Grutas del Palacio and other related Upper Cretaceous continental deposits (SW Uruguay): main sedimentary features and evidence for an old flooded forest

Abstract

The Grutas del Palacio is the sector where the Asencio Formation (Upper Cretaceous), which crops out discontinuously in SW Uruguay, is best displayed. The Asencio Formation consists of red terrigenous sediments modified by pedogenesis-lateritic processes. It is constituted from bottom to top by the members Yapeyú (lacustrine) and Palacio (palustrine). The Palacio Member is characterized by the presence of numerous oval-like caves,