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1.
Using recently acquired marine magnetic data and existing magnetic and bathymetric data sets together with ODP Leg 170 age determinations we present a revised plate tectonic model for the southern Cocos and northern Nazca plate area. According to this model the formation of the southern Cocos plate was governed by spreading at different ridge axes with alternations between spreading ridges producing a complex magnetic anomaly pattern. In the Cocos and Malpelo ridge area we have identified two precursors of the recently active Cocos–Nacza spreading system which were active from 22.8 to 14.7 Ma, with a change in spreading direction from NW–SE to ENE–WSW at 19.5 Ma. The oceanic crust of these abandoned spreading systems was subsequently thickened and overprinted by hotspot volcanism that formed the Cocos and Malpelo ridges. The centre of this hotspot volcanism is about 500 km away from, but most probably related to, the Galapagos hotspot. 相似文献
2.
Throughout the Early Tertiary the area of the Farallon oceanic plate was episodically diminished by detachment of large and small northern regions, which became independently moving plates and microplates. The nature and history of Farallon plate fragmentation has been inferred mainly from structural patterns on the western, Pacific-plate flank of the East Pacific Rise, because the fragmented eastern flank has been subducted. The final episode of plate fragmentation occurred at the beginning of the Miocene, when the Cocos plate was split off, leaving the much reduced Farallon plate to be renamed the Nazca plate, and initiating Cocos–Nazca spreading. Some Oligocene Farallon plate with rifted margins that are a direct record of this plate-splitting event has survived in the eastern tropical Pacific, most extensively off northern Peru and Ecuador. Small remnants of the conjugate northern rifted margin are exposed off Costa Rica, and perhaps south of Panama. Marine geophysical profiles (bathymetric, magnetic and seismic reflection) and multibeam sonar swaths across these rifted oceanic margins, combined with surveys of 30–20 Ma crust on the western rise-flank, indicate that (i) Localized lithospheric rupture to create a new plate boundary was preceded by plate stretching and fracturing in a belt several hundred km wide. Fissural volcanism along some of these fractures built volcanic ridges (e.g., Alvarado and Sarmiento Ridges) that are 1–2 km high and parallel to “absolute” Farallon plate motion; they closely resemble fissural ridges described from the young western flank of the present Pacific–Nazca rise. (ii) For 1–2 m.y. prior to final rupture of the Farallon plate, perhaps coinciding with the period of lithospheric stretching, the entire plate changed direction to a more easterly (“Nazca-like”) course; after the split the northern (Cocos) part reverted to a northeasterly absolute motion. (iii) The plate-splitting fracture that became the site of initial Cocos–Nazca spreading was a linear feature that, at least through the 680 km of ruptured Oligocene lithosphere known to have avoided subduction, did not follow any pre-existing feature on the Farallon plate, e.g., a “fracture zone” trail of a transform fault. (iv) The margins of surviving parts of the plate-splitting fracture have narrow shoulders raised by uplift of unloaded footwalls, and partially buried by fissural volcanism. (v) Cocos–Nazca spreading began at 23 Ma; reports of older Cocos–Nazca crust in the eastern Panama Basin were based on misidentified magnetic anomalies.There is increased evidence that the driving force for the 23 Ma fission of the Farallon plate was the divergence of slab-pull stresses at the Middle America and South America subduction zones. The timing and location of the split may have been influenced by (i) the increasingly divergent northeast slab pull at the Middle America subduction zone, which lengthened and reoriented because of motion between the North America and Caribbean plates; (ii) the slightly earlier detachment of a northern part of the plate that had been entering the California subduction zone, contributing a less divergent plate-driving stress; and (iii) weakening of older parts of the plate by the Galapagos hotspot, which had come to underlie the equatorial region, midway between the risecrest and the two subduction zones, by the Late Oligocene. 相似文献
3.
