Tectonics and Stratigraphy of the Late Paleozoic

Paganzo Basin of Western Argentina and its

Regional Implications

Fernando Fernandez-Seveso Anthony J. Tankard

YPF SA Tankard Enterprises
Buenos Aires, Argentina Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Abstract

T he Carboniferous–Permian Paganzo succession straddles the Pampeanas, Precordillera, and Chilenia

terranes. Late Devonian–Early Carboniferous diastrophism of the Chañic event separated very different
early and late Paleozoic histories of basin formation. The Paganzo basin was initiated in the Visean by reactiva-
tion of old terrane boundaries. The early Paganzo consisted of a suite of discrete fault-controlled depocenters
interpreted as transtensional pull-apart basins linked to right-lateral displacement along major crustal faults.
Younger phases of basin formation were characterized by amalgamation of these various depocenters into a
single broad basin.
The Paganzo succession is divided into four supersequences by major hiatuses. These are the Guandacol,
Tupe, and lower and upper Patquía–De la Cuesta supersequences. Each is constructed by stacked unconfor-
mity-bounded depositional sequences. These four supersequences record the various stages of basin evolution.
The Guandacol sediments were deposited in isolated basins. Fieldwork shows a pattern of rapid subsidence
and stacking of coarse alluvial facies along basin-bounding faults. The characteristics of the finer grained strata
indicate a periglacial influence. The overlying Tupe supersequence suggests a gradual cessation of fault
activity as the various depocenters were yoked together. Tupe stratigraphy onlaps the Guandacol–Tupe
unconformity and buries some of the previous interbasin highs. In Patquía–De la Cuesta time, the Paganzo
basin had widened to its maximum extent. Significant transgressions are recorded in Tupe (Westphalian–
Stephanian) and Patquía–De la Cuesta (Artinskian and Kazanian) stratigraphy. Extensive geochemical studies
show that Patquía source rocks are oil prone. Although indications are that the Paganzo basin is prospective, it
remains largely untested.
Regional studies show that the strike-slip faults that controlled Carboniferous basin development in north-
western Argentina diverge northward where they become involved in the Chaco salient of the Bolivian Andes.
The Tupambi-Tarija and Escarpment sequences of Bolivia are broadly contemporaneous with the Guandacol
and Tupe stratigraphy of the Paganzo basin. They share similar depositional characteristics typical of rapidly
subsiding transtensional basins, including stacked alluvial facies, thick debris flow diamictites, massive soft
sediment deformation, and dewatering structures. The Escarpment Formation represents an expansion of the
earlier Tupambi-Tarija depocenters and contains an anastomosing drainage system.

Resumen

L a sucesión carbonífera-permica de Paganzo se dispone sobre los terrenos de Pampeanas, Precordillera y

Chilenia. La fase Chañica del diastrofismo Devónico tardío-Carbonífero temprano separó las singulares
y diferentes historias de formación de las cuencas del Paleozoico inferior y superior. La cuenca de Paganzo se
inició en el Viseano por reactivación de suturas de antiguos terrenos. El Paganzo temprano consistió de un
conjunto de discretos depocentros controlados por falla, los que se interpretan como cuencas “pull-apart” rela-
cionadas a desplazamientos laterales dextrógiros a lo largo de importantes fallas corticales. Las fases mas
jóvenes de la formación de la cuenca se caracterizaron por la amalgamación de varios depocentros en una sola
cuenca amplificada.
La sucesión estratigráfica de Paganzo es dividida en cuatro supersecuencias segun las principales discor-
dancias reconocidas. Estas fueron denominadas Guandocol, Tupe, y Patquia-De la Cuesta inferior y superior, y
caracterizan dose por el apilamiento estratigráfico de secuencias depositacionales acotadas por discordancias.
Estas cuatro supersecuencias reflejan los varios estadíos de evolución involucrados. Los sedimentos de la
supersecuencia Guandacol fueron depositados en cuencas aisladas, con tasa de subsidencia elevada y acumu-

Fernandez-Seveso, F., and A. J. Tankard, 1995, Tectonics and stratigraphy of the late 285
Paleozoic Paganzo basin of western Argentina and its regional implications, in A. J.
Tankard, R. Suárez S., and H. J. Welsink, Petroleum basins of South America: AAPG
Memoir 62, p. 285–301.
286 Fernandez-Seveso and Tankard

lación de facies aluviales gravitacionales gruesas, a lo largo de márgenes controlados por falla. Los atributos
presentes en los estratos de granulometrías finas indican influencia periglacial. La suprayacente supersecuencia
Tupe sugiere un gradual cese de actividad en las fallas, a partir de que varios depocentros comenzaron a
unirse. Los estratos del Tupe traslapan sobre la discordancia que los separa de la supersecuencia Guandacol y
cubren algunos de los preexistentes altos intracuencales. Para el tiempo Patquía-De la Cuesta, la cuenca de
Paganzo ya había alcanzado su máxima extensión areal. Se registraron significativas transgresiones en los
estratos del Tupe (Westfaliano-Stefaniano) y Patquía-De la Cuesta (Artinskiano, Kazaniano). Numerosos
estudios geoquímicos señalan que la roca madre de Patquía es generadora de petróleo. Aunque la cuenca de
Paganzo presenta evidencias de ser prospectiva, la misma aun se encuentra poco investigada.
Estudios regionales muestran que las fallas de desplazamiento lateral que controlaron las cuencas del
Carbonífero en el noroeste Argentino, divergen hacia el norte donde se involucran en la saliente del Chaco de
los Andes bolivianos. Las secuencias de Tupambi-Tarija y Escarpment son, en sentido amplio, contemporáneas
con la estratigrafía de Guandacol y Tupe de la cuenca de Paganzo. Estas comparten similares características
depositacionales, típicas de cuencas transtensionales de rápida subsidencia, incluyendo acumulación de facies
aluviales, espesas diamictitas de flujos de detritos, deformación en masa de sedimentos, y estructuras de licue-
facción. La Formación Escarpment con un sistema de drenaje anastomosado, representa una expansión de los
preexistentes depocentros del conjunto Tupambi-Tarija.

