Critical sections in the Western Andes of Central Peru

Seven valley-sections across the Pacific slopes of the Andes provide evidence interpreted as follows. Cretaceous and post-Senonian beds were folded, thrust and eroded before an immense pile of lava and ash about 60 miles across was erupted. A granitic batholith about 30 miles wide cut through them and the edge of the folded sediments. Erosion unroofed this batholith and then more lava and ash erupted whilst normal faulting proceeded with down throw towards the Pacific. Uplift of about 12 000 feet in rather recent time is called for to account for high Andean plateau. In brief folding due to compression ended. Vulcanicity, magmatic emplacement, faulting and vertical movement succeeded.