Mudstones are the most common sedimentary rock in the geological record. They are an important indicator of past environmental conditions, as the fine-grained sediment that makes up mudstone can contain a wealth of information about the depositional environment, including water parameters such as salinity, temperature, oxygen availability, and other chemical properties. This is why these rocks are the key to studying past climatic crises. This information is crucial to better understanding past climate change and the evolution of life on Earth. On the other hand, they also contain valuable mineral deposits, such as oil and gas. Understanding the properties and distribution of mudstone is, therefore, crucial for the petroleum industry, as well as for the exploration and production of other mineral resources.

Peer-reviewed publications:

Remírez, M., Gómez Dacal, A., Orzanco, J., 2022. Controls on the accumulation of Early Cretaceous organic-rich fine-grained deposits in a mixed marine siliciclastic-carbonate distal settings of the Neuquén Basin, central-western Argentina. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 146, 105962.

Remírez, M., Spalletti, L., Isla, M., Schwarz, E., 2021. Fine-grained distal deposits of a mixed siliciclastic-carbonate marine system: origin of mud and implications on mixing processes. Journal of Sedimentary Research, 92 (3): 210-231.

Remírez, M., Spalletti, L. A., Isla, M. F., 2020. Petrographic, mineralogical and geochemical characterization of fine-grained rocks of the Pilmatué Member (Upper Valanginian-lower hauterivian) of the Neuquén Basin (Argentina): Implications for siliciclastic input, carbonate productivity and redox conditions. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 102, 102663.

Spalletti, L. A., Remírez, M., Sagasti, G., 2019. Geochemistry of aggradational - progradational sequence sets of the Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous Vaca Muerta shales (Añelo area, Neuquén Basin, Argentina): relation to changes in accommodation and marine anoxia. Journal of South American Earth Sciences, 93: 495-509.

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