Middle Miocene to present plate tectonic history of the southern Central American Volcanic Arc 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
New mid Miocene to present plate tectonic reconstructions of the southern Central American Volcanic Arc (CAVA) reveal that the inception of Cocos Ridge subduction began no earlier than 3 Ma, and possibly as late as 2 Ma. The Cocos Ridge has been displaced from the Malpelo Ridge to the southeast since 9 Ma along the Panama Fracture Zone (PFZ) system. Ambiguous PFZ and Coiba Fracture Zone (CFZ) interaction since 9 Ma precludes conclusively establishing the age of initial Cocos Ridge subduction. Detailed reconstructions based on magnetic anomalies offshore reveal several other variations in subduction parameters beneath southern Central America that preceded subduction of the Cocos Ridge, including southeastward migration of the Nazca–Cocos–Caribbean triple junction along the Middle America Trench (MAT) from 12 Ma to present, and subduction of ≤2 km high scarps both parallel and perpendicular to the trench from 6 to 1 Ma.The timing of changes in subduction processes has commonly been determined by (and correlated with) geologic changes in the upper plate. However, reliable 40Ar/39Ar dating of these events has become available only recently [Abstr. Programs-Geol. Soc. Am. (2002)]. These new dates better constrain the magmatic and structural history of southern Costa Rica. Observations from this data set include: a gap in the volcanic record from 11 to 6 Ma, which coincides temporally with emplacement of most plutons in southern Costa Rica, normal arc volcanism ceased after 3.5 Ma in southern Costa Rica, and Pliocene (mostly 1.5 Ma) adakite volcanism was widely distributed from central Panama to southern Costa Rica (though volumetrically insignificant).This new data reveals that many geologic phenomena, commonly attributed to subduction and underplating of the buoyant Cocos Ridge, in fact precede inception of Cocos Ridge subduction and seem to correlate more favorably in time with earlier tectonic events. Adakite volcanic activity corresponds in space and time with the subduction of a large scarp associated with a tectonic boundary off southern Panama. Regional unconformities and an 11–6 Ma gap in arc volcanism match temporally with oblique subduction of the Nazca plate beneath central and southern Costa Rica. Cessation of volcanic activity, low-temperature cooling of plutons in the Cordillera de Talamanca (CT), and rapid increases in sedimentation in the fore-arc and back-arc basins coincide with passage of the Nazca–Cocos–Caribbean triple junction and initiation of subduction of “rough” crust associated with Cocos–Nazca rifting 3.5 Ma, closely followed by initial subduction of the Cocos Ridge 2–3 Ma. None of the aforementioned geologic events occurred at a time that would allow for underplating by the Cocos Ridge. Rather they are probably related to complex interactions with subduction of complicated plates offshore. All of the aforementioned events indicate that the southern Central American subduction system has been in flux since at least 12 Ma. 相似文献
4.
Anne Deschamps Ryuichi Shinjo Takeshi Matsumoto Chao‐Shing Lee Serge E. Lallemand Shiguo Wu Scientific party of KR‐ KR‐ cruises 《地学学报》2008,20(4):327-332
We explore the tectono‐magmatic processes in the western West Philippine Basin, Philippine Sea Plate, using bathymetric data acquired in 2003 and 2004. The northwestern part of the basin formed through a series of northwestward propagating rifts. We identify at least five sequences of propagating rifts, probably triggered by mantle flow away from the mantle thermal anomaly that is responsible for the origin of the Benham and Urdenata plateaus. Gravitational forces caused by along‐axis topographic gradient and a ～30° ridge reorientation appear to also be driving the rift propagations. The along‐axis mantle flow appears to be reduced and deflected along the Luzon‐Okinawa fracture zone, because the spreading system remained stable west of this major fault zone. North‐east of the Benham plateau, a left‐lateral fracture zone has turned into a NE–SW‐trending spreading axis. As a result, a microplate developed at the triple junction. 相似文献
5.
John A. Hildebrand 《Tectonophysics》1989,170(3-4):279-287
Paleomagnetism of eastern Nazca plate seamounts defines Nazca and Farallon absolute plate motion during Cenozoic times. Magnetic and bathymetric surveys are presented for two eastern Nazca plate seamounts in the Chile Basin and they are used to calculate paleomagnetic poles with uniform and nonuniform magnetic modeling. The paleopole for Piquero-2 seamount is coincident with the earth's pole, suggesting a young seamount. The paleopole for Piquero-1 seamount indicates that the Nazca plate moved 23° northward during 0–50 ma. This is 13° more latitudinal motion than predicted by a Pacific hotspot reference frame and 20 ° more motion than predicted by DSDP sediment and basalt paleomagnetism. 相似文献
6.
