Unidades geomorfológicas ambientales del sur del oasis del Tulum, Andes Centrales de Argentina

a geomorphologic analysis applied to the knowledge of the regional quaternary geology was carried out in an arid region of central western argentina. the study area lies between eastern precordillera and western pampean ranges system. the need for a better knowledge of the territorial units is required for a sustainable development of the new agricultural farms in the southern part of the central valley of the san juan river. the geomorphologic study combine field works with processing and interpretation of air stereo photographs and satellite images. the different landforms were arranged in 6 great landscape units (gp), twelve landscape units (p) and 7 sublandscape units (sp). the gp units are based on the morphogenesis, while the p units are based on altitude, topographic and location basin. the sp have minor extension relief features defined mainly by the land use. the twenty-five territorial units mapped are arranged in successive steplike levels, which facility a relative chronology. these quaternary environmental units were collected in only four units: q1, made up by colluvio-alluvial deposits, q2, abandoned alluvial plain deposits (ca. 36,000 yr bp - 10,000 yr bp); q3, aeolian sediments (3,500 yr bp - 1,400 yr bp) and q4 present day fluvial deposits. these four geological quaternary environments were analyzed and applied them to land use and regional development.