Tectonics and exhumation processes in the northern Andes

The Cenozoic growth and uplift of the Andes has been strongly influenced by the subduction dynamics and the superposed effects of climate. Previous studies have shown that the arrival of oceanic ridges and slab flattening triggered regional uplift and exhumation in Peru and Chile. Recent studies suggest that the subduction of the Carnegie Ridge below the Ecuadorian Andes controlled the formation of a crustal sliver moving northward. However, the timing of the ridge’s arrival at the trench and its effect on topographic growth remain unclear.

New geo-thermochronological data allows us to investigate the possible role of ridge subduction in prompting the growth of the Ecuadorian Andes and to pinpoint the timing of the Carnegie Ridge subduction. Time-temperature inverse modeling of this new thermochronological dataset constrained two cooling phases in the Western Cordillera. The first phase occurred after the emplacement of intrusions, likely associated with magmatic cooling. The second phase began ~6 Ma, coinciding with the last cooling phase observed in the Eastern Cordillera and is likely to be associated with exhumation of the Western Cordillera. Based on our results and existing geological cross-sections we propose that recent crustal shortening and rock uplift led to exhumation of Ecuadorian Andes at ~6 Ma. We suggest that the onset of Carnegie Ridge subduction at ~6 Ma increased the coupling at the subduction interface, promoting shortening and rock uplift in the region.