Tectonophysics 399 (2005) 195 – 220

www.elsevier.com/locate/tecto

Thermochronology of allochthonous terranes in Ecuador:

Unravelling the accretionary and post-accretionary history
of the Northern Andes
R.A. Spikingsa,T, W. Winklerb, R.A. Hughesc, R. Handlerd
a
Section des Sciences de la Terre, Université de Genève, Rue des Maraı̂chers 13, CH-1205 Genève 4, Switzerland
b
Geologisches Institut, ETH-Zentrum, Zürich CH-8092, Switzerland
c
British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Center, Keyworth, Nottingham, NG12 5GG, United Kingdom
d
Institute for Geology and Palaeontology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Str. 34/III, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
Received 25 November 2002; received in revised form 30 August 2003; accepted 23 December 2004
Available online 10 February 2005

Abstract

The western cordilleras of the Northern Andes (north of 58S) are constructed from allochthonous terranes floored by oceanic
crust. We present 40Ar/39Ar and fission-track data from the Cordillera Occidental and Amotape Complex of Ecuador that
probably constrain the time of terrane collision and post-accretionary tectonism in the western Andes. The data record cooling
rates of 80–2 8C/my from temperatures of ~540 8C, during 85 to 60 Ma, in a highly tectonised mélange (Pujilı́ unit) at the
continent–ocean suture and in the northern Amotape Complex. The rates were highest during 85–80 Ma and decelerated
towards 60 Ma. Cooling was a consequence of exhumation of the continental margin, which probably occurred in response to
the accretion of the presently juxtaposing Pallatanga Terrane. The northern Amotape Complex and the Pujilı́ unit may have
formed part of a single, regional scale, tectonic mélange that started to develop at ~85 Ma, part of which currently comprises the
basement of the Interandean Depression. Cooling and rotation in the allochthonous, continental, Amotape Complex and along
parts of the continent–ocean suture during 43–29 Ma, record the second accretionary phase, during which the Macuchi Island
Arc system collided with the Pallatanga Terrane. Distinct periods of regional scale cooling in the Cordillera Occidental at ~13
and ~9 Ma were synchronous with exhumation in the Cordillera Real and were probably driven by the collision of the Carnegie
Ridge with the Ecuador Trench. Finally, late Miocene–Pliocene reactivation of the Chimbo–Toachi Shear Zone was coincident
with the formation of the oldest basins in the Interandean Depression and probably formed part of a transcurrent or thrust system
that was responsible for the inception and subsequent growth of the valley since ~6 Ma.
D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Northern Andes; Terranes; Accretion; Thermochronology; Fission tracks; Ar isotopes

T Corresponding author.
E-mail address: spikings@terre.unige.ch (R.A. Spikings).

0040-1951/$ - see front matter D 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2004.12.023
196 R.A.
R.A.Spikings
Spikingsetetal.al./ /Tectonophysics
Tectonophysics399
399(2005)
(2005)195–220
195–220 196

