New Facies Model and Carbon Isotope Stratigraphy for an Ediacaran Carbonate Platform From South America (Tamengo Formation—Corumbá Group, SW Brazil)

The Ediacaran is a period characterized by the diversification of early animals and extensive neritic carbonate deposits. These deposits are still not well understood in terms of facies and carbon isotope composition (δ13C). In this study we focus on the Tamengo Formation, in southwestern Brazil, which constitutes one of the most continuous and well-preserved sedimentary record of the late Ediacaran in South America. We present new detailed lithofacies and stable isotopes data from two representative sections (Corcal and Laginha) and revise the paleoenvironmental and stratigraphic interpretation of the Tamengo Formation. The Corcal section consists of neritic deposits including shallow-water limestone beds, alternated with shale and subordinate marl beds. These facies yield specimens of the Ediacaran fossils Cloudina lucianoi and Corumbella werneri. On the other hand, the Laginha section shows more heterogeneous facies, such as impure carbonates, breccias, marls, and subordinate mudstone beds, as well as no evidence of Corumbella werneri. The stable carbon isotope record is also different between the two sections, despite belonging to the same unit. The Corcal section displays higher and more homogeneous δ13C values, consistent with those of Ediacaran successions worldwide. The Laginha section, instead, displays more variable δ13C values, which suggest the influence of local and post depositional processes. The difference between the two sections was attributed to the different distance from the shore. We propose that the difference is due to topographic variations of the continental platform, which, at the Laginha site, was steeper and controlled by extensional faults. Therefore, the Corcal section is a better reference for the Tamengo Formation, whereas the Laginha is more particular and influenced by local factors. Besides, the lithofacies associations of the Tamengo Formation are like those of the Doushantuo and Dengying formatios, in South China, with no significant biogenic carbonate buildups, and different from those of other important Ediacaran units, such as the Nama Group in Nmibia and the Buah Formation in Oman. Our work highlights the complexity and heterogeneity of Ediacaran carbonate platforms and of their carbon isotopic composition. In addition, we characterize the Corcal section as a possible reference for the Ediacaran in South America.

The origin of the Ediacaran δ 13 C anomalies is still controversial, as they cannot be completely explained neither by primary nor by post depositional processes with the current state of knowledge. Indeed, there is evidence supporting either of the two possibilities (e.g., Fike et al., 2006;Bristow and Kennedy, 2008;Derry, 2010;Frimmel, 2010;Grotzinger et al., 2011;Shields et al., 2019;Husson et al., 2020;Xiao et al., 2020;Cui et al., 2021). This constitutes a major problem, as Ediacaran stratigraphic calibration is based mainly on carbon isotope chemostratigraphy (e.g., Narbonne et al., 2012;Xiao et al., 2016). Therefore, more detailed studies on Ediacaran carbonates are necessary to unravel the enigmatic origin of their carbon isotopic composition, as well as the paleoenvironmental conditions in which the rise of the early animals on Earth occurred.
In Brazil, the most important Ediacaran geological record is the Tamengo Formation, of the Corumbá Group (Boggiani et al., 2010;Walde et al., 2015;Amorim et al., 2020). The importance of this unit comes mainly from the occurrence of upper Ediacaran guide fossils, such as Cloudina lucianoi and Corumbella werneri (e.g., Hahn et al., 1982;Adôrno et al., 2017). However, this unit still lacks a detailed characterization of its depositional system, when compared with the main references for the Ediacaran period. Therefore, our main hypothesis is to test the potential of the Tamengo Fm. as a representative Ediacaran archive. In this work, we present new detailed stratigraphic sections and facies analyses of the Tamengo Formation, which provide an enhanced characterization of this Ediacaran carbonate paleoenvironment. The results reveal a heterogeneous ramp, deposited onto an irregular topography, in some parts influenced by extensional tectonics. In addition, we present new carbon and oxygen isotopes data that contribute to the validation of the Tamengo Formation's δ 13 C curve as a possible chemostratigraphic reference for the Ediacaran in South America.
The Jacadigo Group comprises diamictites, arkosic sandstones, and volcanic rocks of the Urucum Formation, at the base, followed by hematite-jaspilites with manganese rich horizons and dropstones of the Santa Cruz Formation, with minimum depositional age of 587 ± 7 Ma ( 40 Ar/ 39 Ar in cryptomelane; Piacentini et al., 2013). The Corumbá Group includes carbonate and siliciclastic facies arranged in five units (Almeida, 1964;Almeida, 1965;Almeida, 1984;Boggiani, 1998; Figure 1). The Cadiueus and Cerradinho Formations form the lower part and consist of conglomerates, arkoses, siltstones, and occasionally limestones. These units of the lower Corumbá Group do not outcrop in the region of Corumbá. The overlying Bocaina Formation consists of stromatolitic dolostones and subordinate phosphorite levels, occurring with a wider spatial extent. These units are interpreted as a transgressive sequence, beginning with alluvial fan deposits (Cadiueus and Cerradinho Formations) followed by a vast tidal (Bocaina Fm.) flat with high evaporation rates (Boggiani, 1998;Oliveira, 2010;Fontanela, 2012;Sial et al., 2016). The upper part of the Corumbá Group is represented by the Tamengo and Guaicurus Formations. The former includes basal breccias and sandstones, followed by sets of dark fossil-rich limestones, alternated with marls and shales (e.g., Ramos et al., 2019). Dolostones and phosphorites occur locally. The paleontological content of the Tamengo Formation includes skeletal macrofossils, especially C. lucianoi (Beurlen and Sommer, 1957) an index species for the late Ediacaran (e.g., Grant, 1990;Adôrno et al., 2017), and C. werneri . Recently, a rich assemblage of ichnofossils, vendotaenids, and organic-walled microfossils was also described (e.g., Adôrno, 2019). These fossil assemblages have drawn most part of the attention in the studies on the Tamengo Formation (Fairchild, 1978;Walde et al., 1982;Zaine and Fairchild, 1985;Zaine, 1991;Hidalgo, 2002;Gaucher et al., 2003;Kerber et al., 2013;Tobias, 2014;Walde et al., 2015;Adôrno et al., 2017;Becker-Kerber et al., 2017;Parry et al., 2017;Walde et al., 2019;Diniz et al., 2021) C. lucianoi is usually found in limestones, whereas C. werneri occurs in shales (Adôrno et al., 2017;Oliveira et al., 2019;Adôrno, 2019;Amorim et al., 2020). Boggiani (1998) suggests that the Tamengo Formation formed above the Bocaina Formation during a transgression, establishing a slope-break ramp system marked by reworking of the shallower sediment. On the other hand, Oliveira et al. (2019) and Amorim et al. (2020) propose a shallower setting, with oolitic bars and stormderived deposits. The overlaying Guaicurus Formation consists of laminated siltstones, which mark the end of carbonate deposition, related to climatic or tectonic changes. This unit was probably deposited in a deeper environment, below the storm wave base (Boggiani, 1998;Gaucher et al., 2003;Oliveira, 2010). The boundary between the Tamengo and Guaicurus formations is still controversial, as it probably contains a hiatus and then the transition to the Cambrian (Adôrno et al., 2019a;Fazio et al., 2019).
Concerning the age of the Corumbá Group, U-Pb dating of zircons from volcanic ash by Parry et al. (2017) provide ages of 555.18 ± 0.7 Ma for the top of the Bocaina Formation and 542.37 ± 0.7 Ma for the top of the Tamengo Formation. These ages agree with the 543 ± 3 Ma provided before by Babinski et al. (2008). Furthermore, the presence of the indexfossils C. lucianoi and Cloudina carinata in the Tamengo Formation supports an upper Ediacaran age (Adôrno et al., 2017;Adôrno et al., 2019b).

