Andean foreland basins

[1] In part sediment accumulation, uplift and subsidence of the Andean foreland basins is controlled by transverse zones of "structural accommodation", likely corresponding to ancient continent-wide faults.

[2] The Andean foreland basins in Bolivia have largely accumulated continental sediments, most of them of clastic nature.

[3] Beginning in 1920 the Ecuadorian and Peruvian basins were explored for petroleum and in the 1970s their hydrocarbon production increased greatly.

During the Mesozoic, rapid accumulation of sediment occurred at the onset of back arc extension between 250 and 140 Ma.

Interplay of local climate, uplift histories, shortening and subducting slab geometries influenced the development of individual foreland basins and shaped continent scale drainage patterns, offshore sediment dispersal and ecological development on the South American continent.