Neuquén Basin () is a

sedimentary basin Sedimentary basins are region-scale depressions of the Earth's crust where subsidence has occurred and a thick sequence of sediments have accumulated to form a large three-dimensional body of sedimentary rock They form when long-term subsidence ...

covering most of

Neuquén Province Neuquén () is a Provinces of Argentina, province of Argentina, located in the west of the country, at the northern end of Patagonia. It borders Mendoza Province to the north, Rio Negro Province to the southeast, and Chile to the west. It also me ...

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

. The basin originated in the

Jurassic The Jurassic ( ) is a Geological period, geologic period and System (stratigraphy), stratigraphic system that spanned from the end of the Triassic Period million years ago (Mya) to the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, approximately 143.1 Mya. ...

and developed through alternating continental and marine conditions well into the

Tertiary Tertiary (from Latin, meaning 'third' or 'of the third degree/order..') may refer to: * Tertiary period, an obsolete geologic period spanning from 66 to 2.6 million years ago * Tertiary (chemistry), a term describing bonding patterns in organic ch ...

. The basin bounds to the west with the

Andean Volcanic Belt The Andean Volcanic Belt is a major volcanic belt along the Andean cordillera in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. It is formed as a result of subduction of the Nazca plate and Antarctic plate underneath the South Americ ...

, to the southeast with the North Patagonian Massif and to the northeast with the San Rafael Block and to the east with the Sierra Pintada System. The basin covers an area of approximately .Howell et al., 2005 One age of the SALMA classification, the Colloncuran, is defined in the basin, based on the

Collón Curá Formation The Collón Curá Formation () is a Middle Miocene fossiliferous geological formation of the southern Neuquén Basin in northwestern Patagonia and the western Cañadón Asfalto Basin of central Patagonia, Argentina. The formation crops out fro ...

, named after the Collón Curá River, a tributary of the Limay River.

Description

Jurassic and

Cretaceous The Cretaceous ( ) is a geological period that lasted from about 143.1 to 66 mya (unit), million years ago (Mya). It is the third and final period of the Mesozoic Era (geology), Era, as well as the longest. At around 77.1 million years, it is the ...

marine transgression A marine transgression is a geologic event where sea level rises relative to the land and the shoreline moves toward higher ground, resulting in flooding. Transgressions can be caused by the land sinking or by the ocean basins filling with water ...

s from the Pacific are recorded in the sediments of Neuquén Basin. These marine sediments belong to Cuyo Group, Tordillo Formation, Auquilco Formation and Vaca Muerta. In the Late Cretaceous, conditions in the neighboring

Andean orogeny The Andean orogeny () is an ongoing process of orogeny that began in the Early Jurassic and is responsible for the rise of the Andes mountains. The orogeny is driven by a reactivation of a long-lived subduction system along the western margin o ...

changed. A

marine regression A marine regression is a geological process occurring when areas of submerged seafloor are exposed during a drop in sea level. The opposite event, marine transgression, occurs when flooding from the sea covers previously-exposed land. Descript ...

occurred and the fold and thrust belts of Malargüe (36°00 S), Chos Malal (37° S) and Agrio (38° S) started to develop in the Andes and did so until

Eocene The Eocene ( ) is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago (Ma). It is the second epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), Era. The name ''Eocene'' comes ...

times. This meant an advance of the Andean orogenic deformation since the Late Cretaceous that made the western part of Neuquén Basin to stack in the Malargüe and Agrio fold and thrust belts.Rojas et al., 2016 This caused a shift in deposition from Pacific to Early Atlantic.Ponce et al., 2015, p.10 In the south of Mendoza Province, the Guañacos fold and thrust belt (36.5° S) appeared and grew in the

Pliocene The Pliocene ( ; also Pleiocene) is the epoch (geology), epoch in the geologic time scale that extends from 5.33 to 2.58Pleistocene The Pleistocene ( ; referred to colloquially as the ''ice age, Ice Age'') is the geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was fin ...

consuming the western fringes of the Neuquén Basin.Ramos & Mahlburg Kay, 2006

Tectonics

The Huincul basement high or Huincul ridge () is a geological structure that divides Neuquén Basin in two parts.Mosquera & Ramos, 2006Pángaro et al., 2009 The basement high is one of the most studied features of Neuquén Basin given its importance for

hydrocarbon exploration Hydrocarbon exploration (or oil and gas exploration) is the search by petroleum geologists and geophysicists for hydrocarbon deposits, particularly petroleum and natural gas, in the Earth's crust using petroleum geology. Exploration methods ...

and exploitation. All over the basement high runs an approximate length of . There have been proposals on the nature of this structure. In the 1970s and 1980s it was proposed by that it was a transpressive fault zone. In 2009, Pángaro described it as being made up of inverted half-grabens.

