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In the South‐Central Andes, the crustal structures driving the tectonic evolution of the Andean Cordillera remain unresolved. So far, most seismological studies focused on the subduction interface, leaving crustal seismicity and its relationship with crustal deformation and Andean volcanism mostly unconstrained. However, because of their large number compared to higher magnitude events, the characterization of small‐magnitude crustal earthquakes is key to identify active structures and better constrain the tectonic models. In this work, we exploit 53 months of continuously recorded, three‐component waveforms from the permanent seismic network in central Chile using a deep‐learning approach to improve the detection of small‐magnitude earthquakes. To increase station coverage, we also use the seismic phases obtained from a previous temporary seismic deployment. We use the obtained seismicity catalog to refine tomographic models of that region, revealing a more detailed architecture of the Chilean forearc. Travel times calculated in the new 3‐D velocity model allowed us to locate ∼14,000 earthquakes. Refined double‐difference relocations of ∼4,900 events located beneath the West Andean Thrust suggest a large‐scale, west‐dipping structure which, together with the west‐verging tectonic front, likely contributed to the uplift and crustal deformation during the past ∼20 Myr. Plain Language Summary: The occurrence of earthquakes is closely related to plate tectonics and in particular, the creation of mountain ranges and their evolution over very long periods of time. In order to better understand how these processes work in the Andes of Central Chile, we analyze more than 4 years of earthquake records using a machine learning algorithm. This technique allows us to automatically and reliably detect very small earthquakes, that are, in general, missing in the seismicity catalogs. Since they are also more numerous, we can use them to improve the geophysical images and reveal more details of crustal structures. We find that most of the superficial earthquakes beneath the Andean Cordillera are aligned with a major structure, dipping toward the west. This structure accommodates processes of shortening and uplifting directly related to the construction of the Andes. Key Points: A large number of earthquakes detected using a deep‐learning approach are used for local earthquake tomographyThe obtained 3‐D seismic wave velocity structure is used to relocate the seismicity catalogEarthquake locations suggest a west‐dipping major structure that we interpret to have contributed to the uplift of the South‐Central Andes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eastern Sierras Pampeanas (ESP) are the easternmost expression of a series of foreland uplifts in the Argentine back arc region (~30–34°S) and show spatial and temporal connections with the subduction of the Juan Fernández Ridge (JFR) under the South American plate. In order to get new insights on the mechanisms that control crustal regional tectonics, we computed teleseismic receiver functions (RF) and jointly invert them with Rayleigh-wave phase velocity dispersion curves. RFs allow resolving crustal thickness and intra crustal velocity variations with a good vertical resolution whereas surface wave information helps to constrain absolute seismic wave velocities. Our seismic images have been combined with crustal density modeling in order to further investigate if the shear wave velocity structure obtained from the RF-SW joint inversion could explain the observed gravity variations. Our results show a crustal thickness varying from 35–40 km (east) to 45–50 km (west) with a Moho step at ~66°W. This step regionally presents a NW-SE orientation and is parallel to the trace at the surface of the Valle Fértil–La Huerta (VFLH) lineament (Cuyania-Pampia boundary). Our images also reveal the presence of a high wave velocity (high density) lower crust west of this Moho step, beneath the eastern Sierras Pampeanas (at 66–67°W). This observation suggests the east-dipping extension at depth of the VFLH structure and the underthrusting of the Cuyania lower crust under the Pampia terrane along this structure. Finally, we evidenced localized low velocity zones located at about 10 km beneath late Cenozoic volcanic fields (Pocho, Morro). We believe that these low velocity zones correspond to old magma chambers associated to the recent, slab flattening-related volcanism in the ESP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the flat slab region of the South Central Andes (∼31–32°S), geological observations suggest that the regional crustal structure is inherited from the accretion of different terranes during the Ordovician. These structures were later reactivated, first in extension during the Triassic and later in compression during the Andean uplift since the Miocene. Seismological observations confirmed that those fault structures extend to depth with décollement levels that accommodate current crustal shortening in the region. In order to get better insight on the regional tectonics we computed higher frequency receiver functions (RF) from local slab seismicity of intermediate ∼100 km depth. Using a common conversion point (CCP) stacking method we obtained cross sections showing high vertical resolution crustal structure at the transition between the Precordillera and the Frontal Cordillera. In addition we performed a joint inversion of our high frequency RFs with surface wave data from ambient noise tomography allowing us to constrain absolute seismic wave velocities. Our higher resolution images reveal more structural details down to a depth of 80 km and laterally over the flat slab in good agreement with previous studies. Our results help to better identify very shallow discontinuities in seismic velocities. Recent petrological analyses combined with our high-resolution RF structure correlates with a crustal mafic composition and partial eclogitization in the lower crust. We observe a shift in the crustal structure between the Precordillera (east) and the Frontal Cordillera (west). Regional seismicity and previously determined focal mechanisms superimposed over our images indicate this shifting is a thrust structure extending down to a depth of 40 km. Our results suggest the presence of a master fault between the Cuyania (Western Precordillera) and Chilenia (Frontal Cordillera) terranes that probably accommodates the crustal deformation in the Pampean flat slab region since the Late Ordovician. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we analyze 100 crustal Precordilleran earthquakes recorded in 2008 and 2009 by 52 broadband seismic stations from the SIEMBRA and ESP, two temporary experiments deployed in the Pampean flat slab region, between the Andean Cordillera and the Sierras Pampeanas in the Argentine Andean backarc region. In order to determine more accurate hypocenters, focal mechanisms and regional stress orientations, we relocated 100 earthquakes using the JHD technique and a local velocity model. The focal depths of our relocated events vary between 6 and 50 km. We estimated local magnitudes between 0.4 ≤ M L ≤ 5.3 and moment magnitudes between 1.3 ≤ M w ≤ 5.3. Focal mechanisms were determined from new hypocenter relocations and first motion P-wave polarities. Our solutions exhibit a majority of the earthquakes with reverse faulting mechanism. Regional stress tensor from the inversion of P- and T-axis orientations, shows a maximum stress axis (σ 1) almost horizontal with a strike of 85° and a minimum stress axis (σ 3) almost vertical. We correlate this small-to-moderate magnitude seismicity with the presence of large basement structures beneath the Iglesia-Calingasta Basin in the west and the Eastern Precordillera in the east. The nucleation of deep earthquakes beneath the Iglesia Basin could be related to the presence of a major ramp accommodating the crustal shortening between the Frontal Cordillera and the Precordillera. The crustal seismicity beneath the Precordillera seems to correlate with west-dipping structures rooting deep into the Cuyania basement suggesting a thick-skinned basement deformation system beneath the Precordillera and its shallow thin-skinned fold and thrust belt. • Seismicity relocated in the Precordillera lies in middle to lower crust continental levels. • The focal mechanisms are mainly reverse. • Average stress based on the studied seismicity indicates ~E-W horizontal compression along tectonic plate convergence. • Thin-skinned deformation in the Precordillera seems to mostly predate modern basement deformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]