Skip to main content

Tectonic Development of the North Chilean Andes in Relation to Plate Convergence and Magmatism Since the Jurassic

  • Chapter

Abstract

Since the early Jurassic the magmatic arc of the north Chilean Andes has been displaced from the Coastal Cordillera to the Western Cordillera. This eastward migration happened stepwise and four successive, ± stationary arc systems can be distinguished. The deformation history of the arc systems in relation to plate convergence and igneous activity shows that the magmatic arc, a zone of relative crustal weakness, reacted very sensitively to changing conditions of plate convergence. Both long-term continuous deformations and short-term tectonic events are recognized. They reflect periods of more or less steady state conditions and relatively sudden changes of subduction parameters respectively. Two major periods of different deformational styles, related to differing plate configurations and accompanying convergence obliqueness, can be distinguished: (1) 200–90 Ma (sinistral convergence obliqueness >45°) with general (trans-)tension during tectonic phases and interphases, and (2) since 90 Ma (dextral convergence obliqueness <45°) with transpression during phases and slight extension in interphases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Allmendinger RW (1986) Tectonic development, southeastern border of the Puna Plateau, northwestern Argentine Andes. Geol Soc Am Bull 97: 1070–1082

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arabasz WJ (1971) Geological and geophysical studies of the Atacama Fault Zone in northern Chile. Ph D, Calif Inst Tech, Pasadena, 275 pp (unpubl)

    Google Scholar 

  • Armijo R, Thiele R(1990) Active faulting in northern Chile: ramp stacking and lateral decoupling along a subduction plate boundary. Earth Planet Sci Lett 98: 40–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beck ME (1983) On the mechanism of tectonic transport in zones of oblique subduction. Tectonophysics 93: 1–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogdanic T (1990) Kontinentale Sedimentation der Kreide und des Alttertiärs im Umfeld des subduktionsbedingten Magmatismus in der chilenischen Prakordillere. Beri Geowiss Abh A123: 1–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Boric R, Diáz F, Maksaev V (1990) Geología y yacimientos metaliferos de la región de Antofagasta. Servicio Nacional de Geología y Mineria — Chile, Boletin 40: p 246

    Google Scholar 

  • Bossi GE, Wampler M (1969) Edad del Complejo Alto de Las Salinas y Formación El Cadillal segun el metodo K-Ar. Acta Geol Lilloana 10: 141–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchelt M, Tellez C (1988) The Jurassic La Negra Formation in the area of Antofagasta, Northern Chile (lithology, petrography, geochemistry). In Bahlburg H, Breitkreuz C, Giese P (eds) The southern Central Andes, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 17. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, pp 171–182

    Google Scholar 

  • Chong G, Reutter KJ (1985) Fenomenos de tectonica compresiva en las Sierras de Varas y de Argomedo, Precordillera Chilena, en el ambito del paratelo 25° sur. IV Congr Geol Chil Actas 2: 2–219–2–238

    Google Scholar 

  • Coira B, Davidson J, Mpodozis C, Ramos V (1982) Tectonic and magmatic evolution of the Andes of northern Argentina and Chile. Earth Sci Rev 18: 303–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daly MC (1989) Correlations between Nazca/Farallon plate kinematics and forcarc basin evolution in Ecuador. Tectonics 8: 769–790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davidson J, Godoy E, Covacevich V (1976) El Bajociano marino de Sierra Minillas (70°30′ long. W — 26° lat. S) y Sierra Fraga (69°50′ long. W — 27° lat S), Provincia de Atacama, Chile: Edad y marco geotectónico de la Formación La Negra en esa latitud. I Congr Geol Chil Actos: 255–272

    Google Scholar 

  • Döbel R (1989) Geochemie und Geochronologie alttertiärer Vulkanite aus der Präkordillere Nordchiles zwischen 21° und 23°30′S. Ph D, Berlin, 152 pp (unpubl)

    Google Scholar 

  • Döbel R, Friedrichsen H, Hammerschmidt K (1992) Implication of 40Ar/39Ar dating of early Tertiary volcanic rocks from the north Chilean Precordillera. Tectonophysics 202 55–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitch TJ (1972) Plate convergence, transcurrent faults, and internal deformation adjacent to Southeast Asia and western Pacific. J Geophys Res 77: 4432–4460

