Changes

In these maps, [[autochthon]]ous nappes, [[allochthon]]ous [[nappe]]s, and [[subduction]] will be used to describe, respectively, the thrusting toward the continent of the sediments, the [[Wikipedia:Basic_rock|basic]] igneous-volcanic rocks, and the subduction. Supported by observations in Cuba and elsewhere, these maps show subduction as the main cause of the uplift of a [http://geology.com/nsta/convergent-plate-boundaries.shtml convergent continental margin] or ocean floor, whereas the nappes are the result of sedimentary or volcanic cover sliding away, under the force of gravity, from the area uplifted by subduction.

In these maps, [[autochthon]]ous nappes, [[allochthon]]ous [[nappe]]s, and [[subduction]] will be used to describe, respectively, the thrusting toward the continent of the sediments, the [[Wikipedia:Basic_rock|basic]] igneous-volcanic rocks, and the subduction. Supported by observations in Cuba and elsewhere, these maps show subduction as the main cause of the uplift of a [http://geology.com/nsta/convergent-plate-boundaries.shtml convergent continental margin] or ocean floor, whereas the nappes are the result of sedimentary or volcanic cover sliding away, under the force of gravity, from the area uplifted by subduction.

Burke,<ref name=Burke_1988>Burke, K., 1988, Tectonic evolution of the Caribbean: Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, v. 16, p. 201-230.</ref> Pindell and Barrett,<ref name=Pindellandbarrett_1990>Pindell, J. L., and S. F. Barrett, 1990, Geologicla evolution of the Caribbean region, a plate-tectonic perspective, ''in'' The geology of North America, v. H: The Caribbean region: Geological Society of America, p. 405-432.</ref> Iturralde-Vinent,<ref name=Iturraldevinent_1996>Iturralde-Vinent, M. A., ed., 1996, Ofiolitas y arcos volcanicos de Cuba (Cuban [http://geology.about.com/od/platetectonics/a/ophiolite.htm ophiolites] and volcanic arcs), ''in'' International Union of Geological Sciences-United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization International Geological Correlation Programe, Contribution 1, Project 364 (Geological correlation of ophiolites and volcanic arc terrane in the Circum-Caribbean realm), 254 p.</ref> Cobiella-Reguera,<ref name=Cobiellareguera_2005>Cobiella-Reguera, J. L., 2005, Emplacement of Cuban ophiolites: Geologica Acta, v. 3, no. 3, p. 273-294.</ref> Garcia-Casco et al.,<ref name=Garciacascoetal_2006>Garcia-Casco, A., R. L. Torres-Roldan, M. A. Iturralde-Vinent, G. Millan, K. Nunez Cambra, C. Lazaro, and A. Rodriguez Vega, 2006, High pressure metamorphism of ophiolites in Cuba: Geologica Acta, v. 4, no. 1-2, p. 63-88.</ref> Giunta et al.,<ref name=Giuntaetal_2006>Giunta, G., L. Beccaluav, and F. Siena, 2006, Caribbean plate margin evolution: constraints and current problems: Geologica Acta, v. 4, no. 102, p. 265-277.</ref> and Pindell et al.<ref name=Pindelletal_2006>Pindell, J. L., L. Kennan, K. P. Stanek, W. V. Maresh, and G. Draper, 2006, Foundations of Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean evolution: Eight controversies resolved: Geologica Acta, v. 4, no. 1-2, p. 303-341.</ref> have interpreted the Cretaceous Cuban subduction as northeast [[dip]]ping and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_reversals reversing polarity] to the southwest during the Late Cretaceous. Cuba's geology suggests that the subduction was continuously north dipping, and this concept is discussed in more detail below.

Burke,<ref name=Burke_1988>Burke, K., 1988, Tectonic evolution of the Caribbean: Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, v. 16, p. 201-230.</ref> Pindell and Barrett,<ref name=Pindellandbarrett_1990>Pindell, J. L., and S. F. Barrett, 1990, Geological evolution of the Caribbean region, a plate-tectonic perspective, ''in'' The geology of North America, v. H: The Caribbean region: Geological Society of America, p. 405-432.</ref> Iturralde-Vinent,<ref name=Iturraldevinent_1996>Iturralde-Vinent, M. A., ed., 1996, Ofiolitas y arcos volcanicos de Cuba (Cuban ophiolites and volcanic arcs), ''in'' International Union of Geological Sciences-United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization International Geological Correlation Programe, Contribution 1, Project 364 (Geological correlation of ophiolites and volcanic arc terrane in the Circum-Caribbean realm), 254 p.</ref> Cobiella-Reguera,<ref name=Cobiellareguera_2005>Cobiella-Reguera, J. L., 2005, Emplacement of Cuban ophiolites: Geologica Acta, v. 3, no. 3, p. 273-294.</ref> Garcia-Casco et al.,<ref name=Garciacascoetal_2006>Garcia-Casco, A., R. L. Torres-Roldan, M. A. Iturralde-Vinent, G. Millan, K. Nunez Cambra, C. Lazaro, and A. Rodriguez Vega, 2006, High pressure metamorphism of ophiolites in Cuba: Geologica Acta, v. 4, no. 1-2, p. 63-88.</ref> Giunta et al.,<ref name=Giuntaetal_2006>Giunta, G., L. Beccaluav, and F. Siena, 2006, Caribbean plate margin evolution: constraints and current problems: Geologica Acta, v. 4, no. 102, p. 265-277.</ref> and Pindell et al.<ref name=Pindelletal_2006>Pindell, J. L., L. Kennan, K. P. Stanek, W. V. Maresh, and G. Draper, 2006, Foundations of Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean evolution: Eight controversies resolved: Geologica Acta, v. 4, no. 1-2, p. 303-341.</ref> have interpreted the Cretaceous Cuban subduction as northeast dipping and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geomagnetic_reversals reversing polarity] to the southwest during the Late Cretaceous. Cuba's geology suggests that the subduction was continuously north dipping, and this concept is discussed in more detail below.

