JournalStructuralGeology Amilibia 2008

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Structural Style and Tectonic Evolution of the Domeyko Range, North Chilean
Precordillera
Article · May 2007
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ARTICLE IN PRESS SG2182_proof 24 September 2008 1/20
Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Journal of Structural Geology

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jsg
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1 56
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2
3
The role of inherited tectono-sedimentary architecture in the development 58
4 of the central Andean mountain belt: Insights from the Cordillera de Domeyko 59
F
5 60
a, * a b a a c 61
6 A. Amilibia , F. Sàbat , K.R. McClay , J.A. Muñoz , E. Roca , G. Chong
OO
7 62
a
8 Departament de Geodinàmica i Geofı́sica, Universitat de Barcelona, Zona Universitaria de Pedralbes s/n, 08018 Barcelona, Spain 63
b
Fault Dynamics Research Group, Geology Department, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
9 c
64
Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
10 65
11 66
12 67
a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t
PR
13 68
14 69
Article history: The structure of the Cordillera de Domeyko is dominated by a number of elongated N–S-trending
15 Received 7 December 2007 70
basement ridges. These ridges were uplifted by steep reverse N–S faults that deformed the Mesozoic–
16 Received in revised form 11 August 2008 71
Cenozoic cover. The vergence of the fault system varies along strike, conferring an apparent doubly
17 Accepted 23 August 2008 72
vergent ‘‘pop-up’’ geometry to the axial zone. Two Mesozoic pre-compressional extensional events were
Available online xxx 73
18 recorded in the area. New structural data presented in this paper indicate that most of the generated N–
ED
19 S-trending thrusts and related folds were controlled by the inversion of the pre-existing Mesozoic 74
Keywords:
20 extensional faults. Thin-skin structures in the Mesozoic–Cenozoic cover are genetically linked to major 75
Central Andes
21 Oblique subduction basement upthrusts, which could be interpreted as basement short-cuts formed during inversion rather 76
22 Structural inheritance than as uplifted blocks associated with major Cenozoic strike-slip faults. Growth-strata geometries date 77
Basin inversion the beginning of the Andean compressional event, which generates the Chilean Precordillera, as far back 78
23
Porphyry copper deposits as 90 Ma ago; the resulting structural architecture is strongly controlled by inherited pre-Andean
CT
24 79
extensional structures. The association of porphyry intrusives with major reverse faults suggests that the
25 80
emplacement of the Eocene–Oligocene porphyry Cu–Mo deposits in Northern Chile can be explained by
26 81
an oblique-inversion Tectonics Model. The upper Eocene–lower Oligocene giant porphyry copper bodies
27 (Chuquicamata, La Escondida, El Salvador) located in the Cordillera de Domeyko show an adakitic affinity. 82
28 This magma affinity, together with structural evidence presented in this work, indicates that porphyry 83
E
29 emplacement occurred at the end of the basement-involved contractional stage that generates the 84
30 anomalous thickened crust needed to generate these magmas. This tectonic evolution is coherent with 85
31 the existence of a flat-slab subducting beneath the Central Andes (22 –26 S) during early Cenozoic, that 86
RR
32 will also produce the eastward migrating of the compressional regime in the upper plate since Late 87
33
Cretaceous. 88
Ó 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd. 89
34
35 90
36 91
CO
37 92
38 1. Introduction 2). The Precordillera structure consists of several N–S-trending 93
39 basement ridges parallel to the trench. These basement ridges are 94
40 The Central Andes, between 22 and 25 south latitude, occupies uplifted by high-angle reverse to oblique faults (Fig. 2). The defor- 95
41 the smooth transition between a nearly flat subduction to the south mation in the Mesozoic to Cenozoic cover is characterized by folds 96
42 and a 30 east dipping subduction to the north. It includes several and low angle reverse faults (position Fig. 1). 97
UN
43 N–S-trending morphostructural units between the present-day Most of the major porphyry copper deposits in northern Chile 98
44 subduction margin and foreland (Fig. 1). From west to east these are located within or adjacent to the Cordillera de Domeyko (Fig. 2) 99
45 units are: (1) Coastal Cordillera, (2) Longitudinal Valley, (3) Chilean and present similar ages (40–30 Ma). This N–S alignment of 100
46 Precordillera and pre-Andean Depression, (4) Western Cordillera contemporaneous deposits has given rise to the hypothesis that the 101
47 (magmatic arc), (5) Altiplano – Puna, (6) Eastern Cordillera and (7) emplacement of these Eocene–Oligocene intrusive complexes was 102
48 Sub-Andean Ranges (deformed foreland). controlled by an N–S strike-slip fault system called West Fault 103
49 The studied area is located in the Cordillera de Domeyko, which System (WFS) (Astudillo et al., 2007; Hoffmann et al., 2006; Reutter 104
50 belongs to the northern part of the Chilean Precordillera (Figs. 1 and et al., 1996; Richards et al., 2001). According to previous authors, 105
51 these faults developed in a transtensional regime as a result of the 106
52 strain-partitioning expected along the margin, due to the oblique 107
53 * Corresponding author. subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate 108
54 E-mail addresses: a.amilibia@gl.rhul.ac.uk, ken@gl.rhul.ac.uk (A. Amilibia). (Fig. 3). Other authors consider that NW–SE lineaments also play 109
0191-8141/$ – see front matter Ó 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2008.08.005
Please cite this article in press as: Amilibia, A., et al., The role of inherited tectono-sedimentary architecture in the development of the central
Andean mountain belt: Insights from the Cordillera de Domeyko, Struct. Geol. (2008), doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2008.08.005
2 A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20
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OF
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RO
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DP 199
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146 Fig. 1. Northern Chile and Argentina DEM base on Nasa SRTM dataset. The principal morphostructural units of the Central Andes are represented. The study area is located along the 212
Chilean Precordillera morphostructural unit.
147 213
148 214
RR
149 215
150 a role in the porphyry copper emplacement, especially when differentiated. A pre-Early Jurassic stage, prior to Nazca subduction, 216
151 intersecting the N–S ones (Salfity, 1985; Chernicoff et al., 2002; and a Early Jurassic to present stage coeval with the subduction of 217
152 Richards, 2003). this plate beneath South American plate. 218
153 The aims of this work are: (1) to evaluate the influence of the pre- 219
154 Andean structures in the structural style and evolution of the 2.1.1. Pre-subduction stage 220
CO
155 Cordillera de Domeyko and, (2) to validate the influence of the During the first stage, the tectonic regime was characterized by: 221
156 previously described mayor strike-slip faults in the area. Structural (1) Early to Late Paleozoic accretion and collision of terrains asso- 222
157 inheritance in mountain belts has been extensively described in the ciated with the subduction along the Proto-Pacific plate boundary 223
158 Alps, Apennines, Canadian Rocky Mountains as well as in the (Ramos, 1988), which resulted in the final assemblage of Gond- 224
159 Argentinian Andes (Gillcrist et al., 1987; Butler, 1989; McClay et al., wana; and (2) the development of an aborted continental rift 225
UN
160 1989; Grier et al., 1991; Buchanan and Buchanan, 1995; Uliana et al., between the Early Triassic and Early Jurassic (Figs. 4 and 5A), 226
161 1995; Scisciani et al., 2002; Ramos et al., 2004; Tavarnelli et al., 2004; interpreted as the prolongation of the opening of the North Atlantic 227
162 Butler et al., 2006; Carrera et al., 2006; Hongn et al., 2007). Previous towards the south within the South American plate (Uliana et al., 228
163 work in the area (Mpodozis and Ramos, 1990; Amilibia et al., 2000; 1989; Suarez and Bell, 1992; Mpodozis and Cornejo, 1997; Franzese 229
164 Amilibia, 2002) already suggested an important control on the and Spalletti, 2001). 230
165 geometry and localization of the newly developed contractional This continental rift, developed in the present-day western 231
166 structures by the pre-existing Mesozoic extensional faults (position margin of the South American plate, was characterized by a set of 232
167 Figs. 2 and 3). NW–SE-trending Triassic half-graben basins arranged in an en- 233
168 echelon pattern. They have been extensively described in the 234
169 2. Geological background foreland ranges of south and central Argentina (Alvarez and Ramos, 235
170 1999; Franzese and Spalletti, 2001), disappearing under the 236
171 2.1. Tectonic setting present-day magmatic arc and reappearing to the west in selected 237
172 outcrops along the Cordillera de Domeyko. The pre-existing 238
173 The present-day structure architecture of the Cordillera de Paleozoic suture zones controlled the location as well as the NW– 239
174 Domeyko is the result of the geodynamic evolution of the South SE orientation of the newly developed half-graben basins (Günther 240
175 American Plate west margin, in which two major stages can be et al., 1997), as testified by the different geochemical signatures and 241
A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20 3
242 308
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OF
255 321
256 322
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RO
260 326
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265
266
267
268
DP 331
332
333
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269 335
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TE
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EC
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RR
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CO
287 353
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289 355
290 Fig. 2. Simplified geological map of Cordillera de Domeyko. Location of regional cross-sections and Figures. Diamonds show location of major Porphyry Copper Deposits. (AFS, 356
