Movement vectors and deformation mechanisms in kinematic restorations: A case study from the Colombian Eastern Cordillera

Abstract

We have developed a new method to assess the movement of particles in different steps of a well-calibrated sequential kinematic restoration. Calibration included correct assessment of amounts of overburden, sedimentation, erosion, and thermal behavior through time. Our method allowed a better understanding of the mechanisms of deformation and uplift in different geologic provinces. In our pilot case study in the Colombian Eastern Cordillera, we have used movement vectors in balanced cross sections to document an initial phase of dominant vertical uplift and a final phase of dominant tangential horizontal shortening. Our findings challenged the common assumptions related to folding and deformation mechanisms in fold-and-thrust belts used for cross-section balancing and palinspastic reconstructions. Thus, we found that the movement vectors in cross sections can be used to test and validate a complete procedure to obtain calibrated sequential kinematic restorations and represent a powerful tool to better understand deformation mechanisms in different settings.

Multi-Attribute Analysis Using Coherency and Ant-Tracking Techniques for Fault and Fracture Detection in La Florida Anticline, Llanos Foothills, Colombia

“…The La Florida anticline ( Figure 1) was formed in the last 7 million years (Myr) by displacement on the underlying Cusiana thrust fault and the nearby Guaicaramo fault [8,16]. Mora et al (2010) [6] interpreted the La Florida anticline as produced by slip on the Cusiana fault, a listric high angle reverse fault involving pre-Late Cretaceous basement rocks.…”

“…The total slip on the Cusiana high angle reverse fault is over 4 km [1]. Based on thermochronometric data and kinematic restorations, Bande et al (2012) [17] and Carrillo et al (2016) [16] suggest that the folds associated with the Cusiana fault originated in the last 3 Myr. Mora et al (2010) [6] also noted that Pliocene-Pleistocene units on the back-limb of the Florida anticline are folded conformably with no significant growth strata.…”

Structural analysis of the Bogotá Anticline, Colombian Eastern Cordillera: Implications on deformational styles of the Llanos Foothills

“…(e.g. Carrillo et al, 2016). Mora et al (2008) propose the Bogotá Plateau as a Piggy-Back Basin passively uplifted by the principal western marginal thrust faults.…”

“…Mora et al, 2010a) and the Bogotá Plateau (e.g. Parra et al, 2009a;Carrillo et al, 2016), the main focus of this work. This domain is a topographically elevated structural depression in the axial zone of the Eastern Cordillera bounded by two basement highs, formed by a passive uplift during the evolution of the main thrusts in the adjacent structural domains (Mora et al, 2008).…”

Estimation of the Thermal Structure Beneath the Volcanic Arc of the Northern Andes by Coda Wave Attenuation Tomography

“…The lithospheric system of the NW South America is a consequence of different conditions of relief, age and converging velocities of at least three slabs (see, e.g., Trenkamp et al, 2002;Cediel et al, 2003;Gutscher and Westbrook, 2009;Carrillo et al, 2016), which promote a broad variety of subduction types along approx. 2000 km on the Pacific and Caribbean margins (Figure 1).…”