Early Permian marine carbonate sequences in Antofagasta, northern Chile.

Abstract

The carbonate successions of the Cerro El Árbol and Cerros de Cuevitas formations in the central region of Antofagasta are herein studied. These stratigraphic units are characterized by an invertebrate marine fossil assemblage integrated by brachiopods, bivalves, gastropods, crinoids and bryozoans, in which the brachiopod Kochiproductus Dunbar is the dominant component. This genus, widely known in the Permian sequences of the world, can be considered a key to understand the possible connection between northern Chile and the central western Argentinean basins. Although the fauna studied shows clear affinities with those from Bolivia and Perú, it is notably less diverse and its composition appears to be not exactly equivalent. The taxonomic knowledge reached, indicates that this fauna, particularly brachiopods and bivalves, would represent a mixed-assemblage. From a biostratigraphic perspective, the fauna of northern Chile could be considered intermediate between the oldest Late Carboniferous-Early Permian faunas of central western Argentinian basins and the younger ones from Bolivia and Perú.