Fieldwork and Lithostratigraphy
The studied outcrops are in two limestone quarries near the city of Corumbá, in western Brazil. The Corcal and Laginha sections were selected for their vertical continuity, fresh rock exposures, accessibility, and availability of previous studies.
These sites were visited in June 2018 and detailed lithostratigraphic logs were measured and described with a cm to dm resolution (Figures 2, 3). A total of 225 samples were collected for petrographic characterization and geochemical analyses. Outcrops conditions allowed for collecting samples bed by bed. In case of lenticular or amalgamated beds, the samples were collected considering a thicker interval, in order not to confuse the stratigraphic relationships. The average sample spacing resulted of~20 cm. Some intervals were completed using the lithostratigraphic logs of Adôrno et al. (2017) and Fazio et al. (2019), as highlighted in Figures 2, 3. This choice was taken for intervals that were already sufficiently detailed in these previous studies, or that were not possible to access.

Petrography
Petrographic characterization was performed using a ZEISS petrographic microscope at the University of Brasília (UnB). Seventy-nine thin sections were studied, being 40 from the Corcal and 36 from the Laginha section (Supplementary Material). A plain white paper was placed underneath the thin section and used as a light diffuser to clarify textural features under the microscope (Delgado, 1977). The classification of the carbonate lithofacies was done according to Wright (1992) and Flügel (2004) on the base of: 1) texture, considering the amount of matrix respect to other constituents; 2) composition, based on the mineralogy and the type of grains; 3) sedimentary structures. Therefore, the name represents the main textural features, and the adjectives refer to composition and structures (i.e., "massive calcimudstone", "dolomitic sparstone", "intraclastic breccia").
The Wentworth (1922) grain size classification was used for the siliciclastic facies. Besides, "shale" and "mudstone" were differentiated, as the former displayed fissile or foliated structure and calcite filled veins, which were absent in the latter. Facies associations were defined according to the carbonate ramp model of Burchette and Wright (1992).

Scanning Electron Microscopy
After the analysis at the optical petrographic microscope, which allowed for identifying constituents that needed a more detailed characterization, nine thin sections were selected among the representative lithofacies for SEM analyses. Prior to the analysis the sections were coated with carbon, and then analyzed at the University of Brasília (UnB) using a FEI QUANTA 450 scanning electron microscope with a BSE detector, 20 kV accelerating voltage, working distance of 10-12 mm, and in high-vacuum mode.

Carbon and Oxygen Isotopes Geochemistry
For carbon and oxygen isotopes analysis in carbonate (δ 13 C and δ 18 O), 116 samples from Corcal and 54 from Laginha were collected with 20-40 cm spacing. The respective lithofacies was always annotated alongside each sample, to constrain the interpretation of the results. Additionally, areas containing veins, fractures, and other post-depositional features, likely to interfere with the primary isotopic signal, were avoided. Fresh rock samples were powdered using a drill with a 3 mm-diameter bit. Prior to the analysis about 300 μg of material were put in glass vials, acclimatized at 72°C, and flushed with He to eliminate atmospheric gases. Afterwards, carbonate samples were reacted with concentrated phosphoric acid during 1 h, and the released CO 2 was analyzed with a Thermo ® Gasbench II connected to a Thermo ® Delta V Plus mass spectrometer at the University of Brasília (UnB). The isotopic ratios are reported in per mil (‰), using the conventional δ notation, relative to the Vienna Pee Dee Belemnite (VPDB) standard. The analytical precision is ±0.1‰ for both δ 13 C and δ 18 O.

