Metamorphic pattern of the Cretaceous Celica Formation,

SW Ecuador, and its geodynamic implications

Luis Aguirre
Laboratoire de Pitrologie Magmatique, U.R.A. 1277 CNRS, Faculte des Sciences de St. Jerome, Universite d'Aix-Marseille Ill,
13397 Marseille, Cedex 13, France
(Received July 23, 1990; revised and accepted February 3, 1991)

ABSTRACT

Aguirre, L., 1992. Metamorphic pattern of the Cretaceous Celica Formation, SW Ecuador, and its geodynamic implications.
In: R.A. Oliver, N. Vatin-Perignon and G. Laubacher (Editors), Andean Geodynamics. Tectonophysics, 205: 223-237.

The volcanic rocks of the Cretaceous Celica Formation of southern Ecuador are affected by a weak although widespread
alteration. The chemical study of the secondary chemical phases present in andesitic and basaltic lava flows reveals that this
alteration corresponds to very low-grade metamorphism comprising the zeolite and the prehnite-pumpellyite facies. Main
features of this metamorphism are: weak lithostatic pressure, moderate to steep thermal gradient, high f02, low value of the
seawater/ rock ratio and total absence of deformation. These characteristics are typically present in other volcanic suites of
similar age and composition along the Andes and correspond to the pattern of metamorphism developed in extensional
settings (diastathermal metamorphism) linked to various degrees of thinning of the continental crust.
Based on this metamorphic pattern, a geodynamic model is proposed in which the Celica Formation is interpreted as an
ensialic, aborted, marginal basin developed on strongly attenuated continental crust at the border of the South American
plate. The relationship between the Ecuadorian and Colombian volcanic suites of Cretaceous age present along the Western
Cordillera is discussed in the light of the model suggested.

Introduction developed on an active continental margin or as

an aborted, ensialic, marginal basin produced by
Several volcanic sequences of Mesozoic and extreme continental crust attenuation. These
Cenozoic age are exposed along the western three Cretaceous units have been affected by very
border of Ecuador (Fig. 1). Among them, three low-grade metamorphism.
volcanic units of essentially Cretaceous age are The Piii6n and the Macuchi formations are
distinguished: (a) the marine Piii6n Formation considered as allochthonous suites s.I. and are
with oceanic chemical affinities; (b) the marine separated from the ensialic, autochthonous,
Macuchi Formation which represents an oceanic Celica Formation by a suture line which largely
island arc suite of predominant tholeiitic coincides with the position of the Dolores-
composition, and (c) the Celica Formation, Guayaquil Megashear (DGM). The Celica
mostly shallow marine, and of calcalkaline volcanics are dis- played in the Southern
nature. This last formation is considered either Ecuadorian Sierra and no outcrops of this
as a volcanic arc formation are known north of latitude 2° S.
Toward the south they have been correlated
with the Albian Casma Group of northern and
central Peru. References concerning the
geological framework in this introduction
correspond. mainly to Feininger and Bristow
(1980), Baldock (1985), Lebrat (1985) and Aguirre
and Atherton (1987).
Petrography and primary mineralogy ( = very low-grade metamorphism). Secondary (
= metamorphic) mineral phases are abundantly
The Celica Formation is made of volcanic rocks developed in the volcanic rocks, preferently in
with minor sedimentary intercalations. The the basic and intermediate types (Table 1). They
predominant rocks are massive, grayish green appear as replacement of phenocrysts, in
to grayish, andesitic flows associated with flow amygdules and veinlets and as patches in the
breccias and lithic tuffs of a similar chemical groundmass.
composition and mineralogy. Basic and acid
terms are subordinate in volume and appear Metamorphic minerals
as basaltic lavas and dacitic flows and crystal
tuffs (Table 1). The Celica strata conform large The metamorphic phases identified are listed
and extended subhorizontal monoclinal structures in Table 1. Most common assemblages are: (1)
and are affected by a moderate, although laumontite + stilbite (prehnite and pumpellyite
widespread, alteration

TABLE 1
Petrographic and mineralogical characteristics of the Celica volcanic rocks, southern Ecuador

