The opening of the Magellan Strait and its geodynamic implications

GHIGLIONE, M.; NAVARRETE-RODRÍGUEZ, A; GONZÁLEZ GUILLOT, M.; BUJALESKY, G.

TERRA NOVA (PRINT)

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2013 vol. 25 p. 13 - 20

0954-4879

The existence of a Neogene-Quaternary rift system responsiblefor the opening of the eastern Magellan strait has been one ofthe more peculiar tectonic features of the southernmost Andessince its discovery more than a decade ago. However, untilnow there has been no explanation pinpointing the specifictectonic factors that led to the development of the rift. Thiswork focuses on the interaction between the fault systems andthe tectonic regimes that have affected Tierra del Fuego northof the South America?Scotia left lateral strike-slip plateboundary. Due to a good match between a Jurassic extensionalfault array orientation and the principal stress directionsrelated to the strike-slip plate boundary, we conclude thatJurassic transfer faults reactivated extensionally generating theMagellan rift system. This process was enhanced by northwardcontinental drift, and has implications for the geodynamicbehind the separation of South America from Antarctica.