Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ancient Landscapes of Uruguay

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover Gondwana Landscapes in southern South America

Part of the book series: Springer Earth System Sciences ((SPRINGEREARTH))

Abstract

In this chapter, based on the available geological information, a model for the genesis and evolution of the Uruguayan landscape is proposed. A structural framework of the landscape evolution is provided and the record of such evolution in the most representative geological units is considered. A brief summary of the Uruguayan geology and its location in the regional context is performed, from Precambrian to Cenozoic times.

From the analysis of the geological record, it may be observed that the climate was very arid during part of the Jurassic and the Early Cretaceous. Together with the lava flows of the Arapey Formation, the climate became less arid as the Gondwana continents were moving apart from each other. However, the geological record suggests that semiarid climates were still prevailing. In the Middle Cretaceous, semiarid and wetter climates progressively alternated, until the Early Tertiary, when very wet and warm conditions were established, in coincidence with the “Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM)”, followed by semiarid climates in the Oligocene, wetter conditions in the Miocene and semiarid again in the Pliocene, with alternating semiarid and humid conditions during the entire Quaternary.

Based on the palaeoclimatic evolution, the development of relief is discussed, considering the analysis of different morphostructural units in which the country is divided. Due to their size, shape and location (passive margin) of Uruguay, climate uniformity is assumed for each period throughout the entire territory. It is also assumed that the surfaces around elevations of 500 metres above sea level (m a.s.l.) correspond to relicts of probably pre-Cretaceous etchplains, strongly denudated, which are observed only in the surroundings of Aiguá area.

The landforms situated below the oldest surfaces, for instance, those below 320 m a.s.l. in the Eastern Hills Region (Sierras del Este), correspond to a new generation of geomorphological surfaces that may be considered of Cretaceous age, according to the information presently available. This surface may be correlated with the oldest surface developed on top of the lava flows of the Arapey Formation.

The extremely warm and wet climate of the Eocene prepared the conditions for the planation processes that covered most of the Uruguayan territory during the Oligocene, generating pediplains which were later reworked during the Late Cenozoic, up to the Quaternary, generating a landscape of smooth hills.

The morphogenetic potential of each morphostructural region determined the available energy of the resulting landscape, this being at a minimum in the Santa Lucía Basin, which continued to be under subsidence condition until the Tertiary, and almost nonexistent in the Laguna Merín Basin, where subsidence remains active until the Holocene.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Andreis RR, Mazzoni MM (1967) Sedimentología de las formaciones Kiyú y San José, Departamento de San José, R. O. del Uruguay. Revista del Museo de La Plata, Sección Geología 6(41):41–96

    Google Scholar 

  • Antón D (1975) Evolución Geomorfológica del Norte del Uruguay. Unpublished internal report, Dirección de Suelos y Fertilizantes, Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Montevideo

    Google Scholar 

  • Antón D, Goso H (1974) Estado actual de los conocimientos sobre el Cuaternario en el Uruguay. Dirección de Suelos y Fertilizantes, Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Montevideo. In: Anais do 25º Congresso Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia, Porto Alegre, vol 3

    Google Scholar 

  • Antón D, Prost T (1974) Observaciones sobre las formaciones cuaternarias de la Sierra de las Ánimas. Unpublished report presented to the 28th. Brazilian Geological Congress

    Google Scholar 

  • Basei MAS, Siga O Jr, Masquelin H, Harara OM, Reis Neto JM, Preciozzi Porta F (2000) The Dom Feliciano Belt and the Rio de la Plata Craton: tectonic evolution and correlation with similar provinces of southwestern Africa. In: Cordani UG, Milani EJ, Thomaz-Filho A, Campos DA (eds) Tectonic evolution of South America, 31st International Geological Congress, Rio de Janeiro, pp 311–334

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellieni G, Comin-Chiaramonti P, Marques LS, Melfi AJ, Nardy AJR, Piccirillo EM, Roisemberg A (1984) High- and low- TiO2 flood basalts from the Paraná plateau (Brazil): petrology and geochemical aspects bearing on their mantle origin. Neues Jahrb Mineral-Abh 150:273–306

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellieni G, Comin-Chiaramonti P, Marques LS, Melfi AJ, Nardy AJR, Papatrechas C, Piccirillo EM, Roisemberg A, Stolfa D (1986) Petrogenetic aspects of acid and basaltic lavas from the Paraná plateau (Brazil): geological, mineralogical and petrochemical aspects. J Petrol 27(4):915–944. doi:10.1093/petrology/27.4.915

