Litofacial subdivision and interpretation of the Jurassic volcanism (Bahía Laura Group) in the eastern Deseado Massif, Santa Cruz province

Abstract

The Bahía Laura Group represents the most important unit of the Deseado Massif geological province. It is composed by acid volcanic rocks of upper to middle Jurassic age, which are widely distributed in the province. This article describes a litofacial subdivision of the group, originated as a consequence of mapping activities on the eastern Deseado Massif area. These criteria conduce to a classification into volcanic facies and subfacies from a descriptive and genetic point of view. In that sense, a volcaniclastic facies, comprising the pyroclastic (flow, fall and surge) and epiclastic subfacies, and an effusive facies, including the lavic and subvolcanic subfacies, have been determined. This discrimination allowed the interpretation of the processes that acted in the eastern volcanic deposits conformation and favored the utilization of the term "Bahía Laura Complex". The acid Jurassic volcanism of the eastern region can be associated with an explosive-effusive mayor cycle. In the beginning fall deposits were generated, lately huge volumes of ignimbrites, mainly high grade type, were formed, and the final stage was dominated by lavas and reworked volcanic deposits. The main emission centers (the Cerro Torta caldera and various dome complexes, domes, porphyries and dikes) of the volcanic materials from the area, were also identified. Their distribution matches to ENE and NNW lineaments, evidencing the importance of the fissural mechanism of eruption, associated with the El Tranquilo system extensional fractures, in the volcanic material extrusion.