INTRODUCTION
The Paganzo basin originated in Early Carboniferous
time as a result of intense tectonism that disrupted the
Precambrian granitic and metamorphic basement and its
lower Paleozoic cover (Gordillo and Lencinas, 1979;
Baldis et al., 1982; Caminos, 1985). The basement already
had a marked anisotropy attributed to terrane accretion
and Neoproterozoic–Cambrian diastrophism of the
Brasiliano event (Figure 1) (Ramos et al., 1986; Tankard et
al., 1995). The Paganzo basin of west-central Argentina
covered 145,000 km2 and spanned about 100 m.y. of the
stratigraphic record. About 4500 m of sediments accu-
mulated.
Ramos (1988a) has interpreted the basement of
southern South America as a complex mosaic of cratonic
blocks. The Paganzo basin straddles a large part of the
Pampean terrane in the east and the Precordillera and
Chilenia terranes in the west (Figures 1, 2). Predictably,
this basement framework resulted in a highly segmented
depositional landscape. The western depocenters,
consisting of the Calingasta-Uspallata and Río Blanco
basins (Amos, 1972), are separated from eastern
depocenters by the discontinuous proto-Precordillera
ridge (Amos and Rolleri, 1965; Baldis and Chebli, 1969).
The various depocenters were intermittently connected
across this ridge (Lopez-Gamundi et al., 1989; Milana et
al., 1987). This tectonic setting was linked to subduction
in the Carboniferous (Ramos et al., 1986; Mpodozis and
Ramos, 1989).
The predominantly terrigenous clastic fill of this basin
complex reflects successive episodes of deposition in a
variety of marine and continental environments. The
repeated stacking of these depositional sequences,
intraformational deformation, and the numerous uncon- Figure 1—Relationship between Precambrian–early
Paleozoic terranes (modified after Ramos, 1988a) and
formities of various scales suggest a stratigraphic Phanerozoic basin development. The Paganzo basin spans
response to the basin-forming tectonic processes and to three terranes where their boundaries converge. AA,
sea level fluctuations. Although there may be a structural Arequipa–Antofalla terrane; CH, Chilenia terrane; P,
justification for these depocenters or subbasins, the Pampean terrane; PC, Precordillera terrane; PA, Patagonia
overall continuity of the stratigraphic cover suggests that terrane; RP, Rio de la Plata terrane. White rectangle marks
these depocenters were yoked together for much of their study area.
 Tectonics and Stratigraphy, Late Paleozoic Paganzo Basin of Western Argentina
Figure 2—Present structural framework of Precordillera
fold and thrust belt and Pampean basement, a tilt-block
basin province that has inverted the Carboniferous–
Permian Paganzo basin. Stippled areas are modern
depressions or valleys (bolsones); the curved lines trace
topographic relief and the principal inversion faults. The
broken line shows the extent of amalgamated Paganzo
basin complex. A–B shows regional cross section of
Figure 15. B, Bola Hill; BE, Bermejo lineament; HU, Huaco;
ISCH, Ischigualasto basin; LS, Las Salinas; MA, Malimán;
MAS, Salinas de Mascasin; ML, Mogna–Las Salinas ridge;
MZ, Malanzán; P, Puerta de las Angosturas; PAS, Pasleam
syncline; PP, Protoprecordillera ridge; SA, Sañogasta; SE,
Santiago del Estero; VB, Veladero–Bola hills; VF, Sierra de
Valle Fértil.
history. The easternmost Pampean terrane formed an
area of high relief between the Paganzo and Chaco-
Paraná basins, shedding sediments into both (Alvarez et
al., 1990).
The Paganzo succession consists of large-scale uncon-
formity-bounded supersequences that express the broad-
scale tectonic evolution of the basin and a stacked suite of
smaller scale depositional systems or sequences
(Fernandez-Seveso et al., 1990, 1993). The unconformity-
bounded supersequences form the Guandacol, Tupe,
Patquía, and De la Cuesta formations (Figure 3).
Mapping of these supersequences is based on surface
stratigraphic correlation and seismic interpretation.
287
Figure 3—Stratigraphic column and sequence framework
for the Paganzo succession. Apices of triangles point in
direction of overall sequence fining. Other symbols
indicate the presence of marine fossils or plants.
This paper addresses the stratigraphic history of the
Paganzo basin during the Carboniferous–Permian, a
time when Gondwana was subjected to one of the
world’s great ice ages. The approach involves a detailed
sequence stratigraphic analysis as a guide to the tectonic
evolution of the basin. The intention is to expand on
earlier studies (e.g., Scalabrini-Ortiz, 1973; Vásquez et al.,
1981; Salfity and Gorustovich, 1983; Archangelsky, 1986;
Lopez-Gamundi et al., 1989; Fernandez-Seveso et al.,
1988, 1990, 1993; Perez et al., 1993). Fernandez-Seveso et
al. (1993) provide a more detailed account of the
sequence classification and their correlation. The
Carboniferous Paganzo stratigraphy is compared to its
counterparts in the Eastern Cordillera and sub-Andean
foothills of southern Bolivia.
288 Fernandez-Seveso and Tankard
Figure 4—Reconstruction of Paganzo basin evolution. (A)
Stratigraphic relationships based on stratigraphic sections,
field mapping, and seismic interpretation (Figures 5, 6). (1)
The Visean–Namurian Paganzo basin consisted of discrete
fault-controlled depocenters. Coarse facies of the
Guandacol supersequence are stacked vertically adjacent
to basement-involved faults. (2) The Westphalian–Asselian
Tupe supersequence records progressive amalgamation of
these isolated basins to form a single basin complex with
an irregular floor. (3) The late Asselian–Tatarian Patquía–
De la Cuesta supersequences were deposited in a
uniformly subsiding intracontinental sag when the basin
was widest. (B) Detail of idealized Guandacol sequence
deposited in a pull-apart basin. Each sequence is charac-
terized by stacking of coarse facies against an active
basin-bounding fault. Distal facies include varved lacus-
trine shales with evidence of turbiditic underflows and
turbidites. (Modified after Fernandez-Seveso et al., 1993.)
METHODOLOGY
The study area includes the greater part of the basin
outlined by Salfity and Gorustovich (1983) between
about 27° and 31° S lat (Figure 2), augmented by a few
control points in the Rio Blanco and Calingasta-Uspallata
basins. The data base includes 44 detailed stratigraphic
sections measured in outcrop, which were subsequently
integrated with interpreted reflection seismic profiles. A
conventional sequence stratigraphic analysis was
applied. The aim was to establish the pattern of basin
subsidence on the basis of variations in the nature and
distribution of depositional systems and sedimentary
facies. The ages of the sequences and their bounding
surfaces are based on flora, palynomorphs, microfossils,
and larger marine invertebrates.
Our interpretation of the marine and terrestrial stratig-
raphy of the Paganzo basin emphasizes relative changes
of base level that are believed to encompass the effects
both of relative sea level and basin subsidence. On this
basis, the Carboniferous–Permian stratigraphy in the
Paganzo basin consists of 15 depositional sequences
grouped into four supersequences by regional unconfor-
mities (Figure 3). Because of the nature of tectonism and
basin subsidence, these sequences and supersequences
are not uniform. The supersequences have a 12–34 m.y.
periodicity and thicknesses that range from 600 to
2000 m. In contrast, the depositional sequences have a
periodicity of 3–10 m.y. and a 100–600 m thickness range.
At the smallest scale of investigation, the basic genetic
units (lesser order sequences and parasequences) vary
up to 3 m.y. in duration and 250 m in thickness (Fer-
nandez-Seveso et al., 1993). This Paganzo stratigraphy is
reflected in subsidence curves.
STRATIGRAPHIC SETTING
The overall tectonostratigraphic reconstruction of the
Paganzo basin (Figure 4A) is derived from stratigraphic
relationships, facies characteristics, and seismic interpre-
tation (Figures 5, 6). The Visean-Namurian Guandacol
supersequence (G1–G4 of Figure 4A) is characterized by
an asymmetric basin fill in which coarse facies are
stacked along the margins of the basins. Subsidence was
initially rapid enough to allow stacking of coarse clastics
along the principal basin-forming faults of an extensional
or transtensional system (subsidence rate greater than
sedimentation rate). In contrast, the overlying West-
phalian-Asselian Tupe supersequence (T1–T4 of Figure
4A) had an onlapping relationship that was more wide-
spread, locally blanketing the interbasin highs for the
first time.
Each sequence is characteristically upward fining
from gravel-rich and conglomeratic facies to thinly
laminated shales, indicating a repetition of similar depo-
sitional processes (Figure 4B). Each has a fault-controlled
stratigraphy.
Guandacol Supersequence
The Guandacol supersequence contains an Early
Carboniferous flora (Andreis and Arrondo, 1974). It is up
to 1825 m thick in outcrop. The Guandacol superse-
quence was deposited beginning in the late Visean as a
suite of rapidly subsiding depocenters in which sedi-
mentation was fault controlled. Subsidence was intermit-
tent and at times rapid. This is reflected in vertical
stacking of coarse facies adjacent to a basin-bounding
fault, debris flows, and massive synsedimentary defor-
mation structures. The rate of subsidence exceeded the
rate of sediment supply. At other times, the basin was
largely starved of coarser detritus, and more argillaceous
lacustrine material draped the entire floor of the basin.
Rhythmic lacustrine deposits, faceted clasts, and giant
dropstones suggest a periglacial environment during the
late Visean and Namurian.
The Guandacol supersequence is divided into four
depositional sequences by bounding erosional unconfor-
mities (Figures 3, 4A, 7). Each sequence fines upward
from gravel-rich and conglomeratic facies to thinly
 Tectonics and Stratigraphy, Late Paleozoic Paganzo Basin of Western Argentina 289

Figure 5—Unmigrated seismic line 9052 from Bermejo valley showing erosional truncation of pre-Carboniferous basement
(reflector 1), the Paganzo–Ischigualasto basin complex (between reflectors 1 and 2), and a zone of high-amplitude contin-
uous reflectors attributed to the Cretaceous–Paleogene section (above 2). Reflector 3 separates the Triassic Ischigualasto
basin from the Paganzo basin. The thick section above 4.5 sec on the eastern side is Neogene fill in a tilt-block foreland
basin. See Figure 2 for location.

Figure 6—North-south oriented line 9053 crossing previous line 9052 in Figure 5. Note scale change. See Figure 2 for location.

laminated shales, indicating a repetition of similar depo-
sitional processes (Figure 4B). Each has a fault-controlled
stratigraphy. The depositional facies (Figures 4B, 7)
include the following:
• Gravel-rich, conglomeratic sandstones with
multiple channel scours proximally. These have
been interpreted as fan deltas with associated
debris flows and mudflows.
• Laterally continuous sandstones with sharp bases
separated by thinly interbedded mudstones and
sandstones (Figure 8), locally with massive
slumping. Fernandez-Seveso et al. (1993) have
attributed these sediments to turbiditic underflow
processes.
• Laminated shales and siltstones with sandstone
290 Fernandez-Seveso and Tankard

Figure 7—Guandacol supersequence consisting of four

stacked sequences. Symbols along stratigraphic column
indicate glaciogenic intervals (dropstones and varvelike
rhythmites). Also shown are TOC and C15+ extractable
bitumen suggesting low to moderate potential gas-prone
sediments.

interbeds and slump structures. The finer grained

lithologies are markedly varved and contain drop-
stones, some of them very large (Figure 8). Plant Figure 8—Lacustrine mudstones and siltstones deposited
remains, palynomorphs, and Lioestherias occur; as varved couplets with thicker turbidite interbeds and
there is no evidence of marine paleoenvironments large granitic dropstone. Dropstone is about 1 m in
in the Bermejo and Pasleam depocenters (Figure 2). diameter. Guandacol supersequence.
These rocks are believed to have been deposited in
lacustrine environments that were locally influ-
enced by turbiditic flows.

These stacked fining-upward Guandacol sequences

have a lateral continuity on outcrop scale (Figure 9), but
regionally they have a limited distribution. The most
widespread unit is the lacustrine shale–siltstone facies
tract that draped and interfingered with the slumped
mudflows and turbiditic sandstones (Figure 4B).
Renewed sediment influx was distributed by sub-
aqueous gravity flows that formed channelized and
nonchannelized depositional lobes typical of classic
turbidite systems (see Mutti, 1985).

