Origin of the Aves Ridge and Dutch–Venezuelan Antilles: interaction of the Cretaceous ‘Great Arc' and Caribbean–Colombian Oceanic Plateau?

• DOI: 10.1144/0016-76492010-067
• Publication Date: 2011-02-24T15:08:30Z
• Authors: Iain Neill; Andrew C. Kerr; Alan R. Hastie; Klaus-Peter Stanek; Ian L. Millar
• Keywords: 14. Life underwater; 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

Abstract: In this paper we reassess the geochronology and geochemistry of three dredge hauls from SE corner Aves Ridge (Caribbean Sea) originally sampled in 1968 by Duke University's R.V. Eastward . Two consist light rare earth element-enriched granitoids with a U–Pb zircon emplacement age 75.9 ± 0.7 Ma. A further haul contains mostly calc-alkaline island arc basaltic andesites uncertain age. Petrological, trace element isotopic constraints indicate that have an oceanic crustal source were formed melting lower arc, or plateau crust. The mafic rocks partial incompatible mantle wedge, which was probably composed plume material. Both dredged data Dutch–Venezuelan Antilles period west-dipping underthrusting subduction beneath, close to, Caribbean–Colombian Oceanic Plateau between c 88 59 Ma, concurrent collision part northwestern South America. Constraints offshore southern Caribbean suggest there no pre-existing system during formation Plateau, whereas long-lived SW-dipping northern Greater is more probable. Supplementary material: Sample details, major (file 1), cathodoluminescence images analysed zircons 2) whole-rock standards 3) are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18438