IGCP Project short title: Caribbean Plate Tectonics Duration and ...

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IGCP Project short title: Caribbean Plate Tectonics
Duration and status: On going (2000-2004)
Project leader(s):
1. Name: Manuel A. Iturralde-Vinent
Address: Museo Nacional de Historia Natural
Obispo no. 61, Plaza de Armas, La Habana 10100, Cuba.
Tel.: (537) 63 25 89
Fax: (537) 62 03 53
e-mail: iturralde@mnhnc.inf.cu
2. Name: Edward G. Lidiak
Address: Department of Geology and Planetary Science
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa., U. S. A.
Tel: (412) 624-8871
Fax: (412) 624-3914
e-mail: egl+@pitt.edu
Date of submission of report: October 2001
Signature of project leader:

Project 433
Caribbean Plate
2
2000-2001 By- Annual Report of IGCP Project 433
(October 2001)
Summary of major past achievements of the project
As this is our first by-annual report for the years 2000-2001: the achievements embrace both
years.
During these two years some important results are already evident as a consequence of
focused discussion and selected presentations during the workshops and meetings. This
approach has highlighted many problems that are currently among topics of research:
Origin of the Present-day Caribbean Plate. The concept that the present-day
Caribbean Plate is allochthonous from the Pacific produce models that explain many aspects
of the evolution of the Caribbean. Some advocates of the autochthonous models have
reconsidered their points during the meetings in Stuttgart and Leicester. However, the
allochthonous models still present major problems pending adequate solution.
The Galapagos hotspot and Caribbean plateau. There are two fundamental points of
view regarding the role of the Galapagos hotspot in the geology of the Caribbean, which
were the subject of extensive debate in Stuttgart and Leicester. One group holds that the
Galapagos hotspot has nothing to do with the ProtoCaribbean crust or the Caribbean Plateau
basalts, because the hot spot was always positioned west of both of them, and, consequently,
was not the source of the so-called Caribbean plateau basalts. The other interpretation holds
that the Galapagos hotspot actually produced the Caribbean plateau basalts and the ridges
within the Nazca and Cocos plates. Pindell’s new unpublished palinispastic reconstructions
say that it is impossible that the Galapagos hotspot produced the Caribbean plateau basalts.
Trace element and isotopic geochemistry, however, do not rule it out (Hauff et al., 2000).
Subduction reversal in the Caribbean.
The polarity of subduction of the Caribbean plate in Cretaceous time has been an intriguing
topic since Mattson (1979) proposed that a reversal in subduction direction occurred during
plate development. A summary of the evidence relevant to a reversal and the possible timing
of the event is given by Jolly et al (1998). Most models seemingly require a change in
subduction direction. For example, Pindell (1994, 2001) proposed a flip in the polarity of the
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arc at about 120 Ma. However, several researchers consider that the arc’s subduction flip
required by Pindell’s model about 120 Ma ago is problematic for several reasons. Those
investigating the origin of the plateau basalts disagree because a thick buoyant oceanic
plateau would be very difficult to subduct, and would therefore significantly affect the
subduction polarity reversal. They cite the arrival of the buoyant and thick Caribbean plateau
at the eastward dipping subduction zone as a mechanism for the flip, in a situation analagous
to that seen in the Solomon Islands with the attempted subduction of the Ontong Java
oceanic plateau. However, Pindell’s latest unpublished model suggests that the 120 Ma
polarity reversal occurred before the bulk of the plateau was formed, on the basis of the
following pieces of evidence:
a. Abundant evidence for a large tectonic event around that time
b. Unconformities in many arc-related sequences at ca. 120Ma.
c. P-T paths from high-pressure metamorphic rocks
d. Change in geochemical character from PIA to CA in many circum-Caribbean arcs.
e. The earlier the flip occurred, the easier would occur tectonically. At 120 Ma, the arc
would have been short and straight and there was a powerful potential mechanism available
(the acceleration of the opening of the Atlantic. At 75 Ma, the arc was ~2000km in length,
and may have been very highly arcuate in shape, which would require huge internal
deformation as the convex side changes from the SW to the SE. However, in the discussion
at Leicester it was conceded that there is growing evidence for an earlier [and possibly more
voluminous (Diebold et al., 1999)] pulse of plateau magmatism around 130-120 Ma. If that
is the case, an earlier plateau could have formed and caused the postulated subduction flip,
and the later plateau building events (78, 90 Ma) could have represented the last pulses of
magmatism. Other authors also disagree with the subduction reversal because this flip does
not explain the geochemical evolution of the Cretaceous arc magmatism in Cuba (Iturralde-
Vinent, 1994, 1998; Kerr et al., 1999), neither the tectonics of north central Cuba (Iturralde-
Vinent, 1994, 1998). Iturralde-Vinent (op.cit.) postulated a major change in the geometry of
the convergent plate boundary between latest Campanian and Paleocene, involving
deformation and almost complete extinction of arc volcanism, modification of the trend of
the arc axis, and a major change in the orientation and geochemistry of the arc.
The alleged Albian-Campanian arc in Central America. Another subject that did not
find agreement is the existence of an active Albian-Campanian island arc in Central
America, and its evidence in the Nicoya Complex. According to a paper by Calvo and Bolt
(1994), there is an arc-derived volcaniclastic calcalkaline section in Costa Rica, but several
other attendees at the Stuttgart meeting (K. Hoernle, A. Astorga) stated that their
geochemical and geological investigations in the Nicoya Complex do not confirm its
presence. An Albian-Campanian island arc as part of present-day southern Central America
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is a major issue concerning the geology of the Caribbean plate, because the presence of a
Central American mid-Cretaceous arc will reduce the rate of relative eastward movement of
the Caribbean plate respect to North and South America, and would have a strong bearing on
the palinspastic reconstruction of the circum-Caribbean fold-belts.
Tectonic position of the Cuban Southwestern terrains (CSWT). Many early plate
tectonic models of the Caribbean ignored the CSWT, but fortunately, they have been taken
into account in more recent versions (Lawver et al., 1999). However, as demonstrated by the
lively discussion at the Havana meeting in March 2001, the geology of the CSWT is still too
poorly known to be interpreted without ambiguity. More field and laboratory research
focused on the petrology and internal structure of the Socorro (Grenvile), Escambray, Purial
and Pinos metamorphic terrains, as well as on the stratigraphy and tectonic position of the
Placetas and Rosario belts (terrains) are urgently required before a fair interpretation of the
origin of these geologic units can be reached. Available P-t path studies, isotopic dating and
geochemical data for the Escambray and Purial are still insufficient.
The Great Arc vs Multiple Arc concept. Pindell’s Caribbean models show a single
“Great Arc” evolving from Cretaceous to recent as the leading edge of the Caribbean plate
progressively occupy the space created by the separation of North and South America
(Pindell, 1994; Mann, 1999). Another concept is that there were multiple arcs that evolved
step by step from Cretaceous to Recent (Iturralde-Vinent, 1994, 1998, WebPage Forum).
The Multi Arc concept evolves from the following ideas:
a. The occurrence of several magmatic and stratigraphic gaps within the Greater Antilles-
Lesser Antilles volcano-sedimentary sections and the presence of unconformities at different
time intervals on the various islands.
b. Modification of the geochemistry of the arc magmatism after some of these gaps,
especially in Cuba (Iturralde-Vinent, 1994, 1998). However this does not apply to all of the
tectonic breaks in Puerto Rico (Jolly et al , 1998}.
c. Modification of the orientation and geographic distribution of the arc magmatic axis after
each gap, but specially after the earliest Cretaceous boninite and IAT arc, and after the
Cretaceous arc (Kyzar, G., 2001: PhD Thesis: The George Washington University).
The Geometry of the Arcs. During the meetings in Rio de Janeiro, Stuttgart, and
Cuba the geometry of the arc was the subject of consideration. A debate arose concerning
the characteristics of the Greater Antilles- Aves Ridge- Lesser Antilles Cretaceous-
Paleogene volcano-sedimentary complexes and the fact that the components of the original
arcs (backarc, axial arc, front arc, subduction suture) are not evident in any cross-section of
the present-day islands. The issue is that the arcs have been deformed by combined
thrusting, extension along the axis, and were subsequently subdivided into distinct terrains
that were the subject of rotation and eastward transportation. Consequently, the original
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geometry of the arcs are no longer represented by today’s outcrops and their elements can
only be found along specific islands of the chain.
Polarity of the Paleogene Sierra Maestra-Cayman arc. Pindell (1994, 2001), Mann
(1999) and other Caribbean plate tectonic modelers hold the position that the subduction
zone of the Paleogene arc was located north of the arc and with a dip to the south. Another
group (Iturralde-Vinent, 1994, 1998, Sigurdson et al., 1997) presented evidence that the
Paleogene subduction zone dipped north and was located south of arc. Recent geochemical,
geochronological and paleontological research in the area by G. Kyzar favor the subduction
from the south model and the fact that the Paleogene arc developed after a Maastrichtian gap
in the magmatic activity and with a distinct orientation with respect to Cretaceous volcanism
(to be presented in GSA meeting in Boston, 2001). (Kyzar, G. (2001) PhD Thesis: The
George Washington University).
2. Achievements of the project this year
2.1. List of countries involved in the project (* indicate the countries active this
year)
*Cuba, *Dominican Republic, *Puerto Rico, *Jamaica, *Trinidad & Tobago, *Grenada, *USA,
*Canada, *Mexico, Guatemala, *Costa Rica, *Brazil, *Colombia, *Venezuela, *Chile,
*Argentine, *Italy, *France, *Spain, *New Zealand, *United Kingdom, *Japan, *Germany.
