The sediment routing systems of Northern South America since 250 Ma

The present study is a contribution to the understanding of continental-scale source-to-sink sedimentary systems over geological time scales. northern half South America taken as case explore relations between (i) continental tectonic boundary conditions (active / passive margin, orogenic activity) and intracontinental deformation, (ii) spatial distribution clastic sediment sources sinks continent its margins (iii) configuration main routes. To do that, evolving surface investigated through series 10 paleo-geological maps compiled for key periods Meso-Cenozoic. display sedimentation areas their depositional environments, transport routes based on paleocurrent measurements provenance studies, magmatic occurrences, (iv) active faults, (v) denudation/burial histories deduced from low-temperature thermochronology studies (vi) extensive Cenozoic lateritic cover. Three successive regimes are documented. An early erosional regime until ca. 125 Ma attested by major hiatus long-lasting asthenosphere-supported eroding superswell at scale northwestern Africa. Sediments were routed proto-Andean marginal basins, Central Atlantic rifts/rifted margin basins Saharan cratonic basin. After Ma, mixed erosion/deposition established maintained onset Andean orogeny 85 Ma. During this period, domains episodically closed inherited Paleozoic structures (i.e., “arches”), whilst fluxes or rifted partitioned rift shoulders upwarps amplitude that formed transient divides. an Andes-dominated installed, in which retro-foreland became fluxes, while exchanges with controlled topographic expression foreland forebulges. Under regime, mainly acted by-pass zones sediments, Paleogene Lower Neogene covers argue limited exports exposed erosion. Very-long wavelength (x 1000 km) asthenospheric support, long-wavelength 100 lithospheric-scale deformation vertical movements climate-controlled erosion processes interacted regulate since 250