TECTONICS, VOL. 18, NO.
5, PAGES 895-910, OCTOBER 1999
Tectonicsof the Jurassic- Early Cretaceous magmatic arc of
the north Chilean Coastal Cordillera (22ø-26øS):A story of
crustal deformation along a convergentplate boundary
EkkehardScheuberand Gabriel Gonzalez
Institutfiir Geologie,Geophysikund Geoinformatik,FreieUniversit/itBerlin,Berlin
Abstract. The tectonicevolutionof a continentalmagmaticarc
that was active in the north Chilean Coastal Cordillera in Ju-
rassic-EarlyCretaceoustimes is describedin order to show the
relationshipbetween arc deformationand plate convergence.
During stageI (circa 195-155 Ma) a varietyof structuresformed
at deepto shallowcrustallevels,indicatingsinistralarc-parallel
strike-slipmovements.From deep crustallevels a sequenceof
structuresis described,startingwith the formationof a broadbelt
of plutonicrockswhichwereshearedundergranuliteto amphibo-
lite faciesconditions(Bolfin Complex).The high-gradedeforma-
tion was followed by the formationof two sets of conjugate
greenschistfacies shear zones showingstrike-slipand thrust
kinematics with a NW-SE directed maximum horizontal shorten-
ing, i.e., parallelto the probableLate Jurassic
vectorof platecon-
vergence.A kinematicpatterncompatibleto this plate conver-
genceis displayedby nonmetamorphic folds,thrusts,and high-
anglenormalfaultswhich formedduringthe sametime interval
asthe discreteshearzones.DuringstageII (160-150 Ma), strong
arc-normalextensionis revealed by brittle low-angle normal
faults at shallow levels and some ductile normal faults and the
intrusionof extendedplutonsat deeperlevels.During stageIII
(155-147 Ma), two reversalsin the stressregimetook placeindi-
catedby two generations of dikes,an olderonetrendingNE-SW
and a youngerone trendingNW-SE. Sinistralstrike-slipmove-
mentsalsoprevailedduringstageIV (until -125 Ma) when the
AtacamaFault Zone originatedas a sinistraltrench-linkedstrike-
slip fault. The tectonicevolutionof the magmaticarc is inter-
pretedin termsof couplingand decouplingbetweenthe down-
going and overridingplates.The structuresof stagesI and IV
suggestthat stresstransmission dueto seismiccouplingbetween
the plates was probably responsiblefor these deformations.
However,decouplingof the platesoccurredpossiblydueto a de-
creasein convergence rateresultingin extensionandthe reversals
of stagesII and III.
1. Introduction
Active continentalmarginsare sitesof strongcrustaldeforma- the convergence
tionswhicharegenerallyconsidered to be drivenby plateconver- sinistralplateconvergence),
•Nowat Departamento de CienciasGeo16gicas,Universidad
Cat61ica plateto the upperplate haveto be taken into account.Thus,when
delNorte, Antofagasta,Chile.
Copyright1999by theAmericanGeophysical Union.
Papernumber1999TC900024.
0278-7407/99/1999TC900024 $12.00
gence[e.g., Jarrard, 1986]. However,besidesthis generallyac-
cepted dependence,the origin and the nature of the driving
mechanismsfor the deformationsare still unclear. In literature,
two possiblesourcesare proposedfor the stressesleadingto de-
formationsin the upperplate:(1) seismiccouplingin the caseof
high-stresssubduction zones[ Uyedaand Kanamori,1979;Miura
et al., 1989; Tichelaar and Ruff 1993; Liu et al., 1995] and (2)
flow of asthenospheric materialin the mantlewedgebeneaththe
upper plate ("comer flow") [Andrews, 1972] for low-stresssub-
ductionzones[ Uyedaand Kanamori,1979].
In models
invoking-seismic
coupling
[Fitch,1972;Uyeda
and
Kanamori, 1979; Geistand Scholl, 1992; Platt, 1993] the tectonic
forcesresponsiblefor upper plate deformationsare inducedby
the subductingplate that shearsthe overridingplate along the
subduction zoneand horizontallyindentsthe overridingplate in-
land [ Wdowinskiand Bock, 1994]. On the otherhand,Furukawa
[1993a,b] hasshownthat asthenospheric comerflow inducedby
viscousdragabovea subductingslabis ableto producedifferen-
tial stressesof the order of 100 MPa at the base of the upper
plate'slithosphereandthat the maximumstressis verticalbeneath
the arc and becomes horizontal toward the forearc. These stresses
may exceedthe frictionalstresses in the seismogenic part of the
plates' interface,which are only of the order of a few tens of
megapascals [Peacock,1992; Gephart, 1994; Wanget al., 1995;
Ponkoand Peacock,1995].
One possibilityto testwhetherseismiccouplingis responsible
for the deformationsin the upper plate's crust is to study the
structures of the magmaticarc,becausedueto magmaticheating,
this is the weakestpart of the upper plate, which thus deforms
very easily.Most of the structuresformingin the arc are related
to trench-parallelfault systems(TPFSs, trench-linkedstrike-slip
faults in the senseof Woodcock[1986]), and the kinematicpat-
ternsin the arc andthe displacements alongthe TPFS are indica-
tionsof movements of the rigid forearcsliverrelativeto the upper
plate. If thesekinematicpatternsare controlledby stresses related
to seismiccoupling,the generalmovementalongthe TPFS must
be syntheticalto the convergence vector (e.g., dextraloblique
convergenceshould result in dextral displacementsalong the
TPFS) [Fitch, 1972; Geist and Scholl, 1992; Platt, 1993]. On the
otherhand,if the kinematicpatternsof the arc are antitheticalto
vector(e.g., dextraldisplacements in a systemof
seismiccouplingcanbe ruledout as
a driving mechanismfor forearcmovements;in this caseother
forms of stresstransmission (e.g., comerflow) from the lower
reversalsin the senseof displacementoccur along the TPFS,
changingconditionsof couplingand decouplingbetweenthe
plates can be inferred.
The centralAndes,where subductionis an ongoingprocess
sincethe EarlyJurassic, area very suitableareato investigate the
relationship betweenupperplatetectonicsandplateconvergence,
895
896 SCHEUBERAND GONZALEZ:JURASSIC-EARLY
CRETACEOUSARC,NORTH CHILE