Corcal Section
The Corcal section is 55 m thick and consists of m-thick bundles of shallow-water limestone with tabular to wavy amalgamated beds and cm-thick beds of mudstone and marl, alternating with m-thick intervals of shales (Figures 2, 4). Neither the base nor the top of the Tamengo Formation is exposed at this site. The lower and upper parts of the section were logged in the northern and southern side of the quarry, respectively. On the other hand, the middle part was completed using the log by Adôrno et al. (2017), as it was considered sufficiently detailed after verification in the field. The split of the profile in these three sub-sections was done to avoid parts that occurred tectonically disturbed by faults and folds, which deformed especially the most ductile shale beds. However, the stratigraphy was adequately exposed for allowing the recognition of the entire succession in continuity. The lower part of the section (from 0 to 18.60 m) consists of shallow-water limestones organized in 1-2 m thick bundles of wavy and amalgamated beds alternated with bundles of cm-to dm-thick tabular beds (Figures 2, 4). At the microscopic scale, the limestones in this interval consist mainly of calcimudstones, often recrystallized, with some extraclasts of quartz and mica, bioclasts, and intraclasts ( Figure 5). Generally, they display a massive structure, but locally evidence of desiccation can be observed, such as birdseyes, anhydrate pseudomorphs, silicification, dolomitization, and micritization (Figures 5B,C,G). Alongside the calcimudstones, there are minor occurrences of packstones and grainstones formed by bioclasts, intraclasts, and siliciclastic extraclasts (Figures 5D,H-J). Grain size is from sand to granule and the intergranular space is filled with micrite or calcite cement. Occasionally recrystallization or dolomitization is present. The structure is massive, with lenticular veins and calcite-filled fractures. In few cases the grainstones display angular and variously elongated intraclasts, sometimes with combining edge, and local ferruginous matrix, suggesting possible brecciation by desiccation. The limestone succession is interrupted by few centimeter to decimeter thick beds of shales and marls, formed by clay to silt-size detrital grains, especially quartz, with massive to finely laminated structures and variable carbonate, occurring as cement or microscopic nodules ( Figure 5E). Fazio et al. (2019) noted also the presence of gypsum pseudomorphs.
The middle part of the section (from 18.60 to 29.90 m) consists mainly of massive shales, interrupted by a 2.25 m thick and two decimeter thick limestone beds. The shales are siliciclastic mudstone, sometimes thinly laminated, with minor quartz grains and carbonate cement ( Figure 4B). There are rare  Frontiers in Earth Science | www.frontiersin.org June 2022 | Volume 10 | Article 749066 opaque grains, compaction-related segregation structures, calcite and quartz-filled fractures, and silicified nodules. These are also the lithological intervals yielding the fossils of C. werneri, indicating the upper Ediacaran age of the Tamengo Formation ( Figure 5F; Adôrno et al., 2017). The limestone beds consist of calcimudstones and grainstones, similar to those in the lower part of the section. The upper part of the section (from 29.90 to 54.40 m) consists of limestone arranged in sets of centimeter to decimeter thick beds, varying from tabular to wavy, interchanged with rare millimeter to centimeter thick shale beds, and, occasionally centimeter thick mudstone lenses ( Figure 5A). Amorim et al. (2020) also described hummocky cross stratification in correlative outcrops of this interval. As this kind of sedimentary structure is generally highlighted by weathering on the surface of the rock, it is not visible in the Corcal section because the surface of the outcrop is too fresh, being it in an active quarry. At microscopic scale the limestones consist of calcimudstone and grainstone with intraclasts and bioclasts of Cloudina type organisms, as suggested by the tubular shapes (Figures 5H,I). At 34.65 m birdseye porosity was noted, and at 48.00 and 50.50 m there are tabular centimeter thick beds of light, greenish to whitish, clayey sediment, different from the other mudstones, described as possible volcanic tuffs. In addition, at 48.13 m there are pinkish centimetric calcite nodules, and a layer of intraclastic breccia was observed at 49.66 m. The uppermost limestone bed is a massive oolitic grainstone and, above, starts a massive interval of shales with carbonate lenses, described in detail by Fazio et al. (2019). SEM analysis revealed also the presence of fluorapatite in 4 different levels of the Corcal section: 6.50, 10.40, 2.55, and 18.42 m.

Laginha Section
The Laginha section is about 100 m thick and displays both the lower and the upper boundaries of the Tamengo Formation. The succession yields a higher variety of lithofacies than the Corcal section ( Figure 3).
The lower part of the section (from−5 to 30 m) starts with a dolomitic interval, formed by 2.50 m thick massive bed of light grey grainstone, followed by~2.00 m of massive dark gray sandstone with dolomitic matrix mostly composed of very well-rounded quartz grains with approximately equal amounts of grains and matrix. Above, the is~0.5 m thick peloidal packstone with fenestral pores, filled with spathic calcite. The contact between the latter two beds is very irregular, indicating an erosional and possibly karstified unconformity ( Figure 4C). This interval represents the uppermost part of the Bocaina Formation (Boggiani, 1998). The Tamengo Formation starts with a~15 m thick bed of massive polymictic breccia containing various types of intraclasts and extraclasts with composition of quartz, dolostone, limestone, chert, phosphorite, and granite type rocks. They are poorly sorted, with chaotic distribution and with a rounded to very angular shape. The matrix is dolomitic and dark gray, there are irregular voids filled with white spathic calcite ( Figure 6A). The contact at the base is erosional. Above the thick polymictic breccia there is a 25 cm thick friable yellowish-brown, massive argillaceous sandstone, with sand-size quartz grains and lithoclasts within an argillaceous matrix ( Figures  6B, 7A, 8A,B).
Upwards occurs a mainly carbonate succession, starting with 4.5 m of massive dolostones with numerous randomly oriented fractures, with millimeters to centimeters size and filled with white sparry calcite ( Figure 8C). Above, there are 2.80 m of sparstones, arranged in sets of centimeter to decimeter thick tabular beds, dolomitic to calcitic, massive to laminated, containing stylolites and calcite-filled veins, locally brecciated and associated with fluorite ( Figures 6C,D, 7D). The succession continues with alternating dolostones and limestones, consisting of laminated facies, with alternating crystalline and sandy laminae, the formers are calcitic to dolomitic, with sparse extraclasts of quartz and mica; and the latters are grainsupported, with calcitic to dolomitic matrix and sand-size extraclasts varying in composition from quartz to k-feldspar (Figures 6E,F, 7B, 8D-G). Authigenic pyrite and phosphatized grains are present, and SEM-EDS analyses revealed traces of zircon and possible anatase. Late compaction structures, such as stylolites and calcite-filled veins, occur frequently. In addition, there are massive wackestones with micritic matrix and abundant extraclasts, especially quartz and muscovite, ranging from fine to coarse sand-size; and grainstones formed predominantly by concentric ooids, occurring as single or composite, often micritized or completely recrystallized, with rare aggregate grains and cemented by calcite. At 22.75 m there is a 7 cm thick bed of intraclastic breccia, grain-supported, with micritic matrix and angular intraclasts, ranging in size from fine sand to granule, with the larger grains of tabular shape, and with abundant fine quartz grains ( Figure 7C).
At 26.40 m occurs an irregular massive polymictic breccia, with maximum thickness of 5 m and erosional contact at the base, which laterally meets a light gray limestone in angular unconformity ( Figure 7E). It is grain-supported, with limestone intraclasts and grains varying from quartz to dolomite, phosphorite, mudstone, k-feldspar, and pyrite, with micritic matrix. It is worth noting the absence of coarse granitoid clasts from the basement, observed in the breccia at the base of this unit ( Figure 6G).
The middle part of the section (from 30 to~44 m) starts with 5.35 m of dark gray limestone, overlying the breccia with a very irregular, erosional, and perhaps karstified contact. This interval is massive, consisting of calcimudstones micritized to recrystallized, with fenestral pores and chert nodules; alternatively, they occur mottled, dolomitized, with quartz and opaque extraclasts, and calcite-filled fractures. Sometimes they are brecciated, with fractures and very angular intraclasts, with isopachous or dog tooth cement at the margins and syntaxial cement at the center ( Figures 8H-L). The last 3.75 m thick interval of the middle section consists of dark gray limestones arranged in sets of centimeters to decimeters thick beds, varying from tabular to wavy. Microscopically they are oolitic grainstones, with local occurrences of micritic matrix and extraclasts ( Figures 7F, 8M-O).
During the fieldwork we could not access to the upper part of the section, and thus we completed the log with that of Fazio et al. (2019). However, with the stratigraphic information available it was not possible to precisely link the middle to the upper part of the section and a 10 m gap is estimated between the two. According to Fazio et al. (2019), the upper part of the section comprises 30 m, with the lower half consisting of alternating limestones and laminated mudrocks, with a composition ranging from carbonate to siliciclastic. Above this interval, in conformable or para conformable contact, there are~24 m of pure siltstone, with millimeters to centimeters thick, plane parallel to wavy lamination, belonging to the Guaicurus Formation. The contact between the two formations in the Laginha section presents 1 m-thick non-cohesive yellowish beige siltstone with kaolinite and gypsum among its mineralogy .

