Morphotectonic Analysis in the Eastern Piedmont of the Sierra de La Huerta, Western Sierras Pampeanas, San Juan, Argentina

ROTHIS, LUIS MARTÍN; HARO, FEDERICO; L. PERUCCA; SANTI MALNIS, PAULA; ALCACER, JUAN MANUEL; VARGAS, H.

Advances in Geomorphology and Quaternary Studies in Argentina

SPRINGER

Lugar: NUEVA YORK; Año: 2019; p. 114 - 128

Tectonic geomorphology is a useful discipline to investigate theeffects of active tectonic processes upon landforms. The Andean back arc between27° S and 33° S is characterized by intense seismicity, being the epicentre of themost damaging earthquakes in Argentina. Those events produced deformation,causing changes on the land surface morphology. A geomorphological and amorphotectonic analysis were carried out in the eastern flank of the Sierra de laHuerta to characterize the available evidence of tectonic activity. Three morphostructuralunits (named as Mountain, Transition and Depression) were recognized.The transition unit shows Quaternary active faulting where eight faulttraces with a NW trend and associated scarps were identified. These evidences ofQuaternary faulting were assigned to the Marayes Fault System. Detailed topographicprofiles perpendicular to the strike of fault scarps allowed to measure maindeformation to the north of the study area. Neotectonic deformation in the ArroyoLos Papagayos (arroyo = creek, sometimes an ephemeral one) producedanomalies in its pattern and longitudinal profile. Thus, this study allowed theconsideration of the Marayes Fault System as a potential seismogenic source.