Gondwana Research, V 8, No. 2, pp. 187-202. 02005 International Association f o r Gondwana Research, Japan.

ISSN: 1342-937X

Gondwana Res ea YCh

Facies and Architecture of a Carboniferous Grounding-line System From the Guandacol Formation, Paganzo Basin, Northwestern Argentina
S.A. Marenssi1t2r3, Tripaldi*T2, A. C.O. Limarino1r2 and A.T. Caselli2

Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient9cas y Tecnicas(CONICET),Argentina

Dfo. de Cs. Geolbgicas, Faculfad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pabelldn, 2, Ciudad Universitaria, C2428EHA, Buenos Aires, Argentina lnstituto Anfhrtico Argentino, Cerrifo 2248, ClUlOAAZ, Buenos Aires, Argentina, E-mail: smarenssi@dna.gov.ar (Manuscript received February 20,2004; accepted November 25,2004)

Abstract
New outcrops of Middle Carboniferous glacigenic deposits found in the Guandacol Formation (western Paganzo Basin) are described in this paper The study locality of Los Pozuelos Creek (northwestern Argentina) includes coarsegrained diamictites, rhythmites, laminated pebbly mudstones and shales that represent an expanded column of the Gondwanic glaciation in this region Thirteen lithofacies recorded at the measured section have been grouped into three facies associations. Facies Association I is composed of coarse-grained massive and stratified diamictites (lithofacies Dmm, Dms, Dmg, Dcs), laminated siltstones with dropstones (Fld) and interstratified sandstones and mudstones (FI, Sr). These rocks represent both tillites and resedimented diamictites closely associated to small water bodies where laminated siltstones with dropstones and stratified sandstones and mudstones were deposited. Facies Association I1 comprises couplets of matrix-supported thinly bedded diamictites (Dmld) and laminated mudstones with dropstones (Fld). This facies association results from the combination of three different processes, subaqueous cohesionless debris flows, coeval rainout of ice-rafted debris and settling of fine-grained particles from supension. Finally, Facies Association I11 is made up of laminated mudstones without dropstones, thin marl levels and scarce fine- to very fine-grained sandstones. This assemblage clearly suggests sedimentation in a deep marine environment below the wave base. The architecture of the glacigenic deposits has been investigated using photomosaic panels. The geometry of the depositional bodies and facies suggest that Los Pozuelos Creek outciops exhibit a well preserved three-dimensional example of a grounding-line system. In particular, three different subenvironments of a morainal bank were interpreted. a bank-front, a bank-core and a bank-back The bank-front assemblage is characterized by coarse-grained, mainly resedimented, diamictites grading laterally to prograding clinoforms composed of interbedded matrix-supported thinly bedded diamictite and mudstones The bank-core assemblage is formed by a stacking of coarse-grained diamictites where at least five major erosional surfaces, bounding four multistory diamictite bodies, can be recognized. Finally, the bank-back assemblage corresponds to discontinuous iiitervals of striated lodgement till, and coarse-grained resedimented diamictites showing important post-depositional deformation. The retrogradational stacking of the morainal banks indicate an overall glacial retreat and a glacioeustatic sea-level rise. Erosional surfaces at the base of each morainal bank suggest intervening short term episodes of ice advance. The new data presented here confirm the existence of true tillites in western Paganzo Basin and suggest several (at least four) pulses of glacial advance and retreat during the Namurian glaciation in the region and permit a more refined interpretation of the glacial deposits in the Huaco area.

Key words: Gondwanic glaciation, northwestern Argentina, grounding-line system, morainal banks, Carboniferous.

Introduction
Well known glacial deposits of Late Paleozoic age are widespread across the Gondwana supercontinent including South America, South Africa, Antarctica, India and Australia (Dfaz Martinez et al., 1993; Veevers et al., 1994; Collinson et al., 1994; Isbell et al., 1997; Gonzhlez Bonorino and Eyles, 1995 and L6pez Gamundi, 1997, among

others). This glacial event is known as Gondwanic glaciation and its deposits cover a wide time span from the Late Devonian-Ear1y.Carboniferous to the Early (Middle?) Permian. However, glacial conditions were not uniform in time and space and the glacial deposits are strongly diachronous. For instance, while tillites were formed in central and eastern Gondwana during the Early

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Permian, temperate conditions prevailed in the western basins of Argentina, Bolivia and Uruguay (L6pez Gamundi et al., 1992; Limarino et al., 1996). In the western margin of Gondwana two major glacial events have been recognized: a Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous glaciation (Diaz Martinez et al., 1993) and a more extensive Middle Carboniferous event. The latter is well documented in Bolivia and Argentina where glacial sediments have been reported from South to North in Tepuel-Genoa (GonzAlez Bonorino, 1992), Rio Blanco (Limarino et al., 1993), Calingasta-Uspallata (Gonzdez, 1982; L6pez Gamundi, 1983; Bercowski and Vallecillo, 1986; L6pez Gamundi and Martinez, 2000), Paganzo (Limarino and Gutidrrez, 1990; L6pez Gamundi and Martinez, 2000) and Tarija Basins (Diaz Martinez et al., 1993; Lopez Gamundi, 1997). Despite the large number of localities bearing glacigenic sediments, the record of true tillites is limited and in most cases the glacial origin of the sequence has been inferred from resedimented diamictites, varve-like rhythmites or shales containing dropstones. Besides, in this part of South America the knowledge of the dynamics of the glacial event itself is limited. In this sense, many authors have suggested the existence of several pulses of glacial advance and retreat but this hypothesis has never been demonstrated, specially in the Paganzo Basin. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyse the recently discovered glacigenic deposits at Los Pozuelos Creek (Guandacol Formation), western Paganzo Basin, northwestern Argentina (Fig. 1). This section will be used to interpret the depositional mechanisms, to propose a paleoenvironmental restoration and to demonstrate for the first time the episodic character of the glacial event in this part of South America.