Ten new focal mechanisms are derived for earthquakes in southern Central America and its adjacent regions. These are combined with a study of seismicity and data of previous workers to delineate the position and nature of the plate boundaries in this complex region.The Middle America subduction zone may be divided into four or five distinct seismic segments. The plate boundary between North America and the Caribbean near the trench might be located more towards the south than previously suspected. Subduction has basically stopped south of the underthrusting Cocos Ridge. There is not much evidence for a seismically active strike-slip fault south of Panama, but its existence cannot be ruled out. More activity reveals the zone north of Panama which is identified as a subduction zone with normal fault events. Shallow seismicity induced by the interaction of the Nazca plate extends from the Colombia-Panama border south along the Pacific coast to meet a high-angle continental thrust fault system. Subduction with a pronounced slab starts only south of that point near a hot region which offsets the seismic trend at the trench. The Carnegie Ridge and/or the change of direction of subduction in Ecuador produce a highly active zone of seismicity mainly at the depth of 200 km. The area in the Pacific displays a termination of activity at a propagating rift west of the Galapagos Islands. The main eastern boundary of the Cocos plate, the Panama Fracture Zone, is offset towards the west at the southern end of the Malpelo Ridge. Its northern end consists of two active branches as defined by large earthquakes. A strike-slip mechanism near the southeastern flank of the Cocos Ridge was previously believed to be the site of an extended fracture zone. This paper proposes submarine volcanic activity as an alternative explanation. 相似文献
7.
William L. Bandy Franois Michaud Jrme Dyment Carlos A. Mortera-Gutirrez Jacques Bourgois Thierry Calmus Marc Sosson Jose Ortega-Ramirez Jean-Yves Royer Bernard Pontoise Bertrand Sichler 《Tectonophysics》2008,454(1-4):70-85
To better understand the recent motion of the Pacific plate relative to the Rivera plate and to better define the limitations of the existing Rivera–Pacific plate motion models for accurately predicting this motion, total-field magnetic data, multibeam bathymetric data and sidescan sonar images were collected during the BART and FAMEX campaigns of the N/O L'Atalante conducted in April and May 2002 in the area surrounding the Moctezuma Spreading Segment of the East Pacific Rise, located offshore of Manzanillo, Mexico, at 106°16′W, between 17.8°N and 18.5°N. Among the main results are: (1) the principle transform displacement zone of the Rivera Transform is narrow and well defined east of 107o15′W and these azimuths should be used preferentially when deriving new plate motion models, and (2) spreading rates along the Moctezuma Spreading Segment should not be used in plate motion studies as either seafloor spreading has been accommodated at more than one location since the initiation of seafloor spreading in the area of the Moctezuma Spreading Segment, or this spreading center is not a Rivera–Pacific plate boundary as has been previously assumed. Comparison of observed transform azimuths with those predicted by the best-fit poles of six previous models of Rivera–Pacific relative motion indicate that, in the study area, a significant systematic bias is present in the predictions of Rivera–Pacific motion. Although the exact source of this bias remains unclear, this bias indicates the need to derive a new Rivera–Pacific relative plate motion model. 相似文献
8.
Environmental controls on 10Be‐based catchment‐averaged denudation rates along the western margin of the Peruvian Andes 
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下载免费PDF全文 Regina Reber Romain Delunel Fritz Schlunegger Camille Litty Andrea Madella Naki Akçar Marcus Christl 《地学学报》2017,29(5):282-293
We present 10Be‐based basin‐averaged denudation rates for the entire western margin of the Peruvian Andes. Denudation rates range from c. 9 mm ka?1 to 190 mm ka?1 and are related neither to the subduction of the Nazca plate nor to the current seismicity along the Pacific coast and the occurrence of raised Quaternary marine terraces. Therefore, we exclude a tectonic control on denudation on a millennial time‐scale. Instead, we explain >60% of the observed denudation rates with a model where erosion rates increase either with mean basin slope angles or with mean annual water discharge. These relationships suggest a strong environmental control on denudation. 相似文献
9.
