Cenozoic tectonic, volcanic and sedimentary cycles in southern Mendoza Province, Argentina (35 degrees-37 degrees S y 69 degrees 30 ' W)

Cenozoic tectonic, volcanic and sedimentary cycles in southern Mendoza Province, Argentina (35 degrees-37 degrees S y 69 degrees 30'W). This article describes the volcanic and sedimentary stratigraphy and their associated processes with the Andean deformation during the Late Cretaceous to Late Pliocene. The studied area is located between the Atuel and Barrancas rivers and the Main Cordillera, in southern Mendoza, Argentina. Three tectovolcano-sedimentary cycles limited by regional discordances (Inca, Quechua, Pehuenche and Diaguita) are proposed. The first comprises Upper Oligocene to Upper Miocene volcanic and sedimentary units (Roca and Pircala-Coihueco formations and the Volcanic Cycle Molle). The second extends from the Late Oligocene to Late Miocene (Agua de la Piedra Formation and the Huincan Andesites volcanic cycle). Finally, the third cycle ranges from the Late Miocene to Pliocene (Butalo, Pincheiras, Loma Fiera and Rio Diamante formations and La Brea Andesites).