Lecho Formation | |
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Stratigraphic range: Early Maastrichtian ~ | |
Type | Geological formation |
Unit of | Salta Group |
Underlies | Yacoraite Formation |
Overlies | Los Blanquitos Formation |
Lithology | |
Primary | Sandstone |
Location | |
Coordinates | 26°06′S 65°24′W / 26.1°S 65.4°W |
Approximate paleocoordinates | 28°36′S 52°00′W / 28.6°S 52.0°W |
Region | Jujuy, Salta |
Country | Argentina |
Extent | Salta Basin |
The Lecho Formation is a geological formation in the Salta Basin of the provinces Jujuy and Salta of northwestern Argentina. Its strata date back to the Early Maastrichtian, and is a unit of the Salta Group. The fine-grained bioturbated sandstones of the formation were deposited in a fluvial to lacustrine coastal plain environment.
Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1]
According to Frankfurt and Chiappe (1999), the Lecho Formation is composed of reddish sandstones. The Lecho is part of the Upper/Late Cretaceous Balbuena Subgroup (Salta Group), which is a near-border stratigraphic unit of the Andean sedimentary basin. Fossils from this formation include the titanosaur Saltasaurus along with a variety of avian and non-avian theropods.