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bezerra FHR, Vita-Finzi C (2000) How active is a passive margin? Paleoseismicity in northeastern Brazil. Geology 28:591–594, 10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<591:HAIAPM>2.0.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bezerra FHR, Amaro VE, Vita-Finzi C, Saadi A (2001) Pliocene-Quaternary fault control of sedimentation and coastal plain morphology in NE Brazil. J South Am Earth Sci 14:61–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bezerra FHR, Barreto AMF, Suguio K (2003) Holocene sea-level history on the Rio Grande do Norte State coast. Brazil Mar Geol 196:73–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bidegain M, Caffera RM (1997) Clima del Uruguay y la región. http://www.rau.edu.uy/uruguay/geografia/Uy_c-info.htm. Accessed 10 Mar 2011

  • Blasi AM, Zárate MA, Kemp RM (2001) Sedimentación y pedogénesis cuaternaria en el noreste de la pampa bonaerense: la localidad Gorina como caso de estudio. Rev Asoc Argent Sedimentol 8(1):77–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Bossi J (1966) Geología del Uruguay, vol 2. Departamento de Publicaciones de la Universidad de la República, Montevideo, 469 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Bossi J, Campal N (1992) Magmatismo y tectónica transcurrente durante el Paleozoico inferior del Uruguay. In: Gutiérrez J, Saavedra J, Rábano I (eds) Paleozoico Inferior de Ibero-América. Universidad de Extremadura, Alicante, pp 343–356

    Google Scholar 

  • Bossi J, Ferrando LA (2000) Carta Geológica del Uruguay, escala 1/500.000, 2nd edn. Geoeditores, Montevideo

    Google Scholar 

  • Bossi J, Navarro R (1991) Geología del Uruguay. Departamento de Publicaciones, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, 970 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Bossi J, Ferrando LA, Fernández A, Elizalde G, Morales H, Ledesma J, Carballo E, Medina E, Ford I, Montaña J (1975) Carta geológica del Uruguay (1:1.000.000): Dirección de Suelos y Fertilizantes, Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Montevideo, 25 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Bossi J, Ferrando LA, Montaña J, Morales H, Campal N, Gancio F, Piñeiro D, Schipilov A, Sprechmann P (1998) Carta Geológica del Uruguay, escala 1/500.000. Geoeditores, Montevideo

    Google Scholar 

  • Bracco R, del Puerto L, Inda H, Capdepont I, Panario D, García-Rodríguez F (2012) Evolución ambiental y constructores de cerritos en la región de India Muerta. Un replanteo. In: III Jornadas del Cenozoico, Montevideo, June 2012, CD-Rom, pp 14–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Brea M, Zucol AF (2011) The Paraná-Paraguay basin: geology and paleoenvironments. In: Albert JS, Reis RE (eds) Historical biogeography of neotropical freshwater fishes. University of California Press, Berkeley, pp 69–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Caorsi J, Goñi J (1958) Geología uruguaya. Boletín del Instituto Geológico del Uruguay 37:1–73

    Google Scholar 

  • Catuneanu O (2004) Basement control on flexural profiles and the distribution of foreland facies: the Dwyka Group of the Karoo Basin, South Africa. Geology 32(6):517–520. doi:10.1130/G20526.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cernuschi Rodilosso F (2011) Geology of the Cretaceous Lascano-East intrusive complex: magmatic evolution and mineralization potential of the Merin Basin, Uruguay. Unpublished Master of Science dissertations, Oregon State University, 340 pp. http://hdl.handle.net/1957/20581. Accessed 11 Dec 2012

  • Cesero PD, Ponte FC (1997) Análise comparativa da paleogeologia dos litorais atlânticos brasileiro e africano. Boletim de Geociências da Petrobras, Rio de Janeiro 11(1–2):1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Chebataroff J (1955) Evolución del relieve del Uruguay y de Río Grande del Sur. Revista Uruguaya de Geografía 39–96. http://www.periodicas.edu.uy/Revista_Uruguaya_Geografia/pdfs/Revista_Uruguaya_Geografia_08_1955.pdf. Accessed 4 Dec 2012

  • Cingolani CA (2011) The Tandilia system of Argentina as a southern extension of the Río de la Plata Craton: an overview. Int J Earth Sci 100:221–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comin-Chiaramonti P, Bellieni G, Piccirillo EM, Melfi AJ (1988) Classification and petrography of continental stratoid volcanics and related intrusives from the Paraná basin (Brasil). In: Piccirillo EM, Melfi AJ (eds) The Mesozoic flood volcanism of the Paraná Basin: petrogenetic and geophysical aspects. Instituto Astronômico e Geofísico USP, São Paulo, pp 47–72

    Google Scholar 

  • CONEAT (1979) Grupos de Suelos. Índices de Productividad. Comisión Nacional de Estudio Agroeconómico de la Tierra (CONEAT), Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Montevideo, 167 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox KG (1988) The Karroo province. In: MacDougall JD (ed) Continental flood basalts. Kluwer Academic, Dordrecht, pp 239–271

