Osorno–Llanquihue Basin

The Osorno–Llanquihue Basin (Spanish: Cuenca Osorno-Llanquihue) is a sedimentary basin located in south-central Chile in the forearc region of the Andes. From north to south the basin spans and area from Catamutún to Reloncaví Sound (40–42° S).[1] The deepest part of the basin lie to the east.[2] The lower levels of the basin are occupied by coal-bearing Cheuquemó Formation among other units while the Miocene-aged marine Santo Domingo Formation makes up much of the upper stratigraphy.[2] The uppermost levels are made of sediments of Quaternary age of glacial, glaci-fluvial, glaci-lacustrine and volcanic character.[3] The thickness of Quaternary sediments is greater to the south reaching almost 1,300 m (4,300 ft) in Puerto Montt.[3] Sediments in the western part of the basin are roughly estimated to have reached 70 °C (158 °F) during burial and diagenesis.[4]

Osorno–Llanquihue Basin
Cuenca de Osorno-Llanquihue
SRTM map of the topography of the northern part of Osorno–Llanquihue Basin. The basin does largely correspond with the topographic low of the Chilean Central Valley.
Map showing the location of Osorno–Llanquihue Basin
Map showing the location of Osorno–Llanquihue Basin
Coordinates40.712124°S 73.109218°W / -40.712124; -73.109218
EtymologyOsorno and Llanquihue Lake
LocationSouthwestern South America
Country Chile
State(s)Los Ríos Region
Los Lagos Region
Characteristics
On/OffshoreSouthern tip is offshore
BoundariesChilean Coast Range (W)
Andes (E)
Hydrology
Sea(s)Eastern Pacific Ocean
River(s)Bueno, Negro, Pilmaiquén, Rahue, Damas
Lake(s)Llanquihue, Laguna Las Ortigas and the westernmost portions of Rupanco, Puyehue and Ranco
Geology
Basin typeForearc basin
OrogenyAndean
AgeOligocene-Pleistocene
Field(s)Chilean coal

References
  1. Elgueta et al. 2000, p. 7.
  2. Elgueta et al. 2000, p. 10.
  3. Elgueta et al. 2000, pp. 13–14.
  4. Kelm, Ursula; Cisternas, María E.; Helle, Sonia; Méndez, David (1994). "Diagenetic character of the Tertiary basin between Los Angeles and Osorno, southern Chile". Revista Geológica de Chile. 21 (2): 241–252. doi:10.5027/andgeoV21n2-a07.
Bibliography
  • Elgueta, Sara; McDonough, Michael; Le Roux, Jacobus; Urqueta, Esteban & Duhart, Paul (2000), Estratigrafía y sedimentología de las cuencas Terciarias de la Región de Los Lagos (39-41°30'S) (in Spanish), Santiago, Chile: Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, ISSN 0020-3939


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