Geometric and kinematic analysis of the Chos Malal Anticline, Neuquén province

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Rocío del Cielo Frías Saba
Natalia Paola Sánchez
Martín Miguel Turienzo
Fernando Oscar Lebinson

Abstract

The Chos Malal anticline, which involves the Late Jurassic - Early Cretaceous sedimentary sequences of the Neuquén Basin, extends ~9 Km with N-S trend and have a wavelength of ~3 Km. This fold is asymmetric, closed, overturned to the west and with a doubly-plunging fold axis 18°N and 8°S. The forelimb is overturned, has a thinning of ~19-23 %, and it is cut by a backthrust. Based on these features the Chos Malal anticline is interpreted as a transported fault-propagation fold. The shortening calculated from two balanced cross-sections is 1.6 km (27.6 %) and 2 km (32%) at the north and south areas respectively. The analysis of the fracture pattern in Mulichinco Formation’s rocks, in different sectors of the anticline, allowed us recognize four fracture sets: N-S, E-W, NE-SW, and WNW-ESE. These fractures agree with a maximum compressive stress (σ1) in E-W direction, the same that originated the Chos Malal anticline.

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Frías Saba, R. del C., Sánchez, N. P., Turienzo, M. M., & Lebinson, F. O. . (2021). Geometric and kinematic analysis of the Chos Malal Anticline, Neuquén province. Revista De La Asociación Geológica Argentina, 78(4), 594-612. Retrieved from https://revista.geologica.org.ar/raga/article/view/674
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