Federico Lince Klinger

Gravity characterization of the La Rioja Valley Basin, Argentina

TheLaRiojaValleyisasedimentarybasininthePampean Ranges, a region of basement uplifts and broad valleys in the Andean foreland. The present study advances understanding ofthegenesisofthebasinbyprovidingsubsurfacedataonits geometry and characteristics. Gravity and topographic data, including a newly completed gravity survey, were integrated tocreateacompleteBougueranomalymap.EulerandWerner deconvolution techniques sum with traditional potentialfieldsmethodsandsparseindependentdatafromseismicand magnetotelluric methods to test and constrain the subsurface geophysical characterization of the La Rioja Valley Basin. The residual anomaly, obtained through upward continuation, was inverted to obtain the best 3D gravity model of the La RiojaValley Basin, which shows the first-order geometry ofthebasin.Thisrevealsthatthebasinisasymmetric,withup to 6000 m of low-density basinfill in a depocenter located in thewest-centralsectorofthevalley.Second-orderfeaturesof thebasinincludeasoutheast-trendingbasementhigh,likelya fault zone that subdivides the basin, which has been revealed by a suite of analytical methods 3D model of depth to basement, a 2D inverse model, and Werner deconvolution solutions.

Crustal structure and tectonic setting of the south central Andes from gravimetric analysis

Based on terrestrial gravity data, in this paper we prepared a map of Bouguer anomalies, which was filtered to separate shallow and deep gravity sources. Based on a density model and gravimetric inversion techniques, the discontinuous crust- mantle boundary and the top of crystalline basement were modeled. Subsequently, the equivalent elastic thickness (Te) was evaluated, considering information from the crust-mantle discontinuity and topographic load, finding high Te values in the eastern Andean foothills and west of the Velasco range. These results are consistent with the positive isostatic and residual Bouguer anomaly values, which suggest the presence of high-density rocks in the mid-to upper crust. In addition, petrographic and geochemical analysis conducted in surface outcrops suggest a mantle origin.

Density and Thermal Structure of the Southern Andes and Adjacent Foreland from 32° to 55°S Using Earth Gravity Field Models

GOCE satellite data and EGM2008 model are used to calculate the gravity anomaly and the vertical gravity gradient, both corrected by the topographic effect, in order to delineate main tectonic features related to density variations. In particular, using the Bouguer anomaly from GOCE, we calculated the crust–mantle discontinuity obtaining elastic thicknesses in the frame of the isostatic lithospheric flexure model applying the convolution method approach. Results show substantial variations in the density, compositional and thermal structure, and isostatic and flexural behavior of the continental lithosphere along the Southern Andes and adjacent foreland region.

Modelo gravimétrico en el borde noreste del macizo norpatagónico

We present a gravimetric study on the northeast edge of the North Patagonian massif in the province of Rio Negro, to ascertain the depth distribution of the different outcrop units in the study area, as well as the geometry of the Navarrete Plutonic Complex. The negative anomalies in the Bouguer residual map reproduce the lateral density contrast between what would be the bedrock of Cambrian age and the lithologic units of the Mesozoic age. The solutions of the analytical signal along with variations in the curve of the horizontal gradient of gravity, obtained along a profile across the outcrops of the Navarrete Plutonic Complex, show contacts between the intrusive body and the bedrock with different densities. Over this profile we obtained a 2D (dimensional) gravimetric forward model adjusted with the density data of the surface rocks. Above the outcrop of the Yaminue Complex there exists a gravimetric high which does not correspond to the density in this area. This is a new evidence that proves that it is a series of intrusions and thin subhorizontal tectonic slices and that its thickness is probably thin. On the other hand theNavarrete Pluton shows the greatest development in size and depth to the east of Treneta stream.

The Peru-Chile Margin from Global Gravity Field Derivatives

Deformation along the 3,500 km subduction Pacific margin of the Peru-Chile trench is partially controlled by ocean bathymetric heterogeneities and sediments. Oceanic highs (e.g. ridges, fracture zones, plateaus) influence deformation in the fore-arc zone where collision occurs, and control turbiditic flow dispersal and consequently the amount of sediments accreted at the frontal accretionary prism and subduction channel, compartmentalizing the trench into segments linked to seismic segmentation. Recent satellite missions (CHAMP, GRACE and GOCE) have introduced an extraordinary improvement in the reconstruction of the global gravity field. Earth gravity field models, mainly derived from satellite measurements, reflect mass inhomogeneities of the earth. This chapter focuses on the determination of mass heterogeneities over the oceanic plate and their relation to general distribution of sediments over the Peru-Chilean margin, seismic segmentation along the margin, and the relationship between trench sediment thickness and the variable Andean orogenic volume, by means of a gravimetric analysis. Using the gravity potential model EGM2008 and satellite GOCE data we calculated two functionals of the geopotential: the Bouguer anomaly and the vertical gravity gradient, both corrected for the topographic effect. The vertical gravity gradient field is of special interest as it highlights main geological features, and allows unraveling unknown structures that are concealed by sediments. From these, different features can be clearly depicted such as the contact between the Pacific oceanic crust and the South American plate, the Nazca Ridge, the Juan Fernandez Ridge and the Chile Rise, among others. The segmentation between a filled trench south of Juan Fernandez Ridge, a partially filled trench to the north up to the Copiapo Ridge, and a completely starved trench north of this latitude is depicted. Finally, the relationship between gravity derived fields, high oceanic features and seismic segmentation is discussed for the last megathrust earthquakes that affected this subductive plate boundary.

Cenozoic Deformational Processes in the North Patagonian Andes Between 40° and 43°S

The Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the North Patagonian Andes is analyzed linking geological and geophysical data in order to decipher the deformational processes that acted through time and relate them to basin formation. Field observations and seismic reflection profiles reveal the shallow structure of the retroarc area where contractional structures, associated with Oligocene to early Miocene inverted extensional sections, are partially onlapped by early to late Miocene synorogenic deposits. From the construction of five structural cross sections along the retroarc area between 40° and 43° 30′S, constrained by surface, gravity, and seismic data, a shortening gradient is observed along Andean strike. The highest shortening of 18.7 km (15.34 %) is determined near to 41° 30′S where basement blocks were uplifted in the orogenic front area, and the deepest and broadest synorogenic depocenters were formed toward the foreland. Additionally, eastward shifting of Miocene calc-alkaline arc rocks occurred at these latitudes, which is interpreted as indicative of a significant change in the subduction parameters at this time. Deep crustal retroarc structure is evaluated through inversion of gravity models that made also possible to infer Moho attenuated zones. These coincide with the occurrence of younger than 5 Ma within-plate volcanics as well as with crustal thermal anomalies suggested by shallowing of the Curie isotherm calculated from magnetic data.

Integrated seismic and gravimetric model of Jocolí Basin, Argentina

AbstractGravity measurements and reinterpretations of previously released seismic lines were made, focusing on the provincial border between neighboring provinces San Juan and Mendoza. A Bouguer anomaly map was obtained after the processing of gravimetric data, which were previously filtered, to obtain the Bouguer residual anomalies used for studying the geologic structures located on the upper crust. The analysis of these Bouguer residual anomalies allowed identification of the Jocoli Basin in a foreland position within a triangle zone at the boundary of the Precordillera fold-and-thrust belt with the Sierras Pampeanas thick-skinned foreland province. The seismic images allowed interpretation of three horizons: Paleozoic, Triassic, and Tertiary-Quaternary ages. The authors have reinterpreted the seismic and well data and reconstructed gravity models for the area under study aiming at unraveling the deep structure of the region and identifying features with potential for oil and gas exploration.