XIII Congreso Peruano de Geología.

Resúmenes Extendidos
Sociedad Geológica del Perú

40
Ar-39Ar-DATED VOLCANIC ROCKS IN SOUTHERN PERU: IMPLICATIONS
FOR STRATIGRAPHY, CANYON INCISION, AND ANDEAN UPLIFT

Jean-Claude Thouret1, Gerhard Wörner2, Brad Singer3, Xifan Zhang3,

Yanni Gunnell4& Thierry Souriot1
1
Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, UMR 6524 CNRS, OPGC & IRD, Université Blaise Pascal,
63038 Clermont-Ferrand cedex, France (thouret@opgc.univ-bpclermont.fr)
2
GZG, Abt. Geochemie, Universität Göttingen, Goldschmidtsrasse 1, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
3
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706-1692, USA.
4
Université Denis Diderot Paris 7 & UMR 8591 CNRS, Place Jussieu, 75251 Paris 05, France.

Ignimbrites provide excellent regional markers for tracing the tectonic and sedimentary evolution and the history of
valley formation on the western slope of the Central Andes. Based on 42 new 40Ar-39Ar ages in the area between Nazca
and Arequipa, we now identify six Neogene rhyolitic ignimbrite sheets of several hundreds of km2 in area and several
hundreds of km3 in volume. These are the ca. 24.6-21.8 Ma-old Nazca, 19.4-18.1 Ma-old Alpabamba, 14.3-12.7 Ma
Huaylillas, 9.5-8.9 Ma-old Caraveli, 4.9-3.6 Ma-old lower Sencca, and 2.3-1.6 Ma-old upper Sencca ignimbrites,
respectively. These high-precision age determinations constrain the stratigraphy of southern Peru and are used as tools
to reconstruct the history of 2.5 - 3.5 km-deep valley cutting controlled by the tectonic uplift and climate change of the
Central Andes.

Stratigraphy of Southern Peru. 1) In geological maps (e.g. Olchauski & Dávila, 1994), the Caraveli ignimbrites should
be carefully identified and distinguished from the Huaylillas ignimbrites; 2) The lower Sencca ignimbrites are as old as
most of the ‘lower Barroso’ lava flows but the upper Sencca ignimbrites are clearly younger than the ‘upper Barroso’
lava flows and pre-date the Pliocene and Quaternary volcanoes; 3) The 24.6-12.7 Ma age group of ignimbrites was
intercalated or deposited onto Oligocene to Lower Miocene ‘Moquegua’ conglomerates. Their distribution defines a
gently sloping pediment on the Western Andean slope by ca. 13 Ma.

Evolution of deep canyons, incision, and uplift of the western margin of the Central Andes. Based on the age of the
Alpabamba and Huaylillas ignimbrites covering the most elevated plateau surfaces, the incision of the ultra-deep
valleys of Rio Cotahuasi and Ocoña did not start before 14.3 or 18.1 Ma. The first incision was weak until the
emplacement of the Caraveli ignimbrites. Uplift and erosion accelerated significantly between 9 Ma and 3.8 Ma at the
Front Range, even impinging on the western part of the Altiplano. As a result, the ultra-deep valleys of Rio Cotahuasi
and Ocoña were incised almost to the level of the present valley floors as early as 3.8 Ma. This means that the
principal uplift and downcutting event took place before the Late Miocene (see Garzione et al., 2006). The second
phase of deeper incision was probably caused not only by uplift but also by an increase in runoff. After this main
second phase of incision, the valleys were flooded by ignimbrites from about 2800 m at 3.8 Ma to 4060 m at 1.36 Ma.
This valley fill, associated with the activity of a caldera complex W and NW of Cotahuasi, was rapidy removed. Since
then canyon bedrock incision rates have diminished, partly due to damming caused by voluminous debris avalanches
and lava flows from Quaternary volcanoes. Dammed lakes broke out before 0.6 Ma (age of a lava flow overlying
lacustrine deposits in Rio Colca). Repeated catastrophic avalanches and debris flows of volcanic and non-volcanic
origin pose serious threats to the inhabitants of the ultra-deep valleys.

