Abstract

In South America several fold and thrust belts are located along the northern and western margin, being they related to the Caribbean and Pacific oceanic plates interactions with the continent. For many decades, several geophysical and geological studies have been developed, in order to discover new oil and gas reserves and mineral recourses. The data derived from these, have partially allowed understand their surface and subsurface structure. A mix of thin and thick-skinned contractional structural style are recognized, which are responsible of the present-day configuration of the mountain ranges. In this special issue, we present a series of scientific contributions along different regions of South America, from Venezuela to the Patagonia, which show new structural, geochronological and stratigraphic data oriented to understand the mechanisms, styles and timing of deformation of the fold and thrust belts established over and along the South America.