Abstract

GONZALEZ DIAZ, Emilio F.  and  TOMMASO, Inés Di. Geomorphology of the Moquehue and Aluminé Lakes: Considerations about the Meseta del Arco and Nacimientos del Aluminé calderas. Rev. Asoc. Geol. Argent. [online]. 2010, vol.66, n.3, pp.438-451. ISSN 0004-4822.

The region is situated in the Neuquén Cordillera at 38° 30´S latitud close to the international border. Geomorphic and structural features are presented which indicated a glacial morphogenesis for the depression that contains the Moquehue- Aluminé lakes. Previous works have identified a large volcanic complex related to Plio-Quaternary volcanic activity located at the east of the present volcanic arc. In this sector various caldera depressions and associated domic bodies have been identified. From the nine proposed calderas only the Pino Hachado caldera has been studied in detail. The Meseta del Arco and Nacimientos del Aluminé are disregarded as calderas. The erosional genesis of the steep scarps previously interpreted as caldera margins is also identified with glacial erosion. Facies and types of the local Pleistocene glaciation, its extension, their flow direction and its quite probable diffluence (Paso del Arco) through coeval glaciers situated north of the international border are also analyzed. Local characteristics of volcanic and eolian morphogenic and the mass-wasting process are described. Brief comments about pre-glacial drainage and the previous proposal of Bío Bío-Aluminé trough on the region are added. Transversal topographic-geological profiles discard west of the Bío Bío-Aluminé Fault a structural unit related to tectonic depression of Bío Bío-Aluminé trough and the Nacimientos del Aluminé and Moquehue calderas.

Keywords : Glaciation; Moquehue-Aluminé lakes; Glacial difluence; Calderas.

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