Research
Geology Background
Neuquén Basin started to form in Late Triassic to Late Jurassic during the crustal extension and formation of rifts systems and latter in Late-Mid Jurassic the basin undergo the thermal subsidence (Vergani et al., 2005).
The Los Molles Formation, Pliensbachian to Bajocian in age, was interpreted as deep water deposits (Gulisano et al., 1984, Howell et al., 2005, Paim et al., 2008).
The Las Lajas Formation, Toarcian to Bajocian in age, was interpreted as shallow water (delta and shoreface) deposits .
The Challaco Formation, Aalenian to Bajocian in age, was interpreted as fluvial/ non-marine deposits.
Project Outline
The Neuquén Basin project is based on an ourcrop area approximately 20*10km, and contains exposure of fluvial Challaco Fm in the southeast, through the shelf Lajas Fm, to slope and basin oor Los Molles Fm covering the majority of the northwest half of the study area. Multiple clinoforms are exposed along strike and dip direction, thus offering a rare chance to look at slope channel evolution along strike and dip, and across clinoforms.
The area of interest is roughly divided as follows:
Position of the shelf edge and its characteristics, shelf-building and its interaction with fluvial, wave, and tidal influences, and how it respond to allogenic and autogenic controls. Conducted by Ron Steel, Cornel Olariu, and Flavio Almeida.
Slope channel architecture and evolution in space and time. Conducted by Yuqian(Philomena) Gan.
Change in fluvial facies and backwater effects and their responce to stratigraphic T-R cycles in shallow marine Las Lajas and fluvial Challaco Fm. Conducted by Eunsil Jung and Cornel Olariu.
Generation of hyperpycnites and its importance in sand delivery to the continental shelf, even only small river is preseont. Conducted by Elisabeth Steel.
Potential sediment density flow transformation along the entire length of the clinoform. Conducted by Yuqian(Philomena) Gan and Cristian Carjaval.
Characteristics and processes at the channel-lobe transition zone. Conducted by Cristian Carjaval.
Previous Work
Rossi, V. M. and Steel, R. J. (2016), The role of tidal, wave and river currents in the evolution of mixed-energy deltas: Example from the Lajas Formation (Argentina). Sedimentology, 63: 824–864. doi:10.1111/sed.12240
Shin, M., 2015, Architecture of coarse grained (conglomeratic) deep water lobes at the base of a sandstone dominated fan, Jurassic Los Molles Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina. Master of Sciences in Geological Sciences Thesis, The University of Texas at Austin
Tudor, E. P., 2014, Facies variability in deep water channel-to-lobe transition zone: Jurassic Los Molles Formation, Neuquén Basin Argentina. Master of Sciences in Geological Sciences Thesis, The University of Texas at Austin
Vann, N. K., 2013, Slope to basin-floor evolution of channels to lobes, Jurassic Los Molles Formation, Neuquén Basin, Argentina. Master of Sciences in Geological Sciences Thesis, The University of Texas at Austin
References:
Gulisano, C.A.; Gutiérrez Pleimling, A.R.; Digregorio, R.E. 1984. Esquema estratigráfico de la secuencia jurásica del oeste de la provincia del Neuquén. In Congreso Geológico Argentino, No. 9, Actas 1: 236- 259. Bariloche.
Howell, John A. et al., The Neuquén Basin: an overview. Geological Society, London, Special Publications(2005), 252 (1):1 http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/GSL.SP.2005.252.01.01
Paim, P.S.G., et al., 2008, High resolution stratigraphy and gravity flow deposits in the Los Molles Formation (Cuyo Group – Jurassic) at La Jardinera region, Neuquén basin, Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina 63 (4): 728 – 753