Talacasto Formation
Geological formation
PeriodDevonian
AgeDevonian
NamedbyPadula et al
Year ts1967
Region
CountryArgentina
UnitofGualilán Group
Thickness300–1,000 m (980–3,280 ft)
ExtentPrecordillera Basin

The Talacasto Formation is a geological formation in Argentina, exposed primarily across San Juan Province, with an additional outcrop in La Rioja Province. It preserves fossils dating back to the Devonian period.

Description

The Talacasto Formation is exposed in the Precordillera Basin of Argentina, with outcrops most widespread in San Juan Province, though an isolated exposure also exists at Sierra de las Minitas in La Rioja Province.[1][2] Along with the Punta Negra Formation, it makes up the Gualilán Group, which represent Devonian-aged deposits in the Argentine Precordillera.[3] The thickness of the Talacasto Formation varies across its extent; at the type locality of Quebrada de Talacasto in the south it is 300 m (980 ft) thick, while at the Loma de los Piojos section near the Jáchal River in the north it exceeds 1,000 m (3,300 ft) in thickness.[1]

Fossil content

Bivalves

Bivalves reported from the Talacasto Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Actinopteria[4]A. eschwegeiLoma de los PiojosAbout 20 specimensA pterineid
A. modestaLoma de los PiojosSeveral specimensA pterineid
Anthracoleda[4]A. (Pseudoleda) minuta
  • Cerro del Fuerte
  • Loma de los Piojos
Several specimensA nuculanid
Deceptrix[4]D. (Devonodeceptrix) jachalensisLoma de los PiojosSeveral specimensA cardiolariid
Glossites[4]G. cf. G. depressusLoma de los Piojos2 specimensA modiomorphid
Grammysioidea[4]G. capricornusLoma de los Piojos5 specimensA grammysiid
Nuculites[4]N. argentinum
  • Cerro del Fuerte
  • Loma de los Piojos
Numerous specimensA cucullellid
Nuculoidea[4]N.? sp.Cerro del Fuerte4 specimensA nuculid
Palaeoneilo[4]P. cf. P. forbesiLoma de los Piojos5 internal mouldsA malletiid
Pholadella[4]P. radiataLoma de los Piojos7 specimensA sanguinolitid

Brachiopods

Brachiopods reported from the Talacasto Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Anoplia[5][6]A. azucenaePortezuelo del TambolarOver 70 specimensAn anopliid
A. sp. ARío Talacasto6 specimensAn anopliid
A. sp.Los Algarrobos sectionAn anopliid
Athyris[6]A. sp.Los Algarrobos sectionAn athyridid
Australostrophia[5]A. penoensis
  • Loma de los Piojos
  • Cerro del Fuerte
  • Agua del Peñón
Numerous specimensA strophochonetid
Boucotia[7]B. argentina
  • Loma de los Piojos
  • Portezuelo del Tambolar
3 isolated valvesA notanopliid
Chonostrophia[5][8]C. elenaeLoma de los PiojosSeveral specimensA chonostrophiid
C. reversa var. andinaQuebrada de TalacastoSeveral specimensTentatively reclassified as a species of Sanjuanetes[9]
Eoschucertella[10]E. delicataQuebrada ZerinaNumerous specimensAn areostrophiid
Iridistrophia[10]I. aliciaeCerro del FuerteNumerous specimensA chilidiopsid
I. dominansLoma de los PiojosNumerous specimensA chilidiopsid
I. magnaCordón de Agua de PeñónNumerous specimensA chilidiopsid
I. primaQuebrada La CortaderaNumerous specimensA chilidiopsid
Kentronetes[5]K. giolittiiQuebrada Las Loras6 valvesA strophochonetid
K. ortegaeLoma de los PiojosNumerous specimensA strophochonetid
K. vallensisLoma de los Piojos31 specimensA strophochonetid
K. variabilis
  • Portezuelo del Tambolar
  • Poblete Sur
  • Quebrada del río Talacasto
  • Quebrada del Chañar (Cerro La Chilca)
  • Loma de los Piojos
32 valvesA strophochonetid
Lingula[6]L. sp.Los Algarrobos sectionA lingulid
Lomaella[5]L. primorisLoma de los Piojos9 specimensAn eodevonariid
L. sanjuaninaLoma de los PiojosSeveral specimensAn eodevonariid
Meristella[6]M. sp.Los Algarrobos sectionA meristellid
Metaplasia[6]M. baldisiLos Algarrobos sectionAn ambocoeliid
Pleurochonetes[5]?P. sp.Loma de los Piojos32 specimensA chonetid
Plicanoplia[5]P. sp.Loma de los Piojos5 specimensAn anopliid
Sanjuanetes[5][6][8]?S. andina
  • Quebrada de Talacasto
  • Los Algarrobos section
Several specimensA strophochonetid, originally reported as Chonostrophia reversa var. andina[9]

