Boletín de Geología

Vol. 47 No. 1 (2025): Boletín de Geología
Artículos científicos

Lithologic and biostratigraphical characterization of the Toluviejo Formation: Contributions about the paleoenvironments of the Eocene carbonate platforms from northern Colombia

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  • German David Patarroyo,
  • Juan Sebastián Plata,
  • Sergio Andrés Suárez,
  • Gustavo Adolfo Torres,
  • Gabriel Veloza,
  • Josué Alejandro Mora-Bohórquez,
  • Diego Fernando Gómez,
  • José Manuel Torres
German David Patarroyo
Stratos Consultoría Geológica
Juan Sebastián Plata
Universidad Industrial de Santander
Sergio Andrés Suárez
Universidad Industrial de Santander
Gustavo Adolfo Torres
Stratos Consultoría Geológica
Gabriel Veloza
Hocol
Josué Alejandro Mora-Bohórquez
Hocol
Diego Fernando Gómez
Stratos Consultoría Geológica
José Manuel Torres
Florida International University
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18273/revbol.v47n1-2025002

Published 2025-05-06

Keywords

  • Carbonates,
  • San Jacinto Fold Belt,
  • Geochemistry,
  • Paleoenvironments,
  • Paleogene,
  • Petrography
    • ...More
    Less

How to Cite

Patarroyo, G. D., Plata, J. S., Suárez, S. A., Torres, G. A., Veloza, G., Mora-Bohórquez, J. A., Gómez, D. F., & Torres, J. M. (2025). Lithologic and biostratigraphical characterization of the Toluviejo Formation: Contributions about the paleoenvironments of the Eocene carbonate platforms from northern Colombia. Boletín De Geología, 47(1), 43–61. https://doi.org/10.18273/revbol.v47n1-2025002

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Abstract

This study aims to understand the paleoenvironmental conditions of the Toluviejo Formation (San Jacinto Fold Belt, Colombian Caribbean). To achieve this a petrographic analysis of the El Hueso section (Córdoba, Colombia), as well as a geochemical evaluation of some elements present in the rock (Sr, Ba, Fe, Ca, V, Cu, Al) were conducted. The petrographic analyses reveal that the sedimentary succession is mainly composed of bioclastic limestones (grainstone), dominated by large benthic foraminifers (families Nummulitidae, Lepidocyclinidae, Soritiidae, and Discocyclinidae), and calcareous algae, with a moderate to low degree of diagenesis in some samples. The foraminiferal assemblages indicate a middle Eocene (Late Lutetian to Bartonian) age, which agrees with age definitions for other sections of this unit. Petrofacial analysis identifies 3 groups based on variations in the proportions of large benthic foraminifers and calcareous algae, indicative of a middle carbonate ramp. Although the lithology and composition of the El Hueso section are generally homogeneous, the variations in its main bioclasts, as well as the Fe/Ca and Sr/Ba geochemical ratios, suggest minor changes in the energy conditions, terrigenous input, and paleosalinity (probably linked to eustatic variations) for the basal part of the succession. Furthermore, the degree of bioclast preservation and the distribution of elements sensitive to bottom water oxygenation variations (V/Al, Cu/Al) indicate low-stress paleoenvironmental conditions.

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