Unveiling a major strike-slip fault system associated with the Somún Curá Large Igneous Province in central Patagonia, Argentina

Abstract

This study presents new evidence of a major, regional strike-slip fault system linked to the emplacement of the Somún Curá Large Igneous Province in central Patagonia, Argentina. Employing a combination of remote sensing techniques and fieldwork, we provide additional insights into the structural complexities underlying this magmatic province, shedding light on its geological evolution. Our findings indicate a compelling correlation between the magmatic products of the Somún Curá Large Igneous Province and the left-lateral strike-slip fault system, resembling similar relationships observed in other magmatic large igneous provinces. Moreover, the strike-slip tectonics delineated in this study likely represent the culmination of the fault system's evolution, possibly originating from a longstanding basement fault and extending beyond the limits of the Somún Curá basaltic plateau.