Advances on silurian-devonian conodont biostratigraphy in the central precordillera, Argentina

Abstract

The first mention of Silurian conodonts in the Precordillera was provided by Hünicken (1975). Then, Hünicken & Sarmiento (1988) recorded the Polygnathoides siluricus Zone and the basal part of the Pedavis latialata Zone from Los Espejos Formation at Sierra de Talacasto, defining the middle and upper Ludlow. Lehnert et al. (1999) described a Llandovery conodont association from La Chilca Formation at Cerro del Fuerte, this association represents the Distomodus kentuckyensis Zone. After that, Albanesi et al. (2006) recorded conodonts indicative of the Kockelella v. variabilis Zone at Sierra de Talacasto. Heredia et al. (2007) defined the conodont biostratigraphy of the Los Espejos Formation at Cerro del Fuerte locality. On the other hand, Mestre (2009) retrieved Pridoli conodont assemblages from the Tambolar (Facies Pachaco) Formation. The first biostratigraphical chart of Silurian Precordilleran conodonts was proposed by Heredia et al. (2010).Gómez (2015) and Garcías (2016) carried out detailed biostratigraphical studies on Silurian conodonts from the Los Espejos Formation at Ancha and Poblete creeks, Talacasto region. These studies are used as a baseline for proposing a new conodont biostratigraphical chart for the Silurian-lower Devonian of the Precordillera, adding former information from several sections already published.