Satellite Gravity Anomalies and Their Correlation with the Major Tectonic Features in the South China Sea 总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4
The South China Sea (SCS) is a region of interaction among three major plates: the Pacific, Indo-Australian and Eurasian. The collision of the Indian subcontinent with the Eurasian plate in the northwest, back-arc spreading at the center, and subduction beneath the Philippine plate along Manila trench in the east and the collision along Palawan trough in the south have produced complex tectonic features within and along the SCS. This investigation examines the satellite-derived gravity anomalies of the SCS and compares them with major tectonic features of the area. A map of Bouguer gravity anomaly is derived in conjunction with available seafloor topography to investigate the crustal structure. The residual isostatic gravity anomaly is calculated assuming that the Cenozoic sedimentary load is isostatically compensated. The features in the gravity anomalies in general correlate remarkably well with the major geological features, including offsets in the seafloor spreading segments, major faults, basins, seamounts and other manifestations of magmatism and volcanism on the seafloor. They also correlate with the presumed location of continental-oceanic crust boundary. The region underlain by oceanic crust in the central part of the SCS is characterized by a large positive Bouguer gravity anomaly (220–330 mgal) as well as large free-air and residual isostatic anomalies. There are, however, important differences among spreading segments. For example, in terms of free-air gravity anomaly, the southwest section of mid-ocean has an approximately 50 km wide belt of gravity low superimposed on a broad high of 45 mgal running NW–SE, whereas there are no similar features in other spreading segments. There are indications that gravity anomalies may represent lateral variation in upper crustal density structure. For instance, free air and isostatic anomalies show large positive anomalies in the east of the Namconson basin, which coincide with areas of dense volcanic material known from seismic surveys. The Red River Fault system are clearly identified in the satellite gravity anomalies, including three major faults, Songchay Fault in the southwest, Songlo Fault in the Northeast and Central Fault in the center of the basin. They are elongated in NW–SE direction between 20±30'N and 17°N and reach to Vietnam Scarp Fault around 16°30'N. It is also defined that the crustal density in the south side of the Central Basin is denser than that in the north side of the Central Basin. 相似文献
10.
Widespread NW–SE‐trending faults and Cenozoic basins in the coastal area of Fujian Province demonstrate unique tectonic deformations from the influence of the modern arc‐trench system on the adjacent continent. Field‐based structural analyses in the Zhangzhou region identify two‐stage deformation in the Cenozoic. The early stage was dominated by normal faulting and mafic intrusions. The structural configuration was differentiated as a graben in the estuary area and linear ridges in the western mountains, representing outer arc extension caused by orthogonal flexure of the coast. Late‐stage deformation turned early stage normal faults into sinistral strike‐slip faults and induced a transtensional setting that greatly facilitated the evolution of the basin as well as a small rotation of the segmented structures. The tectonic dynamics are attributed to far‐field effects of the west Pacific subduction zones. Additionally, a strike‐slip fault‐controlled scissor‐like structure is proposed to demonstrate the mechanism of the redefined, fan‐shaped basin. 相似文献
11.
南海及邻区处于欧亚大陆与冈瓦纳古陆拼合带的东南端,是特提斯构造域和濒太平洋构造域交汇的重要地区.特提斯缝合带沿金沙江-哀牢山构造带进入南海,人们从而认为南海可能存在特提斯洋遗迹,并认为缝合带存在于磁静区中.本文通过对南海北部陆坡地球物理资料的解释结果,包括重力、磁力、海底地震和深反射地震数据,以及区域地质特征分析,研究了南海北部陆缘高磁异常带和磁静区的成因.结果表明高磁异常带是中白垩世时期古太平洋板块转向俯冲形成的陆缘火山弧,当时存在古俯冲带.磁静区经历了后期大陆边缘张裂和古南海和南海的打开,并经历了高温热物质的底辟作用,使得地壳拉张减薄,居里面抬升形成磁静区.经历了南海的扩张后,原始的俯冲带可能已经向南迁移到南海南部或者已经俯冲消失,其中也不存在缝合带. 相似文献
12.
F.J. Davey 《Tectonophysics》1982,87(1-4)
New magnetic, seismic and bathymetric data show that the South Fiji basin is a structurally complex marginal basin. A gap in the identifiable magnetic anomaly lineations exist over the central part of the basin and prevents the unequivocal linking of the anomaly lineations (anomalies 7A to 12) associated with the ridgc-ridge-ridge triple junction in the north with an apparent single spreading centre of the same age in the south. This gap, which makes a detailed synthesis of the historical development of the basin difficult, may arise from post-spreading intraplate tectonics. If symmetric spreading is assumed, part of the oceanic lithosphere formed during the Oligocene episode of seafloor spreading has subsequently been consumed, presumably by subduction westward under Three Kings rise. 相似文献
13.
