Chaco Basin

Chaco Basin
Cuenca Chaco, Cuenca Chaco Paranaense
Map showing the location of Chaco Basin
Map showing the location of Chaco Basin
Location of the basin in South America
Coordinates25°S 60°W / 25°S 60°W / -25; -60
EtymologyChaco
LocationCentral South America
RegionGran Chaco
 Paraná Basin
Country Argentina
 Bolivia
 Paraguay
State(s)Chaco, Formosa
Chuquisaca, Santa Cruz, Tarija
Alto Paraguay, Boquerón
CitiesFiladelfia
Characteristics
On/OffshoreOnshore
BoundariesAndes
Part ofAndean foreland basins
Hydrology
River(s)Paraguay, Paraná
Geology
Basin typeForeland basin
OrogenyAndean
AgePaleozoic-Holocene
StratigraphyStratigraphy

The Chaco Basin (Spanish: Cuenca Chaco, Spanish: Cuenca Chaco Paranaense or Spanish: Cuenca Chaco-Paraná) is a major sedimentary basin in Central South America around the borders of Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay. The basin forms part of the larger Paraná Basin. Superficially, the Chaco Basin is an alluvial basin composed of land-derived (in contrast to marine sediments) material, mostly fine sand and clays of Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary age. On deeper levels the Paraguayan Chaco is made up by four sub-basins, the Pirizal, Pilar, Carandaity and Curupaity basins.[1][2]

Stratigraphy[edit]

The basin is part of the megaregional Paraná Basin, of which it occupies its western portion. The basin is subdivided into the Western Chaco (Chaco Occidental) and Eastern Chaco (Chaco Oriental). The Paleozoic stratigraphy of the Chaco Basin comprises the Middle to Late Carboniferous Sachayoj Formation, the Late Carboniferous Charata Formation and the Early Permian Chacabuco Formation.[3] The Neogene cover contains the Late Miocene Paraná Formation,[4] the Late Pleistocene (Lujanian in the SALMA classification) Chaco Formation,[5][6] also described as Eocene to Miocene,[7] and the substratum-forming Fortín Tres Pozos Formation in the Formosa Province of northern Argentina.[8][9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Zhang, Lei (1 September 2018). "Geological Conditions of Tight Gas in Chaco Basin". Proceedings of the 2nd Unconventional Resources Technology Conference. American Association of Petroleum Geologists. doi:10.15530/URTEC-2014-1921799. ISBN 978-0-9912144-1-9. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  2. ^ "President Energy Finds Oil In Paraguay's Chaco Basin". Exploration & Production. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  3. ^ Cuenca Chaco Paranense
  4. ^ Brea et al., 2013, p.28
  5. ^ Quebrada Agua Blanca at Fossilworks.org
  6. ^ Mapa Geológico del Paraguay, 1986, p.42
  7. ^ Filí, 2001, p.28
  8. ^ Zurita et al., 2009, p.279
  9. ^ Soibelzon et al., 2010, p.315

Bibliography[edit]