Chapter 30
Morphotectonic and Geologic Digital Map Compilations
of the South-Central Andes (3642S)
Daniel Melnick Helmut P. Echtler
30.1 Introduction
The need of the multidisciplinary SFB-267 project of in-
tegrated, large-scale tectonic and geologic base informa-
tion for the specific and localized subprojects led to pro-
duce the two map compilations presented here. Both maps
have been conceived at about 1 : 4 000 000 scale and cover
the region from 36 to 42 S, between the Pacific Ocean
and 67 W in the Argentine pampas (Figs. 30.1 and 30.2).
The first map includes the main morphotectonic units
and Cenozoic fault zones as well as major tectonic ele-
ments. Off-shore shelf basins and limits of the continen-
tal slope and trench plain (Fig. 30.1) are also integrated.
These morphotectonic units can be considered as the
continental-scale subdivisions of the Andean margin, first
Fig. 30.1. Morphotectonic units and major faults of the south-Central Andes
30
described by naturalists like Charles Darwin and Ignacy
Domeyko (Darwin 1839; Domeyko 1846). Their tectonic
significance was further developed among
others by Brggen (1950), Plafker and Savage (1970),
Gansser (1973), Jordan et al. (1983), Mpodozis and Ra-
mos (1989). The off-shore structure of the margin and
shelf basins has been integrated from hydrocarbon
exploration studies made by Empresa Nacional del
Petrleo (ENAP), the Chilean state oil company (Mordo-
jovich 1981; Gonzlez 1989), interpretation of ENAP
seismic reflection profiles and boreholes (Melnick and
Echtler 2006) and SPOC multibeam bathymetry (Reichert
et al. 2002). The second map integrates the main re-
gional-scale stratigraphic, intrusive, and metamorphic
units (Fig. 30.2) comprised within each margin-scale
morphotectonic province.
566 Daniel Melnick Helmut P. Echtler
Fig. 30.2. Geologic map compilation of the south-Central Andes
30.2 Methods and Data Sources
The morphotectonic units were mapped using the NASA-
SRTM digital elevation model, which has a ground reso-
lution of 3 arc sec (Slater et al. 2006). The main criteria
used to define the map units were morphology, topo-
graphic gradients, geological evolution, and structural
boundaries. The precise limit of each unit is based on own
field observations, interpretation of the digital elevation
model and locally remote sensing data, and published
data. Table 30.1 includes area and mean and maximum
elevations of the morphotectonic units.
The geologic compilation is based on the available maps
of the Chilean and Argentinean Geological Surveys pur-
chased in digital versions at 1 : 1000000 and 1 : 2500000
scale, respectively (SERNAGEOMIN 1982, 2003; SEGEMAR
1995). Both maps were simplified by merging units based
 Chapter 30 Morphotectonic and Geologic Digital Map Compilations of the South-Central Andes (3642S) 567

on chronostratigraphic as well as tectonic considerations;

for example, the late Cretaceous to Pliocene sedimentary infill
of the Andean fore-arc basins was grouped into Marine and
continental fore-arc basins; Jurassic to Miocene intrusive
rocks of the Main Cordillera were integrated into North
Patagonian Batholith magmatic arc root (e.g., Herv 1994).
The structural information supplied by both geologi-
cal surveys has been actualized by studies developed in
the frame of the SFB-267, its local partner universities
and institutions, and other parallel research groups in the
Andes (e.g., Herv 1988, 1994; Lavenu and Cembrano 1999;
Muoz et al. 2000; Jordan et al. 2001; Radic et al. 2002;
Melnick et al. 2002, 2003, 2006ac; Rosenau 2004; Folguera
et al. 2004; Glodny et al. 2005; Ramos and Folguera 2005;
Zapata and Folguera 2005; Rosenau et al. 2006). The ma-
jor fault zones have been revised, updated and mapped
using the SRTM digital elevation model. The legend of
the geologic map has been organized in order to show
the tectonic position of each unit as well as its time span
(Fig. 30.3). This facilitates i.e., visualizing shifts in the lo-
cus of magmatic activity, sediment transport and distri-
bution, and basin development. Table 30.2 integrates sim-
plified descriptions and age ranges of each unit. All the
GIS tables are available in the accompanying DVD in geo-
detic projection and WGS 1984 datum.

Acknowledgments

This work benefits from discussions with the SFB-267 com-

munity and Berlin-Potsdam geosciences groups as well as
Fig. 30.3. Space-time diagram of the geologic units colleagues from Chilean and Argentinean institutions.
568 Daniel Melnick Helmut P. Echtler
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