Neuquén Group

Description

Deposits have been located in the provinces of Río Negro, Neuquén, and Mendoza. Although several different types of environments are represented in various sections of the Neuquén Group, the dominant regime is alluvial deposition. Many dinosaur and other fossil types have been discovered in these sediments.

Subdivision

There are seven formations within the Neuquén Group. These are divided into three subgroups named after major rivers in the area. In some works, the subgroups themselves are treated as formations and what usually is considered to be the formations as mere members of these. However, particularly in the Río Limay Subgroup, the formations are clearly composed of very distinct rock layers.

Neuquén Group strata, ordered from youngest to oldest

• Río Colorado Subgroup (Santonian to early Campanian)
  • Anacleto Formation (early Campanian)
  • Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Santonian)
• Río Neuquén Subgroup (late Turonian to Coniacian)
  • Plottier Formation (late Coniacian ?to early Santonian)
  • Sierra Barrosa Formation (middle Coniacian)
  • Los Bastos Formation (early Coniacian)
  • Portezuelo Formation (late Turonian to earliest Coniacian)
  • Cerro Lisandro Formation (middle Turonian)
• Río Limay Subgroup (Cenomanian to early Turonian)
  • Lisandro Formation (middle to late Turonian)
  • Huincul Formation (late Cenomanian to early Turonian)
  • Candeleros Formation (early Cenomanian)

South of Añelo, on the road between Lake Los Barreales and the Neuquén River are views on the successively younger formations, starting with the Lisandro Formation to the northwest of Lake Los Barreales, and finally crossing the Anacleto Formation about 35 kilometres (22 mi) down the road near the eastern tip of the lake. The older strata are exposed south of Lake Los Barreales.