Analysis of deformation and tectonic history of the Southern Altiplano Plateau (Bolivia) and their importance for plateau formation [Elektronische Ressource] / Geoforschungszentrum Potsdam. Kirsten Elger

ISSN 1610-0956 Analysis of deformation and tectonic history of theSouthern Altiplano Plateau (Bolivia) and their importancefor plateau formationKirsten ElgerDissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgradesim Fachbereich Geowissenschaftenan derFreien Universitat¤ Berlin14th March 2003AbstractThe Altiplano represents a key region of the Central Andes, where the interplay betweenfaults and syn-tectonic sediments allow the reconstruction of the kinematic evolution of theCentral Andean high plateau. This study aims, by the use of incrementally-balanced cross-sections, interpretation of re ection-seismic pro les, 3D strain analysis, gravity data interpre-tation, isotopic-age dating, and surface observations, to reconstruct the geological and tectonicohistory of the Southern Altiplano at 21 S between the Eastern and the Western Cordillera.The Southern Altiplano is a complex intramontane basin with 6 8km Cenozoic ll. It can bestructurally divided in three domains; the Eastern, Central, and Western Altiplano. 2D bal-anced cross-sections based on seismic-re ector analysis and eld observations show that theEastern Altiplano is the buried, thin-skinned deformation front of the western part of the East-oern Cordillera’s bivergent thrust system. The 20 40 dipping, blind faults merge into a shallow,eastward-dipping detachment at 7 9km depth that continues into the Eastern Cordillera.