Title: Pervasive cracking of the northern Chilean Coastal Cordillera: New evidence for forearc extension
Abstract: Research Article| December 01, 2005 Pervasive cracking of the northern Chilean Coastal Cordillera: New evidence for forearc extension John P. Loveless; John P. Loveless 1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gregory D. Hoke; Gregory D. Hoke 1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard W. Allmendinger; Richard W. Allmendinger 1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Gabriel González; Gabriel González 2Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Casilla 1280, Antofagasta, Chile Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bryan L. Isacks; Bryan L. Isacks 3Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Daniel A. Carrizo Daniel A. Carrizo 4Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Casilla 1280, Antofagasta, Chile Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information John P. Loveless 1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA Gregory D. Hoke 1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA Richard W. Allmendinger 1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA Gabriel González 2Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Casilla 1280, Antofagasta, Chile Bryan L. Isacks 3Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA Daniel A. Carrizo 4Departamento de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Católica del Norte, Casilla 1280, Antofagasta, Chile Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 27 Jun 2005 Revision Received: 09 Aug 2005 Accepted: 18 Aug 2005 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2005) 33 (12): 973–976. https://doi.org/10.1130/G22004.1 Article history Received: 27 Jun 2005 Revision Received: 09 Aug 2005 Accepted: 18 Aug 2005 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation John P. Loveless, Gregory D. Hoke, Richard W. Allmendinger, Gabriel González, Bryan L. Isacks, Daniel A. Carrizo; Pervasive cracking of the northern Chilean Coastal Cordillera: New evidence for forearc extension. Geology 2005;; 33 (12): 973–976. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G22004.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Despite convergence across the strongly coupled seismogenic interface between the South American and Nazca plates, the dominant neotectonic signature in the forearc of northern Chile is arc-normal extension. We have used 1 m resolution IKONOS satellite imagery to map nearly 37,000 cracks over an area of 500 km2 near the Salar Grande (21°S). These features, which are best preserved in a ubiquitous gypcrete surface layer, have both nontectonic and tectonic origins. However, their strong preferred orientation perpendicular to the plate convergence vector suggests that the majority owe their formation to approximate east-west extension associated with plate boundary processes such as interseismic loading, coseismic and postseismic strain, and long-term instability resulting from subduction erosion. Similar structures were formed during or shortly after the 1995 Mw = 8.0 earthquake near the city of Antofagasta, south of Salar Grande, and in conjunction with the 2001 Mw = 8.2–8.4 Arequipa, Peru, event. Cracks such as these may form in other forearcs but remain largely unexposed because of vegetative cover or marked fluvial erosion—factors that are absent in northern Chile as a result of its hyperarid climate. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.