LA VELA Formation

TERTIARY (upper Miocene)

State of Falcón, Venezuela

Author of name: R. Hodson, G. A. Weaver and C. R. Nichols, 1924 (private report).

Original reference: F Hodson, 1926, p. 174.

Original description: ibid.

Hodson (1926, p. 174) described the "La Vela series" as consisting of "variegated, gypsiferous clays and sandstones; the latter are sometimes conglomeratic". He stated that the type locality of the "La Vela series" is in Río or Quebrada La Vela (also called Mataruca) about one mile northeast of La Vela de Coro, District of Colina, State of Falcón. Liddle (1928, p. 314-326) stated that Hodson, Weaver and Nichols in 1924 applied the term La Vela to sediments which had previously been included in the upper part of the "Damsite formation" (Caujarao formation of later authors). He described the La Vela formation as composed of gypsiferous, variegated, predominantly greenish gray, red-stained, dark, yellowish gray clay-shales and thinly bedded, bluish gray sandstones, weathering brown, and massive, soft, calcareous sandstone, or marly limestone, conformably overlying and grading downward into the underlying "Damsite formation" (Caujarao formation of later authors). Liddle pointed out that the La Vela formation is unconformably overlain by the "Coro conglomerate". He stated that 1500 to 2000 feet of La Vela beds are exposed at the type locality. Liddle mentioned that beds, which are typical of the La Vela formation have been found only in a small area in the northern part of the State of Falcón. He pointed out that an abundant fauna (p. 316) as well as an unquestionable stratigraphic position above the "Damsite formation" (Caujarao formation of later authors), establishes the age of the La Vela as upper Miocene.

Senn (1935, p. 84) cited a thickness of 1,200 meters for the La Vela formation. He stated that the formation is generally considered to be upper Miocene in age. Senn listed Arca centrota Guppy, Arca bowdeniana Dall, Arca reticulate Gmelin, and Turritella planigyrata Guppy as representatives of a molluscan fauna which distinguishes itself only very little from the "Damsite-fauna" and which occurs in the West Indies also in beds younger than upper Miocene.

González de Juana (1937, p. 191-193) pointed out that near La Vela and east of Taratara, the La Vela formation presents at the base the "Curazaíto group" (termed "paquete de Curazaíto" in the Spanish edition, 1937, p. 202). He stated that the "Chiguaje marine zone" (termed "paquete marino de Chiguaje" in the Spanish edition, 1937, p. 202) crops out in the upper part of the La Vela formation. González de Juana claimed that the "Curazaíto group" continues eastward, and due to an unconformity, occupies near Puerto Cumarebo the stratigraphic position of the El Veral beds, in the upper part of the formation. He mentioned that south of Tocóporo and San Patricio, the lower La Vela is composed mostly of yellow and blue clays, interbedded fossil marls, and comparatively few limestones, derived mostly from the underlying Cumarebo limestone. These limestones are known as the Corocorote limestones. He claimed that the total thickness of the La Vela formation changes but that an average approximate thickness of 600 meters may be estimated.

Mencher et al. (1951, correlation chart) showed the La Vela formation in their column on Falcón (Cumarebo) unconformably overlain by the Tucupido formation and conformably overlying the Caujarao formation. The La Vela formation is then shown to be a lateral equivalent of the El Veral formation and to be upper Miocene in age.

At present the "Curazaíto group" of González de Juana (1937, p. 191-192) is considered to be the basal member of the El Veral formation. The reason for this usage is that the type locality of the Curazaíto lies to the east of the La Vela structure and the beds of this unit are continuous and can be traced into the El Veral type locality still further to the east while they are separated by the same La Vela structure from the type locality of the La Vela formation. Similarly the "Chiguaje marine zone" of González de Juana (1937, p. 192) is at present considered to be the middle member of the Codore formation, or to be the middle formation of the Codore group, because the type locality of the Chiguaje lies much further to the west where it is more conveniently included in the Codore formation or group. González de Juana (1937, p. 192) included the Corocorote limestone in his La Vela formation. Present usage includes this limestone in the Caujarao formation. Some geologists no longer use the name La Vela formation because the type section occurs in an area of lateral transition between the Codore formation to the west and the El Veral formation to the east.

Leo Weingeist