Journal of South American Earth Sciences, Vol. 3, No. I, pp. 71-84, 1990 0895-9811/90 $3.00+0.

00
Printed in Great Britain © 1990 Pergamon Press pie
& Earth Sciences and Resources Institute

The Choco Block in the northwestern corner of

South America: Structural, tectonostratigraphic, and
paleogeographic implications
H. D U Q U E - C A R O
INGEOMINAS, Ap. Aereo 53385, BogotA, Colombia
(manuscript received May 1989; manuscript accepted September 1989)

Abstract--The Choco Block, located in the northwestern corner ofSouth America, comprises the isthmus of
Panama east of the Canal Zone and northwestern Colombia, including the westernmost flanks of the
Cordillera Occidental above latitude 4°N. Three major structural and lithogeneticelements compose this
terrain: the Dabeiba and Baudo Arches, the Atrato-Chucunaque Basins, and the Istmina Deformed Zone.
The Dabeiba and Baudo Arches outline the external boundaries of the Choco Block and display similar
characteristics: (a) mostly positive gravity anomalies and association of igneous bodies of oceanic origin
with sedimentary suites,and (b) occurrence of Upper Cretaceous to Miocene pelagic and hemipelagic and
terrigenous strata in blocks of differentages and environments associated with marie igneous rocks. The
Dabeiba Arch exhibits a melange fabric,particularly at itseastern margin, in which disrupted strata and
inclusions of Upper Cretaceous-Paleocene, Eocene-Oligocene, and Miocene exotic blocks are dispersed in a
sheared peliticmatrix of middle Miocene age. The Atrato-Chucunaque Basins contain sedimentary fillex-
ceeding 10 k m in thickness. Two distinctive stratigraphic sequences comprise: (I) an outcropping and
apparently continuous Oligocene to middle Miocene sequence composed mostly of pelagic and hemipelagic
strata, overlain by hemipelagic and terrigenous strata of latestmiddle Miocene to Pliocene age, and (2) an
underlying middle Miocene and older sequence, composed mostly of turbidites,which has been recognized
only in subsurface sections. An evaluation and synthesis of the structural and lithogenetic information of
the Choco Block indicate the following conclusions. The Choco Block is an exotic terrane with no litho-
genetic affinity with South America, accreted onto the northwestern flanks of the Cordillera Occidental
during the middle Miocene. The occurrence of exotic upper Paleocene planktic foraminiferal assemblages
in the Dabeiba Arch suggests an origin for the Choco Block as distant as the northern latitudes of Gun,
temala and Mexico. The Uramita Fault Zone is the suture between the Choco Block and the Cordillera
Occidental in NW South America. The young intermontane Atrato and Chucunaque Basins and the
Istmina Deformed Zone were formed as a result of the accretion of the Choco Block to the northwestern
flanks of the Cordillera Occidental during middle Miocene time.
R e s u m e n - - E l Bloque del Choc6 en el noroccidente suramericano comprende el lstmo de Panam~ al oriente
de la Zona del Canal y el noroccidente colombiano junto con los flancos noroccidentales de la Cordillera
Occidental al norte de la latitud 4*N. Esta regi6n estA caracterizada por tres elementos estructurales y lito-
geneticos: los arcos de Dabeiba y Baudo, las cuencas de Atrate-Chucunaque y la Zona Deformada de Ist-
minn. Los arcos de Dabeiba y Baud6, con caracteristicas similares, delimitan los margenes externos del
Bloque del Choc6: (a) anomalias gravim~tricas positivas relacionadas con cuerpos igneos y sedimentarios de
origen oce/mico, y (b) ocurrencia de estratos pelagicos, hemipel#igicos y terrigenos en bloques sin guardar
entre si ninguna coherencia estratigr/tfica ni estructural, con diferentes edades y ambientes, e inter-
calaciones volc~nicas m~tficas. El Arco de Dabeiba presenta f~brica de tipo melange, particularmente en su
margen oriental donde estratos rotos e inclusiones de bloques ex6ticos de edad Cretacea-Paleocena, Eocena-
Oligocena y Miocena ocurren dispersos dentro de una matriz pelitica cizallada de edad Miocena media. Las
cuencas de Atrato-Chucunaque contienen un relleno sedimentario de m~s de 10 Km de espesor y est~n car-
acterizadas por dos secuencias estratigr~ficas muy distintivas, particularmente en el valle del Atrato:
(1) una secuencia aflorante compuesta principalmente por estratos pelagicos y hemipelagicos, de edad
Oligocena a Miocena media, superpuesta por una secuencia hemipel~gica y terrigena de edad Miocena
media alto a Pliocena, y (2) una secuencia infrayacente a (1) de edad Miocena media y m~s antigua,
principalmente compuesta por sedimentos turbiditicos que unicamente se ha podido reconocer en secciones
de subsuelo. Una evaluaci6n y sintesis de la informaci6n estructural y litogen~tica del Bloque del Choc6
indica lo siguiente: El Bloque del Choc6 es un terreno ex6tico sin ninguna afinidad litogen6tica con Sur
America, que fu6 acrecido al continente (Cordillera Occidental) durante el Mioceno medio. La ocurrencia de
bloques ex6ticos con microfauna planct6nica del Paleoceno en el Arco de Dabeiba plantea una proveniencia
para el Bloque del Choc6 de latitudes tan lejanas como Ins de Guatemala y M6jico. La Zona de falla de
Uramita es la sutura que pone en contacto el Bloque del Choc6 con la Cordillera Occidental del noroccidente
de Suram~rica. Las cuencas juveniles intramontafiosas del Atrato y Chucunaque y la Zona Deformada de
Istmina se formaron como consecuencia del acrecimento y perturbaciones tecthnicas del Mioceno medio.

INTRODUCTION Two arcuate and parallel mountain ranges -- the

Serrania de San Blas-Dari6n on the Caribbean side,
THE NORTHWESTERN C O R N E R of South A m e r i c a has connecting with the western flanks of the Cordillera
continental m a r g i n s on both the Pacific O c e a n a n d Occidental, and the Serrania de Maje-Baud6 on the
the C a r i b b e a n S e a a n d comprises the region of P a c i f i c s i d e ( F i g . 2) - - o u t l i n e t h e b a c k b o n e o f t h i s
southern Central A m e r i c a east of the P a n a m a region. This physiographic framework is comple-
Canal Zone, including eastern P a n a m a a n d north- m e n t e d by: (a) t h e c o r r e s p o n d i n g c o n t i n e n t a l m a r -
western C o l o m b i a above latitude 4 ° N (Figs. I a n d 2). gins on the Caribbean side (Colombian Basin) and

71
72 [I. I)UQUE-CARO

COLOMBIAN BASIN COLOMBIAN BASIN

?#l#

'ORoTE G A

NOR THERN
/ ~ PANAMA
, NAZCA PLATE

BAS,N

\
CARIBBEAN REGION
CHOCO BLOCK Caseand Others, 1984
Dengo, 1983

a
COLOMBIAN BASIN COLSMDIAN BASIN

2eee ------'

PANAMA t PANAMA

BASIN /~ BASIN

NORTHWESTERNCOLOMBIA THIS STUDY

Etayo and Others, 1986 ,

C f~ f

Fig. I. Tectonostratigraphic terranes and geologic provinces in the northwestern corner of South America,

the Pacific side (Panama Basin); (b) the elongated
and mostly flat and s w a m p y topography lying
between the two mountain ranges, the Atrato and
Chucunaque valleys in northwestern Colombia and
eastern Panama, respectively; and (c) the low and
NE-trending Istmina hills on the south.
Very littlefield work has been conducted here,
and the geology is poorly known, particularly in
northwestern Colombia. Most of the scant existing
information is unpublished proprietary data collec-
ted by oil companies.
The recent concept of tectonostratigraphic ter-
rane analysis (Coney et al., 1980, and many others)
has contributed to a better understanding of contin-
ental growth. It is critical,in complex continental
margins such as those bordering the Circum-Pacific
Rim, to make precise descriptions, identification,
and tectonostratigraphic characterization of fault-
bounded entities, and to map and discriminate suc-
cessive tectonic elements within a p a r t i c u l a r ter-
rane, in order to aid interpretation.
The northwestern corner of South America is
located within the very complex zone of convergence
between nuclear Central America and South Am-
erica. This area consists of several structural and
lithogenetic e l e m e n t s t h a t have r e c e n t l y b e e n
described as geologic provinces andIor terranes
i.e., Choco Block (Dengo, 1983; Fig: la); San Blas-
Dari6n Province, Choco Terrane, Cordillera Occi-
dental Province (Case et aI., 1984; Fig. lb); Choco
 The Choco Block: Structural, tectonostratigraphic, and paleogeographic implications
SERRANiASDE
SAN BLAS-DARIEN
PANAMACANAL
,~ \ SERRANIASDE
T ~ MAJE-BAUDO
P
4
@
d~
Fig. 2. Major physiographic elements of the northwestern corner of South America: Serranlas de San Blas-Dari6n and Baudo- Maje,
Atrato and Chucunaque Valleys, lstmina Hills and Cordillera Occidental.
Terrane (Howell et al., 1985); Cafias Gordas, Atrato-
San Juan-Tumaco, and Baudo Terranes (Etayo et
al., 1986; Fig. lc).
An evaluation of known published and unpub-
lished information and new field data recorded from
the northwestern flanks of the Cordillera Occidental
has resulted in new constraints for interpreting
lithogenetic elements in the northwestern corner of
South America. On the other hand, the Choco Block
(Dengo, 1983; Fig. la), which includes most of the
lithogenetic elements of the northwestern corner of
South America, constitutes a critical region in this
area. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing
this terrain more precisely, with emphasis on major
fault zones, stratigraphy, internal structure, and
the timing of geologic events, for a better under-
standing of the integrated tectonic and stratigraphic
setting of this region in particular, during the
- -
Cenozoic evolution of southern Central America and
northwestern Colombia. Some new features - - the
Dabeiba and Baudo Arches, the Istmina Deformed
SAES 3/l--F
73
TURBO
"1-" OCCIDENTAL
--;:.MUTATA URAMITA
DABEIBA I
!'=l ISTMINA
=. HILLS,
_= _.-,,.."::.
. . o . f"
Zone, and the Uramita, Baudo, and Panama major
fault zones (Fig. 3), which were not included in
previous descriptions of the Choco Block and this re-
gion - - are discussed here. This study has benefited
from access to unpublished geological information
in the files of Ecopetrol in BogotA, supplementing
field work along the Medellin-Quibdo, Medellin-
Turbo, and Quibdo-Istmina-Pereira highways. Sub-
surface information, maps and samples from ex-
ploratory wells in the Atrato Basin were made
available by Ingeominas.
REGIONAL SETTING
The previous literature on the Choco Block goes
back to Dengo (1983, Fig. la), who included the area
that extends westward of the Atrato Fault at the
western flanks of the Cordillera Occidental in north-
western Colombia to as far south as the Baudo River
(Figs. la and 2), and extending over eastern Panama
 74 | l . DUQUE-CARO

80 ° 79 ° 78 ~ ( 70 76° 75 °
r-"
#0
81A
-,7,

• I

2"~ ) "~f!
"' ,

* San

¢4. . ,*,÷*"
.j o
" °
,

eMEOELLIN
l
10POGADO-1
Z 6UCHADO-1
3 PACURITA-1
i
4 URODO-1
1
]

• PEREIRA

: ~ Bathymetry after Lonadale ~ Klitgord,1978

/) // fl~JV ~ ( /~: ~..,.¢') ~ ' Y Geology modified afterHaffer, 1967;

VJ ff2 2 "
f
BUfHAVENTUIA
.a,t,.,,78oooeCa,o,9,9

DABEIBAANDBAUD ARCHES:POSITIVEBRAVITYANONIALIES;~ I C AND

-~"~ VOLCANiCLASTICLITHOLOIHES;UNCOHERENTSEDNINTANYBLOCKSOF UPPER
CRETACEHSTOMIOCENEABE;MELANGEFABRICH TOE EASTERNMARGINOF
THE DABEIBAARCH
ATRATO-CHCHAQUEBASINS:OLIHCENETOMIHLE MIOCENEPELAGICAND
~ liEMIPELAOICDEPOSITSANDPOSTMIDDLEMIOCENEMARINETERRIBENHS
SEQUENCES
. . . . . . MAJOR FAULT ZONES

Fig. 3. Major lithogenetic and structural characters of the Choco Block

to the Canal Zone where a tectonic break separates Dabeiba Arch

it from the Chorotega Block. Case et al. (1984; Fig.
lb} defined the Choco Terrane as including the area
west of the Atrato Fault, including the Atrato-San
J u a n Basin and the region comprised by the Serra-
nia de Maje-Baudo. The Serrania de San Blas-
Dari6n and the Chucunaque Basin were not inclu-
ded as part of the Choco Terrane. [lowell et al.
(1985) described the Choco Terrane as including the
area west of the Atrato Fault, apparently with the
same structural boundaries of the Choco Block as
originally described by Dengo (1983).
I n general, the Atrato Fault has been known as
one of the major structural boundaries in north-
western Colombia. Recent data indicate that there
are two other major fault zones: the Uramita Fault
Zone marking the eastern boundary of the Choco
Block, and the Istmina Deformed Zone to the south
(Fig. 3).
The Dabeiba Arch is an arcuate structural fea-
ture that outlines the eastern to northern boundary
of the Choco Block (Figs. ld and 3). This name is
used because most of the structural and lithogenetic
characteristics of this feature can be observed in the
Dabeiba area. The Dabeiba Arch includes the
Serrania de San Blas-Dari6n (San Blas-Dari6n Pro-
vince of Case et al., 1984; Fig. lb), the Sautata Arch
(Case et al., 1971), and the northernmost western
flanks of the Cordillera Occidental (partially the
Cafias Gordas Terrane, Etayo et al., 1986; Fig. lc).
Similar lithogenetic and geophysical charac-
teristics link the Serrania de San Blas-Dari6n with
the northernmost western flanks of the Cordillera
Occidental through the Sautata Arch (Case et al.,
1971). Mostly pelagic, hemipelagic, turbidite, and
conglomerate strata of Late Cretaceous to Miocene
 The Choco Block: Structural, tectonostratigraphic,and paleogeographic implications
age (foraminiferal and radiolarian data, Table 1) - -
characteristically associated with basalts, diabase,
tufts and agglomerates, and granitoid plutons
constitute the most distinctive lithologies. Scat-
tered K/Ar radiometric dates of basalts and diabases
(97+3, 10--+5, and 3-+1 Ma; Restrepo et aI., 1981) and
granitoid plutons (47+2.5, 34, and 11 Ma; Restrepo
et al., 1981) indicate Late Cretaceous to Neogene
magmatic activity associated with this terrain.
Positive Bouguer anomalies on the northernmost
western flanks of the Cordillera Occidental continue
over the Sorrania de San Bias-Darien in eastern
Panama (Case et al., 1971; Case, 1974). It is impor-
tant to emphasize that basaltic and diabase inter-
beds are present within both the Upper Cretaceous-
Paleocene and the Miocene pelagic and hemipelagic
sequences.
A major feature of the Dabeiba Arch, never
reported before, is the melange character of this ter-
rain that recalls melange examples from California
and Alaska (cf. Raymond, 1984; Byrne, 1984, among
others). Stratigraphically disrupted cherty and
carbonate beds are present along the road con-
necting Uramita and Mutata (Medellin-Turbo high-
way; Fig. 4). These consist mostly of Late Creta-
ceous to Paleocene (planktic foraminifera and radio-
laria, Table 1), and volcanic flows of basalt and
diabase, all embedded in a pervasively sheared, fine-
grained, and mostly pelitic matrix bearing highly
deformed Miocene planktic foraminifera. This is
also associated with blocks (hills) of highly deformed
carbonate and siliceous pelagic and hemipelagic
strata of Late Cretaceous to Paleocene age (Table 1)
up to several kilometers in length, and of Miocene
mudstone with diabase interbeds and turbidite
strata. West of here, similar chaotic blocks include
Eocene nummulitic and algal limestones, Oligocene
mudstones and sandstones, coarse and polymictic
conglomerates, and tufts, agglomerates, and felsic
intrusives (Fig. 4). The nummulitic and algal lime-
stones and coarse conglomerates and the Miocene
turbidites recall similar lithologies of the adjacent
San Jacinto and Sinu Belts northward. In the San
Jacinto and Sinu Belts, however, these lithologies
occur coherently within continuous marine strati-
graphic sequences (Duque-Caro, 1979, 1984). Maps
show a "patchy" and faulted pattern accompanied by
a mosaic of ages including contrasting sedimentary
environments. This characteristic of the northern-
most western flanks of the Cordillera Occidental is
difficult to explain and integrate in a coherent
framework with normal stratigraphic and struc-
tural relationships. Therefore, unusual mechan-
isms have been suggested to explain the formation
of this terrain. Several observations support this
possibility, such as the exotic occurrence of Paleo-
cene planktic foraminifera, which recalls the Paleo-
cene biostratigraphy of northern Central America
in Guatemala and Mexico. The planktic assem-
blages that I have collected from the Dabeiba area
(Table I; see also Bourgois et al., 1982) are char-
acterized by MorozobeUa velascoensis with its typi-
75
Table 1. Some diagnostic microfossils collected in the
Dabeiba Arch.
LATE CRETACEOUS
Globotruncana sp.
Rugoglobigerina sp
Hedbergella sp
Dictyomitra multicostata Zittel
Dictyornitra torquata Foreman
Rzehakina epigona (Rzehak)
PALEOCENE
Morozobella trinidadensis (Bolli)
Morozobella velascoensis (Cushman)
Morozobella aequa (Cushman & Renz)
Morozobella angulata (White)
Subbotina triloculinoides (Plummer)
S u bbotina triangularis (White)
Rzehakina epigona (Rzehak)
Agglutinated foraminifera
Radiolaria
EOCENE-OLIGOCENE
Numrnulites sp
Globigerina angulisuturalis Bolli
Globorotalia opima opima Bolli
Globigerina ciperoensis Bolli
Globigerina praebulloides Blow
Globigerina tripartita Koch
Uvigerina mexicana Nuttall
Cibicidoides perlucidus (Nuttall)
Radiolaria
MIOCENE
Globigerinoides sicanus De Estefani
Globigerinoides trilobus (Reuss)
Globoquadrina altispira (Cushman & Jarvis)
Catapsydrax dissimilis (Cushman & Bermudez)
Globorotalia peripheroronda Blow
Globigerinoides obliquus Bolli
Orbulina universa D'Orbigny
Vulvulina spinosa Cushman
Planulina renzi Cushman & Stainforth
Uvigerina gallowayi Cushman
Agglutinated foraminifera
Radiolaria
cal strong carina, a taxon not characteristic in the
N W corner of South America. Along the traditional
Bolivar Geosyncline (Nygren, 1950), extending from
northern Peru through coastal Ecuador and north-
western Colombia, Paleocene to early Eocene plank-
tic foraminifera are dwarfed and scarce, and the
carinated forms, including the typical MorozobeUa
velascoensis, are completely absent (Duque-Caro,
1972, 1975). The lithology bearing these faunas is
also very different. Whereas Paleocene strata of the
Bolivar Geosyncline are mostly terrigenous tur-
bidites (Duque-Caro, 1972), Upper Cretaceous to
Paleocene strata in the Dabeiba Arch are carbonate
and siliceous pelagic to hemipelagic beds. Another
feature, difficult to explain, is the occurrence of
coarse quartzose turbidites of Late Cretaceous age
along the Medellin-Quibdo highway (Fig. 3) and
vicinity, which coarsen westward, suggesting a
quartz source in the west (Calle and Salinas, 1986).
I have recognized this phenomenon particularly
along the Pereira-lstmina and Medellin-Quibdo
highways and in general on the western flanks of
the Cordillera Occidental. In contrast, quartz is not
 -.Q

A T RA T 0 BA S I N I
DABEIBA ARCH WESTERN CENTRAL EASTERN
-surface- -wells- -surface-
| ~, + i _,k 4, 4 ~i.~..~.~i..~ .~,i..~::~.~
_ __ _ _ _ _ _ _~_ _ - - _ . . - _ . .. - ~ : _ _ - . : ~ - ..:. .. . . -:.'..'.:.
. - . - . . . - . . :. ...:"
. . : _ _".'.:.::..

.-.-,.--: .-.- . - - , - . - ~ ~ . -
:m

aR
-| NUDSTONES

. . . . . -.= . • ~ ":-"

.~.m _ ;_ :,..'... ~ ~ ...... ...: .:. ~ ~ --:.--: .....

BEDS I,,-- In, ~ .............
. . . . .•. .-. ~. . . . . . : j . . . . . . -
~- o-o.
.~
S...~ J.. I.a,I L.J : ....... '-
Z Z
&,m,I LaJ

---~. u N ~-'--
O c
r,=
u m .:.:.:.:.:.'.:.:.'.:.'.:.:.'." I
._.J -...~' m~ ~ ".'o-.........'.....*........
=--:_-.:.----- :.-.:.- ,- "°'°'.°o°.'o'o°.'.°o%°o°.'°'~
O -.o..°...*.°o.°o.-.°-.:.
• -....:...: .... -!
C~DILLERA
~ : ~-.',~ : ~ :-~-~ OCCIDENTAL
I I I ! I I 1
north
;
QO
,~ I-~ --.~--~'...I
~. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
=r 'F:'. : . ' - - , ' : ' - - " ' . - - ' . : , ~ ; ' ~

i~l~&~i°°.°...°.o.°°°..%°°-.°o .
aE ~ :----:-'-:-:-:.'-'.:.:.:-:.:
L,J ----J
g,,~ ~:p .--"__.~" . . . . . . .
c:~ -.-........... -.,. -. -.-.'.-'U.-
°.'.'.'.'.-.'o':.'.'...'.'.:
:.---:-..-:-". -.~._-..y._ : _ - = - ~ . . -
. . . . . . . . . . . :':--.

:::-:':::-:2::::::'.::::::;:::
?

F i g , 4. M a j o r l i t h o s t r a t i g r a p h i c f e a t u r e s i n t h e C h o e o B l o c k a n d n o r t h e r n C o r d i l l e r a O c c i d e n t a l
 The Choco Block: Structural,tectonostratigraphic,and paleogeographic implications
a common component along the eastern flanks of the
Cordillera Occidental. This phenomenon is not in
agreement with the generally accepted eastern con-
tinental lands -- i.e.,Cordillera Central -- as terri-
genous and a quartz source for the Cretaceous and
early Tertiary basins in northwestern Colombia.
Atrato and Chucunaque Basins
Two elongate synclinal structures, the Atrato
and Chucunaque Basins, comprise the second struc-
tural element of the Choco Block and comprise the
swampy topography adjacent to the previous Dabei-
ba Arch (Fig. 2). The Atrato and Chucunaque
Basins lie in a north- to NW-trending depression
and include part of the San Bias-Darien Province
(Case et al., 1984; Fig. lb) and parts of the Atrato-
San Juan-Tumaco Terrane (Etayo et al., 1986; Fig.
lc). These basins are characterized by distinctive
gravity anomalies, becoming more negative south-
ward along the Atrato Valley area ( - 5 0 to - 9 0
regals, Case et al., 1971), and by great thickness of
sediments ~ up to more than 3500 meters in eastern
Panama (Johnson and Headington, 1971; Case,
1974} and as much as 5000 to 10,000 meters in
northwestern Colombia (Nygren, 1950; Case et al.,
1971; Flueh et al., 1981). E n echelon folds occur at
the western margins of the basins, along the contact
with the volcanic lithologies of the Baudo Arch.
A T R A T 0 B A
MODIFIED AFTER HAFFER, I 9 6 7
PREDOMINANTLY CALCAREOUS
_= MUDSTONES INCLUDINGMEDIUM
BRAINED BLUEGRAYSANDSTONE
INTERDEDS. MOLLUSCANBEDS,
FEW CONGLOMERATE AND
CARBONACEOUSZONES
- ,,~ DARKGRAYTO 6RAY CALCAREOUS
" -~ " SILTSTONESAND FORAMiNIFERAL
,,,., MUDSTONES INCLUDING ARGILLA"
i
.,,., ,,~ ~ , CEOUSFINE ORAINED SANDSTONES.
..,= _
NODULARBRAY FORAMINIFERAL
MUDSTONES AND CONCOETIONARY
:~ ..=, " -
- aE ~ LIMESTONE BEDS.
I
~I PELAGIC AND HEMIPELARICWHITE
~i AND 6RAY FORAMINIFERAL AND
"~ RADIOLARIANLIMESTONES.
THICK TURBIDITE SEQUENCE
m ?
0
~s
Fig. 5. Correlationchartofsuccessivestratigraphicsequencesin the Atrato-ChuctmaqueBasins
77
The outcropping stratigraphic sequence appears
as a continuous Oligocene to Pliocene sequence
overlain at the central portion (Opogado-1, Bucha-
do-1 wells area, Figs. 3 and 4) by post-Pliocene
terrestrial deposits of fluvial and lacustrine origin
(Duque-Caro, in press). The older sequence is com-
posed of mostly pelagic and hemipelagic strata of
Oligocene to middle Miocene age (Figs. 4 and 5),
overlain by hemipelagic and terrigenous strata of
uppermost middle Miocene to Pliocene, particularly
well exposed on the western side of the basin. Along
the eastern side of the basin, the Miocene to Pliocene
stratigraphic record is represented by mostly terri-
genous beds (Fig. 4). The outcropping sequence has
a m a x i m u m thickness of close to 4000 meters in the
Quibdo area (Haffer, 1967) as well as in the Chu-
cunaque Basin (Fig.5). In subsurface sections of the
Atrato Basin, however, a different stratigraphic
sequence has been identified beneath the out-
cropping sequence, as seen in four exploratory wells
(Figs.3, 4, 6).
The Opogado-1 well in the western Atrato Basin
(Fig. 3) penetrated through Oligocene pelagic and
hemipelagic carbonates at 3186 meters (10, 450 ft).
From this depth down to 3467 meters (TD) is a
terrigenous sequence bearing mixed middle Eocene
to middle Miocene foraminiferal faunas. The Bu-
chado-1, one of the deepest wells in the central part
of the basin, displays comparable stratigraphy and
S I N
irllTil'lliJl, ~r"ll r~ ,'~fil )J,-I
CHUCUNAQUE
RIO S A L A D SAUNA
BEDS
GROUP
PUCRO
6ATUN
AGUAGUA
CLARITA
TRUANDO
GROUP LIMESTONES
ARUSA
?
 Opepde-1 6uchade-1 Pacurita-1 Urodo-1
NORTH

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TO 3,4|7 m Biestratigraphic Markers

I based on Opgado-1 Well
TERRIGENOUSI
I (Duque-Caro, in press)
i4000
SEQUENCE i
I
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Fig. 6, Stratigraphic correlation of exploratory wells in the Atrato Basin. Refer to Fig, 3 for location of wells.
 The Choco Block: Structural, tectonostratigraphic, and paleogeographic implications
biostratigraphy, with a terrigenous sequence dis-
playing similar mixed Miocene and older foramini-
feral faunas recovered between 4000 and 4737
meters (TD). The Pacurita-1 well, in the eastern
part of the basin, penetrated an upper middle to
middle Miocene mudstone section down to 1064
meters (3490 ft); from this depth down to 2893
meters (TD), poorly sorted terrigenous sediments
containing similar mixed faunas were recovered.
Finally the Urodo-1, another deep well in the
western Atrato Basin, passed through a middle to
upper lower Miocene hemipelagic mudstone section
down to 1951 meters (6400 ft). From this depth
down to 4572 meters (TD), the stratigraphy and
biostratigraphy of poorly sorted sandy and shaly
lithologies (turbidites) were very chaotic and diffi-
cult to interpret m with Eocene, Oligocene, and Mio-
cene foraminiferal faunas commonly mixed.
These observations indicate the existence of two
sedimentary sequences in the Atrato Valley area
which are superimposed and distinctive: an upper,
coherent sequence with distinctive Oligocene to
middle Miocene pelagic and hemipelagic facies
(Duque-Caro, in press); and an underlying, uncoher-
ent sequence, not exposed in surface, in which
sediments of middle Miocene age appear mixed with
older Eocene and Oligocene foraminiferal faunas.
In seismic records of the Atrato Basin area, near the
Urodo-1 and Opogado-1 well site areas, the boun-
dary between these two stratigraphic sequences also
coincides with a zone of contrasting reflections.
Whereas the first and exposed sequence is dis-
tinguished by coherent reflections, the second un-
derlying and unexposed sequence is characterized
by domal zones of uncoherent reflections. In the
surface, domal structures have also been reported
and interpreted as diapiric structures (Barlow,
1981). Similar features that could be compared to
those of the former second sequence are observed in
the seismic records of the adjacent Sinu Belt and
Golfo de Uraba areas (Fig. 3; Figs. 5 and 9 of Duque-
Caro, 1984).
What are the stratigraphical and/or the struc-
tural relationships between these two sequences and
their significance? This question is presently diffi-
cult to answer in a coherent framework, due to the
scant existing information available. More tectonic
and structural control is needed, particularly addi-
tional well data.
Baudo Arch
The Baudo Arch, which is practically unknown,
outlines the western boundary of the Choco Block
and comprises the Serrania de Maje-Baudo (Figs. 2
and 3). The scant existing information suggests it is
similar to the Dabeiba Arch. The Baudo Arch is
characterized by the following features:
• Positive Bouguer anomalies are present (Case et
al., 1971; Bricefio-Guarupe, 1978).
• Large areas of igneous rocks are exposed, which
are mostly oceanic in origin (Gansser, 1950;
79
Haffer, 1967; ICSC, 1968; Case, 1974; Goossens
et al., 1977; Bourgois et aI., 1982) and are
intruded by granitoid plutons (Olsson, 1956;
Case et al., 1984). Scattered K/Ar dates (basalts)
in restricted areas of the Baudo Arch are con-
centrated in the range of 70, 41, and 25.8 Ma
(Bourgois et al., 1982).
Upper Cretaceous to Miocene sedimentary rocks
of mostly oceanic origin are associated with
basalts and diabase (Fig. 4) and restricted to
small outcrops (Gansser, 1950; Haffer, 1967;
ICSC, 1968a,b; Bourgois et al., 1982).
An apparent "patchy" and faulted pattern is
seen based on the existing maps along routes 17
and 25 (ICSC, 1968a,b).
MAJOR FAULT ZONES
The Choco Block is characterized by five major
structural features: the Uramita, Atrato, Baudo,
and Panama Fault Zones, and the Istmina Deformed
Zone.
Uramita Fault Zone
The eastern boundary of the Dabeiba Arch with
the Cordillera Occidental appears to be a major fault
zone. Case et al. (1971, Fig. 4) illustrated inferred
fault boundaries for both the eastern and western
flanks of the gravity high at the n o r t h w e s t e r n
flanks of the Cordillera Occidental, north of 5°N.
Three km east of Uramita on the Medellin-Dabeiba
highway (Figs. 2 and 3), the melange characteristic
of the Dabeiba Arch is in tectonic contact with
turbidites of the Urrao Formation of the Cordillera
Occidental. The same relationship is also observed
along the Medellin-Quibdo and P e r e i r a - I s t m i n a
highways (Fig. 3). This fault contact can be ob-
served as far as the Golfo de Uraba area. There, the
Sinu Belt, with its typical radial structures (Duque-
Caro, 1984, Fig. 5), is truncated to the south by the
north- to NW-trending structures and melanges of
the Dabeiba Arch. In unpublished (Restrepo and
Perez, 1982) and published (Kellogg et al., 1989)
reports, the northernmost land extension of the
Atrato Fault coincides with the trace of the Uramita
Fault Zone of this study. However, I believe that
the characteristics of this fault zone, as presented
here, are very distinctive and different from those of
the Atrato Fault (see below). The offshore extension
of this feature is unknown and probably concealed
below the sedimentary prism. I infer that this fault
zone continues to the northwest, following steep
bathymetric contours of the sedimentary prism of
offshore Panama (Fig. 3). The precise nature of this
fault zone is difficult to assess on the basis of the
sparse structural and tectonic data available. The
occurrence of exotic Paleocene planktic foramini-
fera, however, which probably originated in higher
northern latitudes, and the tectonic nature of the
eastern boundary of the Dabeiba Arch suggest that
8(} I I. I)UQUE-CAI¢()
the Uramita Fault Zone is the contact between a
province of Central American affinity - - the Choco
Block - - and northwestern South America. Co~n
pression between nuclear Central America and
northern South America has previously been pro-
posed by Lloyd (1963) and Dengo (1968, 1983) to
explain the sigmoidal shape of southern Central
America. A left-lateral transpressive character is
suggested for the Uramita Fault Zone (Fig. 3). This
would have served to bring in the exotic blocks onto
the northwestern flanks of the Cordillera Oceiden
tal
Atrato Fault Zone
The Atrato Fault (Irving, 1971, 1975; Shagam,
1975; Barlow, 1981; Dengo, 1983; Case et al., 1984;
E t a y o el al., 1986; Kellogg et al., 1989) was
originally described by Irving (1971, 1975) to name
"an extraordinary rift zone . . . along the eastern
margin of the Atrato River Valley and the western
margin of the western Cordillera. The fault extends
for several hundred kilometers south from the Gulf
of Uraba." This feature was also originally illus-
trated as a thrust dipping to the east with a left-
lateral displacement and an inferred n o r t h e r n
extension to the Golfo de Uraba. It is important to
m e n t i o n here that H a f f e r (1967) had a l r e a d y
described and discussed a fault called Uraba, appar-
ently with the same characteristics as Irving's
Atrato Fault.
The western flanks of the Dabeiba Arch also
appear structurally controlled at the steep gravity
gradient between the positive anomalies of the
Sautata gravity high and the negative anomalies of
the adjacent Atrato Basin (Case et al., 1971). This
steep gravity gradient coincides with an abrupt
topographic c o n t r a s t b e t w e e n the s w a m p y and
forested plains of the Atrato Valley (Fig. 2) and the
steep flanks of the Cordillera Occidental (Dabeiba
Arch).
The tectonically complex and distinctive rocks of
the Dabeiba Arch crop out along the Medellin-
Quibdo highway (Fig. 3), across the northwestern
flanks of the Cordillera Occidental. These rocks are
bounded to the west by columnar basalts and are
overlain by coherent and gently west-dipping {less
than 20 °) Oligocene to lower Miocene pelagic and
hemipelagic carbonate and sandy mudstone beds of
the adjacent and less abrupt Atrato Valley topo-
graphy. To the north, the trace of this contact is
marked by the slightly west-dipping Neogene terri-
genous and Quaternary unconsolidated sediments
unconformably overlying the complex rocks of the
Dabeiba Arch.
In light of the present discussion, the Atrato
Fault coincides with the previous fault zone sepa-
rating the Dabeiba Arch from the adjacent Atrato
Basin (Fig. 3; Fig. 4 of Case et al., 1971). However,
the original inferred northern extension of the
Atrato Fault to the Golfo de Uraba appears now
difficult to reconcile with the structural framework
of the Choco Block
Baudo Fault Zone
Similar to the Dabeiba Arch, both the eastern
and western margins of the Baudo Arch are fault
boundaries (Haffer, 1967}. Steep gravity gradients
outline the eastern and western margins of the
positive Bouguer anomalies of the Baudo Arch (Case
et al., 1971; Case, 1974; Bricefio-Guarupe, 1978).
The abrupt change between the low and s w a m p y
topography of the Atrato-Chucunaque River Valleys
and the steep flanks and rugged topography of the
coastal ranges coincides with a marked g r a v i t y
gradient along the eastern flanks of the Baudo Arch
(Fig. 2). The boundary also coincides with a marked
lithologic and structural contrast between coherent
Oligocene and younger strata (Figs. 4 and 5), which
dip toward the basin axis, and the complex and
faulted rocks of the Baudo Arch (Haffer, 1967). An
additional characteristic of this fault zone is the
occurrence of en echelon folds along the w e s t e r n
margins of the Atrato Basin in both northwestern
Colombia (Barlow, 1981) and e a s t e r n P a n a m a
(Wing and McDonald, 1973). T h e s e folds and
deformation, particularly in the Atrato Valley area,
appear to affect mostly the Oligocene to middle
Miocene strata; the post-middle Miocene deposits
are not substantially deformed.
Panama Fault Zone
Very little is known about the western boundary
of the Choco Block located offshore of the Baudo
Arch. However, this boundary can be projected into
the distinctive northwestern structural trends and
lineaments present in the adjacent P a n a m a Basin
(Fig. 3; Van Andel et al., 1971; Case, 1974; Lonsdale
and Klitgord, 1978; Case and Holcombe, 1980). For
example, the inferred N W - t r e n d i n g "deep s h e a r
zone" parallel to the Panama Canal (Fig. 2 of Case,
1974; Case and Holcombe, 1980), which forms the
boundary of the Choco Block with the Chorotega
blocks (Fig. la), apparently continues southeast-
ward to outline this western boundary. This fea-
ture, in turn, coincides with the steep bathymetric
gradient of the Pacific coastal margins of north-
western Colombia and eastern Panama (Lonsdale
and Klitgord, 1978).
Istmina Deformed Zone
The southern boundary of the Choco Block is
marked by the low hills of the Istmina Deformed
Zone which trend N60°E (cf. Istmina S h a l l o w s ,
Nygren, 1950; Istmina Shear Zone, Haffer, 1967;
San Juan Paleohigh, Bueno and Govea, 1976; Figs.
2 and 3). This feature, which separates the Atrato
and San Juan Basins, is a major structure extending
from the Pacific Coast to the eastern flanks of the
Cordillera Occidental. Along the lstmina-Pereira
 The Choco Block: Structural, tectonostratigraphic, and paleogeographic implications 81

highway (Figs. 3 and 7), the lstmina Zone consists of
highly deformed sedimentary rocks no younger than
middle Miocene (foraminiferal data; Duque-Caro, in
press). It is also characterized by N60°E-trending
steep dips and tight folds which are cut by strike-
parallel faults (cf. Haffer, 1967; Barlow, 1981). This
structural pattern continues to the east, including
both the western and eastern flanks of the Cor-
dillera Occidental. N60°E-oriented fractures associ-
ated with N20°W faults can be observed.
Negative gravity anomalies are characteristic of
the Istmina Deformed Zone (Case et al., 1971),
indicating the great thickness of sediments present.
On seismic reflection records, particularly from the
offshore areas to the north and west of Buena-
ventura, between 4 ° and 5°N (Ecopetrol data), the
submarine continuation of this structure contains
"diapiric intrusions" similar to those of the Sinu
Belt to the north (Duque-Caro, 1984).
The Istmina Deformed Zone is more than 40 km
wide and 320 km long, apparently contiguous with
similar structural trends to the west in the adjacent
Panama Basin (Fig. 3; Van Andel et al., 1971). To
the east, it divides the Cordillera Occidental into

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NORTHERN SEGMENT
WESTERN FLANKS. DABEIBA ARCH. MOSTLY VOLCANICS OF OCEANIC ORIGIN
la AND FKLSIC INTRUSIVES. PF/ASIC AND HEMIPELAGIC BLOCKS, CHAOq'ICALLY
DISTRIBUTED. POSITIVE GRAVITY ANOMALIES EXTENDING OVER EASTERN
PANAMA. MELANGE ZONE MARKING THE EASTERN BOUNDARY.

FASTF/~N FLANKS. qI]RBIDITES AND VOLCANIC SUITES OF THE C A ~ GORDAS

Ib
GROUP. MOSTLY NEGATIVE GRAVITY ANOMALIES ON THE WESTERN MARGINS.

SOUTHERN S ~ 4 ~ T
WESTERN FLANKS. METAMDRPHIC, METASEDIM~%'TARY AND METAVOLCANIC SUITES
2a
OF THE DAGUA GR(X]p. APPARENTLY N]K?~TIVE GRAVITY ANOMALIES.

EASTERN FLANKS. VOLCANIC AND SEDIMENTARY SUITF_~ OF THE UPPER

2b CRETACEOUS DIABASE GROUP. POSITIVE GRAVITY ANOMALIES.
MAJOR FAULT ZONES

Fig. 7. Structural implications of the Istmina Zone on the Cordillera Occidental in N-W Colombia.
82 I|, [)UQUE-CARO
two distinctive segments (Fig. 7). The northern seg-
ment is characterized by: (l) mostly north to NW-
trending positive gravity anomalies of the Dabeiba
Arch and by mostly igneous rocks and chaotic strata
along the western flanks; and (2)north-trending
gravity anomalies, generally correlative with the
fine-grained turbidites of the Upper Cretaceous-
lower Tertiary Urrao Formation, along the eastern
flanks. South of the Istmina Deformed Zone (Fig
7), in contrast, N20°E-trending negative gravity
anomalies (Case et al., 1971), related to the mostly
metamorphic and m e t a s e d i m e n t a r y suites of the
Cretaceous Cisneros and Espinal Formations of the
Dagua Group (Barrero, 1979), are exposed along the
western flanks of the Cordillera Occidental. The
eastern flanks of the southern segment exhibit posi
tive gravity anomalies that correspond mostly to
volcanic suites of the Upper Cretaceous Diabasc
Group (Case et al., 1971; Barrero, 1979). Another
major contrast is the absence of granitoid plutons on
the western flanks of the southern segment, where-
as these are characteristic in the western flanks of
the northern segment. In offshore areas, this differ-
ence between the northern and southern segments is
reflected by a major tectonic break indicated by
geophysical contrasts b e t w e e n the S e r r a n i a de
Baudo to the north and Gorgona Island to the south
(McGeary and Ben-Avraham, 1985). This break
coincides with the offshore extension of the lstmina
l)eformed Zone.
The N60°E-trending structures appear to be a
regional pattern characteristic of n o r t h w e s t e r n
Colombia and the adjacent P a n a m a Basin (Van
Andel et al., 1971). In the Choco Block, this struc-
tural pattern is developed particularly in Oligocene
to middle Miocene strata, both along the eastern
flanks of the Baudo Arch and in the [stmina
Deformed Zone (Fig. 3). In contrast, this structural
pattern does not substantially affect the post-middle
Miocene beds. This indicates that the deformation
which produced these trends, roughly perpendicular
to the Panama and Uramita Fault Zones, originated
during and after the middle Miocene tectonic distur-
bances (Duque-Caro, in press) and resulted from the
thrusting and compression of the Choco Block with
the northwestern corner of South America.
SUMMARY A N D CONCLUSIONS
A n t e c e d e n t s a n d Facts
• The Choco Block is composed of the Dabeiba and
Baudo Arches and the Atrato-Chucunaque Basins,
each of which displays contrasting structural and
stratigraphic styles. Five conspicuous fault zones
include the internal Atrato and Baudo Fault Zones,
the bounding Uramita and P a n a m a Fault Zones,
and the Istmina Deformed Zone.
• The Dabeiba and Baudo Arches outline the
external boundaries of the Choco Block and display
similar characteristics: (a) mostly positive gravity
anomalies and the association of igneous bodies of
oceanic origin with sedimentary rocks; and (b) the
presence of Upper Cretaceous to Miocene pelagic,
hemipelagic, and terrigenous strata, with volcanic
rock interbeds of oceanic origin, in blocks of differ
ent ages and environments, chaotically distributed,
and of variable size up to several i~ilometers in
length. The Dabeiba Arch, in addil;ion, includes
melange fabric, particularly along its eastern m a r
gin, consisting of disrupted strata and inclusions of
Upper Cretaceous to Paleocene exotic blocks of dif-
ferent sizes in a sheared pelitic mat~'ix of middle
Miocene age.
• The Atrato-Chucunaque Basins contain only
thick sedimentary fill. In contrast, the Dabeiba and
Baudo Arches are composed of associated sedi
mentary and igneous rocks. Two stratigraphic
sequences have been recognized in the Atrato Basin:
(1) an exposed Oligocene to Pliocene sequence with
distinctive Oligocene to middle Miocene s t r a t a of
pelagic and hemipelagic character; and (2) an u n
derlying and unexposed middle Miocene and older
terrigenous sequence.
Interpretations
• The Choco Block is an exotic piece of Central
America accreted to the northwestern flanks of the
Cordillera Occidental, with no lithogenetic affinity
with northwestern South America. The presence of"
exotic components such as Paleocene planktic as-
semblages and quartzose turbidites, c o n s i d e r e d
atypical of the n o r t h w e s t e r n c o r n e r of S o u t h
America, supports this interpretation.
• The Choco Block likely originated far from
South America, at least as far as northern Central
American latitudes, previous to its accretion onto
the northwestern flanks of the Cordillera Occiden-
tal. Where its components originally formed and
how they were amalgamated, however, are ques-
tions difficult to answer at present. Several plate
tectonic models have been suggested to explain the
origin of oceanic rocks in the northwestern corner of
South America (Case, 1974; Mooney, 1980; Penning-
ton, 1981; Dengo, 1983, among others). The sparse
existing data and the lack of systematic mapping of
this region, however, hamper clarification of this
problem.
• The suture zone between the Choco Block and
northwestern South America is m a r k e d by the
Uramita Fault Zone.
• The accretion of the Choco Block onto the north-
western flanks of the Cordillera Occidental started
during the middle Miocene (Duque-Caro, in press).
This accretion entailed major deformation of pre-
middle Miocene formations, including the steep dips
and tight folds that trend N60°E in the [stmina
Deformed Zone, the synclinal shape of the Atrato-
Chucunaque Basins, the en echelon folds along the
western margins of the Atrato-Chucunaque Basins,
and the shearing and deformation of lower middle
Miocene planktic foraminifera in the Dabeiba Arch
 The Choco Block: Structural, tectonostratigraphic,and paleogeographic implications
The melange zone at the eastern margin of the
Dabeiba Arch also started to develop during this
time.
• The middle Miocene tectonic disturbances which
are dated between 12.9 and 11.8 M a (Duque-Caro, in
press), basically divide the paleogeographic evolu-
tion of the westernmost coastal areas of South
America into two episodes. The first was a pre-
middle Miocene episode, during which the areas
west of the Cordillera Occidental were open to the
ocean with no evidence of an emerged land mass
located to the immediate west; sedimentation was
mostly pelagic, hemipelagic, and turbiditic along
the trench-like margins of the Cordillera Occidental
and along its northern extension in the San Jacinto
Belt. In the post-middle Miocene episode, the Choco
Block was accreted to the northwestern flanks of the
Cordillera Occidental, thus affecting the water
circulation between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans
(Duque-Caro, in press). The resulting paleogeo-
graphy included the elongate and intermontane
Atrato and Chucunaque Basins in their early stage
of development, which is similar to the present
inner borderland basins of southern California
(Duque-Caro, in press).
• The previous interpretations lead to the ques-
tion of how paleoceanography and paleobiogeo-
graphy evolved in the northwestern corner of South
America, and how the fossil content of the pre- and
post-middle Miocene stratigraphic sequences reflect
the middle Miocene tectonic disturbances; this is the
subject of another paper (Duque-Caro, in press).
Acknowledgements--This paper is part of my PhD thesis at the
Department of Geological and Geophysical Sciences, Princeton
University. In this matter I want to express my sincere thanks
and acknowledgement to A. G. Fischer, F. B. van Houten, J. E.
Case, N. Lundberg, and J. N. Kellogg for their comments and
suggestions at various stages of its completion.
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