Earth Sciences Commons^™

Thermochronological Evidence For Neogene Incision Of The Rio Pativilca Canyon, Northern Peru, Matthew James Montario

Geology Theses and Dissertations

The Peruvian Andes have attained modern elevations of ~4000 m. Many peaks along the drainage divide are in excess of 5500 m with ~2-3 km of vertical relief, and canyons cut into the western edge have up to 3.5 km relief. The Rio Pativilica Canyon is cut into a folded Mesozoic marine sequence intruded by granitic rocks of the Coastal Batholith, which are overlain by Tertiary volcanics: this canyon has relief in excess of ~3 km. Based on geomorphological evidence, two episodes of valley incision cut the Puna erosional surface: 1) The Vallé stage, which is characterized by broad valleys …