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[[File:Cuba_rel94.jpg|thumb|300px|Map of Cuba. This image is a work of a Central Intelligence Agency employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a Work of the United States Government, this image or media is in the public domain.]]

[[File:Cuba_rel94.jpg|thumb|300px|Map of Cuba. This image is a work of a Central Intelligence Agency employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a Work of the United States Government, this image or media is in the public domain.]]

The geology of Cuba has been a challenge to geologists because of features such as the presence of well-preserved [[Jurassic]] [[ammonite]]s, the rich [[Tertiary]] [[foraminiferal]] faunas (including remarkable [[Paleogene]] [[orbitoids]]), the gigantic Upper [[Cretaceous]] [[rudistids]], the spectacular limestone Mogotes of Pinar del Rio, the extensive [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outcrop outcrops] of [https://wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/rocklibrary/viewglossrecord.php?gID=00000000012 ultrabasic] [[Igneous rock|igneous]] rocks, the [[chromite]] and [[manganese]] deposits, and the extraordinary structural complexity. In addition to these features, the numerous petroleum seeps, many of them coming out of [[Wikipedia:Basic_rock|basic]] igneous rock, have attracted much attention.

The geology of Cuba has been a challenge to geologists because of features such as the presence of well-preserved [[Jurassic]] [[ammonite]]s, the rich [[Tertiary]] [[foraminiferal]] faunas (including remarkable [[Paleogene]] [[orbitoid]]s), the gigantic Upper [[Cretaceous]] [[rudistid]]s, the spectacular [[limestone]] Mogotes of Pinar del Rio, the extensive [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outcrop outcrops] of [https://wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/rocklibrary/viewglossrecord.php?gID=00000000012 ultrabasic] [[igneous]] rocks, the [[chromite]] and [[manganese]] deposits, and the extraordinary structural complexity. In addition to these features, the numerous petroleum seeps, many of them coming out of [[Wikipedia:Basic_rock|basic]] igneous rock, have attracted much attention.

==Regional setting==

==Regional setting==

* the southwestern sedimentary terranes, with primarily thin stratigraphic sections of platform to [[pelagic]] [[carbonate]]s and [[chert]]s but locally with great thicknesses of older, continental-derived [[sandstone]]s and [[shale]]s showing various degrees of [[metamorphism]].

* the southwestern sedimentary terranes, with primarily thin stratigraphic sections of platform to [[pelagic]] [[carbonate]]s and [[chert]]s but locally with great thicknesses of older, continental-derived [[sandstone]]s and [[shale]]s showing various degrees of [[metamorphism]].

The most striking feature about the geology of the island is the great disparity between the [http://geology.about.com/od/platetectonics/a/ophiolite.htm ophiolite]-volcanic  sequence of the basic igneous-volcanic terranes and the sedimentary sequences of the north-central and southwestern sedimentary terranes. Except for a few notable cases, essentially no relationship exists between these sedimentary and igneous terranes. There has been much argument about how the terranes came into contact and became structurally mixed, but it is generally accepted today that the [http://geology.about.com/od/platetectonics/a/ophiolite.htm ophiolite]-volcanic sequence is totally [[Allochthon|allochthonous]]. [[:file:St58OverviewFG5.JPG|Figure 3]] shows a map of Cuba's major structural features and terrane distribution, and [[:file:St58OverviewFG6.JPG|Figure 4]] shows, in cross section, the structural relations between the various terranes.

The most striking feature about the geology of the island is the great disparity between the [http://geology.about.com/od/platetectonics/a/ophiolite.htm ophiolite]-volcanic  sequence of the basic igneous-volcanic terranes and the sedimentary sequences of the north-central and southwestern sedimentary terranes. Except for a few notable cases, essentially no relationship exists between these sedimentary and igneous terranes, which you may read about at [http://essaydune.com essay writing service] not to get confused by the naturally arising question how these types of terrains appeared to create one union arises. There has been much argument about how the terranes came into contact and became structurally mixed, but it is generally accepted today that the [http://geology.about.com/od/platetectonics/a/ophiolite.htm ophiolite]-volcanic sequence is totally [[Allochthon|allochthonous]]. [[:file:St58OverviewFG5.JPG|Figure 3]] shows a map of Cuba's major structural features and terrane distribution, and [[:file:St58OverviewFG6.JPG|Figure 4]] shows, in [[cross section]], the structural relations between the various terranes.

Although Cuba is now part of the North American continent, it is a remnant of a [[Cretaceous]] to early [[Tertiary]] [[Orogeny|orogenic belt]] that has been preserved because of the local configurations of the North American and Caribbean [[plate]]s. As a consequence, Cuba exposes sequences of Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous nonvolcanic pelagic sediments that are rare, if not unique, in the Caribbean as well as in North, Central, and South America. However, Cuba has facies and faunal similarities with equivalent strata of the [[Tethys]] region, specifically the [[Alps]] and Italian [[Apennines]].

Although Cuba is now part of the North American continent, it is a remnant of a [[Cretaceous]] to early [[Tertiary]] [[Orogeny|orogenic belt]] that has been preserved because of the local configurations of the North American and Caribbean [[plate]]s. As a consequence, Cuba exposes sequences of Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous nonvolcanic pelagic sediments that are rare, if not unique, in the Caribbean as well as in North, Central, and South America. However, Cuba has facies and faunal similarities with equivalent strata of the [[Tethys region]], specifically the [[Alps]] and Italian [[Apennines]].

Similarities and differences exist between the Jurassic–Cretaceous sedimentary sections of Cuba and other areas in the region.

Similarities and differences exist between the Jurassic–Cretaceous sedimentary sections of Cuba and other areas in the region.