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Abstract
Stratigraphic Constraints on the Late Jurassic–Cretaceous Paleotectonic Interpretations of the Placetas Belt in Cuba
Andrzej Pszczkowski, Ryszard Myczyski
Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warszawa, Poland
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This study was supported by statutory research funds of the Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences. We wish to thank Manuel A. Iturralde-Vinent (Museo Nacional de Historia Natural, Havana) for samples from the Sierra de Camajn (Camagey Province). We thank Jzef Kamierczak and Jerzy Dzik (Institute of Paleobiology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw) for identification of Solenoporaceae and bryozoan fragments found in arkosic sandstone from Socorro. We are grateful to Rafael Tenreyro Prez (Centro de Investigaciones del Petrleo, Havana), Claudio Bartolini (HIS Energy Group, Houston), and Dora Garca Delgado (Institute of Geology and Paleontology, Ministry of Basic Industry [MINBAS], Havana) for sending us copies of some publications unavailable in Poland, and to Jerzy Lefeld for reading and suggestions on the paper. The assistance of Ryszard Orlowski during preparation of SEM photomicrographs was very helpful. We appreciate critical observations and suggestions of the reviewers—Paul Mann and Mark Gordon.
ADDED IN THE PROOF
Recently, Alva-Valdivia et al. (2001) have published results of their paleo- and rock-magnetic (pilot) study carried out on the Jurassic-Cretaceous rocks from the Guaniguanico Cordillera. Alva-Valdivia et al. (2001) concluded that no major latitudinal displacements have affected the Guaniguanico Cordillera since the Jurassic, in contrast to some previously proposed tectonic models. This result is in accordance with the earlier paper by Prez Lazo et al. (1995) and with our conclusions of the present contribution.
ABSTRACT
The Placetas belt in north-central Cuba consists of Late Jurassic–Cretaceous rocks that were highly deformed during the Paleocene to middle Eocene arc-continent collision. The Late Proterozoic marble and Middle Jurassic granite are covered by the shallow-marine arkosic clastic rocks of late Middle Jurassic(?) or earliest Late Jurassic(?) ages. These arkosic rocks may be older than the transgressive arkosic deposits of the Late Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous Constancia Formation. The Berriasian age of the upper part of the Constancia Formation in some outcrops at Sierra Morena and in the Jarahueca area does not confirm the Late Jurassic (pre-Tithonian) age of all deposits of this unit in the Placetas belt. The Tithonian and Berriasian ammonite assemblages are similar in the Placetas belt of north-central Cuba and the Guaniguanico successions in western Cuba. We conclude that in all paleotectonic interpretations, the Placetas, Camajuan, and Guaniguanico stratigraphic successions should be considered as biogeographically and paleogeographically coupled during the Tithonian and the entire Cretaceous. These successions could not have been separated by any large continental block and/or wide oceanic basin.
The Tithonian-Berriasian ammonite assemblages reported from the Placetas belt and coeval assemblages known in Mexico are different; in particular, Suarites, Acevedites, and Kossmatia (characteristic Mexican genera) are unknown from the Tithonian sections of the Placetas belt. Moreover, the Early Cretaceous and Cenomanian deep-water formations of the Placetas belt do not contain deposits symptomatic of a presence of a nearby large landmass (Chortis Terrane?) to the south. Dissimilarities existing between the Huayacocotla remnant and the Guaniguanico (and Placetas) successions in Cuba are not consistent with the conclusion of some authors that the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous successions in western Cuba are nearly identical to those of San Pedro del Gallo Terrane remnants in east-central Mexico. Also, the composition of Late Jurassic ammonite and microfossil assemblages in western Cuba is not in agreement with the paleolatitudinal position of the Guaniguanico Terrane at 30N, close to the Pacific coast.
Many authors accept interpretations linking the Placetas succession with the southern slope of the Bahamas and/or with the Proto-Caribbean basin floor. However, the stratigraphic record strongly suggests that only the southernmost Tithonian deposits of the Placetas succession (Sierra de Camajn) may represent the basinal section accumulated on the Proto-Caribbean oceanic floor. The original proximity or even continuity of the Late Jurassic–Cretaceous Placetas and Camajuan successions is probable on the basis of existing stratigraphic data.
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