Neogene Segmentation of a Carbonate Megaplatform by Strike- Slip and Related Extension Tectonics and Paleogateway for Neogene Initiation and Strengthening of Caribbean Current

在渐新世和早/中中新世尼加拉瓜隆起上形成和繁荣了一个巨大的碳酸盐巨滩，其中的一部分形成了今天看到的分段的台地/盆地几何结构。这一地台造成的洋流加强阻碍了加勒比海洋流的向北流动，导致佛罗里达-巴哈马地区出现了广泛的不整合。本研究将通过一个高分辨率地震剖面网络将先前研究的三个地点连接起来。挖掘裸露的露头和活塞取心将提供较老底质的样品。最终，将根据该计划的部分结果，为尼加拉瓜隆起提出一个ODP型钻探计划。

An enormous carbonate megabank formed and thrived on the Nicaragua Rise in the Oligocene and early/middle Miocene, portions of which form the segmented platform/basin geometry seen today. Current intensification caused by this platform blocking the northward flow of the Caribean Current resulted in widespread unconformities in the Florida-Bahamas region. The present study will connect three previous study sites by a network of high- resolution seismic profiles. Dredging of exposed outcrops and piston coring will provide samples of the older substrata. Eventually an ODP drilling program will be proposed for the Nicaragua Rise, based partly on the results of this program.