Table 1. Neogene and Quaternary ignimbrites and lava flows dated in the canyons of Rio Ocoña and Cotahuasi,
compared to similar ignimbrites in southern Peru and in northern Chile.
SAMPLE AND DEPOSIT AND MEAN 40AR-39AR AGE COMPARABLE AGES IN S.
LOCATION SIGNIFICANCE IN MA ± 2σ PERU
PIG-00-38 & 02-02 Ignimbrite above base of Nazca ignimbrite in middle
Carumas, 4150 m, sequence of the Cuno 24.43 ± 0.17 on F* Cuno Cuno sequence (e.g.
16°51’85 & 70°38’90; Cuno plateau; 24.5 ± 0.08 Ma, Noble et al.,
S. Moquegua, 1718 m, Ignimbrite on top of 23.92 ± 0.49 on F 1984)
0295784 & 8091902 Moquegua conglomerates
PIG-00-10 Ignimbrite of lower Oxaya ignimbrites, N Chile
Puquio-Nazca road, sequence overlying 22.16 ± 0.34 on F (Wörner et al., 2002);
3500 m, 14°41’55 & conglomerates Nazca ignimbrite
74°30’95
PIG-00-41 Ignimbrite of the Alpabamba (S. Peru) &
Near Tarata, 2900 m, Alpabamba sequence 18.90 ± 0.5 on F Oxaya ignimbrites (N Chile)
16°59’54 & 70°52’25 overlying Tacaza

328
XIII Congreso Peruano de Geología. Resúmenes Extendidos
Sociedad Geológica del Perú

PIG-00-11 Ignimbrite (vitrophyre) of Oxaya ignimbrites in N. Chile

Puquio-Nazca road, top sequence 18.23 ± 0.17 on F and Alpabamba in S Peru
3200 m, 14°45’34 &
74°36’38
PIG-00-32 Ignimbrite intercalated in Alpabamba or Huaylillas
Rio Majes left side, upper Moquegua Fm. 16.25 ± 0.1 on F small-volume ignimbrite in
Corire, 850 m, distal “upper Moquegua”
16°18’80 & 72°26’61 conglomerates
PIG-00-31 Ignimbrite at top sequence Huaylillas ignimbrites
East rim of Cotahuasi on high plateaus 14.25 ± 0.08 on F forming the Chuquibamba
canyon, 4300 m, high plateau. and overlying a
15°16’95 & 72°51’17 palaeo-surface
PIG-00-33 Distal ignimbrite in Ibid
Rio Sihuas, foreland, conglomerates, valley fill 14.23 ± 0.07 on F Huaylillas ignimbrite
1500 m, 16°21’18 &
72°07’61
PIG-03-126 Top Cuno Cuno sequence, e.g. Rio Chili ignimbrite
13.21 ± 0.53 Ma on F
Cuno Cuno crest, 2275 Huyalillas ignimbrites (Thouret et al., 2001;
13.19 ± 0.09 on biotite
m, 0704629 & (mantled by Sencca Paquereau et al., 2006)=
(M. Fornari, avg. 3 ages)
8229204 ignimbrite) Huaylillas ignimbrite
PIG-00-03 Ignimbrite on batholith, Late Miocene Caraveli
Caraveli upstream, lower sequence 9.15 ± 0.31 on F ignimbrites near Nevado Sara
2350 m, 15°45’12 & Sara
73°24’38
PIG-00-04 Ignimbrite on batholith, Late Miocene Caraveli
Caraveli upstream upper sequence 9.02 ± 0.11 on F ignimbrite near Caraveli on
2550 m, 15°45’07 & palaeosurface S2, cut in
73°25’19 Huaylillas ignimbrites
CARA 05-07 Pumice atop ignimbrite 9.40 ± 0.83 on F Late Miocene Caraveli
Caraveli, S to Pampa forming plateau, inset in 9.98 ± 0.15 on biotite ignimbrite near Caraveli &
Gramadal, 1750 m, Huaylillas high plateau wght. mean 8.99 ± 0.15 Sara Sara, on palaeosurface
0684535 & 82344701 S2 and inset in Huaylillas
PIG-00-07 Ignimbrite channeled Late Miocene Caraveli
Lampa, E of Sara Sara, in the upper Rio Marán 8.97 ± 0.06 on F ignimbrite near Nevado Sara
2420 m, 15°15’42 & valley Sara
73°20’80
BAR-03-01 Lava flow on edge of 5.8 ± 0.1 Lower Barroso lava flows of
Rio Cotahuasi left side, canyon, covers upper on groundmass upper Miocene age, under-
Pajcce, 3510 m, valley wall separates** (caution) lying Pliocene strato
0745259 & 8331693 volcanoes)
OCO-05-12 Pumice of the ignimbrite La Joya ignimbrite 4.87-4.89
Chaucalla arriba, 1665 sole, base of thick 4.84 ± 0.07 Ma old (Paquereau et al.,
m, 0704831 & compound cooling unit on sanidine 2006) in the Arequipa area
8277228 forming ridge and on the Western Cordillera
PIG-00-28 Ignimbrite (vitrophyre), Dates valley bottom <400 m
Cotahuasi above base of infilling, E side of 3.76 ± 0.14 on F above the present channel at
village, 2800 m, the canyon mid-Pliocene
15°13’01 & 72°53’00
PIG-00-24 Ignimbrite Lower Sencca - type
Road Pampacolca- in valleys cut in 3.16 ± 0.04 on F ignimbrite on Chuquibamba
Chuquibamba, 3890 m, Huaylillas plateau plateau, valley fill in
15°42’13 & 72°38’34 Huaylillas
PIG-03-122 Pumice, mid section in Sencca - type ignimbrite in
Chaucalla arriba 2105 ignimbrite sequence 2.35 ± 0.95 on F thick valley fill at Cotahuasi-
0705447 & 8277592 forming ridge fill Ocoña confluence