Geological Overview
The Paganzo Basin is one of the most extensive (about 400,000 km2) Upper Paleozoic basins located on the western margin of Gondwana (Fig. 1).This depositional area has been interpreted as a peripheral foreland basin formed as a result of the collision of the Chilenia terrane against South America during the Devonian and Early Carboniferous (Ramos et al., 1986; Limarino et al., 2002a). According to paleontological data and stratigraphic evidence, sedimentation in the Paganzo Basin started during the Middle Carboniferous (likely Namurian) and lasted until probably Middle-Late Permian (Limarino and Gutierrez, 1990; C6sari and Gutierrez, 2000). During this period, sequences up to 500 m-thick of conglomerates, sandstones and mudstones were deposited mainly in continental environments. These rocks were included in the Paganzo Group by Bodenbender (1912) and

Azcuy and Morelli (1970) who divided the group in two stratigraphic intervals named Lower Section (Carboniferous in age) and Upper Section (Permian). In the study area the Lower Section comprises the Guandacol and Tupe Formations covered by Permian red beds which are included in the Patquia Formation. The stratigraphic record of t h e Carboniferous sedimentation has been divided into five major depositional stages (Limarino et al., 2002b). The oldest one (Fig. 2), Namurian in age, corresponds to the initial sedimentation in the basin characterized by an uneven topography coupled with an abrupt postglacial relief resulting from the uplift of the Protoprecordillera. In this context continental coarse-grained sediments including alluvial/fluvial conglomerates, tillites and gravityresedimented diamictites are common (Andreis et al., 1986; Limarino, 1987). Towards the end of the Namurian, a second depositional stage began with an important postglacial transgression that flooded most of the basin (L6pez Gamundi; 1989, Limarino et aI., 2002b). As a result of widespread marine sedimentation, shales, mudstones and varve-like sediments represent an extended flooding interval recognized throughout the basin overlying the older coarse-grained assemblage. During this period of sea level rise, fjord-type environments developed in the central and eastern parts of the basin (Buatois and Mhngano, 1995; Kneller et al., 2000; Gutidrrez and Limarino, 2001; Limarino e t al., 2002b, 2 0 0 4 ) . Invertebrates and marine microplankton have been found in these settings (Ottone, 1991; Martinez, 1993; Gutierrez and Limarino, 2001). A third depositional stage is represented by the progradation of different types of deltas during the following highstand stage. Limarino et al. (2002b) have shown that different progradational styles occurred in various areas due to local controls. Gilberttype deltas dominate the eastern Paganzo Basin whereas large-scale shelf deltas prograded in the West. Deltaic deposits pass upward into fluvial conglomerates, sandstones and mudstones with some thin coal beds and abundant plant remains of the fourth depositional stage. The evolution of these fluvial systems was very complex with meandering, anastomosing and braided river deposits described in different part of the basin (Limarino, 1987). Carboniferous sedimentation ended with mudstones, marls and very fine-grained sandstones corresponding to the Stephanian-Lower Permian transgressive event. During this episode, the sea covered a smaller geographic area than Namurian postglacial flooding; it only reached the western part of the Paganzo Basin.

The Glacial Deposits

The occurrence of glacial deposits in Paganzo Basin
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F i g 1. (a) Location map of the study area showing the paleogeography of the Paganzo Basin. (b) Geology of the area and location of the Los

Pozuelos Creek outcrops.

has been mentioned by several authors (Bercowski and Vallecillo, 1986; Limarino and Gutikrrez, 1990; Milana and Bercowski, 1993; Gonzalez Bonorino and Eyles, 1995; Kneller et al., 2000; Pazos, 2002a; Marenssi et al., 2002b). However, true tillites have been rarely described in the basin and in most cases glacial conditions have been inferred from indirect evidence such as resedimented diamictites, varve-like deposits or lacustrine sequences including shales with dropstones (Limarino and Cksari, 1988). Diamictites interpreted as tillites were studied from the Agua Colorada Formation, on the eastern margin of Paganzo Basin by Limarino and Gutierrez (1990). These authors identified massive and stratified diamictites containing faceted and striated clasts that were interpreted as tillites and resedimented diamictites, respectively. Closely associated with these diamictites, thin and lenticular intercalations of cross-bedded sandstones and thinly laminated claystones and siltstones with dropstones occur. The former were interpreted as small eskers and the latter, proglacial lake deposits. Fine-grained sediments yielded a palynological assemblage that shows the glacial event was Namurian (Limarino and Gutikrrez, 1990).
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Bercowsky and Milana (1990) and Milana and Bercowsky (1993) described a bedrock striated pavement covered by several types of massive (tillites) and stratified (resedimented) diamictites.These rocks fill a Carboniferous glaciai valley carved into Devonian mudstones and sandstones. The outcrop exposed at Los Pozuelos Creek (Fig. 1) and described here, was recently discovered (Marenssi et al., 2002b) and is aproximately 6 km to the North of the classical Agua Hedionda anticline locality mentioned in several studies of the glacigenic basal part of the Carboniferous Guandacol Formation (Bossi and Andreis, 1985; Lopez Gamundi, et al.; 1992; Martinez, 1993; Lopez Gamundi, 1997; Lopez Gamundi and Martinez, 2000; Pazos, 2000, 2002a, b; Marenssi et al., 2002a; Limarino et al., 2002b). Martinez (1993) was the first to suggest that lodgement till occurs at the base of the Guandacol Formation at the Agua Hedionda anticline. However, later these rocks were reinterpreted as subglacial ice-proximal glacimarine deposits due to widespread evidence of resedimentation processes (Lopez Gamundi and Martinez, 2000). The same sequence was interpreted by Pazos (2002a) as glacial diamictites affected by current

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DEPOSITIONAL STAGES Shales of the Stephanian-Asselian transgression