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Creer KM, Miller JA, Gilbert-Smith A (1965) Radiometric age of the Serra Geral Formation. Nature 207:282–283. doi:10.1038/207282a0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Alba E (1953) Geología del Alto Paraná en relación con los trabajos de derrocamiento entre Ituzaingó y Posadas. Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina 8:121–161

    Google Scholar 

  • de Almeida FFM, Amaral G, Cordani UG, Kawashita K (1973) The Precambrian evolution of the South American cratonic margin south of the Amazon River. In: Nairn AEM, Stehli FG (eds) The ocean basin and margins. The South Atlantic, vol 1. Plenum Press, New York, pp 411–446

    Google Scholar 

  • de Santa Ana H, Veroslavsky G (2003) La tectosecuencia volcanosedimentaria de la Cuenca Norte de Uruguay. Edad Jurásico-Cretácico Temprano. In: Veroslavsky G, Ubilla M, Martínez S (eds) Cuencas Sedimentarias de Uruguay: Geología, Paleontología y Recursos Naturales – Mesozoico. DIRAC, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, pp 51–74

    Google Scholar 

  • de Santa Ana H, Goso C, Muzio R, Oyhantçabal P, Veroslavsky G (1994) Bacia do Santa Lucia (Uruguai): Evolução tectônica e sedimentar. Geociências 13(1):37–52, São Paulo, UNESP

    Google Scholar 

  • de Santa Ana H, Goso C, Daners G (2006a) Cuenca Norte: estratigrafía del Carbonífero-Pérmico. In: Veroslavsky G, Ubilla M, Martínez S (eds) Cuencas Sedimentarias de Uruguay: Geología, paleontología y recursos naturales – Paleozoico. DIRAC, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, pp 147–208

    Google Scholar 

  • de Santa Ana H, Veroslavsky G, Fulfaro V, Rossello E (2006b) Cuenca Norte: Evolución tectónica y sedimentaria del Carbonífero-Pérmico. In: Veroslavsky G, Ubilla M, Martínez S (eds) Cuencas Sedimentarias de Uruguay: Geología, Paleontología y Recursos Naturales – Paleozoico. DIRAC, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, pp209–256

    Google Scholar 

  • Demoulin A, Zárate M, Rabassa J (2005) Long-term landscape development: a perspective from the southern Buenos Aires ranges of east central Argentina. J South Am Earth Sci 19:193–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dirección de Suelos y Fertilizantes (1976) Carta de Reconocimiento de Suelos del Uruguay a escala 1:1.000.000, y Leyenda que la acompaña. Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Montevideo

    Google Scholar 

  • Erlank AJ, Marsh JS, Duncan AR, Miller RMcG, Hawkesworth CJ, Betton PJ, Rex DC (1984) Geochemistry and petrogenesis of the Etendeka volcanic rocks from SWA/Namibia. In: Erlank AJ (ed) Petrogenesis of the Volcanic Rocks of the Karoo Province. Geological Society of South Africa, Special publication 13, pp 195–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Féraud G, Bertrand H, Martínez M, Ures C, Schipilov A, Bossi J (1999) 40Ar/39Ar age and geochemistry of the southern extension of Paraná traps in Uruguay. In: Actas II Simposio Sudamericano de Geología Isotópica, Córdoba, pp 57–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrando L, Fernández A (1971) Esquema tectónico cronoestratigráfico del Pre-Devoniano en el Uruguay. In: Anais do 25º Congresso Brasileiro de Geología, São Paulo, 1, pp 199–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Fodor RV (1987) Low- and high-TiO2 flood basalts of southern Brazil: origin from picritic parentage and a common mantle source. Earth Planet Sci Lett 84(4):423–430. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(87)90007-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ford I (1988) Conglomerados con nidos de insectos fósiles: Formación Palmitas (prov.); Terciario inferior (tentativo). In: Memorias del 6º Panel de Geología del Litoral, Montevideo, pp 47–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Fragoso-Cesar ARS (1980) O craton do Rio de la Plata e o Cinturão Dom Feliciano no Escudo Uruguaio-Sul-Riograndense. In: Anais do 31º Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia, Camboriú, 5, pp 2879–2892

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis JC, Mones A (1966) Artigasia magna n. g., n. sp. (Eumegamyinae) un roedor gigantesco de la época Pliocena Superior de las barrancas de San Gregorio, departamento de San José, República Oriental del Uruguay. Kraglieviana 1(3):89–100

