Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex of the central Andes

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 1989 Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex of the central Andes S. L. de Silva S. L. de Silva 1Lunar & Planetary Institute, 3303 NASA Road 1, Houston, Texas 77058 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1989) 17 (12): 1102–1106. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<1102:APVCOT>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation S. L. de Silva; Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex of the central Andes. Geology 1989;; 17 (12): 1102–1106. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<1102:APVCOT>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 Since the late Miocene an ignimbrite flare-up has resulted in a major volcano-tectonic province, the Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex, in the lat 21° to 24°S part of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes. The dominant elements of the complex, which defines an area of about 50000 km2 between the Atacama basin and the Altiplano, are several large nested caldera complexes which are the source structures for the major regionally distributed ignimbrite sheets that characterize the complex. The chemical and physical characteristics of these ignimbrites are best reconciled with an origin by large-scale crustal melting. The timing of the ignimbrite flare-up coincides well with thickening of the Central Volcanic Zone crust just prior to the late Miocene, and the coincidence of the Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex with the thickest part of this crust (∼70 km) points to a cause and effect relation. Crustal melting in response to crustal thickening and the heat input from subduction-related magmas is suggested to have resulted in large-scale sificic magmatism. Diapiric uprise of these magmas into a zone of tectonically weakened crust due to strike-slip tectonics associated with the Atacama basin resulted in major ignimbrite eruptions and the formation of the calderas of the Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex. 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.