Boconó Fault

9°15′N 70°16′W / 9.250°N 70.267°W / 9.250; -70.267Country Colombia
 VenezuelaRegionAndeanStateNorte de Santander, Santander
Mérida, TáchiraCitiesCúcutaCharacteristicsRangeMérida Andes, Eastern RangesPart ofBoconó-San Sebastián-El Pilar Fault SystemLength500 km (310 mi)StrikeNE-SWDisplacement4.3–6.1 mm (0.17–0.24 in)/yrTectonicsPlateSouth AmericanStatusActiveEarthquakes1610, 1894TypeStrike-slip faultMovementDextralAgeHoloceneOrogenyAndean

The Boconó Fault is a complex of geological faults located in the Eastern Ranges of northeastern Colombia and the Mérida Andes of northwestern Venezuela. The fault has a NE-SW orientation; it is a strike-slip fault and has a dextral relative movement.^[1] It extends over a length of 500 kilometres (310 mi). The fault, with a slip rate ranging from 4.3 to 6.1 millimetres (0.17 to 0.24 in) per year, has been active since the Early Holocene and earthquakes of 1610 and 1894 are associated with it.^[2]

References

Bibliography

• Audemard M., Franck A.; Singer P., André; Soulas, Jean-Pierre (2006). "Quaternary faults and stress regime of Venezuela" (PDF). Revista de la Asociación Geológica Argentina. 61 (4). Asociación Geológica Argentina: 480–491. Retrieved 2017-06-22.
• Audemard Mennessier, Franck A. (1997). "Holocene and historical earthquakes on the Boconó fault system, Southern Venezuelan Andes: Trench confirmation". Journal of Geodynamics. 24 (1–4): 155–167. doi:10.1016/S0264-3707(96)00037-3. Retrieved 2017-06-22.

Further reading

• Paris, Gabriel; Machette, Michael N.; Dart, Richard L.; Haller, Kathleen M. (2000). Map and Database of Quaternary Faults and Folds in Colombia and its Offshore Regions (PDF). USGS. pp. 1–66. Retrieved 2017-06-20.