sincesubductionled to the formationof four magmaticarcsin all dean units (before 200 Ma) form only a minor fraction (<15%).
of which TPFSs have developed.The mostprominentfaultsare Volcanism,which was active in Early to Middle Jurassictimes
the LateJurassic-Early CretaceousAtacamaFault Zone [Arabasz, (middle Sinemurianto upper Callovian) [Kossler, 1996], led to
1971; Scheuberand Andriessen,1990; Brown et al., 1993] in the the depositionof a 5-l0 km thick volcanicpile mainly composed
CoastalCordilleraand the late EocenePrecordilleranFault Sys- of basaltic andesitic lavas and tuffs (La Negra Formation)
tem in the northChileanPrecordillerafrom whicha strike-slipre- [Garcia, 1967]. Marine intercalationsof Bajocian age within
versalfrom dextraito sinistraidisplacements hasbeendescribed thesevolcanicsindicatea depositionin a subsidingbasin,and no
by Reutteret al. [ 1996]. high mountainrange was formed. A lowland topographyin the
The aim of this paper is to draw conclusionsfrom the tectonic realm of the volcanic arc can also be inferred from the observa-
evolutionof the Jurassic-Early Cretaceousmagmaticarcof north- tion that the sedimentsof the marinebackarcbasin,borderingthe
ern Chile on the convergence historyand the stateof plate cou- arc to the east,receivedonly little detritusfrom the arc. Thus, as
pling duringthat time. In reconstructing the tectonicevolutionof the input of magmasinto the crustwas not associatedwith moun-
this arc we found that obliqueshorteningwas a very important tain building and crustalthickening,igneousactivity must have
process,suggestingthat arc deformationsoccurred becauseof been accompaniedby strongcrustalextension.Plutonism,which
obliqueconvergence. This idea is in agreementwith paleogeody- also started around 200 Ma [Boric et al., 1990], led to the
namicreconstructions that previousworkershave'proposed(Fig- formationof numerousintrusivebodiesof variousshapeand size
ure 1) [Larsonand Pitman, 1972; Zonenshaynet al., 1984; Jail- with gabbroic to granodioritic composition, most of which
lard et al., 1990]. intruded at shallow crustal levels [Dallrneyer et al., 1996].
According to available isotope age data, plutonism had its
2. Geologyand Tectonicsof the Coastal maximumin Middle Jurassicto Early Cretaceoustimes(160-120
Cordillera Ma) [Boric et al., 1990], that is, the majorityof plutonsare coeval
with or youngerthan the final stagesof volcanism.
The tectonic evolution of the north Chilean central Andes is For the understandingof the kinematicpattern in a magmatic
characterizedby subduction-induced magmatismwhich has been arc, the knowledgeof plate kinematicsis important. Off South
activeat leastsince200 Ma (Andean Cycle) [Coira et al., 1982]. America no oceaniccrustolder than some50 Myr exists [Mailer
Owing to an eastwardmigration of igneousactivity since the et al., 1997]. Thus the only reconstructions of Mesozoicplate
Early Cretaceous,it is possibleto distinguishfour magmaticarcs configurationsin the Pacific realm are basedon investigationsof
[Scheuberand Reutter, 1992]: a Jurassic-EarlyCretaceousarc remnants of Jurassic and Cretaceous oceanic crust which still ex-
(200-120 Ma) in the Coastal Cordillera, a mid-Cretaceousarc ist in the westernPacific (Larson and Pitman, 1972; Zonenshayn
(110-75 Ma) in the LongitudinalValley, a latestCretaceous-Pa- et al., 1984]. Thesereconstructions (Figure l) indictethat a SW-
ieogenearc (72-34 Ma) in the Chilean Precordillera,and the late NE trendingspreadingcenter existedoff South America, which
Oligocene-Holocenearc (25-0 Ma) in the WesternCordillera. Jaillard et al. [1990] interpretedas a southwestward continuation
The Jurassic-EarlyCretaceousmagmatic arc (Figure 2) is of the Thethysriff. However, besidesthese generalreconstruc-
composed of mantle-derived igneous rocks [Rogers and tions of the grossplate geometry,no data exist on importantpa-
Hawkesworth,1989] which make up -80% of the crust of the rameterssuchas convergencerate, slab dip, and age of the down-
CoastalCordillera[Scheuber,
1994],whereas
ensialicpre-An- goingplate.

3. Structures of the Magmatic Arc

North
America According to their relative age and kinematic pattern, the
structuresof the Jurassic-EarlyCretaceousmagmaticarc can be
attributedto four stageswhich will be describedin sections3.1-
3.4: (1) older arc-parallelsinistraimovements,(2) crustalexten-
sion and magmaticgrowth of the arc, (3) obliquedilation due to
the intrusion of dikes, and (4) younger arc-parallel sinistrai
movements.

3.1. Stage 1: Older Sinistral Movements

America
3.1.1 Structures formed under high- to low-grade meta-
morphic conditions. High-gradeshearzones,made up of am-
phibolites, orthogneisses,and siilimanite-andalusite-bearing
::::h•:-•.-::•:::-•:-:•-•:•:::•-:.-:::?:::::V'-.•-•:-::-:-:.:-•':•-
:-•--:-:'-•:-:.:
::-.'-•:
:-::-::%.%:½-:--J-
•--..-.---:-:•:-:--:.:::--:.:v-..--.::•..-,-.-,:..•,:-,:-:.:-.•...-::-.-.- ................ -:.,..:-.:-...::.::.::,•.:-.- paragneisses,have been describedas "Jurassicshearzones"by
Scheuberand Andriessen[1990] from northof Paposo.In these
::•:::•:?"f:•
........."::
..... :•h•Z-'::'.•
............................
-::•:.•::
•;•:{•:•:.• •:::
• . arc-parallelshearzonesthe senseof shearis uniformly sinistrai.
?•:•:•:.•Pl:.ate.•?•(;•;•.?•:•.:•:•:•?;•:•:;•:•.
"'""•'•oceaniccrust However, shearedrocksof a deep crustalorigin are most wide-
spread south of Antofagasta and in the southern part of
:..::•:•.:%;:;-•:..:::;
.;:::..:
.............................................................................................
Mejillones Peninsula (Figure 2). Here the so-called "Boifin
Complex"[R6ssling,1989; Lucassenand Franz, 1994; Gonzc•lez,
1996] is exposed,which forms a 20 km wide, N-S trending
Figure 1. Paicogcodynamicreconstructiono• the SE Pacific shearedbelt consistingof foliatedJurassicquartzdioritesto gab-
plate configurationduringJurusic and Early Cretaceous[modi- bros which southof Antofagastashow a nearly horizontalpri-
fied afterJ½illcrd et M., 1990]. mary layering.
 897
22 ø (b) High-grade
shear
zones
intheBolfin
Complex
direction
of Foliation
planes Foldaxes
shortening
N N N

