Geology of Chile

This book is the first
comprehensive account in English of the geology of Chile, providing a
key reference work that brings together many years of research, and
written mostly by Chilean authors from various universities and other
centres of research excellence. The 13 chapters begin with a general
overview, followed by detailed accounts of Andean tectonostratigraphy
and magmatism, the amazingly active volcanism, the world class ore
deposits that have proven to be so critical to the welfare of the
country, and Chilean water resources. The subject then turns to
geophysics with an examination of neotectonics and earthquakes, the
hazardous frequency of which is a daily fact of life for the Chilean
population. There are chapters on the offshore geology and oceanography
of the SE Pacific Ocean, subjects that continue to attract much research
not least from those seeking to understand world climatic variations,
and on late Quaternary land environments, concluding with an account
examining human colonization of southernmost America.

During his voyage on H.M.S. Beagle,
an extended visit to Chile (1834-35) had a profound impact on Charles
Darwin, especially on his understanding of volcanoes, earthquakes and
tsunamis. Over more recent decades scientists have come to recognize the
Chilean Andes as providing the classic example of a mountain belt
produced by oceanic subduction beneath a continent, as well as some of
the most dramatic scenic and climatic variations on Earth. In the final
chapter, the editors offer a description of a drive from the
Mediterranean landscapes of central Chile to the hyperarid Atacama
Desert, a contribution designed to give visitors a chance to experience
for themselves the geology and scenery of this extraordinary country.