La Amarga Formation


The La Amarga Formation is a geologic formation with outcrops in the Argentine provinces of Río Negro, Neuquén, and Mendoza. It is the oldest Cretaceous terrestrial formation in the Neuquén Basin.
The type locality is La Amarga Arroyo and China Muerta Hill. The La Amarga Formation unconformably overlies the marine Agrio Formation of the Mendoza Group. It is in turn overlain by the Lohan Cura Formation, separated by another unconformity.

Composition

There are three members within the La Amarga Formation.
  1. The oldest is the Puesto Antigual Member, which is approximately thick and consists mainly of sandstone deposited in the channels of a braided river system. Paleosols, or soil deposits, are well-developed.
  2. The Bañados de Caichigüe Member is the next highest, approximately thick. Alternating limestones, shales, and siltstones make up this member, indicating a lacustrine environment.
  3. Youngest and thickest is the Piedra Parada Member, approximately thick in some sections. This member consists of alternating sandstones and siltstones from an ancient alluvial plain, with some swamp and paleosol deposits.

    Fossil content

Most of the tetrapod fossils found in the La Amarga come from the Puesto Antigual Member, including:

Other tetrapods