Cola de Zorro Formation
Stratigraphic range: Pliocene–Early Pleistocene
UnderliesQuaternary Andean volcanoes
Lithology
PrimaryVolcaniclastic rocks
Location
Coordinates38°00′S 71°36′W / 38.0°S 71.6°W / -38.0; -71.6
RegionAraucanía, Bío-Bío & Maule Regions
Neuquén Province
CountryChile
Argentina
Type section
Named bySuárez & Emparan
Year defined1997
Cola de Zorro Formation is located in Chile
Cola de Zorro Formation
Cola de Zorro Formation (Chile)

Cola de Zorro Formation (Spanish: Formación Cola de Zorro) is a geological formation cropping out along the Argentina-Chile border and composed of volcano-sedimentary and volcaniclastic rocks. It extends along the Andes between the latitudes of 36 and 39° S.

Description

The formation overlies across an angular unconformity older sedimentary rocks of continental origin as well as dykes and plutons that intruded these sediments. The unconformity has an irregular form attesting to a topography that was flattened out by the deposition of the Cola de Zorro sediments. Cola de Zorro Formation was deposited in Pliocene and Pleistocene times. The formation interdigitates with lavas of old and eroded volcanoes. Lavas of modern volcanoes, like Antuco, unconformably overlies the formations and dykes associated to modern volcanoes intrude it. In some localities the formation is covered by moraines.

The Cola de Zorro Formation is largely undeformed except from some minor tilting caused by block tectonics. The strata of Cola de Zorro Formation are sub-horizontal. The formation is dissected by fluvial and glacial erosion.[1] The formation is made up of tuff, volcanic breccia and volcanic agglomerate. The lavas are made up of andesite, trachyandesite, trachyte, basaltic andesite and basalt. Volcanic rocks of Cola de Zorro Formation belong to two magma series. Most volcanic rocks are part of a calc-alkaline magma series. Trachyandesites and trachytes of the Pino Hachado and Pichachén areas are alkaline.[1]

The southwestern fringes of Cola de Zorro Formation were redefined in 1997 as being part of Malleco Formation by geologists Manuel Suárez and Carlos Emparan.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 Vergara M., Mario; Muñoz B., Jorge (1982). "La formación Cola de Zorro en la Alta Cordillera Andina Chilena (36°-39° lat. S), sus características petrográficas y petrológicas: Una revision". Revista Geológica de Chile (in Spanish) (17): 31–46.
  2. ↑ Folguera, Andrés; Ramos, Víctor A.; Melnick, Daniel (2002). "Partición de la deformación en la zona del arco volcánico de los Andes neuquinos (36-39°S) en los últimos 30 millones de años, (2)". Revista Geológica de Chile (in Spanish) (29): 151–165.
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