Unconformities An unconformity is a buried erosion surface, erosional or non-depositional surface separating two Rock (geology), rock masses or Stratum, strata of different ages, indicating that sediment deposition was not continuous. In general, the older layer ...

have been registered in the basin and were dated at 98, 117, 123, 129, 134 and 154 Ma.Leanza, 2017, p.150

Stratigraphy

The basin contains many stratigraphic units from the Triassic onwards, with large regional variations from east to west and north to south, often described as different formations that are laterally equivalent, this list is a comprehensive overview of described formations: ;Cenozoic * Tromen Formation (

Holocene The Holocene () is the current geologic time scale, geological epoch, beginning approximately 11,700 years ago. It follows the Last Glacial Period, which concluded with the Holocene glacial retreat. The Holocene and the preceding Pleistocene to ...

)Onnis et al., 2018, p.38 * Cerro Campanario Formation (

Late Pleistocene The Late Pleistocene is an unofficial Age (geology), age in the international geologic timescale in chronostratigraphy, also known as the Upper Pleistocene from a Stratigraphy, stratigraphic perspective. It is intended to be the fourth division ...

-Holocene) * El Puente Formation (

Middle Pleistocene The Chibanian, more widely known as the Middle Pleistocene (its previous informal name), is an Age (geology), age in the international geologic timescale or a Stage (stratigraphy), stage in chronostratigraphy, being a division of the Pleistocen ...

) * Chapúa Formation (

Early Pleistocene The Early Pleistocene is an unofficial epoch (geology), sub-epoch in the international geologic timescale in chronostratigraphy, representing the earliest division of the Pleistocene Epoch within the ongoing Quaternary Period. It is currently esti ...

) * Agua de la Caldera Formation (Pleistocene)Hoja Geológica 3969-II, 2007, p.6 * El Sauzal Formation (Pleistocene) * Coyocho Formation (

Middle Miocene The Middle Miocene is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), epoch made up of two Stage (stratigraphy), stages: the Langhian and Serravallian stages. The Middle Miocene is preceded by the Early Miocene. The sub-epoch lasted from 15.97 ± 0. ...

-Early Pleistocene) * Bayo Mesa Formation (Late Pliocene to Pleistocene)Kramarz et al., 2005, p.276 * Los Pinos Formation (Late Pliocene)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.425 * Pampa Encima Formation (

Late Pliocene Late or LATE may refer to: Everyday usage * Tardy, or late, not being on time * Late (or the late) may refer to a person who is dead Music * Late (The 77s album), ''Late'' (The 77s album), 2000 * Late (Alvin Batiste album), 1993 * Late!, a pseudo ...

)Lebinson et al., 2018, p.252 * Chenqueniyeu Formation (Pliocene)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.426 * Chapelcó Formation (Pliocene) * Rincón Bayo Formation ( Middle Pliocene) * Chos Malal-Trahalhué Formation (

Late Miocene The Late Miocene (also known as Upper Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), Epoch made up of two faunal stage, stages. The Tortonian and Messinian stages comprise the Late Miocene sub-epoch, which lasted from 11.63 Ma (million ye ...

Early Pliocene Early may refer to: Places in the United States * Early, Iowa, a city * Early, Texas, a city * Early Branch, a stream in Missouri * Early County, Georgia * Fort Early, Georgia, an early 19th century fort Music * Early B, stage name of Jamaican d ...

) * El Palo Formation (Late Miocene to Early Pliocene) * Arroyo Palao Formation (Late Miocene)Balgord, 2017, p.455 * Tristeza Formation (Late Miocene) * Río Negro Formation or Caleufú Formation (Middle to Late Miocene)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.423 * Barranca de los Loros Formation (

) * Collón Cura Formation ( Colloncuran)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.422 * Cerro Bandera Formation ( Colhuehuapian)Kramarz et al., 2015, p.586 * Chichinales Formation ( Colhuehuapian)Agnolin & Chafrat, 2015 * Vaca Mahuida Formation (Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene) * Sierra Negra Formation (

Oligocene The Oligocene ( ) is a geologic epoch (geology), epoch of the Paleogene Geologic time scale, Period that extends from about 33.9 million to 23 million years before the present ( to ). As with other older geologic periods, the rock beds that defin ...

