Landscapes and Geology of Patagonia: An Introduction to the Land of Reptiles

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to summarize the geological-geomorphological regions of Patagonia with a general characterization of the main geomorphological units. A review of studies on geology, stratigraphic, main geologic landmarks, geological history, and geological resources will be briefly described. This review was performed on the base of geological province concept, including a stratigraphic-morphostructural criteria and a description of major endogenous and exogenous processes responsible for the formation of landscape units. In this chapter these geological-geomorphological regions include Chile and Argentina and were grouped as: (1) Coastal Cordillera and Central Valley (Chile), (2) Southern Andes Cordillera, (3) Mountain Sector of the Neuquén Embayment, (4) Northern Patagonian Tablelands, (5) The North Patagonian Broken Foreland and Somún Curá Massif, (6) Central Patagonian Tablelands, (7) Deseado Massif, (8) Southern Patagonian Tableland, and (9) Islas Malvinas Plateau.