Tectonics of the Nazca-Antarctic plate boundary

We have constructed a new bathymetric chart of part of the Chile transform system, based mainly on an R/V “Endeavor” survey from 100°W to its intersection with the East Ridge of the Juan Fernandez microplate at 34°30′S, 109°15′W. A generally continuous lineated trend can be followed through the entire region, with the transform valley being relatively narrow and well-defined from 109°W to approximately 104°30′W. The fracture zone then widens to the east, with at least two probable en echelon offsets to the south at 104° and 102°W. Six new strike-slip mechanisms along the Chile Transform and one normal fault mechanism near the northern end of the Chile Rise, inverted together with other plate motion data from the eastern portion of the boundary, produce a new best fit Euler pole for the Nazca-Antarctic plate pair, providing tighter constraints on the relative plate motions.