The Chañares Formation is a Carnian-age geologic formation of the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin, located in La Rioja Province, Argentina. It is characterized by drab-colored fine-grained volcaniclastic claystones, siltstones, and sandstones which were deposited in a fluvial to lacustrine environment. The formation is most prominently exposed within Talampaya National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site within La Rioja Province.
Image: Chiniquodon NT small
Image: Probainognathus jenseni life restoration
Image: Dinodontosaurus 1DB
Image: Stahleckeria 1DB
The Carnian is the lowermost stage of the Upper Triassic Series. It lasted from 237 to 227 million years ago (Ma). The Carnian is preceded by the Ladinian and is followed by the Norian. Its boundaries are not characterized by major extinctions or biotic turnovers, but a climatic event occurred during the Carnian and seems to be associated with important extinctions or biotic radiations. Another extinction occurred at the Carnian-Norian boundary, ending the Carnian age.
Alluvial plain red clays of the Travenanzes Formation, upper Carnian, the Dolomites, northern Italy
Brotheotrachyceras brotheus from the San Cassiano Formation, Val Badia, Dolomites, Southern Alps. This ammonoid is an index fossil for the lower Carnian
Carnian Earth
