Tectonic evolution of the Caribbean and northwestern South America: The case for accretion of two Late Cretaceous oceanic plateaus

Research Article| April 01, 2005 Tectonic evolution of the Caribbean and northwestern South America: The case for accretion of two Late Cretaceous oceanic plateaus Andrew C. Kerr; Andrew C. Kerr 1School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3YE, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John Tarney John Tarney 2Department of Geology, Leicester University, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Andrew C. Kerr 1School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3YE, UK John Tarney 2Department of Geology, Leicester University, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 13 Aug 2004 Revision Received: 30 Nov 2004 Accepted: 02 Dec 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2005) 33 (4): 269–272. https://doi.org/10.1130/G21109.1 Article history Received: 13 Aug 2004 Revision Received: 30 Nov 2004 Accepted: 02 Dec 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Andrew C. Kerr, John Tarney; Tectonic evolution of the Caribbean and northwestern South America: The case for accretion of two Late Cretaceous oceanic plateaus. Geology 2005;; 33 (4): 269–272. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G21109.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract It is widely accepted that the thickened oceanic crust of the Caribbean plate, its basaltic accreted margins, and accreted mafic terranes in northwestern South America represent the remnants of a single ca. 90 Ma oceanic plateau. We review geologic, geochemical, and paleomagnetic evidence that suggests that the Caribbean-Colombian oceanic plateau in fact represents the remnants of two different oceanic plateaus, both dated as ca. 90 Ma. The first of these plateaus, the Caribbean Plateau, formed ca. 90 Ma in the vicinity of the present-day Galapagos hotspot. Northeastward movement of the Farallon plate meant that this plateau collided with the proto–Caribbean arc and northwestern South America <10 m.y. after the plateau's main phase of formation. Paleomagnetic evidence suggests that the second of these plateaus, the Gorgona Plateau, formed at 26°–30°S, possibly at the site of the present-day Sala y Gomez hotspot. Over the next ∼45 m.y., this plateau was carried progressively northeastward on the Farallon plate and collided in the middle Eocene with the proto–Andean subduction zone in northwestern South America. The recognition of a second ca. 90 Ma Pacific oceanic plateau strengthens the link between plateau formation and global oceanic anoxic events. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.