Early Miocene The Early Miocene (also known as Lower Miocene) is a sub-epoch of the Miocene epoch (geology), Epoch made up of two faunal stage, stages: the Aquitanian age, Aquitanian and Burdigalian stages. The sub-epoch lasted from 23.03 ± 0.05 annum, Ma to ...

) * Palauco Formation (Oligocene) * Lolog Formation (Late Eocene)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.421 * Colpilli Formation (

) * Cayanta Formation (

) * Ventana Formation (

Lutetian The Lutetian is, in the geologic timescale, a stage (stratigraphy), stage or age (geology), age in the Eocene. It spans the time between . The Lutetian is preceded by the Ypresian and is followed by the Bartonian. Together with the Bartonian it ...

, early Mustersan)Wilf et al., 2005 * Huitrera Formation (

Paleocene The Paleocene ( ), or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch (geology), epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 mya (unit), million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period (geology), Period in the modern Cenozoic Era (geology), ...

) ;Mesozoic * Malargüe GroupBalgord & Carapa, 2014, p.6 ** Agua de la Piedra Formation ( Deseadan to

) ** Pircala Formation (Paleocene) ** Coihueco Formation (Paleocene) ** El Carrizo Formation (

Danian The Danian is the oldest age or lowest stage of the Paleocene Epoch or Series, of the Paleogene Period or System, and of the Cenozoic Era or Erathem. The beginning of the Danian (and the end of the preceding Maastrichtian) is at the Cretac ...

)Náñez & Malumián, 2019, p.186 ** Roca Formation (

in the south, late Maastrichtian in the north) ** Loncoche Formation (Maastrichtian to Danian) ** Jagüel Formation (middle to late

Maastrichtian The Maastrichtian ( ) is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) geologic timescale, the latest age (geology), age (uppermost stage (stratigraphy), stage) of the Late Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or Upper Cretaceous series (s ...

) ** Allen Formation (middle

Campanian The Campanian is the fifth of six ages of the Late Cretaceous epoch on the geologic timescale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). In chronostratigraphy, it is the fifth of six stages in the Upper Cretaceous Series. Campa ...

to early Maastrichtian) * Diamante Formation (

Cenomanian The Cenomanian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy's (ICS) geological timescale, the oldest or earliest age (geology), age of the Late Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or the lowest stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Upper Cretace ...

) * Neuquén Group ** Río Colorado Subgroup (

Santonian The Santonian is an age in the geologic timescale or a chronostratigraphic stage. It is a subdivision of the Late Cretaceous Epoch or Upper Cretaceous Series. It spans the time between 86.3 ± 0.7 mya ( million years ago) and 83.6 ± 0.7 m ...

to early Campanian) *** Anacleto Formation (early Campanian) *** Bajo de la Carpa Formation (Santonian) ** Río Neuquén Subgroup (late Turonian to Coniacian) *** Plottier Formation (late Coniacian ?to early Santonian) ***

Sierra Barrosa Formation The Sierra Barrosa Formation is a geologic formation of the Neuquén Basin in the northern Patagonian provinces of Mendoza Province, Mendoza and Neuquén Province, Neuquén. The formation dates to the Late Cretaceous, Coniacian, middle to late Con ...

(middle to late Coniacian)Garrido, 2011, p.237 *** Los Bastos Formation (early to middle Coniacian)Garrido, 2011, p.236 *** Portezuelo Formation (late Turonian to early Coniacian) ** Río Limay Subgroup (Cenomanian to early

Turonian The Turonian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy, ICS' geologic timescale, the second age (geology), age in the Late Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch, or a stage (stratigraphy), stage in the Upper Cretaceous series (stratigraphy), ...

) *** Lisandro Formation (late Cenomanian to early Turonian) *** Huincul Formation (late Cenomanian) *** Candeleros Formation (early Cenomanian) * Los Machís Formation (

)Escosteguy & Franchi, 2010, p.420 * Late Mirano unconformity (98 Ma) * Lohan Cura Formation (Late Aptian to

Albian The Albian is both an age (geology), age of the geologic timescale and a stage (stratigraphy), stage in the stratigraphic column. It is the youngest or uppermost subdivision of the Early Cretaceous, Early/Lower Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch/s ...

) * Rayoso Group (

Aptian The Aptian is an age (geology), age in the geologic timescale or a stage (stratigraphy), stage in the stratigraphic column. It is a subdivision of the Early Cretaceous, Early or Lower Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch or series (stratigraphy), S ...