2.2. General scientific achievements (including societal benefits)
The main scientific achievements of the project have been fully described above, so it is
not necessary to discuss them again. Generally it can be stated that the goals of the
project are being fulfilled, as we have been able to put together scientists from many
different geographic areas to discuss the Caribbean models and the data that support the
various interpretations. A field trip to important localities not recently visited before in
Central Cuba was also a great success. Communication among Caribbean scientist have
been enhanced through an electronic network provided by the project. These results are
tightening and constraining the variables necessary to building viable Caribbean plate
tectonic models, and to improving and understanding the area. This benefit will
certainly enhance the possibility of forecasting geohazards in the area.
2.3. List of meetings with approximate attendance and number of countries.
The first meeting of the project in Río de Janeiro during the 31st International
Geological Congress, General Symposium 17.6: Caribbean Plate Tectonics, Origin and
Evolution (August 7-8th, 2000). It was attended by project members from Cuba, USA,
Canada, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, France, Venezuela, Argentina, etc). Four
special oral presentations and 12 posters were the subject of interesting debates and
active exchange of data and interpretations. The oral session was attended by 50
persons.
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The second meeting in Stuttgart (October 11-13th, 2000) was organized as part of the
17 Coloquin on Latin American Geology, attended by nearly 300 scientists from
countries in South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Venezuela, Colombia), Central
America (Costa Rica, Mexico), North America (USA), Europe (Italy, France, Germany,
United Kingdom, etc.) and Cuba. Presented were 12 talks and 13 posters about the
geology, paleontology and plate tectonics of the Caribbean, and a round table was
organized to discuss important issues concerning the origin and evolution of the
Caribbean Plate.
The third meeting was a field workshop on the Northern Caribbean Plate Boundary
organized as part of the 4th Cuban Geological and Mining Congress (Havana, March
19-23, 2001). The workshop included both oral and poster presentations, focused
mainly on the northern margin of the Caribbean plate in Cuba and its early geologic
evolution. Participants came from Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, France,
Great Britain, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, and USA. A field trip to Central
Cuba was held immediately after the Congress, March 24 to 27, in order to visit critical
areas in the vicinity of Camagüey, central Cuba, where the northern Caribbean plate
boundary is well exposed.
The fourth meeting was organized in Leicester, UK (April 23-24) as a Workshop on the
Geochemistry of the Caribbean plateau and Cretaceous island arc terranes, and their
implications for the geodynamics of the Caribbean. The Workshop hosted 35
participants from six countries (Colombia, United States, Italy, France, Germany and
the UK). In addition, 30+ researchers from 5 other countries registered interest in the
proceedings, but were not able to attend.
The fifth meeting was celebrated as part of the 4 th North American Paleontological
Covention (Berkeley June 26-july 2 nd ). The section chair (M. Iturralde-Vinent) was
unable to attend the meeting because of last minute traveling complications. Several
papers were presented concerning the paleontological data as a counter part to plate
tectonic interpretation of the evolution of the Caribbean. The meeting was attended by
about 15 persons, mostly from the USA.
2.4. Educational, training or capacity building activities N/A
2.5. Participation of scientists from developing countries
We have been able to provide funding and fund seeking capabilities so a number of
scientist from third world countries have been able to participate in the meetings, as is
listed in the conference reports.
2.6. Publications
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ABSTRACTS AND PRESENTATIONS
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Anderson, T. H., Lidiak, E. G., and Jolly, W. T., 2001, Caribbean plate boundaries—Eocene
subduction, collision and suturing in Puerto Rico: significance of the greate southern
Puerto Rico fault zone [abs]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v.
33, p. A-263.
Audemard, F. A., 2000, Major Active Faults of Venezuela. Program and Abstract 31
International Geological Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 4 p.
Audemard, F. A., and Singer, A., 2000, Paleoseismology in Venezuela: an overview.
Program and Abstract 31st International Geological Congress, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 4
p.
Cazañas, X., Proenza, J.A., Mattietti Kysar, G., Lewis, J., Melgarejo, J.C., 2000, Rocas
volcánicas de la series Inferior y Media del Grupo El Cobre en la Sierra Maestra (Cuba
Oriental). Volcanismo generado en un arco de islas tholeiítico: Tercera Conferencia
Internacional Sobre la Geología de Cuba, el Golfo de México y el Caribe
Noroccidental. Universidad de Pinar del Río, Cuba. p. 5.
García D. E., Rojas-Agramonte, Y., Díaz C., 2000, Estratigrafía del arco volcánico
paleógeno en la región occidental de La Sierra Maestra, Cuba. XVII.
Geowissenschaftliches
Germany
Lateinamerika-Kolloquium, 11 bis 13 Oktober, Stuttgart,
García Delgado D.E., Díaz Otero C., Méndez Calderón I., Rojas-Agramonte, Y., Delgado
Damas R., 2000, Petrología y bioestratigrafía del arco volcánico paleógenico en la
región meridional y oriental de la Sierra Maestra, Cuba. XVII. Geowissenschaftliches
Lateinamerika-Kolloquium, 11 bis 13 Oktober, Stuttgart, Germany
Giunta G. Beccaluva L., Coltorti M., Siena F. and Mortellaro D., 2000, The Peri-Caribbean
ophiotiles: structure, tectono-magmatic significance and geodynamic implications:
International Geological Congress. Brazil 2000 (Abstract and poster).
Giunta G., Beccaluva L., Coltorti M., Mota B., Romero J., and Siena F., 2001, The Motagua
Suture Zone in Guatemala, as northwestern border of the Caribbean Plate. GeoMin
2001; IGCP 433 Workshop, La Habana.
Giunta G., Beccaluva L., Coltorti M.,and Siena F., 2001, Tectono-magmatic significance of
the main Ophiolitic units of the deformed margins of the Carbbean Plate: open problems
on the geodynamic implications. IGCP 433, Caribbean Workshop, Leicester.
Iturralde-Vinent, M. A., 2001, Phanerozoic Tectonic Evolution Of The North American
Plate Boundary In Cuba [abs]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs,
v. 33, p. A-154.
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Iturralde-Vinent, M. and L. Gahagan, 2000, Caribbean Plate tectonic models: Discrepancies
and Similarities. 31st International Geological Congress, General Symposium 17.6:
Caribbean Plate Tectonics, Origin and Evolution, Rio de Janeiro, August.
Iturralde-Vinent, M. A., and Gasparini, Z., 2001, Paleontological evidence of the early
evolution of the Caribbean Seaway: North American Paleontological Convention 2001:
Theme Session Paleobiogeography, PaleoBios, v. 21, Supplement to No. 2, p. 17.
Kysar, G., Lewis, J. F., and Wysoczanski, R., 2001, Lead isotopic study of the Sierra
Maestra, southeastern Cuba [abs]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with
Programs, v. 33, p. A-304.
Lapierre, H.; Bosch, D; Mamberti, Dupuis, B.; Jaillard, E.; de Lépinay, B.; Maury, R.;
Hernandez, J.; Polvé, M. and Tardy, M. 2001. The Late Cretaceous Duarte Complex
(Hispaniola) revisited: comparison with the Cretaceous oceanic plateaus from Ecuador.
Leicester meeting.
Lidiak, E. G., Anderson, T. H., and Jolly, W. T., 2000, Tectonostratigraphic evolution of
southwestern Puerto Rico [abs]: 31st International Geological Congress, General
Symposium 17.6: Caribbean Plate Tectonics, Origin and Evolution, Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, p. 193.
Lidiak, E. G., Anderson, T. H., and Jolly, W. T., 2001, Geologic evolution of the Bermeja
Complex, southwestern Puerto Rico [abs]: IV Congreso Cubano de Geologia Y Mineria
Geomin 2001, Habana, Cuba, March 2001, p. 16.
Pindell, J., 2001, The Pacific Origin of the Caribbean Plate, with emphasis on Cuba:
In: Caribbean Workshop, University of Leicester, April 2001.
Pindell, J., and Lorcan, K., 2001, Kinematic Evolution of the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean:
In: GCSSEPM research conference, edited by Richard Fillon, Houston, December
Pindell, J., Lorcan, K., and Higgs, R., 2001, Tectonic Model for Eastern Venezuela and
Trinidad since 12 Ma [abs]: AAPG National Meeting, Houston, Texas.
Pindell, J., Higgs, R., and Kennan, L., 2001, Paleogene “Negative Flexure” Basins in
Colombia and Venezuela[abs]: AAPG National Meeting, Houston, Texas.
Pindell, J., and Draper, G., 2001, Evolution of the Cuban portion of the Caribbean Plate,
Pacific origin to Bahamian collision [abs]: Geological Society of America Abstracts with
Programs, v. 33, p. A-153.
Pindell, J., and Meneses-Rocha, J., 2001, Tectonic Evolution as a control on oil and gas
distribution in Mexico: In: AAPG Conference, Veracruz, Mexico, November 2001.
Pindell, J., and Kennan, L., 2001, Tectonic Model for Eastern Venezuela and Trinidad since
12 Ma [abs]: AAPG National Meeting, Houston, Texas.
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Pindell, J., Higgs, R., and Kennan, L., 2001, Paleogene “Negative Flexure” Basins in
Colombia and Venezuela [abs]: AAPG National Meeting, Houston, Texas.
9
Proenza, J.A., Gervilla, F., Melgarejo, J.C., 2000, Los depósitos de cromita de la Faja
Ofiolítica Mayarí-Baracoa (Cuba Oriental): Un resultado de procesos de zona de
suprasubducción. Implicaciones en la prospección de cromititas: Tercera Conferencia
Internacional Sobre la Geología de Cuba y el Golfo de México y el Caribe
Noroccidental. Universidad de Pinar del Río, Cuba. p. 23-24.
Proenza, J.A., Melgarejo, J.C., Gervilla, F., 2000, La Faja Ofiolítica Mayarí-Baracoa (Cuba
Oriental): una litosfera oceánica modificada en una zona de suprasubducción cretácica:
Tercera Conferencia Internacional Sobre la Geología de Cuba, el Golfo de México y el
Caribe Noroccidental. Universidad de Pinar del Río, Cuba. p. 23.
