Implications of the North and South Panama Thrust Belts for the origin of the Panama Orocline

Silver, Eli A.; Reed, Donald L.; Tagudin, Jill E.; Heil, Darla J.

doi:10.1029/tc009i002p00261

Cited by 121 publications

(103 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Our preferred explanation is the onset of collision between South America and Panama arc crust. Collision with South America is the dominant explanation for the Panama orocline (Silver et al, 1990) and can also explain the localized zones of extension within the Panama arc. Other infl uences for exhumation and arc change include a 25-30 Ma westward increase in South American plate motion (no-net-torque reference frame; Silver et al, 1998) and/or the 23 Ma fi ssioning of the Farallon plate (Lonsdale, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Fracturing of the Panamanian Isthmus during initial collision with South America

Farris

Jaramillo

Bayona

et al. 2011

Geology

271

284

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Tectonic collision between South America and Panama began at 23-25 Ma. The collision is signifi cant because it ultimately led to development of the Panamanian Isthmus, which in turn had wide-ranging oceanic, climatic, biologic, and tectonic implications. Within the Panama Canal Zone, volcanic activity transitioned from hydrous mantle-wedge−derived arc magmatism to localized extensional arc magmatism at 24 Ma, and overall marks a permanent change in arc evolution. We interpret the arc geochemical change to result from fracturing of the Panama block during initial collision with South America. Fracturing of the Panama block led to localized crustal extension, normal faulting, sedimentary basin formation, and extensional magmatism in the Canal Basin and Bocas del Toro. Synchronous with this change, both Panama and inboard South America experienced a broad episode of exhumation indicated by (U-Th)/He and fi ssion-track thermochronology coupled with changing geographic patterns of sedimentary deposition in the Colombian Eastern Cordillera and Llanos Basin. Such observations allow for construction of a new tectonic model of the South America-Panama collision, northern Andes uplift and Panama orocline formation. Finally, synchroneity of Panama arc chemical changes and linked uplift indicates that onset of collision and Isthmus formation began earlier than commonly assumed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Thus, our interpretation is that the Panama block underwent localized arc-perpendicular extension. One mechanism is that during Panama orocline formation (Silver et al, 1990) the Isthmus fractured. Basic geometric reconstructions (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fracturing of the Panamanian Isthmus during initial collision with South America

Farris

Jaramillo

Bayona

et al. 2011

Geology

271

284

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The South Limón fold-and-thrust belt has been interpreted as the western prolongation of the North Panama deformed belt (SILVER et al 1990;GOES et al 1993). The latter was caused by the collision of Panama with South America around 25-23 Ma (FARRIS et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Kinematic 3-D Retro-Modeling of an Orogenic Bend in the South Limón Fold-and-Thrust Belt, Eastern Costa Rica: Prediction of the Incremental Internal Strain Distribution

Brandes

Tanner

Winsemann

2016

Pure Appl. Geophys.

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The South Limón fold-and-thrust belt, in the backarc area of southern Costa Rica, is characterized by a 90°curvature of the strike of the thrust planes and is therefore a natural laboratory for the analysis of curved orogens. The analysis of curved foldand-thrust belts is a challenge because of the varying structural orientations within the belt. Based on seismic reflection lines, we created a 3-D subsurface model containing three major thrust faults and three stratigraphic horizons. 3-D kinematic retro-deformation modeling was carried out to analyze the spatial evolution of the fold-and-thrust belt. The maximum amount of displacement on each of the faults is (from hinterland to foreland); thrust 1: 800 m; thrust 2: 600 m; thrust 3: 250 m. The model was restored sequentially to its pre-deformational state. The strain history of the stratigraphic horizons in the model was calculated at every step. This shows that the internal strain pattern has an abrupt change at the orogenic bend. Contractional strain occurs in the forelimbs of the hanging-wall anticlines, while a zone of dilative strain spreads from the anticline crests to the backlimbs. The modeling shows that a NNE-directed transport direction best explains the structural evolution of the bend. This would require a left-lateral strike-slip zone in the North to compensate for the movement and thereby decoupling the South Limón fold-and-thrust belt from northern Costa Rica. Therefore, our modeling supports the presence of the Trans-Isthmic fault system, at least during the Plio-Pleistocene.

