The neotectonic setting of Puerto Rico

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 1991 The neotectonic setting of Puerto Rico D. G. MASSON; D. G. MASSON 1Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Wormley, Godalming, Surrey, GU8 5UB, United Kingdom Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar K. M. SCANLON K. M. SCANLON 2U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information D. G. MASSON 1Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Wormley, Godalming, Surrey, GU8 5UB, United Kingdom K. M. SCANLON 2U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1991) 103 (1): 144–154. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1991)103<0144:TNSOPR>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation D. G. MASSON, K. M. SCANLON; The neotectonic setting of Puerto Rico. GSA Bulletin 1991;; 103 (1): 144–154. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1991)103<0144:TNSOPR>2.3.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 The island of Puerto Rico, in the northeast Caribbean, lies within a broad deformation zone between the Caribbean and North American plates. The simplest model for the tectonic setting of Puerto Rico has major strike-slip movement on nearly east-west lines in the vicinity of the Puerto Rico Trench coupled to a small counterclockwise rotation of a Puerto Rico block within the broader plate boundary zone. This simple model is attractive because it predicts the tectonic regime south of Puerto Rico, and provides an explanation for a possible component of extension across the Puerto Rico Trench west of 65.5°W. GLORIA long-range sidescan sonar data and seismic reflection profiles have been used to test this model by mapping the major tectonic features across the plate boundary north and south of Puerto Rico. To the north, the new data help to resolve between conflicting models, of underthrusting or strike-slip motion at the Puerto Rico Trench. No direct evidence of compression is seen, although evidence for normal and strike-slip movement is abundant. This, combined with regional considerations, leads us to conclude that the main east-west-trending part of the Puerto Rico Trench between 65.5°W and 68°W lies within a strike-slip regime, although oblique convergence occurs both to the east and west where the plate boundary trends east-southeast. To the south of Puerto Rico, underthrusting of the Caribbean plate beneath the island decreases from west to east, and it is ultimately replaced by extension in the Virgin Islands Basin east of 65°W. 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.