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Chile Altiplano Unconformity

Image of the Day for April 6, 2001

NASA Earth Observatory

Apr 06, 2001
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Apr 5, 2001
2000-12-01 00:00:00
Apr 7, 2001
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This 10.5 by 11 km area in northern Chile was acquired by the AdvancedSpaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) onApril 7, 2000. Dramatically displayed is a geological angularunconformity: a contact between layers of rock at different angles. Onthe right side of the image, Cretaceous sediments (146 to 65 millionyears old) were tilted upward to an angle of about 50 degrees,then eroded. On this surface volcanic pyroclastic deposits (rock composedof loose or fragmental material ejected from a volcano) were laid downas a flat sheet. The section of rocks has been eroding from the east,exposing the tilted and flat rock layers.

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Image courtesy NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

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Chile Altiplano Unconformity

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