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Neotectonic faulting and forearc sliver motion along the Atirro-Rio Sucio fault system, Costa Rica, Central America

2013; Geological Society of America; Volume: 125; Issue: 5-6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1130/b30471.1

1943-2674

P. Walter Montero, Jonathan C. Lewis, J. S. Marshall, S. Kruse, Paul H. Wetmore,

Geological and Tectonic Studies in Latin America

Research Article| May 01, 2013 Neotectonic faulting and forearc sliver motion along the Atirro–Río Sucio fault system, Costa Rica, Central America P. Walter Montero; P. Walter Montero 1Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jonathan C. Lewis; Jonathan C. Lewis 2Geoscience Department, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jeffrey S. Marshall; Jeffrey S. Marshall 3Geological Sciences Department, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California 91768, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Sarah Kruse; Sarah Kruse † 4Department of Geology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, USA †Corresponding author: skruse@usf.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Paul Wetmore Paul Wetmore 4Department of Geology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information P. Walter Montero 1Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica Jonathan C. Lewis 2Geoscience Department, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705, USA Jeffrey S. Marshall 3Geological Sciences Department, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California 91768, USA Sarah Kruse † 4Department of Geology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, USA Paul Wetmore 4Department of Geology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, USA †Corresponding author: skruse@usf.edu Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 21 Dec 2010 Revision Received: 12 Oct 2012 Accepted: 01 Dec 2012 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2013 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2013) 125 (5-6): 857–876. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30471.1 Article history Received: 21 Dec 2010 Revision Received: 12 Oct 2012 Accepted: 01 Dec 2012 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation P. Walter Montero, Jonathan C. Lewis, Jeffrey S. Marshall, Sarah Kruse, Paul Wetmore; Neotectonic faulting and forearc sliver motion along the Atirro–Río Sucio fault system, Costa Rica, Central America. GSA Bulletin 2013;; 125 (5-6): 857–876. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30471.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The Atirro–Río Sucio fault system forms a major northwest-trending strike-slip fault zone in east-central Costa Rica. We examined the kinematics and temporal evolution of this fault system through geomorphic, structural, and seismologic analysis. This 150-km-long strike-slip fault zone traverses the northern flank of the paleovolcanic Cordillera de Talamanca and extends northwestward into the active Cordillera Volcánica Central. Historical seismicity includes frequent minor swarms and occasional moderate-magnitude (M 5.0–6.5) damaging earthquakes. Field geomorphic evidence, fault kinematic data, and earthquake focal mechanisms are consistent in showing dextral slip along the mapped traces of northwest-striking faults. Continuity with other transcurrent faults in northwest Costa Rica indicates that the Atirro–Río Sucio fault system may form the southeastern end of a regional network of northwest-trending dextral faults that accommodate margin-parallel displacement of the Central American forearc sliver. The Atirro–Río Sucio fault system originates within the Central Costa Rica Deformed Belt inboard of the indenting Cocos Ridge. We infer that ridge collision drives lateral escape of crustal fragments northwestward along an array of dextral Central Costa Rica Deformed Belt faults including the major structures of the Atirro–Río Sucio fault system. This zone of arc-parallel extrusion thus represents the root of the Central American forearc sliver. Consistent with recent geodynamic models, we propose that northwestward sliver escape along the Atirro–Río Sucio faults is driven by rigid indentation of the aseismic Cocos Ridge into southern Costa Rica. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.