Geomorphological evidence of neotectonic activity along Cordillera Blanca fault zone, Peru

Southwest base of Cordillera Blanca mts. in South American Ands belongs to the most tectonically active fault zones. The core of this thesis was making of a detailed geomorphological map based on remote sensing satellite images for the purpose of analysis of direct and indirect manifestations of neotectonics. The greatest emphasis was placed on morphological manifestations of tectonics movements which are fault scarps facets and vertical fault steps deforming other shapes of relief - e.g. lateral moraines, dejection cones. Vertical steps reach from a few meters to tens of meters (max. 60 m) according to the age of influenced landform. Evaluation of measurements from deformometr from locality Pitec shows main trends of movements - moderate rise of massif, slow opening of fault plane and negligible left-lateral slip. Calculation of mountain-front sinuosity index, whose values were found relatively low, confirms high tectonic activity of fault zone. Analysis of longitudinal stream profiles hasn't showed presence of knick-points in the place of crossing with fault zone. Non-continuous process of lifting movements, whose interval is estimated at 1ka to 3ka (while the very last 2ka has been in relative tectonic calm), could be a possible explanation. Deep erosion of water streams wiped the tectonics...