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaucher C (2000) Sedimentology, palaeontology and stratigraphy of the Arroyo del Soldado Group (Vendian to Cambrian, Uruguay). Beringeria 26:1–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaucher C, Boggiani PC, Sprechmann P, Sial AN, Fairchild TR (2003) Integrated correlation of the Vendian to Cambrian Arroyo del Soldado and Corumbá Groups (Uruguay and Brazil): palaeogeographic, palaeoclimatic and palaeobiologic implications. Precambrian Res 120:241–278. doi:10.1016/S0301-9268(02)00140-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaucher C, Chiglino L, Pecoits E (2004) Southernmost exposures of the Arroyo del Soldado Group (Vendian to Cambrian, Uruguay): palaeogeographic implications for the amalgamation of W-Gondwana. Gondwana Res 7:701–714. doi:10.1016/S1342-937X(05)71057-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez Rifas C, Heinzen W, Roth W, Spoturno J (1981) Las calizas del Uruguay. Boletín Instituto Geológico del Uruguay 38:5–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Goso H (1965) El Cenozoico en el Uruguay. Instituto Geológico del Uruguay, M.I.E. Ed. Mimeogr. Montevideo, 36 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Goso H, Bossi J (1966a) Cenozoic stratigraphy of the Rio Grande do Sul coastal province. Boletim Paranaense de Geociências 33:54–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Goso H, Bossi J (1966b) Relevamiento geológico del Departamento de San José. Instituto Geológico del Uruguay. Unpublished technical report, 40 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Goso C, Perea D (2004) El Cretácico post-basáltico de la Cuenca Litoral del Río Uruguay: Geología y Paleontología. In: Veroslavsky G, Ubilla M, Martínez S (eds) Cuencas sedimentarias de Uruguay: Geología, paleontología y recursos naturales -Mesozoico, 2da ed. DIRAC, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, pp 143–169

    Google Scholar 

  • Hasui Y (1990) Neotectônica e Aspectos Fundamentais da Tectônica Ressurgente no Brasil. In: Workshop sobre Neotectônica e Sedimentação Cenozóica Continental no Sudeste Brasileiro, Sociedade Brasileira de Geologia-Núcleo Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, 1, pp 1–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkesworth CJ, Gallagher K, Kelley S, Mantovani M, Peate DW, Regelous M, Rogers NW (1992) Paraná magmatism and the opening of the South Atlantic. In: Storey BC, Alabaster T, Pankhurst RJ (eds) Magmatism and the causes of continental break-up. Geological Society, London, Special publication 68, pp 221–240. doi:10.1144/GSL.SP.1992.068.01.14

  • Herbst R (1971) Esquema estratigráfico de la provincia de Corrientes, República Argentina. Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina 26(2):221–243

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbst R (2000) La Formación Ituzaingó (Plioceno). Estratigrafía y distribución. In: Aceñolaza FG, Herbst R (eds) El Neógeno de Argentina, Instituto Superior de Correlación Geológica INSUGEO, San Miguel de Tucumán, 14, pp 181–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Herbst R, Santa Cruz JN, Zabert LL (1976) Avances en el conocimiento de la estratigrafía de la Mesopotamia argentina, con especial referencia a la Provincia de Corrientes. Revista de la Asociación de Ciencias Naturales del Litoral 7:101–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Iriondo MH (1980) El Cuaternario de Entre Ríos. Revista de la Asociación de Ciencias Naturales del Litoral 11:125–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Iriondo MH (1996) Estratigrafía del Cuaternario de la Cuenca del Río Uruguay. Actas XIII Congreso Geológico Argentino y III Congreso de Exploración de Hidrocarburos, Buenos Aires, 4, pp 15–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Jalfin GA (1988) Formación Ituzaingó (Plio-Pleistoceno) en Empedrado, provincia de Corrientes: un paleorío arenoso entrelazado tipo Platte. In: Actas de la II Reunión Argentina de Sedimentología, Buenos Aires, pp 130–134

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones GH (1956) Memoria explicativa y mapa geológico de la región oriental del Departamento de Canelones. Boletín del Instituto Geológico del Uruguay 34:1–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirstein LA, Hawkesworth CJ, Turner SP (1997) CFB magmatism in southern Uruguay: marginal to a mantle plume? In: J Conf Abs Continental Magmatism, VSG – Minsoc ‘97, Cambridge, 2, pp 1, 44

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirstein L, Peate DW, Hawkesworth CJ, Turner SP, Harris C, Mantovani MSM (2000) Early Cretaceous basaltic and rhyolitic magmatism in southern Uruguay associated with the opening of the South Atlantic. J Petrol 41(9):1413–1438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krohling D, Iriondo M (1998) Guía de Campo Nº 1: Pampa Norte, Cuenca del Carcarañá. International Joint Field Meeting Loess in Argentina: Temperate and Tropical. Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina, 36 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert R (1940) Memoria explicativa de un mapa geológico de reconocimiento del Depto. de Paysandú y los alrededores de Salto. Instituto Geológico del Uruguay, Montevideo, 27, pp 1–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Lustrino M, Gomes CB, Melluso L, Morbidelli L, Muzio R, Ruberti E, Tassinari CCG (2003) Early Cretaceous magmatic activity in southeast Uruguay: trace element and Sr-Nd isotopic constraints. In: Proceeding of IV South American Symposium on Isotopic Geology, Salvador, 2, pp 596–597

