Strike-slip faulting and nested block rotations: structural evidence from the Cordillera de Domeyko, northern Chile

Kuhn, Dirk; Reuther, Claus-Dieter

doi:10.1016/s0040-1951(99)00211-5

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Between the convergene zone and those shear zones basement partitioning would have occured separating blocks bounded by strike-slip faults (cf. Kuhn and Reuther 1999). The development of such structures would generate coeval compressive and extensive deformation in the boundaries of the blocks.…”

Section: Domino System Patternmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reinterpretation of the Ordovician rotations in NW Argentina and Northern Chile: a consequence of the Precordillera collision?

Spagnuolo

Rapalini²,

Astini

2010

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

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Early Paleozoic paleomagnetic data from NW Argentina and Northern Chile have shown large systematic rotations within two domains: one composed of the Western Puna that yields very large (up to 80°) counterclockwise rotations, and the other formed by the Famatina Ranges and the Eastern Puna that shows (*40°) clockwise rotations around vertical axes. In several locations, lack of significant rotations in younger rocks constrains this kinematic pattern to have occurred during the Paleozoic. Previous tectonic models have explained these rotations as indicative of rigid-body rotations of large para-autochthonous crustal blocks or terranes. A different but simple tectonic model that accounts for this pattern is presented in which rotations are associated to crustal shortening and tectonic escape due to the collision of the allochthonous terrane of Precordillera in the Late Ordovician. This collision should have generated dextral shear zones in the back arc region of the convergent SW Gondwana margin, where systematic domino-like clockwise rotations of small crustal blocks accommodate crustal shortening. The Western Puna block, bordering the Precordillera terrane to the north, might have rotated counterclockwise as an independent microplate due to tectonic escape processes, in a fashion similar to the present-day relationship between the Anatolia block and the Arabian microplate.

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Section: Domino System Patternmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reinterpretation of the Ordovician rotations in NW Argentina and Northern Chile: a consequence of the Precordillera collision?

Spagnuolo

Rapalini²,

Astini

2010

Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch)

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“…Cretaceous to Paleogene shortening and strike-slip deformation has been reported for the forearc region and Western Cordillera along a belt of poorly understood structures [Chong, 1977;Scheuber and Reutter, 1992;Kuhn and Reuther, 1999;Horton et al, , 2002aMcQuarrie et al, 2005]. In the Eastern Cordillera, shortening was accommodated by complex east and west directed thrusts that probably involve crystalline basement, although no Precambrian rocks are exposed [Roeder, 1988;Sempere et al, 1990;Baby et al, 1992;Hérail et al, 1996;Tawackoli et al, 1996;Kley et al, 1997;Lamb and Hoke, 1997;Horton, 1998;McQuarrie and DeCelles, 2001;Müller et al, 2002].…”

Section: Geologic Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revised deformation history of the central Andes: Inferences from Cenozoic foredeep and intermontane basins of the Eastern Cordillera, Bolivia

2005

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Investigation of Cenozoic deformation, sediment accumulation, and provenance in the Eastern Cordillera of Bolivia at 17–21°S indicates major shortening (60–140 km) and foredeep development followed by limited internal shortening and intermontane basin development. Contrasting histories of shortening, deposition, sediment dispersal, and detrital composition distinguish a formerly extensive Paleogene foredeep exposed along an eastern belt of synclines from a zone of principally Neogene intermontane basins in the central Eastern Cordillera. New 40Ar/39Ar ages of 25–17 Ma for interbedded tuffs reveal latest Oligocene–early Miocene accumulation in intermontane basins at rates <80 m/Myr, several times lower than Andean foredeeps. Although poorly dated, foredeep evolution probably coincided with middle Eocene–Oligocene deformation and denudation in adjoining regions to the west. A mid‐Cenozoic transition from foredeep to intermontane conditions may be attributable to emplacement of a basement‐involved tectonic wedge beneath the Eastern Cordillera. In this interpretation, wedge emplacement drove flexural foredeep subsidence from roughly 40 to 25 Ma, whereas subsequent accumulation occurred in localized internally drained basins in elevated intermontane areas. Regardless of the regional subsurface structural geometry, 40Ar/39Ar ages define a 25–21 Ma onset of intermontane sedimentation that signifies the termination of major upper crustal shortening over large parts of the Eastern Cordillera and possibly the age of initial shortening in the Interandean and Subandean zones to the east. In contrast to several popular models, the revised tectonic history presented here suggests significant pre‐Neogene shortening in the Eastern Cordillera and underscores the large uncertainties in estimates of long‐term shortening rates in the Andes.

