Suárez Fault

The Suárez Fault (Spanish: Falla del Suárez) is a sinistral oblique thrust fault in the department of Santander in northeastern Colombia. The fault has a total length of 98.3 kilometres (61.1 mi) and runs along an average north-northeast to south-southwest strike of 021.1 ± 8 in the Eastern Ranges of the Colombian Andes from Barbosa in the south to Bucaramanga in the north, where it connects with the regional Bucaramanga-Santa Marta Fault.

Suárez Fault
Falla del Suárez
EtymologySuárez River
Coordinates06°35′48″N 73°18′16″W
Country Colombia
RegionAndean
StateSantander
CitiesBucaramanga
Characteristics
RangeEastern Ranges, Andes
Part ofAndean oblique faults
Length98.3 km (61.1 mi)
Strike021.1 ± 8
DipWest
Dip angle60-90
Displacement0.1 mm (0.0039 in)/yr
Tectonics
PlateNorth Andean
StatusInactive
TypeOblique thrust fault
MovementSinistral reverse
Rock unitsGirón Fm., Paja Fm., Rosablanca Fm., Simití Fm.
AgeQuaternary
OrogenyAndean

Etymology

The fault is named after the Suárez River.[1]

Description

The Suárez Fault runs from Barbosa in the south,[2] where it displaces the Simití Formation,[3] and joins the Bucaramanga Fault a few kilometers to the north of the city of Bucaramanga. The Suárez Fault cuts Jurassic (Girón Formation),[4] and Cretaceous sedimentary rocks (Simití, Rosablanca and Paja Formations),[5] and Quaternary alluvial deposits and mud flows that form the "Bucaramanga Terrace".[6] The trace of the fault is well defined, controls linear drainages such as the Suárez River for several kilometers, has sag ponds, and locally dams alluvium. The fault vertically offsets debris flows in the area of Girón and La Fuente and displaces a Tertiary erosion surface. The slip rate is estimated at 0.1 millimetres (0.0039 in) per year on the basis of displaced Quaternary deposits.[1]

See also

References
  1. Paris et al., 2000, p.34
  2. Mapa Geológico Santander, 1999
  3. Plancha 170, 2009
  4. Plancha 135, 2009
  5. Plancha 151, 2009
  6. Plancha 120, 2010

Bibliography

Maps

Further reading
  • Page, W.D. 1986. Seismic geology and seismicity of Northwestern Colombia, 1–200. San Francisco, California, Woodward-Clyde Consultants Report for ISA and Integral Ltda., Medellín.
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