)Gómez Dacal et al., 2018, p.113 ** Rayoso Formation (

) ** Middle Mirano unconformity (117 Ma) ** Huitrín Formation (

) ** La Amarga Formation (

Barremian The Barremian is an age in the geologic timescale (or a chronostratigraphic stage) between 125.77 Ma (million years ago) and 121.4 ± 1.0 Ma (Historically, this stage was placed at 129.4 million to approximately 125 million years ago) It is a ...

to early Aptian) * Early Mirano unconformity (123 Ma) * Centenario Formation (Valanginian) to Barremian)Ponce et al., 2015, p.16 * Mendoza Group (early

Tithonian In the geological timescale, the Tithonian is the latest age (geology), age of the Late Jurassic Epoch and the uppermost stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 149.2 ±0.7 annum, Ma and 143.1 ±0.6 (mi ...

to earliest

Olivo et al., 2016, p.218 ** Agrio Formation (

Hauterivian The Hauterivian is, in the geologic timescale, an age in the Early Cretaceous Epoch or a stage in the Lower Cretaceous Series. It spans the time between 132.6 ± 2 Ma and 125.77 (million years ago). The Hauterivian is preceded by the Valangi ...

to earliest Aptian) or late Valanginian to latest

Voglino, 2017 ** Unconformity (129 Ma) ** Chachao Formation (Valanginian to Hauterivian) ** Unconformity (134 Ma) ** Mulichinco Formation (

Valanginian In the geologic timescale, the Valanginian is an age or stage of the Early or Lower Cretaceous. It spans between 137.05 ± 0.2 Ma and 132.6 ± 0.2 Ma (million years ago). The Valanginian Stage succeeds the Berriasian Stage of the Lower Cretac ...

) ** Bajada Colorada Formation ( Late Berriasian to Early Valanginian) ** Loma Montosa Formation (Berriasian to Valanginian)Ponce et al., 2015, p.18Iñigo et al., 2018 ** Quintuco Formation (Berriasian to Valanginian) ** Picún Leufú Formation (Tithonian to Berriasian) ** Lindero de Piedra FormationPonce et al., 2015, p.27 ** Vaca Muerta (

Berriasian In the geological timescale, the Berriasian is an age/ stage of the Early/Lower Cretaceous. It is the oldest subdivision in the entire Cretaceous. It has been taken to span the time between 143.1 ±0.6 Ma and 137.05 ± 0.2 (million years ago) ...

) ** Quebrada del Sapo Formation (Kimmeridgian) ** Catriel Formation (Kimmeridgian)Geologic Map, 2007, p.147 * Tordillo Formation ( Kimmeridgian) * Unconformity (154 Ma) * Río Damas Formation (

Late Jurassic The Late Jurassic is the third Epoch (geology), epoch of the Jurassic Period, and it spans the geologic time scale, geologic time from 161.5 ± 1.0 to 143.1 ± 0.8 million years ago (Ma), which is preserved in Upper Jurassic stratum, strata.Owen ...

)Mescua et al., 2013, p.105 * Lotena Group ( middle Callovian to late Oxfordian) ** Auquilco Formation ( late Oxfordian) **

La Manga Formation LA most frequently refers to Los Angeles, the second most populous city in the United States of America. La, LA, or L.A. may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Music *La (musical note), or A, the sixth note *"L.A.", a song by Elliott Smit ...

( early Oxfordian) **

Lotena Formation The Lotena Formation is a geologic formation dated from the Callovian, Late Callovian to Oxfordian (stage), Early Oxfordian in the Neuquén Basin in Mendoza Province, Argentina.Callovian to Oxfordian) * Cuyo Group ( Pliensbachian to middle Callovian) ** Challaco Formation (

Bathonian In the geologic timescale the Bathonian is an age (geology), age and stage (stratigraphy), stage of the Middle Jurassic. It lasted from approximately 168.2 ±1.2 annum, Ma to around 165.3 ±1.1 Ma (million years ago). The Bathonian Age succeeds ...

) ** Tábanos Formation ( Callovian) ** Calabozo Formation (Middle Jurassic) ** Punta Rosada FormationPonce et al., 2015, p.17 ** Lajas Formation ( Bajocian to Bathonian) ** Tres Esquinas Formation (

Toarcian The Toarcian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy, ICS' geologic timescale, an age (geology), age and stage (stratigraphy), stage in the Early Jurassic, Early or Lower Jurassic. It spans the time between 184.2 Megaannum, Ma (million ...

to Callovian) **

Los Molles Formation The Los Molles Formation is a geologic formation of Early to Middle Jurassic age, located at northern and central part of Neuquén Basin at Mendoza Shelf in Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the s ...

