Floresta Formation

Floresta Formation Stratigraphic range: Late Emsian-Early Givetian ~400–387 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Platyceras nodosum from the Floresta Formation
Type	Geological formation
Underlies	Cuche Formation
Overlies	El Tibet Formation
Thickness	up to 600 m (2,000 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Siltstone
Other	Shale, coquina, sandstone
Location
Coordinates	5°51′37.2″N 72°56′57.6″W / 5.860333°N 72.949333°W / 5.860333; -72.949333Coordinates: 5°51′37.2″N 72°56′57.6″W / 5.860333°N 72.949333°W / 5.860333; -72.949333
Region	Altiplano Cundiboyacense Eastern Ranges, Andes
Country	Colombia
Type section
Named for	Floresta
Named by	Olsson & Carter
Location	Floresta
Year defined	1939
Coordinates	5°51′37.2″N 72°56′57.6″W / 5.860333°N 72.949333°W / 5.860333; -72.949333
Approximate paleocoordinates	51°42′S 48°06′W / 51.7°S 48.1°W / -51.7; -48.1
Region	Boyacá
Country	Colombia
Thickness at type section	600 m (2,000 ft)
Paleogeography of the Middle Devonian 380 Ma, by Stampfli & Borel

The Floresta Formation (Spanish: Formación Floresta, Df) is a geological formation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. The sequence of siltstones, shales, coquinas and sandstone beds dates to the Devonian period; Late Emsian, Eifelian and Early Givetian epochs, and has a maximum thickness of 600 metres (2,000 ft). The unit is highly fossiliferous; brachiopods, bryozoans, gastropods, trilobites, corals and bivalves have been found in the Floresta Formation. Some fragments of Placoderm fish fossils were found in the Floresta Formation, while the overlying Cuche Formation is much richer in fish biodiversity.

The formation was first described as Floresta Series by Olsson and Carter in 1939. The current definition was given by Botero in 1950. The formation is named after Floresta, Boyacá, where the formation outcrops.

The Floresta Formation is characterised by a lower sequence of shales and ochre to beige siltstones with alternating coquinas, while the upper part consists of siltstones with sandy beds.