Chaitenia

Distinct fragment of Earth's crust in southern Chile

Chaitenia is a distinct fragment of Earth's crust in southern Chile. Rocks of Chaitenia represents an ancient island arc that existed next to Patagonia which became eventually accreted to it.^[1] The accretion of Chaitenia to Patagonia occurred in the Devonian period (c. 400-360 million years ago) as inferred from an event where rocks were put under pressure, deformed and heated dated to that period.^[1] After merging into Patagonia, accretionary complexes developed west of it, meaning Chaitenia constituted a backstop.^[1] Chaitenia is not thought to extend beyond the Huincul lineament to the north, beyond which lies the Chilenia terrane.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Hervé, Francisco; Calderón, Mauricio; Fanning, Mark; Pankhurst, Robert; Rapela, Carlos W.; Quezada, Paulo (2018). "The country rocks of Devonian magmatism in the North Patagonian Massif and Chaitenia". Andean Geology. 45 (3): 301–317. doi:10.5027/andgeoV45n3-3117. hdl:11336/81577.

Geology of Chile

Terranes

Arequipa-Antofalla
Chaitenia
Chilenia
Chiloé
Cuyania
Fitz Roy
Madre de Dios
Mejillonia
Patagonia

Sedimentary
formations
and groups

Cretaceous	Baños del Flaco Fm. Cerro Colorado Fm. Chacarilla Fm. Chañarcillo Gp. Coihaique Gp. Divisadero Gp. Dorotea Fm. Hornitos Fm. La Liga Fm. Ñirehuao Fm. Punta del Cobre Fm. Purilactis Gp. Quiriquina Fm. Viñita Fm. Way Gp. Zapata Fm.
Jurassic	Chacarilla Fm. Coihaique Gp. Ibáñez Fm. La Liga Fm. La Negra Fm. Nacientes del Biobío Fm. Nacientes del Teno Fm. Pan de Azúcar Fm. Tobífera Fm.
Triassic	Canto del Agua Fm. Choiyoi Gp. Panguipulli Fm. Santa Juana Fm. Tralcán Fm.