Cephalopods

Cephalopods reported from the Talacasto Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Bactrites[1]B. gracilis
  • Quebrada de Talacasto
  • Below Keidel's Bed
18 specimensA bactritid
B. sp.
  • Quebrada de Talacasto
  • Sierra de las Minitas
5 specimensA bactritid
Devonobactrites[1]D.? sp.Loma de los Piojos section2 specimensA bactritid

Corals

Corals reported from the Talacasto Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Enterolasma[6]E. sp.Cerro del Fuerte sectionFragments & complete specimensA horn coral
Favosites[6]F.? sp.Cerro del Fuerte section1 colonyA tabulate coral
Parastriatopora[6][11]P. cf. giganteaTambolar section6 small branch fragmentsA tabulate coral
P. sanjuaninaLos Algarrobos sectionA tabulate coral
P. sp.Los Algarrobos sectionA tabulate coral

Echinoderms

Echinoderms reported from the Talacasto Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Argentinaster[12]A. bodenbenderiJachalSeveral specimensAn ophiurinid brittle star
Crinoidea indet.[6]IndeterminateLos Algarrobos sectionA crinoid
Furcaster[12]F. separatusJachalMultiple specimensA protasterid brittle star
Marginix[12]M. yachalensisJachalSeveral specimensAn encrinasterid brittle star
Promopalaeaster[12]P.? quadriserialisJachalSeveral specimensA valvatid starfish

Hyoliths

Hyoliths reported from the Talacasto Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Hyolithida indet.[6]IndeterminateLos Algarrobos sectionA hyolithid

Ostracods

Ostracods reported from the Talacasto Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Aechmina[13]A. sp.Talacasto Creek6 specimensA member of Podocopa
Amphizona[13]A.? argentinensis
  • Portezuelo del Tambolar
  • Talacasto Creek
  • Poblete Sur
  • Las Tunas
23 specimensA member of Podocopa
Bollia[13]B. talacastensis
  • Talacasto Creek
  • Poblete Sur
20 specimensA member of Podocopa
Keslingiella[13]K. teresae
  • Los Algarrobos
  • Talacasto Creek
  • Poblete Sur
  • La Chilcas
  • Las Tunas
Several specimensA member of Podocopida
Lapazites[13]L. aff. L. trinodis
  • Portezuelo del Tambolar
  • La Cortadera
  • Poblete Sur
  • La Chilca
12 specimensA member of Podocopa
Petrisigmoopsis[13]P.? rotundum
  • Talacasto Creek
  • La Chilca
Several specimensA member of Podocopa
Pircawayra[13][14]P. antiqua
  • Portezuelo del Tambolar
  • La Cortadera Creek
  • La Chilca
  • Las Aguaditas Creek
5 specimensA member of Palaeocopida
P. peregrinaLoma de los PiojosSeveral specimensA member of Palaeocopida
Suinella[13]S. huarpesi
  • Portezuelo del Tambolar
  • Talacasto Creek
  • Poblete Sur
Several specimensA member of Podocopa
Thlipsurella[13]T. aff. T. putea
  • Los Algarrobos
  • Talacasto Creek
  • Poblete Sur
  • Las Tunas
33 specimensA member of Podocopida
Ulrichia[13]U. sp.
  • Talacasto Creek
  • Poblete Sur
  • La Chilca
7 specimensA member of Podocopa

Sponges

Sponges reported from the Talacasto Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Talacastospongia[15]T. minima
  • Talacasto section
  • Los Algarrobos
  • Las Aguaditas
13 specimensA glass sponge