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galli C (1957) Las formaciones geológicas en el borde occidental de la Puna de Atacama, sector de Pica, Tarapacá. Minerales 12: 14–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Galliski MA, Viramonte JG (1988) The Cretaceous paleorift in north-western Argentina: a petrologie approach. J S Am Earth Sci 1:329–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia F (1967) Geología del Norte Grande de Chile. Simposium sobre el Geosinclinal Andino. Soc Geol Chile 3: 1–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Godoy E (1991) El corrimiento del fierro a la dicordancia intrasenoniana en el Rio Cachapoal, Chile Central. VI Congr Geol Chil Resumenes Expandidos: 635–639

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzalez G (1990) Patrones estructurales, modelo de ascenso, emplazamiento y deformación del Pluton de Cerro distales, Cordillera de la Costa al sur de Antofagasta, Chile. Memoria de Titulo Universidad Catolica del Norte Antofagasta 135 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Harland WB, Armstrong RL, Craig LE, Smith AG, Smith DG (1990) A geologie time scale 1989. Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Herrmann R, Zeil W (1989) Tectonics and volcanism in the north Chilean Longitudinal Valley (24°30′ – 25°15′ S). Zentralbl Geol Paläontol I: 1065–1073

    Google Scholar 

  • Herron EM (1972) Sea-floor spreading and the Cenozoic history of the east-central Pacific. Geol Soc Am Bull 83: 1671–1692.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herron EM, Cande SC, Hall BR (1981) An active center collides with a subduction zone: a geophysical survey of the Chilean margin triple junction. Geol Soc Am Mem 154: 683–702

    Google Scholar 

  • Hervé M (1987): Movimiento sinistral en el Cretacico Inferior de la Zona de Falla Atacama al Norte de Paposo (24°S), Chile. Revista Geológica de Chile 31: 37–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Hyndman DW (1985) Petrology of igneous and metamorphic rocks 2nd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, 786 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Isacks B (1988) Uplift of the Central Andean plateau and bending of the Bolivian orocline. J Geophys Res 93 B4: 3211–3231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaillard E, Soler P, Carlier G, Mourier T (1990) Geodynamic evolution of the northern and Central Andes during early to middle Mesozoic times: a Tethyan model. J Geol Soc Lond 147: 1009–1022

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarrard RD (1986) Relations among subduction parameters. Rev Geophys 24: 217–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen A (1985) El Sobreescurrimiento de Cerro Laberinto. IV Congr Geol Chil Actas A2: 84–103

    Google Scholar 

  • Jordan TE, Gardeweg M (1989) Tectonic evolution of the late Cenozoic Central Andes (20°–33°S). in: Ben-Avraham Z (ed) The evolution of the Pacific Ocean margins. Monographs on Geol and Geophys, Oxford University Press: pp 193–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Kley J, Reutter KJ, Scheuber E (1991) Die zentralen Anden -Geologische Strukturen eines aktiven Kontinentalrandes. Geogr Rundsch 3/1991: 134–142

    Google Scholar 

  • Kussmaul S, Jordan L, Ploskonka E (1975) Isotopie ages of Tertiary volcanic rocks of southwest Bolivia. Geol Jahrb B14: 111–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Lahsen A (1982) Upper Cenozoic volcanism and tectonism in the Andes of northern Chile. Earth Sci Rev 18: 285–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larson RL, Pitman III WC (1972) World-wide correlation of Mesozoic magnetic anomalies, and its implications. Geol Soc Am Bull 83: 3645–3662

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maksaev V (1990) Metallogeny, geological evolution, and thermochronology of the Chilean Andes between latitudes 21° and 26° South, and the origin of major porphyry copper deposits. PhD Thesis Dalhousie University Halifax Canada 554 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Maksaev V, Boric R, Zentilli M, Reynolds PH (1988a) Metallogenetic implications of K-Ar, 40Ar- 39Ar, and fission track dates of mineralized areas in the Andes of northern Chile V Congr Geol Chil Actas 1: B65–B86

    Google Scholar 

  • Maksaev V, Zentilli M, Reynolds PH (1988b) 40Ar-39Ar geochronology of porphyry copper deposits of northern Chilean Andes. V Congr Geol Chil Actas 1: B109–B133

    Google Scholar 

  • Marinovic S, Lahsen A (1984) Hoja Calama. Carta Geol de Chile 58. Serv Nac Geol Min, Santiago, 140 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Marquillas R, Salfity JA (1988) Tectonic framework and correlations of the Cretaceous-Eocene Salta Group; Argentina. In: Bahlburg H, Breitkreuz C, Giese P (eds) The southern Central Andes, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 17. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, pp 119–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Mégard F (1984) The Andean otogenic period and its major structures in central and northern Peru. J Geol Soc Lond 141: 893–900

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mégard F (1987) Cordilleran Andes and marginal Andes: a review of Andean geology north of the Arica elbow (18°S). In: Monger JW, Francheteau J (eds) Circum — Pacific orogenic belts and evolution of the Pacific Ocean Basin, Am Geophys Union Geodyn Ser 18: 71–95

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mégard F (1989) The evolution of the Pacific Ocean margin in South America north of Arica elbow (18°S). In: Ben-Avraham Z (ed) The evolution of the Pacific Ocean margins. Monographs on Geol and Geophys. Oxford University Press, pp 208–230

    Google Scholar 

  • Mpodozis C, Allmendinger R (1991) Extensión Cretacica a gran escala y napas extensionales en la Precordillera de Copiapó: la región de Puquios — Sierra Fraga, Región de Atacama, Chile. VI Congr Geol Chil Resumenes Expandidos: 208–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Naranjo JA, Puig A (1984) Hojas Taltal y Chañaral. Carta Geol de Chile 62–63, Serv Nac Geol Min. Santiago 140 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Naranjo JU, Hervé F, Prieto X, Munizaga F (1984) Actividad Cretacica de la Falla Atacama al Este de Chanaral: Milonización y Plutonismo. Comunicaciones 34: 57–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Niemeyer H (1984) La Megafalla Tucucaro en el extremo sur del Salar de Atacama: una antigua zona de cizalle reactivada en el Cenozoico. Comunicaciones 34: 37–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Noble DC, McKee EH, Mégard F (1979) Early Tertiary “Incaic” tectonism in the Andes of central Peru. Geol Soc Am Bull 90: 903–907

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Omarini RH, Salfity JA, Linares E, Viramonte JG, Gorustovich S (1988) Petrología, Geoquimica y Edad de un filón Lamproítico en el Subgrupo Pirgua (Alemanía — Salta). Universidad Nacional de Jujuy Argentina: in press

    Google Scholar 

  • Pardo-Casas F, Molnar P (1987) Relative motion of the Nazca (Farallon) and South American plates since late Cretaceous time. Tectonics 6: 233–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pichowiak S, Buchelt M, Damm KW (1990) Magmatic activity and tectonic setting of the early stages of the Andean cacle in northern Chile. Geol Soc Am Special Paper 241: 127–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramos VA, Kay SM, Márquez M (1991) La dacita Cerro Pampa (Mioceno — Provincia de Santa Cruz, Argentina): Evidencias de la colision de una dorsal oceanica. VI Congr Geol Chil Resumenes Expandidos: 747–751

    Google Scholar 

  • Reutter KJ, Scheuber E (1988) Relation between tectonics and magmatism in the Andes of northern Chile and adjacent areas between 21° and 25° S. V Congr Geol Chil Actos 1: A345–A363

    Google Scholar 

  • Reutter KJ, Scheuber E, Helmcke D (1991) Structural evidence of orogen-parallel strike slip displacements in the Precordillera of northern Chile. Geol Rundsch 80: 135–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reutter KJ, Giese P, Götze HJ, Scheuber E, Schwab K, Schwarz G, Wigger P (1988) Structures and Crustol Development of the Central Andes between 21° and 25° S. In: Bahlburg H, Breitkreuz C, Giese P (eds) The southern Central Andes, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 17. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, pp 231–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Reyes FC, Salfity JA, Viramonte JG, Gutierrez W (1976) Consideraciones sobre el vulcanismo del Subbgrupo Pirgua (Cretacico en el norte argentino). VI Congr Geol Argent Actos I: 205–223

    Google Scholar 

  • Riccardi AC (1988) The Cretaceous System of southern South America.- Geol Soc Am Memoir 168: 168 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Rivera O, Mpodozis C (1991) Vulcanismo explosivo del Terciario inferior en la Precordillera de Copiapó, Región de Atacama. VI Congr Geol Chileno Resumenes Expandidos: 213–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers G (1985) A geochemical traverse across the north Chilean Andes. PhD Thesis, The Open University Milton Keynes, 333 pp (unpubl)

