Late tertiary volcanic stratigraphy of northern central America

Abstract

Correlations of Late Tertiary volcanic stratigraphic columns in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras indicate that a common lithostratigraphic sequence is present throughout northern Central America. The Late Tertiary volcanic sequences are divided into three lithostratigraphic formations that roughly parallel the Pacific coastline. The Chalatenango Formation, composed of rhyolitic tuffs and lavas, is of Middle to Upper Miocene age. It occurs in the northern and central portions of the Tertiary volcanic belt. The Balsamo Formation consists of andesitic lavas, tuffs, and lahars and is Upper Miocene to Pliocene in age. It is only found on the Pacific coastal side of the Tertiary volcanic belt. The Cuscatlan Formation is made up of rhyolitic tuffs and volcanic sediments overlain by rhyolitic and basaltic lavas that were erupted during the Pliocene. In eastern and central El Salvador the Cuscatlan Formation overlies the Balsamo Formation on the coastal side of the belt, but in western El Salvador and southeastern Guatemala it overlies the Chalatenango Formation on the northern side of the Tertiary volcanic belt. The apparent offset of the Cuscatlan Formation in western El Salvador may indicate that the underthrusting Cocos Plate was broken into segments in Pliocene time.