Overview of the Geology of Cuba Manuel A

Overview of the Geology of Cuba Manuel A. Iturralde-Vinent Cuban Academy of Sciences

Geological research and cartography in Cuba started in the second half of the XIX Century 1869 FIRST GEOLOGICAL MAP

The origin of the island have been explained according to theories of Geosyncline, Continental Drift, Oceanization, Tectonic Layering, Earth Expansion, Surge Tectonics and several models of Plate Tectonics.

If. If alien planetologists ever land on on Earth, itit will be be in in Cuba

Main natural resources of the territory

Mineral waters WATER DEPOSITS UNDERGROUND KARSTIC BASINS LIMITED UNDERGROUND WATERS HOT SPRINGS

Oil and Gas Gulf of Mexico prospecting area Dens OIL AND GAS e cru de oi l belt

Industrial minerals MARBLES, QUARTZ & QUARTZ SANDS, BARITE, CLAY MINERALS, ZEOLITE, SEMIPRECIOUS MINERALS, CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, SOIL.

Base Metals

Landscapes

Cuban has a complex geology

With four main tectonic units

The Northern Foldbelt and the Guaniguanico terrane GUANICO NO RT HE RN FO LD BE LT

The stratigraphy of the Northern Foldbelt and Guaniguanico POST OROGENIC FOREDEEP CONTINENTAL MARGIN

Cross section of the Northern Foldbelt

Caribeana metamorphic terranes

Stratigraphy of Caribeana POST OROGENIC SUBDUCTION /EXHUMATION CONTINENTAL MARGIN

Lower Cretaceous paleogeography ´ ´ Caribeana Location of the Caribeana submarine platform

Allochthonous Ophiolites

Camaguey: Ophiolite melange and Ophiolites

The subduction melange: Blocks of HP/LT rocks Some of this rocks are dated as 120 Ma.

The allochthonous volcanic arcs

The cretaceous volcanic arc in central cuba

THE PALEOGENE VOLCANIC ARC

Synorogenic basins NO AN GU I N A GU RANE TER RTH ERN ICO PIG GY BA CK BA SIN S FOL DB ELT

THE STRATIGRAPHY OF THE FOREDEEP IN GUANICO

K Pg K SYNOROGENIC BASINS Onto the volcanics and mafic-ultramafic rocks

Latest Eocene to Recent BASINS UPLIFT

The evolution continues 2008 1941 1955 - 1997 LOST 2009

VII International Earth Science Convention April 2017, La Habana www. cubacienciasdelatierra. com

The Caribbean Today (Holocene)

THE SYNOROGENIC BASINS Olistostromes between the volcanics thrust front and the underlying maficultramafic allochthon.

OLISTOSTROME LA PICOTA