Estructura del Paleozoico del Cordón del Carrizalito (sector meridional de la Cordillera Frontal de los Andes, Provincia de Mendoza, Argentina)

Abstract

The Cordón del Carrizalito is located in the southern sector of the Andean Frontal Cordillera. In this area, the Andean basement is composed of metasedimentary rocks (Las Lagunitas Fm.) of Ordovician age. In addition, epi-metamorphic and less deformed rocks also outcrop in the study area, which can be assigned to the Upper Carboniferous. We called Selerpe Series to these rocks. Las Lagunitas Fm. is affected by west-verging folds, developed under low-grade metamorphic conditions. These structures can be attributed to the Chanic Orogeny. Both, the Selerpe Series and Las Lagunitas Fm., are deformed by thrusts and folds developed in narrow bands, east-verging and generated in the absence of metamorphism. These structures always deform the Chanic structures, and therefore, they have been attributed to the Gondwanic Orogeny. The Chanic structures of the study area can be placed in the western branch of this orogen, which was developed as a result of the accretion of Chilenia to Gondwana, during Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous. The eastern branch of this orogen is located in the Andean Precordillera.