Electrical resistivity tomography applied to the characterization of litological and structural features in Ushuaia area (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina)

DONALDO BRAN; ALEJANDRO TASSONE; HORACIO LIPPAI; JUAN VILAS

Capital Federal

Workshop; XIV Giambiagi Winter School ?Applied and Environmental Geophysics?; 2012

Departamento de Física. Universidad de Buenos Aires

Worldwide studies of fold and thrust belts are mainly carried out through superficial geological observations and seismic reflection, as the main and most developed geophysical prospecting method. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) is a useful tool for the identification of shallow structures (up to 80m) and to infer litological units when it is combined with the knowledge of local geology. Therefore this is a relative low cost and easily applicable method which can contribute to investigate and image the uppermost subsurface. The Fueguian Andes in the area of the Beagle Channel are characterized by a sequence of NNE-verging thrusts corresponding to deformation which took place during Cretaceous-Tertiary Andean orogenesis, combined with a strong left lateral strike-slip component. An ERT survey was carried out nearby Ushuaia city in order to understand the geometric relationships between heterogeneities and interpret them as the different units involved in deformation