Stratigraphic, paleoenvironmental and biochronological analysis of La Deheza Formation (Upper Carboniferous-lower Permian), San Juan, Argentina

Stratigraphic, paleoenvironmental and biochronological analysis were performed in the La Deheza Formation (Upper Carboniferous-Lower Permian), San Juan, Argentina. These new upper Paleozoic outcrops in the Paganzo basin are 690 m thick and consist of ten facies associations. In this formation are represented postglacial Upper Carboniferous (Serpukhovian-early Bashkirian) (facies I, II and III), Stephanian transgression (facies IV), continental sediment with coal deposits (facies V), the trangressive event Asselian-Sakmarian (early Cisuralian?) (facies VI), and the last continental deposits (facies VII), followed by the most modern trangressive event in Paganzo basin (latest Cisuralian-early Guadalupian?) (facies VIII, IX and X). It also discussed its validity as a stratigraphic unit, neostratotype and is defined in a time frame in an environment of nearby depocenters to the Paganzo basin. The last meters of the facies VI show abundant remains of Ferugliocladus patagonicus Archangelsky y Ctineo, Eucerospermum nitens Feruglio emend. A. Archangelsky, Paracalamites sp. and Cordaites sp., which together make up a significant megafloristic association assigned to the "Ferugliocladus Superzone". In addition, pollen records found throughout the entire unit allows to constrain it between the Serpukhovian to latest Cisuralian-e-arly Guadalupian?.