Abstract: Geologic Evolution and Structural Geology of Cuba

R. Tenreyro-Perez, J. Lopez-Rivera, G. Echevarria-Rodriguez, J. Alvarez-Castro, J. Sanchez-Arango

From the Liassic, the continental crust of Pangaea in the region was rifted. The proto-Caribbean oceanic basin developed between the North and South American continents. The Bahamas and Yucatan continental margins were dominated by carbonate sedimentation in which platform and basinal domains were established. To the South a volcanic arc developed beginning in the Lower Cretaceous and approached the continental margins. By the Campanian, the volcanic arc and associated oceanic basement were obducted onto the continental crust, consequently sedimentary cover was folded to form a thick thrust suture. The orogeny ceased in the Middle Eocene as a transform plate boundary developed to the South. In post-orogenic period, tectonic stress is still active but relatively mild. As a result, pull apart and collapsed basins of 4-5km thick sediments were formed mostly in the South.

Several tectonic zones are recognized in Cuba. The passive margin rocks form the Pinar del Rio and Las Villas domains divided into the following tectonic units: Orgenos and Esperanza, Rosario, Placetas, Camajuani, Colorados, Coco Sur, Remedios and Coco. The Zaza and Turquino terranes include ophiolite volcanic deposits and sediments associated to volcanic arcs.

The Cuban suture represents an alpine thrust belt which includes continental margin and volcanic arc tectonic sheets as well as syn-orogenic sediments from fore arc and on thrust top basins. The initial style was thin skin piggy back thrusting, but the continuing in time tectonic stress and the erosion of part of the orogen produce out of sequence thrusting of Placetas tecto-unit and Zaza terrane. Late orogenic and Early post-orogenic period is the time for the formation of in echelon folds and transtensional orogen collapsed basins.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90986©1994 AAPG Annual Convention, Denver, Colorado, June 12-15, 1994