Detrital U–Pb Provenance, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry of the Cretaceous Colombian Back–Arc Basin   ​

Javier GUERRERO, Alejandra MEJÍA–MOLINA, and José OSORNO

https://doi.org/10.32685/pub.esp.36.2019.08

ISBN impreso obra completa: 978-958-52959-1-9

ISBN digital obra completa: 978-958-52959-6-4

ISBN impreso Vol. 2: 978-958-52959-3-3

ISBN digital Vol. 2: 978-958-52959-8-8​

Citation is suggested as: 

Guerrero, J., Mejía–Molina, A. & Osorno, J. 2020. Detrital U–Pb provenance, mineralogy, and geochemistry of the Cretaceous Colombian back–arc basin. In: Gómez, J. & Pinilla–Pachon, A.O. (editors), The Geology of Colombia, Volume 2 Mesozoic. Servicio Geológico Colombiano, Publicaciones Geológicas Especiales 36, p. 261–297. Bogotá. https://doi.org/10.32685/pub.esp.36.2019.08

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Abstract 

The geology of the Cretaceous Colombian back–arc basin is reviewed considering detrital U–Pb provenance ages, mineralogy, and geochemistry of samples collected from outcrop sections and wells at several localities in the core of the Eastern Cordillera, Middle Magdalena Valley, and Catatumbo areas. The data set supports previous studies indicating a basin with main grabens in the present–day Eastern Cordillera between the Guaicáramo/Pajarito and Bituima/La Salina border faults, which operated as normal faults during the Cretaceous. Limestones are common on the western and northern sides of the basin, whereas terrigenous strata predominate on the eastern and southern sides. After the Berriasian, grabens were connected by marine flooding during the Valanginian, with two main source areas documented by distinct element and mineral contents, one in the Central Cordillera magmatic arc and the other in the Guiana Shield. Some elements present in Lower Cretaceous shales, including scandium, vanadium, and beryllium, are not related to the sediment supply areas for the basin but instead are linked to Valanginian to Cenomanian hydrothermal activity and dikes of gabbro, diorite, and tonalite emplaced during the main phase of extension in the basin.

Keywords: Cretaceous, back–arc, Colombia, U–Pb provenance, geochemistry.​

Resumen 

La geología de la Cuenca Cretácica Colombiana de back–arc se revisa considerando edades de procedencia U‒Pb, mineralogía y geoquímica de muestras colectadas en secciones de afloramientos y pozos de varias localidades en el núcleo de la cordillera Oriental, Valle Medio del Magdalena y Catatumbo. El conjunto de datos respalda estudios previos que indican una cuenca cuyos principales grábenes se encontraban en la cordillera Oriental actual, entre las fallas de Guaicáramo/Pajarito y Bituima/La Salina, que durante el Cretácico fueron fallas normales. Las calizas son comunes en los lados occidental y norte de la cuenca, mientras que los estratos terrígenos predominan en el lado este y sur de la misma. Después que los grábenes berriasianos de la cuenca se conectaron por inundación marina durante el Valanginiano, se pueden documentar dos áreas fuente con elementos y minerales distintivos, una en el arco magmático de la cordillera Central y otra en el Escudo de Guayana. Algunos elementos presentes en los shales del Cretácico Inferior, incluidos escandio, vanadio y berilio, no están relacionados con las áreas de aporte de los sedimentos de la cuenca, sino que están ligados con la actividad hidrotermal relacionada a los diques de gabro, diorita y tonalita, emplazados durante la extensión principal de la cuenca desde el Valanginiano hasta el Cenomaniano.

Palabras clave: Cretácico, back–arc, Colombia, procedencia U‒Pb, geoquímica.

Abbreviations 

ANH                                             Agencia Nacional de Hidrocarburos

CEOC                                       Western Emerald Belt

CEOR                                       Eastern Emerald Belt

ICP–MS                                 Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

ICP–OES                             Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry

LA–ICP–MS                    ​Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

LOI                                                 Loss on ignition

MMV                                         Middle Magdalena Valley

MORB                                      Mid–ocean ridge basalt

OIB                                               Ocean island basalt

REE                                               Rare earth element

UMV                                            Upper Magdalena Valley

XRD                                             X–ray powder diffraction

ZFT                                               Zircon fission track​

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