Parque Provincial Reserva Natural Valle de la Luna, Valle Fértil Department, San Juan Province, Argentinai

Regional Level Types
Parque Provincial Reserva Natural Valle de la Luna	Nature Reserve
Valle Fértil Department	Department
San Juan Province	Province
Argentina	Country

Elevation: 1,150 m. asl.

Important geological and fossiliferous reserve of Argentina located partly in the provinces of La Rioja and San Juan.

The region is known as "Moon Valley" or "Valle de la Luna" in Spanish.
Intense erosion acting on these regions slowly destroys the sedimentary layers, exposing fossil remains.

Rounded silica concretions of different diameters are part of the provincial park and resemble a "bowling court".
Opal, Wood opal and remains of petrified trees were also found.

Geology:
The Ischigualasto Provincial Natural Park, located in the northeast of the province of San Juan, is one of the most important geological-paleontological reserves of Argentina.

Within its boundaries is an uninterrupted succession of continental strata corresponding to all of the Triassic period. "Ischichuca" and "Los Rastros", from the middle Triassic formations constitute an important reservoir of plants, amphibians and invertebrate fossils. The basis of the "Ischigualasto formation", from the upper Triassic - dated at 228 million years - has provided a collection of the most important paleovertebrates in the world for this period and shows a unique event as it is the replacement of the therapsids by the archosaurs.

The most important fossils found in this formation include the oldest and most primitive dinosaurs that are known, a very important range of crocodyliform archosaurs and the last important association of cynodonts and dicynodont therapsids.

The "Los Colorados formation", representing the highest part of the Triassic period, has provided a very rich diversity of paleovertebrates.

Fossils

There are 12 fossil localities from the PaleoBioDB database within this region.

BETA TEST - These data are provided on an experimental basis and are taken from external databases. Mindat.org has no control currently over the accuracy of these data.