Three‐dimensional seismic characterization of a complex sediment drift in the South China Sea: Evidence for unsteady flow regime 下载免费PDF全文
下载免费PDF全文 This study describes a previously unobserved reflection seismic configuration comprising a honeycomb planform and a repeated erosion/infill cross‐section, based on high‐resolution three‐dimensional/two‐dimensional seismic data and bathymetric data. The honeycomb structures cover an area of more than 5000 km2 and are developed within the Late Miocene to recent deep‐water sediments of the north‐western South China Sea. Linear erosional troughs up to 10 km long and 1 km wide are widely developed in this area, are intimately related to the particular seismic configuration and interpreted to represent a new type of sediment drift that is caused by unsteady bottom current regimes operating since the Late Miocene. The unsteady bottom current regimes are suggested to be triggered by irregular seabed morphologies. Considerable sea‐floor topography was generated as a direct result of tectonic movements in the area since the Late Miocene, and this topography then influenced the pathways of strong bottom currents. This study highlights that: (i) an unsteady bottom current regime can be laterally extensive and persist for millions of years; (ii) structurally controlled sea‐floor relief plays an important role in controlling the depositional pattern; and (iii) the bottom currents were active since the Late Miocene, flowing from the south‐east through the Xisha–Guangle Gateway and crossing the honeycomb structure zone. This study documents a new style of drift and will help to improve current knowledge of palaeoceanography and understanding of the South China Sea deep‐water circulation which is at present still poorly understood. 相似文献
14.
根据全球磁异常数据和中国近海高精度、高分辨率的海洋船磁资料,通过频率域的迭代下延方法,将两种不同分辨率的数据进行融合,得到了覆盖我国东部及近海的大面积地磁异常数据。对磁异常进行大范围变倾角化极,并进行了小波分解和频谱分析,计算、分析磁源重力异常、磁异常解析信号及倾斜角等转换场。结果显示中国东部及近海主要地质构造单元的磁异常特征,揭示了华北地块古陆块分布和扬子地块的南北边界走向,并指出浙闽火山岩带向西南可能和东沙隆起相连,都是中生代古俯冲的火山弧,南海北部NW向断裂可能是古特提斯构造域向太平洋构造域转换边界断裂,对中生代古俯冲及由主动陆缘向被动陆缘转化过程都有控制作用。 相似文献
15.
An active oceanic spreading ridge is being subducted beneath the South American continent at the Chile Triple Junction. This process has played a major part in the evolution of most of the continental margins that border the Pacific Ocean basin. A combination of high resolution swath bathymetric maps, seismic reflection profiles and drillhole and core data from five sites drilled during Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 141 provide important data that define the tectonic, structural and stratigraphic effects of this modern example of spreading ridge subduction.A change from subduction accretion to subduction erosion occurs along-strike of the South American forearc. This change is prominently expressed by normal faulting, forearc subsidence, oversteepening of topographic slopes and intensive sedimentary mass wasting, overprinted on older signatures of sediment accretion, overthrusting and uplift processes in the forearc. Data from drill sites north of the triple junction (Sites 859–861) show that after an important phase of forearc building in the early to late Pliocene, subduction accretion had ceased in the late Pliocene. Since that time sediment on the downgoing oceanic Nazca plate has been subducted. Site 863 was drilled into the forearc in the immediate vicinity of the triple junction above the subducted spreading ridge axis. Here, thick and intensely folded and faulted trench slope sediments of Pleistocene age are currently involved in the frontal deformation of the forearc. Early faults with thrust and reverse kinematics are overprinted by later normal faults.The Chile Triple Junction is also the site of apparent ophiolite emplacement into the South American forearc. Drilling at Site 862 on the Taitao Ridge revealed an offshore volcanic sequence of Plio-Pleistocene age associated with the Taitao Fracture Zone, adjacent to exposures of the Pliocene-aged Taitao ophiolite onshore. Despite the large-scale loss of material from the forearc at the triple junction, ophiolite emplacement produces a large topographic promontory in the forearc immediately after ridge subduction, and represents the first stage of forearc rebuilding. 相似文献
16.
17.
