[12][13]
Lutetian
ItaboraianMaíz Gordo[12][14]
Thanetian
PeligranMeallaSandstones, siltstones, conglomerates, paleosols[12][15]
SelandianBalbuenaTunalEarly post-rift[12]
DanianOlmedo[12]
YacoraiteSandstones, limestones[12]
Maastrichtian
early MaastrichtianLechoSandstones[12]
CampanianPirguaLos BlanquitosSandstonesLate synrift[12]
Las CurtiembresEarly synrift[12]
Santonian
Coniacian
Turonian
CenomanianIsonzaBasalt[12]
AlbianLa Yesera[12]
Aptian

References
  1. Marquillas et al., 2005
  2. Grier et al., 1991
  3. Ramos, 2009
  4. Reutter et al., 2006
  5. Galli et al., 2019, p.380
  6. González & Abascal, 2012
  7. Galli et al., 2019, p.369
  8. López Rodríguez, 2018
  9. Galli et al., 2011
  10. Del Papa et al., 2013
  11. Galli & Hernández, 1999, p.171
  12. Marquillas et al., 2005, p.96
  13. Del Papa, 2006
  14. Narváez, 2009
  15. Sánchez & Marquillas, 2010

Bibliography
General
Guanaco Sonso Formation
Lumbrera Formation
Maíz Gordo Formation
Mealla Formation
Palo Pintado Formation
Piquete Formation
Quebrada de Los Colorados Formation

Further reading
  • Moreno, Teresa, and Wes Gibbons. 2006. Geology of Chile, 1–396. Geological Society of London. Accessed 2018-09-06. ISBN 9781862392199
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