Geo-structural map of the Laguna Blanca basin (Southern Central Andes, Catamarca, Argentina)

The Laguna Blanca basin is a rhomb-shaped basin located at the SE margin of the Puna plateau in the southern Central Andes (Catamarca, Argentina). An interactive analysis using remote sensing and field mapping enabled us to produce a geo-structural map at a 1:350,000 scale. Satellite images from multispectral sensors (ASTER and Landsat 7 ETM+) and medium resolution Digital Elevation Models (SRTM and ASTER GDEM) were used in order to recognize the structures and main lithologies, which were validated in the field and through laboratory tests (e.g. spectral analysis). The final result is a geo-structural map of the Laguna Blanca basin with a new geological unit subdivision, highlighting its tectonic origin, which appears to be related to a releasing stepover along N-S sinistral strike-slip master faults.