Occurrences	87
Youngest Fossil Listed	209 Ma (Late/Upper Triassic)
Oldest Fossil Listed	433 Ma (Silurian)
Stratigraphic Units	Click here to view 9 stratigraphic units.
Stratigraphic Units	Unit No. Occurrences Age Los Colorados 1 228 - 208.5 Ma (Late/Upper Triassic) Agua de la Peña - Los Colorados 1 228 - 208.5 Ma (Late/Upper Triassic) Ischigualasto 21 228 - 208.5 Ma (Late/Upper Triassic) Ischigualasto - Cancha de Bochas 7 237 - 208.5 Ma (Late/Upper Triassic) Ischigualasto - La Peña 6 237 - 208.5 Ma (Late/Upper Triassic) Ischigualasto - Valle de la Luna 1 237 - 228 Ma (Late/Upper Triassic) Los Rastros 8 242 - 237 Ma (Middle Triassic) Talacasto 38 407.6 - 393.3 Ma (Early/Lower Devonian) Los Espejos 4 419.2 - 391.9 Ma (Devonian)
Fossils from Region	Click here to show the list.
Accepted Name Hierarchy Age Lingula genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Lingulata : Lingulida : Lingulidae : Lingula 419.2 - 410.8 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Schizotreta genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Lingulata : Lingulida : Discinidae : Schizotreta 419.2 - 410.8 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Craniops genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Craniata : Craniopsidae : Craniops 419.2 - 410.8 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Salopina genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Orthida : Draboviidae : Salopina 419.2 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Amosina genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Productida : Strophochonetidae : Amosina 433.4 - 419.2 Ma Paleozoic Anoplia genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Productida : Anopliidae : Anoplia 419.2 - 410.8 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Australostrophia genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Productida : Strophochonetidae : Australostrophia 410.8 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Chonostrophiella genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Productida : Chonostrophiidae : Chonostrophiella 410.8 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Iridistrophia genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Orthotetida : Chilidiopsidae : Iridistrophia 409.1 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Kentronetes genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Productida : Strophochonetidae : Kentronetes 419.2 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Pleurochonetes genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Productida : Chonetidae : Pleurochonetes 409.1 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Plicanoplia genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Plicanoplia 410.8 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Protoleptostrophia genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Strophomenida : Leptostrophiidae : Protoleptostrophia 409.1 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Sanjuanetes genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Productida : Strophochonetidae : Sanjuanetes 419.2 - 410.8 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Boucotia genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Rhynchonellida : Notanopliidae : Boucotia 419.2 - 410.8 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Trigonirhynchia genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Rhynchonellida : Trigonirhynchiidae : Trigonirhynchia 409.1 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Australospirifer genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Spiriferida : Hysterolitidae : Australospirifer 409.1 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Howellella genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Spiriferida : Delthyrididae : Howellella 419.2 - 410.8 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Meristella genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Athyridida : Meristellidae : Meristella 419.2 - 410.8 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Metaplasia genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Spiriferida : Ambocoeliidae : Metaplasia 419.2 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Plicoplasia genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Spiriferida : Ambocoeliidae : Plicoplasia 409.1 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Pustulatia genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Spiriferida : Ambocoeliidae : Pustulatia 409.1 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Spinoplasia genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Spiriferida : Ambocoeliidae : Spinoplasia 419.2 - 410.8 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Coelospira genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Athyridida : Anoplothecidae : Coelospira 419.2 - 410.8 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Cryptonella genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Terebratulida : Cryptonellidae : Cryptonella 409.1 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Mutationella genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Terebratulida : Mutationellidae : Mutationella 410.8 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Pleurothyrella genus Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Terebratulida : Meganterididae : Pleurothyrella 410.8 - 402.5 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Hyperodapedon genus Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Rhynchosauria : Rhynchosauridae : Hyperodapedon 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Herrerasaurus genus Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Dinosauria : Herrerasauridae : Herrerasaurus 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Eucynodontia infraorder Animalia : Chordata : Osteichthyes : Cotylosauria : Eucynodontia 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Chiniquodon genus Animalia : Chordata : Osteichthyes : Cotylosauria : Chiniquodontidae : Chiniquodon 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Ischigualastia jenseni species Animalia : Chordata : Osteichthyes : Cotylosauria : Stahleckeriidae : Ischigualastia : Ischigualastia jenseni 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Dinosauria : Herrerasauridae : Herrerasaurus : Herrerasaurus ischigualastensis 228 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Cycadales order Plantae : Tracheophyta : Cycadopsida : Cycadales 242 - 237 Ma Middle Triassic Equisetales order Plantae : Tracheophyta : Polypodiopsida : Equisetales 242 - 237 Ma Middle Triassic Riojasaurus incertus species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Dinosauria : Riojasaurus : Riojasaurus incertus 228 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Trialestes romeri species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Eosuchia : Trialestes : Trialestes romeri 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Pisanosaurus mertii species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Dinosauria : Pisanosaurus : Pisanosaurus mertii 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Stagonolepididae family Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Stagonolepididae 237 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Lagerpetonidae family Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Lagerpetonidae 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Rigalites ischigualastianus species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Rigalites : Rigalites ischigualastianus 242 - 237 Ma Middle Triassic Rhynchosaurinae subfamily Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Eosuchia : Rhynchosauridae : Rhynchosaurinae 237 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Chiniquodon theotonicus species Animalia : Chordata : Osteichthyes : Cotylosauria : Chiniquodontidae : Chiniquodon : Chiniquodon theotonicus 237 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Saurosuchus galilei species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Thecodontia : Saurosuchus : Saurosuchus galilei 237 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Oligorhynchiidae family Animalia : Brachiopoda : Rhynchonellata : Rhynchonellida : Oligorhynchiidae 419.2 - 410.8 Ma Early/Lower Devonian Panphagia protos species Animalia : Chordata : Saurischia : Guaibasauridae : Panphagia : Panphagia protos 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Sillosuchus longicervix species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Poposauridae : Sillosuchus : Sillosuchus longicervix 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Aetosaurinae subfamily Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Eosuchia : Stagonolepididae : Aetosaurinae 237 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Aetosauroides scagliai species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Stagonolepididae : Aetosauroides : Aetosauroides scagliai 237 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Calamitales order Plantae : Equisetophyta : Calamitopsida : Calamitales 242 - 237 Ma Middle Triassic Sanjuansaurus gordilloi species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Dinosauria : Herrerasauridae : Sanjuansaurus : Sanjuansaurus gordilloi 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Eodromaeus murphi species Animalia : Chordata : Saurischia : Eodromaeus : Eodromaeus murphi 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Chiniquodon sanjuanensis species Animalia : Chordata : Osteichthyes : Cotylosauria : Chiniquodontidae : Chiniquodon : Chiniquodon sanjuanensis 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Osmundales order Plantae : Tracheophyta : Polypodiopsida : Osmundales 242 - 237 Ma Middle Triassic Myriolepis genus Animalia : Chordata : Actinopterygii : Palaeoniscidae : Myriolepis 242 - 237 Ma Middle Triassic Chromogisaurus novasi species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Dinosauria : Guaibasauridae : Chromogisaurus : Chromogisaurus novasi 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Venaticosuchus rusconii species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Ornithosuchidae : Venaticosuchus : Venaticosuchus rusconii 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Promastodonsaurus bellmani species Animalia : Chordata : Amphibia : Mastodonsauridae : Promastodonsaurus : Promastodonsaurus bellmani 237 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Ignotosaurus fragilis species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Thecodontia : Silesauridae : Ignotosaurus : Ignotosaurus fragilis 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Proterochampsa barrionuevoi species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Crocodylia : Proterochampsidae : Proterochampsa : Proterochampsa barrionuevoi 237 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Pseudochampsa ischigualastensis species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Eosuchia : Proterochampsidae : Pseudochampsa : Pseudochampsa ischigualastensis 237 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Amosina paolae species Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Productida : Strophochonetidae : Amosina : Amosina paolae 433.4 - 419.2 Ma Paleozoic Amosina pediculorum species Animalia : Brachiopoda : Strophomenata : Productida : Strophochonetidae : Amosina : Amosina pediculorum 433.4 - 419.2 Ma Paleozoic Coloradisuchus abelini species Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Eosuchia : Protosuchidae : Coloradisuchus : Coloradisuchus abelini 228 - 208.5 Ma Late/Upper Triassic Pseudotherium argentinus species Animalia : Chordata : Osteichthyes : Cotylosauria : Pseudotherium : Pseudotherium argentinus 237 - 228 Ma Late/Upper Triassic
Fossil Localities	Click to show 12 fossil localities

References

Other Databases

Wikipedia:	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ischigualasto_Provincial_Park
Wikidata ID:	Q639503
GeoNames ID:	6942006