Rock type Texture (porphyritic) Metamorphic

mineralogy
Phenocrysts Groundmass
Texture Mineralogy
BASALT Ca-rich plagioclase Intergranular Plagioclase Albite I, An 11 ---> An 22 (1 *)
(An 88 ---> An 60 ) to Clinopyroxene Albite II, An 0 ---> An 3 (5)
Clinopyroxene intersertal (from augite) Apatite
(mean = Ca 40 Mg 46 Fe14) to Calcite (1, 2, 3)
magnesian pigeonite) Chlorite (1, 2, 3, 4) (partly chlorite-
Titanite smectite interlayering)
Chlorite Epidote (1)
Grandite (4)
Laumontite (1, 2, 5)
Prehnite (1, 3)
Pumpellyite (1)
Stilbite (1, 2)
Titanite (1, 2, 3, 4)
White mica (1)

ANDESITE Ca-rich plagioclase Holohyaline Plagioclase Same as in basalts, except grandite

(An66 ---> An50) Microcrystalline Glass (devitrified)
ANDESITIC Clinopyroxene Granophyric Iron oxide
FLOW-BRECCIA (calcic augite) Intersertal Chlorite
(mean = Ca 44 Mg42 Fe14) Intergranular Titanite
FRAGMENTAL Amphibole
ANDESITES IN (magnesia-hornblende)
LITHIC TUFFS

DACITE Plagioclase (albitized) Hyaline Plagioclase Albite I (1)

FRAGMENTAL Amphibole Insertal Quartz Calcite (1, 5)
DACITES IN (brownish-green Iron oxide Chlorite (1, 4)
CRYSTAL TUFFS magnesia-hornblende) Chlorite Laumontite (1, 5)
Quartz (embayed)

• 1-replacement of primary; 2-replacement of primary clinopyroxene; 3-in amygdules; 4-as patches in the ground mass; 5-in
vein lets.
226

...
absents); (2) laumontite + grandite + prehnite +
pumpellyite; (3) prehnite + pumpellyite + Alrich
titanite + (smectite); (4) epidote + Alrich titanite
+ pumpellyite (prehnite absent). The main meta
20 :1 20 ae 30
·
morphic minerals can be described as follows:

40 ..·..

Sodic plagioclase is found as two different types

here named Ab I and Ab II. Ab I, the commonest
I
n__ .....
of the two, is formed by albitisation of the primary se
Carich, plagioclase. Crystals of Ab I have a 0

"dusty" appearance and their composition occupies

the interval An 00-An06 with a few exceptions
in the range An 11-An22 (Table 2, analyses 1 to :10 :1!3
<=>UMPEL L.. Y :t TE

5). A drastic reduction of the Or component

accompanies albitisation. This last is commonly
partial and relicts of primary plagioclase are
often found in a number of crystals.
Ab II (Table 2, analysis 6) appears as sharply
defined patches both in fresh and albitised
plagioclase phenocrysts and as a mosaiclike
filling
of veinlets. Its composition is close to An 05 with a "
small Or component (ca. 0.3%).
A notorious gap in the plagioclase composition
=REHNJ:TE
exists between An 22 and An 42 and a progressive 20

increase in Or content, away from the sodic and

calcic extremes, toward this compositional gap is
observed.
X Fe .3 -+
Laumontite is moderately abundant appearing
as patchy replacement in phenocrysts, notably 0 "'

