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Analysis of curved folds and fault/fold terminations in the southern Upper Magdalena Valley of Colombia

Abstract:

We use surface and subsurface fold and fault geometries to document curved geometry of folds, along-strike termination of faults/folds and the change of dip of regional faults in four structural areas in the southern part of the Upper Magdalena Valley Basin. In La Cañada area, strike-slip deformation is dominant and cuts former compressional structures; faults and folds of this area end northward abruptly near Rio Paez. To the north of Paez River is the La Hocha area that includes the Tesalia Syncline and La Hocha Anticline, two curved folds that plunge at the same latitude. The southern domain of La Hocha Anticline is asymmetric and bounded by faults in both flanks, whereas the symmetry of the northern domain is related to subsurface fault bending. Paleomagnetic components uncovered in Jurassic rocks suggest a clockwise rotation of 15.2 ± 11.4 in the southern domain, and 31.7 ± 14.4 in the northern domain. The Iquira Area, North of La Hocha, the internal structure is controlled by east-verging faults that end abruptly to the north of this area. The northernmost area is the Upar area that includes fault systems with opposite vergence; west-verging faults at the east of this area decapitate east-verging faults and folds. Paleomagnetic data, geologic mapping and regional structural cross-sections suggest that: (1) pre-existing basement structure controls the curved geometry of La Hocha Anticline; (2) along-strike changes in structural style between adjacent areas and along-strike termination of faults and folds are related to the location of northwest-striking transverse structures in the subsurface; and (3) at least two deformation phases are documented: an Eocene-Oligocene phase associated with the growth of folds along detachment levels within Mesozoic rocks; and a late Miocene phase associated with transpressive faulting along the Chusma and San Jacinto faults. The latter event drove clockwise rotation of the La Hocha Anticline. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.