1. Introduction thermal histories of the rocks between the temper-

atures of ~540 and 60 8C. The thermal histories permit
The western Andean mountain ranges in Ecuador a quantitative assessment of the timing, magnitude
and Colombia, along the northwestern South Amer- and duration of cooling and heating events and
ican (SOAM) margin, are constructed from allochth- contribute to understanding the geological history of
onous terranes underlain by oceanic crust (Fig. 1). the northern Andes by constraining (i) the timing of
Debate currently exists regarding the accretionary accretion of terranes that comprise the Cordillera
history, specifically, the number of distinct terranes Occidental and, (ii) the post-accretionary tectonic
that exist, their origin and the timing of accretion history of the Ecuadorian Andes and their response
against the northwestern SOAM margin. However, to the subduction of heterogeneous oceanic crust.
most workers broadly agree that the main accretionary
phases in Ecuador occurred during the Middle–Late
Cretaceous and Tertiary (Feininger and Bristow, 1980; 2. Geological framework
McCourt et al., 1984; Feininger, 1987; Aspden and
Litherland, 1992; Spikings et al., 2001; Hughes and Basement rocks north of 58S can be divided into
Pilatasig, 2002). oceanic and continental domains (e.g., Lebrat et al.,
Recent mapping of the Cordillera Occidental in 1987). Within Ecuador, the continental domain is
Ecuador between 18N and 48S by the British Geo- partly composed of a supra-crustal sequence of N–S
logical Survey (BGS-CODIGEM, 1997a,b, 1999, striking, Palaeozoic–Lower Cretaceous metamorphic
2000) is the most extensive to date and identified rocks of the Cordillera Real (Fig. 1), which together
two distinct terranes, which are separated by a with Cretaceous and Tertiary sediments of the retro-
regional scale, high strain shear zone and are arc Amazon Foreland Basin unconformably overlie
juxtaposed against the Interandean Depression via a the Precambrian Guyana Shield (Litherland et al.,
tectonic mélange (Figs. 1 and 2). Hughes and Pilatasig 1994). Upper Eocene–Pliocene volcanoclastic rocks
(2002) utilised regional structural and stratigraphic in the Interandean Depression obscure the western
evidence and K/Ar ages from deformed granitoids to limit of metamorphic rocks that form the Cordillera
propose a model of terrane accretion, which envisaged Real. However, negative Bouguer anomalies extend
accretionary phases during the Campanian and late westward from the Cordillera Real across the Inter-
Eocene. Spikings et al. (2001) proposed, on the basis andean Depression (Feininger and Seguin, 1983) and
of thermochronological evidence, that high rates of it is likely that metamorphic rocks form part of the
rock uplift and exhumation in the Cordillera Real basement within the Interandean Depression. This
during 65–55 Ma and 43–30 Ma were driven by hypothesis is supported by the presence of metamor-
increased compressive stress generated by terrane phic rocks on the eastern flank of the southern
accretion to the west. However, no radiometric data Cordillera Occidental (BGS-CODIGEM, 1997a) and
have been obtained directly from the Cordillera the presence of metamorphic rocks within a tectonic
Occidental that can be used to accurately constrain mélange (Pujilı́ unit) on the western margin of the
the timing of accretion. Interandean Depression (Fig. 2; Hughes and Pilatasig,
Several workers have successfully used thermo- 2002).
chronological methods to quantify the cooling, uplift The allochthonous Amotape Complex, which is
and exhumation histories in autochthonous parts of exposed in part in south-western Ecuador, is anom-
the Andean orogen from Venezuela to Argentina (see alous because the main structural trends are oriented
review in Spikings et al., 2000). These studies east–west (Fig. 3). The complex can be divided into
provided a framework for the tectonic evolution of two sub-linear provinces: (i) a continental province,
parts of the Andean chain that are composed of which mainly crops out to the south of the Naranjo
continental crust. We present new 40Ar/39Ar and Fault Zone and is comprised of the same rock units as
fission track data from both undeformed and highly those exposed in the Cordillera Real (Aspden et al.,
strained, allochthonous rocks of the Cordillera Occi- 1995; Noble et al., 1997) and (ii) a regional scale
dental of Ecuador, which define segments of the mélange zone (Palenque Mélange Division), which
 197 R.A.
R.A.Spikings
Spikingsetetal.al./ /Tectonophysics
Tectonophysics399
399(2005)
(2005)195–220
195–220 197

82˚ 80˚ 78˚ 76˚

N
2˚

?
COLOMBIA
0˚ Colombia
Quito
Ecuador
Carnegie Brasil
Ridge
Bolivia

Puyo

2˚
Guayaquil

Cuenca

? P
C OP

COLOMBIA

4˚
Interandean
This wConfigu rationit hthePixM apcur rentcannotHar dwabedis pre/So ftwlayedare

CL
Depression

Amotape
Complex
Western Cordillera
PERU
6˚ PERU

Normal fault
ca. 200 km
Quaternary sedimentary and volcanic traverses described
Sub-Andean Zone (Ecuador, Peru)
rocks in previous work
Eastern Cordillera (Colombia)
Neogene foreland basin sedimentary
Metamorphic rocks of the Central
Cordillera Occidental, Ecuador
rocks
Cordillera (Colombia), Cordillera Pallatanga Terrane
Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic Real (Ecuador) and the
rocks Western Cordillera (Peru)
Macuchi Terrane (western
Mesozoic volcanic and sedimentary Exposure of the Peltetec tectonic boundary not defined)
rocks (including the Celica-Lancones Melange traverses sampled
basin)
in this study
Interandean Depression
main faults
Amotape Complex

Fig. 1. Simplified geology of Ecuador showing the location of the Pallatanga Terrane, Macuchi Terrane and the Amotape Complex. Sampled
traverses across the Cordillera Real (Spikings et al., 2000, 2001) and the Cordillera Occidental (this study) are shown. Black outline highlights
the region of Fig. 2. Faults: PPCF: Pallatanga–Pujilı́–Calacali fault, CTSZ: Chimbo–Toachi Shear Zone, LS: La Sofia fault, NF: Naranjo fault.
Other abbreviations, CL: Celica–Lancones Basin.
198 R.A.
R.A.Spikings
Spikingsetetal.al./ /Tectonophysics
Tectonophysics399
399(2005)
(2005)195–220
195–220 198
 199 R.A.
R.A.Spikings
Spikingsetetal.al./ /Tectonophysics
Tectonophysics399
399(2005)
(2005)195–220
195–220 199