    Google Scholar 

  • Rössling R (1988) Petrologie in einem tiefen Stockwerk des jurassischen magmatischen Bogens in der nordchilenischen Küstenkordillere südlich von Antofagasta. Beri geowiss Abh A 112: 73 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Saleeby JB, Geary EE, Paterson SR, Tobisch OT (1989) Isotope systematics of Pb/U (zircon) and 40Ar/ 39Ar (biotite-hornblende) from rocks of the Central foothills terrane, Sierra Nevada, California. Geol Soc Am Bull 101: 1481–1492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheuber E (1987): Geologie der nordchilenischen Küstenkordillere zwischen 24°30′ und 25°S — unter besonderer Berücksichtigung duktiler Scherzonen im Bereich des Atacama-Störungssy stems. Thesis, FU Berlin, 157 pp (Unpubl)

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheuber E, Andriessen PAM (1990) The kinematic and geodynamic significance of the Atacama Fault Zone, northern Chile. J Struct Geol 12: 243–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheuber E, Hammerschmidt K (1991) 40Ar/39Ar and Rb-Sr data from ductile shear zones from the Atacama Fault Zone (AFZ), northern Chile, an attempt to determine the age of deformation. Terra Abstr 3: p 364

    Google Scholar 

  • Scheuber E, Reutter KJ (1992) Relation between tectonics and magmatism in the Andes of northern Chile and adjacent areas between 21° and 25°S. Tectonophysics 205: 127–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheuber E, Rössling R, Reutter KJ (1986) Strukturen der chilenischen Küstenkordillere zwischen Paposo und Antofagasta. Berl geowiss Abh A 66: 209–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwab K (1970) Ein Beitrag zur jungen Bruchtektonik der argentinischen Puna und ihr Verhältnis zu den angrenzenden Andenabschnitten. Geol Rundsch 59: 1064–1087

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwab K (1985) Basin formation in a thickening crust — the intermontane basins in the Puna and the Eastern Cordillera of NW-Argentina (Central Andes). IV Congr Geol Chil Actos 2: 138–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Schweickert RA, Bogen NL, Girty GH, Hanson RE, Merguerian C (1984) Timing and structural expression of the Nevadan orogeny, Sierra Nevada, California. Geol Soc Am Bull 95: 967–979

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinmann G (1929) Geologie von Peru. Winter, Heidelberg, 448 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Tobisch OT, Paterson SR, Saleeby JB, Geary EE (1989) Nature and timing of deformation in the foothills terrane, central Sierra Nevada, California: Its bearings on orogenesis. Geol Soc Am Bull 101:401–413

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulriksen C (1979) Regional geology, geochronology and metollogeny of the Coastal Cordillera of Chile between 25°30′and 26° south. M Sc Thesis, Dalhousie University Canada, 221 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Valencio DA, Giudice A, Mendia JE, Oliver GJ (1976) Paleomagnetismo y edades K/Ar del Subgrupo Pirgua, provincia de Salto, República Argentina. Séptimo Congr Geol Argent Actos I: 527–542

    Google Scholar 

  • Vicente JC, Charrier R, Davidson J, Mpodozis C, Rivano S (1973) La Orogenesis Subhercinica: fase mayor de la evolución paleogeográfica y estructural de los Andes agentino-chileno centrales. V Congr Geol Argentino Actos V: 81–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Wigger P (1988) Seismicity and crustal structure of the Central Andes. In Bahlburg H, Breitkreuz C, Giese P (eds) The southern Central Andes, Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 17. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, pp 209–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilkes E (1991) Die Geologie der Cordillera de la Sal, Nordchile. Berl geowiss Abh A 128: 73 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Woodcock NH (1986) The role of strike-slip fault systems at plate boundaries. Philos Trans R Soc Lond A 317: 13–29

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zonenshayn LP, Savostin LA, Sedov AP (1984) Global paleogeodynamic reconstructions for the last 160 million years. Geotectonics 18: 181–195

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Scheuber, E., Bogdanic, T., Jensen, A., Reutter, KJ. (1994). Tectonic Development of the North Chilean Andes in Relation to Plate Convergence and Magmatism Since the Jurassic. In: Reutter, KJ., Scheuber, E., Wigger, P.J. (eds) Tectonics of the Southern Central Andes. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-77353-2_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-77353-2_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-77355-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-77353-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics