First published: 08 December 2025

Abstract

The Río San Pedro Formation, located northwest of Valdivia in south-central Chile (∼39°S), preserves a fossil-rich stratigraphic succession that provides new insights into the sedimentary, floristic, and climatic dynamics of southern South America during the Late Eocene. Integrated stratigraphic, sedimentological, and U–Pb LA-ICP-MS geochronological analyses indicate that the formation was deposited within a meandering fluvial system and constrain its maximum depositional age to ∼39.9 Ma. Leaf-bearing strata accumulated primarily in floodplain settings, as indicated by lithofacies associations. The taphoflora comprises a heterogeneous mix of Gondwanan, Neotropical, Pantropical, and endemic elements, dominated by taxa indicative of tropical and subtropical climates. Leaf physiognomic analyses suggest a mesothermal climate, with a mean annual temperature of ∼14–17°C and a mean annual precipitation of ∼1,200 mm. These estimates are broadly consistent with global Late Eocene climate simulations (HadCM3L model, pCO2 proxies) and align with contemporaneous Paleogene floras from Patagonia and central Chile. Collectively, our findings underscore the persistence of warm and humid conditions across southern South America during this interval and provide an important baseline for understanding subsequent floristic and climatic transitions.

Key Points

  • The fossil-leaf assemblages of the Río San Pedro Formation reflect a multi-stratified forest with a maximum late Eocene age
  • The taphoflora combines an assemblage of different biogeographic elements, including Pantropical, Neotropical, Gondwanan, and endemic taxa
  • Leaf physiognomy of the Río San Pedro Formation indicates a mesothermal climate, with a MAT of 14–17°C and ∼1,200 mm of mean annual precipitation

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