The record of the Varanger glaciation at the Río De La Plata Craton, Vendian-Cambrian of Uruguay

• Main Authors: Pazos, P.J., Sánchez-Bettucci, L., Tofalo, O.R.
• Format: Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Subjects: Glaciation; Neoproterozoic; South America; Varanger; Vendian; Cambrian; depositional environment; facies analysis; paleoclimate; Proterozoic; sedimentary sequence; Playa Verde Basin; Rio de la Plata Craton; Uruguay
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12110/paper_1342937X_v6_n1_p65_Pazos

A sedimentary succession included in the lower section of the Playa Hermosa Formation from the Playa Verde Basin, Uruguay, is described. Two facies associations, one mainly coarse- to medium-grained and other one fine-grained, have been defined (FA I-II). In the first one, breccias, conglomerates, sandstones and minor mudstones were deposited in a subaqueous depositional setting (proximal) suggesting slope instability and resedimentation processes. The second one contains diamictites, rhythmites, sandstones and mudstones and presents abundant evidence of soft-deformation, also interpreted to be deposited in a subaqueous environment (distal). Dropstones, clast layers, diamictites, rhythmites and varve-like deposits are interpreted as ice rafting processes generated during a glacial episode. This glacial-related succession constitutes the first record from the Varanger glaciation at the Río de la Plata Craton of the late Neoproterozoic age and also represents one of the oldest sedimentary records after the collision of the Río de la Plata and Kalahari Cratons. A combined interaction of extensional faulting and glaciation in a tectonically active basin with locally high subsidence rates, resulted in high rates of sedimentation and resedimentation processes. As a whole, the sedimentary succession sets a relevant datum to be used in future paleogeographic reconstructions of the Vendian glacial record in southern South America.