plagioclase, and in veinlets. Laumontite associated Fig. 2. x :[ = 100Fe3+/(Fe 3 "' + Al ,0," 1)] values for epidote,
pumpellyite and prehnite in metandesites and metabasalts of
with pumpellyite, prehnite and grandite in some the Celica Formation, southern Ecuador.
basalt flows is poorer in Si02 and CaO and
richer in Na 2 0, K 2 0 and Al 2 03 as compared
with laumontite in the andesite flows (Table 2, Fe 2 0j) showing that the prehnites analysed are
analyses 19 to 22). iron-rich individuals belonging to the solid
Stilbite (Table 2, analyses 23 and 24) is found solution series with end members Ca 2Al
as sharply defined patches inside plagioclase 2 Si 3
phenocrysts and, less commonly, in pyroxenes. The 010(0H)rCa 2 FeAISi 3010(0H)2 in which Fe3+
coexistence of these two zeolites has been partially replaces Al (Table 2, analyses 13 and
established in only one case (andesite sample 14).
62820) where they are accompanied by chlorite, The content of Fe3+ in the octahedral site given
calcite, by the ratio X e+ = 100Fe3+/(Fe3+ + Alvi ) varies
albite I, albite II and titanite. from 17 to 34% whereas the figures obtained for
Prehnite , with a transparent aspect, is fairly x ;= 100Fe3+/(Fe3+ + Al 101a1) cover the inter-
abundant as patchy replacement of plagioclase
and in amygdules both in basalts and andesites. val 9.3 to 18.7% without the gap suggested by
In the samples studied prehnite coexists with Matsueda (1975) for the range 8-13% (Fig. 2).
pumpellyite and, in the case of a basaltic flow These high values of x ; indicate a high f 0 ,
(sample 62833), additionally with grandite. Its (Liou et al., 1983). "
iron content is high (up to 6.86%, total iron as Pumpellyite is moderately abundant appearing
as replacement patches in plagioclase
phenocrysts
crysts. Three types can be distinguished optically: prehnite-pumpellyite facies (see Liou, 1983). This
deep emerald-green, golden yellow and "dusty". feature is reflected in the AI-Fe-Mg diagram
Pumpellyite is found associated with (Coombs et al., 1976) (Fig. 3) where the Celica
laumontite and grandite as in the assemblage: pumpellyites plot partly in the field of the Taiwan
(1) laumontite + prehnite + grandite + ophiolite (Liou and Ernst, 1979) and partly in the
pumpellyite + chlorite + (calcite) field of the Jonestown and Olimpic Peninsula
and with epidote as in: terrains (Zen, 1974; Glassley, 1975) which
(2) epidote + prehnite + pumpellyite + calcite characterize a low-grade metamorphism in the
+ titanite zeolite and prehnite-pumpellyite facies.
(3) epidote + chlorite + calcite + pumpellyite + Pumpellyite coexisting with epidote (as in
titanite assemblage 3 above; Table 2, analyses 29 and
Compositions calculated to a total of 24.5 oxy- 30) has a lower iron
gens show that Si is systematically higher (6.19- content (9.35-14.62% Fe 20j) as compared with
6.47) than the ideal six atoms per formula unit pumpellyite in epidote-free assemblages (Table 2,
(Table 2, analyses 27 to 30). The iron content analyses 27 and 28) either with laumontite (
Fe 2 0j ranges between 9.35 and 15.83% assemblage 1) or without it (11.20-15.83%
suggesting a moderate to high degree of Fe/Al Fe 2 0j). This difference in composition is also
substitution. More than 90% of the analysed expressed in their structural formulae by the fact
pumpellyites have Fe2 0j content higher than that most of the pumpellyites coexisting with
10%, a feature typical of pumpellyites in the epidote con- tain Al in the octahedral X site,
zeolite and a feature not observed in the rest of the
pumpellyites. This

Al

Vancouver Island

California

Jonestown

Loeche

Taiwan

25

Fe 25 50 75
Mg
Fig. 3. Al-Fe-Mg diagram (Coombs et al., 1976) showing composition of pumpellyites in basic and intermediate lava flows of the
Celica Formation, southern Ecuador. Open circle = pumpellyite in metandesites; triangle = pumpellyite in metabasalts. Field
1 = composition of pumpellyites in metabasites of the Diabasic Group, Colombia (Aguirre, 1989). Field 2 = composition of
pumpellyites in metabasites of the Ocoite Group, Chile (Aguirre, in prep.).
As to the pumpellyites present in epidote-free are completely devoid of Mg (Table 2, analyses
assemblages, x ; values range from 26.6 to 37.4% 15 and 16).
( x = 31.94, u = 2.80, n = 21) (Fig. 2). Grandite, i.e. intermediate members of the
Compared with pumpellyites coexisting with grossular-andradite series, are found in basaltic
laumontite and epidote in metamorphosed basalts flows as tiny framboidal grains at the interior of
and basaltic andesites of the Macuchi Formation, mediumsize chlorite patches in the groundmass.
further north in the Western Cordillera of These patches represent ill-defined amygdules
Ecuador (Aguirre and Atherton, 1987), the Celica and /or wholly replaced primary ferromagnesians.
pumpellyites are much richer in iron, a feature Coexisting mineral phases are: iron-rich prehnite,
suggesting a setting characterized by higher T iron-rich pumpellyite (X ; = 33.5-36.2% ),
and higher f 02 at the time of their formation. laumontite, calcite and chlorite.
Epidote is rather scarce and is mainly found as The grandites (Table 2, analyses 25 and 26)
replacement inside plagioclase and clinopyroxene closely approach in composition those found in
phenocrysts. In the studied rocks it appears in basic volcan ic rocks metamorphosed under
assemblages with pumpellyite, chlorite, titanite, prehnite-pumpellyite (possibly extending into
calcite and prehnite. Values of x;
have been zeolite) facies in Southern New Zealand
given above as compared to those of coexisting (Coombs et al., 1977). The grandite-bearing
pumpellyite (Fig. 2). As opposed to epidotes in assemblages of the Celica metabasalts include
the rocks of the Macuchi Formation (Aguirre and laumontite and pumpellyite and are devoid of
Atherton, 1987) the ones in the Celica epidote. These features indicate that grandites
metabasites can be generated