. . . . . . . ., .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . .... . . . . . ..
O " 0

. . .
* *

. .
O

Fluvial conglomerates and sandstones with thin coal beds

m n ' o

Deltaic sandstones and mudstones Shales of the Namurian -early Westphalian transgression Tillites, resedimented diamictites and alluvial-fluvial conglomerates

1 1 1 1

s c

Fig. 2. Composite sedimentary column of the lower section of the Paganzo Group and the Carboniferous stratigraphic stages in the Paganzo Basin (after Limarino et al., 2002b).

localities in the Paganzo and Calingasta-Uspallata Basins have been presented by Lopez Gamundi and Martinez (2000). At Los Pozuelos Creek locality a striated surface is carved on limestone of the Ordovician San Juan Formation that shows regular undulations (whale-back landforms). The striae have a mean azimuth of 300"-120" and are parallel to subparallel to the axes of the undulations. Higher in the section, a single-layer, striated pebble pavement (Fig. 5a) is carved on a massive and sheared diamictite (probably lodgement tillite), a few centimeters above the base of the Guandacol Formation. Parallel striae on this flattened surface of clasts suggest a subglacial origin and a flow direction between 305"-125". Similar glacial structures in the nearby Agua Hedionda anticline section, indicative of strong glacial flow components from the South and East, were described by Lopez Gamundi and Martinez (2000). Another piece of evidence of glacial erosion is an intraformational boulder pavement (cf. Eyles, 1988) developed within massive and stratified diamictites higher in the sequence (Fig. 5b). The pavement is formed by the alignment of boulder-size clasts of limestones with flat surfaces. The steep-sided cliff where they are exposed prevented determination of clast long axis orientation and also did not permit to establish whether the upper surfaces

reworking and winnowing processes in a glaciterrestrial to proximal proglacial environment. Limarino et al. (2002b) showed that the Namurianearly Westphalian glacial to postglacial deposits of western Argentina occurred in three main paleogeographic domains (Fig. 3) named open marine (western), transitional (central) and continental-dominated (eastern) settings. Los Pozuelos Creek sequence is located within the transitional setting defined by Limarino et al. (2002b) and represents an expanded column of the two older depositional stages of Carboniferous sedimentation (Figs. 2 and 4). Ordovician limestones, belonging to the San Juan Formation, are covered by the glacigenic interval of the Guandacol Formation composed of different types of diamictites, rhythmites, shales with dropstones and laminated shales. A laterally continuous and very thick bed of large-scale cross-bedded sandstones, belonging to the third depositional stage, rests above postglacial shales of the second stage (Fig. 4). The sharp base of this sandy interval delineates the upper boundary of the glacigenic sequence and is herein used as a reference level.

Evidence of Glacial Deformation

Evidence of glacial abrasion in the lower part of the Carboniferous section and on the bedrock at different
Fig. 3. Main paleogeographic domains during the Carboniferous glacial-postglacial transition in western Argentina (modified from Limarino et al., 2002a).

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were striated. Similar boulder pavements from glacimarine settings were described and interpreted by Eyles (1988) suggesting lag formation during a glacial retreat phase followed by winnowing of fines and abrasion by grounding ice. As a whole, striated surfaces indicate a complex glacial history of advances and retreats of the ice masses as suggested by L6pez Gamundi and Martinez (2000) and glacial erosion in glaciterrestrial settings as well as by ice grounded below sea level.

Table 1. Lithofacies code used in this paper Code Dmm Dms Dnig Dmld Dcm Dcs Sm Sr S1-F1 Fld F1 M Description Matrix-supported massive diamictites Matrix-supported stratified diainictites Matrix-supported graded diainictites Matrix-supported thinly-bedded diamictite with dropstones Clast-supported massive diamictites Clast-supported stratified diamictites Massive sandstones Ripple cross-laminated sandstones Interestratified sandstones and mudstones Shales with dropstones Shales Mark

Sedimentology of the Glacigenic Deposits

As noted by Gonzalez Bonorino and Eyles (1995),most of the South American Late Paleozoic glacial deposits were deposited during glacial retreat because deposition during glacial advance (sea level lowstand) are usually restricted to marine basins with high rates of subsidence (Eyles, 1993). Tillites are rare and shales with dropstones are the most common record of the glaciation in the Paganzo Basin. However, the Los Pozuelos Creek section is a 20 m-thick column of the glacial interval in the Paganzo Basin that includes tillites (Fig. 4). Accordingly, the Los Pozuelos Creek sequence represents an excellent opportunity to reconstruct the history of the glacial onset in a transitional (continental-marine) environment. The presence of tillites of the Los Pozuelos Creek confirms the region was glaciated and provide an opportunity to test the continental versus marine origin of these sequences. The locality is also suitable for characterizing the glacial to postglacial transition and for studying, at least partially, the evolution of the glacial history. Thirteen lithofacies (Table 1)identified at the measured section (Fig. 4) are grouped into three facies associations (Table 2) described below.

