The Lipeón Formation is a Telychian to Pridoli geologic formation of southern Bolivia and northwestern Argentina. The formation comprises sandstones and siltstones. Plant fossils comprising rhyniophytes (specifically Aberlemnia, Steganotheca, Tarrantia, Hostinella and Cooksonia) are scattered throughout, with some abundant concentrations on micaceous bedding plains. The fossil flora is the oldest of South America.Jarcas stream, Negra Muerta, Sella Valley, Tarija at Fossilworks.orgPadcaya, Tarija at Fossilworks.org Also present were quite diverse small, irregularly branching fragments possibly the tips of algae such as Buthotrephis or Hungerfordia.Edwards et al., 2015, pp.16-17
Correlations The Lipeón Formation is laterally equivalent to the Kirusillas Formation.Veizaga Saavedra et al., 2014, p.96Pojo at Fossilworks.orgHacienda de Tapacari, 10 km from Huari, 120 km S of Oruro at Fossilworks.org The formation is a potential source rock for shale oil and shale gas.Veizaga Saavedra et al., 2014, p.99
Fossil content The formation has provided the following fossils:
Ornatosinuitina reyesi Slimonia bolivianaKjellesvig-Waering, 1973 Styliolina sp. Lingulata indet. Flora Aberlemnia Cooksonia Hostinella Steganotheca Tarrantia
See also List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Bolivia Kirusillas Formation Llallagua Formation
References
Bibliography
Further reading
B. Petriella and R. Suarez Soruco. 1989. Presencia de plantas terrestres, probablemente vosculares, en las formaciones Kirusillas y Tarabuco (Lampayano-Silurico Superior) de Bolivia. Revista Tecnica de YPFB 10:119-121 C. J. Fischer. 1969. Deux bellerophontacées nouveaux de Bolive. Bulletin de Societé géologique, France 7:605-608