Patterns of Andean growth in the Ecuadorian Andes

Abstract

This Master thesis will focus on the acquisition of new thermochronometric ages based on the apatite fission-track and apatite (U-Th)/He systems along one transect across the the Napo Uplift in the Ecuadorian Amazonian Andes. The main goal is to characterize rock exhumation in order to evaluate (1) the spatial and temporal distribution of thrust-induced exhumation along the Subandean thrust sheets and (2) enable comparison with surface uplift proxies studied by the post-doctoral researchers. The student will be co-supervised in the field by the PI and the Post-doctoral researchers working in the same areas in paleoelevation and Quaternary dating and uplift. The transect will consist of ~12 AFT and ~10 AHe sample localities distributed along hanging-wall blocks of major faults, and trying to cover important elevation differences. In a second stage, the student will perform 1D and 2D modeling of their studied transect and nearby areas using the modeling strategy described in the main proposal, which aims the quantification of fault slip rates and surface uplift rates. (AU)