= - n= 49 n=7

W Mejillones
Peninsula E S ofAntofagasta•

23 ø
(C)Greenschist
Facies
shear
zones
intheBolfin
Complex

STRIKE-SLIP THRUST
sinistral dextral

'l
K-Ar 152 + 4 Ma
Antofagasta
n = 17 n = 25 n = 25

24 ø
S N P:oT:+ S N
n = 42 n = 25
S,=309/01 S,=113/07
S2= 217/76 S2= 022/08
S3= 040/14 S3=246•80
139+ 5 Ma

(d) Non
metamorphic
structures
Folds Faults

Michilla :.._:•
95 %

2O
25 ø 51 Data
Max.: 48
51 Min.:3
11bedding
planes

Taltal
H

16 Data
'•,,,..'•-"•'•--'-'•....-.----.•i':•
Max.: 16
16 -"• Min.: 0

Jurassic - '
E.Cret.
rvVvVvVvVv Jurassic
[ v v v v' volcanics
45 bedding
planes
4 fold axes 47 Data
plutonics Max.: 47
47 Min.:
2

IIIIIit11111111111111111111
Bolfin
I---------------------•:l
Mesozoic
Complex sediments

normal
faults r'~~~~1 Andean
units

Figure 2. (a) Geologicalsketchmap of the northChileanCoastalCordillera.LinesA-D refer to sectionswhere

dikeshavebeenmeasured; locations
of datedmylonitesamples of ductilenormalfaultsarealsoshown,AFZ, Ata-
camaFaultZone.(b) Polefigures(all diagrams areequal-area,lowerhemisphere projections)
of foliationplanesof
thefullyductileshearzones(density diagrams) andtheorientationsof foldaxes(pointdiagram)fromhigh-grade
mylonites of theBolfinComplex.(c, d) Orientations
of straindirectionsof greenschist
faciesdiscreteshearzones
and of nonmetamorphic
structures.
All structureshave in commona NW-SE to NNW-SSE orienteddirectionof
shortening
and/ormaximum
horizontal
stress
S//whichmatchtheNW-SEdirected
obliqueplateconvergence
(see
Figure 1).
898 SCHEUBERAND GONZALEZ: JURASSIC-EARLYCRETACEOUSARC, NORTH CHILE

Paleothermobarometric investigations(two-pyroxeneand pla- In the semiductileconjugateshearzones,shorteningdirections

gioclase-hornblendethermometry and hornblende barometry)
[Lucassenand Franz, 1996; Gonzdlez, 1996] indicatethat the in-
trusionand deformationof the Bolfin Complex rocks took place
at pressures<500 MPa and at temperaturesrangingfrom granu-
lite to upper greenschistfacies conditions(800-400øC). Defor-
mation was stronglyinfluencedby magmaticactivity as, for ex-
ample, foliated quartz-plagioclaseveins and mafic dikes were
shearedduringthe intrusion[Skarmeta,1980] (Figure 3c). This is
consistentwith the findingsof Brown et al. [1993], who reported
granitic veins, lenses,and melt segregationsorientedparallel to
shearplanes, which they interpretedas residual melts coeval to
deformation.
The Bolfin Complexshowsa variety of ductileto semiductile
structures,all of which indicateNW-SE directedshorteningdue
to N-S directed (arc parallel) sinistral strike-slip movements.
These structuresinclude: (1) fully ductile, high-grade shear
zones,(2) numerousdiscrete,greenschistfaciesshearzones,and
(3) folds.
3.1.1.1. High-grade shear zones: Most rocksof the Bolfin
Complex are pervasivelyfoliated amphiboliticgneissesand am-
phibolitesshowingdynamic recrystallizationand later static re-
coveryof all major constituents,plagioclase,amphiboles,ortho-
pyroxene,and clinopyroxene.The lack of brittle porphyroclasts
have been determinedfrom the orientationsof foliation planes
and stretchinglineations(Figure 2c). The methodusedwas simi-
lar to that of paleostress
reconstruction
usingbrittlefault slip data
lAngelief and Mechler, 1977; Angellet, 1984, 1994; Marret and
Allmendinger, 1991]. We have measured the obtuse angle
betweenthe shearplanes(C planes)of both the sinistraland the
dextral shear zones, which makes an averageof 122ø. The bi-
sectingangleof 61ø was usedas the averageanglebetweenthe
shearplanesand the directionof the maximum shortening(S•).
Then for each shearzone the orientation of the extension(7) and
the shorteningaxes(P) was calculatedfrom the orientationof the
shearplane(C plane)andthe stretchinglineationusingthe above
mentionedangle of 60ø betweenS• and the stretchinglineation.
For the calculationsa PC program publishedby Sperner et al.
[ 1993] hasbeenused.
The mean straindirections(Figure 2c) in the strike-slipshear
zones gave a NW-SE direction of the maximum shorteningdi-
rection(&), a NE-SW directionof extentionaxis(S3),anda verti-
cal intermediatestrain axis (S2). The thrusting shear zones re-
vealed a NW-SE orientation of S•, a NE-SW orientation of S2,
and a subverticalattitude of S3. Thus both sets of shear zones
gave a NW-SE directionfor the maximum horizontalshortening
axes.

