El Peñón Formation

The El Peñón Formation (Spanish: Formación El Peñón, Kipe) is a geological formation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. The formation consists of calcareous shales and siltstones and dates to the Early Cretaceous period; Late Aptian epoch and has a measured thickness at its type section of 381 metres (1,250 ft). Ammonite fossils have been found in the formation, deposited in a shallow marine platform environment.

El Peñón Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Aptian
~
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofVilleta Group
UnderliesCapotes Formation
OverliesTrincheras Formation
Thicknessmore than 381 m (1,250 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryCalcareous shale
OtherSiltstone, gypsum
Location
Coordinates5°15′13″N 74°20′28″W
RegionAltiplano Cundiboyacense
Eastern Ranges, Andes
Country Colombia
Type section
Named forEl Peñón
Named byUlloa
LocationEl Peñón
Year defined1982
Coordinates5°15′13″N 74°20′28″W
RegionCundinamarca
Country Colombia
Thickness at type section381 m (1,250 ft)

Paleogeography of Northern South America
120 Ma, by Ron Blakey

Etymology

The formation was defined and named in 1982 by Ulloa after El Peñón, Cundinamarca.[1]

Description

Lithologies

The El Peñón Formation has at is type section a thickness of 381 metres (1,250 ft),[2] and is characterised by a sequence of calcareous shales and siltstones. The middle part of the sequence contains gypsum.[3] Fossils of the ammonites Cheloniceras sp. and Epicheloniceras sp. aff. carlosacostai have been found in the El Peñón Formation.[1]

Stratigraphy and depositional environment

The El Peñón Formation, part of the Villeta Group, conformably overlies the Trincheras Formation and is conformably overlain by the Capotes Formation.[4] The age has been estimated to be Late Aptian.[1] Stratigraphically, the formation is time equivalent with the Tablazo Formation and a lateral facies equivalent of the Socotá Formation.[5] The formation has been deposited in a shallow marine platform environment.[1] In the Late Aptian, central Colombia was dominated by shallow marine carbonate platform environments.[6]

Outcrops

El Peñón Formation is located in the Altiplano Cundiboyacense
El Peñón Formation
Type locality of the El Peñón Formation to the west of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense

The El Peñón Formation, restricted to Cundinamarca, is locally found around its type locality,[1] between Bituima and Guayabal de Síquima,[7] and along the road from Villeta to Sasaima.[2]

Regional correlations

Cretaceous stratigraphy of the central Colombian Eastern Ranges
AgePaleomapVMMGuaduas-VélezW Emerald BeltVilleta anticlinalChiquinquirá-
Arcabuco
Tunja-
Duitama
Altiplano CundiboyacenseEl Cocuy
MaastrichtianUmirCórdobaSecaerodedGuaduasColón-Mito Juan
UmirGuadalupe
CampanianCórdoba
Oliní
SantonianLa LunaCimarrona - La TablaLa Luna
ConiacianOliníVilletaConejoChipaque
GüagüaquíLoma GordaundefinedLa Frontera
TuronianHonditaLa FronteraOtanche
CenomanianSimitíhiatusLa CoronaSimijacaCapacho
Pacho Fm.Hiló - PachoChuruvitaUneAguardiente
AlbianHilóChiquinquiráTibasosaUne
TablazoTablazoCapotes - La Palma - SimitíSimitíTibú-Mercedes
AptianCapotesSocotá - El PeñónPajaFómeque
PajaPajaEl PeñónTrincherasRío Negro
La Naveta
Barremian
HauterivianMuzoCáquezaLas Juntas
RosablancaRitoque
ValanginianRitoqueFuratenaÚtica - MurcaRosablancahiatusMacanal
Rosablanca
BerriasianCumbreCumbreLos MediosGuavio
TamborArcabucoCumbre
Sources

See also

Geology of the Eastern Hills
Geology of the Ocetá Páramo
Geology of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense

References

  1. Acosta & Ulloa, 2002, p.42
  2. Acosta & Ulloa, 2001, p.27
  3. Acosta & Ulloa, 2001, p.29
  4. Acosta & Ulloa, 2001, p.30
  5. Acosta & Ulloa, 2001, p.16
  6. Villamil, 2012, p.164
  7. Plancha 227, 1998

Bibliography

Maps

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