Description: Highlights • 2-D velocity models at the highest slip patch during the Chilean 2010 Mw 8.8 earthquake. • The highest slip patch correlates with large accretionary prisms. • The highest slip patch correlates with low continental slope angles. • A similar pattern is observed along the giant 1960 Mw 9.5 earthquake rupture area. Abstract Subduction megathrust earthquakes show complex rupture behaviour and large lateral variations of slip. However, the factors controlling seismic slip are still under debate. Here, we present 2-D velocity-depth tomographic models across four trench-perpendicular wide angle seismic profiles complemented with high resolution bathymetric data in the area of maximum coseismic slip of the 8.8 Maule 2010 megathrust earthquake (central Chile, 34°–36°S). Results show an abrupt lateral velocity gradient in the trench-perpendicular direction (from 5.0 to 6.0 km/s) interpreted as the contact between the accretionary prism and continental framework rock whose superficial expression spatially correlates with the slope-shelf break. The accretionary prism is composed of two bodies: (1) an outer accretionary wedge (5–10 km wide) characterized by low seismic velocities of 1.8–3.0 km/s interpreted as an outer frontal prism of poorly compacted and hydrated sediment, and (2) the middle wedge (∼50 km wide) with velocities of 3.0–5.0 km/s interpreted as a middle prism composed by compacted and lithified sediment. In addition, the maximum average coseismic slip of the 2010 megathrust event is fairly coincident with the region where the accretionary prism and continental slope are widest (50–60 km wide), and the continental slope angle is low (〈5°). We observe a similar relation along the rupture area of the largest instrumentally recorded Valdivia 1960 9.5 megathrust earthquake. For the case of the Maule event, published differential multibeam bathymetric data confirms that coseismic slip must have propagated up to ∼6 km landwards of the deformation front and hence practically the entire base of the middle prism. Sediment dewatering and compaction processes might explain the competent rheology of the middle prism allowing shallow earthquake rupture. In contrast, the outer frontal prism made of poorly consolidated sediment has impeded the rupture up to the deformation front as high resolution seismic reflection and multibeam bathymetric data have not showed evidence for new deformation in the trench region.

Description: Non erosive margins are characterized by heavily sedimented trenches which obscure the morphological expression of the outer rise; a forebulge formed by the bending of the subducting oceanic lithosphere seaward of the trench. Depending on the flexural rigidity (D) of the oceanic lithosphere and the thickness of the trench sedimentary fill, sediment loading can affect the lithospheric downward deflection in the vicinity of the trench and hence the amount of sediment subducted. We used seismic and bathymetric data acquired off south central Chile, from which representative flexural rigidities are estimated and the downward deflection of the oceanic Nazca plate is studied. By flexural modeling we found that efficient sediment subduction preferentially occurs in weak oceanic lithosphere (low D), whereas wide accretionary prisms are usually formed in rigid oceanic lithosphere (high D). In addition, well developed forebulges in strong oceanic plates behaves as barrier to seaward transportation of turbidites, whereas the absence of a forebulge in weak oceanic plates facilitates seaward turbidite transportation for distances 〉200 km.

Description: The Chile Triple Junction (CTJ) is the place where the Chile Ridge (Nazca–Antarctic spreading center) is subducting beneath the continental South American plate. Sediment accretion is active to the south of the CTJ in the area where the northward migrating Chile Ridge has collided with the continent since 14 Ma. At the CTJ, tectonic erosion of the overriding plate narrows and steepens the continental slope. We present here a detailed tomographic image of the upper lithospheric Antarctic–South America subduction zone where the Chile Ridge collided with the continent 3–6 Ma off Golfo de Penas. Results reveal that a large portion of trench sediment has been scraped off and frontally accreted to the forearc forming a 70–80 km wide accretionary prism. The velocity–depth model shows a discontinuity at 30–40 km landward of the deformation front, which is interpreted as the contact between the frontal (poorly consolidated sedimentary unit) and middle (more compacted sedimentary unit) accretionary prism. The formation of this discontinuity could be related to a short term episode of reduced trench sedimentation. In addition, we model the shape of the continental slope using a Newtonian fluid rheology to study the convergence rate at which the accretionary prism was formed. Results are consistent with an accretionary prism formed after the collision of the Chile Ridge under slow convergence rate similar to those observed at present between Antarctic and South America (∼2.0 cm/a). Based on the kinematics of the Chile Ridge subduction during the last 13 Ma, we propose that the accretionary prism off Golfo de Penas was formed recently (∼5 Ma) after the collision of the Chile Ridge with South America.

