Cretaceous-Paleogene thrust emplacement of serpentinite in southwestern Puerto Rico

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 2012 Cretaceous-Paleogene thrust emplacement of serpentinite in southwestern Puerto Rico Daniel A. Laó-Dávila; Daniel A. Laó-Dávila † 1Boone Pickens School of Geology, 105 Noble Research Center, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA †E-mail: daniel.lao_davila@okstate.edu Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Pablo A. Llerandi-Román; Pablo A. Llerandi-Román 2Geology Department, 118 Padnos Hall of Science, One Campus Drive, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan 49401, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Thomas H. Anderson Thomas H. Anderson 3Department of Geology and Planetary Science, University of Pittsburgh, 200 SRCC, 4107 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260-3332, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Daniel A. Laó-Dávila † 1Boone Pickens School of Geology, 105 Noble Research Center, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078, USA Pablo A. Llerandi-Román 2Geology Department, 118 Padnos Hall of Science, One Campus Drive, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan 49401, USA Thomas H. Anderson 3Department of Geology and Planetary Science, University of Pittsburgh, 200 SRCC, 4107 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260-3332, USA †E-mail: daniel.lao_davila@okstate.edu Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 21 Oct 2011 Revision Received: 10 Jan 2012 Accepted: 05 Mar 2012 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 © 2012 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2012) 124 (7-8): 1169–1190. https://doi.org/10.1130/B30630.1 Article history Received: 21 Oct 2011 Revision Received: 10 Jan 2012 Accepted: 05 Mar 2012 First Online: 08 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Daniel A. Laó-Dávila, Pablo A. Llerandi-Román, Thomas H. Anderson; Cretaceous-Paleogene thrust emplacement of serpentinite in southwestern Puerto Rico. GSA Bulletin 2012;; 124 (7-8): 1169–1190. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B30630.1 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 Serpentinite emplacement mechanisms along convergent plate boundaries are complex and not well understood. This investigation combined structural and stratigraphic data from serpentinite in Puerto Rico to suggest an emplacement mechanism along the North American–Caribbean plate boundary. Northward-dipping thrust faults and foliations along the southern margins of the Monte del Estado and Río Guanajibo serpentinite bodies in southwestern Puerto Rico indicate southwestward thrust movement of serpentinite. Structural analysis of faults, folds, and foliation recorded within the serpentinite bodies and analysis of contact relationships with volcano-sedimentary rocks lead to the interpretation that thrust movements record contractional deformations occurring during the Maastrichtian–Paleocene and late Eocene–early Oligocene intervals. The conclusion that serpentinite has been most recently emplaced above thrust faults during transpression between the Caribbean–North America plates is in contrast to the earlier hypothesis that serpentinite was emplaced in response to diapirism. Late Eocene transpression reactivated older faults and also displaced the serpentinite. Although the timing of the serpentinite emplacement in southwestern Puerto Rico is similar to emplacement events in Cuba and Hispaniola, there are differences in the origin, mechanism, and direction of emplacement of the serpentinite masses. The heterogeneity in the serpentinite emplacement mechanism and transport direction evokes reconsideration of the deformation history along the Caribbean–North American plate boundary. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.