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“…Este último, además de bordear el litoral caribe de Costa Rica al sureste de puerto Limón, se continúa en el sector marino norte de Panamá, definiendo el límite norte de la microplaca de Panamá. Las características estructurales y tectónicas del CDNP se detallan en Case & Holcombe (1980), Silver et al (1990) y Silver et al (1995.…”

Section: El Cinturón Deformado Del Centro De Costa Rica: Característiunclassified

Neotectónica de la región central de Costa Rica: frontera oeste de la microplaca de Panamá

Montero

2011

Rev. Geol. Amér. Central

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Neotectonic, seismicity and seismotectonic data allow to define the Central Costa Rica Deformed Belt (CDCCR) as a wide and diffuse recent fault system located between the Caribbean plate and the Panama microplate, transverse to the central region of Costa Rica, and located between the Middle America Trench (Pacific side) and the North Panama Deformed Belt (Caribbean side). In the central pacific forearc, the fault system combines sinistral strike slip and normal slip. In the inner arc there is: 1) An external thrust fault system, with a predominantly WNW trend, and 2) An inner fault system including northwest dextral strike slip faults and east-northeast to northeast sinistral strike slip faults. In the backarc, the fault system joins the North Panama Deformed Belt, which shows an external northwest thrust and fold system and an inner northwest fault system combining dextral strike slip and reverse faulting. The neotectonic faults which define the CDCCR are related to the collision of the Cocos Ridge with southern Costa Rica. The tectonic indentation caused by this collision produces the tectonic displacement to the east and north of the Panama microplate relative to the Caribbean Plate. This tectonic process produces normal slip combined with sinistral strike slip faulting in the western pacific rear side of the diffuse limit, causing the development of marine basins transverse to the forearc. On the other hand, in the leading side of the limit, an external thrust and fold system has been developed between the inner arc and the backarc. The predominantly strike slip faulting located inside the inner arc allows translational as well as rotational movements between the diverse tectonic blocks of the plate boundary zone. RESUMEN:Datos neotectónicos, de sismicidad y de sismotectónica son usados para definir el Cinturón Deformado del Centro de Costa Rica (CDCCR) como un sistema de fallas reciente, difuso y ancho localizado entre la placa Caribe y la microplaca de Panamá, el cual es transversal a la región central de Costa Rica y localizado entre la fosa Mesoamericana (lado pacífico) y el Cinturón Deformado del Norte de Panamá (sector caribe). En el antearco pacífico central, el sistema de fallas combina desplazamientos de rumbo siniestral y normal. En el arco interno existe: 1) Un sistema externo de fallas inversas, que tiene rumbo predominante WNW en la región norte del país y 2) Un sistema interno de fallas que está constituído principalmente por fallas de desplazamiento de rumbo de tipos dextrales de dirección NW y siniestrales con rumbo entre ENE y NE. En la región trasarco, el sistema de fallas del CDCCR se une con el Cinturón Deformado del Norte de Panamá, el cual incluye un sistema externo de fallamiento inverso y plegamiento de rumbo noroeste y otro interno de desplazamiento de rumbo dextral combinado con desplazamiento inverso de rumbo noroeste. Las fallas neotectónicas que constituyen el CDCCR son originadas por la colisión del levantamiento del Coco con el sur de Costa Rica. La indentación tectó...

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Implications of the North and South Panama Thrust Belts for the origin of the Panama Orocline

Cited by 121 publications

References 39 publications

Fracturing of the Panamanian Isthmus during initial collision with South America

Fracturing of the Panamanian Isthmus during initial collision with South America

Kinematic 3-D Retro-Modeling of an Orogenic Bend in the South Limón Fold-and-Thrust Belt, Eastern Costa Rica: Prediction of the Incremental Internal Strain Distribution

Neotectónica de la región central de Costa Rica: frontera oeste de la microplaca de Panamá

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