Carbon and Oxygen Stable Isotopes Geochemistry
The Corcal section displays little dispersed δ 13 C values (Figure 9), ranging from 0.70‰ to 6.97‰. In the lower part of the section, the values increase gradually from~3.5‰ to~5‰, and then persist through the middle and upper part. There are minor positive peaks of 5.33‰, 6.97‰, and 5.75‰ at 10, 12.95, and 15.95 m, respectively, and a negative peak of 4.16‰ at 32.85 m, as well as few outliers. δ 18 O values range from −10.47‰ to −4.75‰. In the lower part of the section values are more dispersed but become steadier in the middle and upper part. The cross-plot between δ 13 C and δ 18 O shows no linear correlation or facies-related clustering ( Figure 10).
The Laginha section yields δ 13 C values from −3.11‰ to 4.92‰ (Figure 9). In the Bocaina Formation the values show a linear increase from 1.53‰ to 3.14‰. Above the polymictic breccia, which was not analyzed for stable isotopes, values start at 0.79‰ and decrease to −3.00‰ at 21 m, then increase again to 0.13‰ at 27.35 m and 1.92‰ at 30.75 m. In this last interval the values are scattered, showing no clear trend. The middle part of the section has values around −1.00‰, with a distinct negative peak of −2.14‰ at 34.8 m. The upper part of the section has a lower sampling resolution, however, a rough trend can be observed with values starting around 4‰, increasing to 4.80‰ at 12 m, and then decreasing to around 2‰ from 17 m to the top of the Tamengo

Corcal Section
In the Corcal section were recognized nine sedimentary facies, listed in Table 1. The lower part is dominated by the facies C1, alternated with C4, with the occurrence of C2 and C3. This facies association suggests a shallow low-energy environment, dominated by the settling of fine-grain sediments, with the supply of coarser carbonate grains reworked by waves or currents. Episodic influx of siliciclastic material and of emersion and desiccation also occurred (Tucker and Wright, 1990;Schlager, 2005;Łabaj and Pratt, 2016). Silicification, observed in some levels, also supports this interpretation, as silica is supplied by continental runoff and then, during diagenesis, gets mobilized and fills the cracks opened by the desiccation (Laschet, 1984in Flügel, 2004. This evidence suggests a back to inner ramp environment for the lower part of the Corcal section (Burchette and Wright, 1992).
The shales dominating the middle part of the Corcal, facies C8, represent a significant decreasing of the energy and of the carbonate input. They can be attributed to episodes of relative sea level rise, in which the flooded carbonate factory decreased its productivity, and the environment reached higher depths, below the storm wave base (Walker, 1984;Łabaj and Pratt, 2016;Oliveira et al., 2019;Amorim et al., 2020;Ding et al., 2021). The limestone intervals within the shales display facies C1, C5, and C6, indicative of higher energy conditions that can be attributed to a mid-ramp setting (Burchette and Wright, 1992;Schlager, 2005). Therefore, they can represent higher frequency cycles of carbonate platform recovery and progradation during the transgressive phase. The facies succession in the upper part of the Corcal section consists of facies C5, C6, C7, with local occurrence of C2 and C9. It indicates an active carbonate factory and higher energy conditions than the underlaying sequence. It can be related to a mid-ramp carbonate platform environment, with depth mainly below and sometimes above the fair-weather wave base (Burchette and Wright, 1992). This interval may represent the carbonate platform recovery and progradation during the sea level high stand, after the rise (Schlager, 2005;Łabaj and Pratt, 2016).
The volcanic tuff beds of facies C9 might be related to a nearby volcanic eruption. The ashes could have been transported by winds and currents and redeposited by settling or low-density gravity flows (Nichols, 2009). The volcanic activity could be related to the extensional tectonics occurring in the Corumbá region during the Ediacaran (Alvarenga et al., 2011;Warren et al., 2019). These, volcanic tuff beds were described in previous studies, such as Boggiani et al. (2010) and Amorim et al. (2020),

