tectonics of the caribbean richard robertson seismic research unit, u.w.i. st. augustine, trinidad
TRANSCRIPT
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Tectonics of the CaribbeanTectonics of the CaribbeanTectonics of the CaribbeanTectonics of the Caribbean
Richard RobertsonSeismic Research Unit, U.W.I.
St. Augustine, Trinidadwww.uwiseismic.com
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OutlineOutlineOutlineOutline
• Definitions: Tectonics, Caribbean Plate• Plate Tectonics• Evolution of the Caribbean• Physiographic/Tectonic Provinces• Tectonics of the Caribbean• Summary
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TectonicsTectonicsTectonicsTectonics
• The processes responsible for tectonic activity
• Field of study concerned with structures within the cruststructures within the crust and with forces and movementsforces and movements that operate to create these
• Concerned with mountain buildingmountain building & with the development of cratons and tectonic terranes => earthquakes, volcanoes & tsunamis
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Melting of the more fusible constituents of the upper mantle produces magma
The Earth’s layered The Earth’s layered structurestructureThe Earth’s layered The Earth’s layered structurestructure
• Inner core: 1216 km thick and consists of solid rock at very high temperature and pressure
• Outer core: extends up to 2270 km from the centre of the earth and consists mainly of molten iron with about 10% nickel and traces of other materials
• Mantle: extends to ~ 2900 km and consists of silicate rocks; due to high temperature and pressure the rocks are able to flow extremely slowly like a thick & stick liquid
• The Mantle accounts for 83 % of the Earth’s volume & 67% of its mass
• The Upper and lower mantle separated by the 670 km seismic discontinuity
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Lithospheric PlatesLithospheric PlatesLithospheric PlatesLithospheric Plates
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Plate boundary settingsPlate boundary settingsPlate boundary settingsPlate boundary settings
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The Caribbean PlateThe Caribbean PlateThe Caribbean PlateThe Caribbean Plate
• A lithospheric platelithospheric plate consisting mainly of a unusually thick, oceanic plateau situated between two major continental regions
• A geologically complex regiongeologically complex region that displays a variety of displays a variety of plate boundary interactionsplate boundary interactions including subduction (Lesser Antilles), transcurrent/strike-slip (north & south) and sea-floor spreading (Cayman Trough)
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The CaribbeanThe CaribbeanThe CaribbeanThe Caribbean
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Evolution of CaribbeanEvolution of CaribbeanEvolution of CaribbeanEvolution of Caribbean
• Allochthonous/Mobilist vs. In Situ/Fixist models for origin of Caribbean
• In-situ evolution• Gulf of Mexico & Caribbean region existed in the past i.e.
during Triassic, Jurassic & early Cretaceous• Allocthonous evolution:
• All accept significant amounts of eastward Caribbean migration relative to the Americas
• A Great Arc vs Multi-arc evolution of the region • Interpretation of the facts => A single geology and too many
points of view
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Evolution of the Caribbean Evolution of the Caribbean PlatePlateEvolution of the Caribbean Evolution of the Caribbean PlatePlate
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The Caribbean IGCP The Caribbean IGCP Project 433Project 433The Caribbean IGCP The Caribbean IGCP Project 433Project 433
• Is the Caribbean Plate allochthonous or developed in situ?
• There is a single Great Arc or the compressive margins evolved as multiarcs?
• Why can not be reconcile local geology with the general models?
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Physiographic regionsPhysiographic regionsPhysiographic regionsPhysiographic regions
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Geologic ProvincesGeologic ProvincesGeologic ProvincesGeologic Provinces
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Tectonics of the Caribbean Tectonics of the Caribbean - I- ITectonics of the Caribbean Tectonics of the Caribbean - I- I
• Result primarily from the interaction of one relatively small plate of lithosphere with surrounding plates
• The Caribbean – geologically complex region; variety of plate boundary interactions including: • Subduction (Lesser Antilles &
Central America)• Transcurrent (strike-slip) on
northern and southern boundaries
• Sea floor spreading in Cayman Trough
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Tectonics of the Caribbean Tectonics of the Caribbean - II- IITectonics of the Caribbean Tectonics of the Caribbean - II- II
• Caribbean – a lithospheric plate that consists mainly of anomalously thick, oceanic plateau located between 2 major continental regions => tectonic interactions between thick oceanic crust and continental crust
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Caribbean SeismicityCaribbean SeismicityCaribbean SeismicityCaribbean Seismicity
• First motion studies indicate left-lateral strike slip at northern & right-lateral strike slip at southern boundary => left lateral and right lateral transform boundaries
• Thrust fault solutions, typical of upper parts of convergent plate boundaries occur at western and eastern margins of plate
• Depth of hypocentres and their positions relative to island arc volcanoes indicates Wadati-Benioff Zones dipping eastward beneath Central American & westward beneath Lesser Antilles
-8 5 W -8 0 W -7 5 W -7 0 W -6 5 W -6 0 W
-8 5 W -8 0 W -7 5 W -7 0 W -6 5 W -6 0 W
Longitude
1 0 N
1 5 N
2 0 N
2 5 N
Latitude
1 0 N
1 5 N
2 0 N
2 5 N
Caribbean Earthquakes: 1964 to Caribbean Earthquakes: 1964 to 20022002Caribbean Earthquakes: 1964 to Caribbean Earthquakes: 1964 to 20022002
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SummarySummarySummarySummary
• The Caribbean is a geologically complex region which exhibits a variety of plate boundary interactions and by extension tectonic features
• It is a lithospheric plate that consists mainly of anomalously thick, oceanic plateau located between 2 major continental regions
• Despite recent advances in knowledge there is still disagreement over its evolution
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ReferencesReferencesReferencesReferences
• Mattson, Peter, H. ed. (1977): West Indies island arcs. Benchmark Papers in Geology V. 33. Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Inc., p. 361. (see Chapters 2, 32-35b)
• Jackson, Trevor, A. ed. (2002): Caribbean Geology into the Third Millennium – transactions of the Fifteenth Caribbean Geological Conference. University of the West Indies Press, 279p.
• Donovan, Stephen K. and Jackson, Trevor, A. (1994): Caribbean Geology – An Introduction. The University of the West Indies Publishers Association, Jamaica, 289p.
• http://www.ig.utexas.edu/CaribPlate/CaribPlate.html
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Seismic Research UnitSeismic Research UnitSeismic Research UnitSeismic Research Unit
Earthquake & Volcano MonitoringResearch & Public Education
www.uwiseismic.com
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Thank you for Thank you for listening!listening!
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