CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

The most remarkable feature of the Central Andes is the Altiplano-Puna plateau. This plateau is characterized by 3.5 km average elevation, approximately 70 km crustal thickness and very high heat flow. Furthermore, below the Altiplano-Puna the existence of a partial melting zone at mid-crustal depth has been established by a number of independent observations (e.g. extreme high conductivity zones, broad low seismic velocity zones, etc.). This interpretation is strongly supported by the presence of a huge concentration of Neogene ignimbrites (most of them derived from crustal melting): the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex. On the other hand, the forearc and the foreland basins have lower heat flow, thinner crust, and lower altitude. These features suggest that thermal isostasy could play a role in the compensation of the Altiplano-Puna. Thermal isostasy is the geodynamic process whereby regional variations in the lithospheric thermal regime cause changes in elevation. Elevation changes result from variations in rock density in response to thermal expansion. However the thermal contribution to continental elevation is difficult to asses, because variations in crustal density and thickness can mask it. This study estimates the elevation effect due to compositional variations and removes it by an isostatic adjustment, revealing the thermal and geodynamic effects on elevation. The effects of compositional and thickness variations within the crust were removed using the crustal density structure obtained for the Central Andes between 19°S and 30°S from 3D forward gravity modelling. The gravity model is very well constrained by a large amount of geophysical, geological, petrological and geochemical data. The elevation was adjusted for compositional buoyancy by calculating the density-thickness product from our 3D gravity model, relative to a reference crustal section (average crustal density: 2850 kg/m3, average mantle density: 3350 kg/m3, crustal thickness: 40 km). GTOPO30 digital elevation model was used to estimate the actual topography. The heat flow data base considered in this study includes new values recently published. The thermal isostatic relationship describing the thermal contributions to the elevation was determined using a reference geotherm corresponding to a surface heat flow of 30 mW/m2 and assigning a lithosphere having this thermal estate an elevation of 0 km. Average elevation adjustments range between 300 and 3000 m, with maximum values of approximately 6000 m. It is observed that no correlation exists between the actual elevation and the corresponding heat flow values. In contrast, the compositionally adjusted elevation shows direct correlation with heat flow, with an increase of around 3000 m elevation between low and high heat flow zones. The forearc and the foreland basins areas are characterized by lower heat flow and lower elevation adjustments, whereas the Altiplano- Puna plateau, the Western Cordillera and the Eastern Cordillera, show higher heat flow and higher elevation adjustments. Our results suggest that while the thermal component of the Altiplano elevation would be of 1 km, the thermal contribution to the Puna elevation would be of 2 km. Previous works highlighted the fact that the Puna and the Altiplano have uniform average elevation in spite of showing great variation in the amount of structural shortening. Shortening estimates are sufficient to account for crustal cross sectional area in the Altiplano north of 22°S, but are less than that needed in the Puna south of 22°S. Other authors suggested that thermal heating and crustal flow would explain the uniform altitude of the Altiplano-Puna, in coincidence with our results. Moreover, it was determined that the above mentioned partially molten zone would extend in the backarc region between about 22 and 24º S and below the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex area of caldera concentration. On the other hand, our 3D gravity model shows the presence of shallower asthenosphere below the Puna than below the Altiplano, suggesting a possible relationship between the depth to the top of the asthenosphere and the higher heat flow, the existence of a mid-crustal partially molten zone and of the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex in the Puna. The obtained results would suggest that the thermal state of the lithosphere could play a significant role in the elevation of the Central Andes. higher elevation adjustments. Our results suggest that while the thermal component of the Altiplano elevation would be of 1 km, the thermal contribution to the Puna elevation would be of 2 km. Previous works highlighted the fact that the Puna and the Altiplano have uniform average elevation in spite of showing great variation in the amount of structural shortening. Shortening estimates are sufficient to account for crustal cross sectional area in the Altiplano north of 22°S, but are less than that needed in the Puna south of 22°S. Other authors suggested that thermal heating and crustal flow would explain the uniform altitude of the Altiplano-Puna, in coincidence with our results. Moreover, it was determined that the above mentioned partially molten zone would extend in the backarc region between about 22 and 24º S and below the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex area of caldera concentration. On the other hand, our 3D gravity model shows the presence of shallower asthenosphere below the Puna than below the Altiplano, suggesting a possible relationship between the depth to the top of the asthenosphere and the higher heat flow, the existence of a mid-crustal partially molten zone and of the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex in the Puna. The obtained results would suggest that the thermal state of the lithosphere could play a significant role in the elevation of the Central Andes. higher elevation adjustments. Our results suggest that while the thermal component of the Altiplano elevation would be of 1 km, the thermal contribution to the Puna elevation would be of 2 km. Previous works highlighted the fact that the Puna and the Altiplano have uniform average elevation in spite of showing great variation in the amount of structural shortening. Shortening estimates are sufficient to account for crustal cross sectional area in the Altiplano north of 22°S, but are less than that needed in the Puna south of 22°S. Other authors suggested that thermal heating and crustal flow would explain the uniform altitude of the Altiplano-Puna, in coincidence with our results. Moreover, it was determined that the above mentioned partially molten zone would extend in the backarc region between about 22 and 24º S and below the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex area of caldera concentration. On the other hand, our 3D gravity model shows the presence of shallower asthenosphere below the Puna than below the Altiplano, suggesting a possible relationship between the depth to the top of the asthenosphere and the higher heat flow, the existence of a mid-crustal partially molten zone and of the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex in the Puna. The obtained results would suggest that the thermal state of the lithosphere could play a significant role in the elevation of the Central Andes. higher elevation adjustments. Our results suggest that while the thermal component of the Altiplano elevation would be of 1 km, the thermal contribution to the Puna elevation would be of 2 km. Previous works highlighted the fact that the Puna and the Altiplano have uniform average elevation in spite of showing great variation in the amount of structural shortening. Shortening estimates are sufficient to account for crustal cross sectional area in the Altiplano north of 22°S, but are less than that needed in the Puna south of 22°S. Other authors suggested that thermal heating and crustal flow would explain the uniform altitude of the Altiplano-Puna, in coincidence with our results. Moreover, it was determined that the above mentioned partially molten zone would extend in the backarc region between about 22 and 24º S and below the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex area of caldera concentration. On the other hand, our 3D gravity model shows the presence of shallower asthenosphere below the Puna than below the Altiplano, suggesting a possible relationship between the depth to the top of the asthenosphere and the higher heat flow, the existence of a mid-crustal partially molten zone and of the Altiplano-Puna Volcanic Complex in the Puna. The obtained results would suggest that the thermal state of the lithosphere could play a significant role in the elevation of the Central Andes.

enviar mensaje