Laginha Section
The Laginha section displays a greater variety of lithofacies than the Corcal, as 18 were recognized and listed in Table 2. The karstified surface above the dolomitic grainstone (facies L1) in the upper Bocaina Formation can be evidence of emersion, and the very well rounded and sorted grains of the overlaying sandstone bed (facies L2) suggest long distance transport and possible reworking by beach waves (Tucker and Wright, 1990). Besides, peloids occurring in the overlaying facies L3 are typical of shallow, low energy restricted marine conditions (Tucker and Wright, 1990;Flügel, 2004). Hence, these units can represent a peritidal environment developed after a local regression, as suggested also by Boggiani (1998) and Oliveira (2010). The thick polymictic breccia with basement clasts at the base of the Tamengo Formation constitutes the facies L4 (Figure 3). Breccia facies in carbonate platforms may be due to multiple factors. Storm episodes can produce breccias, however, in this case they are clast supported and occur in beds with maximum thickness of few meters and interbedded with fine offshore facies (e.g., Seguret et al., 2001;Wang et al., 2019). The breccia at the base of the Tamengo Formation is very poorly sorted, contains abundant matrix and basement clasts, indicating continental erosion occurring nearby the carbonate platform. Its thickness higher than 10 m and massive structure resemble the breccias described in the Otavi Group in Namibia (Eyles and Januszczak, 2007). This is one of the most studied sucessions of the Neoproterozoic and the breccias are interpreted as related to extensional tectonic (Eyles and Januszczak, 2007). The same interpretation was given to similar breccia deposits of Cretaceous age in the Northern Calcareous Alps (Sanders and Höfling, 2000). Considering that the Corumbá Group is interpreted as part of a rift filling sequence, this polymictic breccia might be related to a rapid graben infill, with material supplied in part by exposed structural highs, mixed with reworked carbonate coming from the platform growing along the surrounding margin. In this context, the argillaceous sandstone above the breccia (facies L5) can be attributed to a later stage of the graben infill, probably in more distal conditions (Jiang et al., 2003b;Łabaj and Pratt, 2016). Therefore, such sequence of facies might represent a phase of intense continental erosion, alongside a steep topography related to extensional faulting, which triggered massive flows of sediments and their redeposition downslope. Here we revise the interpretation of Boggiani (1998), Fernandes and Boggiani (2021), who interpreted this deposit as associated to a regressive phase. Even though a relatively low sea level might have favored continental erosion, a steep topography and sufficient depth were necessary to accommodate such a thick sediment bed.
Carbonate deposition in the Laginha section begins with a sequence of facies L6 and L7, followed by L8 alternated with L9, L10, and L11. These facies can indicate a low energy environment, however, the presence of syn-sedimentary fractures and occasional brecciation suggests post depositional destabilization, possibly related to the still ongoing opening of the rift or to the gravitational slides onto a steep substrate (e.g., Sanders and Höfling, 2000;Basilone et al., 2016). The absence of fluidification and slumping structures makes more likely a gravitational than a seismic trigger (Audemard and Michetti, 2011) Consequently, the lenticular massive breccia devoid of basement clasts (facies L12), occurring between 5 and 10 m, can be related to a local sediment slide, with reworking of intraclasts, forming a small fan downdip (Ding et al., 2021). Besides, the calcimudstones with bird-eyes structures, occurring repeatedly above (facies L13), indicate shallow tidal or peritidal conditions, reached after the rapid filling of the graben in a still relatively low sea level phase (Figures 6, 9;Tucker and Wright, 1990;Burchette and Wright, 1992;Flügel, 2004;Ding et al., 2021).
The rhythmic marls and limestones (facies L14, L15) in the middle part of the Laginha section, show changes in the content of mud respect to skeletal grains (Oliveira, 2010;Fazio et al., 2019). The shifts between carbonate and siliciclastic deposition could have been driven by high frequency variation in relative sea level or climate in a mid-ramp environment (e.g., Schlager, 2005;Harper et al., 2015;Łabaj and Pratt, 2016). These alternating facies change gradually upward to marly intraclastic packstones (facies L16), representing a small shift back to inner ramp (Burchette and Wright, 1992).
The upper segment of the section consists of oolitic grainstones (facies L17), up until the contact with the mudstones of the Guaicurus Formation. The oolites are cemented by calcite and range in size from mid to coarse sand, with a relatively thick carbonate coating, indicating a shallow, warm, high-energy environment (Sumner and Grotzinger, 1993). This facies can represent oolitic sand shoals in an inner ramp environment during a relatively high sea level phase, similar to the upper Corcal section ( Figure 6; Tucker and Wright, 1990;Amorim et al., 2020;Ding et al., 2021). Finally, the grayish mudstones of the Guaicurus Formation represent the facies L18. The fine grains size and the absence of carbonate constituents indicate very low energy condition and no carbonate input, similar to the facies C8 in the Corcal section. However, Fazio et al. (2019) noticed a different mineralogical composition and the absence of post burial deformation structures in the mudstone of the Guaicurus Formation, respect to the shales of the Corcal section. Besides, the yellowish beige siltstone with kaolinite and gypsum at the base of the Guaicurus Formation can indicate alteration by connate fluids or by post-depositional meteoric water interaction. All this evidence suggests a period of non-deposition prior to the onset of the Guaicurus Formation, during which the sediments of the Tamengo formation became altered . This highlights the possibility of a hiatus occurring between the Tamengo and the Guaicurus formations.

Lateral and Temporal Variation in δ 13 C
The δ 13 C values have no clear correlation with δ 18 O in both studied sections, which indicates no significant alteration by early burial diagenesis even though some samples are recrystallized (Kaufman and Knoll, 1995;Derry, 2010). In addition, the isotopic values are not clustered according to the sedimentary facies. In the Corcal section there is little point-to-point variation and a clear increasing trend within the lower part, reaching values between 4‰ and 6‰ that occur steadily in the upper part. Overall, the δ 13 C record of the Corcal section is consistent with that of Boggiani et al. (2010), Rivera (2019), and the values agree with those of upper Ediacaran sections worldwide, such as in Northwester Canada (Macdonald et al., 2013), South China (Jiang et al., 2007;Ding et al., 2020), Namibia , and Oman (Cozzi et al., 2004). In general, the δ 18 O values in the Corcal section are relatively heavier in the upper part of the section, as well as the δ 13 C. These general increasing trends are consistent with the interpretation of a relative rise in sea level from the lower to the upper section, suggested in Section 5.1.1, since a more active carbonate factory and a higher distance from the shore might increase the δ 13 C and the δ 18 O values (Immenhauser et al., 2003). Settling of suspended micrite with episodic wave reworking and continental input.

C2-Calcimudstone with desiccation features
Sets of centimetres to decimetres thick beds with wavy to tabular bedding, composed of massive, dark gray, carbonate mudstone with bird-eyes structures or chert filled cracks. Local occurrence of bioclasts, intraclasts and extraclasts (Qz, Ap, Bt, Op).
Settling of suspended micrite with episodic wave reworking, continental input, and emersion and desiccation.
Micrite indurated and fragmented by desiccation and episodic wave reworking.

C4-Marl
Centimeters to decimeters thick tabular beds with mixed siliciclastic and carbonate mud. From brown to light gray in color, massive to fissile.
Settling of suspended micrite and siliciclastic mud in shallow low-energy conditions.
Mid-ramp carbonate platform C5-Packstone Sets of centimeters to decimeters thick tabular to wavy beds of massive, dark gray packstone composed of intraclasts and bioclasts, mainly of Cloudina type organisms, in a micritic matrix. Local occurrence of sparse extraclasts, clay seams, nodules, and mild dolomitization.
Transport and reworking of sediments below the fair-weather wave base.

