Macanal Formation

Macanal Formation
Stratigraphic range: Berriasian-Valanginian
~140–132 Ma
Outcrop of the Macanal Formation along the road between Bogotá and Villavicencio
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofCáqueza Group
UnderliesLas Juntas Formation
OverliesGuavio Fm., Santa Rosa Fm., Ubalá Fm., Chivor Fm., Batá Fm.
Thicknessup to 2,935 m (9,629 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryOrganic shale
OtherLimestone, gypsum, emeralds
Location
Coordinates4°58′19″N 73°19′10″W / 4.97194°N 73.31944°W / 4.97194; -73.31944
RegionAltiplano Cundiboyacense & Tenza Valley
 Eastern Ranges
  Andes
CountryColombia
Type section
Named forMacanal
Named byRodríguez & Ulloa
LocationMacanal
Year defined1979
Coordinates4°58′19″N 73°19′10″W / 4.97194°N 73.31944°W / 4.97194; -73.31944
RegionBoyacá
CountryColombia

The Macanal Formation or Macanal Shale (Spanish: (Formación) Lutitas de Macanal, Kilm, K1m) is a fossiliferous geological formation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense and Tenza Valley in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. The predominantly organic shale formation dates to the Early Cretaceous period; Berriasian to Valanginian epochs and has a maximum thickness of 2,935 metres (9,629 ft). The Macanal Formation contains numerous levels of fossiliferous abundances. Bivalves, ammonites and fossil flora have been found in the formation.

The formation is a source rock for oil and gas in the Eastern Cordillera Basin and adjacent Llanos Basin foothills and provides emeralds in the vicinity of Macanal, after which the formation is named.

Etymology

The formation was defined and named in 1979 by Rodríguez and Ulloa after Macanal, Cundinamarca. The name Macanal is either derived from the Muysccubun word Macana, meaning garrote, or from the Macana palm tree.

Description

Lithologies

Fractured sample of the Macanal Formation

The Macanal Formation has a maximum thickness of 2,935 metres (9,629 ft), and is characterised by a sequence of micaceous organic shales, with calcite veins and gypsum occurrences intercalated in the formation. The Macanal Formation contains high values of TOC. In the Eastern Cordillera Basin and the adjacent foothills of the Llanos Basin, the Macanal Formation is a source rock for oil and gas. In the vicinity of Macanal, the formation provides emeralds.

Stratigraphy and depositional environment

The Macanal Formation, a unit of the Cáqueza Group, concordantly overlies the Guavio, Santa Rosa, Ubalá, Chivor and Batá Formations, and is concordantly overlain by the Las Juntas Formation. The age has been estimated to be Berriasian to Valanginian. Stratigraphically, the formation is time equivalent with the Mercedes, Tambor, Rosablanca, Murca and La Naveta Formations. The formation has been deposited in a shallow marine environment in an enclosed basin, with as provenance areas the Santander High and the Guiana Shield. The Macanal Formation is part of the syn-rift sequence of eastern Colombia.

Fossil content

The Macanal Formation contains numerous levels of fossiliferous abundances. Bivalves, ammonites and flora have been found in the formation. Ammonites of Substeueroceras cf. mutabile, Sarasinella cf. hondana, Subalpinites sp., Berriasela sp., Neocomites cf. wichmanni, Olcostephanus sp., Olcostephanus cf. atherstoni, Favrella cf. colombiana, Acanthodiscus sp. have been registered in the formation, as well as bivalves of Corbis (Sphaera) cf. corrugata, Trigonia cf. hondana, Trigonia (Buchotrigonia) cf. abrupta, Trigonia (Notoscabrotrigonia) cf. tocaimaana, and Exogyra cf. boussingaulti. Analysis of the deformation registered in ammonite fossils has helped in understanding the tectonic history of the Llanos foothills of the Eastern Ranges.

