Audrey Margirier 1*, Manfred R. Strecker1, Peter W. Reiners 2, Stuart N.
Thomson 2, Ismael Casado 1, Sarah
W.M. George 2, Alexandra Alvarado 3
1 Institut für Geowissenschaften, Universität Potsdam,
14469 Potsdam, Germany.
2 Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona,
Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
3 Instituto Geofísico, Escuela Politécnica Nacional,
Quito 170525, Ecuador.
Corresponding author: Audrey Margirier
(audrey.margirier@unil.ch)
* Now at the Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics,
University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Key Points:
- Thermochronological data reveal two cooling phases in the Western
Cordillera: one during the Miocene, and one since 6 Ma.
- The onset of cooling at 6 Ma is associated with the onset of active
shortening, rock uplift and exhumation in the Western Cordillera.
- The onset of exhumation at 6 Ma was triggered by the initial
subduction of the Carnegie Ridge that caused stronger plate coupling.