Lagunitas Formation, Cuba
The Lagunitas Formation is a geologic formation in Cuba. The open marine, fluvio-deltaic and lagoonal claystones, limestones and conglomerates preserve fossils dating back to the Early Miocene period.[1] Among others, the fossil primate Paralouatta marianae, the largest primate of the Miocene New World, was found in the formation.[2] Based on microfossils, the age has been determined as Burdigalian.[3]
| Lagunitas Formation Stratigraphic range: Burdigalian | |
|---|---|
| Type | Formation |
| Underlies | Güines Formation |
| Overlies | Las Cuevas Formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Claystone, limestone |
| Other | Conglomerate |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 21.6°N 79.5°W |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 21.9°N 75.7°W |
| Region | Sancti Spíritus Province |
| Country |  |
| Type section | |
| Named by | Popov |
  Lagunitas Formation, Cuba (Cuba) | |
Description
The type locality designated by Popov is a small outcrop located 1.2 to 3.0 kilometres (0.75 to 1.86 mi) east of Trinidad, on the highway linking Trinidad and Banao. The youngest lithostratigraphic unit overlain by Lagunitas is the Oligocene Las Cuevas Formation in the type section. Lagunitas is in turn overlain by the Middle Miocene Güines Formation and younger sediments.[4]
Regional correlation
Partial temporal and lithological equivalents of the Lagunitas Formation situated elsewhere in Cuba include the Arabos, Paso Real, Rosario and Magantilla Formations. In Hispaniola, the formation can be roughly correlated in age and lithology with the Maissade and Yanigua Formations. In Puerto Rico the most similar unit is the Cibao Formation.[5]
Vertebrate fossil content
- Hemipristis serra[6]
- Imagocnus zazae[7]
- Negaprion brevirostris[8]
- Paralouatta marianae[7]
- Sphyrna mokarran[8]
- Zazamys veronicae[7]
- Metaxytherium sp.[7]
- Myliobatis sp.[8]
- Odontoceti indet.[7]
- Pelomedusoides indet.[7]
See also
- List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Cuba
References
- Lagunitas Formation at Fossilworks.org
- MacPhee et al., 2003, p.16
- MacPhee et al., 2003, p.1
- MacPhee et al., 2003, p.6
- MacPhee et al., 2003, p.7
- Iturralde Vinent et al., 1996, p.20
- MacPhee et al., 2003, p.4
- Iturralde Vinent et al., 1996, p.21
Bibliography
- Bermúdez, Pedro J. 1961. Las formaciones geológicas de Cuba. Geología Cubana 1. 1–180. Accessed 2019-02-06.
- Iturralde Vinent, Manuel; G. Hubbell, and R. Rojas. 1996. Catalogue of Cuban fossil Elasmobranchii (Paleocene to Pliocene) and paleogeographic implications of their Lower to Middle Miocene occurrence. Boletín de la Sociedad Jamaicana de Geología 31. 7–21. Accessed 2019-02-06.
- MacPhee, R.D.E.; Iturralde Vinent M.A., and E.S. Gaffney. 2003. Domo de Zaza, an Early Miocene vertebrate locality in south-central Cuba, with notes on the tectonic evolution of Puerto Rico and the Mona Passage. American Museum Novitates 3394. 1–42. Accessed 2019-02-06.