Villeta Group

Villeta Group
Stratigraphic range: Aptian-Coniacian
~125–87 Ma
Villeta, type locality of the Villeta Group
TypeGeological group
Sub-unitsConejo Fm., La Frontera Fm., Simijaca Fm., Hiló Fm., Pacho Fm., Chiquinquirá Sst., Capotes Fm., Socotá Fm., El Peñón Fm., Trincheras Fm.
UnderliesGuadalupe Group
OverliesLa Naveta Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, shale, limestone
Location
Coordinates5°00′59″N 74°28′54″W / 5.01639°N 74.48167°W / 5.01639; -74.48167
RegionAltiplano Cundiboyacense
Eastern Ranges, Andes
Country Colombia
Type section
Named forVilleta
Named byHumboldt
Year defined1810
Coordinates4°35′31″N 74°03′15″W / 4.59194°N 74.05417°W / 4.59194; -74.05417
RegionCundinamarca, Boyacá, Huila, Santander
Country Colombia

Paleogeography of northern South America
105 Ma, by Ron Blakey

The Villeta Group (Spanish: Grupo Villeta) is a geological group of the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes, to the west of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense. The group, a sequence of shales, limestones and sandstones, is subdivided into various formations; Conejo, La Frontera, Simijaca, Hiló, Pacho, Chiquinquirá, Capotes, Socotá, El Peñón, and Trincheras, and dates to the Cretaceous period; Aptian-Coniacian epochs. The group stretches out across four departments, from Huila in the south, through Cundinamarca and Boyacá to southern Santander in the north. The upper part of the Villeta Group is time-equivalent with the La Luna Formation of the Middle Magdalena Valley (VMM) and Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, the Oliní and Güagüaquí Groups of the Guaduas-Vélez synclinal and the Chipaque Formation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense. The lower part has been correlated with the Simití, Tablazo and Paja Formations of the VMM, the upper Tibasosa, Une and Fómeque Formations of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and the Capacho, Aguardiente, Tibú-Mercedes and upper Río Negro Formations of the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy.