Paraíso Fault

03°34′37″N 76°18′18″W / 3.57694°N 76.30500°W / 3.57694; -76.30500Country ColombiaRegionAndeanStateValle del CaucaCitiesBuga, PalmiraCharacteristicsRangeCentral RangesPart ofRomeral Fault SystemSegmentsNorth and southLength35.3 km (21.9 mi)Strike012.5 ± 3DipEast to northeastDip angleVariable from 12 to 30Displacement0.2–1 mm (0.0079–0.0394 in)/yrTectonicsPlateNorth AndeanStatusActiveTypeThrust faultMovementReverse, minor dextralAgeQuaternaryOrogenyAndean

The Paraíso Fault or Palmira-Buga Fault (Spanish: Falla de Paraíso, Falla de Palmira-Buga) is a thrust fault with minor dextral lateral movement in the department of Valle del Cauca in southwestern Colombia. The fault is part of the megaregional Romeral Fault System and has a total length of 35.3 kilometres (21.9 mi) and runs along an average north-northwest to south-southeast strike of 012.5 ± 3 in the Cauca Basin and the Central Ranges of the Colombian Andes.

Etymology

The fault is named after hacienda El Paraíso.[1] An alternative name is Palmira-Buga Fault.[2]

Description

The Paraiso Fault is part of the Romeral Fault System in southwestern Colombia. It is located at the western slope of the Central Ranges, east of the city of Palmira. The fault displaces alluvial fans and debris flows on the eastern border of the Valle del Cauca Department. North of the Amaime River, the fault seems to be more active in late Quaternary than the portion south of the river.[1]

The Paraiso Fault is concave to the east and shows an outstanding linear trace for more than 20 kilometres (12 mi). The fault is divided in two portions: the southern portion, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) long, is located to the south of the Amaime River; the northern part extends about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north of the river. Geographic expression suggests that the northern portion is more active than the southern one. The fault is characterised by a series of discontinuous short sinuous scarps of about 1 to 2 kilometres (0.62 to 1.24 mi) long. The height of the scarps varies from 2 to 10 metres (6.6 to 32.8 ft).[1]

Activity

The fault is considered active with Holocene tectonic movement. Two trenches were opened in the northern part of the fault: the Venecia and Piedechinche trenches, each of which show Holocene tectonic deformation. Movement is well defined as early Holocene, it is younger than 6,320 yr as determined from C-14 ages of folded paleosoils sampled in the Venecia trench.[3]

See also

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References

  1. ^ a b c Paris et al., 2000a, p.22
  2. ^ Mapa Geológico Valle del Cauca, 2001
  3. ^ Paris et al., 2000a, p.23

Bibliography

  • Paris, Gabriel; Michael N. Machette; Richard L. Dart, and Kathleen M. Haller. 2000a. Map and Database of Quaternary Faults and Folds in Colombia and its Offshore Regions, 1–66. USGS. Accessed 2017-09-18.

Maps

  • Paris, Gabriel; Michael N. Machette; Richard L. Dart, and Kathleen M. Haller. 2000b. Map of Quaternary Faults and Folds of Colombia and Its Offshore Regions, 1. USGS. Accessed 2017-09-18.
  • Nivia, A.; W.J. McCourt; J.A. Aspden; M. De Armas, and J.W. Aucott. 2001. Mapa Geológico del Valle del Cauca 1:250,000, 1. INGEOMINAS. Accessed 2017-09-21.

Further reading

  • Page, W.D. 1986. Seismic geology and seismicity of Northwestern Colombia, 1–200. San Francisco, California, Woodward-Clyde Consultants Report for ISA and Integral Ltda., Medellín.
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Sources
     Paris, Gabriel; Machette, Michael N.; Dart, Richard L.; Haller, Kathleen M. (2000). Map and Database of Quaternary Faults and Folds in Colombia and its Offshore Regions (PDF). USGS. pp. 1–66. Retrieved 2017-06-20.

      Gómez Tapias, Jorge; Montes Ramírez, Nohora E.; Almanza Meléndez, María F.; Alcárcel Gutiérrez, Fernando A.; Madrid Montoya, César A.; Diederix, Hans (2015). Geological Map of Colombia. Servicio Geológico Colombiano. pp. 1–212. Retrieved 2019-10-29.

      Various authors (2014). Enciclopedia de desastres naturales históricos de Colombia (PDF). Universidad del Quindío. pp. 1–21. Retrieved 2017-06-20.
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