The Moín High, East Costa Rica: Seamount, laccolith or contractional structure?

Brandes, Christian; Astorga, Allan; Winsemann, Jutta

doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2009.02.005

Cited by 7 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 53 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…MARSHAK (2004) showed that curvatures of fold-andthrust belts can be caused by the interaction of the propagating belt with subsurface obstacles. Based on this model, BRANDES et al (2007cBRANDES et al ( , 2009 proposed that bending of the thrust planes was the result of the interaction of the northwestward-propagating foldand-thrust belt with the Moín basement high in the subsurface (Figs. 1, 2).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Changuinola Formation is overlain by up to 3000 m-thick Paleocene to Lower Eocene, coarse-grained, volcaniclastic turbidites, debris flow deposits, lava flows and tuffs of the Tuís Formation, which represent a prograding deepwater apron system (MENDE 2001). An early contractional deformation phase during Eocene to Oligocene times resulted in the uplift of the Moín High (BRANDES et al 2009) and the formation of significant tectonic and topographic relief, as implied by the coeval deposition of 150-200 m-thick shallow-water limestones of the Las Animas Formation on local structural highs (AMANN 1993;MENDE 2001), and of 700-900 m-thick hemipelagic mudstones, calcareous turbidites, and carbonate debris flow deposits of the Senosri Formation in adjacent basin areas (MENDE 2001). During the Late Oligocene a basin-wide unconformity formed, probably caused by uplift of the island arc in combination with a major sea-level fall (SEYFRIED et al 1991;AMANN 1993;KRAWINKEL et al 2000).…”

Section: Geology and Stratigraphy Of The Limón Backarc Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

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.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geology and Stratigraphy Of The Limón Backarc Basinmentioning

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.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…An extensional backarc basin (North Limón basin) on the North Costa Rican arc segment and a compressional retro‐arc foreland area (South Limón basin) on the South Costa Rican arc segment can be observed side by side. Both basins are separated by the Trans‐isthmic fault system and the Moín High (Brandes et al, ; Brandes, Astorga, & Winsemann, ) (Figure ). The North Limón basin is bounded to the north by the Hess Escarpment and towards the west by the volcanic arc.…”

Section: Basin Systems Of the Southern Central American Island Arcmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The North and South Limón basins have a widely similar 6–10 km thick fill, which consist of 1 280 m thick late Campanian to Maastrichtian pelagic limestones and intercalated volcaniclastic rocks, overlain by ~3 000 m thick Paleocene to Lower Eocene coarse‐grained volcaniclastic turbidites, debris‐flow deposits and lava flows (Figure ). Early compressional deformation during Eocene to Oligocene times caused the formation of a significant anticline (Moín High), as implied by the simultaneous deposition of 150–200 m thick shallow‐water limestones on local structural highs (Amann, ; Brandes et al, ; Mende, ), and of 700–900 m thick hemipelagic mudstones, calcareous turbidites, and carbonate debris‐flow deposits in adjacent basin areas (Mende, ). From the margin of the backarc area, Amann () described an angular unconformity overlain by an Upper Oligocene transgressive lag deposit.…”

Section: Basin Systems Of the Southern Central American Island Arcmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is assumed that the evolution of the basins began as a nonextensional backarc basin (Mende, 2001) shallow-water limestones on local structural highs (Amann, 1993;Brandes et al, 2009;Mende, 2001), and of 700-900 m thick hemipelagic mudstones, calcareous turbidites, and carbonate debris-flow deposits in adjacent basin areas (Mende, 2001). From the margin of the backarc area, Amann (1993) described an angular unconformity overlain by an Upper Oligocene transgressive lag deposit.…”

Section: The Miskito Backarc Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

From incipient island arc to doubly‐vergent orogen: A review of geodynamic models and sedimentary basin‐fills of southern Central America

Brandes

Winsemann

2018

Island Arc

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Southern Central America is a Late Mesozoic/Cenozoic island arc that evolved in response to the subduction of the Farallón Plate beneath the Caribbean Plate in the Late Cretaceous and, from the Oligocene, the Cocos and Nazca Plates. Southern Central America is one of the best studied convergent margins in the world. The aim of this paper is to review the sedimentary and structural evolution of arc‐related sedimentary basins in southern Central America, and to show how the arc developed from a pre‐extensional intra‐oceanic island arc into a doubly‐vergent, subduction orogen. The Cenozoic sedimentary history of southern Central America is placed into the plate tectonic context of existing Caribbean Plate models. From regional basin analysis, the evolution of the southern Central American island arc is subdivided into three phases: (i) non‐extensional stage during the Campanian; (ii) extensional phase during the Maastrichtian‐Oligocene with rapid basin subsidence and deposition of arc‐related, clastic sediments; and (iii) doubly‐vergent, compressional arc phase along the 280 km long southern Costa Rican arc segment related to either oblique subduction of the Nazca plate, west‐to‐east passage of the Nazca–Cocos–Caribbean triple junction, or the subduction of rough oceanic crust of the Cocos Plate. The Pleistocene subduction of the Cocos Ridge contributed to the contraction but was not the primary driver. The architecture of the arc‐related sedimentary basin‐fills has been controlled by four factors: (i) subsidence caused by tectonic mechanisms, linked to the angle and morphology of the incoming plate, as shown by the fact that subduction of aseismic ridges and slab segments with rough crust were important drivers for subduction erosion, controlling the shape of forearc and trench‐slope basins, the lifespan of sedimentary basins, and the subsidence and uplift patterns; (ii) subsidence caused by slab rollback and resulting trench retreat; (iii) eustatic sea‐level changes; and (iv) sediment dispersal systems.

show abstract

Seamount, ridge, and transform subduction in southern Central America

Morell

2016

Tectonics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding the factors that control subduction zone processes is a first-order goal in the study of convergent margins. In southern Central America, a growing body of research reveals strong links between the character of the subducting slab and the mechanics of important processes that include subduction erosion, fluid flow, deformation, and seismogenesis. In this paper, I evaluate the role that seamount, ridge, and transform subduction have in the development of upper plate deformation and volcanism by summarizing previous work across a >500 km long region of Central America where each of these three scenarios are present along strike. The data show that the subduction of short-wavelength bathymetry (e.g., seamounts and faults on the seafloor) produces short-wavelength deformation that persists for relatively short timescales (10 4 -10 5 years), whereas the subduction of longer-wavelength bathymetry (e.g., the aseismic Cocos Ridge) results in longer-wavelength deformation that endures over a longer time scale (10 6 years). The timing and distribution of upper plate deformation are consistent with subhorizontal Cocos Ridge subduction driving upper plate deformation, and the increased crustal thickness (>20 km) of the subducting Cocos Ridge is likely one of the most important factors in the production of upper plate contraction and crustal thickening. The data illustrate a fundamental connection between lower plate properties and upper plate deformation and highlight the profound influence that bathymetry and crustal thickness have in the localization and kinematics of upper plate strain and volcanism in Middle America.

show abstract

The Moín High, East Costa Rica: Seamount, laccolith or contractional structure?

Cited by 7 publications

References 53 publications

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

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

From incipient island arc to doubly‐vergent orogen: A review of geodynamic models and sedimentary basin‐fills of southern Central America

Seamount, ridge, and transform subduction in southern Central America

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About