Facies Association I
Description
Clast-rich to clast-poor coarse-grained massive and stratified diamictites make up the bulk (95%) of this facies association (lithofacies Dmm, Dms, Dmg, Dcs) . Laminated siltstones with small dropstones (Fld) and interstratified sandstones and mudstones (Fl-Sr) are minor components. Matrix-supported massive diamictites (Dmm) are lenticular, coarse-grained (boulders to cobbles) matrix supported conglomerates (Fig. 5c). They are composed almost exclusively of Ordovician clasts of local derivation (90% limestones from the underlying San Juan Formation and 10% of nearly outcroping Los Azules Formation). Matrix content varies from 50% to 80% and it is made up of an homogenous admixture of mud and sand. Clasts are angular to subrounded, showing no preferred
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orientation and lacking any evidence of subglacial transport. A distinctive level of Dmm forms a boulderstriated pavement (Fig. 5a) at the base of the Carboniferous succession or is injected into the Ordovician limestones (Fig. 5d). Matrix-supported stratified diamictites (Dms) and matrix-supported graded diamictites (Dmg) are also coarse-grained (pebbly to bouldery), but the former presents faint bedding (Fig. 5d) whereas the latter shows normal to inverse grading. Clast/matrix ratio is variable but generally varies less than 0.3 and local provenance of limestone and mudstone clasts clearly predominate. Clast-supported massive (Dcm) and stratified diamictites (Dcs) are less common, they are clast rich (from 0.8 to 0.9 clast/matrix ratio) and coarse-grained (pebbly to cobble). These types of diamictites have a matrix of fine-sandy mud, in some cases a better rounding of clasts and low content (up to 1 % of granitic or high0) grade metamorphic fragments. Two different types of fine-grained sediments are intercalated within the diamictites above described. Firstly, lenticular bodies, up to 0.5 m-thick, of varve-like rhythmites composed of finely laminated yellowish siltstones containing rare small (1cm) angular dropstones of limestone (Fld, Fig. 5e). Different types of deformational structures such as small folds, contorted and convolute lamination, are common in these rocks. Secondly,irregular intervals, up to 1.5 m-thick, of interstratified laminated sandstones and mudstones (Sl-Fl). In some cases these rocks form lenticular bodies (up to 20 cm-thick) of ripplecross laminated fine- to very fine-grained sandstones (Sr) with rare intercalations of massive pebbly mudstones (Dmm).

Interpretation
Very thin levels of striated or injected massive diamictites (Dmm) are interpreted as lodgement tills. These rocks appear closely related to varve-like rhythmites with dropstones (Fld) and interstratified laminated

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!:
1

REFERENCES
Matrix-supported massive diamictites (Dmm) Matrix-supported stratified diamictites (Dms) Clast-supported massive diamictites (Dcm) Clast-supported stratified diamictites (Dcs)

m l
_ . . . .

F !

Lammated sandstones (Sl)

Massive sandstones (Sm) Laminated and massive mudstones (FI, Fm)

F l
m

Limestones Mark Normal grading

L
o--I -Y

Inverse grading Boulder pavement Striated pavement Dropstones Folds, contorted and convolute stratification Facies Associations (FA) Depositional stages (DS) of Limarino et a1 (2002b)

JP
I
San

Fig. 4. Lithostratigraphic column of the lower Guandacol Forniation at Los Pozuelos Creek

sandstones and mudstones (Sl-Fl). The rhythmites are thought to represent seasonal sedimentation of finegrained particles in small water bodies and rainout of icerafted debris (IRD) of local provenance. The interstratified laminated sandstones and mudstones may correspond to prograding sandy mouth bars in marginal areas. Although a tidal origin for the rhythmites can not be ruled out, the delicate lamination, the illitic composition of the claystones (different from the chloritic composition of inarine postglacial claystones in Paganzo Basin, see Net, 02, et al., 2 0 ) the lateral association with coarse-grained diamictites and the lack of tidal structures allow us to infer a glacilacustrine origin for these deposits. This setting is in agreement with the fluvial origin proposed for some of the resedimented diamictites found at the base of the sequence. It is concluded that, at least the lowermost part of Unit I was deposited under a continental glacial regime. Several levels of diamictites blanket the above deposits. W h i 1e matrix - s u p p o r t e d , m as s i ve d i a m i c t i t e s are interpreted as tillites, stratified ones correspond to

resedimented diamictites. Matrix-supported, faintlystratified, coarse-grained diamictites (Dms) probably represent rainout till deposits whereas graded (Dmg) and clast-supported stratified diamictites (Dcs) are the product of coarse-grained, subaqueous, non-cohesive gravityflows. The almost monomictic composition of larger clasts and most of the dropstones and the lack of faceted and striated surfaces suggest dominance of clasts from local sources and short transport distances.

Facies Association I1

Description
This facies association is composed of two main lithofacies: (1)couplets of matrix-supported thinly-bedded diamictites with dropstones (Dmld) and laminated mudstones with dropstones (Fld, Fig. Sf); and (2) regular intervals of shales with dropstones (Fld). Matrix-supported thinly-bedded diamictites with dropstones (Dmld) form tabular beds, up to 8 cm-thick,
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CARBONIFEROUS GROUNDING-LINE SYSTEM, NORTHWESTERN ARGENTINA Table 2. Description aiid interpretation of the Facies Associations distinguished in the studied section. Lithofacies code in brackets. Facies Association I Description Coarse-grained massive diamictites (Dnim) Different types of stratified diamictites (Dms, Dmg, Dcs) Lenticular bodies of vane-like rhythmites composed of finely laminated yellowish siltstones with small dropstones of limestone (Fld) Interstratified sandstones and mudstones (FI-Sr) Couplets of matrix-supported thinly-bedded diamictites with dropstones (Dmld) aiid laminated mudstolies with dropstones (Fld) Monotonous intervals of shales with dropstones (Fld) Laminated black mudstones (Fm, F1) with marine fauna, poorly preserved plant remains and a palynologic association of spores, pollen, acritarchs and marine algae. Thin, tabular, massive beds of black calcareous mudstones or mark (M) Thin levels of ripple-cross-laminated, fine-grained to very fine-grained sandstones
~

193

Interpretation Tillites Resedimented deposits: Dins levels represent rainout till deposits whereas Ding and Dcs ones are the product of coarse-grained, subaqueous, non-cohesive gravity-flows Seasonal fine-grained sedimentation in sinall water bodies and rainout of ice-rafted debris (IRD) Prograding sandy mouth bars in marginal areas. Subacqueous, cohesive debris flows coupled with rainout of IRD Settling of fine-grained particles from supension in a deep or protected environment with IRD rainout Settling of fine-grained particles in a deep marine environment below wave base with normal (or near normal) salinity Carbonate accumulation occurs duringsedimentstarvation Distal underflows

