EVOLUTION
AND GEOLOLOGICAL

The Andes del Sur Natural Laboratory in Chile has a great geological diversity associated with the subduction process, where the Nazca oceanic plate moves under the South American continental plate.

  • Active Volcanoes

  • Liquiñe – Ofqui Fault System
  • Thermal manifestations
  • Natural Hazards
  • Natural heritage


In this geological context, different phenomena take place, among them the formation of mountains (orogenesis),
volcanic activity
(from the generation of magmas at depth to eruptions at the surface), rock slides and alluvium (alluvium).
(

landslides
 mass), earthquakes (fault tectonism and seismicity), and occurrence of hot springs and geysers (anomalous heat flow). Several of these phenomena are related to the activity of the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault System which is more than 1,200 km long, and which is present from the Callaqui volcano in its north to the Aysén fjord, which episodically presents seismic activity. This fault system is spatially and genetically related to a chain of volcanoes that make up the so-called Southern Volcanic Zone, in which the Villarrica, Chaitén, Llaima, Cordón Caulle and Calbuco volcanoes stand out.

This mountainous area is also one of the most inhabited, so the study of geological evolution and its applications for geological risk assessment (earthquakes, volcanic (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and seismic activity) and its possible productive possible productive uses (geothermal energy, tourism, agriculture, livestock and forestry) has a direct social impact on the inhabitants of this natural laboratory. Research in the area of earth sciences is fundamental for the knowledge and conservation of the natural heritage of this natural heritage of this territory, where 19 protected areas (National Parks and Reserves) are located, together with two Biosphere Reserves and a Global Geopark that have been recognized by UNESCO.

Lines of research

Volcanology and volcanic hazard:

  • Active volcanism

  • Modeling of volcanic processes and volcanic hazards

Tectonics and seismic hazard:

  • Morphotectonics and processes of uplift and denudation.

  • Neotectonics

  • Paleoseismology

  • Seismic hazards associated with active faults and sedimentary deposits

Geothermal and hydrothermal systems:

  • Magmatic systems Heat-water-rock interactions

  • Geochemistry of geothermal fluids

  • Reservoirs and geofluid dynamics

  • Direct application Geothermal energy for productive uses

Mass removal processes:

  • Landslides, landslides (rotational and translational), flows, among others, associated with extreme hydrometeorological events and intensified non-eruptive volcanic activity.

Geological Heritage:

  • Conservation of the geological elements that are part of the natural heritage and their management to promote their use.

Mineralogy and Petrology:

  • Petrology and Geochemistry of magmatism in convergent margins.

  • Very low grade metamorphism of basic igneous rocks.

  • Mineralogy

  • Geochronology

  • Accretion prism metamorphism

Paleontology and Sedimentology:
  • Interpretation and reconstruction of sedimentary environments
  • Sedimentary basin analysis

  • Distribution and content of fossils in layered rocks

What is the scientific production of theEvolution and Geological Inheritance Laboratory ?

Between 1982 and 2021, the thematic laboratory has registered 387 scientific publications indexed in Web of Science, Scopus and SciELO. The scientific production of this Thematic Laboratory increases since 2004, reaching the highest number of articles published in 2016.

Who has done research in the Evolution and Geological Inheritance Laboratory?

A total of 1089 researchers have published their scientific research developed in this Thematic Laboratory. The graph shows the main authorships and co-authorships with at least 11 articles indexed in Web of Science, Scopus and SciELO.

What are the main keywords of theEvolution and Geological Inheritance Laboratory ?