indicatesthat theserockswere deformedunderfully ductile con- 3.1.1.3. Folds: Locally, the pervasivelyfoliated rocksas well
ditions. This correspondsto metamorphic conditions, which as subhorizontalquartz-feldsparveins show upright folds with
rangefrom granuliteto upper amphibolitefaciesat low pressure subhorizontalNE-SW trending axes (Figure 2b). The folds are
(600-800øC and <500 MPa) reported by Lucassenand Franz symmetricalandmoderatelyclosed.The NE-SW directionof fold
[ 1994, 1996] and Gonzdlez[ 1996]. axes is also compatiblewith a NW-SE orientationof the hori-
The rocksof the Bolfin Complexdisplaysteepto verticalfo- zontal shorteningaxes.
liation planes which strike NE-SW in the westem and central 3.1.2. Age of the structures. Isotopeage data (Tables I and
partsof the complex,whereasalong the easternmargin the folia- 2) indicatethat the fully ductile structuresof the Bolfin Complex
tion is bent into a N-S direction.The rockswith NE-SW striking were formed in Early to Middle Jurassictimes' The intrusionage
foliation are medium grained (grain size 5-10 mm) S-tectonites of the igneousprotolith of the Bolfin Complex from Mejillones
with low finite strain(Rxz between1.5 and 4) [Gonzalez,1996] Peninsulacan be inferred from a Rb-Sr whole rock age of 200 ñ
whereasthe rocksfrom the eastemmarginare highly strainedS-L 10 Ma [Diaz et al., 1985] and U-Pb zircon agesof 196 ñ 4 and
myloniteswith a stronglyreducedgrain size of 0.20-0.25 mm and 191 + 6 Ma [Darnrnet al., 1986]. The minimum age of the perva-
with well-developedstretchinglineationsplunginggentlytoward sive foliationsis givenby a U-Pb zircon age of 174 + 16 Ma ob-
north (pitch-35ø). East of Antofagastathe high-strainmylonites tained from a granitewhich intrudedthe amphiboliticmylonites
are amphiboliteswhich in partshave beenmigmatizedby quartz- east of Antofagasta(Las-Toscasgranite) iDaram et al., 1986].
dioriticmeltswhichintrudedalongfoliationplanesandwhichex- The upperage limit of the semiductileconjugateshearzonescan
hibit a magmaticflow fabric. These migmatizedrocksgive evi- be inferred from K-Ar age determinationsof homblendepor-
dencethat stronglyfoliated domainsof the magmaticarc were phyroclasts(165 ñ 5 and 157 + 6 Ma; Table 1); the lower age
sitesof focusedchannelingof magmainto the ductilecrust.Vari- limit is given by K-Ar cooling agesof postdeformativebiotiteof
ous kinematic indicators,for example,subverticalfolds with S 155-152
Ma.These
agevalues
match
the4øAr/39Ar
andRb-Srage
geometries,reveal a sinistralsenseof the shearin the mylonites. data publishedby Scheuberet al. [1995] from high-gradeshear
3.1.1.2. Greenschistfacies shear zones: The pervasivelyfo- zonessouthof Antofagasta(hornblendecirca 153 Ma and biotite
liated rocksof the Bolfin Complexare cut by numerousdiscrete circa 150 Ma).
shear zones (i-2 m thick; Figure 3) which form two conjugate 3.1.3. Nonmetamorphic structures. Nonmetamorphic
sets (Figure 2c): One set, showing strike-slip displacements, structuresindicate a kinematic regime similar to the described
comprisesverticalshearzoneswith horizontalstretchinglinea- high-temperaturestructuresof the Bolfin Complex. These struc-
tions,ENE-WSW trendingdextralshearzones,andN-S trending tures,which comprisefolds,thrusts,and otherbrittle faults,have
sinistralshearzones.The other set consistsof low-angleshear beenstudiedin detail in variousplaces(Michilla, northof Paposo
zonesdippingtowardSE andNW containingdowndip stretching and southof Taltal; Figure2).
lineationsand kinematicindicatorsrevealingthrustingtoward 3.1.3.1. Folds and thrusts' Folds are rather scarce in the
NW and SE. Field observationssuchas strike-slipshearzones CoastalCordilleramainly owing to the prevailinglithologyof the
gradinglaterallyinto thrustshearzonesand vice versasuggest rocks: thick, massive lavas and intrusive rocks which, in many
that bothsetswere formedsimultaneously. The rocksof the con- cases,are not suitablefor folding. However, in someplaces,for
jugate shearzonesare well-developedS-C mylonitesindicative example,-20 km southof Taltal and 5 km SE of Michilla, well-
of semiductiledeformation[Shimamoto,1989]; this is corrobo- stratifiedfolded rocksoccur(Figure 4b), comprisingUpper Tri-
ratedby the observation that plagioclase,amphibole,and pyrox- assic continental sediments, Lower Jurassic marine sediments,
ene form brittle porphyroclastswhereasbiotite,actinolite,oligo- and tuffs within the Jurassicvolcanics.The folds generallyhave
clase,and quartzare recrystallizedand/ornewly crystallized,in- nearlyhorizontalENE to NE trendingaxesand verticalto steeply
dicatinguppergreenschist faciesconditions duringdeformation. dipping axial planes(Figure 2d). As thesefolds are confinedto
SCttEUBER AND GONZALEZ: JURASSIC-EARLY CRETACEOUS ARC, NORTH CHILE 899

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900 SCHEUBERAND GONZALEZ: JURASSIC-EARLY CRETACEOUSARC, NORTH CHILE

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•
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...
•.:
E
•:.:..•• -

.::•
ß
......••*•"•::•':":'•'*:
.
 SCHEUBER
ANDGONZALEZ'
JURASSIC-EARLY
CRETACEOUS
ARC,NORTHCHILE
the N-S trendingmagmaticarc, they are arrangedin an en eche-
lon manner and thus match the overall sinistral regime. Brittle
thrusts also strike ENE-WSW to NE-SW, indicating the same
sinistral,arc-parallelstrike-slipregime as the folds do. The ori-
entations of thrusts and folds indicate a NW-SE directed short-
ening direction,which has also been inferred from the discrete
shearzonesof the Bolfin Complex.
The upper age limit of folding and thrustingis given by the
age of the youngestmarine strataconformablyoverlying the Ju-
rassicvolcanicswhich are late Callovian in age [Kossler,1996]
(accordingto Gradsteinet al. [ 1994], circa 159 ñ 4 Ma). This age
is in agreementwith a K-Ar hornblendeage of 155 ñ 5 Ma
obtainedsouthof Taltal from a sill (Table l) which intrudedinto
Lower Jurassicstrata and which was subjectto thrusting.The
lower age limit is given by K-Ar whole rock age data of 149 ñ 4
Ma of a gabbroicstockwhich cutsthe tilted andfolded stratanear
Michilla (Table 2) [Astudillo, 1984] and K-Ar agesof circa 147
Ma of a mafic dike from a dike swarm cuttingthe folded strata
without being tilted (see section 3.1.3.2). Thus folding and
thrustingoccurredbetweencirca 155 and 150 Ma, i.e., duringthe
sametime spanasthe formationof the discreteshearzones.
3.1.3.2. Faults: Brittle faults other than thrusts are abundant
in the CoastalCordillera.However, as faulting occurredseveral
times from Jurassicto Recent, it is difficult to distinguisharc
structures(Jurassic-EarlyCretaceous)from younger structures
which formedin differentstressregimeswhen the CoastalCor-
dillera was subjectto forearc deformations[e.g., Hervd, 1987;
Armo'oand Thiele, 1990]. Faultsare assumedto be Jurassic-Early
Cretaceousin age when they are hydrothermallymineralized,
becausemineralizationtook placeduringthat time in the Coastal
Cordillera [Boric et al., 1990]. The same holds if the faults are
intrudedby Late Jurassicdikes, a situationthat has beenobserved
in someplaces,for example,southof Taltal.
The orientationsof fault planesand slickensidestriationsof
probableLate Jurassic-Early Cretaceousagehave beenmeasured
at Michilla and south of Taltal. Paleostress directions have been
obtainedusingthe right-dihedramethodof Artgellerand Mechler
[1977] and Artgeller [1994] using the computerprogram "Ge-
fuege 6" [Wallbrecherand Unzog, 1997]. The resultsare shown
in Fig 2: Faultingis dominatedby strike-slipand normalfaulting
kinematics with a NW-SE to NNW-SSE orientation of the
maximumhorizontalshorteningaxis (SH). This directionagrees
with the shorteningdirectionof the folds and thrustsand of the
ductilestructures
of the Bolfin Complex.
3.2. Stage 11' ExtensionalStructures and Magmatic Growth
of the Arc
Arc-normal crustal extension occurred after volcanism had
ceasedin Calloviantimes[Kossler,1996]. At plutoniclevels,ex-
tensionwasaccom•nodated by the emplacementof largevolumes
of calcalkalineplutonswhereasnormalfaultingoccurredat the
level of the volcanicswhich generallydisplayhomoclinaltilting
of-30 ø - 70ø toward westerlydirectionsnorth of 25øS and to-
wardeasterlydirectionssouthof 25øS.It is importantto notethat
thistiltingis restrictedto thevolcaniclevelwhereasthe originally
horizontalor vertical attitudeof planar structuresof the deep
crustalBolfin Complex(olderthan 165 Ma) is preserved.
The basement underlyingthe volcanicscanonlyvery rarelybe
observed;instead, in most casesthe volcanics are intruded by
extendedcalcalkalineplutons.The observationthat the flat roofs
of theseplutonsunconformably cut the tilted volcanicsindicates
that theplutonsareyoungerthantilting.This is in agreementwith
radiometricagesof the plutonicsof lessthan 165 Ma. Typically,
the plutonsformN-S elongatebodieswhichare>50 km longand
901
5-20 km wide [e.g., Marinovic et al., 1995]. Accordingto the A1-
in-homblendegeobarometerof Schmidt[1992] the load pressure
during the crystallizationof hornblendewithin the plutonswas
200-300 MPa, which correspondsto an intrusionlevel of less
than6-9 km [Gonzalez,1996].
At the top of the plutonic level it can be observedthat N-S
trendingbrittle normal faults grade into ductile normal-faulting
shearzones,which are commonalong the contactbetweenthe
calcalkalineplutonicbodiesandthe tilted arc volcanics(Figures.
2 and 5). Within theseshearzones,stronglydeformedamphibo-
litic mylonitesoccur [cfi Brown et al., 1991], which laterally
grade into undeformedvolcanics.A normal-faultingkinematic
regime in theseshearzonesis revealedby kinematicindicators
suchas asymmetricextensionalcrenulationcleavages,sigmoidal
structures,and sheathfolds (Figure 5). The N-S trend of the
normalfaults,stretchinglineationssteeplyplungingto the east,
and the westerlydip of the volcanicblockssuggestthat tilting of
the volcanicpile and movementsalongthe ductilenormalfaults
were linked tectonicprocesseswhich indicate an asymmetrical
arc-normalcrustalstretching.
At the nonmetamorphicsedimentarycrustal level, low-angle
normalfaultshavebeenfoundin severalplaces(Paposo,southof
Taltal' Figures4b and 4c). They bring in contactMiddle Jurassic
volcanicsover Lower Jurassicmarine sediments,i.e., younger
over olderrocks.In one casea listricbendingof the normalfault
can be observed(Figure 4b) whereasin other casesthe faultsoc-
cur only as flat planes.Kinemmicindicatorssuchas cleavageor
beddingplaneswhich are bentintothe fault planesshowa move-
mentof the hangingwall towardwestor east,thusindicatingarc-
normal extension.
The maximum age of the extensionis given by the upper
Callovian age of the uppermostarc volcanics[Kossler, 1996],
which corresponds to the ageof thoseplutonswhich intrudedthe
volcanicpile andwhichare youngerthan 165-160 Ma. Biotite of
mylonitesfrom a ductilenormalfault showa K-Ar coolingageof
152 + 4 Ma (Table 1), which givesthe minimumageof the exten-
sion.
3.3 Stage III: Oblique Dilation and Intrusion of Dikes
In the brittlecrust,dikesgenerallypropagatealongplanesori-
entedperpendicularlyto the leastprinciple stress,and the strike
of dikes representsthe leasthorizontalstressSr• [Delaney et al.,
1986; Emerman and Marrett, 1990; Price and Cosgrove,1990;
Zoback, 1992; Thomasand Pollard, 1993]. In order to obtain in-
formation about stressdirections, we have measuredthe orienta-
tion and thicknessof Late Jurassicmafic dikesmainly alongfour
sectionsthroughthe CoastalCordillera (Figure 2) but also be-
tween these sections. So orientation data exist over-400 km of
the arc from 22øS to 25ø45'S;they are shownin Figure 6a (n =
1190, averagethicknessis 3.4 ñ 1.7 m). The strikeof the gener-
ally very steepto vertical dikes displaysa considerablescatter
ranging from NE-SW through N-S to NW-SE; E-W trending
dikes are rare. However, a closer inspectionof single sections
shows that the scatter in the orientation is due to the existence of
at least two dike systems;one trending NE-SW to ENE-WSW
and anotherone trendingN-S to NW-SE. In numerousplaces,
crosscuttingrelationshipsbetween dikes show that NE-SW
trendingdikes are cut by NW-SE to NNW-SSE trendingdikes
(Figure 4d). The averageanglebetweenboth dike generationsis
-70ø-90 ø. In Section D (south of Taltal) also an intermediate
generationstrikingN-S can be distinguished. The observationof
the crosscuttingrelationsbetweenthe dike generationsclearly
indicatesthat the dikesintrudedduring at leasttwo episodeswith
contrastingdirectionsof Sr•. During the intrusionof the older
902 SCHEUBER
ANDGONZALEZ:
JURASSIC-EARLY
CRETACEOUS
ARC,NORTH
CHILE

•.• +l +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 +l +l +1 +1 +1 +1 +1

.,_,•

o o

o
o
SCHEUBERAND GONZALEZ: JURASSIC-EARLYCRETACEOUSARC, NORTH CHILE 903

q-• ,.- +1 ,.- q'• +1 +1 +1 +1 +1

+1 +1 +1 +1 +1 o• +1 +1 +1 +1 +1 • +1 +1 q-• +1 +1 o• q-• r.-- ,.- eq

< <•<
5 5 ,
904 SCHEUBERAND GONZALEZ'JURASSIC-EARLY
CRETACEOUS
ARC,NORTHCHILE
 SCHEUBERAND GONZALEZ:JURASSIC-EARLY
CRETACEOUSARC,NORTH CHILE 905

n= 1190
contours at 1-2-3-4-5-6%/1% area

(b) (c) (d)

N

n=345 n=92 n = 342

contours at 1-4-7-12-15-18% contours at 2-4-6-10-13-16% contours at 1.2 - 2.3 - 4.1 - 6.1 - 8.2 - 10.2
%

(e) (f) (g)

N N N

+ I II
n=24 n=136 n = 100
contours at 4-8-12% contours at 1-3-5-9-13% contours at 2-4-6-9-12-15-18%

Figure 6. Contouredpole figuresof dike orientationsin the CoastalCordillera(equalarea,lower hemispherepro-

jection; for locationof the sections,seeFigure2a). (a) Diagramcontainingall measuredandesiticdikesfrom the-
CoastalCordillera.(b) SectionA, andesiticdikesin Middle to Late Jurassic(160 Ma) dioritecontainingNE- and
NW trendingdikes.(c) SectionA, andesiticdikes in late Jurassic(145 Ma) tonalitecontainingonly NW-SE to
NNW-SSEtrending
dikes.(d) Section
B, andesitic
dikesin MiddleJurassic
diorites.
(e) Section
C, andesitic
dikes
in Middle to Late Jurassicdiorite.(f) SectionC, andesiticdikesin Late Jurassicgranodiorite.(g) SectionD, ande-
sitic dikes in Paleozoicto Lower Jurassicrocks.Three generationsof dikes can be distinguished by criteriaof
crosscutting in the field, NE-SW trendingdikes(generationl) are oldest,-•N-S trendingdikes(generationll) are
intermediate,andNW-SE trendingdikes(generationIll) areyoungest.
906 SCHEUBERAND GONZALEZ' JURASSIC-EARLYCRETACEOUSARC, NORTH CHILE
dikes it was orientedNE-SW and then changedover a N-S direc-
tion to NW-SE duringthe intrusionof the youngerdikes.
The age of the dikes can be inferred from their contactrela-
tions and from isotopeage data (Tables 1 and 2): The dikes of
both generationscut and postdatedeformationof the discrete
shear zones as well as the folds and thrusts described above,
which are olderthan 155 Ma andthusgive an upperagelimit for
the dikesof both generations.From field observations
the agesof
the NE-SW trendingdikes also can be distinguished from those
of the NW-SE trendingdikes' In variousplacesthe plutonscon-
taining dikesof all generations(NE- andNW trending)are cut by
plutonicbodiescontainingonly NW trendingdikesor no dikesat
all (sectionA in Figures6b andc and sectionC in Figures6e and
6f; seeTables1 and2). The plutonscontainingonly NW trending
dikes have ages of circa 144-147 Ma (e.g., the Cerro Cristales
Pluton;in Figure7; Rb-Sr whole rock ageof 145 ñ 10 Ma and a
K-At biotite age of 146 ñ 4 Ma) [Hervd and Marinovic, 1989].
Plutonswithoutdikesare generallyyoungerthan 140 Ma; for ex-
ample,
theRemiendos
Pluton(4ømr/39Ar
in hornblende:
138ñ 1.4
Ma) [Scheuberet al., 1995], croppingout east of the Atacama
Fault Zone between 24ø and 25øS, does not contain any dike.
These contact relations of the dikes seem to be a more reliable
criterionfor establishingtheir age than isotopeage datingsare,
becausein many casesthe dikes were subjectto thermal over-
printingand/orhydrothermalalteration,whichresultedin agere-
setting.However,the agerangereportedis alsoconsistent with a
K-At hornblendeage of 147 + 6 Ma determinedin a NW-SE
trending
dikenorthof Anto•agasta
(Table1) andalsowithmost
of the agevaluesreportedin the literature(Table 2). From all the
age constraintsit can be concludedthat the NE-SW trending
dikes intruded between -155 and 147 Ma and that the NW-SE
dikes intruded between -147 and 140 Ma.
There are two possibleexplanationsfor the existenceof two
dike generations, eithera rotationof the principalstressesor a ro-
tationof blocksin a constantstressregime.We thinkthatthe sec-
ond possibilitycanbe ruled out for two reasons:
1. Paleomagneticdata reportedby variousauthorssuggesta
clockwiserotationof-250-30 ø of big partsof the centralAndes
southof 18øS[Roperchand Carlief, 1992; Riley et al., 1993' Au-
bry et al., 1996; Randall et al., 1996], which is beenattributedto
either a rotation of the whole central Andean domain due to oro-
clinalbendingor to the rotationof singleblocksdueto strike-slip
faulting [Forsytheand Chisholm, 1994]. However, as this rota-
tion affectedrocksfrom Triassicto Tertiary in age, it musthave
occurredin Cenozoictimes and has nothingto do with the ori-
entation of Late Jurassic-EarlyCretaceousdikes. Furthermore,
new paleomagneticdata [Roperchet al., 1997] showthat the ro-
tation of the Coastal Cordillera was not uniform but subjectto
changesalong strike' Between22ø an 23.5øStherewas essen-
tially no rotation at all whereassouth of 23.5ø there was a
clockwiserotationof-30 ø. However, regardlessof the magnetic
rotations,the dikes show similar orientationsall over the Coastal
Cordillera from 22 ø to 26øS. Thus no evidence for a Late Jurassic
700-90ø rotationof blockscan be inferredfrom paleomagnetic
data.
2. The angularrelationshipbetweenthe two dike generations
(700-90ø) is fairly constantin all sections;in the caseof local
block rotations this would mean that all blocks should have ro-
tated more or lessthe same amount, which also seemsrather un-
likely.However,therotationof singleblocksof•-30øafter.thein-
trusionof the younger(NW trending)dikesseemspossible.One
notableexampleof possibleblockrotationsis thenorthernpartof
MejillonesPeninsula(sectionA in Figures.2 and6c), wherethe
older dikes strike E-W but the younger dikes strike N-S. How-
ever,the anglebetweenboth generations
of dikes(-700-90ø) is
the same as that in the other sections.
3.4 Stage IV: Younger Sinistral Movements Parallel to the
Arc
Startingwith the emplacementof the NW-SE trendingdikes,
sinistralstrike-slipmovementsprevailedin the CoastalCordillera
alongthe >1000 km long, arc-parallelAtacamaFault Zone (Fig-
ures.2 and 7a). A sinistralsenseof shearcan be inferredfrom
manymyloniticstructures alongthis fault zone(for a detailedde-
scriptionseethe work of ScheuberandAndriessen, [1990]). The
4øAr/39Ar
andRb-Srdatings
of mylonites
gavea deformation
age
of-125 Ma [Scheuberet al., 1995). Dikes and small plutonic
bodieswere displacedwith a sinistralsense(Figure 7b) along
brittle faults of the Atacama Fault Zone where it cuts the rocks of
the Bolfin Complex.
4. Discussion and Conclusions
The observations reportedin sections1-3 showthat the Juras-
sic-EarlyCretaceousmagmaticarc was subjectto strongdefor-
mationswhichwere closelyrelatedto magmaticactivity.This re-
lationshipcan, for example,be shownby the observationthat
tectonicmovementswere accommodatedby the openingand in-
trusion of dikes and other plutonic bodies; furthermore,when
magmatismceasedat -120 Ma [Andriessenand Reutter, 1994],
deformations also ended in the Coastal Cordillera. Ductile de-
formationwas possibleat moderatedepths(<10 km) owing to
magmaticheat supplyresultingin intenseweakeningof the crust
[Grocott et al., 1994; Scheuber, 1994; Gonzalez, 1996]. This
weakeningwas further enhancedby melts which facilitated de-
formation,as can be inferred from syntectonicleucocraticveins
and mafic dikeswhich intrudedalongthe shearplanesand which
were also sheared(Figures 3a-3c). This processcorresponds to
"melt-enhanceddeformation" [Hollister and Crawford, 1986].
Crustal weakeningresulted in the concentrationof deformation
on the magmaticarc, which is shownby the fact that at sametime
asthe arc underwentstrongdeformations,therewastectonicqui-
escencein the backarcbasinborderingthe arcto the east[Prinz et
al., 1994].
The fact that the Jurassic-EarlyCretaceousarc and backarc
hadthe sameN-S trendas that of the presenttrenchallowsus to
infer the kinematicpatternof the convergingplatesfrom the tec-
tonic structuresof the arc. We interpretthe magmaticarc as a
mega shearzone in the structuresof which the movementsof the
forearc sliver relative to the backarc are recorded.
Accordingto the kinematicreconstructions presented in sec-
tion 3, we are able to identifythe describedfour deformational
stagesin the evolutionof the magmaticarc (Figure 8). These
stagescan be interpretedin terms of movementsof the forearc
sliver:Duringstage! (circa 195-155Ma) it movedtowardsouth,
resultingin NW-SE shortening and sinistralstrike-slipmotions
withinthe arc. Duringstage!! (circa 160-150Ma) the inputof
largevolumesof magmas
intothearc'scrustwasaccompanied
by
strongarc-normalextension,which resultedin a movementof the
forearcslivertowardthe trench.Duringstage!!I (155-140Ma),
arc-normalextensionwasreplacedby obliqueextensionindicated
by the intrusionof dikes. The existenceof two setsof dikes indi-
catesa changeof the directionof SHfrom NW-SE to NE-SW and
backto NW-SE. DuringstageIV, sinistralforearcmovements led
to the formationof low-temperature mylonitesand cataclasites
alongthe AFZ.
In parts,this tectonichistorycorroborates
the Jurassic-Early
Cretaceous geodynamic reconstructions
of the SE Pacificadja-
 SCHEUBER AND GONZALEZ: JURASSIC-EARLY CRETACEOUS ARC, NORTH CHILE 907

69 ø

Iquique
(a)

21 ø 0

23ø55'S

22 ø
Tocopilla

23 ø

24 ø

2 km

25 ø

Taltal
Cerro Cristales Pluton Bolfin Complex
'•........
26 ø granodiorites amphibolites

Chafiaral
diorites-monzonites gabbros

27 ø pegmatitic
1 O0 km anorthosites

Figure7: (a) TheAtacamaFaultZonein northernChile.(b) Geological

sketchmapof theCoastalCordillerasouth
of Antofagastashowing
thedistribution
of theBolfinComplex, theCerroCristales
Pluton,twomajorfaultsof the
AtacamaFaultZone(CaletaColosoFaultandCerroBolfinFault),andrelatedsinistraldisplacements in Jurassic
igneousrocks.

cent to South America depicted in Figure I which indicate For the arc-normalextensionof stageII, strongseismiccou-
stronglyoblique,SE directedconvergence which was probably pling betweenthe platescan be ruled out. One possibleexplana-
relatedto a NE-SW trendingspreading centerthat controlledthe tion for the extensionalregimecould be a changefrom a high-
separation betweenNorth Americaand SouthAmerica(Thethys stressto a low-stresssubductionstyle. Low-stresssubduction
model of Jaillard et al., [1990]). The southwardmotionsof the [ Uyedaand Kanamori, 1979; Royden,1993] impliesa fast foun-
forearcsliver are compatibleto this plate configuration during deringof the subductingplate andthusan increasedrollbackrate
stagesI, IIIb, and IV. However,the kinematicpatternsof stages of the trench(e.g., Marianasubduction zone).Sucha processwas
II andIIIa apparentlycontradictthisconfiguration. suggestedpreviously for the Jurassicevolution of the Coastal
The kinematicpatternsof stagesl, IIIb, and IV correspond to Cordilleramagmaticarcby Grocottet al. [ 1994].
arc-forearc tectonicsobservedin manymodernhigh-stress sub- The oblique,NW-SE directedextensionof stageIlla (Figure
duction zones where the forearc moves with the same sense as 8c) is very difficult to explain in a systemof sinistralplate con-
convergence obliquity(e.g., Sumatra[Fitch, 1972], andthe Aleu- vergence.We think of three possiblemechanismswhich, how-
tians [Geist and Scholl, 1992]). The deformationsin thesezones ever, at the momentcannotbe proven by geologicaldata. One
are causedby seismiccouplingbetweenthe platesthat allow the possiblereasonfor NW-SE extensioncould be that there was a
transmission of the SH vector,which is orientedparallelto the differentplateconfigurationadjacentto SouthAmerica;that is, a
vector of plate convergence, from the subductionzone into the short-termreorganizationof the plate systemcould have taken
magmaticarc.This coincidence of SHandthe vectorof platemo- place,and an extra plate was present,which hasbeencompletely
tion is alsoconsistent with observations of the present-daystress subducted. Althoughthis possibilitycannotbe ruledout, it seems
fieldswherethereis a worldwideagreementbetweenthesevec- to be rather unlikely sincethe reversalsoccurredduring a rela-
tors(first-orderstressfield) [Zoback,1992]. tively shorttime (155-147 Ma) in an otherwiseuniformhistoryof
908 SCHEUBER
AND GONZALEZ'JURASSIC-EARLY
CRETACEOUS
ARC,NORTHCHILE

(a) Stage I (195-155 Ma)

downgoingplate forearc magmatic backarc

sliver arc
-o10

:3 100 110 120 130 140 150 160 170 180 190 200

z Age(Ma)
coupling
"-•'•.•...• TECTONICS. 18.5p908f9
Figure 9. Frequencydistributionof biotite age data (K-Ar,
(b) Stage II (160-150 Ma) 4øAr/39Ar,
andRb-Sr)ofplutonic
rocksfrom northChile.The
peakat 150-140Ma indicatescoolingof the arc'scrustbelow
300øC (sourceincludes60 authors,compilationof Ma/•acv
[ 1990]andScheuber[ 1994]).

o rollback
sul•ductio•
and
•eco • [
• •.'3:.'?••
sinistral motion of the forearc sliver. It would mean that conver-
gencetowardthe SE wasactivebefore155 Ma; then,overa pe-
riod of some8 Myr, NE directedsubductionoccurred,which af-
terwardswas replacedagainby the southeastwarddirectedcon-
vergence with about the same direction as that before the
(c) StageIII (155-140Ma) reversal.A secondpossibilitycouldbe an obliquecornerflow
Stage Ilia: pushingthe forearctowardnorth.The work of Furukawa [ 1993a,
b] has shown that comer flow is able to produceconsiderable
differentialstresses(>100 MPa) at the base of the upperplate.
Maximum stresses are vertical beneath the arc and become hori-
zontalbeneath the forearc. These vertical maximum stresses
couldbe able to producehorizontalextensionin the arc, although
it seemsdifficult to drag the forearcsliver in a directionopposite
to convergence,becausethe surfacecontact between the asthe-
founderingof subductingplate nosphericwedge and the forearcis rather small, and so the shear
subduction
rollback
anddecoupling stressesbelow the forearcwould also be low. A third possibility
would imply that first elastic strain accumulatedin the upper
Stage IIIb: plate with an obliqueshorteningdirectioncausedby obliquecon-
vergence.Becauseof a decreasein convergencerate, this elastic
straincould have beenreleased,resultingin the formationof the
NE-SW trendingdikes (stageIllb in Figure 8c). The accumula-
tion of sufficientamountsof elasticstrainrequiresthat the arc's
crustbehavedin a rigid manner,which was not the caseduring
intensemagmatism.However, when there is a magmaticlull, the
arc'suppercrustcoolsdown rapidly(lessthan I Ma) [Bartonand
coupling.....
:'"-'---.'•'•• Hanson, 1989] resultingin an increaseof crustalstrength,which
in turn increasesthe ability to accommodateelastic strain. The
distributionof biotite agesin plutonsof the CoastalCordillera
(d) Stage IV (~125 Ma) (Figure9) showsa peakof coolingbelow300øCat circa 150 Ma,
AFZ which gives a hint that big partsof the arc's upper crust had
cooled down beneaththe temperaturesfor the onset of quartz
ductility, which meansthat the upper crust had becomerigid
enoughto build up elasticstrain.
The resultsreportedin thispaperhaveinterestingbearing•s on
seismic
the kinematicand geodynamicinterpretation of structuresof an-
coupling

Figure 8: Model for the tectonicevolutionof the Jurassic-Early stresssubduction.(c) StageIII: obliquedilatationin the arc.
Cretaceous arc of north Chile and the inferred subduction zone StageIlla: intrusionof NE-SW trendingdikes(NW-SE exten-
regime.(a) StageI: volcanismand deep-seated plutonstogether sion) indicatingdecouplingin a low-stress subductionregime.
with oldersinistralmovements in a high-stress
subduction regime StageIllb: intrusionof the NW-SE trendingdikes(NE-SW ex-
indicatinga highdegreeof seismiccouplingbetweenthe plates. tension)pointto a high couplingin a high-stress subduction re-
(b) StageII: intenseshallow-levelplutonismwithoutvolcanism, gime.(d) StageIV: sinistraldisplacement alongAtacamaFault
magmaticcrustalgrowth and arc-normalextension,and decou- Zone(AFZ) alsoindicating a highdegreeof couplingin a high-
plingbetweenthe plates(low convergence rate) indicatinglow- stresssubductionregime.
 SCHEUBERAND GONZALEZ:JURASSIC-EARLYCRETACEOUSARC, NORTH CHILE
cientorogens.
In manycases
theseorogenshavepassed througha
stagein whicha magmatic arc developed (e.g.,Variscides, ForschungsgemeinschafiandtheFreieUniversit•it
Krohe,1991).Fromthearcstructures
inferencesareoftenmade schungsbereich
aboutancient
platemotions.
However,thisis notpossible
in all UniversidadCatolica del Norte, Antofagasta,and to K.-J. Reutter
cases,becausethe arc structures
may showkinematicpatterns
whichareopposedto plateconvergence.
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spreading,d. Geophys. Res., 77, 6470-6481,
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Andriessen,P.A.M., and K.-J. Reutter, K-At and
fissiontrack mineralage determinations of ig-
neous rocks related to multiple magmaticarc
systemsalong the 23øS latitude of Chile and
NW Argentina, in Tectonicsof the Southern Delaney, P.T, D.D Pollard,J.I. Ziony, and E.H.
Central Andes, edited by K-J. Reutter, E
Scheuber, and P. WiggeL pp. 141-153,
Springer-Verlag, New York, 1994
Angelier, J., Tectonic analysisof fault slip data
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Artgeller,J., Fault slip analysisand paleostress
re-
construction,in ContinentalDeformation,ed-
ited by P.L. Hancock,pp. 53-100, Pergamon,
Tarrytown,N Y., 1994.
Angellet, J., and P. Mechler, Sur une m6thode Emerman,S.H., andR. Marrett,Why dikes?,Geol-
graphiquede recherchedes contraintsprinci-
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