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“…The mechanism of internal deformation of diffuse wrench zones typically involves vertical-axis rotations of blocks and concomitant strike-slip along the block-bounding faults, the so-called 'bookshelf' mechanism of Mandl (1987). Examples of analyses of internal deformation of diffuse wrench zones are numerous and often rely on palaeomagnetic investigations (Luyendyk et al 1980;McKenzie & Jackson 1983;Ron et al 1984;Nicholson et al 1986;Martel et al 1988;Kanaori 1990;Kanaori et al 1990Kanaori et al , 1992Brown et al 1993;Dickinson 1996;Taylor et al 1998;Kuhn & Reuther 1999;Randall et al 2001;Grocott & Taylor 2002). Experimental analogue modelling also provide insights into the geometry and kinematics of such diffuse wrench zones (Hempton & Neher 1986;Schreurs 1994).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Distributed strike-slip faulting, block rotation and possible intracrustal vertical decoupling in the convergent zone of SW Japan

Fabbri

Iwamura

Matsunaga³

et al. 2004

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Between the Median Tectonic Line (MTL) and the Japan Sea, the western Chugoku region of SW Japan is cut by a series of N45~ first-order faults and oblique (N60~176 second-order faults. This fault network, probably formed during Late Cretaceous-Palaeocene times (70-60Ma), defines a regional block structure. PrePlio-Quaternary kinematical indicators suggest left-lateral motion along the first-order faults and right-lateral motion along some of the second-order faults. Geomorphological evidence and earthquake focal mechanisms indicate that Plio-Quaternary slip senses are opposite to Pre-Plio-Quatemary ones.The overall fault pattern is geometrically and kinematically similar to patterns obtained by experimental modelling of simple shear deformation distributed at the base of a brittle layer analogue over its entire width. This similarity suggests the possibility of a midcrustal, flat-lying partial attachment zone which could have controlled the formation of the western Chugoku fault network in Cretaceous to Palaeocene times. The zone, presently inactive, could correspond to the 'proto-MTL', a low-angle fault recently imaged by seismic reflection studies and whose trace approximately coincides with the present-day MTL. Reactivation of the system occurred twice after its formation: firstly in Miocene times, during the opening of the Japan Sea and concomitant clockwise rotation of the entire SW Japan arc; and secondly in Late Pliocene to Quaternary times, after a shift of the relative direction of convergence between the Philippine and Eurasia plates. Unlike the first reactivation, the second reactivation led to an inversion of the sense of slip along the faults.Wrench tectonics can be localized along a single strike-slip fault but can also be diffuse and encompass large areas whose widths can exceed several tens or hundreds of kilometres (e.g. Moore 1979). Diffuse wrench zones are composed of crustal blocks and slivers delimited by vertical faults. The mechanism of internal deformation of diffuse wrench zones typically involves vertical-axis rotations of blocks and concomitant strike-slip along the block-bounding faults, the so-called 'bookshelf' mechanism of Mandl (1987). Examples of analyses of internal deformation of diffuse wrench zones are numerous and often rely on palaeomagnetic investigations (Luyendyk et al.

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Strike-slip faulting and nested block rotations: structural evidence from the Cordillera de Domeyko, northern Chile

Cited by 16 publications

References 32 publications

Reinterpretation of the Ordovician rotations in NW Argentina and Northern Chile: a consequence of the Precordillera collision?

Reinterpretation of the Ordovician rotations in NW Argentina and Northern Chile: a consequence of the Precordillera collision?

Revised deformation history of the central Andes: Inferences from Cenozoic foredeep and intermontane basins of the Eastern Cordillera, Bolivia

Distributed strike-slip faulting, block rotation and possible intracrustal vertical decoupling in the convergent zone of SW Japan

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