Development of self-similar duplex systems. Atacama Fault System, Chile

Fault development models are very important to predict geometry and distribution of fractures at all scales. However, models based on structures from microns to km are relatively scarce due to the lack of well-exposed structures. We present structures related to the development of the Bolfín fault in the Atacama Fault System (AFS), covering a scale range of 9 orders of magnitude. The AFS is a 1000 km-long trench-parallel fault system located in the Andean Forearc. The Bolfín fault is a first-order fault of the Caleta Coloso Duplex; it has a trend ~170° and a length >45 km (Fig 1A). It cuts meta-diorites and exhibits a 100-200m wide core of subvertical bands of altered fractured host rock and of foliated cataclasites. Foliation is made of trend-parallel cm-wide shear bands composed of plagioclase fragments (>0,1mm) surrounded by epidote. Around the bands there are many micro fractures oriented within the P-diedra. In the compressive quadrant around a tip point of Bolfín fault, the lower strain faults exhibit an unusual internal structure consisting of fractures arranged in a multi-duplex pattern. This pattern can be seen from metric- (Parulo fault, fig 1C) to mm-scale (Palmera fault fig 1B). Fractures in the pattern can be separated in 2 types: Main Faults: Trend-parallel, longer and with larger offsets. Secondary Fractures: sigmoid-shape fractures distributed in the regions between main faults, all oriented between 15° and 75° with respect to the main faults, meassured in the shear-sense (i.e. in P-diedra). On the basis of the distribution of the 2 types of fractures, the generation sequence can be inferred. The main faults are more widely distributed, and were propagated earlier. The secondary fractures are distributed in smaller areas between larger displacement main faults, and propagated later as linking fractures. The duplex pattern is thus self-similar: faults with multiple-duplex internal structure (Parulo and Palmera fault)are in turn secondary faults in a larger km-scale duplex (Caleta Coloso). This suggests that fracturing oriented in the P-quadrant controlled the fault propagation at all scales. Figure 1: A: Caleta Coloso Duplex and Geological map of the tip point of Bolfin. B: Microstructural map of a thin section in Palmera F. E: Map of Parulo F internal structure.