Rodríguez, R., Blanco-Moreno, J., Proenza, J.A., 2000, Petrología de las rocas plutónicas de
afinidad ofiolíticas presentes en la zona de Cañete (Macizo Ofiolítico Mayarí-Baracoa,
Cuba Oriental): Tercera Conferencia Internacional Sobre la Geología de Cuba, el Golfo
de México y el Caribe Noroccidental. Universidad de Pinar del Río, Cuba. p. 25-26.
Rojas-Agramonte, Y., F. Neubauer, R. Handler, D. E. Garcia-Delgado, R. Delgado-Damas,
2000, Tectonic evolution of the Oriente fault seen trough the Deformation of The Sierra
Maestra, Cuba, Geology 2000, Vienna, April 14-17, Austria
Rojas-Agramonte, Y., F. Neubauer, R. Handler, D. E. Garcia-Delgado, R. Delgado-Damas,
2000, Tectonic evolution of the Oriente fault seen trough the Deformation Of The Sierra
Maestra, Cuba XVII. Geowissenschaftliches Lateinamerika-Kolloquium, 11 bis 13
Oktober, Stuttgart, Germany
Thompson, P.M.E.; Kempton, P.D.; Tarney, J.; Saunders, A.D.; White, R.V. and Kerr, A.C.,
2001, New Isotopic and Geochronological Constraints on the Origin of an Island Arc
Sequence Associated with the Cretaceous Caribbean Oceanic Plateau. Leicester meeting.
PAPERS
Audemard, F. A., 2001, Quaternary tectonics and stress tensor of the northern inverted
Falcón Basin, northwestern Venezuela. Journal of Structural Geology, v. 23, p. 431-
453.
de la Fuente, M. S., and Ituralde-Vinent. 2001, A new pleurodiran turtle from the Jagua
Formation (Oxfordian) of western Cuba. Journal of Paleontology, v. 75 (4), p. 860-869.
García-Casco, A., Torres-Roldán, R.L., Millán G., Monié P. And Haissen, F., 2001, Highgrade
metamorphism and hydrous melting of metapelites in the Pinos terrane (W Cuba):
evidence for crustal thickening and extension in the northern Caribbean collisional belt:
Journal of Metamorphic Geology, in press.
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Gasparini, Z. & Iturralde-Vinent, M., 2001, Metriorhynchid crocodiles (Crocodyliformes)
from the Oxfordian of Western Cuba. Neues Jb. Geol. Palaont. Mh.
Gasparini, Z., Vignaud, P. & Chong, G., 2000, The Jurassic Thalattosuchia
(Crocodyliformes) of Chile: a paleobiogoegraphic approach. Bull. Soc. géol. France,
171 (6): 657-664.
10
Grafe, F., Stanek, K. P., Baumann, A., Maresch, W. V., Hames, W. E., Grevel, C., and
Millan, G., 2001, Rb-Sr and Ar/Ar mineral ages of granitoid intrusives in the Mabujina
unit, Central Cuba: Thermal exhumation history of the Escambray Massif: Journal of
Geology, in press.
Giunta G., Beccaluva L., Coltorti M., Siena F., andVaccaro, C., 2001, The southern margin
of the Caribbean Plate in Venezuela: tectono-magmatic setting of the Ophiolitic units
and kinematic evolution. Lithos (submitted).
Giunta G., Beccaluva L., Coltorti M., Siena F., Mortellaro D.,and Cutrupia D., 2001, The
Peri-Caribbean Ophiolites: structure, tectono-magmatic significance and geodynamic
implications. Sp. Vol. Caribbean Journal of Earth Science, Jamaica (in press).
Giunta G., Beccaluva L., Coltorti M., Siena F., Mortellaro D.,and Cutrupia D., 2001,
Structure, tectono-magmatic setting of the Peri-Caribbean Ophiolites, and geodynamic
implications:L Fed. It. Sc. Terra Geoitalia.
Giunta G., Beccaluva L., Coltorti M., and Siena F., 2000, Tectono-magmatic significance of
the Peri-Caribbean ophiolitic units and geodynamic implications: 15th Caribbean
Geological Conference; Jamaica, 1998 (in press).
Iturralde-Vinent, M.A., 1998, Sinopsis de la constitución geológica de Cuba. Acta Geológica
Hispánica 33(1-4): 9-56. (actualy edited and published in 2000).
Iturralde-Vinent, M. A., and Lidiak, E. G., 2001, Caribbean plate tectonics (IGCP 433):
Gondwana Research, v. 4, p. 247-248.
Iturralde-Vinent, M.A., P.-K. Stanek, D. Wolf, H.U. Thieke, W. Muller, 2000. Geology of
Camaguey, Central Cuba: Evolution of a collisional margin. Z. angew. Geologie, SH1,
p. 267-273
Jolly, W. T., Lidiak, E. G., Dickin, A. P., and Wu, T., 2001, Secular geochemistry of central
Puerto Rican island arc lavas: constraints on Mesozoic tectonism in the eastern Greater
Antilles: Journal of Petrology, v. 42, in press.
Maresch, W. V., Stöckhert, B., Baumann, A., Kaiser, C., Kluge, R., Krückhans-Lueder, G.,
Brix, M. and Thomson, S., 2000, Crustal history and plate tectonic development in the
southeastern Caribbean: Z. Angew. Geol., v. SH1, p. 283-290.
Pessagno, E. A., Hull, D. M., and Hopson, C. A., 2000, Tectonostratigraphic significance of
sedimentary strata occurring within and above the Coast Range ophiolite (California
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Coast Ranges) and the Josephine ophiolite (Klamath Mountains Northwestern
California: Geological Society of America Special Paper 349, p. 383-394.
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Proenza, J.A., Lewis, J.F., Melgarejo, J.C., Gervilla, F., Jackson, T., Jolly, W.T., Lidiak,
E.G., 2001, Peridotites and chromitites in eastern Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola and Puerto
Rico: a comparison of Jurassic-Cretaceous mantle sections within Caribbean region. 4 to
Congreso Cubano de Geología y Minería. La Habana. CR-ROM.
Rojas-Agramonte, Y., F. Neubauer, R. Handler, D. E. Garcia-Delgado, R. Delgado-Damas,
2001, Evolución tectónica de la falla Oriente vista a través de las deformaciones
ocurridas en la Sierra Maestra. IV Cuban Geological and Mining Congress, Cuba, 2001.
CD-ROM.
Stanek, K.P., Cobiella-Reguera, J., Maresch, W.V., Millàn Trujillo, G., Grafe, F., And
Grevel, C., 2000, Geological development of Cuba: Z. Angew. Geol., v. SH1, p. 259-
265.
MEMOIRS, PROCEEDINGS. AND GUIDEBOOKS
Pindell, J., 2001, Stratigraphy and structure of the northwestern Serranía del Interior
Oriental, Venezuela: Constraints on dynamic evolution, Eastern Venezuela/Trinidad: In:
Field Guide, 2001 International Field Trip of the Geological Society of Trinidad and
Tobago.
Melgarejo and Proenza volume on Cuba 1998 (actually published year 2000 with updated
information).
Seyfried, H. (ed.) 2000. Programa y Resúmenes Extendidos. XVII Simposio sobre la
geología de Latinoamérica, Octubre 11-13, 2000, Stuttgart, Germany, Profil Band 18:1-
6, and CD with extended abstracts.
OPEN FILE REPORT
Audemard, F. A., Machette, M., Cox, J., Hart, R. And Haller, K., 2000, Map and Database
of Quaternary Faults in Venezuela and Offshore regions: U. S. Geological Survey,
Open-File Report 00-18, 78 p.
WEB PAGE PRESENTATIONS
Iturralde-Vinent, M. and L. Gahagan, 2000, Caribbean Plate tectonic models: Discrepancies
and Similarities. Web Page of the Institute for Geophysics of the University of Texas at
Austin (www.ig.utexas.edu/CaribPlate/Forum)
Iturralde-Vinent, M. and Z. Gasparini, 2001, Jurassic Paleogeography of west-central
Pangaea; implications for the biogeography of marine biotas. Web Page of the Institute
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for Geophysics of the University of Texas at Austin
(www.ig.utexas.edu/CaribPlate/Forum)
Maresch, W. V., 2000, Pressure-temperature evolution of metamorphic rocks: records of a
dynamic earth: (www.humboldt- foundation.de/de/aktuelles/index.htm).
2.7. Activities involving other IGCP projects or the IUGS
N/A
3. Activities planned
3.1. General goals.
In the year 2002 we plan to continue the debate over the issues concerning the origin and
evolution of the Caribbean plate (Boston meeting Nov. 2001), with special emphasis in the
plate boundaries in Central America (Guatemala meeting) and the Lesser Antilles Barbados
meeting).
3.2. Specific meetings and field trips (please indicate participation from developing
countries)
Geological Society of America Annual Meeting. Novenber 1-10, 2001. At the
request of the IGCP and the GSA, we shall participate in the Annual Geological Society of
America Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts. We have been invited to present papers at the
GSA Topical Session “Focus on IGCP: Modern and Ancient Plate Boundaries and
Orogens”. Participation of Cuban, American, and other delegates will be partially supported
by the project.
Motagua Fault Zone, Guatemala. January 28-31, 2002. The project will hold a
Workshop and Field Trip to the Motagua Suture Zone of Guatemala. This event is being
organized by the Italian-Caribbean Group, with the kind co-operation of the Sociedad
Geologica de Guatemala and other Guatemalan institutions. Motagua suture zone in
Guatemala is part of the northwestern boundary of the Caribbean plate and an important onshore
segment of the Caribbean plate boundary. The project will partially support the field
transportation and the participation of delegates from Cuba, Guatemala, Costa Rica,
Venezuela and USA.