Fe2 ' + Fe3'

2 3
0.2 0.5 0.8 Fe ' + Fe ' + Mg
4
c Pth

s S R

Cl Po

6
Pe

7
Tc

Si
Fe2' + FeH
8
0 2 3 4 s 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Fig. 4. Classification diagram (Hey, 1954) showing composition of chlorites in basic and intermediate lava flows of the Celica
Formation, southern Ecuador. Open circle = chlorite in metandesites; triangle = chlorite in metabasalts. R = ripidolite; P =
pycnochlorite; B = brunsvigite; D = diabantite; C = corundophylite; Pth = pseudo-thuringite; S = sheridanite; Dph = daphnite;
Cl = clinochlore; Pe = penninite; Tc = talc-chlorite.
under upper zeolite facies conditions (see Al
Livingstone, 1989 for grandites in zeolite-bearing
assemblages in Scotland).
The xi: values range from 43to 52%; small
amounts of Mg (0.24-0.77% MgO) are present in
some individuals whose corresponding chemical
analyses indicate an inverse relationship between
Mg and Ca. All the analyses have low summations,
a feature shared by the framboidal grandites of
New Zealand and mainly attributed by Coombs et
al. (1977) to the existence of fluid-filled
microcavities in the crystals studied.
Chlorite is the commonest metamorphic
mineral in the rocks studied. It is found as
replacement patches inside plagioclase and Ti 10 20 JO 40 50 Fe
clinopyroxene phenocrysts, as inclusions in Fig. 5. Al-Ti-Fe diagram showing composition of titanites in
amygdules and as interstitial material in the metandesites of the Celica Formation, southern Ecuador
groundmass. In most cases it is palegreen (hatched field). Reference compositional fields are: I = zeolite
and prehnite-pumpellyite facies, New Zealand (Boles and
although yellowish-brown and brownishgreen
Coombs, 1977); 2 = zeolite and prehnite-pumpellyite facies
types are also common; abnormal interference (basic and acid rocks), Iceland (Viereck et al., 1982); 3 =
colours grade from deep blue to brownish gray. zeolite and prehnitepumpellyite faces (basic rocks only), Ice-
The 41 microprobe analyses performed plot land (Viereck et al., 1982); 4 = prehnite-pumpellyite facies,
largely in the field of diabantite on Hey's (1954) southern Peru (Atherton and Aguirre, in press); 5 = prehnite-
pumpellyite facies, Central Sweden (Nystrom, 1983); 6 =
diagram (Fig. 4). Chlorites in basalts (e.g., sample
pumpellyite-actinolite facies, Central Sweden (Nystrom, 1983);
62833) have higher iron content than those in 7 = greenschist to amphibolite facies, East Taiwan ophiolite
andesites (e.g., samples 62619 and 62820) (Table (Liou and Ernst, 1979); 8 = blueschist facies, Ile de Groili:
2, analyses 7-12). Since the samples concerned (France) and Goat Mountain (California) (in Coombs et al.,
are similarly altered, this feature could be 1976).
attributed to original rock composition.
In all the chlorites the cation total based on 28 chlorite, and as spots in the groundmass. Like
oxygens is less than 20, a fact indicating vacancies titanite in other low-grade metamorphic terrains,
in the chlorite structure (Foster, 1962; Viereck et its Al 203 content is high ( x = 3.96%, a- = 0.42,
al., 1982). In a considerable number of n = 10) and is here accompanied by high FeO *
individuals probed, not represented in Figure 4, ( x = 3.02%, a- = 0.19, n = 10) (Table 2, analyses
the Si and Ca cation totals largely exceed the 17 and 18). The main substitution takes place
values between (Al + Fe*) and Ti as shown by a high
6.25 and 0.10 respectively which, according to correlation index ( r = - 0.975). According to
Bettison and Schiffman (1988), characterize the Boles and Coombs (1977), this substitution is
presence of interlayered chlorite/ smectite. A characteristic of titanite in very low-grade rocks.
high Al vi/Aliv ratio is found in these same A trend of decreasing Al content in titanite with
individuals. All these characteristics indicate the rising metamorphic grade has been pointed out
presence of various interlayerings between by Nystrom (1983).
chlorite and smectite, a situation typically In the Al-Ti-Fe diagram (Fig. 5), the composi-
observed in chlorites formed during tions of the titanites from the Celica metabasites
