Multiproxy provenance analysis of Lower to Upper Cretaceous synorogenic deposits in the Southern Andes (34–35°S): Evidence of coeval volcanism during the onset of the Andean orogeny

The Ancient Configuration of the Southern Central Andes and Paleogeographic Reconstruction of the Late Cretaceous Foreland Basin at 34°40’S

“…The U‐Pb detrital zircon ages obtained for the Diamante Formation at the Colorado creek area give information about the provenance pattern within a western position of the foreland basin. Comparing these results with those obtained by other authors (Gómez et al., 2019, 2021) for different regions enables the integration and paleogeographic reconstruction of the basin and main source areas.…”

“…This fact was described in other regions of the basin when samples from the base and top of the Diamante Formation and Neuquén Group were compared. This phenomenon has been explained by different causes (Fennell, Folguera, et al., 2017; Gómez et al., 2019, 2021; Muñoz et al., 2018; Tapia et al., 2020; Tunik et al., 2010). One probable reason could be related to the lower activity of the magmatic arc due to the dynamics of the subduction zone.…”

“…In this scenario, a hinterland basin (in the sense of Horton, 2018) developed between the volcanic arc and the fold and thrust belt where the BRCU was deposited, while to the east, the deposition of the Neuquén Group took place in a foreland basin (Mescua et al., 2013; Muñoz et al., 2018; Tapia et al., 2020). Therefore, the Late Cretaceous basin was segmented into sub‐basins due to the advance of the orogenic front that separated the eastern foreland basin from the volcanic arc and associated hinterland basin to the west (Borghi et al., 2019; Gómez et al., 2021).…”

“…However, Gómez et al. (2021) propose that part of the Rayoso Formation crops out in the northern sector of the basin, although it appears condensed and in stratigraphic continuity with the Diamante Formation.…”

“…The first record of the Southern Central Andes foreland basin corresponds to non-marine reddish clastic deposits that were grouped within the Diamante Formation and the Neuquén Group (Fennell et al, 2020;Tunik et al, 2010). Many authors focused on these units to understand the evolution of the orogenic system (Borghi et al, 2019;Di Giulio et al, 2012, 2017Gómez et al, 2019Gómez et al, , 2020Gómez et al, , 2021Mescua et al, 2013;Tunik et al, 2010). Different approaches were carried out to analyze the sedimentary successions, which mainly consist of sedimentological characterizations, provenance studies using sandstone petrographic analysis and clast count data, and U-Pb dating This work aims to reconstruct the foreland basin architecture and shield light over its relationship with the incipient fold and thrust belt along a latitudinal transect (34°40'S) integrating new sedimentological, geochronological, and structural information from different localities.…”