San Benito Formation, Bolivia should not be confused with San Benito Gravels.
| San Benito Formation | |
| Type: | Geological formation |
| Period: | Katian |
| Age: | Katian ~ |
| Prilithology: | Sandstone, siltstone |
| Otherlithology: | Shale |
| Namedfor: | Cerro San Benito |
| Region: | Cochabamba Department |
| Coordinates: | -17°N -66°W |
| Paleocoordinates: | -45.6°N -126.6°W |
| Unitof: | Cochabamba Group |
| Underlies: | Cancañiri Formation |
| Overlies: | Anzaldo Formation |
| Thickness: | 500m (1,600feet) |
| Extent: | Cordillera Oriental |
The San Benito Formation is a Katian geologic formation of central Bolivia. The formation belongs to the Cochabamba Group, overlies the Anzaldo Formation and is overlain by the Cancañiri Formation. The 500m (1,600feet) thick formation comprises a succession of shallow water quartzitic sandstones with minor interbeds of dark grey micaceous siltstones. Shelly fossils have been found at few horizons and consist mainly of linguliformean brachiopods, bivalves, and a few homalonotid trilobite remains. Poorly preserved graptolites occur occasionally in the shaly beds.[1]
The formation has provided the following fossils: