GEOSUR2013 25-27 NOVEMBER 2013 – VIÑA DEL MAR (CHILE)

ARC DEVELOPMENT DURING CONTINUOUS SUBDUCTION FROM CARBONIFEROUS 5-03

TO TRIASSIC: EVIDENCE FROM GEOCHEMISTRY OF INTRUSIVE ROCKS
IN THE VALLENAR CORDILLERA (EL TRÁNSITO VALLEY), ANDES OF NORTHERN CHILE

Felipe Coloma*1, Christian Creixell1 and Esteban Salazar1

(1) Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Avenida Santa María 0104, Providencia, Santiago, Chile.
* Presenting Author’s email: felipe.coloma@sernageomin.cl

Abstract
Extensive geological mapping and geochronological work had permitted in the last two years to redefine
the architecture, compositional zoning and evolution of large intrusive bodies recognized along the
Frontal Cordillera of Vallenar (28º-29º S). Previous studies classified these plutons in large, regional-scale
superunits, called Elqui and Ingaguas. Our current results allow us to separate plutonic rocks of the area in
three plutonic complexes with well-defined spatial and age distribution: Chanchoquín Plutonic Complex
(297-285 Ma), Cerro Lagunillas Tonalites (270 Ma) and Chollay Plutonic Complex (247-237 Ma).
Whole-rock geochemical studies on 43 samples on the mentioned plutonic complexes indicate that most of
them have medium to high-K calc-alkaline signature, with dominant peraluminous character. Multielement
distribution diagrams evidences the presence of marked negative anomalies in Nb-Ta, P and Ti, and
enrichment in LILE, as typical for subduction-zone magmas. REE patterns normalized to chondrites reflect
heterogeneous sources for the plutonic complexes. Chanchoquin Plutonic Complex and Cerro Lagunillas
Tonalites are characterized by steep REE patterns, with La/Yb ratios mostly between 10 and 40, which are
comparable to those observed in Cenozoic calc-alkaline arc rocks associated to thickened crust (> 40 km).
On the other hand, rocks from the Chollay Plutonic Complex show flat REE patterns with La/Yb ratios
between 4 and 20 and very low Sm/Yb ratios, close to 1, reflecting a different source from Triassic magmas,
probably associated to magma generation and emplacement in a thinned crust.
These geochemical data are consistent with origin of magmas in a active subduction margin environment that
worked continuously from Carboniferous to Triassic times in this area. The differences in the geochemical
character of the plutonic rocks from Permian to Triassic reflect the changes in tectonic and geodynamic
conditions associated to the development of the San Rafael Orogeny in the Permian and a subsequent
crustal extension and thinning developed mostly during the Triassic. The presence of an accretionary prism
association to the west (Punta de Choros Metamorphic Complex), active at least from 320 to 260 Ma,
in addition to presence of Carboniferous and Permian and Early Triassic nearly continuous volcanic and
plutonic belts from at least 27º to 30º S, support the hypothesis of a continuous subduction environment,
where the Chanchoquin Plutonic Complex and Cerro Lagunillas Tonalites represents the root of an Early
Permian arc and the Chollay Plutonic Complex represents a belt of calc-alkaline plutons during an Early
Triassic arc developed in extensional conditions.

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