Orogenic buildup of the Ecuadorian Andes

While the Central Andes (Peru, Bolivia) exhibit a high mean elevation, a large orogenic belt, a significant shortening and the lack of any exotic mesozoic material, the northern Andes (Ecuador, Colombia) are marked by a moderate mean elevation, a narrow shape, a low shortening amount and the presence of large Cretaceous oce-anic terranes accreted to the western margin. The aim of this work is to propose a model for the orogenic buildup of the Andes of Ecuador, which differs from that commonly proposed for the Central Andes, and takes into account the geological evolution and struc-ture of this part of the chain.