Regional transect across the western Caribbean Sea based on integration of geologic, seismic reflection, gravity, and magnetic data

Sanchez, J.; Mann, Paul; Carvajal-Arenas, Luis Carlos; Bernal-Olaya, Rocio

doi:10.1306/05111816516

Cited by 21 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…The Chortìs block is a Precambrian Craton that comprises much of Central America and extends into the marine setting in the form of the Nicaraguan Rise. The eastern extent is not well known, however, samples from the Lower Nicaraguan Rise have been inferred to be of CLIP origin (Case, 1991;Dürkefälden, Hoernle, Hauff, Werner, & Garbe-Schönberg, 2019;Mauffret & Leroy, 1997), suggesting the eastern limit may be along the Pedro Bank fault zone, which separates the Lower and Upper Nicaraguan Rise (James, 2007;Lewis et al, 2011;Sanchez et al, 2019). Seismic refraction surveys have shown the Upper Nicaraguan Rise has a crustal thickness of 20-25 km (Edgar et al, 1971), compared to 15-20 km for the Lower Nicaraguan Rise (Mauffret & Leroy, 1997).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seismic Discontinuities Across the North American Caribbean Plate Boundary From S‐to‐P Receiver Functions

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Rychert

Harmon

et al. 2021

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seismic Discontinuities Across the North American Caribbean Plate Boundary From S‐to‐P Receiver Functions

Possee

Rychert

Harmon

et al. 2021

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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“…The crustal limits of the Chortís block s.str. have more recently been defined by geophysical studies, satellite gravimetry (Lücke, 2014), offshore seismic 2-D profiles in the Caribbean Sea (Ott, 2015;Sanchez et al, 2019Sanchez et al, , 2016, geochemical and geochronological studies within the Motagua-Polochic Fault System (Figure 1b) (Ratschbacher et al, 2009;Torres-De León et al, 2012), and geochemical studies in the active Central America volcanic arc (Heydolph et al, 2012). Cretaceous intraplate deformation of the Chortís block has also been described, including: Early Cretaceous synrift and Late Cretaceous inversion and sedimentary basin formation in Central Honduras oriented NW-SE (Rogers, Mann, Scott, & Patino, 2007), and the Late Cretaceous NE-SW oriented Colón Fold and Thrust Belt in NW-Honduras (Rogers, Mann, Emmet, & Venable, 2007) (Figure 1b).…”

Section: Chortís Blockmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In dotted lines, the classical models that position the Chortís block juxtaposed south of Mexico ( x ) and with a separation angle ( y ) (Molina‐Garza et al, ; Rogers, Mann, Scott, & Patino, ). (b) Tectonic map and geological units of northern Central America, as well as the geophysical boundary of Chortís block (based on Andjić et al, ; Lücke, ; Ott, ; Rogers, Mann, & Emmet, ; Sanchez et al, , ). The gray isolines are the Moho depth in kilometers (Lücke, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleomagnetism and Geochronology of the Early Cretaceous Dipilto Batholith (NW Nicaragua): Chortís Block Large Rotation With Respect to SW North America

et al. 2020

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The Dipilto Batholith is one of the largest plutonic complexes (~1,200 km 2 ) of the Chortís block. It is located at northwestern Nicaragua in Central America. We present paleomagnetic, rock magnetic, and petrographic results from 34 sites (269 samples) of this batholith and some associated dikes. Four U-Pb (zircon) isotopic ages were obtained from samples collected through the intrusive body in order to gain insight into the timing of silicic magmatism in the southern Chortís block and its possible tectonic and paleogeographic connections with the southwestern North America Plate during the Early Cretaceous. The paleomagnetic analyses of 16 selected sites indicate a large counterclockwise rotation (~101°), with a related paleolatitude of 28.7°N, and isotopic ages ranging from 119.08 ± 0.37 to 112.69 ± 0.44 Ma. Our results imply an updated tectonic model resulted from an inherited peri-Gondwanan position and open the discussion of at least three possible tectonic scenarios for the Chortís block during the Early Cretaceous: (1) Chortís block with an angle of~45°with respect to the southwestern margin of North America. This would imply the removal of an in-between continental or oceanic crust segment by subduction or subduction erosion; (2) Chortís block immediately juxtaposed to the southwestern margin of North America, being part of extension-compression events of the Guerrero Terrane-Arperos basin; or (3) Chortís block juxtaposed to North America, but with intraplate deformation resulting in overestimated counterclockwise rotation for a tectonic decoupled block, called herein the "Dipilto block." Plain Language Summary The plate tectonic evolution of the Caribbean region and NorthAmerica have been a topic of discussion for more than 40 years. This and several previous studies on the rocks of Central America suggest that this region belonged to the south-southwest of the tectonic plate of North America (currently southern Mexico) since at least 80 million years. To demonstrate this, we use the paleomagnetism of 34 sites of the Dipilto Batholith at northwestern Nicaragua, belonging to the continental crust domain named Chortís block, and U-Pb dates to determine the spatial and temporal relationship of Central America. Our results show that at least since the Early Cretaceous (110 million years) the Chortís block was adjacent to the southwestern region of North America. In other words, this implies that the Chortís block belonged to the southwestern part of Mexico, probably next to the geological Guerrero terrane. The new paleogeographic information redefines the tectonic evolution and the causes and consequences of the geological record of this region of Mexico and Central America since the Early Cretaceous.