16 th Caribbean Geological Conference. June 16-21, 2002. The project will hold a
Workshop and Field Trip during the 16 th Caribbean Geological Conference, in Barbados,
BWI. The purpose of this Workshop and Field Trip is to study and evaluate further the
Lesser Antilles island arc, the easternmost boundary of the Caribbean plate. The project will
support the field trip by covering the transportation expenses, and will support participants
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to the meeting from Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Venezuela , Costa Rica,
Guatemala, Mexico, USA, and other countries.
4. Project funding requested.
We will need the maximum possible funding in order to allow the participation of
Latinamerican members of the project to the annual meeting in Barbados, as well as the
other planned activities.
5. Request for extension, on-extended-term-status, or intention to propose
successor project N/A
6. Attach any information you may consider relevant
6.1 INTERNAL ORGANIZATION
13
The project is organized into several working groups. The leaders are Manuel A.
Iturralde-Vinent (Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Obispo no. 61, Plaza de Armas, La
Habana 10100, Cuba; Email iturralde@mnhnc.inf.cu) and Edward G. Lidiak (Dept. of
Geology & Planetary Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, U.
S. A.; Email egl+@pitt.edu).
WG-1. Coordination Group. Leaders of the project and leaders of the working
groups will integrate and coordinate the efforts of the membership of the project, organize
meetings and workshops, keep the web page updated, and promote the accomplishments and
goals of the project.
WG-2. Positioning of major plates: Jurassic to Recent. This group will evaluate
existing models for the break-up of Pangaea and the evolution of the major plates
surrounding the Caribbean (NOAM, SOAM, FARALLON, NAZCA, COCOS, etc.) from
Jurassic to Recent. As a result they will provide the other working groups with a modern
framework for the reconstruction of the Caribbean area.
WG-3. Positioning of terranes of Northern South America. This group will define
plates, blocks and terranes, will identify the palinspastic evolution, historic position and
relationships, and produce sets of time-framed reconstructions of the tectonic position of
these terranes.
WG-4. Positioning of terranes of Southern North America. This group will define
plates, blocks and terranes, will identify the palinspastic evolution, historic position and
relationships, and produce sets of time-framed reconstructions of the tectonic position of
these terranes.
WG-5. Positioning of terranes of the Greater Antilles. This group will define plates,
blocksnd Paleomagnetic control of the historic position of terrenes, plates and subduction
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zones. This group will evaluate the tectonic positions of Caribbean terranes, plates and
subduction zones taking into account geochronology, geochemistry and paleomagnetics.
WG-7. Paleontological support of Caribbean Paleogeography. The purpose of this
group is to study the fossil assemblages - marine and terrestrial - of different ages in distinct
terranes, and identify the biogeographic and paleogeographic implications of its occurrences,
with special focus on their input toward understanding the positioning of the terranes in
selected time-frames.
WG-8. Geochronological, Geochemical and Paleomagnetic control of the historic
position of terrenes, plates and subduction zones. This group will evaluate the tectonic
positions of Caribbean terranes, plates and subduction zones taking into account
geochronology, geochemistry and paleomagnetics.
WG-9. Origin, composition and age of the Caribbean oceanic lithosphere. This
group will investigate the occurrence of oceanic crust of different ages within the Caribbean,
both in the present marine basins and regions of obducted lithosphere.
NETWORKING
The network of the project is based on two main Internet sites, a WebSite
(http://www.ig.utexas.edu/CaribPlate/CaribPlate.html)
(carib@yahoogroups.com).
and an email discussion group
The WebSite is intended to provide current information on Caribbean tectonics; it is
updated generally every two months. At this site is found the full text of the project,
references to papers dedicated to the Caribbean geology, direct access to existing Caribbean
Plate Tectonic models, a list of forthcoming meetings and workshops, important news, and a
forum section, which may be used to post questions and data related to specific topics. For
example, presently in the forum are well-illustrated discussions of major problems associated
with present tectonic models and the problems concerning the early opening of the
Caribbean. Links to related WebSites may also be found. More than 3000 hits are recorded
until August, 2001.
The e-group was created in order to have a more active forum for the exchange of
information. Subscribers to the Egroup will automatically receive all messages
relevant to the project. The site is presently being used to direct attention to new
information posted on the web, new publications, updates of forthcoming activities,
and in a lesser degree, to post questions. As the project develops, the e-group has
become an active forum for discussion of key geological problems and spread
important information.
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6.2 SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS AND WORKSHOP REPORTS
15
GENERAL SYMPOSIUM 17-6. CARIBBEAN PLATE TECTONICS, ORIGIN AND
EVOLUTION. 31 INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGICAL CONGRESS, RÍO DE JANEIRO
August 6 to 17, 2000
Conveners: Manuel A. Iturralde-Vinent and Edward G. Lidiak
This symposium was dedicated to analyzing the present status of Caribbean Plate
Tectonic models. Four special oral presentations and 12 posters were the subject of
interesting debates and active exchange of data and interpretations.
The oral session, attended by more than 50 persons, was celebrated the morning of
August 7th. Four special speakers presented their respective viewpoints concerning how they
understand the formation and evolution of the Caribbean, but the fact is that each one
produced a quite distinct scenario. In this regard, it is important to quote the senior convener,
in the fact that "The Caribbean is a singular area of planet Earth, and therefore, it had had a
single history". The plate tectonic models that explain the Caribbean plate as an
allochthonous crust originated within the Pacific Ocean, was very well exemplified by the
model of J. Pindell and L. Kennan. The special speaker Martin Meschede reviewed some
shortcomings of recent Pindell's and Paul Mann's models, and presented his arguments for an
in situ origin of the Caribbean plate. Another version of the in situ model was presented by
Giuseppe Giunta (visit Comparison at CaribPlate Web Site). M. Iturralde-Vinent, as special
speaker, evaluated the few similarities and many contradictions that exist among modern
Caribbean Plate Tectonic models (visit Forum at CaribPlate Web Site). The in situ models
were criticized because they have a problem of space in explaining the Cretaceous and early
Tertiary Greater Antilles-Aves Ridge-Caribbean mountains subduction-related volcanic arcs.
Some questions were also raised concerning the polarity of these arcs and the original
position of some terranes of the Caribbean margins, subjects that will require more careful
attention in the future.
Twelve papers were presented at the Poster Session which was held in the afternoon
on both August 7th and 8th. They included three of the special oral presentations as well as
new results from field research in key areas of Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Costa
Rica. This session produced an active exchange of viewpoints among presenting authors, but
also with many interested congress members.
The conveners and participants agreed that the symposium was an excellent forum
for the most valuable exchange of ideas, but as exciting was the possibility to meet people
based in different areas of the world with personal expertise and strong interest in the
Caribbean. In terms of the scientific impact of the symposium, we concluded that despite the
great amount of valuable information available about the Caribbean submarine and land
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16
areas, considerable research remains to be done in order to reach an agreement concerning
the origin and evolution of the region. This way must be headed toward gathering new
necessary hard data, but no less concern must be paid to the improvement of the conceptual
basis of our interpretations. It is unfortunate that in many cases, we have been unable to
agree even in the way we interpret the same set of data.
17 SYMPOSIUM ON THE GEOLOGY OF LATIN AMERICA (17TH LAK)
Institute for Geology and Paleontology, University of Stuttgart, October 11 to 13,
2000. Convener: Hartmut Seyfried
A symposium on the Geology of Latin American countries, which dedicated several
sessions to the geology and plate tectonics of the Caribbean area, was held at the Institute for
Geology and Paleontology of the University of Stuttgart, Germany, from October 11 and 13
of year 2000. The symposium was attended by nearly 300 scientists from countries in South
America, Central America, North America, Europe and also from Cuba. Presentations were
made on the geology, paleontology, plate tectonics, seismicity and other geohazards,
hydrogeology, and environmental issues concerning Mexico, Central America, Bahamas,
Greater Antilles and South America. Among them were 12 oral and 13 posters dealing with
different aspects of the geology, paleontology and plate tectonics of the Caribbean. A round
table took place to discuss important issues concerning the origin and evolution of the
Caribbean Plate. A visit was organized to the Paleontological Museum in Stuttgart, which
has an elegantly designed exhibit of unique fossils showing excellent preservation with a
highest quality of preparation.
This meeting, characterized by a high level of organization and strict attachment to
the schedule, was a great opportunity to share opinions and to discuss hot issues of the
Caribbean geology in general, and Central American and Greater Antilles geology in
particular. Also it was a great possibility to meet with South and Central American
geologists who, for different reasons, usually do not attend the Caribbean Geological
Conferences (CGC) celebrated within the Caribbean area. It is the hope that in the future this
situation will change for good, and more geologists from the countries surrounding the
Caribbean Sea will attend the forthcoming meetings of the IGCP Project 433 and the CGC.
This conference highlighted once again the very different interpretations that still
exist regarding fundamental issues concerning the origin and evolution of the Caribbean
area. Let us comment briefly on some of these issues:
The Galapagos hotspot and the original position of the Caribbean Plate. Thereare
two fundamental positions regarding the role of the Galapagos hotspot in the geology of the
Caribbean. One holds that the Galapagos hotspot has nothing to do with the Protocaribbean
crust or the Caribbean Plate (M. Meschede, J. Pindell), because it was always positioned
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west of both of them, and, consequently, was not the source of the so-called Caribbean
plateau basalts. The other interpretation holds that the Galapagos hotspot actually produced
the Caribbean plateau basalts and the ridges within the Nazca and Cocos plates (K. Hoernle).
This divergence in opinion results from the general plate-kinematic framework chosen, so
this is a problem that has to be focused on during future meetings of the IGCP-433.
Another problem addressed during the conference was the initial position of the
Caribbean Plate (CARIB) with respect to the NOAM, SOAM and FARALLON plates. In
this point there was a concurrence of opinions, because, regardless of the tectonic model
chosen to explain the evolution of CARIB, authors agreed that the original location of
CARIB was very near the Equator, a position that satisfies paleomagnetic results from
Central America (W. Frisch, M. Meschede).
