Malleco Formation

Malleco Formation
Stratigraphic range: PlioceneEarly Pleistocene
UnderliesQuaternary Andean volcanoes
OverliesVizcacha-Cumilao Complex
Cura-Mallín Formation
Estratos de Huichahue
Melipeuco Plutonic Group
Lithology
PrimaryVolcaniclastic rocks, lava
Location
RegionAraucanía Region
CountryChile
Type section
Named forMalleco River
Named bySuárez & Emparan
Year defined1997

Malleco Formation (Spanish: Formación Malleco) is a geological formation of volcanic origin in the Andes of Araucanía Region (38–39° S), Chile. The formation is made up by volcaniclastic rocks, including tuffs, lahars and lavas of PlioceneEarly Pleistocene age. It is considered equivalent to the Cola de Zorro Formation found further north in Chile and the so-called "Asociación volcánica de la precordillera oriental" located around the upper courses Bío Bío and Aluminé rivers.