ZAPA, "Formation"

TERTIARY (upper Eocene)

State of Barinas, Venezuela

Author of name: R. A. Terry, 1930 (private report).

Original reference: A. N. Mackenzie, 1937, p. 263.

Original description: ibid.

The term Zapa (or Paují) formation was used by Mackenzie (1937, p. 263 ) to describe a series of soft, dark carbonaceous, slightly sandy shales containing hard sandy shale concretions. Mackenzie (ibid., p. 263 ) states that sections of the Zapa formation are found in the Quebrada Bellaca, Quebrada Arandia and Río Calderas, but that the sections are highly distorted in all cases. Because Mackenzie did not give a type section, the Sinclair geological staff has dropped the use of this name. The dark shales to which this name was loosely applied are now referred to the Masparrito formation (unpublished) .

The Zapa formation has an approximate thickness of 500 meters, and the age of the formation as given by Mackenzie (ibid., p. 263) is upper Eocene.

Ivan A. Koves