This book provides the first comprehensive overview of a complete subduction orogen, the Andes. To date the results provide the densest and most highly resolved geophysical image of an active subduction orogen.

together with contributions by invited geoscientists The Central Andes, whose orogenic activity is so impressively documented by recent volcanism and and counterparts from other countries, during a workshop held in Berlin, 23-25 May 1990. A great earthquakes, have always attracted the attention of geoscientists. This interest became even more accen number of the papers presented at this workshop are tuated since, a quarter of a century ago, Plate included in this volume. While most of the chapters Tectonics became the basis for the New Global refer regionally to the segment of the southern Andes Tectonics concept, in which this huge mountain range mentioned above, others treat general aspects or deal was the most spectacular example of an active conti with Andean regions farther south, thus showing not only that the structures of this mountain range can be nental margin. Thus, in addition to the continuing research work by South American and foreign geo followed to more distant parts but also that there are scientists dedicated mostly to regional and economic significant structural variations along strike. problems, a great number of special research pro Like other books which originate from workshops grammes were initiated aiming at a better understand and are comprised of contributions from many ing of the processes acting at a convergent plate authors, also this one cannot give a complete and margin. well-balanced view of the scientific subject dealt In 1982, the earth science institutes of the Freie with, in this case the southern Central Andes.

Andean Tectonics addresses the geological evolution of the Andes Mountains, the prime global example of subduction-related mountain building. The Andes forms one of the most extensive mountain belts on Earth, spanning approximately an 8,000 km distance along the western edge of South America, from 10°N to 55°S. The tectonic history of the Andes involves a rich record of diverse geological processes, including crustal deformation, magmatism, sedimentary basin evolution, and climatic interactions. This book addresses the range of Andean tectonic processes and their temporal and spatial variations. This critical resource is ideal for researchers interested in the causes and consequences of Andean-type orogenesis and the long-term evolution of fold-thrust belts, magmatic arcs, and forearc and foreland basins. Evaluates the history of Andean mountain building over the past 250 million years (the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras) Integrates recent results and provides new perspectives on the complementary records of deformation, magmatism and sedimentary basin evolution, along with their interactions in time and space Provides insights into the development of the northern, central and southern Andes, all of which have typically been considered in isolation

"This memoir brings together results from a multidisciplinary study of the processes that have formed the highest, widest part of the Andean Cordilleran orogenic belt in northern Argentina and Chile. The region features a tectonically erosive forearc, protracted arc magmatism, a high-elevation hinterland plateau and strongly shortened retroarc thrust belt, and a Paleocene-Recent foreland basin system"--