Active faulting and folding without topographic expression in an evaporite basin, Chile

Jordan, Teresa E.; Muñoz, Nelson Vergara; Hein, M.; Lowenstein, Tim K.; Godfrey, Linda; Yu, Jennifer

doi:10.1130/0016-7606(2002)114<1406:afafwt>2.0.co;2

Cited by 58 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…2). Therefore, the absence of stratigraphic evidence to discard hypothesis III may support the findings of Jordan et al (2002), Muñoz et al (2002), Lowenstein et al (2003) and Salas et al (2010).…”

Section: Hydrogeological Characterizationsupporting

confidence: 64%

Sources of surface water for the Soncor ecosystem, Salar de Atacama basin, northern Chile

Ortiz

Aravena

Briones

et al. 2014

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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The Salar de Atacama is located in the most arid desert in the world. Despite its extreme conditions, it has many ecosystems of high ecological value. The Soncor ecosystem, a sequence of lagoons, is the most important environment of the region as it acts as the centre for the breeding of the Andean Flamingo. This salt flat also contains significant mining deposits and is an important water source for the region. Freshwater and brine-enriched in lithium and potassium-are being pumped from the aquifers near to the Soncor ecosystem, which has so far not been greatly affected by this groundwater extraction. However, there is a potential risk that future anthropogenic effects may disturb this fragile environment. The objective of this study is to determine the origin of the water sources of the Soncor ecosystem so as to adequately manage its water resources. Three hypotheses previously proposed in the technical literature were investigated in order to determine proactive actions to protect this fragile ecosystem. The study utilized classic hydrogeological techniques, such as the construction of stratigraphic profiles, piezometric maps and stream gauging, combined with less-common isotopic techniques, such as the Il existe cependant un risque que cet environnement fragile ne soit affecté par les activités anthropiques futures. La présente étude a pour objectif de déterminer l'origine des eaux de l'écosystème du Soncor afin de gérer convenablement ses ressources en eau. Les recherches ont porté sur trois hypothèses proposées dans la littérature technique, afin de proposer des actions efficaces pour la protection du système. L'étude a mis en oeuvre des méthodes hydrogéologiques classiques comme la construction de profils stratigraphiques, la cartographie de la piézométrie et le jaugeage des cours d'eau, et des techniques isotopiques plus innovantes comme l'étude du rapport 87 Sr/ 86 Sr. Les résultats confirment l'hypothèse selon laquelle l'origine des eaux du Soncor est associée à des apports d'eau souterraine provenant de la partie orientale du salar, dans la zone Nord du bassin.

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Section: Hydrogeological Characterizationsupporting

confidence: 64%

Sources of surface water for the Soncor ecosystem, Salar de Atacama basin, northern Chile

Ortiz

Aravena

Briones

et al. 2014

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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“…Here, Jolley et al [1990], Mpodozis et al [2000], Kuhn [2002], Jordan et al [2002], and Muñoz et al [2002] report west and east vergent faults and minor contractional structures at the toe of the flanks of both Cordilleras and in the Salar. Formation of these structures has occurred during an earlier Paleogene contraction succeeded by a stage of late Miocene (circa 10-11 Ma) to recent reactivation, as indicated by ongoing upper crustal seismicity.…”

Section: Regional Extent and Correlation With Altiplano Developmentmentioning

confidence: 80%

Uplift of the western Altiplano plateau: Evidence from the Precordillera between 20° and 21°S (northern Chile)

2004

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We present a quantitative reconstruction of uplift of the western flank of the Altiplano plateau (central Andes), one of the largest monoclines on the Earth, on the basis of an analysis of tectonic structures, syntectonic deposits, and geophysical data. Uplift occurred on a west vergent, slowly propagating system of high‐angle reverse faults merging into a joint detachment that ramps down to midcrustal levels below the plateau edge. The upper ramps determine local fold geometries while the lower ramp controls large‐scale surface tilting and uplift. At 20°S, this fault system was active between ∼30 Ma and 5–10 Ma, with maximum shortening rates of 0.22 mm/yr between 17 and 10 Ma. It generated some 2600 m of surface uplift with only minor shortening of ∼3000 m. Its activity was largely synchronous to eruption of large‐volume ignimbrites from a midcrustal source. Geophysical data indicate that the fault system localized deformation at the boundary between a cool, strong forearc crust and a presumably fluid‐rich and/or partially molten zone underneath the plateau area. The systematic relation between crustal melting and shortening with uplift at the western plateau margin can be traced along most of the plateau flank, with a stepwise decrease in age of deformation and magmatism toward the south indicating discontinuous addition of plateau segments. Crustal thickening to as much as 70 km from westward underthrusting in the back arc parts of the plateau isostatically compensated the tectonic surface uplift and monocline formation with respect to a stable forearc, which only reacted with minor tilting.

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“…These inflow waters become concentrated by evaporation and show a general increase in salinity toward the basin center (Moraga et al 1974;Bevacqua 1995). Evaporative concentration leads to precipitation of calcium carbonate and gypsum crusts in the marginal zone of Salar de Atacama and precipitation of halite in the subaerial halite Moraga et al (1974), Ide (1978), Alonso and Risacher (1996), Bobst et al (2001), Jordan et al (2002), and Lowenstein et al (2003) Alonso and Risacher 1996), Ca-Cl inflow brines (numbers 23-26 from Moraga et al 1974) and basin-center groundwater brines (letters A-D, Ca-Cl brines from Ide 1978, and letters E-N, Cl-SO 4 -rich brines from Moraga et al 1974 andIde 1978 (Fig. 7).…”

Section: Death Valley and The Mid Crustal Magma Chambermentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Salar de Atacama is situated in a tectonically active region with the Andes Mountains, the modern volcanic arc, to the east. Folded and faulted Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks of the Cordillera de Domeyko and folded Cenozoic sedimentary rocks of the Cordillera de la Sal (with gypsum and halite) form the western boundary (Bevacqua 1995;Jordan et al 2002;Fig. 7).…”

Section: Death Valley and The Mid Crustal Magma Chambermentioning

confidence: 99%

Closed Basin Brine Evolution and the Influence of Ca–Cl Inflow Waters: Death Valley and Bristol Dry Lake California, Qaidam Basin, China, and Salar de Atacama, Chile

2008

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Active faulting and folding without topographic expression in an evaporite basin, Chile

Cited by 58 publications

References 28 publications

Sources of surface water for the Soncor ecosystem, Salar de Atacama basin, northern Chile

Sources of surface water for the Soncor ecosystem, Salar de Atacama basin, northern Chile

Uplift of the western Altiplano plateau: Evidence from the Precordillera between 20° and 21°S (northern Chile)

Closed Basin Brine Evolution and the Influence of Ca–Cl Inflow Waters: Death Valley and Bristol Dry Lake California, Qaidam Basin, China, and Salar de Atacama, Chile

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