    Google Scholar 

  • Lustrino M, Melluso L, Brotzu P, Gomes GB, Morbidelli L, Muzio R, Ruberti E, Tassinari CCG (2005) Petrogenesis of the early Cretaceous Valle Chico igneous complex (SE Uruguay): relationships with Paraná-Etendeka magmatism. Lithos 82(3–4):407–434. doi:10.1016/j.lithos.2004.07.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mallmann G, Chemale F Jr, Armstrong RA, Kawashita K (2003) Sm-Nd and U-Pb SHRIMP zircon studies of the Nico Pérez Terrane, reworked Rio de la Plata Craton, Uruguay. In: IV South American symposium on Isotope Geology, Short Papers, Salvador, 1, pp 207–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Mantovani MSM, Marques LS, De Sousa MA, Civetta L, Atalla L, Innocenti F (1985) Trace element and strontium isotope constraints on the origin and evolution of Paraná continental flood basalts of Santa Catarina state (southern Brazil). J Petrol 26(1):187–209. doi:10.1093/petrology/26.1.187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martínez S (1989) Los depósitos de la “transgresión entrerriana” (Mioceno de Argentina, Brasil y Uruguay). Comparación de sus principales áreas fosilíferas a través de los bivalvos y los gastrópodos. Ameghiniana 25(1):23–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Martínez S (1994) Bioestratigrafía (Invertebrados) de la Formación Camacho (Mioceno, Uruguay). Unpublished doctoral thesis (PhD), Universidad de Buenos Aires, 346 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Masquelin H (2002) Evolução estrutural e metamórfica do Complexo Gnáissico Cerro Olivo, Sudeste do Uruguai. Unpublished doctoral thesis (PhD), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 2 vols, t1: 1–227, t2: 1–117, 1 map

    Google Scholar 

  • Masquelin H, D’Avila Fernandes LA, Lenz C, Porcher CC, McNaughton NJ (2012) The Cerro Olivo Complex: a pre-collisional Neoproterozoic magmatic arc in Eastern Uruguay. Int Geol Rev 54(10):1161–1183. doi:10.1080/00206814.2011.626597

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Middleton MF (1989) A model for the formation of intracratonic sag basins. Geophys J Int 99(3):665–676. doi:10.1111/j.1365-246X.1989.tb02049.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milani EJ (1997) Evolução tectono-estratigráfica da Bacia do Paraná e seu relacionamento com a geodinâmica fanerozóica do Gondwana sul-ocidental. Unpublished doctoral thesis (PhD), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), 255 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Milani EJ, Zalán PV (1999) An outline of the geology and petroleum systems of the Paleozoic interior basins of South America. Episodes 22(3):199–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Milani EJ, Faccini UF, Scherer CM, Araujo LM, Cupertino JA (1998) Sequences and stratigraphic hierarchy of the Paraná Basin (Ordovician to Cretaceous), Southern Brazil. Boletim IG/USP, Série científica 29:125–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muzio R (2000) Evolução petrológica e geocronologia do Maciço Alcalino Valle Chico, Uruguai. Unpublished PhD dissertation, Universidad Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, SP, 171 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor JM, Duncan RA (1990) Evolution of the Walvis Ridge -Rio Grande rise hot spot system: implications for African and South American plate motions over plumes. J Geophys Res 95(B11):17475–17502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oleaga A (2002) Contribución a la hidrogeología del Acuífero Guaraní en el sector Uruguay. Un enfoque integral. Unpublished Master of Science dissertations, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México DF, 119 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Oyhantçabal P, Siegesmund S, Wemmer K, Presnyakov S, Layer P (2009) Geochronological constraints on the evolution of the southern Dom Feliciano Belt (Uruguay). J Geol Soc 166:1075–1084. doi:10.1144/0016-76492008-122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oyhantçabal P, Siegesmund S, Wemmer K (2011) The Río de la Plata Craton: a review of units, boundaries, ages and isotopic signature. Int J Earth Sci 100:201–220

