Geologic Evolution of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Northeastern Colombia

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 1974 Geologic Evolution of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Northeastern Colombia CHARLES M. TSCHANZ; CHARLES M. TSCHANZ 1U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar RICHARD F. MARVIN; RICHARD F. MARVIN 1U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JAIME CRUZ B.; JAIME CRUZ B. 2Instituto National de Investigaciones Geológico-Mineras, Bogotá, Colombia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar HARALD H. MEHNERT; HARALD H. MEHNERT 1U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GERALD T. CEBULA GERALD T. CEBULA 1U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information CHARLES M. TSCHANZ 1U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 RICHARD F. MARVIN 1U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 JAIME CRUZ B. 2Instituto National de Investigaciones Geológico-Mineras, Bogotá, Colombia HARALD H. MEHNERT 1U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 GERALD T. CEBULA 1U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado 80225 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1974) 85 (2): 273–284. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1974)85<273:GEOTSN>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation CHARLES M. TSCHANZ, RICHARD F. MARVIN, JAIME CRUZ B., HARALD H. MEHNERT, GERALD T. CEBULA; Geologic Evolution of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Northeastern Colombia. GSA Bulletin 1974;; 85 (2): 273–284. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1974)85<273:GEOTSN>2.0.CO;2 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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract New geologic, petrographic, and radiometric evidence (52 ages) from the Sierra Nevada suggest that plate tectonics controlled the complex Mesozoic evolution of the Caribbean continental margin.The triangular Sierra Nevada massif is bounded by the Oca fault, Santa Marta–Bucaramanga fault, and Cesar lineament. During the Tertiary, dextral and sinistral movement of 65 and 110 km, respectively, occurred along the Oca and Santa Marta–Bucaramanga faults; subsequently, several thousand meters of uplift produced the present geomorphic setting.Three metamorphic terranes are present; they differ petrographically and geochronologically and are separated by the Sevilla and Cesar lineaments (geosutures). The youngest terrane consists of three northeast-trending regional metamorphic; belts (Permian-Triassic gneiss, Jurassic schist, and Cretaceous-Paleocene green schist) that formed in successive subduction zones northwest of the Sevilla lineament. Tertiary plutons intrude this terrane.Most of the Sierra Nevada massif consists; of l,300-m.y.-old granulite terrane overlair by unmetamorphosed Paleozoic and Permian(?)-Triassic rocks and intruded by four northeast-trending belts of plutons that filled successive dilational rifts. These plutonic belts become younger, shallower, and more potassic in a southeastward direction. Extensional disruption, with transform separations up to 46 km, culminated with Middle Jurassic emplacement of two belts of composite batholiths and extensive ignimbritic eruptions. These events are related to the same southeast-dipping subduction zone that produced the Jurassic schist in the youngest metamorphic terrane.The third metamorphic terrane consists of younger(?) Precambrian amphibolite-grade rocks overlain by Silurian phyllites and unmetamorphosed Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks that are typical of the Cordillera Oriental. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.