CHARALLAVE, Conglomerate

State of Miranda, Venezuela

MIDDLE or UPPER MESOZOIC

Authors of name: S. E. Aguerrevere and G. Zuloaga, 1937.

Original reference: S.E. Aguerrevere and G. Zuloaga, 1937, p. 17.

Original description: ibid.

S. E. Aguerrevere and G. Zuloaga (1937, p. 17) in describing the "Villa de Cura series", used the name Charallave conglomerate to designate a unit located at the base of the "Villa de Cura series" "composed almost exclusively of rounded and subrounded units of smoky (chiefly) and white (to less extent) quartz with a siliceous cement". In the stratigraphic sequence it follows white quartzites, the best development of which was found along the road from Tinaquillo to El Cogollo, in the State of Cojedes. The type locality is "near the village of Charallave".

The same authors (1938, p. 281-282) redefine the unit, now called "Charallave formation", in order to include an overlying interval composed of some 200 m. of "sugary white quartzite", besides the 50 to 100 m. thick basal conglomerate". The so-called "Charallave formation" was considered sea the upper part of what was known as "Villa de Cura group". This name is obsolete.

Aguerrevere and Zuloaga (1938, p. 282) state that the "Charallave conglomerate" constitute an excellent key horizon. They further state: "The Charallave formation occupies a belt with an approximate N75° E trend passing through Magdaleno, on the eastern shore of lake Valencia, passes through Km. 107 of the highway Caracas-Villa de Cura (a few kilometers north of the latter) and continues to the type-locality".

Smith (1952, fg. 5, p. 341 and 359-360) places the Charallave conglo merate within Las Mercedes formation and below the "Los Colorados limestone" Said author (p. 360) indicates that the conglomerate crops out as lenses up to 10 m. thick, in various horizons approximately equivalent. Smith does not really mention the overlying interval of quartzites mentioned by Aguerrevere and Zuloaga.

(See LAS MERCEDES FORMATION)

J. M. Sellier de Civrieux