INGEMMET discovers the largest 467 million years Trilobite fossil in Pichari - Cusco
Nota de prensa
Fotos: INGEMMET
31 de enero de 2021 - 12:58 p. m.
During the works of the update of the National Geological Chart at 1:50 000 scale, the Geological Mining, Metallurgical Institute found a trilobite fossil 18 cm long, and 14 cm wide. This is a size never before recorded in Peru. It was discovered between San Cristobal and San Pedro towns of the Pichari in Cusco, located in the area called VRAEM (valley of the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro rivers).
The trilobite belongs to the Niobides cf. N. armatus HARRINGTON & LEANZA species, which existed approximately 467-458 million years ago. In addition, it corresponds to the Darriwilian of the Middle Ordovician period. It is an extinct class of Paleozoic marine arthropods (Primary Era). They were fossilized in slate clay rocks of the San José Formation. In this regard, it allows extending its chronozone with the Contaya Formation of the Peruvian East and with the Capinota Formation of the Republic of Bolivia.
This geological-paleontological discovery allows the reconstruction of ancient environments. Besides, it grants to reveal very favorable paleoecological conditions for the development of marine fauna. A muddy marine substrate, well-oxygenated bottom waters and moderately rich in energy with nutrients compose such fauna. This defines neritic facies, with an internal sub-littoral platform in this part of the basin.
Furthermore, the applied techniques allowed the rescue and the stratigraphic collection during the geological mapping, which includes the recording of 28 samples for their preparation and cleaning in order to proceed to their taxonomic determination and biostratigraphic organization.
The trilobite belongs to the Niobides cf. N. armatus HARRINGTON & LEANZA species, which existed approximately 467-458 million years ago. In addition, it corresponds to the Darriwilian of the Middle Ordovician period. It is an extinct class of Paleozoic marine arthropods (Primary Era). They were fossilized in slate clay rocks of the San José Formation. In this regard, it allows extending its chronozone with the Contaya Formation of the Peruvian East and with the Capinota Formation of the Republic of Bolivia.
This geological-paleontological discovery allows the reconstruction of ancient environments. Besides, it grants to reveal very favorable paleoecological conditions for the development of marine fauna. A muddy marine substrate, well-oxygenated bottom waters and moderately rich in energy with nutrients compose such fauna. This defines neritic facies, with an internal sub-littoral platform in this part of the basin.
Furthermore, the applied techniques allowed the rescue and the stratigraphic collection during the geological mapping, which includes the recording of 28 samples for their preparation and cleaning in order to proceed to their taxonomic determination and biostratigraphic organization.