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panario D (1988) Geomorfología del Uruguay. Departamento de Publicaciones, Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, 32 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Panario D, Gutiérrez O (1999) The continental Uruguayan Cenozoic: an overview. Quatern Int 62(1):75–84. doi:10.1016/S1040-6182(99)00025-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peate DW, Hawkesworth CJ, Mantovani MSM, Shukowsky R (1990) Mantle Plumes and flood- basalt stratigraphy in the Paraná, South America. Geology 18(12):1223–1226. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1990)018<1223:MPAFBS>2.3.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pecoits E, Aubet N, Oyhantçabal P, Sánchez Bettucci L (2004) Estratigrafía de sucesiones sedimentarias y volcanosedimentarias Neoproterozoicas del Uruguay. Revista Sociedad Uruguaya de Geología 11:18–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Pecoits E, Gingras M, Aubet N, Konhauser K (2008) Ediacaran in Uruguay: palaeoclimatic and palaeobiologic implications. Sedimentology 55:689–719. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3091.2007.00918.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peel E, Veroslavsky G, Fúlfaro VJ (1998) Geoquímica de las Pelitas de las Formaciones Castellanos y Migues (Cretácico), Cuenca del Santa Lucía – Uruguay: Consideraciones Paleoambientales. In: Actas II Congreso Uruguayo de Geología, Punta del Este, pp 151–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Penck W (1953) Morphological analysis of land forms: a contribution to physical geology (trans: Czech H, Cumming Boswell K). Macmillan, London, 429 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Perea D, Martínez S (2004) Estratigrafía del Mioceno-Pleistoceno en el Litoral Sur-Oeste de Uruguay. In: Veroslavsky G, Ubilla M, Martínez S (eds) Cuencas Sedimentarias de Uruguay: Geología, paleontología y recursos naturales – Cenozoico. DIRAC, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, pp 105–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Piccirillo EM, Melfi AJ (1988) The Mesozoic flood volcanism from the Paraná Basin (Brazil): petrogenetic and geophysical aspects. Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto Astronômico e Geofísico, São Paulo, 600 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Preciozzi F, Spoturno J, Heinzen W, Rossi P (1985) Memoria explicativa de la Carta Geológica del Uruguay a escala 1:500.000. Dirección Nacional de Minería y Geología, Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Minería, Montevideo, 92 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabassa J, Carignano C, Cioccale M (2010) Gondwana paleosurfaces in Argentina: an introduction. Geociências 29(4):430–466, São Paulo, UNESP

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabassa J, Carignano C, Cioccale M (2014) A general overview of Gondwana landscapes in Argentina. In: Rabassa J, Ollier C (eds) Gondwana landscapes in southern South America. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 201–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabassa J, Coronato AM, Salemme M (2005) Chronology of the Late Cenozoic Patagonian glaciations and their correlation with biostratigraphic units of the Pampean Region (Argentina). J South Am Earth Sci 20:81–103. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2005.07.004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rapela CW, Fanning CM, Casquet C, Pankhurst RJ, Spalletti L, Poiré D, Baldo EG (2011) The Rio de la Plata craton and the adjoining Pan-African/brasiliano terranes: their origins and incorporation into south-west Gondwana. Gondwana Res 20(4):673–690. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2011.05.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renne PR, Ernesto M, Pacca IG, Coe RS, Glen JM, Prévot M, Perrin M (1992) The age of Paraná flood volcanism, rifting of Gondwanaland and the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary. Science 258:975–979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renne PR, Deckart K, Ernesto M, Féraud G, Piccirillo EM (1996a) Age of the Ponta Grossa dike swarm (Brazil), and implications to Paraná flood volcanism. Earth Planet Sci Lett 144(1–2):199–211. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(96)00155-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Renne PR, Glen JM, Milner SC, Duncan AR (1996b) Age of Etendeka flood volcanism and associated intrusions in southwestern Africa. Geology 24(7):659–662. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0659:AOEFVA>2.3.CO;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodrigues SC, Simões MG, Kowalewski M, Petti MAV, Nonato EF, Martínez S, del Río CJ (2008) Biotic interaction between spionid polychaetes and bouchardiid brachiopods: paleoecological, taphonomic and evolutionary implications. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 53(4):657–668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rossello EA, de Santa Ana H, Veroslavsky G (1999) El lineamiento Santa Lucía–Aiguá–Merín (Uruguay): un rifting transtensivo mesozoico abortado durante la apertura Atlántica? In: Actas del V Simpósio sobre o Cretáceo do Brasil-I Simposio sobre el Cretácico de América del Sur, Serra Negra, 1, pp 443–448

    Google Scholar 

  • Rossello EA, de Santa Ana H, Veroslavsky G (2000) El lineamiento Santa Lucía-Aiguá-Merín (Uruguay): un corredor tectónico extensivo y transcurrente dextral precursor de la apertura atlántica. Revista Brasileira de Geociências 30(4):749–756

    Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez Bettucci L (1998) Evolución tectónica del Cinturón Dom Feliciano en la región Minas-Piriápolis, Uruguay. Unpublished PhD dissertation, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, 344 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez Bettucci L, Ramos VA (1999) Aspectos geológicos de las rocas metavolcánicas y metasedimentarias del Grupo Lavalleja, Sudeste de Uruguay. Revista Brasileira de Geociências 29(4):557–570

    Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez Bettucci L, Cosarinsky M, Ramos V (2001) Tectonic setting of the Late Proterozoic Lavalleja Group (Dom Feliciano Belt), Uruguay. Gondwana Res 4(3):395–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez Bettucci L, Oyhantçabal P, Loureiro J, Ramos VA, Preciozzi F, Basei MAS (2004) Mineralizations of the Lavalleja Group (Uruguay), a probable Neoproterozoic volcano–sedimentary sequence. Gondwana Res 7(3):745–751. doi:10.1016/S1342-937X(05)71060-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez Bettucci L, Orgeira MJ, Sánchez G, Bertoni-Machado C, Fariña RA (2007) Magnetostratigraphy of the Neogene sediments of SW Uruguay. In: American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2007, abstract #GP21A-06 http://adsabs.harvard.edu//abs/2007AGUSMGP21A..06S. Accessed 12 Dec 2012

  • Sánchez Bettucci L, Peel E, Masquelin H (2010a) Neoproterozoic tectonic synthesis of Uruguay. Int Geol Rev 52(1):51–78. doi:10.1080/00206810903358095

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez Bettucci L, Peel E, Oyhantçabal P (2010b) Precambrian geotectonic units of the Río de La Plata craton. Int Geol Rev 52(1):32–50. doi:10.1080/00206810903211104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez San Martín G (2010) Estudio magnetoestratigráfico de los sedimentos Cenozoicos del Departamento de San José (balnearios Kiyú, Arazatí y Mauricio). Unpublished graduation thesis, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, 184 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Sombroek WG (1969) Soil studies in the Merin Lagoon basin: Merin lagoon regional project. Treinta y Tres. CLM/PNUD/FAO, LM 131, Treinta y Tres, Uruguay, vol 1

    Google Scholar 

  • Spoturno J, Oyhantçabal P (Coord) (2004) Mapa de Recursos Minerales del Departamento de San José a escala 1:100.000. Proyecto CONICYT 6019 – Fondo Clemente Estable. Convenio Departamento de Geología (Facultad de Ciencias – UdelaR) – Dirección Nacional de Minería y Geología (Ministerio de Industria, Energía y Minería), Montevideo

    Google Scholar 

  • Sprechmann P, Bossi J, Da Silva J (1981) Cuencas del Jurásico y Cretácico del Uruguay. In: Volkheimer W, Musacchio EA (eds) Cuencas sedimentarias del Jurásico y Cretácico de América del Sur. Comité Sudamericano del Jurásico y Cretácico, Buenos Aires, 1, pp 239–270

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart K, Turner S, Kelley S, Hawkesworth C, Kirstein L, Mantovani M (1996) 3-D, 40Ar–39Ar geochronology in the Paraná continental flood basalt province. Earth Planet Sci Lett 143(1–4):95–109. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(96)00132-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoackes FA, Campbell CV, Cass R, Ucha N (1991) Seismic stratigraphic analysis of the Punta del Este Basin, offshore Uruguay, South America. Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists 75(2):219–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Teixeira AL, Gaucher C, Paim PSG, Fonseca MM, Parente CV, Silva Filho WF, Almeida AR (2004) Bacias do Estágio de Transição da Plataforma Sul-Americana. In: Mantesso-Neto V, Bartorelli A, Carneiro CDR, Brito Neves BB (eds) Geologia do Continente Sul-Americano: Evolução da Obra de Fernando Flávio Marques de Almeida. Beca Produções Culturais, São Paulo, pp 487–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomaz-Filho A, Mizusaki AMP, Milani EJ, de Cesero P (2000) Rifting and magmatism associated with the South America and Africa break up. Revista Brasileira de Geociências 30(1):17–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Tófalo OR, Morrás HJM (2009) Evidencias paleoclimáticas en duricostras, paleosuelos y sedimentitas silicoclásticas del Cenozoico de Uruguay. Rev Asoc Geol Argent 65(4):674–686

    Google Scholar 

  • Tófalo OR, Morrás H, Sánchez L, Pecoits E, Aubet N, Zech W, Moretti L (2006) Litofacies y Paleosuelos de las Fms. Raigón (Plioceno Tardío-Pleistoceno Medio) y Libertad (Pleistoceno Inferior-Medio?), Uruguay. In: Actas 3º Congreso Argentino del Cuaternario y Geomorfología, Córdoba, 1, pp 807–816

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner S, Hawkesworth C (1995) The nature of the sub continental mantle: constraints from the major-element composition of continental flood basalts. Chem Geol 120(3–4):295–314. doi:10.1016/0009-2541(94)00143-V