Tupe Supersequence
The Tupe supersequence is an Upper Carboniferous
(Westphalian) to Lower Permian (Asselian) succession
separated from the Guandacol by a major unconformity
(Figure 3). Like the Guandacol, the Tupe succession
consists of four sequences separated by unconformities.
Each sequence is a progradational complex that reflects,
to varying degrees, deposition in fluvial, lacustrine, and
marginal marine environments (Figure 10). The Tupe
succession is as thick as 1285 m.
The age of the Tupe succession is believed to be
predominantly Late Carboniferous (Westphalian–
Stephanian) on the basis of palynomorphs and fossil
plants (O. Arrondo, D. Ganuza, G. Leunda, and E. Morel,
1993, personal communications). The ostracod genus
Bairdiacypris indicates a Late Carboniferous–Early
Figure 9—Guandacol–Tupe succession at Bola Hill. Lower
part is fining-upward Guandacol sequences. Lower
Patquía–De la Cuesta supersequence at crest is overlain
by Triassic basalts. See Figure 2 for location.
Permian age (A. Chaia, 1993, personal communication),
whereas the invertebrates in Tupe sequence 3 have
Stephanian affinities (N. Sabattini, 1993, personal
communication).
Tupe sedimentation initially reoccupied old depocen-
ters established in Guandacol time. However, the Tupe
stage of basin subsidence differed from the earlier
 Tectonics and Stratigraphy, Late Paleozoic Paganzo Basin of Western Argentina
Figure 10—Tupe supersequence consisting of four stacked
sequences. Also shown are TOC and C15+ extractable
bitumen indicating lean gas-prone sediments, not prospec-
tive source rocks. Symbols along stratigraphic column
indicate glacigenic intervals (dropstones and varvelike
rhythmites) and limestones.
Guandacol stage in two important ways. First, sedimen-
tation overlapped the margins of the old depocenters, as
well as the interbasin highs (Figures 4A, 11), suggesting
that by Westphalian time those depocenters were
gradually yoked together in a regionally subsiding basin
(Figures 4A, 6). Second, the basin was subjected to
periodic inundation by the sea, as reflected in the trans-
gressive-regressive stratigraphy and the marine biota.
The constituent depositional sequences were irregu-
larly distributed over ridges and interbasin highs. The
proto-Precordillera, the Mogna–Las Salinas ridge (Perez
et al., 1993), and the Valle Fertil and Sañogasta margins
(Figure 2) remained active. In the northeast and east,
overlapping relationships suggest that new, albeit
shallow, depositories had formed (Figure 4A). The basin
expanded its margins farthest during middle Tupe time
(sequences T2 and T3). Fluvial and lacustrine deposi-
tional systems dominated the eastern part of the basin
over Pampean basement. The succession thickened
westward where fluvial and sandy deltaic systems
interfingered with marginal marine deposits.
Sequence 1 reoccupied previous Guandacol depocen-
ters. Sediments were distributed by subaqueous channel
and turbidite processes in front of sandy fan delta
systems and were locally subjected to contemporaneous
slumping on a massive scale (Figure 12).
Sequence 2 overlies the Precordillera terrane (Figure
11) (Perez et al., 1993) and the western margin of the
Pampean terrane. It consists of three overlapping
packages that were built basinward by braided fluvial
and Gilbert-type fan delta systems. Basinal and interdis-
tributary bay mudstones are varved and contain drop-
stones and faceted clasts.
Sequence 3 records the maximum expansion of the
Tupe paleogeography (Figure 4A). This sequence onlaps
and oversteps interbasin highs. A depositional history
similar to the previous sequence prevailed, including
overlapping depositional lobes and local intraforma-
tional disconformities. There are also terrigenous and
291
carbonate shorezone deposits with diverse marine inver-
tebrate assemblages. A variety of bioclastic and
biohermal facies of low energy littoral origin overlie
sequence 2 and Precordillera basement. Ash tuffs occur
locally.
Sequence 4 reflects progradation of the shoreline as
the basin filled with braidplain deposits. Rare dropstones
and rhythmites occur in some lacustrine deposits
(Rodriguez and Fernandez-Seveso, 1988). Marginal
deltaic deposits locally form laterally continuous
sandstone sheets and channel fills. Fossils include
ostracods and casts of invertebrates. The upper part of
the sequence is characterized by subtle truncations and
toplap relationships.
Lower Patquía–De la Cuesta
Supersequence
The lower Patquía–De la Cuesta (LPD) is a classic
Lower Permian red bed succession characterized by
alluvial fan, fluvial, and playa lake lithofacies that
encroached on a shallow marine basin (Figures 3, 16)
(Fernandez-Seveso et al., 1993). These sediments are
contained within three stacked sequences that reflect an
overall transgressive-regressive history. The upper part
of the LPD consists of thick eolianite sandstones
(Limarino and Spalletti, 1986). The lower Patquía–De la
Cuesta succession is up to 620 m thick.
A late Asselian–Kungurian age is inferred from the
magmatic flows and pyroclastics, which are attributed to
the Choiyoi magmatic episode (Caballé, 1990). The
volcanism occurred mainly toward the west on the
Chilenia terrane. Early volcanism was mainly andesitic,
but changed upward to rhyolitic composition. Palyno-
logic assemblages (LPD2) (Figure 13) suggest a broad
Late Carboniferous–Early Permian age range (G.
Leunda, 1993, personal communication).
Sequence 1 onlaps a low relief regional unconformity
above the previous Tupe succession (Figure 4A). Conti-
nental sedimentation was widespread and displaced the
Tupe sea, even as far as the western edge of the Pre-
cordillera terrane. This sequence is dominated by chan-
nelized conglomerates and sheet sandstones interpreted
as distal alluvial fan and braided fluvial deposits.
Whereas the eastern parts of the basin contain stacked,
coarse, braided fluvial deposits, the northern area is char-
acterized by widespread mudstone and interbedded
sandstone deposits cut by lenticular channel sandstones.
We infer a low relief landscape of playa lakes and
ephemeral streams. Volcaniclastic material and basalt
flows are observed locally (Azcuy and Morelli, 1970).
Sequence 2 reflects the paleogeography of a marine
transgression. Over a large part of the Precordillera
platform in the north, shore zone wave and tidal influ-
ences were important, depositing relatively mature
reworked sandstones. This highstand systems tract
contains Tasmanaceas and Acritarcos microplankton (e.g.,
Leiosphaeridium sp.) and algae, indicating restricted
brackish environments. In contrast, the eastern edge of
the basin above the Pampean basement was buried by
braided fluvial and argillaceous floodplain deposits.
292 Fernandez-Seveso and Tankard
Figure 11—Tupe succession (sequence 2) onlapping interbasin high of Precordillera basement, Veladero Hill. White sand-
stones are fluvial. See Figure 2 for location.
Sequence 3 varies up to 230 m thick and consists of
well-sorted eolian sandstones with intraformational
shale facies of possible interdune origin (Figure 13).
Upper Patquía–De la Cuesta
Supersequence
The upper Patquía-De la Cuesta (UPD) is a succession
of terrigenous clastic deposits that formed in ephemeral
river, playa lake, perennial lake, and marginal marine
settings (Figure 13) (Fernandez-Seveso et al., 1993). This
is an Upper Permian succession consisting of four
stacked depositional sequences. The stratigraphy is most
complete in the northern part of the basin. The UPD
terminates with a major unconformity that truncated as
deeply as the Tupe supersequence in the central part of
the basin where the Triassic Ischigualasto basin subse-
quently developed (Figures 5, 9), suggesting that a
period of structural inversion separated the Permian and
Triassic basins (Perez et al., 1993). The upper Patquía is
up to 730 m thick.
The age of the upper Patquía is believed to be early
Late Permian on the basis of palynomorphs in the lower
two sequences (Aceñolaza and Vergel, 1987; G. Leunda,
1993, personal communication).
The lowest depositional sequence was deposited
unconformably on a lower Patquía eolianite by distal
alluvial fan, debris flow, and braided sheetflood processes
that suggest a period of slightly higher rates of subsi-
dence. In the inner part of the basin, these alluvial facies
are associated with the argillaceous deposits of playa and
perennial lakes. These lakes were probably the result of
impounding by alluvial systems or erosional deflation
over the axis of the basin. Restricted marine incursions are
also inferred from microfossils (e.g., acritarchs and
ostracods) and limestone interbeds. The lacustrine to
restricted marine deposits contain oil-prone bituminous
shales (Figures 13, 14). We infer a restricted marine and
fringing coastal plain paleogeography with a warm,
humid climate. This lower sequence is equivalent to the
Vitiacua Formation of southern Bolivia (Sempere, 1995).
The margins of the second depositional sequence
were characterized by small fluvial channels that fed
shoalwater mouth bars. Finer grained interdistributary
bay and marsh deposits were widespread and contain
plant remains, palynomorphs, and terrestrial inverte-
brate fossils such as Anthracosiasea sp. (G. Leunda, 1993,
personal communication).
A regional unconformity forms the base of the third
depositional sequence. It contains eolianites, fluvial
deposits, and shallow lacustrine deposits with
interbedded sheetflood sandstones (Figure 13). Sequence
4 at the top of the Paganzo succession is dominated by
sandstones attributed to ephemeral river deposition.
 Tectonics and Stratigraphy, Late Paleozoic Paganzo Basin of Western Argentina 293

Figure 13—Lower and upper Patquía–De la Cuesta super-

sequences comprising a total of seven sequences. VV,
Figure 12—Turbiditic sandstones with a massive slump Basalt flows. Also shown are TOC and C15+ extractable
structure, Tupe sequence 1, Bola Hill. Slump is about 5 m bitumen suggesting oil-prone source rocks with high
thick; see person at right for scale. hydrogen index.

