The Socotá Formation (Spanish: Formación Socotá, Kis) is a geological formation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. The formation consisting of a lower unit of calcareous sandstones and an upper sequence of shales dates to the Early Cretaceous period; Late Aptian epoch and in Quipile has a measured thickness of 255 metres (837 ft) with large regional variations. The formation hosts ammonite fossils.

Socotá Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Aptian
~115–112 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofVilleta Group
UnderliesEl Peñón Fm., Hiló Fm., Capotes Fm.
OverliesTrincheras Formation
Thicknessmore than 255 m (837 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
OtherShale
Location
Coordinates4°31′19″N 74°33′06″W / 4.52194°N 74.55167°W / 4.52194; -74.55167
RegionAltiplano Cundiboyacense
Eastern Ranges, Andes
Country Colombia
Type section
Named forSocotá, Apulo
Named byCáceres & Etayo
LocationApulo
Year defined1969
Coordinates4°31′19″N 74°33′06″W / 4.52194°N 74.55167°W / 4.52194; -74.55167
RegionCundinamarca
Country Colombia

Paleogeography of Northern South America
120 Ma, by Ron Blakey

Etymology

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The formation was defined as a thicker sequence and named in 1969 by Cáceres and Etayo after Socotá, a vereda of Apulo, Cundinamarca.[1] The name Socotá in Muysccubun, the language of the native Muisca, means either "Land of the Sun and farmfields" or "Good harvest".[2]

Description

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Lithologies

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The Socotá Formation has a maximum thickness of 600 metres (2,000 ft), and is characterised by a lower sequence of calcareous sandstones and an upper part of shales. Fossils of the ammonites Stoyanowiceras treffryanus, Dufrenoyia sanctorum, Parahoplites (?) hubachi, and Acanthoplites (?) leptoceratiforme have been found in the Socotá Formation.[1]

Stratigraphy and depositional environment

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The Socotá Formation overlies the Trincheras Formation and is partly overlain by and partly time equivalent with the El Peñón Formation.[3] In other areas, the formation underlies the Capotes and Hiló Formations.[4][5] The age has been estimated to be Late Aptian. Stratigraphically, the formation is time equivalent with the Tablazo, Caballos and Une Formations.[4][6] The formation has been deposited in a marine platform environment.[1] in terms of sequence stratigraphy, the Socotá Formation is part of a transgressive cycle.[7]

Outcrops

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Type locality of the Socotá Formation to the southwest of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense

The Socotá Formation is apart from its type locality, found from Viotá in the south to Útica in the north.[1] The formation crops out on both sides of the Bogotá River in Anapoima and Apulo.[8][9][10]

Regional correlations

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See also

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  Geology of the Eastern Hills
  Geology of the Ocetá Páramo
  Geology of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Acosta & Ulloa, 2002, p.41
  2. ^ (in Spanish) Etymology Socotá
  3. ^ Acosta & Ulloa, 2002, p.42
  4. ^ a b Villamil, 2012, p.168
  5. ^ Acosta & Ulloa, 2002, p.43
  6. ^ Acosta & Ulloa, 2001, p.16
  7. ^ Villamil, 2012, p.205
  8. ^ García Rivas, 2016
  9. ^ Plancha 227, 1998
  10. ^ Plancha 246, 1998

Bibliography

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  • Acosta Garay, Jorge E.; Ulloa Melo, Carlos E. (2002), Mapa Geológico del Departamento de Cundinamarca - 1:250,000 - Memoria explicativa, INGEOMINAS, pp. 1–108, retrieved 2017-06-05
  • Acosta Garay, Jorge; Ulloa Melo, Carlos E. (2001), Geología de la Plancha 208 Villeta - 1:100,000 (PDF), INGEOMINAS, pp. 1–84, retrieved 2017-06-05
  • Villamil, Tomas (2012), Chronology Relative Sea Level History and a New Sequence Stratigraphic Model for Basinal Cretaceous Facies of Colombia, Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM), pp. 161–216

Maps

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