I1

111

of dark red to black poorly sorted pebbly sandstones. Beds are mostly massive, although a crude planar fabric of the longer clast-axis is locally present. Laminated black mudstones with dropstones (up to 2 cm-thick) constitute laterally continuous partitions (Fld) between diamictitic beds. They frequently bear bilobated trace fossils on bedding planes. The bases of diamictitic layers resting on laminated mudstones are sharp but non-erosive. Both matrix-supported, thinly-bedded diamictites and laminated mudstones contain ice-rafted debris (IRD) up to 70 cm in diameter. Dropstones are rounded to subrounded showing striae and pentagonal forms composed of locally-derived boulders of limestones and exotic granitic and metamorphic clasts. In contrast to Facies Association I, the dropstones are not exclusively derived from the Precordillera but also from the Sierras Pampeanas, located 50 km to the East (Fig. 1). According to their geometry two different types of architecture occur in this unit. Firstly, westerly dipping prograding clinoforms developed at the front of the coarsegrained diamictites of Facies Association I. Horizontal couplets, the most common style found elsewhere in the basin, rest on Facies Association I diamictites or directly over Ordovician limestones. Regular intervals of shales with dropstones (Fld) transitionally overlie these lithofacies. They consist of thinly laminated black mudstones with rounded and angular dropstones of exotic (non-local) provenance (dominated by granitic and high-grade metamorphic clasts). Isolated and randomly distributed dropstones of up to 30 cm in diameter produce impact structures such as rucking and broken caps (Thomas and Connell, 1985).
~

Interpretation
Lithofacies of this facies association correspond to a combination of three different processes: (1)subaqueous, cohesive debris flows are represented by poorly sorted, matrix-supported Dmld lithofacies, with sharp but nonerosive bases (preservation of trace fossils on bedding planes), (2) coeval rainout of ice-rafted debris (IRD) from icebergs is indicated by the presence of dropstones, and (3) settling of fine-grained particles from supension in a deep or protected environment (black shales). The presence of an upward transition from the DmldFld lithofacies to Fld suggests progressive increasing distance from the sediment source that may have been associated with water deepening or ice front retreat. The observed prograding clinoforms are very probably related to periods of high sediment suppIy. Monospecific composition of trace fossils (Pazos, 2002b) suggests stressed conditions, possibly due to extreme freshwater run-off in a cool-temperate climatic setting where opportunistic (r-type) deposit-feeders exploited the substratum in a brackish water body. In summary, Facies Association I1 (Dmld and Fld) represents deposition in a glacimarine environment. The composition of diamictites and dropstones indicates that a minor local sediment source (limestones and sandstones) was outpaced by a more distant basement source from the Sierras Pampeanas located to the East (Fig. 1). The high proportion of dropstones with striae and pentagonal forms suggests previous subglacial t r a n s p o r t b u t r o u n d i n g also indicates i m p o r t a n t participation of meltwater.

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Fig. 5. Field photographs. (a) Centimeter-scale groved and striated boulder pavement resting on the San Juan limestone (medium gray). (b) General view of Facies Association I coarse-grained diamictites. Note the boulder pavement (arrowed) at the erosional surface between deposional units (morainal banks) 2 and 3 and the stacking on morainal bank-core deposits. (c) Massive, coarse-grained diamictite (Dmm) composed of clasts from the underlying San Juan limestone. (d) Massive diamictite injected into Ordovician limestones (medium gray) and stratified diamictites (Dms) overlying the San Juan Formation. (e) Close view of the finely laminated yellowish silstones with a limestone dropstone. Note the deformation of the lamination at the base of the dropstone. (f) Couplets of matrix-supported thinly-bedded diamictites (Dmld) and laminated mudstones with dropstones (Fld). Larger clasts are derived from Sierras Pampeanas basement rocks.

Facies Association III

Description
This facies association is dominated by up to 3 m-thick intervals of laminated mudstones, thin marl intervals and rare fine-grained to very fine-grained sandstones that gradationally overlie Fld lithofacies of Facies Association 11. Shales (Fl) are black, laminated mudstones forming laterally continuous horizons traceable for several kilometers. They contain brachiopods, bivalves (Martinez, 1993; Pazos, 2000), poorly preserved plant remains and a palynologic association of spores, pollen, acritarchs and

marine algae (Gutikrrez and Limarino, 2001; Marenssi et al., 2002a). Thin, tabular, massive beds of black calcareous mudstones or marls (M), appear intercalated with the shales. Thin (up to 4 cm-thick) beds of massive or ripple-cross-laminated fine-grained sandstones, occasionallyoccur toward the top of this facies association.

lnterpretation
This facies association is interpreted to represent settling of fine-grained particles in a deep marine environment below wave base. The paleontological record suggests marine waters of normal (or near normal) salinity.
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Carbonate accumulation is enhanced during sediment starvation at maximum flooding stage (Domack 1988; Loutit et al., 1988). It may also indicate a change in water chemistry and/or temperature related to the end of glacial meltwater flow into the basin (Tucker, 1986). These characteristics and the absence of IRD indicate the end of glacial conditions, at least in the sea and nearshore areas.

Architecture of the Glacigenic Sequence

The architecture of the glacigenic deposits exposed at Los Pozuelos Creek has been analysed with the help of photomosaic panels. Figure 6 shows the location of each panel and figures 7, 8 and 9 correspond to individual detailed panels.

