RIO SECO, Formation

TERTIARY (Pliocene)

State of Falcón, Venezuela

Author of name: C. Wiedenmayer and M. F. Fredea, 1928 (private report).

Original reference: E. Mencher, et al., 1951, correlation chart.

Original description: none published heretofore.

Mencher et al. (1951), correlation chart showed the Río Seco formation as "Seco River" in the Pliocene of western Falcón unconformably overlain by Holocene alluvial deposits and conformably on the San Gregorio formation.

Information taken from private reports indicates that the type locality of the unit is located in the San Gregorio formation type section type area, near the village of San Gregorio in northwestern Falcón. Most geologists prefer to consider the Río Seco as the upper member of the San Gregorio formation. The unit consists of silitstones, sandstones and conglomerates. These conglomerates cap the small cuestas which characterize the topography. The thickness of the Río Seco at its type locality was measured as 142 meters. The outcrops of the Río Seco occur in northwestern and north-central Falcón.

Leo Weingeist