C6-Grainstone
Sets of centimeters to decimeters thick tabular to wavy beds of massive dark gray grainstone composed of bioclasts, mainly of Cloudina type organisms, intraclasts, and oolites cemented by sparite.
Transport and reworking of sediments above the fair-weather wave base.
Highly reworked micritic or micritized grains redeposited below the fair-weather wave base.
Outer ramp carbonate platform C8-Shale Centimeters to metres thick tabular beds composed of massive to fissile siliciclastic mudstone, beige to gray, with calcite filled veins. Local occurrence of C. werneri specimens and ichnofossils Settling of suspended mud below the storm wave base.
Volcanic pulse C9-Volcanic tuff Centimeters thick tabular beds of whitish to yellowish claystone, very friable.
Volcanic ashes transported by winds and currents after the eruption and redeposited by settling or gravity flows.

Facies associacion Facies Description Process
Inner to mid-ramp carbonate platform L1-Dolomitic grainstone Meters thick tabular bed composed of massive light gray dolomitic grainstone.
Wave reworked sediment above the fairweather wave base. L2-Sandstone with dolomitic matrix Meters thick tabular bed composed of massive dark gray sandstone with dolomitic matrix. The grains are coarse sand sized, very well rounded, predominantly of quartz, with few lithoclasts.
Wave reworked sediment within the shoreface.
Low energy reworking in a shallow lagoon with episodic exposure.
Extensional tectonic and rapid accommodation space opening L4-Polymictic breccia with basement clasts Ten meters thick bed of massive polymictic breccia. The matrix is dark gray and dolomitic. Clasts range in size from sand to boulder, varying from rounded to very angular, and include limestones, dolostones, cherts, phosphorites, and granitoid rocks.
Rapid massive sediment flow onto a steep topograhy.
L5-Argillaceous sandstone Centimeters thick tabular bed composed of massive muddy sandstone, yellowish-brown when weathered, containing poorly sorted grains of quartz and lithoclast within an argillaceous matrix.
Massive siliciclastic sediment flow in deep and low energy conditions.
Inner ramp carbonate platform in a relatively steep and tectonically active setting L6-Massive calcimudstone Centimeters to decimeters thick tabular beds of massive gray carbonate mudstone, with sporadic extraclasts of quartz.
Settling of suspended micrite in shallow and restricted conditions with sporadic continental input.

L7-Calcimudstone microbreccia
Centimeters thick beds of brecciated grey carbonate mudstone, with very angular clasts ranging in size from fine sand to gravel and cemented by syntaxial and eventually dog tooth calcite cement Tectonic brecciacion of micritic layers and subsequent early diagenetic cementation.
Sedimentation in shallow and restricted conditions with sporadic low energy currents reworking and continental input L9-Extraclastic wackestone Centimeters to decimetres thick beds of light gray massive wackestone with poorly sorted quartz, mica, and phosphate grains, within a micritic matrix Sedimentation in shallow and restricted conditions with continental input.

L10-ntraclastic breccia
Centimeters thick weavy bed of massive breccia with poorly sorted and angular grains, with abundant extraclasts of quartz Pulse of resedimented mterial with mixed (carbonate and siliciclastic) composition.
Settling of suspended micrite with pulses of siliciclastic material from the continent.

L12-Polymictic intraclastic breccia
Meters thick lenticular bed of polymictic breccia with micritic, dark gray matrix. Clasts range in size from sand to pebble, vary in shape from rounded to angular, and include quartz, limestones, dolostones, siliciclastic mudstones, and phosphorites Massive flow of reworked sediment from the shore, probably deposited as a local fan.

L13-Calcimudstone with desiccation features
Centimeters to decimetres thick tabular beds composed of massive, gray, recrystallized carbonate mudstone with fenestral pores filled with spatic mosaic calcite, with local occurrence of micritization and silicified nodules.
Settling of micrite in very shallow conditions with episodes of emersion and desiccation.
Inner to mid-ramp carbonate platform L14-Packstone Decimeters thick bed of dark gray packstone with irregular intraclasts and Cloudina type bioclasts.
Transport and reworking of sediments below the fair-weather wave base.

L15-Marl
Centimeters to decimetres thick beds with mixed siliciclastic and carbonate mud, occurring as thin layers within carbonate beds or as thick massive tabular beds.
Settling of suspended micricte and siliciclastic mud in shallow low-energy conditions. On the other hand, the Laginha section displays δ 13 C values more variable and generally 1‰-2‰ lower than those in the Corcal, especially in the lower and middle parts. However, there is no distinct relationship between δ 13 C and sedimentary facies, lithology, or diagenetic features. Moreover, this variability can be observed laterally, as well as vertically. Boggiani et al. (2010) measured two profiles, one on the East and one on the West side of the Laginha quarry, which yielded significantly different values, despite representing the same stratigraphic interval (Figure 12). The profile of the Laginha section in this study corresponds to the West side of Boggiani et al. (2010), however, the data overlap with both profiles (Figure 11).
The different facies and δ 13 C values of the Tamengo Formation in the two studied sections make also difficult to correlate them precisely. This becomes even more difficult as Ediacaran guide fossils, such as C. lucianoi and C. werneri, were found only in the Corcal section, but lack in the Laginha (Adôrno et al., 2017). This is due, in part, to the fact that the lower part of the Tamengo Fm. occurs only in the Laginha section, however, the upper part of this section should display δ 13 C values that match those of the Corcal, which is not the case. The greater variability of δ 13 C values in the Laginha section indicates a stronger influence by local environmental or diagenetic factors in this section, respect to Corcal (Klein et al., 1999;Frank and Bernet, 2000;Spangenberg et al., 2014;Swart and Oehlert, 2018). Unraveling these factors is a complex work, which is beyond the goal of this study. However, it is important to stress that the δ 13 C signal of the Laginha section is not representative of the general Ediacaran seawater and thus this section is not suitable for chemostratigraphic correlations. Previous studies chose the Laginha as reference section for correlation since it displays the entire Tamengo Formation, from the base to the top (Boggiani et al., 2010;Oliveira et al., 2019;Amorim et al., 2020). Our results show that the validity of these correlations must be re-assessed and that the Corcal section is a more suitable reference for stratigraphic correlation, despite not encompassing the entire unit.
The new δ 13 C record of the Corcal section allows for enhancing the correlation of the Corumbá Group with the Arroyo del Soldado Group in Uruguay, which presumably deposited along the same continental margin (Gaucher et al., 2003). Considering the facies similarity, Gaucher et al. (2003) proposed that the Tamengo Formation could be correlated with the Polanco Formation of the Arroyo del Soldado Group. Adôrno et al. (2019a) revised this correlation with a biostratigraphic Settling of suspended micrite with input of reworked carbonate grains from the surroundings.