Description: On 27 February 2010 the Mw 8.8 Maule earthquake in Central Chile ruptured a seismic gap where significant strain had accumulated since 1835. Shortly after the mainshock a dense network of temporary seismic stations was installed along the whole rupture zone in order to capture the aftershock activity. Here, we present the aftershock distribution and first motion polarity focal mechanisms based on automatic detection algorithms and picking engines. By processing the seismic data between 15 March and 30 September 2010 from stations from IRIS, IPGP, GFZ and University of Liverpool we determined 20,205 hypocentres with magnitudes Mw between 1 and 5.5. Seismic activity occurs in six groups: 1.) Normal faulting outer rise events 2.) A shallow group of plate interface seismicity apparent at 25–35 km depth and 50–120 km distance to the trench with some variations between profiles. Along strike, the aftershocks occur largely within the zone of coseismic slip but extend ~ 50 km further north, and with predominantly shallowly dipping thrust mechanisms. Along dip, the events are either within the zone of coseismic slip, or downdip from it, depending on the coseismic slip model used. 3.) A third band of seismicity is observed further downdip at 40–50 km depth and further inland at 150–160 km trench perpendicular distance, with mostly shallow dipping (~ 28°) thrust focal mechanisms indicating rupture of the plate interface significantly downdip of the coseismic rupture, and presumably above the intersection of the continental Moho with the plate interface. 4.) A deep group of intermediate depth events between 80 and 120 km depth is present north of 36°S. Within the Maule segment, a large portion of events during the inter-seismic phase originated from this depth range. 5.) The magmatic arc exhibits a small amount of crustal seismicity but does not appear to show significantly enhanced activity after the Mw 8.8 Maule 2010 earthquake. 6.) Pronounced crustal aftershock activity with mainly normal faulting mechanisms is found in the region of Pichilemu (~ 34.5°S). These crustal events occur in a ~ 30 km wide region with sharp inclined boundaries and oriented oblique to the trench. The best-located events describe a plane dipping to the southwest, consistent with one of the focal planes of the large normal-faulting aftershock (Mw = 6.9) on 11 March 2010.

Description: The 27 February, 2010 Maule earthquake (Mw=8.8) ruptured ~400 km of the Nazca-South America plate boundary and caused hundreds of fatalities and billions of dollars in material losses. Here we present constraints on the fore-arc structure and subduction zone of the rupture area derived from seismic refraction and wide-angle data. The results show a wedge shaped body ~40 km wide with typical sedimentary velocities interpreted as a frontal accretionary prism (FAP). Landward of the imaged FAP, the velocity model shows an abrupt velocity-contrast, suggesting a lithological change which is interpreted as the contact between the FAP and the paleo accretionary prism (backstop). The backstop location is coincident with the seaward limit of the aftershocks, defining the updip limit of the co-seismic rupture and seismogenic zone. Furthermore, the seaward limit of the aftershocks coincides with the location of the shelf break in the entire earthquake rupture area (33°S–38.5°S), which is interpreted as the location of the backstop along the margin. Published seismic profiles at the northern and southern limit of the rupture area also show the presence of a strong horizontal velocity gradient seismic backstop at a distance of ~30 km from the deformation front. The seismic wide-angle reflections from the top of the subducting oceanic crust constrain the location of the plate boundary offshore, dipping at ~10°. The projection of the epicenter of the Maule earthquake onto our derived interplate boundary yielded a hypocenter around 20 km depth, this implies that this earthquake nucleated somewhere in the middle of the seismogenic zone, neither at its updip nor at its downdip limit.