Description
Diamictite beds pinch out laterally in several tens of meters showing the overall lenticular geometry of the glacial deposits (Fig. 6). In figure 7, a thick interval comprising four diamictitic bodies (Facies Association I) is shown to rest on top of the San Juan limestone but toward the South (Fig. 6) shales with dropstones (Facies Association 11) directly overlie the limestone (Fig. 8). Similarly, figure 9 illustrates a thin interval of coarse-

grained diamictites (Facies Association I) covering the San Juan Formation but a few tens of meters to the North, shales with dropstones rest directly on the same unit (Fig. 6). In the central part of the outcrop (Fig. 7) coarse-grained diamictites of Facies Association I (Fig. 5c) reach a maximum thickness of 17.4 m, forming four stacked diamictitic bodies bounded by low-relief erosional surfaces. Each diamictitic body is thought to represent a single episode of sedimentation-erosion during cycles of glacial advance-retreat. Unit 1 is the thinnest (2.3 m) but is most widespread in area. Its base is an erosional surface cut down into the Ordovician limestones and can be either a striated bedrock surface, or a striated boulder pavements(Fig. Sa) with or without injected till (Fig. 5d). Unit 2 is 3.7 m-thick and rests on a sharp and slightly undulating surface that locally erodes deposits of underlying Unit 1. Unit 2 includes a larger number of resedimented diamictites and larger clasts (up to 40 cm). A boulder pavement (Fig. 5b) locally marks the base of the 3.4 m-thick Unit 3, which is strongly lenticular. Unit 4 is the last and thickest unit, reaching almost 8 m in thickness. Deposits of Facies Association I pass upward to a up to 2 m-thick interval of shales with dropstones (Facies Association 11) that are in turn covered by a thinner (less than 1m-thick) veneer of shales (Facies Association 111).

FiguLe 7

REFERENCES Sandy bar deposit (reference level) Facies Association 111 Facies Association II Facies Association I
San Juan Fm limestones

Fig. 6. General stratigraphic cross section of Los Pozuelos Creek outcrops showing the overall lenticular geometry of the glacial deposits and the location of the photomosaic sections of figures 7, 8 and 9. Note the retrogradational stacking of the diamictitic units.

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In a general overview, deposits of Facies Association I pinch out laterally to the West but the axis of each dianiictitic unit progressively shifts to the East producing a retrogradational arrangement as clearly shown in figure 6. To the West (Fig. 8), 12.5 m of fine-grained, thinly bedded diamictites and shales with dropstones of Facies Association I1 (Fig. Sf), rest directly on top of San Juan limestones. Low-angle clinoforms up to 3.5 m-thick and more than 15 m long indicate progradation of lobes formed by resedimentation processes toward the West. Shales (Facies Association 111), which are up to 4.5 m-thick, cover the clinoforms. To the East (Fig. 9) a thin (2.5 m-thick) interval of coarse-grained diamictites (Facies Association I) covers the Ordovician limestone and is succeeded by 2.5 m of shales with dropstones (Facies Association 11) and finally by 0.75 m of laminated shale (Facies Association 111). The Facies Association I a n d I1 rocks show intense synsedimentary deformation including small faults and folds. Deformation decreases upwards being minor in shales of Facies Association I11 and absent in the overlying sandy-bar bed.

Interpretation
The section exposed at Los Pozuelos Creek is a well preserved three dimensional example of a grounding-line system (Powell a n d Alley, 1997), formed by the

retrogradational stacking of several morainal banks (Powell, 1981) and covered by basinal postglacial transgressive shales. The retrogradational architecture of the diamictite units indicates an overall glacial retreat to the East (Sierras Pampeanas Range) and a subsequent relative sea-level rise. In a more detailed view, each diamictite unit starts with an erosional base and a limited westward progradation, clearly shown by the narrow diamictite noses in figure 6. This geometry resembles an overall relative sea-level rise during a long-term period of deglaciation, punctuated by short-term relative sea-level falls, probably related to short-lived, high frequency glacial advances. However this situation may also be produced by minor glacial fluctuations causing stacking of morainal banks without the need for any change in relative sea level. Morainal banks are inferred from the geometry of the deposits (Figs. 6 and 7) and the features of their facies associations. This geometry has been reconstructed using the base of a laterally continuous sandy bar deposit that caps the succession as a datum. More specifically, the architectural arrangement and facies association distribution allow us to recognize three different subenvironments within each morainal bank, which have been termed bank-front (FMB), bank-core (CMB) and bank-back (BMB) (Cai et al., 1997). The bank-front is characterized by coarse-grained, mainly resedimented diamictites of Facies Association I

Iw

Facies s s

Sandy bar deposit (reference level) o c i L

_._-...

UNIT11

. Al

------San Juan Formation limestones

_____----. I ......, / ...... .

i ( ............,,.....

/
...

6mlI
.......

San Juan Formation limestones

Fig. 7. Photomosaic and interpreted stratigraphic section of the central part of the Los Pozuelos Creek section. Person (1.80 m for scale) to the right is standing on top of the San Juan limestones. Person to the left is on the thin but widespread deposits of Unit I.

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that pass laterally to the West into prograding clinoforms composed of interbedded matrix-supported, thinlyinterbedded diamictite and mudstone. Distally (Fig. 8), the coarse-grained diamictites wedge-out and FMB comprises shales with dropstones (Facies Association 11) covered by transgressive mudstones (Facies Association 111). Closely associated with the shales with IRD, are several intercalations of thinly-bedded diamictites with dropstones. These rocks, formed by resedimentation processes, are interpreted as laterally equivalent deposits of the clinoforms; they thin rapidly to the West. Coarse-grained diamictites (Facies Association I) form the whole of the bank-core assemblage. They represent sedimentation in a glacimarine setting from a combination of processes. Figure 7 shows five major erosional surfaces, bounding four dianiictite bodies representing the stacking of four bank-core assemblages forming the core of the grounding-line depositional system. The lower body rests on an irregular surface corresponding to the glacial paleotopography carved on the Ordovician limestone. This interval comprises, from base to top, a single-layer striated pebble pavement, a thin and discontinuous level of lodgement till, irregular beds of resedimented diamictites and lenticular deposits of varve-like rhythmites with dropstones. Finally, a bank-back is best preserved to the East (Fig. 9) where it is composed of 2 to 5 m-thick resedimented diamictites and shales with dropstones belonging to Facies Association 11. These rocks show important postdepositional deformation including synsedimentary faults and small folds. The top of BMB assemblage is formed by postglacial transgressive shales.

lw
Facies association II

----__-__________------I

Sari Juan Formation limestones

3m

L
7m

Fig. 8. Photomosaic and interpreted stratigraphic section at the western side of Los Pozuelos Creek section showing the best example of morainal bank-front deposits represented by couplets of matrixsupported thinly-bedded diamictites (Dmld) and laminated mudstones with dropstones (Fld) forming a west dipping clinoform.