L17-Grainstone
Sets of decimeters thick beds of dark gray massive grainstone, mainly formed by oolites, and showing microstyolites.
Transport and reworking of sediments above the fair-weather wave base.
Settling of siliciclastic mud in low energy conditions.  Figure 12; Gaucher, 2014). By integrating the biostratigaphic data of Adôrno et al. (2019a) with the δ 13 C data of Gaucher (2014) and of the Corcal section, the upper part of the Tamengo Formation turns equivalent to the lower part of the Polanco Formation ( Figure 12). According to this correlation, the upper Polanco, the Barriga Negra, and the Cerro Espulitas formations of the Arroyo del Soldado Group should be equivalent to the uppermost part of the Tamengo Formation and to the lower part of the Guaicurus Formation, suggesting that the uppermost part of the Ediacaran is very condensed in the Corumbá Group. However, it is also possible that an unconformity occurs between the Tamengo and the Guaicurus formations (Adôrno et al., 2019a;Fazio et al., 2019).

Tamengo Formation Depositional Model
Previous studies proposed that the Tamengo Formation deposited as a ramp carbonate platform onto a passive margin (Boggiani et al., 2010;Oliveira et al., 2019;Amorim et al., 2020). According to this model the Laginha section represents the shallower part of the carbonate platform, whereas the Corcal section the mid-and outer parts. The clastic lithofacies and the cross and hummocky stratification indicate an environment controlled mainly by waves and storms (Dott and Bourgeois, 1982;Seguret et al., 2001;Dumas and Arnott, 2006;Amorim et al., 2020). However, here we identified desiccation features in the lower part of the Corcal section, indicating that the environment reached also back-to inner ramp conditions (Tucker and Wright, 1990;Burchette and Wright, 1992;Tucker and Dias-Brito, 2017). Consequently, the carbonate ramp of the Tamengo Formation shifted from a back-ramp to an outer ramp setting, represented by the C2 and C8 facies, respectively ( Table 1). This implies an environment more dynamic than previously thought, strongly controlled by sea level fluctuations, as well as by waves and storms. This has also important implications for constraining the dwelling conditions of the Ediacaran organisms C. lucianoi and C. werneri, of which fossils have been recovered in the Corcal and in the correlative Sobramil section (Adôrno et al., 2017;Walde et al., 2015;Oliveira et al., 2019;Amorim et al., A B  Frontiers in Earth Science | www.frontiersin.org June 2022 | Volume 10 | Article 749066 2020). The occurrence of these fossils is strongly facies dependent, as Cloudina type fragments have been observed in the packstone and grainstone facies, whereas C. werneri occurs only in the shales. This indicates shifting ecological conditions in response to sea level variations, with C. werneri proliferating in a deeper environment, with lower energy and a softer and finer substrate, during transgressive phases. On the other hand, C. lucianoi became dominant in shallower and higher energy conditions, therefore with more light and nutrients availability, during high stands (Sanders and Pons, 1999;Walde et al., 2015;Oliveira et al., 2019;Amorim et al., 2020;Li et al., 2021).
The "classical" facies of the Tamengo Formation are those observed in the Corcal section, which occur also in other outcrops of the region along the Paraguay river, such as in the sections of Porto Sobramil (also known as Claudio or Saladeiro), Cacimba, Porto Figueiras, Goldfish, Ladario-Corumbá escarpment, and Horii mine (Boggiani et al., 2010;Walde et al., 2015;Adôrno et al., 2019b;Oliveira et al., 2019;Rivera, 2019;Amorim et al., 2020). Alongside the same lithofacies, these sections display also consistent and rather homogenous δ 13 C values (Boggiani et al., 2010;Rivera, 2019;Caetano Filho, 2020;and this work). These facies are different from those observed in the Laginha section, and therefore the Laginha was considered from a more proximal setting than the Corcal and other sections along the Paraguay river (Boggiani et al., 2010;Oliveira et al., 2019;Amorim et al., 2020). However, previous studies focus only on the upper part of the Tamengo Formation and do not consider the thick breccia layers in the Laginha section. In fact, as discussed in the facies interpretation, these breccias, are meters to tens of meters thick, homogeneous, and polymictic, indicating a deposition by mass sediment flows. Therefore, it was necessary a steep topography for triggering the flow and sufficient space to accommodate tens of meters of sediment at once. These conditions contrast with a shallow inner carbonate ramp. Besides, the more variable facies sequence of the Laginha section indicates a more dynamic environment, influenced by other factors alongside waves and sea level variations.
A steep topography and a rapidly opening accommodation space can be found in setting dominated by extensional tectonic (e.g., Sanders and Höfling, 2000;Eyles and Januszczak, 2007). In this context can occur also basement uplift, which provides coarse, angular, and fresh clasts such as those occurring in the lower part of the Laginha section. Warren et al. (2019) propose a model for the basin evolution of the Itapucumi Group, in Paraguay, which outcrops about 250 km to the South of Corumbá and is correlative to the Corumbá Group. According to this model, at the time of deposition of the Tamengo Fm (ca 555 to 542 Ma) the basin was in a thermal subsidence regime, during a post-rift stage, but still influenced by extensional tectonic. Therefore, the carbonate platform of the Tamengo Formation formed onto an irregular margin, with a complex topography, controlled by extensional faults (i.e., Figure 13A, Sanders and Höfling, 2000;Ding et al., 2021). In this context, the Corcal section corresponds to a more stable portion of the ramp, not significantly influenced by the tectonic. On the other hand, the Laginha section sat close to or into the margin of a graben, with a steep topography, and next to a horst that provided the terrigenous supply. Therefore, the Corcal section was not necessarily further from the shore than the Laginha, but just laid onto a flatter and smoother topography ( Figure 13A). The upper part of the Tamengo Formation consists of mid-ramp carbonate facies in both studied sections. Consequently, according to this interpretation, it can represent a period of tectonic quiescence, during which the relative sea level rose. This could have favored the progradation of the carbonate platform, which leveled the topography (e.g., Figure 13B, Tucker and Wright, 1990;Sanders and Pons, 1999;Schlager, 2005;Łabaj and Pratt, 2016).
This interpretation can explain the more variable facies and stable isotopes records of the Laginha section. A steep and tectonically active setting can be more susceptible to changes in input of continental material, local currents, and even burial fluids, which might have contributed to the dolomitization of the lower part of the section (Caetano Filho, 2020). It can also explain the absence of C. werneri remains in the Laginha section, as a steep topography and the input of coarse material might have precluded the installation of quite conditions and fine substrate necessary for these organisms. Therefore, the Laginha section represents an exceptional setting for the Tamengo Formation, strongly influenced by local factors both in the lithological and in the stable isotopes' records.
Differently from some of the most renown coeval carbonate successions, such as the Nama Group in Namibia, the Little Dal Group in northwestern Canada, the Buah Formation in Oman, and even the closest Bambuí Group in Brazil, the Tamengo Formation consists of totally clastic lithofacies, with no biogenic buildups (Batten et al., 2004;Cozzi et al., 2004;Grotzinger et al., 2005;Alvarenga et al., 2014;Uhlein et al., 2019). Microbial laminations have been observed only sporadically as reworked intraclasts in the breccia facies. Cloudina type skeletal fragments are frequent, but no specimens have been found in place. However, the abundance of micritic matrix and intraclasts indicates the presence of a developed biogenic carbonate factory. Moreover, recent evidence of microalgae, preserved in shale facies, indicate a diversified biotic assemblage (Diniz et al., 2021). Amorim et al. (2020) explain this apparent paradox suggesting that frequent storms and currents might have prevented the formation of extensive biogenic carbonate buildups, or that the shallower part, in which the carbonate producers dwelled, was not preserved. We agree that the high energy might have contributed, but consider unlikely the non-preservation of carbonate reefs and buildups, as they generally have the higher potential of preservation (e.g., Tucker and Wright, 1990;Schlager, 2005).
The Tamengo Formation yields lithofacies like those of the Doushantuo and Dengying formations, which form an extensive, well preserved, and well-studied Ediacaran carbonate platforms system onto the Yangtze block, in South China. There, the sediments of the carbonate ramp are preserved with lateral continuity, from the inner shelf to the basin (Jiang et al., 2011;Ding et al., 2019;Ding et al., 2021). This indicates that Ediacaran carbonate platforms were heterogeneous and the presence of subtidal stromatolites, thrombolites, or even metazoan reefs is not necessarily a prerogative. Even though the availability of the outcrops in the Corumbá region is not as high as that in South China, we can infer that the Tamengo Formation was a "Doushantuo-Dengying type" carbonate platform, characterized by a productive carbonate factory, but with environmental conditions that did not allow the deposition of significant buildups with a biogenic framework. This could be due to particularly high energy, but also to temperature, salinity, or nutrients conditions (Tucker and Wright, 1990;Schlager, 2005). In the case of the Tamengo Formation, the presence of extraclasts in several layers suggest the possibility of runoff that episodically decreased the salinity and increased the trophic level of the environment. Besides, especially in the Laginha section, a steep topography might have limited the space with favorable ecological conditions for growing biogenic reefs. It is interesting to note that also the upper Ediacaran Dengying Fm. formed in a setting controlled by extensional tectonic (Ding et al., 2021).

