Aggregates in Tierra del Fuego: Morphogenesis and Distribution

Abstract

This chapter presents a morphogenetic characterization and a distribution map of the main Quaternary sedimentary deposits in the argentine sector of Tierra del Fuego with potential for the exploitation of aggregates, classified according to large morphogenetic units. These deposits result from the intense glacial and glaciofluvial activity developed in a large part of the Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego during the different Pleistocene glaciations and the coastal processes developed during the Pleistocene and Holocene interglacial periods. The morphogenetic units identifiedwith potential for the extraction of aggregates are glaciofluvial plains and terraces, glaciofluvial fans, kame terraces and kame hills, kame deltas and sandy gravel beach ridges. Most of these deposits are concentrated in the northern part of the island, between the Lake Fagnano and San Sebastián Bay. This is due to the great development of the glaciofluvial systems during each of the glacial events and due to the morphodynamic characteristics of this sector of the Atlantic coast, which allowed the formation of a large number of sandy gravel beach ridge plains during the interglacial events.