El Molino Formation

El Molino Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian
~70–66 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofPuca Group
UnderliesSanta Lucía Formation
OverliesChaunaca Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
OtherLimestone
Location
Coordinates19°30′S 65°48′W / 19.5°S 65.8°W / -19.5; -65.8
Approximate paleocoordinates22°00′S 51°48′W / 22.0°S 51.8°W / -22.0; -51.8
RegionCochabamba, Chuquisaca & Potosí Departments
Country Bolivia
ExtentAltiplano & Potosí Basins
El Molino Formation is located in Bolivia
El Molino Formation
El Molino Formation
El Molino Formation
El Molino Formation (Bolivia)

The El Molino Formation is a Maastrichtian geologic formation pertaining to the Puca Group of central Bolivia. The formation comprises fine-grained sandstones and sandy limestones with stromatolites deposited in a shallow marine to lacustrine environment. The formation has provided fossils of Dolichochampsa minima,[1] and ichnofossils of Ankylosauria indet., Ornithopoda indet., Theropoda indet. and Titanosauridae indet.[2][3][4] The tracksite of Cal Orcko is the best known example of the ichnofossil locations of the formation. The ichnofossil of Ligabueichnum bolivianum may be attributed to an ankylosaur.[5] The fossil fish species Dasyatis molinoensis is named after the formation.

  1. ^ Buffetaut, 1987
  2. ^ Lockley et al., 2002, p.389
  3. ^ La Palca village at Fossilworks.org
  4. ^ Cal Orcko tracksite at Fossilworks.org
  5. ^ Leonardi, 1994, p.39