PLATE-TECTONIC INTERPRETATION OF LAS VILLAS REGION (Central Cuba)

ABSTRACT. Las Villas region of Central Cuba consists of a paraautochthon (the zones of Remedios, Paleo-Camajuani and Camajuani) and two allochthons (Las Villas and Zaza). They resulted from the collision of the Caribbean and North American plates. Las Villas allochthon includes the zones of Las Villas, Paleo-Placetas and Placetas. It is a part of the southern margin of North American plate thrusted over Bahamas platform. Zaza allochthon coincides entirely with the Zaza zone. It is an obducted part of the Caribbean plate comprising island arc lying on ophiolite complex. Serpentinite mélange in the lowest part of this complex marks an old (dead) subduction zone, transformed into obduction zone as a result of the collision. The boundary between the serpentinite mélange and the upper levels of the ophiolite complex is a detachment fault. Such a fault is supposed to exist between the basement and the folded cover as well. During the period of collision (Paleocene – Middle Eocene) and related trusting and obduction, three basins of terrigenous-carbonate sedimentation were formed. They were featured by intensive resedimentation phenomena. The flyschoid sediments of two of the basins (Camajuani and Placetas) have been used as lubricators, facilitating the thrusting and obduction