Talampaya Formation
| Talampaya Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Olenekian ~ | |
Sandstones in Talampaya National Park | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Unit of | Paganzo Group |
| Underlies | Tarjados Formation |
| Overlies | Basement |
| Thickness | Up to 400 m (1,300 ft) |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Sandstone |
| Other | Conglomerate, tuff |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 29°36′S 68°06′W / 29.6°S 68.1°W |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 46°00′S 40°12′W / 46.0°S 40.2°W |
| Region | La Rioja Province |
| Country | Argentina |
| Extent | Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Talampaya River |
| Named by | Romer & Jensen |
| Year defined | 1966 |
The Talampaya Formation is an Early Triassic (Olenekian) geologic formation in the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin of La Rioja Province in northwestern Argentina. The pink to red sandstones of the formation represent the oldest sedimentary unit in the basin, overlying basement rock and were deposited in a high-energy braided river environment. Ichnofossils, probably left by an archosaur chirotherian, were found in the formation. The formation crops out in the Talampaya National Park, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.