Argelia Fault

The Argelia Fault (Spanish: Falla de Argelia) is an inactive dextral oblique thrust fault in the departments of Risaralda and Valle del Cauca in Colombia. The fault has a total length of 59.4 kilometres (36.9 mi) and runs along an average north to south strike of 014.5 ± 18 in the Western Ranges of the Colombian Andes.

Argelia Fault
Falla de Argelia
Etymology	Argelia
Coordinates	04°51′44″N 75°57′09″W
Country	Colombia
Region	Andean
State	Risaralda, Valle del Cauca
Characteristics
Range	Western Ranges, Andes
Part of	Andean oblique faults
Length	59.4 km (36.9 mi)
Strike	014.5 ± 18
Dip	West
Dip angle	Moderate to high
Displacement	<0.2 mm (0.0079 in)/yr
Tectonics
Plate	North Andean
Status	Inactive
Type	Oblique thrust fault
Movement	Dextral reverse
Age	Quaternary
Orogeny	Andean

Etymology

The fault is named after Argelia, Valle del Cauca.[1]

Description

The Argelia Fault is located in the Western Ranges of the Colombian Andes, to the west of the city of Pereira. The fault cuts Mesozoic oceanic rocks that were accreted to the continent during Late Cretaceous time. The Argelia Fault shows some neotectonic features and probably connects with the Garrapatas Fault.

The vertical component of the fault is west-side up. Dextral movement in this fault is an exception to the common sinistral (left-lateral) movement of north-south trending faults in the region.[2]

See also

• List of earthquakes in Colombia
• Romeral Fault System

References

1. Paris et al., 2000, p.51
2. Paris et al., 2000, p.52

Bibliography

• Paris, Gabriel; Michael N. Machette; Richard L. Dart, and Kathleen M. Haller. 2000a. Map and Database of Quaternary Faults and Folds in Colombia and its Offshore Regions, 1–66. USGS. Accessed 2017-09-18.

Maps

• Paris, Gabriel; Michael N. Machette; Richard L. Dart, and Kathleen M. Haller. 2000b. Map of Quaternary Faults and Folds of Colombia and Its Offshore Regions, 1. USGS. Accessed 2017-09-18.