( Pliensbachian to Callovian) ** Chuchil Formation ( Pliensbachian) * Piedra del Aguila Formation (Early to Middle Jurassic)Zavala, 1993, p.74 * Sañicó Formation (Early to Middle Jurassic) * Sierra Chacaico Formation (Early to Middle Jurassic) * Puesta Araya Formation (Hettangian to Bathonian) * El Freno Formation (Pliensbachian to Toarcian) * Primavera Formation (

Hettangian The Hettangian is the earliest age and lowest stage of the Jurassic Period of the geologic timescale. It spans the time between 201.3 ± 0.2 Ma and 199.3 ± 0.3 Ma (million years ago). The Hettangian follows the Rhaetian (part of the Triass ...

Sinemurian In the geologic timescale, the Sinemurian is an age (geology), age and stage (stratigraphy), stage in the Early Jurassic, Early or Lower Jurassic epoch (geology), Epoch or series (stratigraphy), Series. It spans the time between 199.5 ±0.3 annu ...

) * Lapa Formation (Hettangian to Sinemurian) * Nestares Formation (Early Jurassic)Zavattieri & Mego, 2008, p.484 * Planicie Morada Formation (Late Triassic to Sinemurian)Geologic Map, 2007, p.144 * Paso Flores Formation (Late Triassic) * Milla Michicó Formation (

Late Triassic The Late Triassic is the third and final epoch (geology), epoch of the Triassic geologic time scale, Period in the geologic time scale, spanning the time between annum, Ma and Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by the Middle Triassic Epoch a ...

) * Remoredo Formation (

) * Chihuido Formation (

) * Tronqulmalal Formation ( Mid-

) *

Cordillera del Viento Formation A cordillera is a chain or network of mountain ranges, such as those in the west coast of the Americas. The term is borrowed from Spanish, where the word comes from , a diminutive of ('rope'). The term is most commonly used in physical geogra ...

( Early to

Middle Triassic In the geologic timescale, the Middle Triassic is the second of three epoch (geology), epochs of the Triassic period (geology), period or the middle of three series (stratigraphy), series in which the Triassic system (stratigraphy), system is di ...

) ;Paleozoic * Choiyoi Group (

Late Permian Late or LATE may refer to: Everyday usage * Tardy, or late, not being on time * Late (or the late) may refer to a person who is dead Music * ''Late'' (The 77s album), 2000 * Late (Alvin Batiste album), 1993 * Late!, a pseudonym used by Dave Groh ...

-Mid Triassic) ** El Palque Formation ** Horcajos Formation ** Portezuelo del Cenizo Formation ** Tambillos Formation ** Vega de Los Machos Formation

Petroleum geology

The Neuquén Basin is an important oil and gas producing basin in Argentina. Production started in 1918 and accumulated to of oil equivalent in 2004, representing 45% of the oil production in Argentina and 61% of its gas production.Mendiberri et al., 2004, p.1 The basin is also important for unconventionals, with the Vaca Muerta and Los Molles formations being major

shale gas Shale gas is an unconventional natural gas that is found trapped within shale formations. Since the 1990s, a combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing has made large volumes of shale gas more economical to produce, and ...

producers.

Source rock In petroleum geology, source rock is a sedimentary rock which has generated hydrocarbons or which has the potential to generate hydrocarbons. Source rocks are one of the necessary elements of a working petroleum system. They are organic-rich sedim ...

formations are predominantly the Vaca Muerta, and to a lesser extent the Agrio and

s. Reservoir rocks comprise the Mulichinco and Chachao Formations. Deeper reservoirs are the Lotena and Barda Negra Formations.Ponce et al., 2015, p.28 Regional seal rocks are the

evaporite An evaporite () is a water- soluble sedimentary mineral deposit that results from concentration and crystallization by evaporation from an aqueous solution. There are two types of evaporite deposits: marine, which can also be described as oce ...

s of the Auquilco and Huitrín Formations, with local seals the Vaca Muerta, Agrio and Catriel Formations.Ponce et al., 2015, p.29

Notes and references

Notes

References

Bibliography

;Geologic map * ;General * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ;Mesozoic * * * * * * ;Vaca Mahuida Formation * ;Ventana Formation * * ;Chichinales Formation * * ;Cerro Bandera Formation * *