OCO-05-11 Base of black lava flow Lava flow from Nevado

Near Llauce, 830 m, near valley bottom 2.27 ± 0.05 Solimana’s parasitic vents,
53910 & 07450 on groundmass separates tens of km long in valley

329
XIII Congreso Peruano de Geología. Resúmenes Extendidos
Sociedad Geológica del Perú

OCO-04-05&PIG04-02 Upper Sencca ignimbrites

San Juan valley, 750 Lower ignimbrite on S3 2.05 ± 0.29 on F similar age to ‘ white
m, 704400 & terraces 150 m above Arequipa airport sillar”
8237700; valley bottom (Paquereau et al., 2006)
Toro SW Cotahuasi, Lowest ignimbrite from 2.04 ± 0.14 on F
1550 m, 725754 & second level
8312325
OCO-05-04 Lower ignimbrite on Upper Sencca ignimbrites
Road down of canyon wall at mid- 2.09 ± 0.06 on F similar age to ‘white Arequipa
Yanaquihua, 1840 m, distance between high 2.02 ± 0.04 on biotite airport sillar’ (Paquereau et
0716172 & 8151325 plateau and valley floor wght. mean 2.04 ± 0.03 al., 2006)
OCO-04-08 Ignimbrite (pumices) on Upper Sencca ignimbrites
Rio Ocoña, right side, S2 pediments cutting 1.96 ± 0.06 on F similar age to ‘white Arequipa
1675 m, 698800 & Caraveli 600 m above airport sillar’ (Paquereau et
8243130 valley bottom al., 2006)
PIG-00-25 & 00-06 Ignimbrites channeled in Upper Sencca ignimbrites
Chuquibamba, 4300 m, narrow valleys cut down 1.93 ± 0.04 on F similar age to ‘white Arequipa
15°47’09 & 70°40’06; into Huaylillas 1.81 ± 0.11 on F airport sillar’
Caraveli, 2550 m, ignimbrites
15°45’07 & 73°25’19
OCO-05-06 Ignimbrite preserved on Upper Sencca ignimbrite ca.
Left side of Rio Arma valley flanks of tributaries 1.95 ± 0.16 on F 1.67 Ma-old ‘pink Arequipa
valley , 3550 m, and forming high 1.76 ± 0.17 on biotite Airport’ ignimbrite
079137 & 6274358 “terraces” wght. Mean 1.77 ± 0.16 (Paquereau et al. 2006)
PIG-03-123 and 05-01 Top ignimbrite of valley- age of pumice-flow deposits,
Cerro Lomas, 2300 m, fill above valley 1.36 ± 0.27 on F on top of Cotahuasi
0705449 & 8277851; confluence; ignimbrite valley-fill.
Arriba Cotahuasi, 4060 Pumice fall, top valley- 1.56 ± 0.32 on F Also top of ‘pink Arequipa
m, 0725754 &8312325 fill below Barroso lavas Airport’ ignimbrite, Río Chili
COTA-05-06 Black lava flow mantling
Above Huachuy, top of canyon edge, W 0.6805 ± 0.0291 Lava flow sequence of
canyon left side, 3940 flank of Solimana on groundmass separates Nevado Solimana’s parasitic
m, 0712734 & vents
8300308
COTA-05-15 Lava flow mantling the
Above Huachuy, canyon edge and 0.6569 ± 0.0108 Lava flow sequence of
canyon left side, overlying Barroso lava on groundmass separates Nevado Solimana’s parasitic
4180m, 0715085 & flows vents
8302926
COTA-05-11 ‘Young’ sequence of Lava flow sequence of
Below Huachuy, ‘mafic’ lava flows on 0.4541 ± 0.0132 Nevado Solimana’s parasitic
canyon left side, lower canyon edge on groundmass separates vents
2345m, 0708072 &
8301599
COTA-05-10 Andesite aa lava flow of Lava flow of Cerro Pabellon,
Cerro Pabellon, canyon young lava dome-coulée 0.337 ± 0.0558 volcano in Cotahuasi canyon
left wall, 2235 m, half cut by canyon on groundmass separates on lower W Solimana’s flank
0706959 & 8299105
* Isochron ages, laser fusion experiments on feldspar and biotite separates ** Plateau ages, furnace incremental
heating experiments on groundmass separates from lava flows (X. Zhang, B. Singer; unless otherwise stated).