INTERPRETATION
The Paganzo basin fill reflects a complex tectonic and
paleogeographic setting involving intermittent fault-
controlled reactivation of old basement terranes and
extrabasinal sea level and climatic influences (Tankard et
al., 1995).
Much of the Carboniferous Guandacol and Tupe
deposition occurred in periglacial settings as evidenced
by the varved lacustrine shales with dropstones, faceted
clasts, diamictites interpreted as muddy debris flows, the
predominance of humid braided fluvial deposits, and the
plant ecology (O. Arrondo, E. Morel and E. Ganuza,
1993, personal communication). There is little direct
evidence for glaciation in the Paganzo basin. However,
glacial pavements and tillites have been recorded in the Figure 14—Potential oil-prone source rocks (two dark
proto-Precordillera and Mogna–Las Salinas ridges (Figure bands) in upper Patquía (sequence 1). Sierra de Narvaez
2) (Lopez-Gamundi et al., 1989; Milana and Bercowski, ridge is in the background. Puerta de las Angosturas
1990) where there was topographic control. In contrast, section, northern part of Paganzo basin. See Figure 2 for
post-Tupe Late Carboniferous–Early Permian coastal location.
elevations are believed to have had a cold, temperate
paleoclimate, as suggested by foraminifera and mollusc
fossils in the Huentelauquén Formation on the coast of
central Chile (Rivano and Sepúlveda, 1985). By lower
Patquía time, climatic warming had set in. Glacial envi- coincided with accumulation of bituminous black shales
ronments are not characteristic of other Early Permian in the Paganzo basin (Figure 14) and the Vitiacua
Gondwana basins (Zalan et al., 1987; Visser, 1991; Eyles, Formation of the Tarija basin. Organic-rich shales of this
1993). However, Zalan et al. (1987) and Russo et al. (1986) age also occur in the Iratí Formation of the Paraná basin
have documented Early Permian glaciation in the Paraná and the Whitehill Formation of the Karoo basin (Franca
and Chaco-Paraná basins, respectively. et al., 1995; Tankard et al., 1995, their figure 23).
By the end of early Patquía time, the climate was In Gondwana reconstructions, the Late Carbonif-
universally arid, and desert dune fields were wide- erous–Early Permian Paganzo basin was located
spread, as was the case for the fluvial-eolian Cangapi between 30° and 45° S lat, compared to 70° S lat in the
Formation in the Tarija basin of northwestern Argentina. Early Carboniferous (Smith et al., 1981; Scotese and
This warming trend also resulted in a pronounced sea Barrett, 1990). Consequently, glacial paleoclimates over-
level rise during the late Kungurian or Kazanian printed Guandacol deposition; these were the late
(Sempere et al., 1992; Sempere, 1995). This episode Visean–early Namurian and late Namurian glacial peaks
294 Fernandez-Seveso and Tankard
Figure 15—Tectonic model for evolution of Paganzo basin complex. Initially the Paganzo developed as a number of discrete
basins by reactivating old basement fabrics. In the Late Carboniferous (Tupe time), these were joined together in a single
wide basin. (Modified after Fernandez-Seveso et al., 1993.)
(J. C. Crowell, 1990, personal communication). Eyles
(1993) has reviewed this geology and attributes this early
glaciation to oblique collision, rotation of large crustal
blocks, and glaciation on tectonically uplifted areas.
During the Late Carboniferous, the world became
distinctly colder as the Gondwana ice sheets expanded
(Dickins, 1993). However, the characteristics of sedimen-
tary facies show that the upper Tupe Paganzo basin was
already at warmer latitudes. These latitudinal differences
also explain why Carboniferous sedimentation rates
were higher in the Paganzo and Tarija basins than in the
Paraná and Chaco-Paraná basins (see Russo et al., 1986;
Zalan et al., 1987); the former basins were periglacial at
that time.
Much of Paganzo deposition occurred in a succession
of transgressive-regressive cycles. An abrupt lowering of
sea level from the late Namurian to early Westphalian,
together with a change in the rate of subsidence, resulted
in the unconformity between the Guandacol and Tupe
successions. Maximum flooding occurred during the
Westphalian and Stephanian (Tupe sequences 2 and 3).
There was a smaller advance in the Artinskian (lower
Patquía) (see Figure 16). The Upper Permian (Kazanian)
organic-rich or bituminous shales in the upper Patquia,
Vitiacua, and Irati formations all indicate a warm, post-
glacial climate and pronounced transgression (Sempere
et al., 1992).
A long history of early–middle Paleozoic basin
evolution ended with the Late Devonian–Early Carbonif-
erous Chañic orogeny (Aceñolaza and Toselli, 1976;
Salfity and Gorustovich, 1983). This diastrophic phase is
expressed throughout southwestern Gondwana by a
substantial hiatus. The basin deposits on either side of
this regional unconformity are very different. The early
Paleozoic basins were largely underfilled marine basins.
In contrast, the Carboniferous and Permian successor
basins were predominantly terrestrial depocenters. The
Lower Carboniferous stratigraphy in the Paganzo basin
is poorly understood, but lithostratigraphic, biostrati-
graphic, and radiometric age data place it above the
Chañic unconformity (Polansky, 1970; Ramos and
Ramos, 1979). In the Precordillera, Carboniferous strata
overlie folded pre-Carboniferous rocks.
Guandacol deposition occurred in small, isolated
depocenters (Figure 15). Despite their small size, a rela-
tively thick succession (nearly 2000 m) of sandstones and
conglomerates were stacked adjacent to a basin-
bounding fault (Figure 4), suggesting that the rate of
subsidence exceeded the rate of sediment supply.
Massive synsedimentary deformation (Figure 4)
supports this interpretation. Braided alluvial fan and
debris flow deposits suggest a rugged relief. The
Guandacol depocenters strongly resemble the transten-
sional pull-apart basins of strike-slip zones (e.g., Nilsen
and McLaughlin, 1985). Ramos (1988b) has interpreted
strike-slip faults in Mendoza Province in a right-lateral
sense due to displacement of the Chilenia terrane. Thick
sedimentary sections above the Pampean-Precordillera
and Precordillera-Chilenia sutures contain Visean fossils,
thus dating the initiation of Guandacol basin formation
to the Visean.
Fault-controlled subsidence initially formed small
half-grabens in the eastern part of the Guandacol basin.
These pull-apart basins subsided intermittently in a
series of rapid spurts over a 35-m.y. interval. This episode
was succeeded by the widespread Tupe complex as the
small basins of the transtensional system ceased activity
and the various depocenters were amalgamated in a
uniformly subsiding depression. This change in basin