Trilobites

Trilobites reported from the Talacasto Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Aguaditaspis[16]A. mediaspina
  • Quebrada de las Aguaditas
  • Sierra de las Minitas
Several specimensA dalmanitid
Bainella[17]B. cooperiCerro La Chilca6 specimensA calmoniid
B. sanjuaninaCerro La Chilca8 specimensA calmoniid
Calmonia[17]C. nov. sp. ALoma de los PiojosAn internal mould (CORD PZ 8613)A calmoniid
Dalmanitoides[18]D. boehmiLoma de los PiojosSeveral specimensA dalmanitid
D. drevermanni
  • Loma de los Piojos
  • Cerro La Chilca
Several specimensA dalmanitid
Dalmanitidae indet.[6][16]Gen. et. sp. nov.Quebrada de las AguaditasOne specimen (CEGH-UNC 27422)An unnamed dalmanitid
IndeterminateLos Algarrobos sectionA dalmanitid
Dalmanitinae gen. et. sp. indet.[2]IndeterminateSierra de las MinitasFragmentary pygidium (PULR-132 A-B)A dalmanitid
Deltacephalaspis[17]D. sp.Cerro La Chilca2 specimensA calmoniid
Echidnops[2][19]E. taphomimus
  • Quebrada de Las Aguaditas
  • Sierra de Los Blaquitos
  • Sierra de las Minitas
12 specimensA phacopid, originally reported as an unnamed species of Paciphacops
Ivanites[16]I. leonorae
  • Quebrada de Las Aguaditas
  • Quebrada de Talacasto
  • Loma de los Piojos
Several specimensA dalmanitid
Maurotarion[6][20][21]M. (Malvinotarion) gauchoLoma de los Piojos10 specimensAn aulacopleurid
M. (Malvinotarion) haudeiLoma de los Piojos2 specimensAn aulacopleurid
M. (Malvinotarion) talacastoenseLa Cantera point5 specimensAn aulacopleurid
M. (Malvinotarion) sp.Portezuelo del TambolarOne specimen (CEGH-UNC 7.086)An aulacopleurid
M. (Malvinotarion) sp. BCerro La ChilcaOne specimenAn aulacopleurid
M. megacephalumLoma de los Piojos23 specimensAn aulacopleurid
M. sp.Los Algarrobos sectionAn aulacopleurid
Paciphacops[2][6]P. (Paciphacops) sp.Sierra de las MinitasSeveral specimensNow known as Echidnops taphomimus[19]
P. sp.Los Algarrobos sectionA phacopid
P.? sp.Sierra de las MinitasOne specimen (PULR-127 A-B)A phacopid
Parabouleia[6][22]P. eldredgeiQuebrada de Talacasto9 specimensA calmoniid
P. sp.Los Algarrobos sectionA calmoniid
Talacastops[2][22]T. zarelae
  • Quebrada de Las Aguaditas
  • Sierra de las Minitas
Multiple specimensA calmoniid
Tarijactinoides[17]T. jarcasensis
  • Cerro La Chilca
  • Loma de los Piojos
13 specimensA calmoniid
Tormesiscus[2]T. cf. hildaeSierra de las MinitasPartial specimen (PULR-130)A calmoniid
Unguliproetus[2]U.? sp.Sierra de las MinitasTwo associated fragmentsA proetid

References

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  2. ^ Rustán, Juan J.; Vaccari, N. Emilio; Astini, Ricardo A. (June 2011). "Early Devonian Trilobites from the Sierra De Las Minitas, Northernmost Precordillera (La Rioja Province), Argentina". Ameghiniana. 48 (2): 226–241. doi:10.5710/AMGH.v48i1(335). hdl:11336/53580. ISSN 0002-7014
  3. ^ García Muro, Victoria J.; Rubinstein, Claudia V.; Rustán, Juan J.; Steemans, Philippe (2018-10-01). "Palynomorphs from the Devonian Talacasto and Punta Negra Formations, Argentinean Precordillera: New biostratigraphic approach". Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 86: 110–126. Bibcode:2018JSAES..86..110G. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2018.06.009. hdl:11336/87283. ISSN 0895-9811
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  22. ^ Edgecombe, Gregory D.; Vaccari, Norberto E.; Waisfeld, Beatriz G. (July 1994). "Lower Devonian calmoniid trilobites from the Argentine Precordillera: new taxa of the Bouleia Group, and remarks on the tempo of calmoniid radiation". Geological Magazine. 131 (4): 449–464. Bibcode:1994GeoM..131..449E. doi:10.1017/S0016756800012097. ISSN 1469-5081