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“…Plate tectonic map displaying the main terranes of Middle America (modified from Sedlock et al, ; Mann et al, ; Rogers et al, 2007a; Baumgartner et al, ; Centeno‐García et al, ; Ratschbacher et al, ; Flores et al, , ; Padilla y Sánchez et al, ; Carvajal‐Arenas & Mann, ; Andjić et al, , ; Sanchez et al, ). White arrows show the azimuth and rate (mm/year) of oceanic crust convergence relative to North America (after Ferrari et al, ) and the Caribbean Plate (after Kobayashi et al, ).…”

Section: Northern Central America: a Collage Of Continental And Oceanmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The recognition of the exotic Siuna Intraoceanic Arc relies on the geology of the Siuna Belt, which was exposed due to Cenozoic strike‐slip fault activity (Escuder‐Viruete et al, ; Flores et al, ). The bulk of the Siuna Intraoceanic Arc is covered by younger sedimentary and volcanic deposits elsewhere (Baumgartner et al, ), including offshore eastern Nicaragua (Carvajal‐Arenas & Mann, ; Sanchez et al, ). Based on geological and age similarities, Baumgartner et al () included the Siuna Intraoceanic Arc in the Mesquito Composite Oceanic Terrane together with other oceanic assemblages, that is, the El Castillo Mélange (S Nicaragua), the Santa Elena Intraoceanic Arc (N Costa Rica), and rocks of DSDP Leg 67/84 (Guatemala forearc; Figure ).…”

Section: Northern Central America: a Collage Of Continental And Oceanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sedimentary Record of Arc‐Continent Collision Along Mesozoic SW North America (Siuna Belt, Nicaragua)

et al. 2019

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The western margin of the Caribbean Plate is a typical example where oceanic and continental terranes have amalgamated by subduction, collision, and strike-slip processes. The boundaries between these blocks, as well as their tectonostratigraphic records, are generally covered by younger deposits and dense tropical vegetation, which may hamper reconstructing the accretionary evolution of the convergent margin. In that context, the study of overlap sedimentary assemblages represents an important tool to constrain the accretion timing of terranes. In northern Central America, the geology of the suture zone between the Chortis Block and the exotic Siuna Intraoceanic Arc indicates that the two terranes were assembled together during a Hauterivian arc-continent collision (approximately 134-131 Ma). The exotic origin of the intraoceanic arc is based on the nature of metamorphic blocks within and the kinematics of the Siuna Serpentinite Mélange. The short duration of the collision event is suggested by coeval exhumation of the Siuna Serpentinite Mélange and Chortis-derived coarse sedimentation (El Amparo Formation) along the suture zone, rapidly followed by onset of pelagic sedimentation (Rio Matis Formation). Although the collision appears to have been short lived and preserved only in the suture zone, postcollisional extension affected intra-arc to back-arc settings of the Chortis Block and led to the formation of kilometer-thick extensional basins. We envisage that the convergent margin inboard of SW Mexico-represented by the fringing Guerrero Intraoceanic Arc and the Mixteca continental terrane-underwent similar postcollisional extension, whereas the western margin of the proto-Caribbean oceanic realm experienced onset of WSW dipping subduction beneath the accreted Siuna Intraoceanic Arc.

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Regional transect across the western Caribbean Sea based on integration of geologic, seismic reflection, gravity, and magnetic data

Cited by 21 publications

References 53 publications

Seismic Discontinuities Across the North American Caribbean Plate Boundary From S‐to‐P Receiver Functions

Seismic Discontinuities Across the North American Caribbean Plate Boundary From S‐to‐P Receiver Functions

Paleomagnetism and Geochronology of the Early Cretaceous Dipilto Batholith (NW Nicaragua): Chortís Block Large Rotation With Respect to SW North America

Sedimentary Record of Arc‐Continent Collision Along Mesozoic SW North America (Siuna Belt, Nicaragua)

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