The alleged Albian-Campanian arc in Central America. One subject that did not find
agreement during the meeting was the existence of an active Albian-Campanian island arc in
Central America, and its evidence in the Nicoya Complex. According to a paper by Calvo
and Bolz (1994), there is an arc-derived volcaniclastic calcalkaline section in Costa Rica, but
several other attendees at the meeting (K. Hoernle, A. Astorga) stated that their geochemical
and geological investigations in the Nicoya Complex do not confirm this.
A new plate-tectonic reconstruction by J. Pindell and L. Kennan presented during
the symposium allows the existence of this arc, but others do not agree. An Albian-
Campanian island arc as part of present-day southern Central America is a major issue
concerning the geology of the Caribbean plate, because it will control the rate of relative
eastward movement of CARIB, something that must have a strong bearing on the
palinspastic reconstruction of the circum-Caribbean fold-belts. Therefore, this is a hot
question to be faced in future IGCP-433 meetings.
The original position of Pinos, Escambray and Guaniguanico terranes of Cuba. The
Pinos, Escambray and Guaniguanico terranes of Cuba were the subject of several
presentations during the symposium, and a matter of interesting in-room and out-of-session
discussions. Today there seems to be general agreement that these terranes are allochthonous
to the Cuban foldbelt, so the important point to deal with is their origin. J. Pindell, L.
Kennan and K.-P. Stanek hold the position that these terranes may have been part of the
southern margin of the Maya (Yucatan) Block, facing the Pacific Ocean, while M. Iturralde-
Vinent (1998) prefers an intra-Caribbean location, representing part of the proto-Caribbean
crust. Current research in Cuba and the Dominican Republic by K.-P. Stanek, W.V. Maresch
and their students and colleagues is producing important results, including several P-T-path
records of rocks in the Escambray and related units, which will provide new clues on this
subject. Bearing on this matter, the discovery by A. Schaffhauser and colleagues of Lower
Cretaceous pelagic limestones in Belize, similar to those found in the isochronous sections
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of the Guaniguanico terrane, suggests that some Guaniguanico elements (or nonmetamorphosed
Escambray units) were located off Belize at least in the Lower Cretaceous
(see also Hutson et al., 1999).
The Pindell and Kennan Caribbean plate tectonic model. J.PindellandL.Kennan
presented a new unpublished version of the Pacific origin of the Caribbean plate style of
model, as two distinct papers. This model was also a subject of discussion during the first
IGCP-433 meeting in Río de Janeiro. Many new important issues are reviewed in this new
version, so it is much more comprehensive than previous ones, but several critical moments
of the model are going to be debated in future meetings.
WORKSHOP ON THE NORTHERN CARIBBEAN PLATE BOUNDARY, 4TH CUBAN
GEOLOGICAL AND MINING CONGRESS
Havana, March 22-27, 2001
Conveners: E. Lidiak and M. Iturralde-Vinent
A symposium and field workshop on the Northern Caribbean Boundary was held in
Havana, Cuba, as part of the 4th Cuban Geological and Mining Congress (March 19-27,
2001). The symposium, which included both oral and poster sessions and which was held on
March 22, focused mainly on issues concerning the complex northern margin of the
Caribbean plate in Cuba and its early geologic evolution. Among participants where
scientists from Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, France, Great Britain, Italy,
Mexico, New Zealand, Spain, and USA.
A field trip to Central Cuba was held immediately after the Congress, March 24 to
27, in order to visit critical areas in the vicinity of Camagüey, central Cuba, where the
northern Caribbean plate boundary is well exposed. This complex boundary near Camagüey
encompasses elements of the passive continental margin, ocean crust and sediments,
Cretaceous volcanic arc, as well as foreland and piggyback basins. The field excursion
provided the participants with an excellent opportunity to examine in the field the structures
and geologic relationships associated with this unique and critical tectonic boundary.
The purpose of the symposium was to focus on the characteristics of critical
geologic terranes in central and eastern Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico as they pertain to
the northern Caribbean plate boundary in Cuba and to evaluate the present status of
Caribbean plate tectonic models with respect to these field occurrences. Six special oral
papers and 5 posters were presented. Each speaker was given 30 minutes, so extensive
discussion followed each talk. These presentations were followed by a panel discussion
period of several hours duration in which aspects of the northern plate boundary and the
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19
geology of Cuba were the subject of interesting debates and active exchange of data and
interpretations.
The oral presentations and panel discussion was attended by a total of about 70-80
scientists. In the first presentation, M. Iturralde-Vinent (Cuba) gave an overview of the
current state of plate tectonics in the Caribbean realm with special references to the geology
of Cuba. He made the important point that detailed stratigraphic and tectonic data are critical
to any viable plate tectonic model, but still there are many geologic units within the
Caribbean, and specially in Cuba, whose origin and evolution is poorly understood, because
the lack of modern studies. Therefore, understanding the Caribbean plate evolution will still
require more field and laboratory research in key areas. Z. Gasparini (Argentina) then
discussed the role of Jurassic marine reptiles in Cuba and their importance in evaluating
early marine seaways in the early evolution of the Caribbean. This author suggested that the
interchange of marine animals between western Tethys and the Pacific predate the break-up
of Pangaea, as rocks of Lower and Middle Jurassic age yield fossils of marine reptiles in the
eastern Pacific (Chile, Argentina, and in allochthonous terrains of Mexico, which show
west-Tethyan affinities. The third and fourth presentations were made by G. Draper (USA).
He discussed the high-pressure metamorphic rocks of central Cuba as metamorphic core
complexes exposed as a result of low degree extensional faulting within the continental
margin. He then discussed the early oceanic crustal terranes of central Hispaniola and the
evidence they show for a mid-Cretaceous orogenic event and its possible relationship with
the polarity subduction reversal of the Caribbean "Great Arc". G. Giunta (Italy) reported on
the Motagua suture zone in Guatemala and its role as the northwestern boundary of the
Caribbean plate. New geochemical data from the ophiolites suggest that there are both
MORB and island arc complexes in the Motagua suture zone. The final oral presentation was
made by J. Lewis (New Zealand) who described the tectonic and petrologic significance of
peridotites and constituent chromitites as obducted fragments of contrasting mantle sections
in the northern Caribbean region. These data, thou preliminary, indicate that the two large
ophiolite outcrops of northeastern Cuba, yield distinct geochemical signature. M. Iturralde-
Vinent then concluded with a discussion of the similarities and discrepancies that exist
among the modern Caribbean plate tectonic models.
Posters presented as part of the northern Caribbean plate boundary Workshop
included the following: New aspects of the geology of eastern Cuba (G. Millán-Cuba);
Structural deformation phases at the northern plate boundary in Cuba (K. Nuñez-Cuba);
Transitional marine environments in carbonate rocks of the Cretaceous volcanic arc of Cuba
(R. Rojas-Cuba); Oceanic plagiogranites in Cuba (Sukar-Cuba); and Tectonic and geologic
evolution of serpentinites in Puerto Rico (E. Lidiak-USA).
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In the panel discussions that followed the oral presentations, the main issues
centered on the origin of various critical geologic terranes in Cuba such as the Escambray,
Purial, and Grenvile metamorphic complexes, whether they are allochthonous or
autochthonous, and how they can be integrated into the geologic evolution of the northern
Caribbean plate boundary. For example, according to present knowledge, Purial massif is a
vulcano-plutonic "island arc" complex of Cretaceous age, which is characterized by high Plow
T metamorphism. Nevertheless, the present tectonic position of this complex can hardly
be associated with a subduction zone of any age. A lively discussion was also held on how
the Rosario belt of western Cuba and the Placetas belt in central Cuba relate to the
development of the ProtoCaribbean crust. Usually these belts have been interpreted as the
southern basin-ward deposits of the Bahamas platform, but another interpretation is that they
represent the sediments and crust of the ProtoCaribbean.
Concerning the tectonic position of the Cuban Cretaceous vulcano-plutonic island
arc suites, important unpublished information was presented to the audience, including highresolution
seismic profiles of several areas of Cuba. The issue was to evaluate if the island
arc suite is allochthonous above the Escambray, with the roots located south of the
Escambray; or if the island arc suite is allochthonous above the northern ophiolites and
Placetas-Rosario belts, then the Escambray is an allochthonous terrain located within the
north diping subduction zone of the arc. Seismic data favour the second possibility, but the
issue require more research.
After more than 5 hours of very often high-tuned discussions, many agree that there
are some areas (call them terrains, belts or masifs) which are yet too poorly known as to be
interpreted in a single easy manner, as it is currently assumed by some Caribbean plate
tectonic models. More field and laboratory research focused on the petrology and internal
structure of the Socorro (Grenvile), Escambray, Purial and Pinos metamorphic complexes, as
well as on the stratigraphy and tectonic position of the Placetas and Rosario belts is urgently
required before a fair interpretation of the origin of these geologic units can be reach.
Available P-t path studies, isotopic dating and geochemical data for the Escambray and
Purial are still insufficient. Fortunately, several attendees to the meeting already agreed to
work on some of these areas, and this is probably one of the most important results of the
panel workshop.
WORKSHOP ON THE GEOCHEMISTRY OF THE CARIBBEAN PLATEAU AND
CRETACEOUS ISLAND ARC TERRANES, AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR THE
GEODYNAMICS OF THE CARIBBEAN
Leicester, U.K., April 23-24, 2001
Convener: P.M.E. Thompson
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The aim of the Workshop was for the main research groups in this field to discuss
recent research on the Caribbean region, specifically on the Cretaceous Caribbean plateau,
the island arc terranes associated with it, and the tectonic evolution of the Caribbean region.
The workshop lasted 2 days: the first day was focussed on the Mesozoic tectonic and
structural evolution of the region whereas the emphasis on the second day was on the
magmatic evolution and geochemistry of the Caribbean plateau, and the island arc terranes.
