# Ritoque Formation

The Ritoque Formation (Spanish: Formación Ritoque, Kiri, Kirt) is a geological formation of the Altiplano Cundiboyacense, Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes. The formation consists of grey siltstones, limestones and fine sandstones intercalated. The formation dates to the Early Cretaceous period; Early Hauterivian epoch and varies in thickness between 70 and 110 metres (230 and 360 ft).

## Definition

The formation was first defined and named by Etayo in 1968 after the vereda Ritoque of Villa de Leyva.

## Description
### Lithologies

The Ritoque Formation is characterised by a sequence of grey siltstones, limestones and sandstones with a thickness between 70 and 110 metres (230 and 360 ft).

### Stratigraphy and depositional environment

The Ritoque Formation overlies the Rosablanca and Arcabuco Formations and is overlain by the Paja Formation. The age has been estimated to be Early Hauterivian. Stratigraphically, the formation is time equivalent with the Macanal Formation.

## Outcrops

The Ritoque Formation is found, apart from its type locality near Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, found in the vicinity.

## Regional correlations

Cretaceous stratigraphy of the central Colombian Eastern Ranges :
| Age | VMM | Guaduas-Vélez | Guaduas-Vélez | W Emerald Belt | W Emerald Belt | Villeta anticlinal | Villeta anticlinal | Chiquinquirá- Arcabuco | Tunja- Duitama | Altiplano Cundiboyacense | Altiplano Cundiboyacense | El Cocuy |
| Maastrichtian | Umir | Córdoba | Córdoba | Seca | Seca | eroded | eroded | Guaduas | Guaduas | Guaduas | Guaduas | Colón-Mito Juan |
| Maastrichtian | Umir | Córdoba | Córdoba | Umir | Umir | eroded | eroded | Guadalupe | Guadalupe | Guadalupe | Guadalupe | | | | Colón-Mito Juan |
| Campanian | Umir | Córdoba | Córdoba | Córdoba | Córdoba | | eroded | eroded | Guadalupe | Guadalupe | Guadalupe | Guadalupe | Colón-Mito Juan |
| Colón-Mito Juan ||
| Santonian | La Luna | Cimarrona - La Tabla | Cimarrona - La Tabla | Oliní | Oliní | eroded | eroded | Guadalupe | Guadalupe | Guadalupe | Guadalupe | La Luna |
| Coniacian | La Luna | Oliní | Oliní | Oliní | Oliní | Villeta | Conejo | Conejo | Chipaque | Chipaque | Chipaque | | | La Luna |
| Coniacian | La Luna | Güagüaquí | Loma Gorda | undefined | undefined | Villeta | La Frontera | La Frontera | | Chipaque | Chipaque | Chipaque | La Luna |
| Turonian | La Luna | Güagüaquí | Hondita | La Frontera | Otanche | Villeta | La Frontera | La Frontera | Chipaque | Chipaque | Chipaque | La Luna |
| Cenomanian | Simití | hiatus | hiatus | La Corona | Otanche | Villeta | Simijaca | Simijaca | Chipaque | Chipaque | Chipaque | Capacho |
| Cenomanian | Simití | hiatus | hiatus | Pacho Fm. | Otanche | Villeta | Hiló - Pacho | Churuvita | Une | Une | Une | Aguardiente |
| Albian | Simití | hiatus | hiatus | Hiló | Otanche | Villeta | Hiló - Pacho | Chiquinquirá | Tibasosa | Une | Une | | Aguardiente |
| Albian | Tablazo | hiatus | hiatus | Tablazo | Tablazo | Villeta | Capotes - La Palma - Simití | Simití | Tibasosa | Une | Une | Tibú-Mercedes |
| Aptian | Tablazo | hiatus | hiatus | Capotes | Capotes | Villeta | Socotá - El Peñón | Paja | Tibasosa | Fómeque | Fómeque | | Tibú-Mercedes |
| Aptian | Paja | hiatus | hiatus | Paja | El Peñón | Villeta | Trincheras | Paja | Tibasosa | Fómeque | Fómeque | Río Negro |
| Río Negro ||
| Barremian | Paja | hiatus | hiatus | Paja | El Peñón | La Naveta | La Naveta | Paja | Tibasosa | Fómeque | Fómeque | Río Negro |
| Hauterivian | Paja | hiatus | hiatus | Paja | Muzo | La Naveta | La Naveta | Paja | Tibasosa | Cáqueza | Las Juntas | Río Negro |
| Hauterivian | Rosablanca | hiatus | hiatus | Paja | Muzo | La Naveta | La Naveta | Ritoque | Tibasosa | Cáqueza | Las Juntas | Río Negro |
| Valanginian | Rosablanca | hiatus | hiatus | Ritoque | Furatena | Útica - Murca | Útica - Murca | Rosablanca | hiatus | Cáqueza | Macanal | Río Negro |
| Valanginian | Rosablanca | hiatus | hiatus | Rosablanca | Furatena | Útica - Murca | Útica - Murca | Rosablanca | hiatus | Cáqueza | Macanal | Río Negro |
| Berriasian | Cumbre | hiatus | hiatus | Cumbre | Cumbre | Útica - Murca | Útica - Murca | Los Medios | hiatus | Cáqueza | Guavio | Río Negro |
| Berriasian | Tambor | hiatus | hiatus | Arcabuco | Arcabuco | Útica - Murca | Útica - Murca | Cumbre | hiatus | Cáqueza | Guavio | Río Negro |
| Sources ||||||||||||||