Marine Paleoenvironments of Miocene-Pliocene Formations of North-Central Falcon State, Venezuela

A study of Miocene to Pliocene formations in north-central Falcón State, Venezuela, reveals significant paleoenvironmental changes over time. The research found that the Urumaco Formation experienced highly variable, low-salinity conditions typical of an inner shelf environment, while deeper marine environments characterized the Codore and La Vela formations. The San Gregorio Formation transitioned from estuarine to inner shelf settings. Cluster analysis of well-preserved foraminiferal samples indicated fluctuating water depths, suggesting a stable marine platform during the deposition of the Caujarao and lower La Vela formations. These findings support the interpretation that the Falcón basin experienced an eastward progression of inversion from Miocene to Pliocene time, with shallower facies in the west and deeper facies in the east. The study compares these shelf sequences to similar formations in Venezuela and Colombia.

Smith, C. J., Collins, L. S., Jaramillo, C., & Quiroz, L. I. (2010). MARINE PALEOENVIRONMENTS OF MIOCENE-PLIOCENE FORMATIONS OF NORTH-CENTRAL FALCON STATE, VENEZUELA. The Journal of Foraminiferal Research, 40(3), 266–282. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsjfr.40.3.266