dynamics is marked by a regional unconformity. The
Tupe succession onlapped this unconformity and over-
lapped the older interbasin highs and, for the first time,
 Tectonics and Stratigraphy, Late Paleozoic Paganzo Basin of Western Argentina
Figure 16—Back-stripped tectonic and basement subsi-
dence curves for Permian–Carboniferous Paganzo basin
showing three stages of subsidence: rapid transtensional
subsidence, regional subsidence, and increased rates of
subsidence in the Permian attributed to stress relaxation.
The geohistory plot includes outcrop data, petrophysical
logs, and seismic data. (Modified after Fernandez-Seveso
et al., 1993.)
expanded the Paganzo basin across the Pampean terrane
(Figure 15).
A third style of subsidence was established in early
Patquía–De la Cuesta time. Patquía sediments record
maximum expansion of the basin as they onlapped even
farther across the basement. There was a general lack of
relief in the basin, although some sedimentary facies
suggest an increase in the rate of subsidence. This phase
most closely resembles a shallow epeiric basin or intra-
continental sag. This pattern persisted until inversion at
the end of the Permian marked a tectonic reorganization
and the onslaught of Triassic extension by orogenic
collapse (Tankard et al., 1995).
This tectonostratigraphic interpretation is summa-
rized in back-stripped tectonic and basement subsidence
curves (Figure 16) (see Bond and Kominz, 1984). The
stratigraphy has been decompacted taking into account a
7000-m post-Permian section and empirical porosity to
depth relationships. The greatest inaccuracy in the
Paganzo subsidence curves is their imprecise chronology.
The back-stripped subsidence curves record three
styles of subsidence (Figure 16). The first phase of subsi-
dence, spanning about 30 m.y., was the most rapid and
resembles an open rift style (Meyer, 1991; Williams,
1995). Field and seismic mapping suggest that
Guandacol depocenters subsided as transtensional pull-
apart basins related to a dextral strike-slip system. In the
Paganzo basin, the conglomeratic-volcanic complex of
the Punta del Agua Formation (Gonzalez and Bossi,
1986) is the only evidence of magmatism at this stage.
The small amount of magmatism during the dynamic
stage of subsidence of an intracratonic basin facing a
convergent plate boundary has been noted elsewhere
(Mann et al., 1983; Christie-Blick and Biddle, 1985). The
succeeding Tupe part of the curve is flatter, perhaps
295
Figure 17—Interpretation of regional tectonic setting of
Paganzo basin complex. The structural framework that
formed the broadscale basin architecture probably
resulted from right-lateral displacement between terranes
and northeastward-splaying of the Sierra de Valle Fértil
fault in the passive Pampean terrane. Rhombic pull-apart
basins were probably associated with this diverging strike-
slip system.
because of a smaller wrench component. This extensional
stage culminated in extrusive magmatism along the
terrane boundaries in early Patquia time. Slightly higher
subsidence rates in the Late Permian may be attributed
to extensional relaxation (see Bally and Snelson, 1980), as
Mpodozis and Kay (1990) and Llambias and Sato (1990)
have suggested for the Gondwana margin. Upper
Patquía alluvial fan and debris flow facies support this
interpretation.
The Carboniferous Paganzo basin straddled the
Pampean, Precordillera, and Chilenia terranes (Figure
17). The basin initially took advantage of terrane bound-
aries and the relative strengths of the terranes them-
selves. The Guandacol depocenters developed as
transtensional pull-apart basins. Ramos (1988b) docu-
ments a dextral shearing system. Major displacements
occurred along the western boundaries of the Pampean
and Precordillera terranes. The Sierra de Valle Fértil fault
system is a major crustal structure and terrane boundary
that was reactivated in the Paleozoic (Baldis et al., 1982).
We believe that horizontal displacement was not
restricted to the terrane boundaries, but that secondary
strike-slip faults and associated normal faults related to a
296 Fernandez-Seveso and Tankard
shear couple dissected the more passive Pampean
basement (Figure 17).
This system of composite wrench faults and a
network of transtensional and transpressional compo-
nents is common in areas of oblique convergence (Ryan
and Coleman, 1992). These composite plate boundaries
may also result in rotation of crustal blocks. The Pie de
Palo block within the Precordillera terrane (Figure 2)
may be an example. Rapalini (1989) has already docu-
mented oblique convergence and block rotation along
this margin of Gondwana. Subduction during the
Carboniferous has been described by Ramos et al. (1986)
and Mpodozis and Ramos (1989). Fielding and Jordan
(1988) have addressed the Recent deformation of the
Precordillera and Sierras Pampeanas in the Andean
foreland as a tilt-block province.
HYDROCARBON POTENTIAL OF
PAGANZO BASIN
Routine geochemical studies, including total organic
carbon (TOC), C15+ extractable bitumen, optical identifi-
cation of organic macerals, elemental analyses, gas chro-
matography, thermal alteration indices (TAI), and
vitrinite reflectance have been performed on hundreds of
surface samples gathered from 32 sections, as well as on
cuttings samples from the Salinas de Mascasín well
(Figure 2) (Fernandez-Seveso et al., 1991). All argilla-
ceous units in the Paganzo basin were sampled and
potential source rocks identified. The TOC and
extractable bitumen histograms (Figures 7, 10, 13)
represent basinwide averages. Weathering alteration of
surface samples was adjusted as follows: TOC  1.3 and
C15+ extractable bitumen  2. The following results were
obtained:
• Guandacol dark shales (Figure 7) have low to
moderate TOC values (range 0.1–2.5%, max. 5%).
and continental red beds are of probable Cretaceous age.
The C15+ extractable bitumen values are low
(0–700 ppm). Woody and cuticular characteristics
suggest a gas-prone succession.
• Tupe carbonaceous shales are not encouraging
(Figure 10). Sequences 2 and 4 deposited in lacus-
trine environments should have the best potential,
but TOC values are low to moderate (range 0.5–
2.5%, max. 7%). The C15+ extractable bitumen is
very low (0–200 ppm, locally 600 ppm). Organic
material consists of gas-prone woody structures,
herbaceous material, cuticles, and sporomorphs.
Even marine mudstone facies are lean (see Villar
and Lopez-Gamundi, 1993).
• The lower Patquía–De la Cuesta mudstones were
deposited in strongly oxic conditions. Organic
material includes microplankton, botryoidal algae,
sporomorphs, and woody structures.
• The upper Patquía–De la Cuesta shows a dramatic
increase in source potential (Figure 13), with good
