The Miocene stratigraphy of the Laberinto area (Rio Ica Valley) and its bearing on the geological history of the East Pisco Basin (south-central Peru)

Global sea-level changes and substantial vertical displacement along the Monte Grande Fault (MGF) in the lower Rio Ica Valley of south-central Peru influenced the accumulation of bioclast-bearing and diatom-bearing Miocene siliciclastic sediments in an area of the East Pisco forearc basin (EPB) colloquially known as Laberinto. Two depositional hiatuses in the Laberinto area (similar to 17-14 Ma, similar to 12.5-10 Ma) manifest as sediment-filled erosional depressions a few kilometers in breadth. Erosion of the older depression was preceded by an similar to 18-Ma massive debris flow, possibly triggered by motion on the MGF causing lower Miocene lithoclastic olistoliths of up to two hundred meters length to spill off the footwall block. Sediment shed from the same footwall block may have formed previously recognized early Miocene deltas. From 14 to 13 Ma, the older depression filled with sediments herein assigned to the provisionally named Laberinto, Pampa, and Naranja members of the Pisco Formation, the latter member being characterized by marine delta foreset beds. The three members are at least partly correlative with the Pisco-0 sequence of the Pisco Formation. The younger depression was overrun at 10 Ma by debris flows of lithoclastic and granitic cobbles and boulders, then filled with diatomaceous silty sand with 5-m-sized lithoclastic olistoliths. The two lithologies constitute the provisionally named Mature Formation. Radiometric and newly revised biochronological data from throughout the EPB coupled with new diatom data from the Laberinto area have provided new insights into the correlation of sequences within the Chilcatay and Pisco formations and the interaction of local and basin-wide tectonism and global eustatic sea-level events across the basin.

Automated summary

Research in the Laberinto area of the East Pisco forearc basin in south-central Peru has shown significant global sea-level changes and vertical displacement, impacting the accumulation of Miocene sediments. Two depositional hiatuses occurred around 17-14 Ma and 12.5-10 Ma, leading to erosion and sediment-filled depressions. This study provides new insights into correlations within the Chilcatay and Pisco formations, as well as the interaction of local and basin-wide tectonism and global sea-level events.