Subduction of active spreading ridges and the disappearance of Andean-type cordilleras.

We address the possible link between the age of subducting oceanic lithosphere and growth of elevated cordilleras versus extension-dominated arc regions. Singularity exists in South America: the lowest elevated Andean segments are found in Patagonia where the active Chile Ridge enters the trench. Subduction of active ridge triggers thermal doming, crustal extension and attenuation of former cordilleras. At the Antarctica-South America connection, three active ridge subductions induced the disruption of a former continuous cordillera during the opening of Drake Passage. Active ridge subduction induces lithosphere thermal erosion and related crustal extension in the upper plate. Evolution of regions worldwide experiencing ridge subduction confirms this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]