TOC values (average 1.2%, max. 5%) and excellent
C15+ extractable bitumen content (range 250–2000
ppm, high 4000 ppm). The organic matter is
composed mainly of agglutinated amorphous
types with a low woody component. Some of the
best samples contain botryococcus algae and disin-
tegrated pollen grains and occasionally have more
than 85% spongy amorphous material. Microscopic
and chromatographic analyses indicate lacustrine
type I and II kerogens with sapropelic affinities.
These geochemical studies suggest good to very
good potential for oil generation.
The upper Patquía–De la Cuesta shales were
deposited in lacustrine and restricted marine environ-
ments during a prominent transgressive phase that was
influenced by a warm, temperate postglacial climate (see
Dickins, 1993). The highest source potential occurs in
shales near the base of the upper Patquía–De la Cuesta
(Figure 14). These oil-prone shales are particularly wide-
spread in the northern part of the basin; this facies is
more arenaceous toward the south. Generated oil is
observed in outcrop where it fills pores, cavities, and
fissures and is even associated with andesite sills.
The results of fieldwork, exploration wells, and
seismic interpretation suggest that Upper Permian
source rocks are probably widespread in Paganzo strati-
graphic units that are now preserved in Tertiary tilt-
block basins. There is also source rock potential in the
Triassic Ischigualasto basin (Figure 5) similar to the Cuyo
basin. Surface oil occurrences in the Paganzo basin have
been known for many years (Fernandez-Seveso et al.,
1991; G. Kelly, 1993, personal communication). These
include asphalts and impregnated oil in Tertiary
outcrops of Niquivil Viejo (Figure 2). Heavy oil has also
been reported in wells in the Bermejo, Niquivil (northern
part of Mogna–Las Salinas ridge), and Las Salinas areas.
Except for wells drilled near the basin edge in the Salinas
de Mascasín, which reached the Tupe, no wells in either
the Paganzo or Ischigualasto basin have reached source
rock depth. All of the wells drilled in Tertiary sediments
The Paganzo basin is still largely untested, although
there is substantial evidence to suggest that it is
prospective.
REGIONAL PALEOGEOGRAPHIC
IMPLICATIONS
The sedimentary facies, stacking arrangements, and
distribution of the Paganzo Group reflect the geody-
namic setting of a suite of pull-apart basins. These basins
evolved after the basal Carboniferous Chañic dias-
trophism by transtensional processes, perhaps related to
dextral convergence of Chilenia (Ramos, 1988b). Indeed,
Lower Carboniferous Guandacol counterparts are well
exposed in Paganzo latitudes (Archangelsky, 1986;
Gonzalez and Bossi, 1986; Lopez-Gamundi et al., 1989;
Cingolani et al., 1990).
The Paganzo basin is at one end of the Precordillera
thrust belt and tilt-block province that dominates north-
 Tectonics and Stratigraphy, Late Paleozoic Paganzo Basin of Western Argentina
Figure 18—Carboniferous paleogeographic reconstruction
showing tectonic framework (Mon and Salfity, 1995), Early
Carboniferous depocenters of Bolivia (after Reyes, 1972),
and Mandiyuti paleovalleys after Tankard et al. (1995).
B, Bermejo; IA, Izozog Arch; M, Mendoza; S, Sucre; SC,
Santa Cruz; SE, Santiago del Estero; T, Tucuman; V, Villa-
montes; and Z, Zudañez.
western Argentina as far as the Bolivian border (Figure
18), after which it is subordinated by the eastward
surging thrust belt of southern Bolivia. Basement struc-
tures have controlled basin development in north-
western Argentina since the late Precambrian (Salfity et
al., 1975; Willner et al., 1987; Mon and Salfity, 1995).
These faults were repeatedly reactivated in the early
Paleozoic and culminated in a giant transpressional pop-
up structure attributed to the Chañic orogeny. This Puna
arch is astride west- and east-vergent basement-seated
structures that flank sedimentary basins on either side of
the arch (Mon and Salfity, 1995, their figure 6).
The post-Chañic sedimentary basins subsided on
either side of the Puna arch during the Somuncura phase
of extension (Mon and Salfity, 1995). Compared with the
2000-m thickness of the Paganzo succession, the
Carboniferous rocks of the northwestern Argentinian
Tarija basin are closer to 1000 m in thickness (Figure 19)
(Mingramm et al., 1979). The Lower Carboniferous
Machareti supersequence is stratigraphically equivalent
to the Guandacol. Like the Guandacol, the Tupambi and
Tarija formations are characterized by rapid dumping of
297
sediments, large-scale synsedimentary deformation, and
prominent paleovalleys (Starck et al., 1992). Reyes (1972)
has attributed this Machareti Group sedimentation to
fault-controlled subsidence in small rift basins.
Carboniferous rocks are widespread in the Andean
ranges and Chaco basin of southern Bolivia (Figure 18)
where they form prolific hydrocarbon reservoirs. The
succession in the Eastern Cordillera and sub-Andean
foothills is remarkably similar to that of the Paganzo
basin, except that the Bolivian examples have been
detached and transported piggy-back on thin-skinned
thrust sheets of Tertiary age. The Machareti and
Mandiyuti groups are stratigraphic equivalents of the
Guandacol and Tupe supersequences, respectively
(Figure 19).
In outcrop, the Saipuru, Tupambi, and Tarija forma-
tions (Machareti Group) are counterparts of the
Guandacol supersequence of northwestern Argentina,
but without the same amount of repetitive stacking of
depositional sequences (Figure 19). Their deposition is
ascribed to lacustrine, braided alluvial fan, and bayhead
delta settings.
• Lacustrine facies occur in each of the formations.
They are typically argillaceous and contain thin
turbiditic layers, rhythmites, and sporadic drop-
stones. Bioturbation and rooting occur locally. The
Saipuru contains large slump structures.
• Alluvial fan and braided fluvial facies dominate the
Tupambi Formation and also occur in the Tarija.
The coarse-grained and conglomeratic sandstone
intervals consist of multiply stacked channel units.
Inclined depositional surfaces and cross beds are
common. The Tupambi is characterized by thick
sequences of debris flow diamictites, ubiquitous
ripple drift and dewatering structures, and massive
soft sediment deformation. Together these suggest
accumulation in a rapidly subsiding or collapsing
depocenter. Furthermore, cross-bed azimuths at
Zudañez are eastward directed, and those in Piray
River outcrops are oriented toward the west.
• The upper part of the Tarija Formation contains
coarsening-upward progradational sequences that
are locally associated with bioturbation and rooted
surfaces. A lacustrine-restricted marine bayhead
delta setting is inferred. Marine fossils diagnostic of
