The mechanism for crustal thickening and superposition of several orogens is critical for understanding the growth of mountain ranges. Our study focuses on a trans-orogen crustal cross-section to revisit the Andean tectonic evolution in the Northern Central Andes (5°-8°S). It is based on a review of the geological setting, the definition of long-term tectono-sedimentary successions, and for the first time, a crustal balanced cross-section 895 km long through the entire orogen. We show that the Northern Central Andes were born in the Jurassic, and correspond to the superposition of several orogens representing a minimum total shortening of ∼207 km. They were built over 180 Ma during three orogenic periods (180–140 Ma; 100–50 Ma; 30–0 Ma), separated by two post-orogenic periods during which most Andean relieves were erased (140–100 Ma; 50–30 Ma). Each post-orogenic period was recorded by 1) a major regional erosional unconformity sealed by a widespread marine transgression, and 2) extensional tectonics in the forearc. Crustal shortening was driven by westward South America Plate displacement and continental crustal underthrusting, and not by oceanic subduction. The propagation of the Andean wedge has been controlled by successive inversions of two pre-existing rifts. The sequential restoration of the trans-orogen balanced cross-section, constrained by the sedimentary record, provides a realistic picture of each orogenic and post-orogenic stage. For the first time, the pre-Neogene basins are reconstructed respecting the Andean shortening. The first-order factors that have controlled the complex growth evolution of Northern Central Andes are South America Plate dynamics changes associated with shifts in the geometry of the subducting oceanic slab. Some correlations can be established with Phanerozoic climate changes.

中文翻译：

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重新审视安第斯山脉中北部和安第斯山脉的构造演变：三个叠加造山带的综合地层和构造模型


地壳增厚和几种造山带叠加的机制对于理解山脉的生长至关重要。我们的研究重点是跨造山带地壳横截面，以重新审视安第斯山脉中北部 （5°-8°S） 的安第斯构造演变。它基于对地质环境的回顾、长期构造-沉积演替的定义，并首次在整个造山带中形成了 895 公里长的地壳平衡横截面。我们表明，安第斯山脉中北部诞生于侏罗纪，对应于几个造山带的叠加，代表最小总缩短 ∼207 公里。它们在三个造山期（180-140 马;100-50 马;30-0 马）建造了超过 180 马，由两个造山后时期隔开，在此期间大多数安第斯浮雕被抹去（140-100 马;50-30 马）。每个造山后时期都记录为 1） 由广泛的海洋海侵密封的主要区域侵蚀不整合，以及 2） 前弧的伸展构造。地壳缩短是由南美洲板块西移和大陆地壳逆冲驱动的，而不是由海洋俯冲驱动的。安第斯楔形的传播受到两个预先存在的裂缝的连续反转的控制。受沉积记录的限制，跨造山带平衡剖面的连续恢复提供了每个造山和造山后阶段的真实画面。新近纪前盆地首次按照安第斯缩短进行了重建。控制安第斯山脉中北部复杂生长演变的一级因子是与俯冲洋板块几何形状变化相关的南美洲板块动力学变化。 可以与显生代气候变化建立一些相关性。