Outcrops

The Macanal Formation is found bordering the Guavio Reservoir
Macanal Formation is located in the Altiplano Cundiboyacense
Macanal Formation
Type locality of the Macanal Formation in the Tenza Valley to the east of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense

The Macanal Formation is apart from its type locality in the Batá River canyon, found in the Cravo Sur anticline, east of the Ocetá Páramo, in the Desespero Synclinal in the southern and northern parts of Labranzagrande, around Páez and Campohermoso, in the eastern part of Gama, bordering the Guavio Reservoir, and in the Servitá Synclinal, west of Villavicencio. The Macanal Formation crops out along the road between Bogotá and Villavicencio and is there heavily fractured and folded. The Macanal Formation is the most extensive formation around Cáqueza, and Gachalá, Cundinamarca.

The Pajarito Fault thrusts the Macanal Formation on top of the Fómeque Formation to the east of Lake Tota, and the Chámeza Fault thrusts the Macanal Formation on top of the overlying Las Juntas Formation around Chámeza, Casanare. The Ubaque Fault forms the contact between the Fómeque Formation and the Macanal Formation, while the Las Mercedes Fault puts the Quetame Group in contact with the Macanal Formation near Quetame, as does the San Juanito Fault. The Servitá Fault forms the contact between the Guatiquía Redbeds and the Macanal Formation, and the Upín Fault, part of the same system puts the Macanal Formation in contact with the Tertiary Palmichal Group. At this contact, brines are extracted from the formation.

