The Structure of the Sierra Maestra near Santiago De Cuba

Abstract

The rocks of the Sierra Maestra near Santiago de Cuba are chiefly well-stratified, volcanic breccias and tuffs, with interbedded limestones and andesitic intrusives. The mountains are simple block mountains, uplifted along normal east-west faults and tilted toward the north. The uplift and tilting have accompanied the subsidence of the great Bartlett Trough that lies between Cuba and Jamaica. The fault blocks are of different age. The oldest, and highest, forms the coastal ridge west of Santiago Bay. It possibly received part of its present elevation during the Pleistocene, but the uplift has continued intermittently down to the present time. The Sierra de Boniato, farther inland and northwest of Santiago, has been uplifted in post-Pleistocene time. Immediately in front of it on the south is a lower ridge, known as the Puerto Pelado, with scarp so fresh that its age must be measured in hundreds of years rather than tens of thousands. The region is unstable, and the displacements may be expected to continu...