Atacama Fault System; CQ, Cerro Quimal; EBS, El Bordo Scarpment; GLLF, Gran Llano Fault; SA, Sierra Argomedo; SC, Sierra Candeleros; SCBB, Sierra Castillo Basement Block; SDCH,
291 357
Sierra Doña Inés Chica; SE, Sierra Exploradora; SV, Sierra Vaquillas; SVA, Sierra de Varas; SVF, Sierra de Varas Fault).
UN
292 358
293 359
294 360
295 independent magmatic evolution shown by the Paleozoic base- an extensional regime in the western margin of the South Amer- 361
296 ment ridges bounding the Triassic grabens in the Cordillera de ican over-riding plate. In this scenario, the study area records 362
297 Domeyko (Mpodozis and Cornejo, 1997). both: (1) the development of a post-rift back-arc basin, known as 363
298 the Domeyko-Tarapacá thermal basin (Figs. 4 and 5B) (Arcuri and 364
299 2.1.2. Subduction stage Brimhall, 2002; Ardill et al., 1998; Gröschke et al., 1988; Prinz 365
300 During the Early Jurassic, the initiation of the subduction of the et al., 1994; Scheuber and Gonzalez, 1999; Scheuber et al., 1994); 366
301 Pacific plate beneath the South American plate, coinciding with the (2) the genesis of a new Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous 367
302 break-up of Gondwana, results in a dramatic change in the geo- extensional stage, affecting the South American plate by devel- 368
303 dynamic evolution of the area. The kinematics of this subduction oping a new N–S-trending rift system over-imposed on the pre- 369
304 includes two well differentiated periods which resulted in existing Triassic one (Fig. 5C). This extensional stage seems to be 370
305 a different tectonic scenario affecting the area. the inland response to the variations in the Atlantic opening, and 371
306 During the first period, subduction kinematics are character- it is closely related to the Salta Rift event in Argentina. This Late 372
307 Q1 ized by a retreating subduction boundary which inturn generates Jurassic–Early Cretaceous rift system was controlled by N–S 373
374 120°W 100°W 80°W 2.2.2. Triassic to lower Cretaceous syn-extensional cover 440
375 This unit shows strong thickness variations along the Cordillera 441
376 de Domeyko, such that it can be absent in some areas or be kilo- Q2 442
377 metres thick in the basin depocenters. Its basal boundary is usually 443
378 not so well exposed and when present can correspond to both 444
379 20°S a regional uncomformity (low angle) or to a paraconformity. 445
380
Present According to the tectonic setting in which they were sedimented, 446
381
30Ma
these upper Triassic–lower Cretaceous deposits can be subdivided 447
382 35Ma into three major stratigraphic units contemporaneous to the 448
383 42Ma development of the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic rift, the Jurassic 449
45Ma 10Ma
384
26Ma thermal back-arc basin and the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous back- 450
49Ma 20Ma
385 arc rift. 451
386 452
OF
40°S
387 2.2.2.1. Upper triassic–Hettangian syn-rift unit. Associated with the 453
388 development of the upper Triassic–Hettangian NW–SE rift basins 454
59Ma
389 two major mega-sequences were deposited (Fig. 4). The lower one, 455
390 coeval to major fault activity, corresponds to the Barrancos (Trbr) 456
391 68Ma and Agua Dulce (Trjad) Fms. It is made up of a thick sequence of 457
RO
392 basic, intermediate and acid volcanic, volcanoclastic and subaerial 458
393 siliciclastic rocks, as well as inter-bedded conglomerates, 459
394 predominant at the basin margins, and some carbonates (Fig. 4). 460
395
Fig. 3. Plate convergence vector between the Nazca and South American plates for the The upper mega-sequence is Hettangian in age and rests uncon- 461
396 last 68 Ma, modified from Pardo-Casas and Molnar (1987). formably on top of the volcanic sequence of Barrancos Fm. locally 462
397
398
399
DP affected by minor syn-depositional faulting, this non-volcanic unit
is conformed by the bioclastic calcarenites of the Tinieblas
Formation (Jrti) and the overlying upper Quebrada del Salitre (Jrqs)
463
464
465
400 normal faults such as the Gran Llano Fault (GLLF) or the Sierra Fm. 466
401 Candeleros Fault (SCAF) as evidenced by the considerable changes 467
402 in thickness and lithology. The structural features that developed 2.2.2.2. Sinemurian–Kimmeridgian back-arc unit. In the Cordillera 468
during these extensional periods as well as the associated deposits
TE
403 de Domeyko the development of a back-arc thermal subsiding 469
404 are crucial to the understanding of the geometry and evolution of basin, that records the beginning of the subduction of the Nazca 470
405 the Cordillera de Domeyko. plate beneath South American plate, is recorded by the sedimen- 471
406 In the second period, a major plate reorganization associated tation of up to 1500 m thick marine sediments forming the Profeta 472
407 with the fast opening of the South Atlantic Ocean during the Late Formation (Jpf). This fauna rich formation consists of well-stratified 473
EC
408 Cretaceous changed the tectonic scenario. The South American unit integrated by thick levels of sandstones, mudstones, black 474
409 plate stopped rotating clockwise and started to drift westward clays, limestones and gypsums (Ardill et al., 1998; Prinz et al., 1994). 475
410 towards the Nazca plate at high convergence rates. This produced This unit has a very widespread distribution lying uncomformably 476
411 a change in the subduction kinematics, i.e. from a retreating on top of all the previous described units. 477
412 subduction boundary to an advancing one, which established 478
RR
413 a compressional regime in the upper plate. During this second 2.2.2.3. Late Jurassic (post Kimmeridgian)–Early Cretaceous syn-rift 479
414 tectonic scenario the Andean Orogeny developed (Figs. 4 and 5D) unit. The sediments of this age filled an ‘‘aborted continental rift’’, 480
415 (Royden, 1993; Scheuber et al., 1994; Uyeda, 1982). Shortening and and overlie the back-arc basin deposits. The subsidence of the basin 481
416 uplifting of the Tarapacá-Domeyko Basin, combining thick and was controlled by N–S normal faults, e.g. the Gran Llano Fault and 482
417 thin-skinned tectonic styles occurred (Amilibia et al., 2000). Also, as the Quebrada Chaco Fault, as evidenced by the considerable 483
418 a result of this subduction change, the magmatic arc shifted east- changes in thickness and lithology across them (Figs. 2, 4 and 5C). 484
CO
419 ward as far as its present position in the Western Cordillera. The The sequences deposited in this stage are mainly composed of 485
420 tectonic erosion of the fore-arc (Stern, 1991) and the shallowing of volcanic rocks. Their geochemistry shows that they are not a typical 486
421 the subducting slab (Kay et al., 1999) could account for this subduction related volcanism series (Cornejo and Mpodozis, 1996; 487
422 magmatic arc shift (Fig. 5) (position Fig. 4). Morata and Aguirre, 2003), evidencing continental crustal thinning 488
423 (Sierra Candeleros Fm., Punta del Cobre Group and Sierra Fraga 489
UN
424 2.2. Stratigraphy of the Cordillera de Domeyko Fm.). These sequences also comprise conglomerates and sand- 490
425 stones, like the ones described in Cerrillos, Llanta and Santa Ana 491
426 The rocks cropping out in the Cordillera de Domeyko can be Formations (Fig. 4). 492
427 grouped into three major assemblages: (1) the paleozoic–early 493
428 triassic basement; (2) the late triassic–early cretaceous syn- 2.2.3. The syn-orogenic Late Cretaceous up to present-day 494
429 extensional cover; and (3) the syn-orogenic late cretaceous up to sediments 495
430 present sediments. 2.2.3.1. Late Cretaceous–Oligocene syn-orogenic unit. During the 496
431 Late Cretaceous and the Paleogene, the magmatic arc migrated to 497
432 2.2.1. Basement the east locating along the western margin of the proto-Cordillera 498
433 The outcropping basement is made up of a thick succession of de Domeyko. The volcanic activity was associated with the devel- 499
434 volcanosedimentary rocks intruded by Carboniferous–Permian opment of enormous calderas and with the emplacement of 500
435 granitoids. The volcanosedimentary rocks are mainly made up of granodioritic intrusions (Cornejo and Mpodozis, 1996). Andesites, 501
436 Permian to lower Triassic siliceous volcanic series and subordinate rhyolites and dacites of the Chile-Alemania Fm. (Tcha) make up this 502
437 andesites of the El Bordo (PzTeb) and La Tabla (Pzlt) Formations, Late Cretaceous–Eocene magmatic arc. These rocks are part of the 503
438 which uncomformably overlie Devonian marine siliciclastic rocks syn-inversion sequence, being synchronous with the clastic conti- 504
439 exposed in the Sierra Argomedo (Fig. 2). nental sediments (Purilactis Group, Orange Fm., and Loma Amarilla 505
506 572
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OF
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RO
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530
531
532
DP 595
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598
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TE
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EC
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RR
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CO
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UN
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562 628
563 Fig. 4. Chronostratigraphic chart of the Cordillera de Domeyko showing the mega-sequences for the different morphostructural units, tectonic stages and dominant structural 629
features. (Little black/white volcano marks the position of the magmatic arc. Notice its migration towards the E since late Cretaceous time.)
564 630
565 631
566 632
567 Fm.) deposited in the Salar de Atacama Foreland Basin during the During the Middle Eocene–Oligocene, which was the last stage 633
568 uplift of the Cordillera de Domeyko. They show internal angular of shortening in the Cordillera de Domeyko, a general lull in 634
569 unconformities typical of growth-strata syn-orogenic sequences volcanic arc activity coincided with the emplacement of some 635
570 (Hartley et al., 2000; Mpodozis et al., 2005; Charrier and Reutter, acid porphyries along the range. The giant porphyry copper ore 636
571 1994). deposits – Chuquicamata, La Escondida, El Teniente, El Salvador – 637
638 INTRA-CONTINENTAL RIFTING 704

