Structural and strain analysis in the Late Paleozoic coastal accretionary wedge of central Chile [Elektronische Ressource] / Peter Paul Erich Richter

Structural and strain analysis in the Late Paleozoic coastal accretionary wedge of central Chile Dissertation zur Erlangung des Grades „Doktor der Naturwissenschaften“ am Fachbereich 09: Chemie, Pharmazie und Geowissenschaften der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität in Mainz Peter Paul Erich Richter geboren in Aachen Mainz, August 2007 Erklärung Ich versichere hiermit die Arbeit selbstständig und nur unter Verwendung der angegebenen Quellen und Hilfsmittel verfasst zu haben. Mainz, August 2007 Abstract In this study structural and finite strain data are used to explore the tectonic evolution and the exhumation history of the Chilean accretionary wedge. The Chilean accretionary wedge is part of a Late Paleozoic subduction complex that developed during subduction of the Pacific plate underneath South America. The wedge is commonly subdivided into a structurally lower Western Series and an upper Eastern Series. This study shows the progressive development of structures and finite strain from the least deformed rocks in the eastern part of the Eastern Series of the accretionary wedge to higher grade schist of the Western Series at the Pacific coast. Furthermore, this study reports finite-strain data to quantify the contribution of vertical ductile shortening to exhumation.