The paleogeographic history presented here is in general agreement with that of Pszczolkowski.<ref name=Pszczoklowski_1999>Pszczolkowski, A., 1999, The exposed passive margin of North America in western Cuba, Caribbean basins, ''in'' P. Mann, ed., Sedimentary basins of the world: Amsterdam, Elsevier Sciene B.V., v. 4, p. 93-121.</ref> Differences are, for example, the position of the Guajaibon–Sierra Azul belt, the origin of the middle Cretaceous quartzose clastics, and the dip of the subduction zone. '''Stratigraphic unit names followed by an asterisk (i.e., Capitolio*) were originally named by Gulf Oil Company geologists and might, or might not, be used today in the same context.'''

The paleogeographic history presented here is in general agreement with that of Pszczolkowski.<ref name=Pszczoklowski_1999>Pszczolkowski, A., 1999, The exposed passive margin of North America in western Cuba, Caribbean basins, ''in'' P. Mann, ed., Sedimentary basins of the world: Amsterdam, Elsevier Sciene B.V., v. 4, p. 93-121.</ref> Differences are, for example, the position of the Guajaibon–Sierra Azul belt, the origin of the middle Cretaceous quartzose clastics, and the dip of the subduction zone. '''Stratigraphic unit names followed by an asterisk (i.e., Capitolio*) were originally named by Gulf Oil Company geologists and might, or might not, be used today in the same context.'''

===Turonian-Campanian===

===Turonian-Campanian===

[[Turonian]] and [[Coniacian]] rockss are not common across most of the nonvolcanic area (80 Ma; [[:file:St58OverviewFG30.JPG|Figure 10]]). They are present to the north in the Cayo Coco area, to the south in the Seibabo area in central Cuba, and in a few units of the southern and northern Rosario belts in western Cuba. The [[strata]] above and below the missing interval all have deep-water characteristics, and no evidence of subaerial [[erosion]] exists to explain the lack of the Turonian and Coniacian sediments across such a large area. Either there was no deposition, or the section was eroded because of changes in current patterns or [[submarine slide]]s. Local erosion is unlikely because a [[hiatus]] of the same age has been found in many of the holes drilled by the [http://www.deepseadrilling.org/ Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP)] in the southern Gulf of Mexico and the western Atlantic. Toward the north, in the platform to deep-water province, whatever sediments remain show that sedimentation continued under [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pelagic pelagic] conditions and was essentially calcareous, with subordinate [[chert]]s.

[[Turonian]] and [[Coniacian]] rocks are not common across most of the nonvolcanic area (80 Ma; [[:file:St58OverviewFG30.JPG|Figure 10]]). They are present to the north in the Cayo Coco area, to the south in the Seibabo area in central Cuba, and in a few units of the southern and northern Rosario belts in western Cuba. The [[strata]] above and below the missing interval all have deep-water characteristics, and no evidence of subaerial [[erosion]] exists to explain the lack of the Turonian and Coniacian sediments across such a large area. Either there was no deposition, or the section was eroded because of changes in current patterns or [[submarine slide]]s. Local erosion is unlikely because a [[hiatus]] of the same age has been found in many of the holes drilled by the [http://www.deepseadrilling.org/ Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP)] in the southern Gulf of Mexico and the western Atlantic. Toward the north, in the platform to deep-water province, whatever sediments remain show that sedimentation continued under [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pelagic pelagic] conditions and was essentially calcareous, with subordinate [[chert]]s.

Toward the south in the [[Wikipedia:Basic_rock|basic]] igneous-volcanic province, conditions were also dominantly pelagic. Sedimentation was accompanied by a renewal of volcanism, with an outpouring of flows and other [[Wikipedia:Ejecta|ejecta]] of a more [http://geology.about.com/od/rocks/ig/igrockindex/rocpicrhyolite.htm rhyolitic] composition (Pastora* Group). Evidence of subaerial volcanism (such as glass bombs and ash beds) exists. Shallow-water [[reef]]s with [[rudist]]s, [[coral]]s, and large [[foraminifera]] are commonly associated with the volcanics and volcaniclastics. This was the period of major [http://geology.about.com/library/bl/blnutshell_subducfactory.htm arc volcanism] associated with subduction. It was also the time of [http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/ks3/gsl/education/resources/rockcycle/page3598.html intrusion] of the Manicaragua [https://wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/rocklibrary/viewglossrecord.php?gID=00000000073 granodiorite] into the central Cuba volcanics.

Toward the south in the [[Wikipedia:Basic_rock|basic]] igneous-volcanic province, conditions were also dominantly pelagic. Sedimentation was accompanied by a renewal of volcanism, with an outpouring of flows and other [[Wikipedia:Ejecta|ejecta]] of a more [http://geology.about.com/od/rocks/ig/igrockindex/rocpicrhyolite.htm rhyolitic] composition (Pastora* Group). Evidence of subaerial volcanism (such as glass bombs and ash beds) exists. Shallow-water [[reef]]s with [[rudist]]s, [[coral]]s, and large [[foraminifera]] are commonly associated with the volcanics and volcaniclastics. This was the period of major [http://geology.about.com/library/bl/blnutshell_subducfactory.htm arc volcanism] associated with subduction. It was also the time of [http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/ks3/gsl/education/resources/rockcycle/page3598.html intrusion] of the Manicaragua [https://wwwf.imperial.ac.uk/earthscienceandengineering/rocklibrary/viewglossrecord.php?gID=00000000073 granodiorite] into the central Cuba volcanics.