Tectonic denudation of the Darwin metamorphic core complex in the Andes of Tierra del Fuego, southernmost Chile: Implications for Cordilleran orogenesis

Research Article| August 01, 1989 Tectonic denudation of the Darwin metamorphic core complex in the Andes of Tierra del Fuego, southernmost Chile: Implications for Cordilleran orogenesis Ian W. D. Dalziel; Ian W. D. Dalziel 1Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas, 8701 Mopac Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78759 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard L. Brown Richard L. Brown 2Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, and Ottawa-Carleton eoscience Centre, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Ian W. D. Dalziel 1Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas, 8701 Mopac Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78759 Richard L. Brown 2Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, and Ottawa-Carleton eoscience Centre, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1989) 17 (8): 699–703. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0699:TDOTDM>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Ian W. D. Dalziel, Richard L. Brown; Tectonic denudation of the Darwin metamorphic core complex in the Andes of Tierra del Fuego, southernmost Chile: Implications for Cordilleran orogenesis. Geology 1989;; 17 (8): 699–703. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0699:TDOTDM>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Cordillera Darwin in the southernmost Chilean Andes is a tectonically denuded metamorphic core complex similar to those widely developed in the North American Cordillera. Detailed comparison can be drawn with the Shuswap metamorphic core complex in British Columbia and Washington. Analysis of the geotectonic history of the Darwin complex reinforces the view that the presence of tectonically thickened continental crust is critical for development of most, if not all, known core complexes and also suggests that inversion of a marginal basin during a compressional regime is one way of initiating such a crustal welt. The Cordillera Darwin complex is unique in the Andes and Antarctandes. This indicates that although low-angle normal faulting occurs at high levels in convergent plate settings such as the Central Andes and the Himalayas, extensional denudation of deep crustal levels in active Andean-type orogens may require special tectonic circumstances. Uplift of the Darwin complex began at about 70 Ma in a localized extensional setting within the developing transform zone between the South American and Antarctic plates. This strike-slip setting is analogous to some metamorphic core complexes in North America and possibly to a recently identified "core complex" in New Zealand. It is likely to be a common one for core complexes in convergent orogens. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.