Atacama Fault System

Nirio Mendoza
LOWELL PROGRAM - ECONOMIC GEOLOGY

Abstract
The Atacama Fault System (AFS) is a Mesozoic sinistral strikeslip dominant mega-structure extended at northern Chilean forearc. Related to highly oblique (~N78E) subduction process, the strike-slip character of AFS also has been attributed to strong plate coupling factor originating the fore-arc sliver formation. AFS, divided in three segments, shows a complex multi-phase faulting history with three distinct activity, evolved from extensional to compressional stage. The total cumulate displacement suggested for AFS is more than 5 km. Detailed studies show numerous duplex-like structures as result of strikeslip deformation, such is the case of Caleta Coloso Duplex. Short term compiled GPS-derived velocity vectors apparently does not indicate slip partitioning neither northward translation of fore-arc sliver. Youngest displacement of AFS corresponded to Pleistocene with dextral strike-slip motion (<1mm/yr). Also recent deformation of AFS is expressed by several fault scarps, with 0.01 mm/yr minimum vertical fault slip rate. InSAR images could confirm dip-slip reverse faulting, but some results are ambiguous

Tectonic Setting
The AFS, trench-parallel fault system with 1000 km long, is one of the most important structure of the Central Andes[1,2] (Fig.1, 2). The formation of AFS started sensu stricto at ca. 125 Ma, when the arc magmatism ceased with formation of present day Coastal Cordillera, and subsequent cooling and localized sinistral strike-slip brittle deformation with NS and NW faults networks [2]. The motion and formation of AFS is driven by Andean subduction zone process[1,2]. Because of faster subduction rate until early Cretaceous (132125 Ma), the Andean margin was characterized as retreating subduction boundary originating extensional structures with intra-arc magmatism (Fig. 3), similar to Mariana type subduction[2]. The evolution from wider transtensional to transpressional period with sinistral strike slip motion (106 Ma) coincide with the oblique convergence[4]. However, the Peru-Chile trench always was oblique, only changing the vector of obliquity[1]. Not least important than the obliquity or rate of convergence in the formation of AFS, and the fore-arc deformation, is apparently the coupling force-function of shear stress-, established at the plate interface along the slab. It is expected that a plate interface with small coupling force will experiment less deformation in the upper plate than stronger interface. Therefore, it is suggested that coupling forces along Chilean margin could affect the variability of strike-slip activity, and even resulting in fore-arc sliver motion[4] (Fig.4).

Structural Geology
Three concave segments constitute the AFS: Salar del Carmen, Paposo, El Salado. They show similar deformations and structures. A local studied inside The Paposo Segment, over the Coastal Cordillera (125-118 Ma) at Northern Chile, report presence of second and third-order faults generating for instance the Caleta Coloso Duplex (CCD)[2] (Fig.5) The characteristic for strike-slip duplex is that inside is expected to find the presence of combination of strike-slip and dip-slip motion structures[2,4], and these features could represent the internal geometry of extensional stepovers in strike-slip fault patterns[2] (Fig. 6). The CCD is developed within Early Jurassic metamorphic rocks, and Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous plutons correspondent to the Coastal Cordillera batholiths'. Field observations would indicate that the CCD was formed shortly after 125 Ma. It is clearly originated by two NNW subvertical master faults, the Jorgillo Fault, and Bolfin Fault (Fig. 5). Both are linked by numerous second-order NW (with epidote-chlorite-quartz/calcite veins), and numerous third-order E-W faults (steeply to shallowly dipping structure filled by epidote, calcite, chlorite). These thirdorder structures are localized between the second-order structures[2]. The mineralized veinlets inside this duplexs structures are indicating the locus of fluid transport. From the CCD map (Fig. 5) is possible to suggest that the aprox. total displacement of AFS might be more than 5 km.

Current Motion
The paleotectonic sinistral strike-slip motion for the AFS is pretty well established. Although, the AFS has not been active as major strike-slip system since the Miocene in an extensional regimen, the almost imperceptibly <1mm/yr of dextral strike-slip motion has been suggested[1, 3] since the Pliocene. Indeed, field observations report AFS young activity expressed by several fault scarps affecting alluvial fan sediments (Fig. 7). These scarps apparently were formed by the propagation of a subvertical fault in an extensional regime. The youngest slip of AFS, concluded from field observations and cosmogenic 21Ne concentrations, occurred during the post 300 to 600 kyr. Also, a total vertical slip of 5 m with a minimum 0.01 mm/yr slip rate is suggested. After all, the young displacement on the AFS is Quaternary, confined to the Late Pleistocene motions[3]. As contrasting to the previous fact, InSAR images for small scale deformation (coseismic and postseismic) data from megathrust earthquake Antofagasta 1995, Mw = 8.1, might reveals the dip-slip reverse motion over the AFS, but some data are ambiguous[5].

Fig. 7. Fault scarp presence over the AFS[3]

Conclusions
The plate kinematic boundary conditions: oblique convergence, rate of subduction, and the interface of plates with frictionally coupling control the kinematic evolution of the Chilean forearc and the AFS Pleistocene evidence for AFS show dextral strike-slip motion into extensional regime, but some recent studies such InSAR images does not show at small scale such behavior.

Fig. 5 Fig. 3. Cartoon explaining an extensional detachment zone tectonic environment. Zone locus of magma ascend[4].

References
Fig. 6. Model for the progressive deformation of the Caleta Coloso Duplex, explained in the fig. a, b, c, d, e, f[2]. Fig. 1. Map of the Chilean margin showing Fig. 2. Present day geodynamic setting the GPS- derived velocity deformation, over the same of the Chilean margin. Solid relative to fixed South America reference arrows denote the modern strike-slip fault direction, hollow arrows refer to past frame[1]. senses of slip. Schematic representation of compressional and extensional tectonic regimes is suggested[1]. Fig. 5. Structural geology map of Caleta Colosa Duplex area, showing incremental strain tensors for the master faults, also for the second-order faults[2]. [1] Hoffmann-Rothe, A., N. Kukowski, N. Dresen, G. Echtler, H., Oncken, O., Klotz, J., Scheuber, E., and Kellner, A. (2006), Oblique convergence along the Chilean margin: Partitioning, margin-parallel faulting and force interaction at the plate interface. In Oncken, O. (Springer) Eds: The Andes: Active Subduction Orogeny: p. 125-146. [2] Cembrano, J., Gonzalez, G., Arancibia, G., Ahumada, I., Olivares, V., and Herrera, V., (2005), Fault zone development and strain partitioning in an extensional strike-slip duplex: A case study from the Mesozoic Atacama fault system, Northern Chile: Tectonophysics, v. 400, 1-4, p. 105-125. [3] Gonzlez L., G., Dunai, T., Carrizo, D., and Allmendinger, R., (2006), Young displacements on the Atacama Fault System, northern Chile from field observations and cosmogenic 21Ne concentrations: Tectonics, v. 25. [4] Taylor,G. K., Grocott, J., Pope, A., and Randall,D. E., (1998), Mesozoic fault systems, deformation and fault block rotation in the Andean forearc: a crustal scale strike-slip duplex in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile: Tectonophysics, v. 299, 13. [5] Loveless, J. P., and Pritchard, M. E., (2008), Motion on upper-plate faults during subduction zone earthquakes: Case of the Atacama Fault System, northern Chile: Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., v. 9.

Fig. 4. Cartoon explaining short-term (inter-seismic) and long-term (geologic) deformation and surface motion for a obliquely convergence setting[1].