Abstract

FAUQUE, Luis et al. Mega-landslide in the southern wall of the Aconcagua and its relationship with deposits assigned to Pleistocene glaciations. Rev. Asoc. Geol. Argent. [online]. 2009, vol.65, n.4, pp.691-712. ISSN 0004-4822.

During the preparation of a susceptibility map of mass wasting processes affecting Puente del Inca town, the controversial genesis of the Horcones deposit was reviewed and discussed. The surrounding landscape, the morphology of the deposit along with its mineralogical and textural features were analysed; finally several radiometric data were performed. These studies point out Horcones deposit as a result of a saturated flow derived from a rock avalanche or mega-rockslide that originated by the collapse of a watershed in the southern wall of the Aconcagua hill during tardiglacial or postglacial times. Similar to Horcones deposits were recognized filling the Cuevas river valley to the east, covered by other ones also previously considered of glacial origin (e.g. terminal moraine of Penitentes Drift). The study of this material near Penitentes town, using a similar methodology, reveals that represents another significant flow that came from Mario Ardito tributary valley. According to these new interpretations an exhaustive revision of the glacial stratigraphy of this zone becomes clearly necessary. New ideas regarding the genesis of Puente del Inca natural monument also came up from this study. Finally, understanding of the morphological evolution of the southern wall of Aconcagua hill also enabled to elucidate the surges of Horcones Inferior glacier, of great importance during the evaluation of the risks of the Aconcagua Provincial Park.

Keywords : Aconcagua; Mega-rockslide; Horcones; Flows; Penitentes.

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