El Pilar fault zone, northeastern Venezuela: Brief review

Abstract

Abstract The El Pilar fault zone extends for about 700 km in an approximately E—W direction, from the Cariaco Trench to a point about 200 km northeast of Trinidad. It marks the southern boundary of the Araya—Paria peninsulas (eastern Caribbean Mts.) and of the Northern Range of Trinidad. It is characterized along its length by straight valleys, fault wedges, fumaroles, thermal springs, and sulfur deposits. The displacement along the El Pilar fault zone has been the subject of much controversy. Various authors recognize the following types of displacement: (1) southward thrust; (2) normal or graben faulting; (3) right-lateral strike-slip. The El Pilar fault zone probably represents a transform fault between the Caribbean and South America plates, and a hinge fault at its contact with the subduction zone east and south of the Lesser Antilles. It is planned to investigate the present-day movement along the El Pilar fault zone by high-precision geodetic methods, at the following localities: across the Gulf of Cariaco and at Casanay (central-southern Araya—Paria peninsulas).