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Chaitenia is a distinct fragment of Earth's crust in southern Chile. Rocks of Chaitenia represents an ancient island arc that existed next to Patagonia which became eventually accreted to it.[1] The accretion of Chaitenia to Patagonia occurred in the Devonian period (c. 400-360 million years ago) as inferred from an event where rocks were put under pressure, deformed and heated dated to that period.[1] After merging into Patagonia, accretionary complexes developed west of it, meaning Chaitenia constituted a backstop.[1] Chaitenia is not thought to extend beyond the Huincul lineament to the north, beyond which lies the Chilenia terrane.[1]
- ^ a b c d Hervé, Francisco; Calderón, Mauricio; Fanning, Mark; Pankhurst, Robert; Rapela, Carlos W.; Quezada, Paulo (2018). "The country rocks of Devonian magmatism in the North Patagonian Massif and Chaitenia". Andean Geology. 45 (3): 301–317. doi:10.5027/andgeoV45n3-3117. hdl:11336/81577.