The Deseado Formation of PatagoniaLoomis, Frederic Brewster
Science
The Deseado Formation of Patagonia
Loomis, Frederic Brewster
Paleontology -- Patagonia (Argentina and Chile)
Layer 7, consisting of coarser sandstones, was at the point of the
section, simply filled with a vast quantity of fossil wood, most of
it agatized, though some was carbonized, and representing some eight
species, mostly pines and palms, the latter much scarcer. The tree
trunks, hundreds in number, lay scattered in all directions; but all
were lying horizontal, and there was no indication of stumps in place;
so I consider that the wood was driftwood. It is common in the series
of beds of this general horizon along the Gulf of St. George. In the
other layers up to the Patagonian we found no fossils. The contact with
the Patagonian was unconformable, in some places being 50 feet higher
than in others near by.
In section A the typical Salamanca is below sea level, and the lower
parts of the section are made up of the white sandy clay shales,
so typical all along the Gulf of St. George. In the midst of these
clays at the level indicated as 2 occurred a layer of concretions.
On breaking these we found two specimens of Nautilus valencienni H.,
clear evidence that they were of marine origin. Layer 5 was filled
with hundreds of the very characteristic oyster, described as Ostrea
(Gryphaea) pyrotheriorum. Though in earlier papers suggesting that O.
pyrotheriorum represented a horizon of marine sediments corresponding
in age to the Deseado (= Pyrotherium) formation, in his Formations
Sedimentaires, Ameghino places this fossil in the Salamanca fauna,
though it here occurs at least 275 feet above the typical Salamanca
fauna. I believe the layer should be distinguished. It is later than
the typical Salamanca, though belonging to the same transgression of
the sea over Patagonia. In layer 7 we found still another marine fauna
consisting of
Ostrea guarantica H.
Venericardia sp.
Corbula sp.
Aporrhais.
Patomides.
Oxyrhinca.
Milobates.
Fragments of the limbs of a crab in abundance.
This seems to be the same fauna as that described by Ameghino as the
Sehuen developed on the Rio Sehuen.
In layer 8 we found large quantities of gypsum, occurring mostly in
balls of radiate structure. Layer 11 was a coarse green sand, and in
it we found some fragments of some sort of a bone. I think this layer
is what Ameghino designated as a Deseado exposure; and it has the same
general appearance and color which is found in the green sands of the
Deseado pocket on the Rio Chico. However it is conformable interbedded
with the underlying and overlying marine beds and I consider it a part
of the marine series. Above it come more white sandy clays that are
characteristic of the most of the section.
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