Neogene to Quaternary extensional reactivation of a fold and thrust belt: The Agrio belt in the Southern Central Andes and its relation to the Loncopué trough (38°–39°S)

The Andean orogenic front between 38 and 39°S is formed by extensional structures delimiting the Loncopué trough. These structures are superimposed to Late Cretaceous–Late Miocene compressive structures that formed the Agrio fold and thrust belt. Gravity data, and limited borehole and seismic data complimented with previous field studies were used to construct two structural cross sections across the area of Neogene extensional deformation and remnants of the previous compressive structure. One of them was restituted for Late Cretaceous times previously to extensional relaxation of the fold and thrust belt and Late Oligocene–Early Miocene and Pliocene to Quaternary stages. Different modeling techniques and filters for gravity anomalies show that i) a series of deeper and larger depocenters, where Late Oligocene to Early Miocene sequences are buried, were located particularly at the Present trough boundaries; while ii) smaller and probably shallower depocenters were concentrated at the axial-eastern trough following structures at surface with young morphological expression. The former are interpreted as representative of the initial extensional stage when Late Cretaceous compressional basement structures were relaxated, while the latter could be the product of incipient-young extensional reactivation of the Agrio fold and thrust belt. General coincidence between both areas of extensional relaxation at the western Agrio fold and thrust belt implies that a common basement discontinuity is recurrently being reactivated through time, probably in coincidence with the eastern main Loncopué fault boundary.

Research Highlights►The Andean orogenic (38 and 39°S) is formed by extensional structures. ►The extensional structures are superimposed to Late Cretaceous–Late Miocene compressive structures. ►Cross sections show a Neogene extensional deformation and remnants of the previous compressive structure. ►Gravity anomalies show a complex geometry of depocenters. ►The extensional relaxation at the fold and thrust belt implies that a common basement discontinuity is recurrently being reactivated.