Santo Domingo Formation, Sedimentary formation in Los Ríos Region, Chile.
Santo Domingo Formation is a sedimentary rock layer in the Los Ríos Region of southern Chile, made up of sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone. The layers are exposed at a roadcut south of Valdivia, where the sequence of marine deposits can be observed directly in the field.
The formation was identified and named in 1979 through geological work carried out at a roadcut south of Valdivia. That study laid the groundwork for reading the marine sedimentary history of this part of the Chilean coast.
The formation contains trace fossils such as Zoophycos and Ophiomorpha, left behind by marine animals that once lived on the seafloor. These marks are visible in the exposed rock layers and offer a direct window into life that existed here millions of years ago.
The exposures are located along a roadcut and can be reached on foot without special equipment. Dry periods offer the best conditions, as the rock faces are clearer and the ground around them is easier to walk on.
The trace fossils found here closely resemble those from other rock sequences along the southern Chilean coast, suggesting that similar seafloor conditions once covered a wide area. This connection helps geologists piece together how the coastline evolved over long periods of time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
