Abrupt increase in the coastal uplift and earthquake rate since ∼40 ka at the northern Chile seismic gap in the Central Andes

Slip rate of trench‐parallel normal faulting along the Mejillones Fault (Atacama Fault System): Relationships with the northern Chile subduction and implications for seismic hazards

“…Similarly, the vertical slip rate estimated by González‐Alfaro et al. () obtained from the difference between the uplift rate for the Mejillones Fault hangingwall (0.98–1.30 mm/a) and the Mejillones Fault footwall (1.45–1.77 mm/a) has also a large uncertainty (i.e. 0.47 ± 0.32 mm/a), and is not significantly different with our result as well.…”

“…() for the time period comprised between 35 and 3 ka, and the 0.47 mm/a estimated by González‐Alfaro et al. () for the past ~44 ka. However, it should be noted that given their uncertainties, the slip rates estimated by Cortés et al.…”

“…On land Neogene to Quaternary reactivated segments of the fault system are recognized north of 27ºS, where fault scarps and open cracks are found within the youngest deposits (Armijo & Thiele, ; Cortés et al., ; González et al., ; González‐Alfaro et al., ; Riquelme, Martinod, Hérail, Darrozes, & Charrier, ; Vargas et al., ). Age constraints on neotectonic features are scarce because of the hyperarid climate (Vargas, Ortlieb, & Rutllant, ), which precludes the use of radiocarbon dating.…”

“…From the radiocarbon dating of uplifted littoral deposits found on both sides of the Mejillones Fault, González‐Alfaro et al. () determined a mean vertical slip of 0.47 mm/a along Mejillones Fault for the past ∼44 ka.…”

“…Coastal Scarp). But, the following works showed that the Atacama Fault system, including the Mejillones peninsula, corresponded to a system of normal faults (Cortés et al., ; Cortés‐Aranda, González, Rémy, & Martinod, ; Delouis et al.,; González & Carrizo, ; González, Cembrano, Carrizo, Macci, & Schneider, ; González et al., ; González‐Alfaro et al., ; Marquardt, ; Vargas et al., ).…”