639 Domeyko 705
PROTO- Half-Graben Triassic Basins (Cuyo & Mercedario)
640 PACIFIC
in the Argentinean side, norther latitudes 706
Rift Basin
641 A 707
642 708
643 WEST GONDWANA 709
644 LATE TRIASSIC 710
La Negra
645 Domeyko - EARLY 711
Magmatic Arc
Back-arc JURASSIC
646 Thermal Basin
712
647 B 713
648 714
NAZCA
649 715
SOUTH AMERICA
650 716
OF
651 717
LATE JURASSIC
652 Continental 718
- EARLY
extension
653 La Negra CRETACEOUS 719
Tectonic Magmatic Arc volcanism
654 Erosion Cretaceous Gran Llano 720
Rift Basin
655 Fault Salta Rift Basins 721
RO
656 C 722
657 723
NAZCA
658 724
SOUTH AMERICA
659 725
Fast
660 726
subduction
661
662
663
related
roll-back
AFS
Late Cretaceous
volcanism
Sierra Castillo Atacama
DP EARLY
CRETACEOUS
-
PALEOCENE
727
728
729
Short-cut Foreland Basin
664 730
FASTER
665
666
D 731
732
NAZCA
TE
667 733
668 SOUTH AMERICA 734
669 735
670 SLAB PALEOCENE 736
FLATTENING Adakitic -
671 737
Porphyric EOCENE
EC
672 Tectonic Intrusions 738

673 Erosion Cordillera de Inverted Atacama 739
AFS Domeyko
Foreland Basin FASTER
674 740
675 741
676 E 742
RR
677 NAZCA THICKENED 743

CONTINENTAL CRUST
678 744
679 EOCENE 745
Possible Sources
680 SLAB for adakitic magmas - 746
FLATTENING MIOCENE
681 747
682 748
CO
FASTER
683 Tectonic Magmatic Arc 749
Cordillera de Cordillera Oriental Inverted Santa Barbara
Erosion Deformed
684 Domeyko Salta Rift
System
Foreland Basin
750
685 751
686 F 752
687 753
THICKENED
UN
NAZCA
688 CONTINENTAL CRUST MIOCENE - PRESENT 754
689 755
690 756
691 757
692 758
693 150 km 759
694 760
695 Fig. 5. A tectonic evolutionary model for the Cordillera de Domeyko since Triassic times, and its relationship with the evolution of the adjacent Salta Rift of Northern Argentina. 761
Arrows show plates sense of displacement, and intensity.
696 762
697 763
698 764
699 are found in these intrusions (Ballard et al., 2001; Richards et al., of Neogene alluvial and coalluvial sediments (Pampa de Mulas Fm.) 765
700 2001). on top of the deformed basement and Mesozoic–Cenozoic cover. 766
701 The deformed sequences are also overlain by volcanic rocks from 767
702 2.2.3.2. Miocene–present-day slightly deformed unit. Erosion and the present magmatic arc located in the Western Cordillera (posi- 768
703 denudation of the range due to its uplift resulted in the deposition tion Fig. 5). 769
770 3. Structure of Cordillera de Domeyko margin of the Salar de Atacama (Fig. 7). The relationship between 836
771 these blocks and the folded and thrusted Mesozoic–Cenozoic cover 837
772 The Cordillera de Domeyko is a well-defined 500 km long at Llanos de la Paciencia (LLP) and Cordillera de la Sal can be 838
773 tectonic unit striking N–S. The range is arranged in several sub- observed to the east of the El Bordo Scarpment. In this area it is 839
774 ranges that reflect along strike changes in structural style and possible to observe growth-strata geometries of Late Cretaceous– 840
775 polarity of the structures. From north to south these sub-ranges are Oligocene age (Purilactis Group, Orange Fm. and Loma Amarilla 841
776 the western margin of the Salar de Atacama, Sierra Vaquillas Altas, Fm.), which are associated with the uplift of the Cordillera de 842
777 Sierra Exploradora, Sierra Doña Inés Chica and Sierra Castillo Domeyko. Basement uplifted blocks also show Late Cretaceous– 843
778 (Fig. 2). The cores of these sub-ranges are composed of N–S Cenozoic porphyries, some of which host giant Cu–Mo deposits 844
779 oriented, elongate basement ridges. These basement blocks are such as the Chuquicamata and Gaby ore deposits (Fig. 2) (position 845
780 limited by high-angle reverse faults, which exhumed the basement, Fig. 7). 846
781 thrusting it on top of Triassic to Cenozoic cover rocks, which in their 847
782 turn are deformed by thin-skin structures (Fig. 2). 3.1.1. Section A–A0 : Cerro Negro–Salar de Atacama 848
OF
783 The Cordillera de Domeyko is cut by a number of transverse This cross-section runs perpendicular to the regional structural 849
784 NW–SE and subordinated NE–SW lineaments that have been strike (Fig. 6a), from Cerro Negro in the west to the Salar de 850
785 previously interpreted as major strike-slip faults, e.g. the Sierra de Atacama in the east (Figs. 7 and 8). Cerro Negro is an isolated 851
786 Varas Fault (Scheuber et al., 1994) (Fig. 2). Nevertheless, some of Triassic outcrop located in the northern segment of the Cordillera 852
787 these morphological lineaments do not show clear strike-slip fault de Domeyko and is mainly made up of syn-rift andesitic lavas, 853
RO
788 features. pelites and conglomerates of Agua Dulce Fm. (TrJad, Late Triassic– 854
789 Basement ridges mark a limit between the Cretaceous rift basin Early Jurassic). These rocks lie in angular unconformity on the 855
790 to the west and the Cenozoic foreland basins to the east, which is sedimentary rocks of El Bordo Fm. (PzTeb, Permo-Triassic), and 856
791 currently occupied by the ‘‘Salares’’. The structural vergence describe an asymmetric east-verging open anticline. This anticline 857
792 undergoes a dramatic change along the strike and this fault shows a very long and gently dipping back-limb and a short and 858
793
794
795
796
arrangement confers an apparent doubly verging ‘‘pop-up’’ geom-
etry to the axial zone of the range, which has a complex three-
dimensional geometrical structure.
This paper summarises the results obtained from fieldwork in
DP steep, east dipping, frontal-limb. This hanging-wall asymmetric
anticline is consistent with the presence of a related deep thrust
involving the basement. The regional syn-rift nature of the Late
Triassic rocks outcropping in the hanging-wall, as well as the
859
860
861
862
797 the Cordillera de Domeyko. Field mapping and LANDSAT inter- absence of them to the east, observed along Cordon del Lila 863
798 pretation were used to construct a detailed geological map of the outcrops and on the Toconao-1 exploratory well (Fig. 2) (Muñoz 864
TE
799 region with special emphasis on structural geometries. More than and Townsend, 1997), suggests that this anticline geometry is 865
800 2000 structural data points were collected to study the Cordillera consistent with the reactivation of a pre-existing Triassic normal 866
801 de Domeyko structure which is described on the basis of con- fault, the Cerro Negro Fault (CNF) (Fig. 8, Structure 1). Later on, as 867
802 structed geological cross-sections. In order to construct them, we the shortening increases, the uplifted Triassic syn-rift sequence 868
803 used the 2DMove programme (Midland Valley ExplorationÓ) to was transported eastwards by a gently dipping by-pass thrust, 869
EC
804 project data on the cross-section and to draw the dip domains. The thrusting over the Oligocene–Eocene sandstones and conglomer- 870
805 cross-sections are oriented west–east, approximately in the direc- ates of the Orange and Loma Amarilla Fms. (Tor and Ela), trans- 871
806 tion of the tectonic transport and are perpendicular to the regional ferring the deformation towards the east (Fig. 8, Structure 2). 872
807 structural strike. The most representative cross-sections (see Further north, along Cerro Quimal Transect (Fig. 2), the basement 873
808 location in Fig. 2) of the Cordillera de Domeyko are described blocks thrust on top of the Cretaceous red sandstones of the 874
RR
809 below. Data used on these cross-sections is plotted in Fig. 6 (posi- Purilactis Group. Thin-skinned structures (thrust and related folds) 875
810 tion Fig. 6). are observed to the east in the Mesozoic–Cenozic cover of the 876
811 Llanos de la Paciencia. These structures have been interpreted as 877
812 3.1. Northern Cordillera de Domeyko detached in the gypsum of the lower Purilactis Group, owing to 878
813 the uplift and transport of the Cerro Negro rigid block eastwards. 879
814 This region is of particular interest owing to the outcrop of major Thin-skin structures are commonly observed in the cover 880
CO
815 basement blocks along the El Bordo Scarpment (EBS) in the western sequences adjacent to the major high-angle basement-involved 881
816 882
817 883
818 A B C 884
819 STEREOPLOT-Cerro Negro STEREOPLOT-Sierra Vaquillas STEREOPLOT-Q.Carrizo 885
UN
820 886
N N N
821 887
822 888
823 889
824 890
825 891
826 892
827 893
828 894
829 895
830 896
831 897
832 N = 86 N = 64 N = 190 898
833 E3=348°/7° E3=191°/25° E3=030°/10.4° 899
834 Fig. 6. Stereoplots of pols to bedding for each transect. Eigen values are calculated. The E3s values have been used as projection vector when projecting the structural data into the 900
835 cross-section planes (N ¼ number of measurements; E3 ¼ Eigen vector minimum). 901
902 968
903 969
904 970
905 971
906 972
907 973
908 974
909 975
910 976
911 977
912 978
913 979
914 980
OF
915 981
916 982
917 983
918 984
919 985
RO
920 986
921 987
922 988
923 989
924 990
925
926
927
DP 991
992
993
928 994
929 995
930 996
TE
931 997
932 998
933 999
934 1000
935 1001
EC
936 1002
937 1003
938 1004
939 1005
940 1006
RR
941 1007
942 1008
943 1009
944 1010
945 1011
946 1012
CO
947 1013
948 1014
949 1015
950 1016
951 1017
UN
952 Fig. 7. Detailed geological map of the western margin of Salar de Atacama, showing the main structural features of the Cordillera de Domeyko across the Cerro Negro transect 1018
(modified from Ramı́rez and Gardeweg, 1982). See location on Fig. 2. See section A–A0 : Cerro Negro in Fig. 8. (EBS, El Bordo Scarpment; LLP, Llanos de la Paciencia).
953 1019
954 1020
955 thrusts all along the Cordillera de Domeyko. They have been interpreted as growth-strata geometries (Mpodozis et al., 2005). 1021
956 interpreted as produced by a ‘‘bulldozer mechanism’’ and illustrate These angular relationships together with thermochronological 1022
957 how thick-skinned basement structures induced thin-skinned and geochemical data (Amilibia and McClay, 2004; Maksaev and 1023
958 structures in the cover (position Fig. 8). Zentilli, 1999; Haschke et al., 2002) enable us to date the defor- 1024
959 The conglomerates of the Loma Amarilla Fm. unconformably mation and uplift of the Cordillera de Domeyko. As deformation 1025
960 overlie the folded red beds of the Orange Fm. Moreover, these migrated eastwards, the thin-skin fold and thrust system was 1026
961 conglomerates describe an open syncline (enlargment in Fig. 8) uplifted and deformed by a new lower basement structure called 1027
962 with a thick eastern limb and a thinner western limb. These Llanos de la Paciencia Fault (LLPF) (Fig. 8, Structure 3). 1028
963 changes in thickness together with the uncomformity allow us to 1029
964 interpret these sediments as last syn-inversion sequence observed 3.2. Central Cordillera de Domeyko 1030
965 in the area, coeval with the development of the by-pass thrust. The 1031
966 Late Cretaceous red sandstones of the upper member of the Puri- Between 25150 and 25 300 S, the vergence of the structures 1032
967 lactis Group also show internal angular relationships that can be varies from west in the Sierra Vaquillas (SV) basement thrust to east 1033
1034
1035
A 1100
1101
1036 W Cerro Negro El Bordo escarpment Llano de la Paciencia
Cordillera de E 1102
la Sal
1037 1103
1038 1104
Ela
1039 1105
1040 1106
1041 Tor 1107
1042 1108
5000 Ela nt Pin line
1043 eme 1109
arg
1044 Enl 1110
Tor
1045 Trjad Mio 1111
1046 1112
OF
Kto? Osp
1047 1113
PzTeb
1048 0m Tor +Ela?
1114
1049 PzTeb 1115
Kto
1050 1116
F
CN
1051 Kpr? 1117
RO
1052 1118
PzTeb Pin line
1053 PF 1119
LL 19 % Shortening
1054 -5000 1120
1055 0 2 4 km 1121
1056 1122
1057
5000 DP B 1123
1058 1124
1059 1125
1060 1126
1061 1127
1062 Osp 1128
TE
1063 1129
0m Tor +Ela
1064 1130
1065 Kto? 1131
1066 Kpr 1132
Trjad PzTeb
1067 1133
EC
1068 1134
PzTeb
1069 -5000 1135
1070 1136
0 2 4 km
1071 1137
2 1
1072 3 1138
RR
1073 1139
1074 1140
Cretaceous Triassic
1075 Miocene 1141
Mio Tor (Red Sandstones & Conglomerates Trjad (Undifferentiated
(Salt Lake Deposits)
1076 Orange Fm) Agua Dulce Fm) 1142
1077 1143
Paleozoic-Early Triassic
1078 Oligocene Cretaceous 1144
CO
PzTeb (Andesites, sandstones

Osp (Gypsums, Caly & Kpr (Sandstones & Mudstones,
1079 and Permian Intrusives) 1145
Sandstones, San pedro Fm) Upper purilactis Group - Purilactis Fm)
1080 El Bordo Fm. 1146
1081 Eocene Cretaceous 1147
1082 Ela (Conglomerates & Volcanics, Kto (Breccias & Sandstones, Gypsums 1148
1083 Loma Amarilla Fm) Lower Purilactis Group -Tonel Fm) 1149
UN
1084 1150
1085 Fig. 8. (a) Regional cross-section A–A0 trough Cerro Negro and llanos de la Paciencia (location in Figs. 2 and 7). The enlargement shows a detail of the angular uncomformity 1151
1086 between the folded red-beds sequence of Orange Fm. (Tor) and the conglomerates of Loma Amarilla Fm. (Ela). (b) Restored A–A0 cross-section to its pre-contractional stage (CNF, 1152
Cerro Negro Fault; LLPF, Llanos de la Paciencia Fault; numbers mark the relative chronology of the structures).
1087 1153
1088 1154
1089 1155
1090 1156
1091 along the Sierra Exploradora (SE) thin-skinned thrust system (Figs. 3.2.1. Section B–B0 : Sierra Candeleros–Sierra Vaquillas 1157
1092 2 and 9). In this accommodation area, the basement structure This section runs parallel to the tectonic transport direction of 1158
1093 disappears under the Triassic cover, developing an overturned the basement thrust at Sierra Vaquillas deduced from the thrust 1159
1094 anticline verging to the west and plunging to the south. To the strike (Figs. 6b and 9). The cross-section was constructed along the 1160
1095 southeast of this structure, the Triassic and Sinemurian rocks are exceptional outcrops of Quebrada Vaquillas (Figs. 11 and 12). In this 1161
1096 folded and faulted without involving the basement. The cross- cross-section a large syncline is prominent, which is the northern 1162
1097 sections of this area provide evidence of inversion tectonics, expression of the Sierra Candeleros (SC) syncline. The syncline 1163
1098 accounting for the uplift and deformation of the Triassic and shows contrasting limbs under the Cretaceous conglomerates and 1164
1099 Cretaceous syn-rift sequences (position Fig. 9). sandstone beds. The western limb contains a Kimmeridgian– 1165
1166 1232
1167 1233
1168 1234
1169 1235
1170 1236
1171 1237
1172 1238
1173 1239
1174 1240
1175 1241
1176 1242
1177 1243
1178 1244
OF
1179 1245
1180 1246
1181 1247
1182 1248
1183 1249
RO
1184 1250
1185 1251
1186 1252
1187 1253
1188 1254
1189
1190
1191
DP 1255
1256
1257
1192 1258
1193 1259
1194 1260
TE
1195 1261
1196 1262
1197 1263
1198 1264
1199 1265
EC
1200 1266
1201 1267
1202 1268
1203 1269
1204 1270
RR
1205 1271
1206 1272
1207 1273
1208 1274
1209 1275
1210 1276
CO
1211 1277
1212 1278
1213 1279
1214 1280
1215 1281
UN
1216 1282
1217 Fig. 9. Detailed geological map of Sierra Vaquillas Altas (SA) (Central Domeyko Range), showing the main structural features of Cordillera de Domeyko along Quebarada Vaquillas 1283
1218 outcrop, see location in Fig. 2 (modified from Marinovic et al., 1992). See section B–B0 : Q. Vaquillas–Sierra Candeleros in Fig. 10 (GLLF, Gran Llano Fault; SCAsc, Sierra Candeleros 1284
1219 short-cut; SE, Sierra Exploradora; SV, Sierra Vaquillas Fault). Fig. 14 showing Punta del Viento panoramic is also located. 1285
1220 1286
1221 1287
1222 Bathonian sequence of east dipping fossiliferous limestones and with the axial plane of the syncline. We call it the Sierra Candeleros 1288
1223 andesitic lavas, thrusting to the west on the flat lying Cretaceous Fault (SCAF), and can be interpreted as an antithetic fault of the 1289
1224 volcanic rocks (Fig. 10, Structure 2). The eastern limb of the syncline Gran Llano (GLLF) master fault, that delimitates the Late Jurassic– 1290
1225 is totally different, containing a very thick, up to 5000 m, steeply Early Cretaceous rift basin to the east (Figs. 2 and 9) (position 1291
1226 dipping monoclinal sequence of Kimmeridgian–Oxfordian andes- Fig. 10). 1292
1227 itic lavas (equivalent to S. Fraga Fm.). Under this sequence lies the Further east, a basement block is thrusting towards the west 1293
1228 typical Oxfordian sequence of the Profeta Fm. composed of gypsum over the synclinal mega-limb. At this transect, the basement 1294
1229 and fossiliferous marls (ammonites rich). This anomalous thick structure is represented at surface by a Triassic anticline verging to 1295
1230 eastern limb is interpreted as a syn-extension sequence related to the west. The anticline involves a thick Triassic succession which is 1296
1231 a Late Jurassic–Cretaceous normal fault which location coincides affected by a normal fault outcropping in the core of the anticline. 1297
1298 1364
1299 1365
1300 1366
1301 1367
1302 1368
1303 1369
1304 1370
1305 1371
1306 1372
1307 1373
1308 1374
1309 1375
1310 1376
OF
1311 1377
1312 1378
1313 1379
1314 1380
1315 1381
RO
1316 1382
1317 1383
1318 1384
1319 1385
1320 1386
1321
1322
1323
1324
DP 1387
1388
1389
1390
1325 1391
1326 1392
TE
1327 1393
1328 1394
1329 1395
1330 1396
1331 1397
EC
1332 1398
1333 1399
1334 1400
1335 1401
1336 1402
RR
1337 1403
1338 1404
1339 1405
1340 1406
1341 1407
1342 1408
CO
1343 1409
1344 1410
1345 1411
1346 1412
1347 1413
UN
1348 1414
1349 1415
1350 1416
1351 1417
1352 1418
1353 1419
1354 1420
1355 1421
1356 1422
1357 1423
Fig. 10. (A) Regional cross-section B–B0 through Q. Vaquillas and Sierra Candeleros (Location in Fig. 9). (B) Restored B–B0 cross-section to its pre-contractional stage. (GLLF, Gran
1358 Llano Fault; SCAF, Sierra Candeleros Fault; SCAsc, Sierra Candeleros short-cut; numbers mark the relative chronology of the structures). 1424
1359 1425
1360 This fault coincides with the axial plane of the anticline (Fig. 11). Triassic–Hettangian post-rift sequences of the Tinieblas and Que- 1426
1361 Further east, a back-thrust and fold system verging to the east brada del Salitre Fms. towards the east. The angular unconformity 1427
1362 developed in the Triassic syn-extensional cover. The Triassic syn- at the bottom of the Tinieblas Fm. limestones marks the end of the 1428
1363 rift sequence of Barrancos and Acantilado Fms. overthrusted Late main Triassic rifting event and the beginning of the Early Jurassic 1429
1430 1496
1431 1497
1432 1498
1433 1499
1434 1500
1435 1501
1436 1502
1437 1503
1438 1504
1439 1505
1440 1506
1441 1507
1442 1508
OF
1443 1509
1444 1510
1445 1511
1446 1512
1447 1513
RO
1448 1514
1449 1515
1450 1516
1451 1517
1452 1518
1453
1454
1455
DP
Fig. 11. (A) Quebrada Vaquillas inverted normal fault (south view). (B) Picture line-drawing intrepretation. This, 60 east dipping Triassic normal fault was partially inverted as the
1519
1520
1521
anticline drag fold shows. This fault placed in contact Early Jurassic Tinieblas Fm. limestones (JrTi) and Quebrada del Salitre Fm. sandstones (Jrqs) in its hanging-wall, with Early
1456 1522
Triassic Barrancos Fm. volcanic conglomerates (Trbr). Oligo-miocene alluvial deposits of Pampa de Mulas Fm. (Terpm) lie unconformably on top of the inverted fault. The circle
1457 shows a geologist as scale.
1523
1458 1524
TE
1459 1525
1460 1526
sag phase (Fig. 12). However, some extensional structures were exposed and beautiful inversion structures where several east
1461 1527
active until Sinemurian times as shown in Fig. 11. All this thin-skin dipping Triassic normal faults were reactivated in subsequent
1462 1528
back-thrust system could be interpreted as a detached system that contractions during the Cenozoic. These faults exhibit a normal
1463 1529
resulted from the ejection of the syn-rift sequence towards the east net displacement in the lower levels whereas they show a net
EC
1464 1530
via a newly generated short-cut thrust of the GLLF (Fig. 10, Structure reverse displacement in the upper structural levels, placing
1465 1531
3) as the deformation evolves (Figs. 12 and 13). All the thin-skinned Triassic syn-rift andesitic breccias and sandstones over the Late
1466 1532
structures plunge to the south, reflecting the end of the Sierra Triassic limestones (Tinieblas Fm.). The Triassic extensional faults
1467 1533
Vaquillas basement block (position Figs. 11, 12 and 13). were partially inverted and controlled the location and orienta-
1468 1534
To the north of Quebrada Vaquillas, the southern slope of the tion of the newly formed contractional structures (position
RR
1469 1535
E–W Quebrada Punta del Viento (Figs. 9 and 14) also shows well- Fig. 14).
1470 1536
1471 1537
1472 1538
1473 1539
1474 1540
CO
1475 1541
1476 1542
1477 1543
1478 1544
1479 1545
UN
1480 1546
1481 1547
1482 1548
1483 1549
1484 1550
1485 1551
1486 1552
1487 1553
1488 1554
1489 1555
1490 1556
1491 1557
1492 1558
Fig. 12. (A) Back-thrusting in Quebrada Vaquillas (south view). (B) Outcrop interpretation. The Triassic syn-rift sequence of Barranco and Acantilado Fms is thrusting on top of
1493 1559
Hettangian post-rift sequence of Q. del Salitre Fm. towards the east. The angular unconformity between Late Triassic Tinieblas Fm. limestones and the Late Triassic Barranco Fm.
1494 andesitic lavas is clearly visible in the eastern part of the outcrop. It marks the end of the, fault controlled, syn-rift sedimentation and the beginning of the Early Jurassic post-rift 1560
1495 phase. 1561
1562
A Cordillera de Domeyko, as well as the location of the Range itself. 1628
1563 From north to south the GLLF changes from been partially reac- 1629
1564 tivated to non-reactivated. These changes in the character of the 1630
1565 fault, control by the interaction with other pre-existing structures 1631
1566 (Triassic NW–SE faults), results in changes of structural style and 1632
Basement
1567 vergence of the compressional structures along strike (position 1633
1568 Fig. 15). 1634
1569 1635
5 km
1570 3.3.1. Section C–C0 : Quebrada Carrizo 1636
1571 This cross-section runs across the eastern limb of a wide 1637
1572 B syncline of Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous syn-extension volcanic 1638
1573 rocks of Sierra Fragua Fm. and conglomerates of Llanta Formation 1639
1574 (Fig. 16). This limb shows very steep to overturned dips in contact 1640
OF
1575 with the Sierra Castillo Fault (SCF). This E-dipping reverse fault 1641
1576 places Paleozoic basement and Triassic andesitic rocks of its 1642
Basement
1577 hanging-wall, on top of Jurassic volcanic rocks. The Sierra Castillo 1643
1578 Paleozoic rocks disappears northwards across Quebrada La Perra 1644
1579 5 km beneath Triassic rocks, describing a complex anticline plunging 1645
RO
1580 towards the north (Fig. 15) (position Fig. 16). Two large antiformal 1646
1581 structures (Fig. 16, Structures 2) outcrop to the east of the Sierra del 1647
1582 C SHORTENING Castillo Fault. Both of these structures present steep, complex 1648
1583 frontal-limbs and longer and gently dipping to the E back-limbs. 1649
1584 Whereas the frontal-limbs consist of Triassic–Jurassic quartzite 1650
1585
1586
1587
1588
Basement
DP
sandstones (Quebrada del Salitre Fm., Tqv(2)), the back limbs
contain a thick Late Triassic syn-extensional volcanic sequence
(Tqv(2)) (Fig. 17). The complexity of the frontal limbs, the asym-
metry of the folds and, mainly, the differences in thickness and
1651
1652
1653
1654
1589 5 km lithology between the two limbs strongly suggest that these 1655
1590 structures resulted from inversion of Triassic normal faults. At the 1656
TE
1591 easternmost anticline, the fault reaches the surface as an inverse 1657
1592 D fault and the hanging-wall Triassic sequence exhibit sills. These sills 1658
1593 could be Late Triassic or Cenozoic. In any case, these intrusions 1659
1594 followed the fault to ascent, either during the extensional stage or 1660
1595 during inversion. Along the Pedernales Fold and Thrust Belt syn- 1661
EC
1596 Basement contractional porphyries can also be observed. They probably used 1662
1597 the already existing basement reverse fault to reach upper struc- 1663
1598 tural levels. Once they reach the weaker and brittle sedimentary 1664
1599 5 km cover they emplace within the fault related anticline, deforming 1665
1600 them and conferring an anomalous amplitude and high to these 1666
RR
1601
Jurassic-Cretaceous Upper Triassic anticlines. Pluton emplacement along reverse faults under 1667
1602 Syn-rift Syn-rift contractional regimes has been extensively documented in orogens 1668
1603
Basement like the Rocky Mountains (Kalakay et al., 2001). The shortening 1669
Jurassic SAG
1604 across this section was mainly absorbed by two major structures, 1670
1605 the Sierra del Castillo thrust Fault (SCF) and the Carrizo inverted 1671
Fig. 13. Quebrada Vaquillas section evolutionary structural model. (A) Two phases of
1606 normal Fault (CF) (Fig. 16) (position Fig. 17). 1672
CO
extension were over-imposed in the area (Triassic and Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous).
1607 (B) The contractional phase during Late Cretaceous times results in E–W shortening, 1673
1608 tilting and inversion of the extensional structures. 4. Discussion 1674
1609 1675
1610 4.1. Domeyko structural style 1676
1611 3.3. Southern Cordillera de Domeyko 1677
UN
1612 Illustrated balanced cross-sections and the overall tectono- 1678

