Pisco Basin

Pisco Basin
Cuenca de Pisco
Map showing the location of Pisco Basin
Map showing the location of Pisco Basin
Coordinates14°15′S 76°0′W / 14.250°S 76.000°W / -14.250; -76.000
EtymologyCity of Pisco, Peru
LocationWestern South America
Country Peru
State(s)Ica Region
CitiesPisco
Characteristics
On/OffshoreBoth
Part ofCircum-Pacific forearc basins
Area300 km (190 mi)
Hydrology
Sea(s)Eastern Pacific Ocean
River(s)Pisco River
Geology
Basin typeForearc basin
OrogenyAndean
AgeEocenePliocene
StratigraphyStratigraphy

Pisco Basin (Spanish: Cuenca de Pisco) is a sedimentary basin extending over 300 kilometres (190 mi) in southwestern Peru.[1] The basin has a 2 kilometres (6,600 ft) thick sedimentary fill, which is about half the thickness of more northern foreland basins in Peru.[2]

The oldest known sediments are the Eocene sandstones of the Caballas Formation, while the youngest deposits, the fossiliferous Pisco Formation, date to the Early Pleistocene.[2][note 1] In relation to present-day, topography the fill of Pisco Basin makes the upper part of the Coastal Cordillera of southern Peru, the coastal plains, the Ica-Nazca Depression and the Andean foothills.[3]

The basin is renowned for hosting various highly fossiliferous stratigraphic units; the Pisco Formation has provided a wealth of marine mammals (including sloths), birds, fish and other groups, as have the Chilcatay, Otuma and Paracas Formations.

  1. ^ Solís Mundaca, 2018, p.1
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Dunbaretal1990 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ León et al. 2007, p. 7.


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