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner S, Regelous M, Kelley S, Hawkesworth C, Mantovani M (1994) Magmatism and continental break-up in the South Atlantic: high precision 40Ar-39Ar geochronology. Earth Planet Sci Lett 121(3–4):333–348. doi:10.1016/0012-821X(94)90076-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ubilla M, Perea D, Goso Aguilar C, Lorenzo N (2004) Late Pleistocene vertebrates from northern Uruguay: tools for biostratigraphic, climatic and environmental reconstruction. Quatern Int 114(1):129–142. doi:10.1016/S1040-6182(03)00048-X

    Google Scholar 

  • Ucha N, de Santa Ana H, Veroslavsky G (2004) La cuenca Punta del Este: geología y potencial hidrocarburífero. In: Veroslavsky G, Ubilla M, Martínez S (eds) Cuencas sedimentarias de Uruguay: Geología, Paleontología y Recursos Naturales. Mesozoico, 2da ed. DIRAC, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, pp 173–192

    Google Scholar 

  • Vail PR, Mitchum RM, Todd RG, Widmier JM, Thompson S, Sangree JB, Bubb JN, Hatlelid WG (1977) Seismic stratigraphy and global changes on sea-level. In: Payton CE (ed) Seismic stratigraphy: application to hydrocarbon exploration. American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Tulsa, Okla, Memoir, vol 26, pp 49–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Veroslavsky G (1999) Geologia da Bacia de Santa Lucía-Uruguai. Unpublished PhD dissertation, Universidad Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, SP, 152 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Veroslavsky G, Martínez S (1996) Registros no depositacionales del Paleoceno-Eoceno del Uruguay: nuevo enfoque para viejos problemas. Revista Universidade Guarulhos Serie Geociências 1:32–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Veroslavsky G, Montaño J (2004) Sedimentología y estratigrafía de la Formación Salto (Pleistoceno). In: Veroslavsky G, Ubilla M, Martínez S (eds) Cuencas Sedimentarias de Uruguay: Geología, paleontología y recursos naturales – Cenozoico. DIRAC, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, pp 147–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Veroslavsky G, Martínez S, de Santa Ana H (1997) Calcretas de aguas subterráneas y pedogénicas: génesis de los depósitos carbonáticos de la Cuenca de Santa Lucía, sur del Uruguay (Cretácico Superior? – Paleógeno). Revista de la Asociación Argentina de Sedimentología 4(1):25–35

    Google Scholar 

  • Veroslavsky G, Fulfaro V, de Santa Ana H (2006) El Devónico en Uruguay: estratigrafía, correlación geológica y recursos minerales. In: Veroslavsky G, Ubilla M, Martínez S (eds) Cuencas Sedimentarias del Uruguay, Geología, paleontología y recursos naturales – Paleozoico. DIRAC, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, pp 107–132

    Google Scholar 

  • Zárate MA (2003) Loess of southern South America. Quat Sci Rev 22:18–19, 1987–2006. doi:10.1016/S0277-3791(03)00165-3

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are greatly indebted to the Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay, and CADIC-CONICET, Ushuaia, Argentina, for the access to various facilities, data and materials that were used for the preparation of this chapter.

Likewise, they are extremely grateful to the late Professor Tim Partridge (then at the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa) and Professor Rodney Maud for introducing us in the study, analysis and discussion of Gondwana palaeolandscapes. Moreover, Professor Maud and Dr. Claudio Carignano (CONICET and Universidad de Córdoba, Argentina) took part of a memorable field trip to the region of Minas, eastern Uruguay, in 2000, when some of the ideas exposed in this chapter were discussed for the first time. Funding for such field trip was provided by a National Geographic Society field exploration grant to Jorge Rabassa, which is deeply acknowledged.

The authors are also thankful to the FAPESP research project presently developed under the leadership of Professor Francisco Ladeira (Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil) for allowing the exchange of experience on the Gondwana landscapes of southern South America for the first time at the regional level.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UNCIEP, Instituto de Ecología y Ciencias Ambientales (IECA), Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Daniel Panario & Ofelia Gutiérrez

  2. Departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Leda Sánchez Bettucci, Elena Peel & Pedro Oyhantçabal

  3. Laboratorio de Geomorfología y Cuaternario, CADIC-CONICET, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    Jorge Rabassa

  4. Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

    Jorge Rabassa

Authors
  1. Daniel Panario
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ofelia Gutiérrez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Leda Sánchez Bettucci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Elena Peel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Pedro Oyhantçabal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jorge Rabassa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniel Panario .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Geomorfología y Cuaternario, CADIC-CONICET, Ushuaia, Tierra de Fuego, Argentina

    Jorge Rabassa

  2. School of Earth and Environment, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia

    Cliff Ollier

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Panario, D., Gutiérrez, O., Sánchez Bettucci, L., Peel, E., Oyhantçabal, P., Rabassa, J. (2014). Ancient Landscapes of Uruguay. In: Rabassa, J., Ollier, C. (eds) Gondwana Landscapes in southern South America. Springer Earth System Sciences. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7702-6_8

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation