Morphotectonic and Orogenic Development of the Northern Andes of Colombia: A Low-Temperature Thermochronology Perspective

Abstract

Landscapes in mountain belts evolve through complex feedback mechanisms between internal and external processes. Modern orogenic belts, such as the Andes, are the result of millions of years of continuing internal and external processes. Therefore, mountain ranges are rich repositories of geomorphic and tectonic information. Established techniques in low temperature thermochronology (LTTC), e.g., fission-track and (U-Th)/He dating, present novel opportunities to quantitatively explore key morphotectonic processes in the upper crust, e.g., the cooling of rocks as they move toward the Earth’s surface during exhumation, via erosion, normal faulting, and/or crustal thinning. We address the Late Mesozoic-Cenozoic morphotectonic and orogenic history of the Northern Andes of Colombia using detailed compilations and analysis of existing LTTC datasets, in an effort to define the spatial distribution, timing, and magnitude of the main orogenic phases in the region, while providing an up-to-date morphotectonic picture of the Northern Andes.