1613 In Sierra Doña Inés Chica contractional structures are mainly sedimentary architecture of the area enable us to postulate that the 1679
1614 basement-involved thrusts (thick-skinned) that deform the majority of the Cordillera de Domeyko basement-involved thrusts, 1680
1615 Triassic syn-extensional sequence. The dominant vergence of the orientation and distribution, were controlled by pre-existing 1681
1616 structure is to the west, contrasting with the vergence to the east, extensional structures (e.g. Amilibia et al., 2005). Most of the 1682
1617 which occurs both further south at Sierra Castillo (SCBB), and observed basement-involved anticlines of Cordillera de Domeyko, 1683
1618 further north at Sierra Exploradora (SE) (Figs. 2 and 15). The area such as the one described at Cerro Negro (Fig. 8, Northern Cordil- 1684
1619 shows a slightly deformed thick sequence of Lower Cretaceous lera de Domeyko), resulted from the inversion of Mesozoic exten- 1685
1620 volcanic rocks to the west, and a strongly deformed, thinner sional faults, preserving Triassic syn-rift sequences in their 1686
1621 Triassic–Early Jurassic syn-rift sequence, to the east. The boundary hanging-walls. 1687
1622 between both areas is the Gran Llano normal fault (GLLF). Intru- Due to the complex 3D structural configuration resulting from 1688
1623 sions, some of them emplaced parallel to the bedding (sills), are two superimposed extensional systems (Triassic and Late Jurassic– 1689
1624 aligned along this Fault. The GLLF is a well-preserved N–S-trending Early Cretaceous), the influence of the pre-existing structures 1690
1625 Cretaceous normal Fault. The interaction between the newly during subsequent contraction is not just represented by simple 1691
1626 formed contractional faults and these N–S-trending extensional inversion geometries and reactivation of extensional faults. As 1692
1627 faults play a major role in the structural geometries observed in observed in some of the Domeyko transects (Figs. 8, 10 and 16), 1693
1694 1760
1695 1761
1696 1762
1697 1763
1698 1764
1699 1765
1700 1766
1701 1767
1702 1768
1703 1769
1704 1770
1705 1771
1706 1772
OF
1707 1773
1708 1774
1709 1775
1710 1776
1711 1777
RO
1712 1778
1713 1779
1714 1780
1715 1781
1716 1782
1717
1718
1719
DP 1783
1784
1785
1720 1786
1721 1787
1722 1788
TE
1723 1789
1724 1790
1725 1791
1726 1792
1727 1793
EC
1728 1794
1729 1795
1730 1796
1731 1797
1732 1798
RR
1733 1799
1734 1800
1735 1801
1736 Fig. 14. (A) Quebrada Punta del Viento Triassic outcrop (south view). In this view is possible to observe the relationships between pre-existing Triassic extensional faults and their
1802
1737 syn-tectonic sequence with the newly developed Late Cretaceous contractional ones. (B) Picture line-drawing interpretation. This outcrop shows the relationships between the pre, 1803
1738 syn and post-rift Triassic sequences as well as the positive inversion of some Triassic extensional faults. The observed Triassic faults keep a normal fault net displacement at lower 1804
CO
1739 structural levels, but show a reverse fault geometry at upper structural levels. This observation allowed us to interpret them as partly inverted normal extensional faults. (Trba1, 1805
Triassic syn-rift Barrancos Fm lower member; Trba2, Triassic syn-rift Barrancos Fm upper member; Trti, Late Triassic post-rift Tinieblas Fm; Jrqs, Jurassic post-rift Q. Del Salitre Fm;
1740 1806
Pzlt, Paleozoic basement La Tabla Fm; Pzgr, Permian Intrusive complex) (red dots mark field-measurements).
1741 1807
1742 1808
1743 1809
UN
1744 changes in the vergence of the compressional system as well as features and the structural style of the Cordillera de Domeyko 1810
1745 the development of basement short-cuts were strongly controlled described above, but also with the location of the range itself. 1811
1746 by the interaction between the two sets of extensional faults. An Thus, the Cordillera de Domeyko is located along the Late 1812
1747 example is the previously described Gran Llano Fault (GLLF). Along Jurassic–Early Cretaceous east rift margin (Fig. 18) (position 1813
1748 C–C0 cross-section (Fig. 16) the GLLF was not reactivated, acting as Fig. 18). 1814
1749 a buttress to the E–W shortening and transferring the deformation The resulting N–S-trending reverse faults show little evidence of 1815
1750 into the basement of its footwall, were the pre-existing Triassic major strike-slip movement, and are crosscut by some NW–SE 1816
1751 structures were reactivated. However, further south, the Late sinistral strike-slip faults. Both set of structures possibly accom- 1817
1752 Jurassic–Early Cretaceous GLLF was partially reactivated, changing modate the basement deformation and rotation owing to along 1818
1753 the vergence of the system to the east and giving rise to a typical strike differential shortening (Fig. 18) since 35 Ma (Fig. 4). This 1819
1754 short-cut of its footwall (Fig. 2). The transported Sierra Castillo relationship between the N–S basement faults and the NW–SE 1820
1755 basement block over-thrust the pre-rift Mesozoic cover to the sinistral faults has been described in the eastern margin of the 1821
1756 east, developing the east-verging Pedernales Thrust and Fold Belt, Cordillera de Domeyko (Arriagada et al., 2000, 2003, 2006; Amili- 1822
1757 being another clear example of the interrelation between thick bia, 2002). Moreover, previous Domeyko strike-slip models (i.e. 1823
1758 and thin-skinned structures. The influence of the pre-existing WFS: West Fissure Zone) does not account for: (a) the fact that 1824
1759 extensional faults is not only consistent with the inversion there was insufficient obliquity in the convergence to allow strain- 1825
1826 1892
1827 1893
1828 1894
1829 1895
1830 1896
1831 1897
1832 1898
1833 1899
1834 1900
1835 1901
1836 1902
1837 1903
1838 1904
OF
1839 1905
1840 1906
1841 1907
1842 1908
1843 1909
RO
1844 1910
1845 1911
1846 1912
1847 1913
1848 1914
1849
1850
1851
1852
DP 1915
1916
1917
1918
1853 1919
1854 1920
TE
1855 1921
1856 1922
1857 1923
1858 1924
1859 1925
EC
1860 1926
1861 1927
1862 1928
1863 1929
1864 1930
RR
1865 1931
1866 Fig. 15. Detailed geological map of Sierra Doña Inés Chica (Southern Domeyko Range) showing the main structural features of Cordillera de Domeyko along Quebarada Carrizo 1932
1867 outcrops. Location of section C–C0 : Q. Carrizo (Fig. 16). CF, Carrizo Fault; GLLF, Gran Llano Fault; SDICH, Sierra Doña Inés Chica; SE, Sierra Exploradora; SESC, Sierra Exploradora short- 1933
1868 cut; SCF, Sierra Castillo Fault; SCBB, Sierra Castillo basement block. 1934
1869 1935
1870 1936
CO
1871 partitioning (Schreurs and Colleta, 1998; Casas et al., 2001; Amili- et al., 1996; Giambiagi et al., 2003). This level is a classic detach- 1937
1872 bia, 2002) and for (b) the fact that the strike-slip displacements ment for basement-involved structures and is consistent with the 1938
1873 observed in the Cordillera de Domeyko are small and mainly expected detachment depth deduced from these cross-sections. 1939
1874 described as left-lateral. This sense of displacement is in sharp Comparison between present and restored cross-sections show 1940
1875 contrast with those expected under dextral oblique convergence shortening of around 20% (Figs. 8, 10 and 16). Local shortening of 1941
UN
1876 regimes (Fig. 3). On the other hand, our model relates the basement up to 40%, obtained for the thin-skinned part of the range (Ped- 1942
1877 tectonics with the inversion of pre-existing extensional faults due ernales Thrust and Fold Belt, Cordillera de la Sal thrust belt) is not 1943
1878 to an increase in the convergence rate and to the existence of representative of the total shortening of the range and cannot be 1944
1879 a subducting flat-slab. extrapolated. 1945
1880 All cross-sections have been restored to their pre-contractional Taking into account all these observations we concluded that 1946
1881 stage. The absence of subsurface data and the poor quality of the Mesozoic extensional faults as well as Proterozoic and 1947
1882 stratigraphic data increased the uncertainties when constructing Paleozoic structures exerted a strong control over the structural 1948
1883 balanced cross-sections. Sedimentary thickness was deduced from style in different areas of the Central Andes during contractional 1949
1884 field data as well as from earlier stratigraphic works and was Andean events. This control of earlier structures over the Andean 1950
1885 assumed to be constant except for the Triassic and Jurassic– structural style has been reported in the Andes of Argentina 1951
1886 Cretaceous syn-rift sequences as well as for the Purilactis Group (Uliana et al., 1995; Ramos et al., 1996; Cristallini and Ramos, 1952
1887 where changes were considered. A 10–15 km deep detachment 2000; Giambiagi and Ramos, 2002; Giambiagi et al., 2003; Carrera 1953
1888 was used for the basement structures. A similar detachment depth et al., 2006; Oncken et al., 2006). Kley et al. (1999) also explained 1954
1889 has been used for the extensional faults and for inverted basement how different modes of continental extension produce different 1955
1890 structures in Argentina, where the basement structures were styles of foreland deformation under subsequent contractional 1956
1891 linked to the brittle–ductile transition in the middle crust (Ramos stages. 1957
1958
1959
A W E
2024
2025
Gran Llano Sierra Inés Chica
1960 2026
1961 2027
1962 Fig. 17 2028
Tqv(2)
1963 2029
1964 Tpdi 2030
4000
1965 Jpf 2031
1966 Tqv(1) Tqv(2) 2032
2000 Tqv(1) Tpdi
1967 Kll ? 2033
1968 Tqv 2034
CF
SC
1969 0m JKsf 2035
18.3 % Shortening
F
1970 2036
OF
1971 Jpf ? PZgr 2037
1972 2038
GLLF
1973 2039
PZgr 0 2 4km
1974 2040
-5000
1975 2041
RO
1976 2042
1977
B Pin line
2043
1978 0m 2044
1979 Kll 2045
TJqv(2)
1980 2046
JKsf
1981
1982
Jpf ?
DP Tqv(1) 2047
2048
CF
1983 Tqv 2049
1984 -5000 2050
4
SC
1985 2051
F
1986 2052
PZgr
LF
2
TE
1987 PZgr 2 2053
GL
1988 0 2 4 km 2054
1989 -10.000 1 3 2055
1990 2056
1991 Cenozoic Riolithic Porphyrs and Sills Triassic-Jurassic 2057
EC
Tpdi TJqv(2)
1992 & silicic dykes (Quebrada del Salitre Fm - detritic member) 2058
1993 Cretaceous 2059
Kll Tqv Indiferenciated Quebrada del Salitre Fm
1994 (Llanta Fm) 2060
1995 Cretaceous Triassic 2061
Jksf Tqv(1)
1996 (Santa Ana Fm, Sierra Fragua Fm) (Quebrada del Salitre Fm - volcanic member) 2062
RR
1997 Pre-Triassic Rift Basement 2063

