Abstract

SELLES-MARTINEZ, José  and  AZCURRA, Diego. Lower Paleozoic structure in the headwaters of Río Jachal, San Juan Province. Rev. Asoc. Geol. Argent. [online]. 2010, vol.66, n.1-2, pp.80-93. ISSN 0004-4822.

Structures cropping out in the Jachal Valley from the Cuesta del Viento dam to the locality of Los Tuneles are described and analyzed. These structures affect the Ordovician Yerba Loca and Los Sombreros Formations and the Paleogene-Neogene Vallecito and Rodeo Formations. The oldest units form the heights, Sierra Negra de Rodeo and Sierra de los Túneles, which are limited in their eastern flanks by the La Tranca and Los Blanquitos overthrusts, and by the angular unconformity underlying Rodeo Formation in their western ones. The regional folds show asymmetrical shapes and a wavelength comparable to the width of the Sierras, but minor structures ranging from meters to tens of meters are very common in their eastern limbs. Regional folds axis trend varies from Az 315 to Az 360 and the vergence of pre-carboniferous and andean structures point to the east, what makes very difficult to use orientation as a criterion to discriminate the differentiated deformational episodes. The comparison of sedimentological and structural features in the Rodeo area with those at the San Juan River evidences strong similarities but also important differences. Among the first ones, it can be mentioned the lithological and structural resemblance of the Ordovician units, which show NS trending axis in the eastern outcrops and point N-NW in the western ones. Main differences are the absence -in the Rodeo area- of the metapelites of the Silurian Calingasta Formation. and that of the conglomerates and rhythmites of the Devonian (?) El Planchón Formation. present in the San Juan River section.

Keywords : Andes; Precordillera; Structure; Palaeozoic; Jáchal River.

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