subgreenschist facies metamorphism (Evarts and are comprised in the fields representing the
Schiffman, 1983; Offler and Aguirre, 1984). prehnite-pumpellyite facies in Central Sweden
Titanite is fairly abundant as granular (Nystrom, 1983) and the zeolite + prehnite
inclusions in plagioclase and clinopyroxene pumpellyite facies in Iceland (Viereck et al., 1982)
crystals, filling amygdules associated with
prehnite and
Metamorphic pattern R. The metamorphism of the Celica flows and of
the Macuchi arc-volcanics would have taken place
The nature of the mineral associations and of under significantly different values of R. Whereas
the individual mineral phases shows that the in the case of the Macuchi arc R might have
Celica volcanics were affected by lowgrade, non- varied between 30 and 40 as indicated by mineral
de- formational metamorphism of sub-greenschist composition (Aguirre and Atherton, 1987), in the
type. The four assemblages listed earlier indicate Celica volcanics it would have been considerably
metamorphic conditions corresponding to the smaller as suggested by experimental findings by
zeolite and the prehnite-pumpellyite faces. Seyfried and Mott! (1982) and Mott! (1983) who
Furthermore, the chemical composition of have demonstrated that Na + is extracted from
various of the metamorphic minerals developed, sea-water by basaltic glass at R < 10 and T <
notably pumpellyite, grandite, chlorite and titanite 350°C to form secondary albite or analcite. At
support this view as discussed above for each of R > 10, on the contrary, Na + is leached from the
these phases. basaltic glass in course of alteration. The com-
Disequilibrium is apparent through several mon presence of secondary albite of the Ab II
features such as: type in the Celica lavas and the spilitic nature of
(1) the presence of relictic Ca-rich plagioclase the Celica basalts could be explained by
in albitised feldspar phenocrysts; considering conditions of alteration similar to
(2) the wide compositional interval of sodic those experimentally established by Seyfried and
plagioclase; Mott! (1982)
(3) the coexistence of laumontite and stilbite; mainly represented by R < 10.
(4) the persistence of interlayered chlorite/ In short, metamorphism of the Celica volcanics
smectite in associations of the prehnite-pumpel- is characterized by absence of deformation, weak
lyite facies; load pressure, moderate to steep thermal
(5) a late Na-influx suggested by the formation gradient, high f 02 and small values of the
of clean patches and veinlets of albite (Ab II). seawater/
The high values of x: in prehnite, pumpel- rock ratio. These features typify metamorphism
lyite, and epidote suggest a high f 0 2 which, in in extensional geodynamic settings linked to
turn, would indicate a shallow depth for the various degrees of thinning of the continental
metamorphism. Pumpellyite composition and the crust as described by Robinson (1987) under the
absence of the pumpellyite-actinolite facies point name diastathermal metamorphism. Such
to low-pressure conditions and to a moderate to metamorphic pattern is well exemplified by the
high thermal gradient. Andean volcanic sequences of Cretaceous age
Some speculations concerning the ratio along the South American margin (Aguirre et
seawater/ rock ( R) can be made based on the al., 1989; Levi et al., 1989) where metamorphism
characteristics of some of the metamorphic transition- ally evolves from ocean-floor to
minerals. In the basic volcanics of the Macuchi burial types. In this respect,it is worth to remark
Formation, originated in an oceanic island arc that the comparison of pumpellyites found in
setting (Lebrat, 1985; Aguirre and Atherton, low-variance equilibrium assemblages in these
1987) Mg is persistently and conspicuosly Andean sequences show that-in the Al-Fe-Mg
present in minerals such as prehnite and epidote. diagram-the Celica pumpellyites occupy a
This is not the case for these same minerals in compositional field intermediate between that
the Celica andesites and basalts where Mg is of pumpellyites in the Colombian Diabasic
absent. A similar Mg-poor metamorphic Group (ocean-floor type pat- tern) and that of
