Cañasgordas Fault

The Cañasgordas Fault (Spanish: Falla de Cañasgordas) is an oblique thrust fault in the department of Antioquia in northwestern Colombia. The fault has a total length of 54.8 kilometres (34.1 mi) and runs along an average northwest to southeast strike of 316 ± 4 in the Western Ranges of the Colombian Andes.

Cañasgordas Fault
Falla de Cañasgordas
Map showing the location of Cañasgordas Fault
Map showing the location of Cañasgordas Fault
EtymologyCañasgordas
Coordinates06°48′14″N 76°04′55″W
Country Colombia
RegionAndean
StateAntioquia
CitiesDabeiba
Characteristics
RangeWestern Ranges, Andes
Part ofAndean oblique faults
Length54.8 km (34.1 mi)
Strike316 ± 4
DipSouthwest
Dip angleHigh
Displacement~0.01–0.1 mm (0.00039–0.00394 in)/yr
Tectonics
PlateNorth Andean
StatusInactive
TypeOblique thrust fault
MovementReverse sinistral
AgeQuaternary
OrogenyAndean

Etymology

The fault is named after the town of Cañasgordas.[1]

Description

The Cañasgordas Fault is located to the northwest of the city of Medellín. The fault traverses most of the Western Ranges of the Colombian Andes between the towns of Dabeiba and Giraldo in the department of Antioquia. The Cañasgordas Fault probably joins the Mutatá Fault. The fault displaces Cretaceous sedimentary and volcanic rocks, Tertiary sedimentary rocks, and Quaternary mud flows. The fault forms strong linear features on satellite images and aerial photographs and controls the course of the Río Sucio, which has a prominent, linear V-shaped valley. Fault scarps are formed on Quaternary mud flows.[1] The slip rate is estimated at 0.01 to 0.1 millimetres (0.00039 to 0.00394 in) per year deduced from offset of mud flows and the fault was probably active in the Late Pleistocene.[2]

See also

References
  1. Paris et al., 2000, p.17
  2. Paris et al., 2000, p.18

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

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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