CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Abstract: Piggyback basins are one of the most important sediment storage systems for foredeepbasins within foreland basin systems, so understanding the dynamics of sediment accumulation andallocyclic changes is essential. Three alluvial systems are proposed here to depict sediment movementalong the piggyback basin: piedmont, axial and transference systems. We propose differentiationbetween open continental piggyback basins that include a transference system that is able todeliver sediment to the foredeep and closed piggyback basins that are isolated. Two idealizedmodels of sedimentation in piggyback basins are proposed. For open piggyback basins we identifyfour stages: (a) the incision stage; (b) the confined low accommodation system tract; (c) the highaccommodation system tract; and (d) the unconfined low accommodation system tract. Meanwhiletwo stages are proposed for closed ones: (a) the high accommodation system tract; and (b) the lowaccommodation system tract. To test these models, Quaternary deposits and a Miocene unit areanalysed. The first one is controlled by climatic changes, and the second is related to tectonicactivity in the Precordillera.