Landslides related to major geological structures in the Andes Main Cordillera
by
Andrés Fock
Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Coauthors: Sofía Rebolledo and Sergio Sepúlveda (Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Chile)

Studies oriented to describe important prehistoric and historic landslides occurred in the western margin of Los Andes mountain at the latitude of Santiago, demonstrate that most of these phenomena are located in the vicinity and/or in the intersection of major geological structures. In view of the fact that the zone has been tectonically active since millions of years ago, major geological structures are frequent.

Landslides affecting oligo-miocenic units have been registered in different areas: Mesón Alto and Río Yeso, associated to west vergent back thrust belt, present landslide in San José de Maipo related to an east vergent major fault and minor landslides located in the vicinity of small faults in Quebrada Lo Cañas, near Santiago. Landslides in mesozoic rocks are also described: Parraguirre in an east vergent thrust.

On the other hand, since landslides should prove the existence of a major geological structure, this information should be used as well as structural indicator.

This paper shows the description of these landslides and the mechanisms associated.

Date received: November 18, 2004

Copyright © 2004 by the author(s). The author(s) of this document and the organizers of the conference have granted their consent to include this abstract in Atlas Conferences Inc. Document # caod-27.