Regional correlations

Stratigraphy of the Llanos Basin and surrounding provinces
MaAgePaleomapRegional eventsCatatumboCordilleraproximal Llanosdistal LlanosPutumayoVSMEnvironmentsMaximum thicknessPetroleum geologyNotes
0.01Holocene
Holocene volcanism
Seismic activity		alluviumOverburden
1Pleistocene
Pleistocene volcanism
Andean orogeny 3
Glaciations		GuayaboSoatá
Sabana		NecesidadGuayaboGigante
Alluvial to fluvial (Guayabo)550 m (1,800 ft)
(Guayabo)
2.6Pliocene
Pliocene volcanism
Andean orogeny 3
GABI		Subachoque
5.3MessinianAndean orogeny 3
Foreland		MarichuelaCaimánHonda
13.5LanghianRegional floodingLeónhiatusCajaLeónLacustrine (León)400 m (1,300 ft)
(León)		Seal
16.2BurdigalianMiocene inundations
Andean orogeny 2		C1Carbonera C1OspinaProximal fluvio-deltaic (C1)850 m (2,790 ft)
(Carbonera)		Reservoir
17.3C2Carbonera C2Distal lacustrine-deltaic (C2)Seal
19C3Carbonera C3Proximal fluvio-deltaic (C3)Reservoir
21Early MiocenePebas wetlandsC4Carbonera C4BarzalosaDistal fluvio-deltaic (C4)Seal
23Late Oligocene
Andean orogeny 1
Foredeep		C5Carbonera C5OritoProximal fluvio-deltaic (C5)Reservoir
25C6Carbonera C6Distal fluvio-lacustrine (C6)Seal
28Early OligoceneC7C7PepinoGualandayProximal deltaic-marine (C7)Reservoir
32Oligo-EoceneC8UsmeC8onlapMarine-deltaic (C8)Seal
Source
35Late Eocene
MiradorMiradorCoastal (Mirador)240 m (790 ft)
(Mirador)		Reservoir
40Middle EoceneRegaderahiatus
45
50Early Eocene
SochaLos CuervosDeltaic (Los Cuervos)260 m (850 ft)
(Los Cuervos)		Seal
Source
55Late PaleocenePETM
2000 ppm CO2		Los CuervosBogotáGualanday
60Early PaleoceneSALMABarcoGuaduasBarcoRumiyacoFluvial (Barco)225 m (738 ft)
(Barco)		Reservoir
65Maastrichtian
KT extinctionCatatumboGuadalupeMonserrateDeltaic-fluvial (Guadalupe)750 m (2,460 ft)
(Guadalupe)		Reservoir
72CampanianEnd of riftingColón-Mito Juan
83SantonianVilleta/Güagüaquí
86Coniacian
89TuronianCenomanian-Turonian anoxic eventLa LunaChipaqueGachetáhiatusRestricted marine (all)500 m (1,600 ft)
(Gachetá)		Source
93Cenomanian
Rift 2
100AlbianUneUneCaballosDeltaic (Une)500 m (1,600 ft)
(Une)		Reservoir
113Aptian
CapachoFómequeMotemaYavíOpen marine (Fómeque)800 m (2,600 ft)
(Fómeque)		Source (Fóm)
125BarremianHigh biodiversityAguardientePajaShallow to open marine (Paja)940 m (3,080 ft)
(Paja)		Reservoir
129Hauterivian
Rift 1Tibú-
Mercedes		Las JuntashiatusDeltaic (Las Juntas)910 m (2,990 ft)
(Las Juntas)		Reservoir (LJun)
133ValanginianRío NegroCáqueza
Macanal
Rosablanca		Restricted marine (Macanal)2,935 m (9,629 ft)
(Macanal)		Source (Mac)
140BerriasianGirón
145TithonianBreak-up of PangeaJordánArcabucoBuenavista
SaldañaAlluvial, fluvial (Buenavista)110 m (360 ft)
(Buenavista)		"Jurassic"
150Early-Mid Jurassic
Passive margin 2La Quinta
Noreán		hiatusCoastal tuff (La Quinta)100 m (330 ft)
(La Quinta)
201Late Triassic
MucuchachiPayandé
235Early Triassic
Pangeahiatus"Paleozoic"
250Permian
300Late Carboniferous
Famatinian orogenyCerro Neiva
()
340Early CarboniferousFossil fish
Romer's gap		Cuche
(355-385)		Farallones
()		Deltaic, estuarine (Cuche)900 m (3,000 ft)
(Cuche)
360Late Devonian
Passive margin 1Río Cachirí
(360-419)		Ambicá
()		Alluvial-fluvial-reef (Farallones)2,400 m (7,900 ft)
(Farallones)
390Early Devonian
High biodiversityFloresta
(387-400)
Shallow marine (Floresta)600 m (2,000 ft)
(Floresta)
410Late SilurianSilurian mystery
425Early Silurianhiatus
440Late Ordovician
Rich fauna in BoliviaSan Pedro
(450-490)		Duda
()
470Early OrdovicianFirst fossilsBusbanzá
(>470±22)
Guape
()		Río Nevado
()
488Late Cambrian
Regional intrusionsChicamocha
(490-515)		Quetame
()		Ariarí
()		SJ del Guaviare
(490-590)		San Isidro
()
515Early CambrianCambrian explosion
542Ediacaran
Break-up of Rodiniapre-Quetamepost-ParguazaEl Barro
()		Yellow: allochthonous basement
(Chibcha terrane)
Green: autochthonous basement
(Río Negro-Juruena Province)		Basement
600NeoproterozoicCariri Velhos orogenyBucaramanga
(600-1400)		pre-Guaviare
800
Snowball Earth
1000Mesoproterozoic
Sunsás orogenyAriarí
(1000)		La Urraca
(1030-1100)
1300Rondônia-Juruá orogenypre-AriaríParguaza
(1300-1400)		Garzón
(1180-1550)
1400
pre-Bucaramanga
1600PaleoproterozoicMaimachi
(1500-1700)		pre-Garzón
1800
Tapajós orogenyMitú
(1800)
1950Transamazonic orogenypre-Mitú
2200Columbia
2530Archean
Carajas-Imataca orogeny
3100Kenorland
Sources
Legend

See also

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

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ↑ based on Duarte et al. (2019), García González et al. (2009), and geological report of Villavicencio
  2. ↑ based on Duarte et al. (2019) and the hydrocarbon potential evaluation performed by the UIS and ANH in 2009