Table 2. Quaternary lava flows and an ignimbrite dated in the upper course of the canyon of Rio Colca.
SAMPLE AND LOCATION DEPOSIT & MEAN 40AR-39AR AGE COMPARABLE AGES IN
SIGNIFICANCE IN MA ± 2σ SOUTHERN PERU
PATA-04-02 Plateau-forming Upper Sencca - type
Road Arequipa – Chivay, ignimbrite below 2.2 ± 0.15 on F ignimbrite underlying
Patapampa plateau above Rio Pleistocene volcanoes (in Gerbe & Thouret, Pleistocene volcanoes
Colca valley, 4675 m, 0220955 and above canyon edge 2004) (Nevado Sabancaya)
& 8260826

330
XIII Congreso Peruano de Geología. Resúmenes Extendidos
Sociedad Geológica del Perú

COL-04-07
Cerro Condorsaya, downstream
of Huambo, valley left side, 2980
m, 803300 & 8264075
COL-04-10
Road to Huambo, high edge of
canyon, 3350 m, 0815528 &
8270769
COL-04-03
Road Callalli - Chivay, Rio Colca
right side, 3770 m, 0219425 &
8274042
COL-04- 14
Above Yanque, left side of
canyon, Istepi, 3600 m, 0215841
& 8267571
BAR-01-61
Road Chivay-Callalli, flow from
Cerro Mismi in valley, 3445 m,
7136571 & 1535436
COL-04-01
Chivay road near Achoma, left
flank of Rio Colca valley, 3460
m, 0209790 & 9267148
COL-04-16
Cabana Conde downstream, road
to Choco, left bank of valley,
2240 m, 0216104 & 8273569
BAR-01-62
Road Chivay-Callalli, lower flow
from Cerro Mismi, 3443 m,
7135545 & 1536213
COL-04-17
Andahua valley near confluence,
1885 m, 794950 & 8261980
*Isochron ages, laser fusion experiments on feldspar and biotite separates. ** Plateau ages, furnace incremental
heating experiments on groundmass separates from lava flows (X. Zhang, B. Singer; unless otherwise stated).
Lava flow forming high
strath 1000 m above
valley bottom and 1000
m below canyon edge
Lava flow of Hualca
Hualca that mantled the
upper canyon edge,
post-date first incision
Lava flows forming
“straths”, mid-distance
between canyon edge
and valley bottom
Lava flow middle
terrace 400 m above
valley bottom and
above former lake level
Upper level of valley
fill, topographically
above BAR-01-62
Lava flow immediately
overlying top lacustrine
deposits of ancient lake
Base of lava flow
forming terrace 400 m
above valley bottom
Lower level of valley
fill, infill into BAR-01-
61
Older of two lava flows
channelled in Andahua 0.1288 ± 0.0181
valley near Ayo, 350 m on groundmass
above Rio Colca separates
1.059 ± 0.0455 Pleistocene lava flows
on groundmass forming the bedrock of
separates (caution) the Huambo’s
monogenetic field
Lava flows of Hualca
1.071 ± 0.026 Hualca complex of
on groundmass Lower Pleistocene age
separates
Base of Pleistocene
0.6767 ± 0.0099 volcanoes, e.g. Nevado
on groundmass Sabancaya: 0.8 ± 0.04,
separates Gerbe & Thouret, 2004
High canyon level at
0.6507 ± 0.0216 mid distance between
on groundmass canyon edge and valley
separates bottom
0,6480 ± 0,0148 Ma Ibid;
on groundmass and clearly post-dates
onset of incision
Post-dates the top of
0.610 ± 0.010 dammed lake in the
plateau age upper Rio Colca valley
(M. Fornari)
Post-dates lake
0.5366 ± 0.0585 formation (see COL-
on groundmass 05-01B 10Be below)
separates
0,147 ± 0,0087 Ma Ibid; and clearly post-
on groundmass dates lake breakout
Start of young minor
volcanic centers in the
Andahua valley and
monogenetic field

