OROCUE, Group

UPPER CRETACEOUS-TERTIARY (lower Eocene)

Department Of Santander del Norte, Colombia

Author of name: H. D. Hedberg (private report).

Original reference: F. B. Notestein et al. 1944, p. 1186.

Original description: ibid.

The Orocué group of Notestein et al. (1944, p. 1186) has a thickness of 500-600 meters. It takes its name from, and is believed to correlate with, the Orocué formation, which Hedberg (manuscript name) applied to a formation in the department of Santander del Norte, Colombia. The name is referred to, by Cushman and Hedberg (1941, p. 79), as Orocué formation.

According to Notestein et al. (1944, p. 1186) it consists of alternating shales, claystones, and sandstones, containing some coal seams. It is largely composed of brackish-water and nonmarine deposits, but marine beds occur in at least the lower part. The Orocué is subdivided into three formations, from oldest to youngest: Catatumbo, Barco, and Los Cuervos.

The Orocué group correlates with the Third Coal formation in the Colón district, Venezuela (Upper Cretaceous-lower Eocene).

Sutton (1946, p. 1665) recommends the discarding of the name Orocué entirely.

W. A. Mohler