The Workshop hosted 35 participants from six countries (Colombia, United States,
Italy, France, Germany and the UK). In addition, 30+ researchers from 5 other countries
registered interest in the proceedings, but were not able to attend. Some of the main research
groups were:
1. Leicester, UK; represented by Kerr (now Cardiff), Saunders, Tarney, Thompson and
White
2. Grenoble, France; represented by Arndt, Jaillard and Lapierre and Mamberti
3. Palmero, Italy; represented by Coltorti and Giunta
4. Regional tectonic analysis group, represented by Draper, Maresch, Pindell and Stanek
In total, 17 oral presentations were scheduled, though the emphasis was on informal
discussion. To facilitate this, a long discussion session was scheduled at the end of each day,
and the discussion chairs saught points to discuss from other participants prior to this.
First day: Geophysical and tectonic models
The chair of the first day's discussion was Roz White (Leicester), who led a
discussion on how the geophysical and tectonic models discussed that day could fit in with
the existence of the Caribbean plateau. It was agreed that Pindell's new comprehensive and
detailed model for the tectonic evolution of the Caribbean did not rely on the presence of the
Caribbean plateau: indeed the word plateau was never specifically mentioned in his talk.
Plateau workers counteracted this by saying that a thick buoyant oceanic plateau would be
very difficult to subduct, and would therefore significantly affect the tectonics of the
Caribbean region, in particular the subduction polarity reversal. They cite the arrival of the
buoyant and thick Caribbean plateau at the eastward dipping subduction zone as a
mechanism for the flip, in a situation analagous to that seen in the Solomon Isles with the
attempted subduction of the Ontong Java oceanic plateau. However, Pindell believes the
subduction polarity reversal occurred at ca. 120 Ma (before the bulk of the plateau was
formed), on the basis of the following pieces of evidence:
1. Abundant evidence for a large tectonic event around that time
2. Unconformities in many arc-related sequences at ca. 120Ma.
3. P-T paths from high-pressure metamorphic rocks
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4. Change in geochemical character from PIA to CA in many circum-Caribbean arcs.
22
5. The earlier the flip occurred, the easier would occur tectonically. At 120 Ma, the arc
would have been short and straight and there was a powerful potential mechanism available
(the acceleration of the opening of the Atlantic. At 75 Ma, the arc was ~2000km in length,
and may have been very highly arcuate in shape, which would require huge internal
deformation as the convex side changes from the SW to the SE.
However, in the discussion it was conceded that there is growing evidence for an
earlier (and possibly more voluminous (Diebold et al., 1999)) pulse of plateau magmatism
around 130-120 Ma. If that is the case, an earlier plateau could have formed and caused the
postulated subduction flip, and the later plateau building events (78, 90) could have
represented the last pulses of magmatism.
Pindell's suggestion (pers. com.) was for plateau workers to suggest possible
mechanisms for plateau emplacement within the 2500 km wide proto-Caribbean plate
following the flip, with perhaps only the first ~300 km of the leading edge of the plate
overlying the Benioff zone, hence allowing the Aruba batholith etc to be formed at 85-82
Ma. from subduction of normal oceanic crust beneath the plateau.
Second day's discussion focussed on the following areas:
1. The possible older 120Ma. pulse of plume magmatism. There appears to be growing
evidence for it around the Carribbean (eg Lapierre, 2001; Diebold et al., 1999)
2. Whether the plateau was derived from the Galapagos plume. New palinispastic
reconstructions say it's impossible (Pindell, 2001). Trace element and isotopic geochemistry,
however, do not rule it out (Hauff et al., 2000)
3. The cause of the spread to high 87 Sr/ 86 Sr for the plateau lavas. Revillion (1999)
analysed clinopyroxene separates from the Gorgona komatiites for Sr and concluded that it
was primary as it correlates with the trace element abundances. This is supported by Kerr et
al. (1996) who found that the high Sr composition of samples from the Curacao plateau
sequence stayed constant with increased leaching and therefore attributed it to the
incorporation of altered basalt into the source of the basalts. However, Thompson et al
(2001) found that for the Upper Cretaceous arc lavas, which had initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of 0.7065,
fresh apatite separates had much lower 87 Sr/ 86 Sr than the whole rock, and concluded that this
spread to high 87 Sr/ 86 Sr was the result of alteration of the whole rock.
4. How Gorgona relates to the rest of the plateau. The Gorgona komatiites have a
depleted eHf-eNd isotopic composition (Thompson et al. 2001), which is distinct from the
rest of the Caribbean plateau. This suggests that they are sampling an additional depleted
component. But we don't know the exact nature of their relationship to the rest of the
plateau.
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5. Does the plume source contain a non-DMM depleted component? There is growing
evidence that the plume responsible for the Caribbean plateau contains a depleted
component (eg Kerr et al, 1995). Thompson et al. (2001) have identified two depleted
components using Hf-Nd systematics: a depleted component with an isotopic composition
similar to MORB, and a depleted component with a high eHf of around +17. This
component seems to be unique to Gorgona.
4 TH NORTH AMERICAN PALEONTOLOGICAL COVENTION, SESSION T4 - CARIBBEAN
MESOZOIC BIOGEOGRAPHY: PALEONTOLOGICAL CONSTRAINTS ON THE
FORMATION AND EARLY EVOLUTION OF THE CARIBBEAN SEAWAY. (BERKELEY,
JUNE 30)
Convener: M. Iturralde-Vinent
This session was aimed at exploring the importance of the Early Jurassic to Cretaceous
Caribbean biota for understanding the history of the opening of the Caribbean seaway and
communications between the Pacific and Tethys. This biota includes invertebrates
(ammonites, rudists, gastropods, calpionelids, etc.), plants, and marine vertebrates (pterosurs,
plesiosaurs, turtle, crocodyles, pliosaurs, etc.) but is not well understood. This meeting was
celebrated but did not fulfill expectations as a last moment inconvenience prevented M.
Iturralde-Vinent from attending the conference (his presentation is posted at the web page of
the project, under forum). Other presentation were directed to explain the movements of
marine biotas across the Caribbean seaway, which are important data to constraint the utility
of plate tectonic models. Several papers were presented concerning the paleontological data
as a counterpart to plate tectonic interpretation of the evolition of the Caribbean. The
meeting was attended by about 15 persons, mostly from USA.
REPORT ON THE GSA ANNUAL MEETING IN BOSTON, NOVEMBER 5-8, 2001
The GSA annual meeting in Boston was a great success and an unique opportunity
to update ourself in the state of the art of the American Geology. Those particularly
interested in the Caribbean participated in the IGCP-433 presentations presented in three
different sessions (T3, Tectonics, and Igneous Petrology). The papers presented show the
different points of view that characterize the Caribbean Plate tectonic scene today. As the
abstracts included here are self explicative, further comment is not necessary other than to
underline the point that as we gather more information about the Caribbean, more agreement
is focused on the allochthonous origin of the Caribbean Plate, eventhough many
contradictions remain on the details in further developing the model.
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For this reason, during informal conversations during the meeting, we agree that the
IGCP-433 annual session to be celebrated during the forthcomming Caribbean Geological
Congress in Barbados (June, 2002), must focus in three main issues: 1) The Early Mesozoic
evolution of the Caribbean, 2) The Early Tertiaty Evolution of the Caribbean, and 3) The
interactions between the Caribbean Plate and South America.
Abstracts of the IGCP Project 433-Caribbean Plate Tectonics Presented at the GSA Annual
Meeting in Boston
EVOLUTION OF THE NORTHERN PORTION OF THE CARIBBEAN PLATE: PACIFIC
ORIGIN TO BAHAMIAN COLLISION
PINDELL, James, DRAPER, Grenville, KENNAN, Lorcan, STANEK, Klaus P., and
MARESCH, Walter V.
Pacific origin models of Caribbean are more compatible with regional Caribbean
geology than Intra-American models because (1) the Greater Antilles Arc (GAA) is older
than the Central American Arc, which is predicted by Pacific, but not by Intra-American
models; and (2) Caribbean tectonic interaction with northern Colombia and southern
Yucatan began in the Campanian, which requires a more southwestward (Pacific) position of
the Caribbean Plate before that time. We have refined earlier Pacific-derived Caribbean
evolutionary models to new levels of precision and conclude: 1) the Galapagos Hotspot did
not form the Caribbean plateau; 2) Early Cretaceous subduction dipped NE; 3) Panama-
Costa Rica arc formed at equatorial latitudes; 4) Caribbean HP/LT metamorphic
assemblages (except those of Jamaica) pertain to initiation and subsequent development of
SW-dipping subduction beneath the GAA that followed an Aptian-early Albian subduction
polarity reversal event; the new polarity then allowed the Caribbean
Plate to enter the inter-American realm during Upper Cretaceous-Cenozoic; 5) the central
Cuban Arc comprises mainly forearc elements of the GAA, and Sierra Maestra is more
representative of the GAA axis; 6) Campanian cessation of magmatism in central Cuba
resulted from shallowing of subduction as the GAA approached southern Yucatan, 7) the
Yucatan intra-arc basin formed in two phases: Maastrichtian –Paleocene NW-SE extension
driven by slab rollback of Jurassic Proto-Caribbean lithosphere along eastern Yucatan, and
Early and Middle Eocene NNE extension driven by rollback of Proto-Caribbean crust
toward the Bahamas, controlled by N-ward propagation of a NNE-trending east-Yucatan tear
fault, during which western and northern Cuban terranes were accreted to the front of the
central Cuban fore-arc; 8) Middle Eocene collision of all Cuban terranes with the Bahamas,
and rapid uplift of the orogen after the detachment of the SW-dipping; 9) Eocene onset of
Cayman Trough pull-apart as the Caribbean Plate began its well-known subsequent
migration to its present position ;10) Oligocene transpression in Hispaniola and Puerto Rico
which led to the ?Late Oligocene separation onset of separation of the Hispaniola arc
assemblages from Oriente, Cuba.
PHANEROZOIC TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN PLATE
BOUNDARY IN CUBA
ITURRALDE-VINENT, Manuel A.
