Two Cretaceous Subduction Events in the Central Cordillera: Insights from the High P–Low T Metamorphism   

Camilo BUSTAMANTE and Andres BUSTAMANTE

https://doi.org/10.32685/pub.esp.36.2019.14

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Bustamante, C. & Bustamante, A. 2019. Two Cretaceous subduction events in the Central Cordillera: Insights from the high P–low T metamorphism. In: Gómez, J. & Pinilla–Pachon, A.O. (editors), The Geology of Colombia, Volume 2 Mesozoic. Servicio Geológico Colombiano, Publicaciones Geológicas Especiales 36, p. 485–498. Bogotá. https://doi.org/10.32685/pub.esp.36.2019.14​

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The scarcity of high–pressure metamorphic rocks at the Earth's surface due to the specific conditions required for their formation and preservation makes it difficult to access the information about subduction zones that they can provide. The northern Andes are characterized by several occurrences of blueschists and, in minor proportions, eclogites, whose origins are yet to be unraveled. The metamorphic rocks found herein include the Pijao amphibolitized eclogites, Barragán blueschists and associated garnet–amphibolites, and Jambaló blueschists found in Colombia as well as the Raspas Metamorphic Complex in Ecuador. All these rocks have been correlated into a single Early Cretaceous high–pressure metamorphic belt based on regional geochemistry and geochronological data. A compilation of the most recent whole–rock geochemistry and Ar–Ar and Lu–Hf ages from the three high–pressure sequences in Colombia indicates that at least two different subduction events have been recorded in the Central Cordillera of Colombia. The first event, involving subduction and collision, occurred at ca. 130–120 Ma and is represented by the Pijao, Barragán, and Raspas high–pressure rocks, which have N–MORB–like protoliths and are contemporaneous with the end of the arc–related magmatism of the northern Andes, related to an oblique convergence between the Farallón Plate and the continental margin of South America. The second event of subduction is represented only by the Jambaló blueschists at ca. 70–60 Ma, whose protolith is akin to basalt formed in a plume–influenced intra–oceanic arc that was accreted to the continental margin. No reliable correlation is possible for these rocks as yet.

Keywords: blueschist, eclogite, northern Andes, high–pressure metamorphism.

Las rocas metamórficas de alta presión son escasas en la superficie de la Tierra debido a sus condiciones especiales de formación y conservación. Esta escasez dificulta el acceso a la información que este tipo de rocas puede proporcionar sobre las zonas de subducción. Los Andes del norte se caracterizan por varias ocurrencias de esquistos azules y, en menor proporción, eclogitas cuyo origen aún no es claro. Entre estas ocurrencias se incluyen las eclogitas anfibolitizadas de Pijao, los esquistos azules y anfibolitas granatíferas asociadas de Barragán, y los esquistos azules de Jambaló en Colombia, así como el Complejo Metamórfico Raspas en Ecuador. Todas se han correlacionado como un único cinturón metamórfico de alta presión del Cretácico Temprano sobre la base de datos regionales de geoquímica y geocronología. Una recopilación de los datos más recientes de geoquímica en roca total y las edades Ar–Ar y Lu–Hf de las tres manifestaciones de alta presión en Colombia registra al menos dos eventos de subducción diferentes en la cordillera Central de Colombia. El primer evento de subducción y colisión ocurrió a ca. 130–120 Ma y está representado por las rocas de alta presión de Pijao, Barragán y Raspas, las cuales tienen protolitos tipo N–MORB y son contemporáneas con el final del magmatismo de arco de los Andes del norte, relacionado con una convergencia oblicua entre la Placa de Farallón y el margen continental de Suramérica. El segundo evento de subducción solo está representado por los esquistos azules de Jambaló con edades de ca. 70–60 Ma, cuyo protolito es afín a basaltos formados en un arco intraoceánico con influencia de una pluma mantélica y acrecionados a la margen continental. Hasta ahora no existe una correlación confiable entre estas rocas y otras similares.

Palabras clave: esquisto azul, eclogita, Andes del norte, metamorfismo de alta presión.

Abbreviations 

HREE                                   Heavy rare earth element

LREE                                     Light rare earth element

MREE                                  Middle rare earth element

N–MORB                     Normal mid–ocean ridge basalt

REE                                         Rare earth element​

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