Recent Joints and their Tectonic Significance in the Coastal Range of Venezuela and in Curacao

Surficial joints are frequently grouped into three systems: two orthogonal systems that are approximately vertical (these are due to the neotectonic stress field) and one inclined system. The two vertical systems are divided by a smaller (maximum compression of σ1) quadrant. In the Coastal Range of Venezuela we have measured the orientation of 635 joints, found in 10 groups of 3 outcrops each, located on three north-south profiles across the Coastal Range (Los Caracas-Caucagua, Matquetia-Tácata, and Puerto Colombia-Gϋigῡe) and occurring in Mesozoic rocks and in Quaternary sediments. In additio... Mehr ...