In the Cuban territory crops out Phanerozoic rocks that contain stratigraphic sections
of both the Bahamas and Yucatan borderlands of the North American continental margin.
These sections can be subdivided into three tectonic stages as follow: 1. The Jurassic to
latest Cretaceous passive margin stage, represented by siliciclastic and carbonate rocks
sections that characterize the formation and early evolution of the Caribbean sea and its
northern continental margin. This was a stage of extensional stress and evolution from
intracontinental to open marine facies. 2. The to latest Eocene collisional margin stage,
represented by foreland sediments with large amount of
allochthonous materials (ophiolite and volcanic arc elements). During these stage took place
strong compressional deformations. 3. The latest Eocene to Recent stage, characterized by
24

less deformed sedimentary sections, mostly along the trend of wrench faults. In general
represent post-collisional tectonics associated with transpresional and
transtensional stress.
25
ASYMMETRIC SEAFLOOR SPREADING, CRUSTAL THICKNESS VARIATIONS
AND TRANSITIONAL CRUST IN CAYMAN TROUGH FROM GRAVITY
TEN BRINK, Uri S., COLEMAN, Dwight F., and DILLON, William P.
With a few exceptions, oceanic crust, which forms atdivergent plate boundaries (and
away from theinfluence of mantle plumes near hot spots), has nearly constant thickness
regardless of age, geographiclocation, water depth, and spreading velocity. Using free-air
gravity anomaly data, we model the crustal structure of the Cayman Trough to analyze
theprocesses occurring at this slow-spreading mid-ocean ridge. Our model indicates
considerable and abrupt crustal thickness variations along the trough axis, which parallels
the direction of ocean opening. The proximal part to the spreading ridge extends ~170 km
east of the spreading ridge and 250 km west of it. Sea floor in the proximal part is slightly
deeper (by ~500 m) east of the ridge than west of the ridge, and crustal thickness east of the
ridge is considerably thicker than the crust to the west. The distal part of
Cayman Trough extends to a distance of ~300 km on both sides of the proximal part
to the spreading ridge. It has a greater water depth and a thinner crust than the
proximal part and it does not increase in depth away from the ridge. By tying our model to
published seismic refraction data, we estimate the crustal thickness of the distal part to be 5.5
km and of the west and east sides of the proximal part as ~7 and
~9.5 km, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the largest crustal thickness contrast
inferred across any spreading ridge, and it augments recent similar results from the SW
Indian Ocean. We interpret the thin crust in the distal part as transitional crust
formed by extreme attenuation without organized sea floor spreading, and the proximal part
by crustal accretion at a slow spreading mid-ocean ridge. In the proximal part, there is an
inverse relationship between the ratio of crustal thicknesses and the ratio
of spreading rates east and west of the spreading center. We interpret this relationship to
indicate that new material is accreted preferentially to an existing crust on the slow moving
east side of this spreading system. Off-axis crustal accretion can take place either by lava
flowing from the axis or by off-axis intrusions.
CENOZOIC ROTATION OF THE YUCATAN (MAYA) BLOCK ALONG THE
ORIZABA FAULT ZONE OF SOUTHERN MEXICO AND THE FAULTS OF CENTRAL
AMERICA
BURKART, Burke and SCOTESE, Christopher R.
Yucatan (Maya)has been an independent block since early Cenozoic when counterclockwise
rotation began that continues today. It is bounded in Mexico by the
Orizaba fault zone (OFZ), which begins near the Gulf of Mexico at the Santa Ana massif,
runs along the western Isthmus of Tehuantepec, crosses the northern
Gulf of Tehuantepec W of the Chiapas massif, and connects with the major faults of
Guatemala and the Cayman trough. Faults of Guatemala and adjacent
Honduras are boundaries to wedges whose eastward rotation has been away from the
Cuicateco terrane of Oaxaca, Mexico. Dextral slip of about 340 km across the OFZ is
measured by offset of Laramide structures and Mesozoic and Tertiary contacts of the
northern Chiapas massif from those in the fold and thrust belt of the Sierra Madre Oriental.
Reversing the Cenozoic counter-clockwise rotation and simultaneously
restoring previously-known sinistral offset across the Polochic fault of 130 km, moves the
westernmost part of the tapered block between the Polochic and Jocotan faults (Chuacus-
Tambor block) of Guatemala to a position between the Yucatan and Guerrero blocks about
160 km NW of the Pacific coast. Very little offset occurred across the Motagua fault zone.
The northernmost part of the Chiapas massif is moved NW across the Isthmus to near the
Santa Ana uplift near the Gulf of Mexico. Ophiolites, granitoids, metasedimentary rocks and
volcaniclastics related to Cretaceous arc magmatism found in the Cuicateco terrane of
Oaxaca and Tambor of Guatemala are juxtaposed with this restoration model. Obduction
during strike-slip movement may account for wider distribution of ophiolites of Guatemala,
25

which were obducted during strike-slip movement. The eastern Veracruz basin opened
during rotation of the Yucatan block. Sinistral offset across the Chiapas Strike-Slip fault
zone may reflect partial decoupling from the rest of the Yucatan block. The western basin
(Cordoba platform) was dropped downward at an early stage of rotation.
26
EVOLUTION OF THE CRETACEOUS TO RECENT OROGENIC BELT OF
NORTHERN VENEZUELA
SISSON, Virginia B. and AVÉ LALLEMANT, H. G
The Caribbean Mountain system (Venezuela) is both a Modern and Ancient Plate
Boundary and Orogen. At first glance, this mountain range appears to be a classical orogenic
belt with a metamorphic "Hinterland" and a non-metamorphic "Foreland" fold and thrust
belt. However, extensive dating (mostly 40Ar/39Ar) indicates that metamorphism of the
hinterland belt took place in mid-Cretaceous time, whereas the non-metamorphic foreland
rocks were deformed in Cenozoic time. This situation resulted from marked right-oblique
convergence of the Caribbean and South American plates along their mutual EW-trending
plate boundary zone. metamorphic rocks contain blueschists and eclogites and have formed
in the Leeward Antilles subduction zone along which the Atlantic plate was subducted.
Blueschists and eclogites were partially exhumed by arc-parallel stretching resulting from
displacement partitioning along an oblique plate
margin. The collision of the Leeward Antilles arc with South America resulted in obduction
of the accretionary wedge onto the South American margin and change of subduction
polarity. This obduction took place in Paleocene time in the west and is still occurring in the
east. The development of foreland basins and the foreland fold and thrust belt was
diachronous as well and young from west to east. The oblique convergence rate vector was
strongly partitioned into a plate-boundary normal component that resulted into the southvergent
fold and thrust belt and a plate-boundary parallel component resulting in boundary
parallel right-lateral strike slip faults along which the metamorphic belts were displaced
toward the east. In addition, subduction related processes vary along strike. In the west, two
high-pressure belts (Cordillera de la Costa and Villa de Cura belts) occur whereas in the east,
(Margarita Island) only one
exists. The Cordillera de la Costa belt contains eclogites that were formed at ~70 km depth.
Eclogites on Margarita formed at ~45 km depth. The Villa de Cura belt blueschist formed at
~30 km depth. The age of exhumation varies from mid-Cretaceous (Villa de Cura and
Margarita) to Eocene (Cordillera de la Costa). The dependence of depth of metamorphism
and timing of exhumation of these high-P rocks on plate tectonic configuration is
complicated, because of Tertiary overprint.
INTERCRATONIC OROGENS: THE CARIBBEAN AND SCOTIA ARCS
DALZIEL, Ian W.D., LAWVER, Lawrence A., GAHAGAN, Lisa M., and MANN, Paul.
The Caribbean and Scotia arcs are two striking features of any tectonic map of the
Earth and are in fact nearly identical in size. They are respectively located between North
and South America, and South America and Antarctica, joining the North American
Cordillera to the Andes, and the Andes to the West Antarctic continental margin orogen.
Their tectonic evolutions can be related to the relative motion between the two pairs of
cratons. Their evolving physiography produced critical controls, varying with time, on the
movement of biota between the cratons, and between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. The
Caribbean arc differs from the Scotia arc with the presence of the Central American land
bridge. Yet differential motion along the Shackleton Fracture Zone between Cape Horn and
the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula has produced a ridge as shallow as 700 meters. This ridge
with only minor changes in plate
motions could develop into a subduction zone and generate an island arc. Absence of a
South America-Antarctica land bridge permits a complete and vigorous wind-driven circum-
Antarctic current and intense sediment scour in Drake Passage. Cenozoic magnetic
anomalies have been identified in Drake Passage and the eastern Scotia Sea where oceanic
crust was formed as Antarctica separated from South America. High sedimentation rates,
possible formation during the Cretaceous Normal Superchron, and a large igneous province
26

27
obscure the equivalent history of the older Caribbean arc and seafloor. The nature and
tectonic history of these 'fusible orogenic links'
between the continental margin cordilleras of the western Americas and Antarctica are
considered as are their evolutions in terms of possible 'mantle return flow' from the Pacific
Ocean basin to the Atlantic Ocean basin. Possible analogs to the ancient geologic
record such as a link between the Ordovician Taconic and Famatinian arcs of North and
South America are also considered.
3-D GRAVITY ANALYSIS OF THE N.E. CARIBBEAN AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF
THEPUERTORICOTRENCH
MARTIN, Jennifer L., TEN BRINK, Uri S., DILLON, William P., and NEALON, Jefferey
W.