Discussion
The deposits exposed at Los Pozuelos Creek are unique in the whole Paganzo Basin by showing the lateral and vertical relationships among different glacigenic units and also by exhibiting a 3D geometry. Glacial and glacially related deposits comprise mainly massive and stratified diamictites (Facies Association I) and prograding clinoforms composed of dropstone-bearing, thinly stratified diamictites and shales (Facies Association 11). They are arranged in cyclic sequences that consist of a basal deposit belonging to Facies Association I with deposits of Facies Association I1 above or in front of them. Morainal banks (Hunter et al., 1996) are landforms deposited at grounding lines of temperate or subpolar glaciers ending in water bodies, during the marine flooding phase that accompanies glacial retreat. They are considered to be formed in glacilacustrine and glacimarine settings due to a combination of different processes, from fluvial deposition, suspension settling, rock fall and grain
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fall due to calve-dumping and meltout, squeezing from under a glacier, pushing by a glacier and lodgement and deformation of till (Powell and Alley, 1997). The depicted geometry and facies arrangement strongly suggest that they represent a grounding-line depositional system as defined by Powell and Alley (1997). It is composed of three older morainal banks or wedges buried by a younger morainal bank that preserves its geometry because it is covered by basin-fill sediments (Facies Association 111). Powell and Molnia (1989) described the glacimarine processes, products and morphology of Alaskan fjords and shelves. In the fjord system, they differentiated marginal, proglacial and paraglacial deposits. Morainal banks are included in the ice-proximal depositional environment (Cai et al., 1997) formed when the ice terminus is stable or quasi-stable during a certain period of time. Morainal banks are complex because of the variety of processes that shed sediment a t a grounding line containing mixtures of diamicton, gravel, rubble, sand and mud facies as depicted and described at Los Pozuelos

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~

Iw

Rhythmic couplets of lithofacies Dmld and Fld included in Facies Association I1 are a close analogue to the former. These laminites (sensu Edwards, 1987) can be produced by different episodic depositional or erosional events (Powell, 1981) mainly as sediment gravity flows. These gravity flows may be generated by different mechanisms, but slope over-steepening and iceberg calving are probably the most common causes at tidewater fronts. Beyond the interstratified sediments, and also interbedded with them, Powell and Molnia (1989) described homogeneous muds that are marine outwash deposits of glacial rock-flour, which in glacial fjords contain iceberg-rafted debris similar to our lithofacies Fld (Facies Association 11). Cai (1994) interpreted a multi-bank deposit composed of the stacking of four morainal banks, as a result of shortterm terminus behavior or periodic retreats and readvances of the glacial terminus. That situation compares well with the stacking pattern described in our example at Los Pozuelos Creek. Furthermore, Powell (1990) described clast pavements in grounding-line fans interpreted as having formed by oscillation of the grounding-line of a sub-polar or temperate glacier with vertical tidewater cliffs. The boulder pavement located between units 2 and 3 (Fig. 5b) may be interpreted in the same way. In summary, the evidence presented here suggests that the Los Pozuelos Creek succession also conforms to an ice-proximal multi-bank deposit representing advances and retreats of a sub-polar to temperate glacier terminus.

Fig. 9. Photomosaic and interpreted stratigraphic section a t the northeastern side of Los Pozuelos Creek section showing the best example of the morainal bank-back deposits. Stratified and massive diamictites of Facies Association I are covered by 1 deformed rocks of Facies Association 1 . These lithofacies rest directly on top of the San Juan limestones.

Glacial-postglacial Evolution
The shift from glacial to post-glacial coastal conditions shows a characteristic arrangement of facies that in the study region can be synthesized as follows: (1) a basal and very thin lodgement till (lowermost part of Facies Association I); (2) a thicker interval where true tillites and coarse-grained resedimented diamictites coexist (most of Facies Association I); (3) a laterally persistent interval of thinly interbedded fine-grained diamictites and shales with IRD (Facies Association 11) and, (4) a veneer of laminated shales lacking dropstones (Facies Association 111, Figs. 4 and 6). Throughout the region this succession is bounded at the top by a thick sandy interval (Fig. 6) that marks a progradation of deltaic systems during the following high stand (Limarino et al., 2002b). The vertical facies transition from tillites to resedimented diamictites with IRD and finally IRD-free shales has been interpreted as the response to a relative sea-level rise coupled with ice calving (Limarino et al., 2002b; Marenssi et al., 2002a). In this way, coarse-grained tillites would have been reworked and resedimented by subaqueous gravity-flows in proglacial proximal settings
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Creek outcrop. Diamicton lithofacies may be accumulated by several processes: subglacial and melt-out till deposition, sediment gravity flows from fjord floor highs, and mixing of silt and clays from melt-water streams and coarse-grained deposition from numerous dirty icebergs (Hunter et al., 1996). Bank sediments are resedimented by slides and slumps and sediment gravity flows down the fore-slope of the bank but they may also collapse on their up-glacier side once the support of the glacier is lost during and after retreat (Powell, 1981). Most of these type of deposits are thought to be represented in rocks of Facies Association I of this study. Powell and Molnia (1989) indicated that proglacial deposits proximal to tidewater fronts are commonly interstratified at a bed or lamina scale, where coarsegrained sediment layers occur between mud layers.