Jpf Jurassic (Profeta Fm) PZgr
1998 (Permian intrusive complex & La Tabla Fm) 2064
1999 2065
Fig. 16. (a) Regional cross-section C–C0 along Q. Carrizo (location in Fig. 15). (b) Restored C–C0
cross-section to its pre-contractional stage. (CF, Carrizo Fault; GLLF, Gran Llano Fault;
2000 SCF, Sierra Castillo Fault). Fig. 17 showing Quebrada carrizo panoramic is also located (numbers mark the relative chronology of the structures). 2066
2001 2067
2002 2068
CO
2003 These studies also showed how the structural style along the American plates was replaced by the convergence between the 2069
2004 Central Andes foreland changes more often due to inversion Farallon and South American plates. As a consequence of this 2070
2005 tectonics, than factors such as the slab dipping angle or conver- change, the obliquity of the convergence became smaller and 2071
2006 gence obliquity of the subduction. The onset of the contractional dextral. Orogen-normal extension is assumed to have occurred 2072
2007 stage also varies from place to place along the Central Andes during the Aluk-South American sinistral convergence, whereas 2073
UN
2008 foreland (Jordan et al., 1997). It may be concluded that variations in orogen-normal shortening occurred subsequently during the Far- 2074
2009 the pre-existing sedimentary cover and the basement structures allon-South American slightly dextral convergence (see Fig. 3). 2075
2010 account for the marked segmentation of the Central Andes and of Moreover, the opening of the Southern Atlantic Ocean 90 Ma ago 2076
2011 the Cordillera de Domeyko with the result that the deformational induced a fast westward displacement of the South American plate, 2077
2012 style of the Andean foreland is essentially controlled by inherited affecting the stress regime of the South American continent. This 2078
2013 crustal features (Grier et al., 1991; Jacques, 2003a,b). change of speed and direction of South America transformed the 2079
2014 active plate boundary from a retreating subduction (subduction 2080
2015 4.2. Age of the deformation rate faster than convergence rate) to an advancing subduction 2081
2016 (convergence rate faster than subduction rate), placing the over- 2082
2017 A change in the deformational regime from extensional to riding South American plate under a compressional regime from 2083
2018 contractional, coincident with a magmatic gap, can be associated the Late Cretaceous onward (Scheuber et al., 1994). 2084
2019 with a major plate reorganization during the Late Cretaceous The deduced contraction onset is consistent with the plate 2085
2020 (between 100 and 70 Ma). Scheuber et al. (1994) concluded that tectonic evolution described above. Different localities show 2086
2021 during this time span the spreading centre between the Aluk and growth-strata in the Paleocene (70–55 Ma) sedimentary and 2087
2022 the Farallon plates migrated towards the south and as a result, in volcanic sequences of the Chile-Alemania Fm., and the Leoncito 2088
2023 the study area, the convergence between the Aluk and South Fm. to the south of the Salar de Pedernales basin (Cornejo et al., 2089
2090 2156
2091 2157
2092 2158
2093 2159
2094 2160
2095 2161
2096 2162
2097 2163
2098 2164
2099 2165
2100 2166
2101 2167
2102 2168
OF
2103 2169
2104 2170
2105 2171
2106 2172
2107 2173
RO
2108 2174
2109 2175
2110 2176
2111 2177
2112 2178
2113
2114
2115
2116
DP 2179
2180
2181
2182
2117 2183
2118 2184
Fig. 17. (a) North view of Quebrada Carrizo inverted normal fault. (b) Line-drawing picture interpretation. The structure describes a complex anticline that shows big stratigraphic
TE
2119 2185
and structural differences from the frontal-limb to the back-limb. The long and gently dipping back-limb shows a thick sequence of basalts and andesitic breccias (Tqv(1)) that does
2120 not outcrop in the frontal-limb. The frontal-limb is steeper and shows a train of chevron folds affecting Late Triassic–Early Jurassic post-rift sedimentary rocks (Tqv(2)). The 2186
2121 Quebrada Carrizo Fault (CF) is set along the axial plane of the anticline. 2187
2122 2188
2123 2189
EC
2124 1993; Amilibia, 2002). These Paleocene sequences unconformably 4.3. Implications for the tecto-magmatic evolution of the area 2190
2125 overlie the deformed Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous rocks. 2191
2126 Growth-strata geometries have also been observed in the Late This study corroborates the hypothesis presented in previous 2192
2127 Cretaceous red sandstones and conglomerates of the upper part of work (Amilibia, 2002) that located the beginning of the compres- 2193
2128 the Purilactis Group to the east of the El Bordo cliff (Fig. 8), sional regime in the Chilean back-arc as far as 90 Ma ago, previous 2194
RR
2129 (Charrier and Reutter, 1994; Pananont et al., 2004; Mpodozis et al., to the 45–40 Ma to present so called Andean event. On the other 2195
2130 2005). These observations indicate that the upper part of the hand, all the shortening resulting of this tectonic event should be 2196
2131 Purilactis Group and the Chile-Alemania and Leoncito Formations taken in account when calculating total shortening across the 2197
2132 are syn-tectonic sequences, giving an age of about 85 Ma for the central Andes, as well as when developing a coherent tectonic 2198
2133 onset of the contractional thin-skinned structures which evolutionary model of the area (Fig. 5). 2199
2134 continued during the Cenozoic. In line with the structural style At the end of the shortening episode that created the Cordillera 2200
CO
2135 discussed above the thin-skin fold and thrust belt in the Meso- de Domeyko around 40 Ma ago the South American crust was 2201
2136 zoic–Cenozoic cover results from the basement block uplift (thick- already thickened, as a consequence the melted lower crust could 2202
2137 skin structures). These relationships, allows us to date the already be the most likely source for the adakitic magmas that 2203
2138 majority of the basement-involved structures as Late Cretaceous generates the Eocene–Oligocene Cu rich porphyries (Kay et al., 2204
2139 as well. 1999; Haschke et al., 2006). 2205
UN
2140 Although tectonic uplift of the 3000–5000 m high Cordillera de The study also demonstrates that the basement-involved 2206
2141 Domeyko in northern Chile is assumed to be mainly Miocene in age, structures that uplifted the Cordillera de Domeyko (from 90 Ma) 2207
2142 fission track thermochronology (Maksaev and Zentilli, 1999) indi- already existed as reverse faults when the porphyry copper were 2208
2143 cates that it was mainly active during the Eocene–Early Oligocene emplaced (40–30 Ma), thus it is not necessary to develop a new set 2209
2144 (between 45 and 30 Ma), when at least 4–5 km of rocks were of N–S faults across the area that would act as feeders. As a conse- 2210
2145 eroded during exhumation of tectonic blocks of the Cordillera de quence, the already existing Cordillera de Domeyko Fault System 2211
2146 Domeyko. Moreover, our preliminary thermochronological results was reactivated during the Andean event as sinistral oblique slip 2212
2147 (Amilibia and McClay, 2004) suggest an even older age (70 Ma) for structures (Fig. 18), in order to accommodate rotation owing to 2213
2148 the onset of the denudation of the basement blocks that form the along strike differential shortening. These structures are the most 2214
2149 Cordillera de Domeyko axial zone. suitable feeder for the Eocene–Oligocene porphyries to ascent to 2215
2150 In conclusion, the onset of the E–W contractional regime in the upper structural level once they reach the brittle–ductile transition 2216
2151 Cordillera de Domeyko is assumed to be Late Cretaceous (90– zone where these reverse fault detached (Vigneresse, 1995). Minor Q3 2217
2152 70 Ma) (Amilibia et al., 2000; Amilibia, 2002; Mpodozis et al., NW–SE sinsitral strike-slip also developed during this late episode 2218
2153 2005). A more precise timing is not constrained by all the available of deformation, facilitating the clockwise rotation of basement 2219
2154 data. However, this time bracket is consistent with the plate blocks accommodating the different E–W shortening rates from 2220
2155 tectonics evolution and field observations. North to South. 2221
2222
2223
A 2288
2289
2224 N 2290
2225 2291
200 km
2226 LEYEND 2292
2227 Active Normal Fault 2293
Kr Rift Basin
2228 Inactive Normal Fault 2294
CFZ
2229 2295
Tr Rift Inverted
FRONT
2230 (Half-grabens) Normal Fault 2296
2231 Z 2297
PT Crustall ineament
2232 Dextral 2298
Block-rotation New Thrust
2233 (Short-cuts) 2299
2234 Strike-slip Fault 2300
OF
TAIN
2235 EXTENSION DIRECTION 2301
Contractional
L
MOUN
AC
2236 Anticline - Syncline 2302