REFERENCES

Garzione, C.N., Molnar, P., Libarkin, J.C., MacFadden, B.J., 2006. Rapid late Miocene rise of the Bolivian Altiplano: evidence for
removal of mantle lithosphere: Earth Plan. Sci. Lett., 241, 543-556.
Gerbe M.C. & Thouret J.-C., 2004. Role of magma mixing in the petrogenesis of lavas erupted through the 1990-98 explosive activity
of Nevado Sabancaya in south Peru. Bull. Volc., 66, 541-561.
Noble D.C., McKee E.H., Eyzaguirre V.R., Marocco R., 1984. Age and regional tectonic and metallogenic implications of igneous
activity and mineralization in the Andahuaylas-Yauri belt of Southern Peru. Bull. Soc. Econ. Geol., 79, 1, 172 176.
Olchauski L. & Davila D., 1994. Geologia de los cuadrangulos de Chuquibamba y Cotahuasi. INGEMMET, Bol. 50, Serie A: Carta
Geologica Nacional, Lima, 52 p., 2 mapas 32q y 31q 1:100,000.
Paquereau P., Thouret J.-C., Wörner G., Fornari M., Macedo O., 2006. Neogene and Quaternary ignimbrites in the area of Arequipa,
southern Peru: stratigraphical and petrological correlations. J. Volc. Geoth. Res, 154, 251-275.
Schildgen, T.F., Whipple, K.X., Hodges, K.V., Pringle, M.S., 2005. Geochronological constraints on tectonics and uplift of the
Western Cordillera in southern Peru: Sixth Intern. Symp. Andean Geodynamics, September 2005, Barcelona, IRD Editions,
Extended Abstracts, p. 651-654.
Sébrier M., Lavenu A., Fornari M., & Soulas J., 1988. Tectonics and uplift in Central Andes (Peru, Bolivia and northern Chile) from
Eocene to present. Géodynamique 3, 85-106.
Thouret J.-C., Finizola A., Fornari M., Suni J., Legeley-Padovani A., & Frechen M., 2001. Geology of El Misti volcano nearby the
city of Arequipa, Peru. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 113, 12, 1593-1610.
Thouret J.-C., Wörner G., Singer B., Finizola A., 2003. Valley evolution, uplift, volcanism and related hazards on the western slope of
the central Andes. AGU-EGU Joint Spring Meeting, Abstract EAE03-A-10498 (TS7).
Wörner G., Uhlig D., Kohler I., Seyfried H., 2002. Evolution of the West Andean Escarpment at 18°S (N. Chile) during the last 25 Ma:
uplift, erosion and collapse through time. Tectonophysics 345, 183-198.

331