Fi. Isla et al., PLEISTOCENE AND HOLOCENE BEACHES AND ESTUARIES ALONG THE SOUTHERN BARRIER OF BUENOS-AIRES, ARGENTINA, Quaternary science reviews, 15(8-9), 1996, pp. 833-841
The Buenos Aires aggradation plain has a good record of Quaternary sea
-level fluctuations. To the east of the Tandilia Range, the elevations
of the Pleistocene beaches respond to the tectonic behaviour of the S
alado Basin. Holocene beaches indicate a maximum transgression higher
than 2 m. The low relief permitted an extended horizontal record of be
ach/chenier plains interfingered with estuarine environments (coastal
lagoons, marshes) covered by a sandy (Eastern) barrier. Between the Ta
ndilia and Ventania ranges, the location of Pleistocene and Holocene b
eaches are related to a former higher relief; i.e. they are attached t
o low-altitude cliffs and underneath cliff-top dunes composing the Sou
thern Barrier. At Claromeco, Pleistocene gravel beaches, mostly compos
ed of caliche pebbles, occur at heights between 4 and 7 m, and are ove
rlying estuarine Pleistocene environments. Beaches of the same age are
at a level of 10 m at Mar del Plata Harbour and Arroyo Sotelo (west o
f Mar Chiquita Lagoon). Holocene beaches found at Punta Mogotes and Co
sta Bonita are at higher altitudes than on the Eastern Barrier (ca. 2-
4 m). The Holocene estuarine sequences are related laterally to presen
t operating inlets (Las Brusquitas, La Ballenera, Quequen Grande, Clar
omeco, Quequen Salado). They are seldom thicker than 2.4 m, and compri
se basal layers of black muds; towards the top, the layers are thinner
, of coarser grain size and white colours. Grain-size analyses were pe
rformed comparatively on Pleistocene, mid-Holocene and present beaches
. Sangamonian beaches are gravelly or coarser than medium sand (mean).
Holocene beaches are usually coarser than medium sand, but dominantly
shelly to the north of Mar del Plata, and composed of volcanic clasts
to the south of this city. Modern beaches are dominated by fine sand,
except at some erosive beaches between the Mar del Plata capes. They
have a lesser content of shells than those of mid-Holocene. Copyright
(C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd