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Neogene-quaternary evolution from transpressional to transtensional tectonics in Northern Central America controlled by cocos: Caribbean subduction coupling change

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Abstract

Aims and Methods

The structural evolution of the western boundary of the Chortis Block, particularly in the Central America Volcanic Arc crossing El Salvador is poorly known. We have done a kinematic analysis from seismic and fault slip data and combined our results with a review of previous regional studies. This approach allowed us to constrain the tectonic evolution and the processes that control the deformation in northern Central America.

Results

Along the active volcanic arc we identified active transtensional deformation. On the other hand, we have identified two deformation phases in the back arc region: A first one of transpressional wrenching close to simple shearing (Miocene); and a second one characterized by almost E–W extension coincident with the extensional direction of the Honduras grabens opening. Our results reveal a change from transpressional to transtensional shearing coeval with a migration of the volcanism towards the trench in Late Miocene times.

Implications

The strain change could be related to a transition from coupled to decoupled interface on the Cocos—Caribbean subduction, which could be caused by a slab roll-back of the Cocos Plate beneath the Chortis Block. The combination of different degrees of coupling on the subduction interface, together with a constant relative eastward drift of the Caribbean Plate, control the deformation style along the western boundary of the Chortis Block.

Resumen

Objetivos y metodología

La evolución estructural del límite oeste del Bloque de Chortís, particularmente en la región del arco volcánico centroamericano cruzando El Salvador, ha sido muy poco estudiada. En este artículo presentamos los resultados de un análisis cinemático junto con una revisión de estudios regionales previos.

Resultados

Esta aproximación nos ha permitido arrojar luz sobre la evolución tectónica y los procesos que controlan la deformación en el norte de Centroamérica. A lo largo del arco volcánico activo hemos identificado deformación transtensiva. Por otro lado, hemos identificado dos fases de deformación en la zona de retro-arco: una primera fase de cizalla transpresiva cercana a la cizalla simple (Mioceno); y una segunda fase caracterizada por una extensión cercana a la dirección E–W que coincide con la dirección de apertura de los grábenes de Honduras. Los resultados de nuestros análisis revelan un cambio de cizalla transpresiva a cizalla transtensiva coetáneo con la migración del arco volcánico hacia la fosa durante el Mioceno Superior.

Implicaciones

El cambio en el estilo de la deformación podría estar relacionado con un decrecimiento en el grado de acoplamiento de la inter-fase Cocos—Caribe, que podría deberse a un proceso de roll-back de la placa del Coco bajo el Bloque de Chortís. La combinación de diferentes grados de acoplamiento en la inter-fase de la subducción, junto con una deriva constante de la placa de Caribe, controlan el estilo de la deformación a lo largo del límite oeste del bloque de Chortís.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the project “INTERGEO” (CGL2013-47412-C2-1-P), “Study of the seismic potential of inter-segment regions in strike-slip active faults using Geological, Geophysical and Geodetic analysis: Applied to the Alhama de Murcia Fault and the El Salvador Fault Zone”. We are grateful to our colleagues at DGOA-MARN (Observatorio Ambiental del Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales de El Salvador): Manuel Díaz, Walter Hernandez and Douglas Hernández for their assistance. First author acknowledges his financial support to a PostDoctoral Fellowship from the Youth Employment Initiative of the European Commission. Some figures were produced using GMT software (Wessel et al. 2013). We thank to Carlos Fernandez and an anonymous reviewer their constructive comments that enhanced the original manuscript.

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  1. Department of Geodynamics, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    J. Alonso-Henar, J. A. Álvarez-Gómez & J. J. Martínez-Díaz

  2. Instituto de Geociencias IGEO (UCM,CSIC), Madrid, Spain

    J. J. Martínez-Díaz

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  1. J. Alonso-Henar
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Alonso-Henar, J., Álvarez-Gómez, J.A. & Martínez-Díaz, J.J. Neogene-quaternary evolution from transpressional to transtensional tectonics in Northern Central America controlled by cocos: Caribbean subduction coupling change. J Iber Geol 43, 519–538 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41513-017-0034-2

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