mineralogy characterizes the basalts belonging to pumpellyites in the Chilean Ocoite Group
the Diabasic Group in the Western Cordillera of (burial type pattern) (Fig. 3).
Colombia (Bastouil, 1985; Aguirre, 1989). This The conclusions reached on the basis of
difference in the distribution of Mg is here metamorphic pattern do not conflict with the
interpreted as being controlled by the ratio chemistry reported by Lebrat (1985) who
concluded that the volcanism of the Celica
Formation was related to an ensialic setting at
the margin of
vian and Chilean Andes during the Cretaceous the continental margin. The activity in this basin
(cf. Aberg et al., 1982, 1984; Atherton et al., 1983, ceased when continental crust attenuation, pro-
1985; Bartholomew and Tarney, 1984; Aguirre gressing from south to north, gave way to rupture
and Offler, 1985; Atherton and Webb, 1989; as previously explained. The northernmost Celica
Aguirre et al., 1989). An extensional regime outcrops would indicate the position of the
resulting in strong thinning of the continental pivotal zone referred to above.
crust would have characterized the Celica The model proposed sheds light on the
marginal basin, a feature supported by the relationships between the Ecuadorian and Colom-
geochemical data (Lebrat, 1985). Under this bian volcanic units present along the Western
extensional condition rupture would have Cordillera. A rotational closing (around the
occurred, probably in the late Campanian, at the pivotal zone) varying in width from "zero" to
northern extremity of the Celica basin leading to probably hundreds of kilometres resulted in
the opening of a marginal basin proper in which direct accretion of the Macuchi oceanic arc
oceanic crust was generated. Linked to this last against the continent immediately north of the
basin an oceanic island arc (the Macuchi arc) pivotal zone. On the other hand, farther north,
developed and was progressively driven toward increasingly wider segments of basin, oceanic,
the west by basinal extension. Toward the south floor were ac- creted and partly abducted to
of the belt, where attenuated continental crust form the present- day Colombian Western
still remained, the volcanic activity in the Celica Cordillera (see Bourgois et al., 1982, 1987). The
aborted basin faded away subsequent to rupture absence of the Macuchi arc at these latitudes
in the north, a situation probably due to changes could be explained either supposing its presence
in the geometry of the subducting slab following under the sea further west or its disappearance
continental crust breakdown. The boundary during the post-Cretaceous plate readjustments.
between the zones with attenuated continental The hypothesis of an equivalence between the
crust and with oceanic floor would have Macuchi and the Baud6 island arc has also been
operated as a pivot or hinge. In the oceanic suggested (Aguirre, 1989). As a conclusion, the
segment, basin opening would have taken place identification of the Macuchi volcanics of
proportionally to the distance to this pivotal Ecuador with the Diabase Group of the Western
zone. Thus, the width of the marginal basin Cordillera of Colombia, a correlation too
progressively increased toward the north as the obviously suggested by their spatial continuity,
active Macuchi arc rotated around this pivotal proves wrong since these two volcanic suites
zone (Fig. 7a). Closing of the margnal basin originated in different geotectonic settings as al-
started at the end of the Cretaceous and, ready indicated by their contrasting
consequently, the Macuchi arc was driven back characteristics in rock and mineral chemistry
toward the continent (Fig. 7b). Considering the and in metamorphic pattern (Lebrat, 1985;
relative orientations of the eastern Pacific rise and Aguirre and Atherton, 1987; Aguirre, 1989).
the South American border during the late Finally, the boundary between the Central and
Cretaceous (see Whitman et al., 1983) an oblique the Northern Andes would essentially reflect the
collision between the Macuchi arc and the abrupt discontinuity produced when rupture
continent, propagating from south to north, occurs in a process of progressive thinning of
