South America is a fourth largest continent with an area of 6,880,000 square meters, located at the southern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere (Figure 1). It is bordered between the Pacific Ocean and on the north and the east by the Atlantic Ocean, North America and the Caribbean Sea. South America also consists of 12 independent countries which are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela (Dorst 2014).
3.0 Geology of the Andes Mountain Ranges, South America
3.1 Introduction
The Andes Mountain is one of the greatest mountain range of South America, which broadens more than 8900km distance down the western shoreline of…show more content… Separated from the Eastern Cordillera the Altiplano plateau of controversial origin is the Western Cordillera which marks the present day volcanic activity. From the Eastern Cordillera a well-developed fold-and thrust belt was expand over the South American Shield. Figure 10 Segment C of Andes
8.4 Segment D
At this section same batholithic structure was observed in the previous section form the Coastal Range. Separated the Main Cordillera is a well-defined Central Valley, which consecutively give rise in the west of the Pre cordillera and finally to the Pampean ranges, a series of basement uplifts. At this section it contain the transition zone where the Nazca plate changes from normal dip of ~30° to a sub horizontal configuration and back to the normal dip. It is distinguished by a lack of volcanic activity. Figure 11 Segment D of Andes
8.5 Segment E
Characterized by a late Paleozoic accretionary prism complex was the Coastal Range which is intruded by the Paleozoic Plutons. Correspond to the present day volcanic arc and give rise in the east of Agrio fold-and thrust belt was the Main Cordillera. Even at further east, the presence of back-arc basaltic outcrop is considered abnormal since there is no significant spreading have been recorded so
