Early Cambrian Suture Zone identified from Magnetotelluric Transects between Formosa (S23º) and San Luis (S34º) Provinces, Argentina.

FAVETTO, ALICIA; POMPOSIELLO, M. CRISTINA; PERI, VERÓNICA GISEL; BARCELONA, HERNAN

Darwin

Workshop; 21st EM Induction Workshop; 2012

Comission 21st EM Induction Workshop

In different continental zones, magnetotelluric (MT) studies showed that the lithosphere is resistive (>1000 Ohmm) meanwhile the top of the electrical asthenosphere. is defined by a decrease on the resistivity values (5-250 Ohmm) between 50 and 250km deep. The bulk resistivity is controlled by temperature and composition, but it can be enhanced by the presence of fluids (water or melt), sulfites or graphite So, the MT method allows to identify vertical and horizontal boundaries of crustal blocks in cratonic areas. This presentation shows the interpretation of MT data acquired along five transects in the Chacopampeana plain that provided resistivity models crossing an Early Cambrian suture. The profiles are placed in Formosa (~S 24°), Santiago del Estero - Chaco (~ S27°), Santiago del Estero - Santa Fe (~S29.5º), Córdoba (~ S31.5°) and San Luis (~S34°) provinces. A regional characterizing was obtained from 2D models, finding a very high resistive sector, at the eastern border, with typical resistivity values for the ancient structures (>5000 Ohmm) probably associated with the Río de la Plata Craton (RPC). The thickness of the resistive zone is variable, reaching a maximum depth of around 140km. Below this depth the resistivity decreases showing the resence of the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary. All lateral discontinuities observed in the resistivity models have been interpreted as the Early Cambrian suture, based on geotectonic. A tentative limit from approximately S23.5 to S34 for the western border of the RPC and the eastern border of Pampean Terrane or other block was provided from the joint interpretation of the models. These studies show new data about the deep structure in a region where there are no outcrops and deep geophysical studies. Furthermore, these anomalous areas are coincident with basement highs, which allowed to consider that the old crustal structures were reactivated by modern tectonic events.