Castillo Formation, Venezuela
| Castillo Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Burdigalian (Colhuehuapian-Santacrucian) ~ | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Unit of | Falcón Basin |
| Underlies | Capadare Formation |
| Overlies | Matatere, Misoa, El Paují and Jarillal Formations |
| Thickness | 367 m (1,204 ft) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Argillaceous marl |
| Other | Hardground, gypsum |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 10°33′50″N 69°43′42″W / 10.56389°N 69.72833°W |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 9°36′N 66°42′W / 9.6°N 66.7°W |
| Region | Falcón, Lara |
| Country | Venezuela |
| Extent | From La Mesa to Siquisique |
| Type section | |
| Named by | Wheeler |
| Year defined | 1960 |
Paleogeography of Northern South America, 20 Ma by Ron Blakey | |
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The Castillo Formation is an Early Miocene (Burdigalian, Colhuehuapian to Santacrucian in the SALMA classification) geologic formation in the Falcón Basin of Venezuela. The formation unconformably overlies the Matatere, Misoa, El Paují and Jarillal Formations. The Castillo Formation is overlain by Quaternary alluvium and in places by the Capadare Formation. The formation, deposited in a calm near-shore lagoonal brackish environment, with possibly fluvial influence, has provided a rich assemblage of fossil crocodylians, turtles, giant sloths and various types of fish.