The Urrao Fault () is a sinistral oblique strike-slip fault in the department of Antioquia in northwestern Colombia. The fault has a total length of and runs along an average north to south strike of 003.6 ± 1 in the Western Ranges of the Colombian Andes.

Etymology

The fault is named after Urrao.

Urrao Fault

Description

This set of two parallel faults extend along the axis of the Western Ranges of the Colombian Andes, close to the valleys of the Anacosca and Penderisco Rivers, and the plateau of the Frontino Páramo. Located to the west of the city of Medellín, the faults mainly displace Tertiary sedimentary rocks. The west branch of the fault has mainly normal slip as observed from offset alluvial terraces. The fault forms spectacular fault scarps on terraces. These scarps are long and as much as high. Most of the fault trace has a moderate alignment of topographic features, such as linear streams and offset spurs. Quaternary alluvial sediments of the Penderisco River are offset an unknown amount. The slip rate is estimated at per year deduced from displaced Quaternary sediments.

Urrao Fault

See also

List of earthquakes in Colombia

Abriaquí Fault

Cañasgordas Fault

Romeral Fault System

References

Bibliography

Maps

Further reading

Seismic faults of Colombia

Strike-slip faults

Normal faults

Inactive faults

Faults

Urrao Fault