The first geological and paleontological records of Neuquén: the expedition of Luis de la Cruz y Goyeneche in 1806.

Abstract

Luis de la Cruz y Goyeneche made in 1806 a reconnaissance trip commissioned by the Chilean authorities and the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. In the early nineteenth century, it was propitiated the search for a more direct route between Buenos Aires and south-central Chile, in order to improve business activity, through unknown territories inhabited by the Indians. Here we analyze the route in the territory of the present province of Neuquén. He entered through the Pichachén pass, also known as boquete de Antuco, and followed the course of the Reñileuvú river on its southern bank to its mouth in the Neuquén river. Then he headed south, crossing Treuco, passing the Caicayén hill and Truquicó to reach the confluence of the rivers Curi Leuvú and Neuquén. His journey continued to Auquinco and from there through the vega of Tril, north to Coboleuvú. Along the way he described different lithologies and in several localities made references to diverse petrified shells, as well as trunks and large vertebrate fossils. These precise observations represent the first geological and paleontological records of Neuquén, which modify some previous statements in the geological literature of the Neuquén Basin and setback for many years the fossiliferous findings of this region of what is now Argentina, in those days still part the Viceroyalty of Rio de la Plata.