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Close similarities exist between the [[Mesozoic]] igneous intrusive and associated volcanic rocks of Cuba and those of the Caribbean.

Close similarities exist between the [[Mesozoic]] igneous intrusive and associated volcanic rocks of Cuba and those of the Caribbean.

Ophiolites are common throughout the Caribbean and extend from the Motagua fault zone, between the Maya and Chortis block, to [[Puerto Rico]]. They also form the floor of the Cayman Trench. These rocks are also common along the northern coast of South America from [[Tobago]] to the Guajira Peninsula, although they are not as intensely [http://jersey.uoregon.edu/~mstrick/AskGeoMan/geoQuerry45.html serpentinized] as in the northern Caribbean. Cuba's outcrops of ultrabasic rocks are the most extensive in the region.

Ophiolites are common throughout the Caribbean and extend from the Motagua fault zone, between the Maya and Chortis block, to [[Puerto Rico]]. They also form the floor of the Cayman Trench. These rocks are also common along the northern coast of South America from [[Tobago]] to the Guajira Peninsula, although they are not as intensely [http://jersey.uoregon.edu/~mstrick/AskGeoMan/geoQuerry45.html serpentinized] as in the northern Caribbean. Cuba's outcrops of [https://wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/rocklibrary/viewglossrecord.php?gID=00000000012 ultrabasic] rocks are the most extensive in the region.

Similarities exist between the Caribbean and the Cuban Upper Cretaceous volcanic and associated intrusive rocks. The Cuban Upper Cretaceous granodioritic intrusion has counterparts outcropping in Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico in the north (where the intrusive's ages range into the [[Paleogene]]) and in [[Aruba]], the [[Venezuelan Antilles]], and the [[Aves Ridge]] in the south. Volcanics containing a characteristic fauna of ''Acteonella'', large rudists (''Hippurites''), and orbitoids are present in Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, the [[Dutch West Indies]], and northern Venezuela, suggesting a connection between the various parts of the volcanic province.

Similarities exist between the Caribbean and the Cuban Upper Cretaceous volcanic and associated intrusive rocks. The Cuban Upper Cretaceous granodioritic intrusion has counterparts outcropping in Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico in the north (where the intrusive's ages range into the [[Paleogene]]) and in [[Aruba]], the [[Venezuelan Antilles]], and the [[Aves Ridge]] in the south. Volcanics containing a characteristic fauna of ''Acteonella'', large rudists (''Hippurites''), and orbitoids are present in Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, the [[Dutch West Indies]], and northern Venezuela, suggesting a connection between the various parts of the volcanic province.

===Tithonian===

===Tithonian===

In the [[Tithonian]] (144 Ma; [[:file:St58OverviewFG26.JPG|Figure 6]]) section, sediments vary from the shallow-water carbonate and evaporite deposits of Wood River, Punta Alegre*, and Guani* in the north, toward Florida and the Bahamas, to shallow-water normal marine limestones of the [[Trocha Group|Trocha* Group]] to the south in the Las Villas* belt. Toward Pinar del Rio, thick, massive, shallow-water limestone of the [[Guasasa Formation]] accumulated over a northward-thinning wedge of San Cayetano, [[Jagua]], and possibly, basement. Farther south, the thin-bedded limestones of Cobrito, Sauco, and Isla de la Juventud marbles were deposited over the lower [[Oxfordian]] thin quartzose sandstones of [[La Lamagua Formation|La Llamagua]], [[Loma la Gloria Formation|Loma la Gloria]], and [[Agua Santa Formation]]s. The outpouring of [http://geology.com/rocks/basalt.shtml basalt] continued forming the slightly younger [[Nueva Maria Formation]] in the southern Loma Camajan. Farther south, rifting produced ultrabasic oceanic crust.

