Datos geocronológicos preliminares de la colisión entre el Gran Arco-Isla Caribeño y la Plataforma Continental de Bahamas en el Segmento de La Española

Abstract

In parallel to structural and metamorphlc studies, geochronologlcal Investigations have been initiated in eclogites and blueschists from the Samaná Peninsula complex, northern Hispaniola, using Sm-Nd, UPb, Rb-Sr and 40Ar/39Ar methods, to constraint subduction, collision and exhumation processes in the Caribbean-North America plate boundary zone. A garnet-omphacite- whole rock Sm-Nd isochron from eclogite yields an age of 86±47 Ma (l43Nd/l44Ndinitial= 0,512894±0,000057; MSWD=0,00036). Although imprecise, we interpret this age as dating the peak of eclogitic metamorphism and allows us to calculate an initial eNd value of +7,2, which suggests a relatively depleted source for the protolith and that the rock formed in an intra-oceanic island-arc setting without significant influence from continental crust. Whole rock trace elements and REE data and preliminary Pb and Rb-Sr analyses also support this interpretation. The 40Ar/39Ar analyses of phengite mineral separates from eclogite and blueschist were made to record the cooling age during retrograde metamorphism (Tc»325-3009C). Phengites of eclogite and blueschist yields average plateau ages of 36,30±0,l 3 Ma and 33,85±0,12 Ma, respectively. These Late Eocene to Early Oligocène ages are related to the regional exhumation of the high-P basement complex and are attributed to the initial oblique collision of the Bahama Platform beneath the Hispaniola arc.