Tectono-thermal history of the intraplate San Bernardo fold and thrust belt in central Patagonia inferred by low-temperature thermochronology

First low-temperature thermochronology data across the central Patagonia and thermal modeling provide information on history of intraplate San Bernardo fold thrust belt (44–46 °S). Apatite (U–Th-Sm)/He (AHe), fission tracks (AFT) ages inverse indicate that sedimentary rocks presently at surface southwestern FTB have experienced a broadly similar history: i) cooling deposition time during Cretaceous, ii) significant Eocene – early Miocene event which totally reset AHe partially AFT data, iii) since Miocene. Although former studies in surrounding areas do not evidence any Neogene event, our regionally consistent most likely large-scale through to As burial was this area Cenozoic, we propose heating episode might been caused by coeval widespread long-term volcanic processes associated with modest increase geothermal gradient entire area, has strong enough significantly affect thermochronometers regionally. A subsequent slow phase starting from may related termination decrease average values, exhumation ~1 km mild deformation broken foreland dynamic topography middle-late Miocene, as well weathering Oligo-Miocene basalts.