References

  1. ↑ Acosta & Ulloa, 2002, p.51
  2. 1 2 Rodríguez & Solano, 2000, p.47
  3. ↑ (in Spanish) Official website Macanal[link removed]
  4. ↑ (in Spanish) Etymology Municipalities Boyacá
  5. 1 2 Acosta & Ulloa, 2002, p.52
  6. ↑ García González et al., 2009, p.49
  7. ↑ Uribe, 1960, p.5
  8. ↑ ANM, 2015, p.1
  9. ↑ Terraza et al., 2013, p.110
  10. ↑ Villamil, 2012, p.168
  11. ↑ Villamil, 2012, p.165
  12. ↑ Schütz, 2012, p.26
  13. ↑ Patiño et al., 2011, p.45
  14. ↑ Piraquive et al., 2011, p.204
  15. ↑ Montaña Cárdenas, 2015, p.52
  16. ↑ Rodríguez & Solano, 2000, p.46
  17. 1 2 Plancha 210, 2010
  18. ↑ Plancha 172, 1998
  19. ↑ Plancha 193, 1992
  20. ↑ Pinto Valderrama et al., 2010, p.44
  21. ↑ Plancha 228, 1998
  22. ↑ Plancha 266, 1998
  23. ↑ Patiño et al., 2011, p.44
  24. ↑ Terraza et al., 2013, p.101
  25. ↑ Plancha 192, 1998
  26. ↑ Plancha 211, 2009
  27. ↑ Patiño et al., 2011, p.102
  28. ↑ Patiño et al., 2011, p.110
  29. ↑ Patiño et al., 2011, p.114
  30. ↑ Patiño et al., 2011, p.122
  31. ↑ Patiño et al., 2011, p.123
  32. ↑ Patiño et al., 2011, p.125
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 García González et al., 2009, p.27
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 6 García González et al., 2009, p.50
  35. 1 2 García González et al., 2009, p.85
  36. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Barrero et al., 2007, p.60
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Barrero et al., 2007, p.58
  38. ↑ Plancha 111, 2001, p.29
  39. 1 2 Plancha 177, 2015, p.39
  40. 1 2 Plancha 111, 2001, p.26
  41. ↑ Plancha 111, 2001, p.24
  42. ↑ Plancha 111, 2001, p.23
  43. 1 2 Pulido & Gómez, 2001, p.32
  44. ↑ Pulido & Gómez, 2001, p.30
  45. 1 2 Pulido & Gómez, 2001, pp.21-26
  46. ↑ Pulido & Gómez, 2001, p.28
  47. ↑ Correa Martínez et al., 2019, p.49
  48. ↑ Plancha 303, 2002, p.27
  49. ↑ Terraza et al., 2008, p.22
  50. ↑ Plancha 229, 2015, pp.46-55
  51. ↑ Plancha 303, 2002, p.26
  52. ↑ Moreno Sánchez et al., 2009, p.53
  53. ↑ Mantilla Figueroa et al., 2015, p.43
  54. ↑ Manosalva Sánchez et al., 2017, p.84
  55. 1 2 Plancha 303, 2002, p.24
  56. 1 2 Mantilla Figueroa et al., 2015, p.42
  57. ↑ Arango Mejía et al., 2012, p.25
  58. ↑ Plancha 350, 2011, p.49
  59. ↑ Pulido & Gómez, 2001, pp.17-21
  60. ↑ Plancha 111, 2001, p.13
  61. ↑ Plancha 303, 2002, p.23
  62. ↑ Plancha 348, 2015, p.38
  63. ↑ Planchas 367-414, 2003, p.35
  64. ↑ Toro Toro et al., 2014, p.22
  65. ↑ Plancha 303, 2002, p.21
  66. 1 2 3 4 Bonilla et al., 2016, p.19
  67. ↑ Gómez Tapias et al., 2015, p.209
  68. 1 2 Bonilla et al., 2016, p.22
  69. 1 2 Duarte et al., 2019
  70. ↑ García González et al., 2009
  71. ↑ Pulido & Gómez, 2001
  72. ↑ García González et al., 2009, p.60

Bibliography

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