In the [[Tithonian]] (144 Ma; [[:file:St58OverviewFG26.JPG|Figure 6]]) section, sediments vary from the shallow-water carbonate and evaporite deposits of Wood River, Punta Alegre*, and Guani* in the north, toward Florida and the Bahamas, to shallow-water normal marine limestones of the [[Trocha Group|Trocha* Group]] to the south in the Las Villas* belt. Toward Pinar del Rio, thick, massive, shallow-water limestone of the [[Guasasa Formation]] accumulated over a northward-thinning wedge of San Cayetano, [[Jagua]], and possibly, basement. Farther south, the thin-bedded limestones of Cobrito, Sauco, and Isla de la Juventud marbles were deposited over the lower [[Oxfordian]] thin quartzose sandstones of [[La Lamagua Formation|La Llamagua]], [[Loma la Gloria Formation|Loma la Gloria]], and [[Agua Santa Formation]]s. The outpouring of [http://geology.com/rocks/basalt.shtml basalt] continued forming the slightly younger [[Nueva Maria Formation]] in the southern Loma Camajan. Farther south, rifting produced [https://wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/rocklibrary/viewglossrecord.php?gID=00000000012 ultrabasic] oceanic crust.

===Neocomian===

===Neocomian===

===Campanian-Maastrichtian===

===Campanian-Maastrichtian===

After the period of the [[Unconformity|disconformity]], [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pelagic pelagic] conditions characterized the platform to deep-water province, which received massive, dominantly carbonate [[turbidite]] flows from the north (Lutgarda* Formation) and from the south (Amaro* and Cacarajicara formations) (67 Ma; [[:file:St58OverviewFG31.JPG|Figure 11]]). Over the [[Wikipedia:Basic_rock|basic]] igneous-volcanic province, local [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provenance provenance] resulted in an abundance of fragmental rocks; that is, limestones toward the north (Penalver Formation) and volcanics toward the south. In the south, sedimentation was accompanied during the Maastrichtian by an outpouring of late orogenic basaltic flows and flow breccias (the Maastrichtian age of these flows disagrees with the current interpretation of most Cuban geologists, including Iturralde-Vinent, 1996). Toward the north, along the present outer line of clays, deposition of coarse Maastrichtian limestone conglomerate (Mayajigua* Formation) graded into fine-grained pelagic rocks. The basic igneous-volcanic province began its initial northward movement as indicated by serpentine detritus in the turbidites, by basic intrusive-derived clastics (Miguel Formation) associated with the Domingo* thrust, as well as by the presence of large Maastrichtian thrust sheets of ultrabasics in Oriente. Thrusting (and metamorphism) of ultrabasics began in the Escambray, and thrust sheets began to stack into the former basin that is today represented by the Guaniguanico Mountains. Northward-dipping subduction to the south produced uplift of the convergent margins. The northward-moving thrust sheets or nappes formed as the result of the sedimentary or volcanic cover sliding away from the uplifted areas.

After the period of the [[Unconformity|disconformity]], [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pelagic pelagic] conditions characterized the platform to deep-water province, which received massive, dominantly carbonate [[turbidite]] flows from the north (Lutgarda* Formation) and from the south (Amaro* and Cacarajicara formations) (67 Ma; [[:file:St58OverviewFG31.JPG|Figure 11]]). Over the [[Wikipedia:Basic_rock|basic]] igneous-volcanic province, local [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/provenance provenance] resulted in an abundance of fragmental rocks; that is, limestones toward the north (Penalver Formation) and volcanics toward the south. In the south, sedimentation was accompanied during the Maastrichtian by an outpouring of late orogenic basaltic flows and flow breccias (the Maastrichtian age of these flows disagrees with the current interpretation of most Cuban geologists, including Iturralde-Vinent, 1996). Toward the north, along the present outer line of clays, deposition of coarse Maastrichtian limestone conglomerate (Mayajigua* Formation) graded into fine-grained pelagic rocks. The basic igneous-volcanic province began its initial northward movement as indicated by serpentine detritus in the turbidites, by basic intrusive-derived clastics (Miguel Formation) associated with the Domingo* thrust, as well as by the presence of large Maastrichtian thrust sheets of [https://wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/rocklibrary/viewglossrecord.php?gID=00000000012 ultrabasics] in Oriente. Thrusting (and metamorphism) of ultrabasics began in the Escambray, and thrust sheets began to stack into the former basin that is today represented by the Guaniguanico Mountains. Northward-dipping subduction to the south produced uplift of the convergent margins. The northward-moving thrust sheets or nappes formed as the result of the sedimentary or volcanic cover sliding away from the uplifted areas.

===Paleocene (Danian)===

===Paleocene (Danian)===