Lipeón Formation

The Lipeón Formation is a Telychian to Pridoli geologic formation of southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. The formation comprises sandstones and siltstones. Plant fossils comprising rhyniophytes (specifically Aberlemnia, Steganotheca, Tarrantia, Hostinella and Cooksonia) are scattered throughout, with some abundant concentrations on micaceous bedding plains. The fossil flora is the oldest of South America.^[1][2] Also present were quite diverse small, irregularly branching fragments possibly the tips of algae such as Buthotrephis or Hungerfordia.^[3]

Lipeón Formation
Stratigraphic range: Homerian ~426–423 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Geological formation
Underlies	Baritú Formation
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone
Other	Siltstone
Location
Coordinates	17.8°S 64.8°W / -17.8; -64.8
Approximate paleocoordinates	52.8°S 121.7°W / -52.8; -121.7
Region	Tarija Department Jujuy Province
Country	Bolivia Argentina
Extent	Oriental
Lipeón Formation (Bolivia)

Correlations

The Lipeón Formation is laterally equivalent to the Kirusillas Formation.^[4][5][6] The formation is a potential source rock for shale oil and shale gas.^[7]

Fossil content

The formation has provided the following fossils:

• Ornatosinuitina reyesi
• Slimonia boliviana^[8]
• Styliolina sp.
• Lingulata indet.

Flora

• Aberlemnia^[3]
• Cooksonia
• Hostinella
• Steganotheca
• Tarrantia

See also

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Bolivia
  • Kirusillas Formation
  • Llallagua Formation