Proceedings of the 12th International INQUA meeting on paleoseismology, active tectonic and archaeoseismology

228 PATA Days 2024 Fig. 2: Field observation of the Puerto Aldea Fault. a) Fault plane view of the Puerto Aldea Fault outcropping at the surface. b) Detail of a). c) Groundwater outcrops along the fault trace. d) Scarp of the Puerto Aldea Fault cutting marine sediments of the Coquimbo Formation. e) Strata of the Coquimbo Formation tilted westward towards the fault. These features correspond to rupture surface, tilting layers, and growth strata along the Puerto Aldea Fault (Figure 2) and evidence of secondary faulting throughout the study area. The distribution of the microseismicity could indicate that fault activity in the study area would be controlled by the deformation undergone by the upper continental crust in an active margin at present. C O N C L U S I O N S The Puerto Aldea Fault, a structure that could extend up to 70 km in length, both in its subaerial and submarine expressions, is established as a primary geological object of interest for assessing seismic hazards and the implications of a major crustal earthquake for various urban centers located along the coast, such as the La Serena-Coquimbo conurbation (~500,000 inhabitants). This research advances neotectonic studies as a transdisciplinary field, integrating both geological and geophysical investigations to generate an interpretative analysis through a systemic and holistic approach. A C K N O W L E D G M E N T S We thank the Postdoctoral FONDECYT project #3240553 for the financial support. Also, we thank SENAPRED Coquimbo for coordinating access permissions to State-owned properties. Special thanks to Ruben Rojas (Hacienda El Tangue) and Yory Betolla (Hacienda Pachingo) for their cooperation in permitting access totheirprivate lands.We alsothank the studentsBorja and Gaspar for their assistance during the field campaigns.