A 500-km long section of the carbonate platform north of Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands collapsed simultaneously sometime after 3.4 Ma to a maximum depth of 4.5
km. This sudden subsidence, which may be associated with the formation of the Puerto Rico
Trench, is puzzling given that the direction (ENE) and the rate (~20 mm/y) of North
American (NOAM)-Caribbean plate motion in this area has remained constant during the
past 45 Ma. The collapse has been attributed to subduction erosion, to a tear in the
downgoing NOAM plate in the area of maximum curvature, and to an interaction at depth
between the flaps of the Caribbean and NOAM plates. We modeled the gravity field in the
NE Caribbean in 3-D with the simplifying assumption that the sources of the anomaly are
only due to the water-crust and crust-mantle interfaces. Consistent results were obtained by
modeling in the space domain (CordellÕs method) and in the wave number domain
(ParkerÕs method). A 2-D model along a 350-km-long seismic profile across this plate
boundary was also compared with the 3-D model results. The gravity model indicates that a
25±5 km thick crust extends from Puerto Rico northward under the collapsed area to just
south of the Puerto Rico Trench. The thick crust is not an artifact of excluding low-density
sedimentary rocks from the model, because there is no evidence in seismic reflection data for
an appreciable accretionary prism south of the trench. Moreover, dredging has recovered
arc-related metamorphic rocks and limestone, similar to those found in Puerto Rico, at a
depth of 7100 m south of the trench. The gravity model suggests that the entire crust north of
Puerto Rico has been tilted northward. A whole-crustal tilt requires space to be created by a
sudden removal of the foundation. One possibility is that the NOAM plate flap, which
underlies Puerto Rico
and the Virgin Islands has suddenly increased its dip or rolled back. Either of these options
will pull down the overlying crust if the interface between them has high friction, which
allows shear stresses to build up. The existence of a large negative gravity anomaly (-355
mGal), more negative than in typical trenches is consistent with this interpretation. Large
magnitude earthquakes may occur at the interface between the Caribbean and the NOAM
plate if the interface can support high shear stresses.
CARIBBEAN PLATE BOUNDARIES˜EOCENE SUBDUCTION, COLLISION AND
SUTURING IN PUERTO RICO: SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GREAT SOUTHERN
PUERTO RICO FAULT ZONE
ANDERSON, Thomas H., LIDIAK, Edward G and JOLLY, Wayne T.
The northern margin of the Caribbean plate is distinguished by the southeastward
curving Greater Antillean (GA) arc. Volcanism above the south-facing zone ceased after the
western Cuba segment of the arc collided with the Bahamas platform between 66 and 44 Ma.
In eastern Cuba, Hispaniola and attached islands to the south collisional structures are less
prominent because of the southeastward curvature of the GA arc away from the Bahamas
Platform. South of the Cauto fault in Oriente Province, Eocene igneous rocks crop out as
they do in Hispaniola and Puerto. In Puerto Rico, Eocene lavas and plutons are most
common among northwesterly striking faults that
distinguish the Great Southern Puerto Rico fault zone (GSPRFZ). Tertiary strata include
lavas, volcaniclastic and other sedimentary units some of which are fine-grained and cherty
and may be pelagic. Well layered strata may contain olistoliths and commonly record faults
and folds some of which may be penecontemporaneous. Older, Late Cretaceous rocks
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28
covering the oceanic crust southwest of the GSPRFZ may have been offscraped and
deformed as they were carried toward the trench. Subduction related Eocene volcanism was
areally limited and short-lived. Convergence waned during Oligocene time perhaps in
response to the arrival and collision of thick oceanic terrains (eg. Cayman Ridge, Nicaraguan
Rise, Beata Ridge) with the overriding plate. During collision, volcanic units at the edge of
the overriding crust were uplifted and destabilized sufficiently so that masses calved off and
collapsed southwestward forming an apron of debris (Sabana Grande Formation). We
propose that the Eocene volcanic rocks record renewed subduction, although the subduction
was north-facing and involved the consumption of the Caribbean plate along a zone roughly
coincident with the back arc of the Cretaceous belt.
STRUCTURAL STYLES ALONG OBLIQUELY CONVERGENT OROGENS: THE
EASTERN CARIBBEAN-SOUTH AMERICA PLATE BOUNDARY
CRUZ, Leonardo, TEYSSIER, Christian, and WEBER, John.
The Caribbean-South America plate boundary in NE Venezuela and northern
Trinidad exposes an E-W oriented mountain belt of deformed and metamorphosed sediments
deposited on the northern South America passive margin in early Mesozoic time. Northern
Trinidad and NE Venezuela display contrasting styles of deformation developed during
oblique collision and wrenching between the Caribbean and South American plates in the
past 50 million years. In northern Trinidad, metamorphic conditions increase from east to
west with structures evolving from upright in the east to recumbent in the west, across the
brittle-ductile transition. In ductilely deformed rocks, foliation is subhorizontal and lineation
is ~E-W, parallel to the belt. Sense of shear is ambiguous. In NE Venezuela, metamorphic
grade is similar to the western part of northern Trinidad; foliation dips moderately to steeply
to the S and lineation plunges moderately to the SW. In general, sense of shear criteria
parallel to lineation show top (down) to SW relations, indicating increased exhumation of
the northern part of the belt. Oblique collision and wrenching in the Caribbean-South
American plate boundary may have generated a complex deformation history, which
evolved diachronously from west to east to produce the two styles of deformation displayed
in northern Trinidad
and NE Venezuela. Two models have been proposed to account for the generation and
exhumation of this belt. In the first model, deformation is concentrated in a retro-wedge
developed in front of the rigid Caribbean plate indenter, which deformed the softer South
American continental crust. Vertical stretch decreases southward, exhumation rate increases
to the north and deformation ages are younger to the east due to diachronous collision. The
second model implies a midcrustal coupling zone that deforms ductilely due to translation of
upper crustal blocks and transpression of the system. Subhorizontal fabrics develop
contemporaneously parallel to the rheological layering of the lithosphere. For both models,
spatial and kinematic variations of fabric orientation, cooling ages, and exhumation rates, are
key elements to understand the overall deformation history of this region and are currently
being studied.
LEAD ISOTOPE STUDY OF THE PALEOGENE IGNEOUS ROCKS OF THE SIERRA
MAESTRA, SOUTHEASTERN CUBA
KYSAR MATTIETTI, Giuseppina, LEWIS, John F., and WYSOCZANSKI, Richard.
The Sierra Maestra of southeastern Cuba occupies a key position between the
remnants of the Greater Antilles arc accreted terranes and the Cayman strike-slip belt that
constitutes the present day northern Caribbean plate boundary. An isotopic study has been
undertaken to constrain the paleotectonic setting and the source of the Sierra Maestra
structure. Lead isotope ratios were determined for a set of lithologies representative of each
major magmatic complex of the Sierra Maestra. Both 207Pb/204Pb and 208Pb/204Pb ratios
are restricted to a narrow, well-defined array
of values in a band parallel to the North Atlantic Reference Line NHRL The slight
enrichment in 207Pb/204Pb ratios represent the selective mobilization U with respect to Th,
(U/Th ratios ranges from 0.8 to 1). Overall Pb isotope ratios for the Sierra Maestra are
homogeneous, indicating the existence of a single magma source. This observation correlates
with the low Ce/Yb values that characterize primitive arcs with varying degrees of the
28

29
PREMA (Primitive fertile mantle) component. There is a overlap between the isotopic ratios
of the Sierra Maestra and the Cretaceous island arc tholeiites of Puerto Rico indicating that
the Paleogene arc rocks have a similar mantle source.
Site Rock Type 206Pb/204Pb 207Pb/204Pb 208Pb/204Pb SiO2
Daiquiri Gabbro 18.719 15.591 38.33 48.36
Daiquiri Qz-diorite 18.919 15.571 38.402 63.29
Daiquiri Andesite 18.983 15.597 38.516 57.4
Nima-Nima Qz-diorite 18.991 15.625 38.566 64.01
Nima-Nima Basalt 18.672 15.592 38.329 51.22
Guama Qz-diorite 19.107 15.635 38.723 62.52
Guama Bas-And. 18.977 15.627 38.519 54.98
Turquino Gr-diorite 19.29 15.634 38.719 74.62
Turquino Basalt 18.818 15.596 38.385 50.89
Turquino Diabase 18.879 15.581 38.344 51.52
Turquino Qz-diorite 18.506 15.597 38.119 51.59
Related abstract
ANIMATION OF PLATE MOTIONS AND GLOBAL PLATE BOUNDARY
EVOLUTION SINCE THE LATE PRECAMBRIAN
SCOTESE, Christopher R.,
A computer animation will be presented that illustrates both plate motions and the evolution
of plate boundaries since the Late Precambrian. Plate motions during the Jurassic,
Cretaceous and Cenozoic plate motions are based on linear magnetic anomalies and the
tectonic fabric of the ocean floor revealed by satellite altimetry, in combination with
"absolute" motion trajectories determined by the Indian and Atlantic hotspot tracks and
paleomagnetism. Early Mesozoic, Paleozoic and Late Precambrian plate tectonic
reconstructions, however, are less well constrained and are based on less precise
paleomagnetic data, lithologic indicators of climate, biogeographic inferences, and the
timing of continental rifts and collisions. In addition to the motion of the plates, the
animation shows the continuous evolution of global plate boundaries. Though the rifts and
subduction zones associated with the breakup of Pangea are well known, the pre-Mesozoic
plate boundaries shown here are speculative. Their location is based on the timing of rifts
and continental collisions inferred from the geologic record, and the fundamental assumption
that plates move as a result of slab pull and ridge push. For example, fast moving plates must
be attached to old, cold subducting slabs. Large continental plates (Eurasia), on the other
hand, tend to move slowly because of deep lithospheric keels. The evolving geometry of
plate boundaries controls the tempo and mode of plate evolution. The history of plate
motions might be best described as "long periods of boredom, interrupted by short intervals
of terror (rapid change)". Episodes of global plate reorganization punctuate long periods of
steady-state plate motion. reorganizations are due to catastrophic changes in plate boundary
geometry that result in new lithospheric stress regimes. One of the most important plate
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30
boundary events is the subduction of a spreading center. The subduction of the Tethyan
Ridge in the Jurassic may have been responsible for the breakup of Pangea.
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