the Levipustula levis zone indicate the Visean–West-
phalian transition (Trujillo Ikeda, 1989; Sempere,
1995).
The Upper Carboniferous Escarpment Formation is
the Tupe counterpart. It is a cliff-forming unit consisting
of stacked fluvial sandstone complexes 400–500 m thick.
Unlike the Tupambi–Tarija sequence, the Escarpment
deposits have suffered far less synsedimentary deforma-
tion. In the sub-Andean foothills, the Escarpment sand-
stones are geographically associated with the older
Tupambi rocks (M. Cirbian, 1992, personal communica-
tion).
In the subsurface of the Chaco basin, exploration
seismic and well data show that Carboniferous
298 Fernandez-Seveso and Tankard
sediments form a widespread cover. An anastomosing
network of Escarpment paleovalleys has been mapped
from a relatively dense grid of seismic lines (Figure 18)
(YPFB proprietary files). These paleovalleys erode deeply
into the Machareti section and have themselves been
eroded by pre-Cretaceous structural inversion. The
Escarpment paleovalleys are typically up to 500 m deep
and consist internally of stacked channel sandstones and
mudstones. There were at least five episodes of paleo-
valley incision and aggradation suggesting intermittent
base level changes.
In the upper Mandiyuti, the San Telmo Formation
contains poorly bedded diamictites with striated clasts,
shallow cross-bedded fluvial sandstones, and varved
lacustrine shales with plant fossils. Pollen assemblages in
the varved shales of the Cañada Honda well indicate a
nonmarine aquatic environment of Stephanian age
equivalent to the Tupe of the Paganzo basin (Azcuy,
1979; W. A. M. Jenkins, 1991, personal communication).
We infer a periglacial outwash plain paleogeography.
DISCUSSION
Fieldwork and subsurface data provide convincing
evidence that the Permian–Carboniferous Paganzo basin
started its history as a suite of isolated but structurally
Figure 19—Regional stratigraphic correlations. Villamontes
section from Sempere (1995). Formation names are as
follows: Ca, Cangapi; El, Elvira; Es, Escarpment; Ic, Ichoa;
Iq, Iquiri; LM, Los Monos; LP, Las Peñas; Sa, Saipuru; ST,
San Telmo; Ta, Tarija; Tu, Tupambi; and Vi, Vitiacua.
linked pull-apart basins. Guandacol deposition reflects
rapid accumulation, facies stacking, and synsedimentary
deformation adjacent to basin-bounding faults. Tupe and
Patquia–De la Cuesta stratigraphy gradually onlapped
the interbasin highs as the earlier transtensional basins
were amalgamated in a single, broadly subsiding basin
(Figure 17).
This ancient system of crustal strike-slip faults
diverges northward where it combines with the east-
west Boomerang Hills–Chiquitanas suture to form the
deep Chaco basin of southern Bolivia (Figure 18). The
Chaco salient of the Bolivian Andes reflects this thick
sedimentary pile.
In the Boomerang area, seismic data shows exten-
sional reactivation of basement structures during the
middle Paleozoic. This may coincide with Early
Carboniferous Tupambi deposition.
The Machareti and Mandiyuti groups of Bolivia and
northernmost Argentina are stratigraphically equivalent
to the Guandacol and Tupe supersequences, respec-
tively. The paleogeographic setting of stacked braided
alluvial fans and lacustrine sediments in the Machareti
Group, together with evidence of rapid subsidence,
suggest a tectonic setting similar to that of the Guandacol
Paganzo basin. We believe that extensional or transten-
sional processes also affected the Machareti. However,
the Tarija and Chaco depocenters were shallower but
 Tectonics and Stratigraphy, Late Paleozoic Paganzo Basin of Western Argentina
more widespread, reflecting the northward-diverging
shear system (Figures 18, 19). Paleocurrent analysis
shows that these depocenters were filled from the east
and west.
The system of paleovalleys mapped seismically in the
Chaco basin is believed to have drained into transten-
sional basins. Its orientation matches the extensional
trend. This interpretation suggests that the repetitive
base level adjustments reflected in paleovalley formation
and aggradation may have a tectonic explanation.
Sediment was apparently derived from the east and
southeast along the Chaco Boreal high (Sempere, 1995).
Like the Tupe, the Mandiyuti cover is regionally more
widespread. Sempere (1995) notes that the Upper
Carboniferous–Permian stratigraphy onlaps older paleo-
relief, much like the Tupe–Patquía of northwestern
Argentina. A prominent transgression occurred in late
Kungurian–Kazanian time, during which the Vitiacua
calcareous mudstones were deposited. The Vitiacua has
high TOC values and is equivalent to the upper
Patquía–De la Cuesta and Irati (Brazil) formations.
Although oil-prone, the Vitiacua has so far attracted little
exploration interest.
This tectonostratigraphic interpretation highlights
several issues which have yet to be addressed:
• The Paganzo–Ischigualasto basin complex has
evolved through several episodes of middle
Paleozoic strike-slip movement, Mesozoic
extension and inversion, and late Tertiary contrac-
tion that have created the present tilt-block basin
province (e.g., Fielding and Jordan, 1988). The
possibility of multiple source rock intervals
suggests the need to unravel this structural
complexity as a guide to source rock distribution
and maturation.
• In Bolivia, a detailed biostratigraphic study of the
Carboniferous section is needed. The dynamics of a
transtensional basin system cast doubt on existing
stratigraphic correlations.
• There is a striking resemblance of the Chaco salient
of the Bolivian Andes and the Mackenzie
Mountains of northern Canada (Eisbacher,
1985).The Chaco and Mackenzie salients are both
associated with thick Proterozoic and Paleozoic
depositories, and each has detached and trans-
ported Carboniferous basins of probable pull-apart
origin (Machareti and Antler) (H. R. Balkwill, 1994,
personal communication). A comparison of these
two thrust belts would be fruitful.
Acknowledgments We thank L. Alvarez, P. Aukes, C.
Azcuy, I. E. Brisson, M. Cirbian, T. E. Jordan, O. Lopez-
Gamundi, O. Lopez Paulsen, M. A. Perez, V. A. Ramos, K.
Raskin, and M. A. Uliana for helpful discussions. M. Arguijo,
O. Decastelli, and M. Distefano helped with the geochemistry.
Drafting was undertaken by D. Betty and S. Bond and typing
by K. Bojarski. The paper was reviewed by C. J. Schmidt, H. J.
Belotti, and H. J. Welsink. Finally, we thank the exploration
management of YPF SA for support and permission to publish.
299
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Authors’ Mailing Addresses
Fernando Fernandez–Seveso
YPF SA
Av. Roque Saenz Peña 777
1364 Buenos Aires
Argentina
Anthony J. Tankard
Tankard Enterprises
P.O. Box 81002
Calgary, Alberta T2J 7C9
Canada