New environmental perspectives on the Jurassic Cuyo and Lotena groups, Neuquén Basin, Argentina, based on a multi-proxy approach

Abstract

With the main goal of reconstructing the environmental conditions of the Cuyo and Lotena groupsduring the Middle Jurassic period in the south of the Huincul Arch (central western Argentina), a multi-proxy approach, considering pollen, spores, algae, fungal remains, palynofacies, molluscs, ichnology, X-Ray diffraction, and petrographic and lithological analyses, was carried out. This work suggests a lacustrine environment for the Challacó Formation, shallow marine conditions influenced by strong fluvial discharges for the Lajas, Bosque Petrificado and Lotena formations, and an age no older than latest Early Bajocian for the uppermost part of the Lajas Formation.