would have occurred. Such asynchronous the continental crust. This break represents the
collision would be apparent by the northward pas- sage from an aborted marginal basin setting
younging age of fossils in sedimentary rocks to one in which oceanic crust is generated and a
overlying the Macuchi volcanics (Henderson, marginal basin sensu stricto is formed.
1979; Lebrat, 1985). As previously stated, the metamorphic pattern
The setting described offers an answer to the of the Celica volcanics corresponds to that of
absence of the Celica volcanics north of latitude diastathermal metamorphism and is transitional
2° S. Eastward subduction of the proto Nazca between the ocean-floor and burial type Andean
plate from the Albian to the Campanian resulted patterns. Such a conclusion is in agreement with
in the formation of the Celica aborted basin on
the conditions expected at an ensialic, aborted, features of spreading-subsidence and ensialic marginal
marginal basin of the type envisaged in the model basin generation in central Chile during the Cretaceous.
Geol.Soc.London, Ordinary General Meeting. Volcanic
above. This geodynamic setting equally conforms
Processes in Marginal Basins. Programme with Abstracts,
to a small value of the seawater/ rock ratio as the 9-10 Sept. 1982, University of Keele, U.K.
one inferred for the Celica metamorphism. Aberg, G., Aguirre, L., Levi, B.and Nystrom, J.O., 1984.
Present knowledge of the metamorphism of Spreading-subsidence and generation of ensialic marginal
the Celica volcanics is still too fragmentary to be basins: an example from the early Cretaceous of central
Chile. In: B.P. Kokelaar and M.F. Howells (Editors),
compared on equal grounds with that of the
Marginal Basin Geology. Geo!. Soc. London, Spec. Pub!.,
metamorphism affecting their possible 16: 185-193.
homologues in Peru, i.e. the Casma Group. This Aguirre, L., 1989. Metamorfismo pre-orogenico cretacico y
is specially the case for the relationship between marco geotect6nico, Cordillera Occidental de Colombia
metamorphic grade vs. stratigraphy/ structure (perfil Buga-Buenaventura). Rev. Geo!. Chile, 16: 123-144.
which is largely ignored in the case of the Celica Aguirre, L., 1991. Compositional variations of Cretaceous
pumpellyites along the western margin of South America
Formation. However, some differences may be
and their relation to an extensional geodynamic setting.
pointed out for the Celica volcanics as opposed to IGCP 294, New Zealand Symposium. Abstracts.
the Casma Group: (1) the absence of greenschist Aguirre, L. and Atherton, M.P., 1987. Low-grade metamor-
facies assemblages; (2) the absence of the high-T phism and geotectonic setting of the Macuchi Formation.
zeolite wairakite; (3) a lower thermal gradient; (4) Western Cordillera of Ecuador. J. Metamorph. Geo!., 5:
higher f 02 and x; values. It is here suggested 473-494.
Aguirre, L. and Offler, R., 1985. Burial metamorphism in the
that these differences are linked with the degree
of evolution of a marginal basin in such a way
that the steepest thermal gradients and their ac-
companying metamorphic features are found in
aborted marginal basins with advanced crustal
attenuation in which the metamorphic pattern is
transitional between burial and ocean-floor type
(e.g., the Casma Basin, Aguirre et al., 1989). In
the basins where extreme thinning of the
continental crust may have occurred (e.g., Celica
Basin, this paper) or where rupture has taken
place (e.g. Colombian Diabasic Group Basin,
Aguirre, 1989) a fall in the thermal gradient is
recorded and the metamorphism is akin to the
ocean-floor type.

Acknowledgements

Field work in the Celica region was made

possible thanks to a Guggenheim Foundation
Fellowship awarded to the author. The subject
benefited from fruitful discussions with M.
Lebrat. My colleagues A Demant, D. Hermitte
and F. Paz are acknowledged for their generous
assistance in the printing of the text and in the
draw- ing of some illustrations.

References

Aberg, G., Aguirre, L., Levi, B., Nystrom, J.O. and Safstrom,
A., 1982. Geotectonic, geochemical and geochronological