Description: We report here the first detailed 2D tomographic image of the crust and upper mantle structure of a Cretaceous seamount that formed during the interaction of the Pacific plate and the Louisville hotspot. Results show that at ∼ 1.5 km beneath the seamount summit, the core of the volcanic edifice appears to be dominantly intrusive, with velocities faster than 6.5 km/s. The edifice overlies both high lower crustal (〉 7.2–7.6 km/s) and upper mantle (〉 8.3 km/s) velocities, suggesting that ultramafic rocks have been intruded as sills rather than underplated beneath the crust. The results suggest that the ratio between the volume of intra-crustal magmatic intrusion and extrusive volcanism is as high as ∼ 4.5. In addition, the inversion of Moho reflections shows that the Pacific oceanic crust has been flexed downward by up to ∼ 2.5 km beneath the seamount. The flexure can be explained by an elastic plate model in which the seamount emplaced upon oceanic lithosphere that was ∼ 10 Myr at the time of loading. Intra-crustal magmatic intrusion may be a feature of hotspot volcanism at young, hot, oceanic lithosphere, whereas, magmatic underplating below a pre-existing Moho may be more likely to occur where a hotspot interacts with oceanic lithosphere that is several tens of millions of years old.

Description: The subduction of seamounts and basement ridges affects the structure, morphology, and physical state of a convergent margin. To evaluate their impact on the seismo-tectonic setting of the subduction zone and the tectonic development of the lower subducting and upper overriding plate, it is essential to know the precise location of subducted topographic features under the marine forearc. Offshore Northern Chile, the Iquique Ridge represents a broad zone of complex and heterogeneous structure of variable width on the oceanic Nazca Plate, which complicates attempts to project it beneath the forearc of the Chilean subduction zone. Here we use a state-of-the-art seismic reflection data processing approach to map structures related to ridge subduction under the marine forearc with unprecedented accuracy and resolution and evaluate their impact on the deformation of both the plate boundary and the upper plate. We show that significant ridge-related topography is currently subducting south of 20.5 °S and that the combined effect of horst and graben subduction with subduction of Iquique ridge-related thickened and elevated crust causes an upward bulging of the entire upper plate from the plate interface up to the seafloor as well as the presence of kilometer-scale anticlinal structures observed in multibeam bathymetric data that are approximately aligned with horsts seaward of the trench. In the area affected by the subducting ridge, a frontal prism is absent, which may relate to frontal subduction erosion caused by the excess lower plate topography. In contrast farther towards the north, where only isolated seamounts subduct, a small frontal prism and a slope/apron sediment cover down to 3000 m water depth are found.

Description: Highlights • We obtain shallow two-dimensional and three-dimensional tomographic Vp models at the landward edge of the Maule accretionary prism (Chile at 35°-36°S). • The Maule accretionary prism is characterized by thrust ridges and shallow cold seep activity caused by the vertical migration of warm methane-rich fluids into the GHSZ. • Thrust ridges and associated splay fault systems play an important role in the upward fluid migration during the dewatering process of the accretionary prism. Abstract Thrust ridges are accretionary structures often associated with local uplift along splay faults and cold seep activity. We study the influence of a NS-trending thrust ridge system on the transition between the accretionary prism and the continental framework (shelf break) offshore the Maule Region (central Chile at 35°–36°S) by examining its 2-D and 3-D seismic velocity structure. The experiment comprises five densely spaced seismic refraction lines running subparallel to the trench and recorded at nine OBH/S (ocean bottom hydrophone/seismometers) deployed along the central line. Results show a narrow margin-parallel volume (approximately 6 × 50 × 5 km3) whose velocity distribution is consistent with sedimentary rocks. The shallow sedimentary unit is characterized by the presence of very low velocity hydrate-bearing sediments (〈1.7 km/s), which are interpreted as highly porous sedimentary rocks (〉50% porosity) within the Gas Hydrate Stability Zone (GHSZ) suggesting low hydrate content. These zones spatially correlate with fluid activity in the vicinity of the NS trending thrust ridges based on local high heat flow values (〉40 mWm−2) and seepage mapping. On the other hand, the splay faults that crop out on the flanks of the thrust ridge structures might be responsible for tectonically induced vertical fluid migration.