2237
B CONTRACTION DIRECTION 2303
2238 2304
2239 2305
DR
RO
2240 2306
2241 B3 Ter CONTRACTIONAL STAGE 2307
2242
B1 B2 2308
CHF
Tr POST-EXTENSIONAL STAGE Kr POST-EXTENSIONAL STAGE
2243 2309
2244 2 2310
2245 DP 2311
BA
2246 2312
SE
HA
SE
M
2247 BA 2313
LF
EN
SE
Tr AB
-G
HA
2248 ME 1 2314
HO
R
LF
2249 Tr HO 2315
RS
NT
-G
EN
RA
2250 2316
BE
RS
N
TE
2251 2317
T
Kr
2252 BASIN 2318
CNF
CNF
2253 2319
BA
SE
2254 2320
BA
2
M
GLLF
SE
EN
2255 2321
ME
T
EC
Tr HO
PTB F
HO
NW
2256 2322
SC
NT
RS
-S
2257 2323
E
T
CL
2258 2324
ST
F 1
GLL
2259 2325
2260 2326
RR
2261 20 km aprox. 2327

2262 2328
2263 Fig. 18. (A) Strain-partitioning along the Central Andes in order to accommodate the differential shortening along the Bolivia Orocline; CFZ, Cochabamba Fault Zone; PTZ, Padilla 2329
Transfer Zone; ACL, Atacama Calama Lineament; DR, Domeyko Range. (B) Synoptic evolutionary model for the Domeyko Range area: (1) Structural framework after Triassic–Late
2264 2330
Jurassic Rifting. NW-SE half-grabens were generated. (2) Structural framework after over-imposing the Cretaceous rifting. Extension was dominated by N–S faults. (3) Structural
2265 framework after E–W Andean Shortening (1, areas without pre-existing structures in the footwall basement, the shortening is absorbed mainly by new developed short cuts; 2, Q4
2331
2266 2332
CO
areas with pre-existing structures in the footwall basement, these structures were reactivated under contraction). (NW–SE CL, Northwest–southeast crustal lineaments; CNF, Carrizo
2267 Triassic Normal Fault; GLLF, Gran Llano Cretaceous Normal Fault; CHF, Chaco Inverted Basement Fault; SE, Sierra Exploradora Short-cut complex; SCF, Sierra Castillo Fault; PTB, 2333
2268 Pedernales Thrust and Fold Belt). 2334
2269 2335
2270 2336
2271 5. Conclusions displacements was absorbed by the Atacama Fault System 2337
UN
2272 during the early stages of deformation. 2338

2273 We concluded that the main structural style of the Cordillera de 3. Inversion of pre-exiting extensional faults, related to the 2339
2274 Domeyko is strongly dependent on inherited structures. Inversion Triassic and Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous rifts, is the domi- 2340
2275 Tectonics, where pre-existing normal faults were reactivated as nant way of absorbing the shortening in the area. Thus, base- 2341
2276 steep reverse faults, produced kilometric scale inversion anticlines, ment uplift is related to inversion tectonics. Thick and thin- 2342
2277 uplifting syn-rift Triassic sequences and transferring the deforma- skinned contractional structures are genetically related and 2343
2278 tion to post-Triassic sedimentary Mesozoic cover. According to this were developed during the Late Cretaceous–Cenozoic defor- 2344
2279 interpretation the Cordillera de Domeyko can be characterized as mational stage. 2345
2280 follows: 4. Internal levels of Mesozoic–Cenozoic cover acted as detach- 2346
2281 ments levels, (e.g. Oxfordian gypsums and Middle Jurassic 2347
2282 1. The Cordillera de Domeyko is an N–S-trending, W–E shortened marls by thin-skinned structures). 2348
2283 structural belt, with little evidence of N–S major strike-slip 5. Shortening across the Cordillera de Domeyko is estimated to 2349
2284 deformation, developed under a gently oblique convergence not exceed 35%. 2350
2285 from the end of the Cretaceous times. 6. Our evolutionary model is coherent with the genesis of 2351
2286 2. No evidence for strain-partitioning in the Precordillera has a Porphyry Copper magma source at the end of the compres- 2352
2287 been observed. Part of the expected parallel to the trench sional stage, coinciding with the existence of a thick lower 2353
2354 crust. The resulting Eocene–Oligocene porphyries were Mineria-CODELCO, Informe Registrado IR-93 01, 12 cuadrangulos escala 2420
1:50,000 y texto, Santiago, Chile, 258 pp.
2355 emplaced as sills and tabular dykes in the hanging-wall of 2421
Cornejo, P., Mpodozis, C., 1996. Geologia de la Region de Sierra Exploradora
2356 reverse faults in a regional transpressional stress field. (Cordillera de Domeyko, 25 –26 S). Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria- 2422
2357 CODELCO, Informe Registrado IR-96-09, Santiago, Chile, 330 pp. 2423
2358 Cristallini, E.O., Ramos, V.A., 2000. Thick-skinned and thin-skinned thrusting in the 2424
La Ramada fold and thrust belt: crustal evolution of the High Andes of San Juan,
2359 Acknowledgements Argentina (32 SL). Tectonopysics 317, 205–235.
2425
2360 Franzese, J.R., Spalletti, L.A., 2001. Late Triassic-early Jurassic continental extension 2426
2361 Funding for this project was provided by projects PB96-1002 & in southwestern Gondwana: tectonic segmentation and pre-break-up rifting. 2427
Journal of South American Earth Sciences 14, 257–270.
2362 BTE2000-0571 of the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia and 2428
Giambiagi, L.B., Ramos, V.A., 2002. Structural evolution of the andes in a transten-
2363 CODELCO. This work was developed in the Grup de Geodinàmica i sional zone between flat and normal subduction (33 30́–33 45́S), Argentina 2429
2364 Anàlisi de Conques, 2005 SGR 000397, of the Commissionat and Chile. Journal of South American Earth Sciences 15, 101–116. 2430
Giambiagi, L.B., Alvarez, P.P., Godoy, E., Ramos, V.A., 2003. The control of pre-
2365 d’Universitats i Recerca de la Generalitat de Catalunya and in the 2431
existing extensional structures on the evolution of the southern sector of the
2366 Geomodels Research Centre. Geomodels is a research centre Aconcagua fold and thrust belt, southern Andes. Tectonophysics 369, 1–19. 2432
OF
2367 sponsored by the Generalitat de Catalunya (DURSI) and the Insti- Gillcrist, R., Coward, M., Mugnier, J., 1987. Structural inversion and its con-trols: 2433
2368 examples from the Alpine foreland and the French Alps. Geodinamica Acta 1, 5– 2434
tuto Geologico y Minero de España (IGME). This work was also 34.
2369 supported by the Consolider-Ingenio 2010 programme, under Grier, M.E., Salfity, J.A., Allmendinger, R.W., 1991. Andean reactivation of the 2435
2370 CSD2006-0041 ‘‘Topo-Iberia’’. We are indebted to George von Cretaceous Salta Rift, northwestern Argentina. Journal of South American Earth 2436
2371 Sciences 4, 351–372. 2437
Knorring for reviewing the English of this paper.
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Gröschke, M., Hillebrant, A.V., Prinz, P., Quinzio, L.A., Wilke, H.-G., 1988. Marine
2372 Mesozoic paleogeography in northern Chile between 21 –26 S. In: Bahlburg, H., 2438
2373 References Breitkreuz, Ch., Giese, P. (Eds.), The Southern Central Andes. Lecture Notes in 2439
2374 Earth Sciences, vol. 17, pp. 105–117. 2440
Günther, A., Haschke, M., Reutter, K.-J., Scheuber, E., 1997. Repeated reactivation of
2375 Alvarez, P.P., Ramos, V.A., 1999. The Mercedario rift system in the principal 2441
an ancient fault zone under changing Kinematic conditions: the Sierra de
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2376 Moreno fault system (SMFS) (N-Chilean Precordillera). In: VIII Congreso Geo- 2442
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2379
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Amilibia, A., 2002. Inversión Tectónica en la Cordillera de Domeyko, Andes del
Norte de Chile. PhD thesis, Universitat de Barcelona. DP
Amilibia, A., Sàbat, F., Chong, G., Muñoz, J.A., Roca, E., Gelabert, B., 2000. Criterios de
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Hoffmann, A., Kukowski, N., Dresen, G., Echtler, H., Onceen, O., Klotz, J., Scheuber, E.,
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2383 of inverted oblique rift systems. Geologica Acta 3, 251–271. 2449
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Eocene deformation and sedimentation in the Puna–Eastern Cordillera transi-
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2388 71–88. 2454

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Arriagada, C., Roperch, P., Mpodozis, C., 2000. Clockwise block rotations along the
2389 Andean shortening. Geology 35 (3), 271–274. 2455
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Article · May 2007

Francesc Sàbat Ken McClay

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Josep Anton Muñoz Eduard Roca

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Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20

Contents lists available at ScienceDirect

Journal of Structural Geology

0191-8141/$ – see front matter Ó 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

2 A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20

A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20 3

4 A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20

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6 A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20

638 INTRA-CONTINENTAL RIFTING 704

672 Tectonic Intrusions 738

677 NAZCA THICKENED 743

A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20 7

8 A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20

A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20 9

1051 Kpr? 1117

PzTeb (Andesites, sandstones

10 A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20

A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20 11

12 A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20

A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20 13

1612 Illustrated balanced cross-sections and the overall tectono- 1678

14 A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20

A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20 15

16 A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20

1997 Pre-Triassic Rift Basement 2063

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18 A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20

2236 Anticline - Syncline 2302

2261 20 km aprox. 2327

2272 during the early stages of deformation. 2338

A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20 19

2388 71–88. 2454

the Sevier fold/and/thrust belt of southwest Montana, USA. Journal of Structural

20 A. Amilibia et al. / Journal of Structural Geology xxx (2008) 1–20

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