全球火山活动分布特征 总被引：14，自引：0，他引：14
根据全球活动火山目录 ,分析研究了全球火山分布的特征 ,描述了各区的火山活动分布 ,总结了火山活动强度的时、空分布特征。全球火山活动可分为三大区 ,西太平洋火山活动区 ,主要与太平洋板块向北西西方向的俯冲活动有关 ;东太平洋火山活动区 ,主要与太平洋东面的小板块 (胡安德富卡板块、科科斯、纳斯卡板块 )向美洲板块的俯冲有关 ;大西洋火山活动区 ,与大西洋和非洲的裂开 ,以及地中海带的活动有关。不同火山区带具有各自的最大喷发等级与相应的复发周期。一条火山弧上活动强度的分布往往是不对称的 ,意味着火山弧在整体上有其动力学的控制机理。火山活动显示了随纬度成带状分布。在 - 10～ 0° ,10 2 0° ,30 4 0°,5 0 6 0°分布有高值带。火山喷发活动还与当地的重力势有关 ,重力势正异常可能与高的正压力有关 ,有利于产生特大喷发。火山活动与大角度的正面俯冲带的弧后火山活动最强 ,当板块运动方向与板块边缘走向成小角度相交时 ,缺少正面俯冲的动力 ,火山活动相对平静。 相似文献
18.
利用NGDC720地磁模型提供的磁异常数据, 分析了菲律宾海板块磁异常特征, 进而对磁异常进行多尺度分解, 给出了研究区岩石圈深部和浅部磁异常.结合热流分布特点和磁异常信息, 进一步分析了研究区引起磁异常成因.菲律宾海板块区域的磁异常既反映了该区域岩石圈浅部的构造特征, 也隐含深部构造信息.在西菲律宾海盆以及大东脊构造区, 浅部构造磁异常信息较好地继承了深部构造特征, 反映这些区域岩石圈的整体性特征.四国海盆与帕里西维拉海盆浅部磁异常信息显示了与近代(约10Ma)扩张轴一致的特征, 且磁异常与海底构造走向不一致; 而深部异常显示的帕里西维拉海盆磁异常走向与西菲律宾海盆一致的信息, 可能指示帕里西维拉海盆岩石圈曾与西菲律宾海盆有过类似的演化史. 相似文献
19.
Paleogeographic restorations for the oceanic crust formed by the Cocos-Nacza spreading center and its precursors were performed to reconstruct the history and ages of the submarine aseismic ridges in the Eastern Pacific Basin, the Carnegie, Coiba, Cocos, and Malpelo ridges. The bipartition of the Carnegie ridge reflects the shift from a precursor to the presently active Cocos-Nazca spreading center. The Cocos ridge is partly composed of products from the Galápagos hotspot but may also contain material from a second center of volcanic activity which is located approximately 600 km NE of Galápagos. The Malpelo ridge is a product of this second hotspot center, whereas the Coiba ridge probably formed at the Galápagos hotspot. The geometric relationship of the Cocos and Carnegie ridges indicates symmetric spreading and a constant northward shift of the presently active Cocos-Nazca spreading center. 相似文献
20.
《International Geology Review》2012,54(5):437-447
Subduction-zone magmatism became extensive along the west coast of South America during the Ordovician, soon after Gondwana was assembled. During the remainder of the Paleozoic and the early Mesozoic, eastward subduction of the Farallon plate led to emplacement of a succession of granitic and volcanic rocks. During the Cretaceous, when South America broke away from Africa and began moving independently toward the Pacific Basin, the resulting opposite motions of the South American and Farallon plates toward the subduction zone caused vigorous tectonic mountain building. But by the Oligocene, South America had advanced more than 2000 km beyond the position of the Cretaceous subduction zone's root in the lower mantle. The South American plate, moving westward over the subducting plate, pushed down and flattened the curved top of the subducting slab, as indicated by today's flattened earthquake zone under South America. I hypothesize that this flattening increased the subducting slab's resistance with the underlying lower mantle. Crustal deformation slowed, and the mountains built during the Cretaceous and later were eroded to a peneplane. During the Oligocene, about 25 Ma, the Farallon plate broke into the Cocos and Nazca plates, and I suggest that along the west coast of South America a shear at a slope of about 30° cut through the subducting slab. The oceanic (Nazca) part of the slab then entered the lower mantle below the Andes with a steeper dip than before. As the newly sheared obtuse upper corner of the Nazca plate pushed eastward and downward, it buckled the rigid edge of the continent and began the folding and thrusting of the Andean (Quechua) orogeny. The orogeny continues, but earthquake foci indicate that as South America continues to move westward, the subduction zone once again is flattening; in the future we can expect the Nazca slab to shear once more and its new wedge-shaped end to enter the lower mantle again. 相似文献