People | Andy Cohen

Deposystem Evolution in the Foreland Basin Lakes of South America

My lab has recently begun an investigation of the sedimentology of modern foreland basin lakes, using the Andean foreland as our model system. Most of the stratigraphic and sedimentologic models of tectonic lakes currently available are based on studies of rift basins. However, rifts fill and evolve very differently than forelands due to their different subsidence and  watershed histories. As a result our studies hold great promise for better understanding ancient foreland basin lake deposits such as the Green River Fm. of the western US.

1a and 1b. Model of the various tectonic settings where lakes can accumulate adjacent
to compressional mountain belts

2. UA Graduate student Mike McGlue (right) and assistant coring
Laguna Pozuelos, a piggy-back basin in the Puna region of northern Argentina.