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forming the thinly stratified fine-grained diamictites. Commonly in temperate and subpolar glacial settings, clinoform progradation of grounding-line depositional systems occurs when the grounding line is stable or quasistable and it may not necessarily correspond to changes in sea-level. Diamictites are covered by shales with dropstones released by icebergs. The lack or scarcity of gravity-flow deposits in this interval indicates sedimentation in a low energy environment distal to the grounding line. Futhermore, the exotic clast composition of most IRD (granites and high-grade metamorphic rocks) suggests an eastern provenance of the glacier from the Sierras Pampeanas (Fig. 1). Finally, shales lacking dropstones were deposited in an open marine, ice-free environment.
Stage 1: A single episode of expansion of the ice front Ice cap

/
Preglacial topography

Coarse-brained Shales with Gropstones diamictites Couplets of matrix-supported, thinly bedded diamictites and laminated mudstones with dropstones

Stage 2: Several episodes of growth and decay of the ice front

Rocks belonging to Facies Associations I and I1 correspond to the early transgressive systems tract of Lbpez Gamundi (1997) and were deposited under glacial influence during sedimentation. In contrast, the IRD-free marine black shales of Facies Association I11 represent the late transgressive systems tract (Lbpez Gamundi, 1997) developed during the last part of the deglaciation when relict glaciers had retreated landward. Sedimentation took place initially during the advance of temperate or polythermal (cold-warm based) ice masses. Bedrock deformation and incorporation of bedrock material within the coarse-grained diamictites strongly suggest that a glacier overrode the substrate. Injection of diamicton into limestone joints, the striated pavement carved on limestone, the overconsolidated thin tillite and its boulder pavement at the base of the section are all evidence of deposition during glacial advance. The temperate or polythermal character of ice masses is supported by changes in clast composition and texture from the basal coarse-grained diamictites (monomictic, locally sourced, subangular, non-striated) up through the overlying fine-grained, thinly bedded diamictites (polymictic, far-sourced, rounded, striated). Four deglaciation cycles have also been described by Visser (1997) in Permo-Carboniferous sequences of the Karoo and Kalahari Basins. Visser (1997) estimated the period o each cycle as having been between 9 and 11My f and interpreted them as the result of major global tectonoeustatic events. The Los Pozuelos Creek deposits are older than Vissers, and in our opinion, their cycles have a different scale. Despite of the differences in age, the evolution pattern from glacial to postglacial conditions in Paganzo Basin is similar not only to the South African basins but also to most other Gondwana basins (Laskar and Mitra, 1976; Suttner and Dutta, 1986; Collinson et al., 1994; Isbell et al., 1997).

Deformed diamictites Boulder and IRD deposits pavements Stage 3: Disintegration of the ice sheet

Multi-episbdic morainal bank deposits

Conclusions
Transgressive black shales

Mainly BMB Mainly CMB deposits deposits

<

. I

. ,

Preserved retrogradating and multi-episodic morainal bank deposits

.. .

Mainly FMB deposits

>

Fig. 10. Sketch of idealized model showing different stages in the evolution of the glacial-early postglacial Carboniferous succession of the Guandacol Formation cropping out at Los Pozuelos Creek. Not to scale.

Los Pozuelos Creek outcrops allow us to confirm the existence of true tillites in the Agua Hedionda anticline area, suggesting, at the same time, at least four pulses of glacial advance and retreat during the Namurian glaciation in Paganzo Basin. The three facies associations described in this paper mirror different stages during the glacial to post-glacial events. Facies Association I dominated by coarse-grained diamictites represents both glacial and early postglacial conditions. The former are characterized by tillites and glacial abrasion features whereas the latter are characterized by gravity-resedimented glacial debris. Facies Association I1 represents a later stage of deglaciation where a higher sea level and a retreat of the glacier

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terminus created conditions for the deposition of finergrained resedimented diarnictites, shales with IRD and prograding clinoforms that lack evidence of glacial erosion. Finally, shales without dropstones of Facies Association 111represent the deepest water conditions and the end of calving processes, probably because the glaciers had retreated from the water body. In particular, thin marl levels reveal a period of basin starvation from clastic sediments related to a maximum flooding stage at the end of the postglacial transgressive systems tract. Architecture and facies of Los Pozuelos Creek succession are a well-preserved three-dimensional example of a Carboniferous grounding-line system. This system was formed by the stacking of several morainal banks covered by basinal postglacial transgressive shales. Bank-front (FMB), bank-core (CMB) and bank-back (BMB) subenvironments were recognized based on facies associations and architectural arrangements. FMB comprises flat, thinly-bedded, resedimented diamictites with superimposed dropstones, shales with IRD and prograding clinoforms composed of interbedded matrixsupported thinly-bedded diamictite and mudstones. CMB comprises coarse-grained diamictites (both true tillites and resedimented diamictites) together with thin and lenticular varve-like rhythmites with dropstones. Finally, BMB is composed of coarse-grained resedimented diamictites, fine-grained thinly-bedded diamictites and dropstone-bearing shales showing important postdepositional deformation, including synsedimentary faults and small folds. The case-studyof Los Pozuelos Creek is a excellentexample of the Namurian glacial-postglacialevolution in a Gondwanic transitional continental-marine (fjord-type) setting where glacially related deposits represent oscillations in a grounding-line system formed at the front of a sub-polar to temperate glacier with vertical tidewater cliffs.

Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Dr. Ross Powell, Dr. James W. Collinson and Dr. Oscar L6pez Gamundi for their constructive comments. This research was founded by PICT 04821 of the Agencia Nacional de Promoci6n Cientifica y Tecnologica of Argentina. The University of Buenos Aires is thanked for logistic support. This is a contribution to IGCP 471 Evolution of western Gondwana during the Late Paleozoic,

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