The Lipeón Formation is a Telychian to Pridoli geologic formation of southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. The formation comprises sandstones and siltstones. Plant fossils comprising rhyniophytes (specifically Aberlemnia, Steganotheca, Tarrantia, Hostinella and Cooksonia) are scattered throughout, with some abundant concentrations on micaceous bedding plains. The fossil flora is the oldest of South America. Also present were quite diverse small, irregularly branching fragments possibly the tips of algae such as Buthotrephis or Hungerfordia.

Correlations

The Lipeón Formation is laterally equivalent to the Kirusillas Formation. The formation is a potential source rock for shale oil and shale gas.

Fossil content

The formation has provided the following fossils:

Flora

See also

Bibliography

  • Edwards, Dianne; Cherns, Lesley; Raven, A.J. (2015), (PDF), Palaeontology, 58 (5): 803–837, doi:
  • Veizaga Saavedra, Juan G.; Poiré, Daniel G.; Vergani, Gustavo D.; Salfity, José A. (2014), , IX Congreso de Exploración y Desarrollo de Hidrocarburos, pp. 93–115
  • Kjellesvig-Waering, Erik N (1973), "A new Silurian Slimonia (Eurypterida) from Bolivia", Journal of Paleontology, 47 (3): 549–550

Further reading

  • Plotnick, R. E (1999), Habitat of Llandoverian-Lochkovian eurypterids, in A. J. Boucot, J. D. Lawson (eds.), Paleocommunities - a case study from the Silurian and Lower Devonian, pp. 106–136
  • B. Petriella and R. Suarez Soruco. 1989. Presencia de plantas terrestres, probablemente vosculares, en las formaciones Kirusillas y Tarabuco (Lampayano-Silurico Superior) de Bolivia. Revista Tecnica de YPFB 10:119-121
  • C. J. Fischer. 1969. Deux bellerophontacées nouveaux de Bolive. Bulletin de Societé géologique, France 7:605-608