The geodynamic evolution of Cuba and its role in the Caribbean puzzle

古巴中生代岩石对任何重建加勒比和墨西哥湾地区地球动力学历史的尝试都起着关键作用。古巴在中生代一直是加勒比板块的一部分，并在古新世/始新世与北美板块相连。北美中生代被动大陆边缘的沉积被北蛇绿岩带中出露的岛弧沉积和蛇绿岩推覆。西南部的火山弧地体代表了中白垩世至晚白垩世火山弧形成的一个更演化的阶段。在解释加勒比海/墨西哥湾地区板块构造演化的各种模型中，古巴在加勒比海构造中的作用是有争议的。太平洋模式描述了加勒比海在太平洋领域的演变，以及后来的漂移到现在的位置。申请人根据在中美洲(哥斯达黎加、巴拿马、危地马拉、墨西哥)多年的经验而支持的另一种假设解释了加勒比地区在美洲的地位的演变。在构造地质学、地貌学、地球化学和地层学研究的基础上，计划发展古巴蛇绿岩杂岩的地球动力学历史，并为加勒比板块起源的讨论作出贡献。古巴蛇绿岩标志着北美大陆和吸积的加勒比海构造地层地体之间的缝合线。推覆推覆构造在所有的构造单元中都是已知的，但缺乏详细的运动学和形态研究。特别是蛇绿岩的地层格架将通过放射虫动物群组合的新确定而得到改善。利用现代构造地质学技术(如断层滑动分析、糜棱岩剪切感测定等)对所有构造单元的结构参数进行调查。这些调查将伴随着对缝合线沿线选定地区的地貌研究，并结合详细的构造制图。蛇绿岩的地球化学研究应分析加勒比海周围其他地区，如巴拿马的哥斯达黎加所知的加勒比地区的具体特征。

Mesozoic rocks of Cuba play a key role for any attempt to reconstruct the geodynamic history of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico area. Cuba has been part of the Caribbean plate during the Mesozoic and was accreted to the North American plate during Paleocene/Eocene. Sediments of the Mesozoic passive continental margin of North America are overthrust by island arc sediments and ophiolite rocks exposed in the Northern Ophiolitic Belt. The Volcanic Arc Terrane following in the Southwest represents a more evolved stage of Middle to Late Cretaceous volcanic arc formations. The role of Cuba in terms of Caribbean tectonics is controversely discussed in various models explaining the plate tectonic evolution of the Caribbean/Gulf of Mexico area. The Pacific model describes an evolution of the Caribbean in the Pacific realm and a later drift into its present position. An alternative hypothesis which has been favoured by the applicant based on many years of experience in Central America (Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Mexico) explains the evolution of the Caribbean in an inter-American position. Based on investigations in structural geology, geomorphology, geochemistry and stratigraphy it is planned to develop the geodynamic history of the ophiolite complexes of Cuba and to contribute to the discussion about the origin of the Caribbean plate. The Cuban ophiolites mark the suture line between the North American continent and the accreted Caribbean tectonostratigraphic terranes. Nappe thrusts are known from all tectonic units, however, detailed kinematic and morphological studies do not exist. The stratigraphic frame particulary of the ophiolitic rocks shall be improved by new determinations of radiolarian faunal associations. Structural parameters are to be investigated in all tectonic units using modern structural geological techniques (e.g. fault slip analysis, shear sense determination in mylonitic rocks etc.). These investigations will be accompanied by geomorphologic studies of selected areas along the suture line combined with detailed structural mapping. Geochemical studies of ophiolitic rocks shall analyze specific Caribbean characteristics as they are known from other places around the Caribbean, e.g. Costa Rica of Panama.