CONCLUSION
In this work we present new evidence from two representative sections of the Tamengo Formation. This unit consists of carbonate and subordinate siliciclastic lithofacies, deposited onto a continental platform during the Ediacaran. The two studied sections display different lithofacies and carbonate carbon isotope values, despite belonging to the same lithostratigraphic unit. The previously proposed depositional model attributed this difference to the distance from the shoreline, considering the Laginha section more proximal than the Corcal. Here, we propose that the Laginha site was not necessarily more proximal, but characterized by a steeper topography, which provided the accommodation for the thick breccia bed in the lower part of the section. Such context could have been due to active normal faults at the time of the deposition, indicating that the platform laid on a tectonically active margin. If this were true, then the Laginha section could provide indirect evidence that the Corumbá Graben System was still active at the time of the Tamengo Formation.
We show that the Laginha section is more heterogenous and discontinuous than the Corcal section, despite displaying both the base and the top of the Tamengo Formation. The δ 13 C record is also more dispersed, suggesting a major influence by local and post depositional factors. On the other hand, the Corcal section yields a more continuous δ 13 C record, with typical Ediacaran values, as well as Ediacaran guide fossils, which allow for a more accurate stratigraphic calibration. Therefore, despite not encompassing the entire unit, the Corcal section is a more suitable reference for stratigraphic correlations.
By comparing the Tamengo Formation with other Ediacaran carbonate platforms, we observe the absence of biogenic carbonate buildups, which, instead, are common in other coeval units. The facies of the Tamengo Formation are like those of the Doushantuo and Dengying formations, in South China, suggesting that the Ediacaran carbonate platforms could have been more heterogeneous than previously thought. These differences might have been due to different ecological conditions, such as energy, temperature, salinity, or nutrients.
Our results advance in the characterization of the Ediacaran in South America, which is still at a lower level compared to other regions, and highlight the Tamengo Formation as a possible reference unit. Moreover, we show the importance of detailed petrographic and geochemical characterization, alongside facies analyses, to unravel the still enigmatic Ediacaran carbonate paleoenvironments and their significance at regional to global scale.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.

AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONS
MR-Fieldwork, data collection and interpretation, drawing of the figures and writing of the manuscript. MG-Master supervisor of MR fieldwork, data interpretation, drawing of the figures and writing of the manuscript. DW-Fieldwork and access to the studied sites, data interpretation, review of the manuscript for the regional and stratigraphic context. DC-Access to the thin sections of the Ediacariano project and to the optical microscope laboratory, review of the paleontological and stratigraphic aspects of the manuscript. GF-Fieldwork, review of the diagentic aspects of the manuscript. LV-Part of the stable isotopes measurements, review of the geochemical aspects of the manuscript. MD-Fieldwork, samples organization, review of the paleontological and stratigraphic aspects of the manuscript. RS-Chief of the stable isotope geochemistry laboratory, assistance with the stable isotopes measurements and data interpretation, review of the geochemical aspects of the manuscript. RA-Fieldwork, assistance with the fossils' data, review of the paleontological and stratigraphic aspects of the manuscript. LG-Bachelor student supervised by MG review of the stratigraphic correlation of the Tamengo Formation with the Arroyo del Soldado Group.