outcrops to the north of the Naranjo Fault Zone and The boundary between the continental and oceanic
encloses tectonic inclusions of high-pressure rocks provinces of the Cordillera Occidental and the
(e.g., Arculus et al., 1999) of the Raspas unit. The metamorphic rocks underlying the Interandean
northern province is interpreted to form part of an Depression is defined by a tectonic mélange (Pujilı́
accretionary prism and non-mafic rocks of the south- unit), which hosts, amongst others, meter scale blocks
ern province are considered to have been tectonically of metamorphic rocks that are also exposed in the
derived from the Cordillera Real at some time after 140 Cordillera Real. This feature is regionally referred to
Ma (Aspden et al., 1995). The timing of decoupling of as the Pallatanga–Pujilı́–Calacali fault (Figs. 1 and 2).
the complex from the Cordillera Real and its subse- The western limit of the Macuchi Terrane is not
quent rotation within a dextral shear regime (e.g., exposed but may approximate to the distinct topo-
Mourier et al., 1988; Mitouard et al., 1990) into the graphic break along the western flank of the Cordil-
Andean forearc region is poorly constrained. lera Occidental.
The oceanic domain of Ecuador underlies the
Cordillera Occidental and consists of three distinguish-
able, allochthonous oceanic terranes (Fig. 1; e.g., 3. Recovery of thermal histories
Feininger and Bristow, 1980; Hughes and Pilatasig,
2002), which may have originated at the margins of the The 40Ar/39 Ar method (e.g., McDougall and
Caribbean Plateau (Spikings et al., 2001). The timing Harrison, 1999) has been used to determine single
and accretion of these terranes are still a subject of temperature–time points on a cooling path. The
debate, although Spikings et al. (2001) and Hughes temperature range of each coordinate has been defined
and Pilatasig (2002) suggest the first collision occurred as the range in closure temperatures derived using
between the Pallatanga Terrane (Early–Late Creta- Dodsonian theory (Dodson, 1973), assuming cooling
ceous oceanic plateau basaltic and peridotitic base- rates between 100 and 10 8C/my. These temperature
ment) and the continental margin at some time ranges are 545–511 8C, 390–350 8C and 360–325 8C
between 80 and 60 Ma. The second stage of accretion for hornblende (spherical diffusion; Do/r 2=375),
involved the dextral collision of the oceanic, Paleocene white mica (plane sheet diffusion; Do/r 2=0.963) and
(?)–early Eocene, volcanosedimentary arc sequence of biotite (plane sheet diffusion; Do/r 2=342), respec-
the Macuchi Terrane with the Pallatanga Terrane, tively (McDougall and Harrison, 1999). The time of
forming the Chimbo–Toachi Shear Zone at ~40 Ma each coordinate is determined after evaluation of the
(Figs. 1 and 2; Spikings et al., 2001; Hughes and age spectrum (Fig. 4).
Pilatasig, 2002). Pre-accretionary sedimentary sequen- The temperature range at which fossil fission
ces preserved in the Pallatanga Terrane include tracks within zircon and apatite partially anneal
Santonian–Campanian turbidites (Wilkinson, 1998a), (partial annealing zone) is a complex function
which are overlain by the Maastrichtian (Faucher et al., dominated by composition (Carlson et al., 1999)
1971; Wilkinson, 1998a) turbiditic Yunguilla unit that and thermal history. Unannealed track lengths in
was partly sourced from metamorphic rocks of the naturally derived apatite range between ~15.5 and
Cordillera Real. The late Paleocene–Eocene turbiditic 14.5 Am (Gleadow et al., 1986) and hence samples
Angamarca group was deposited in a forearc setting that have mean track lengths in this range, combined
subsequent to the accretion of the Pallatanga Terrane with narrow track length distributions, experienced
(Hughes and Pilatasig, 2002). Overlying sequences are rapid cooling from temperatures greater than ~110 8C
dominated by late Eocene–early Oligocene (Wilkin- to temperatures lower than ~60 8C at the time
son, 1998b) sedimentary rocks (Silante unit). indicated by the apatite fission track (AFT) age

Fig. 2. Geological map of the Cordillera Occidental, Ecuador, showing the locations of the main terrane sutures, the Interandean Depression and
the Chota Basin (compiled from BGS-CODIGEM, 1997a,b, 1999, 2000). The locations of analysed samples and their fission-track ages are
shown (hornblende 40Ar/39Ar, green; white mica 40Ar/39Ar, blue; hornblende 40Ar/39Ar, brown; zircon fission track, bold italic; apatite fission
track, bold). Fission track ages from previous studies, which were interpreted to record the stratigraphic age of the Saraguro group, Chota Basin
and the intrusive age of various granitoids are also presented (Steinmann, 1997; Winkler et al., 2002). The values in brackets indicate the sample
number (00RSxx series). See Fig. 1 for fault name abbreviations. GB: Guayllabamba Basin, LB: Latacunga Basin, QB: Quito Basin.
 200
80˚ 00' 79˚ 45' 79˚ 30'
3˚ 15' Machala
Pacific
Ocean

Tertiary
Granodiorite, diorite

Jurassic -Lower Cretaceous

Manu
76-72 687(18)

R.A. Spikings et al. / Tectonophysics 399 (2005) 195–220

Serpentinite, ultramafic complex
3˚ 30' K/Ar hbl 615
12.450.26 Raspas unit: muscovite schists, blue-
schists, eclogites and greenschists
Volcanic Rocks
(Saraguro Gp. greenschists

Naranjo Fault Zone and Sacapalca Fm.)

Palenque unit: pelitic phyllites
2131(22) and schists
220-216
18017 Triassic
K/Ar ms,
393
bt basaltic amphibolites
3˚ 45' 13.630.19
Moromoro granites: gneissic or
13910(25) migmatitic gneisses and granodiorites
(including the Marcabeli Pluton)
13717(24)
221 - 193 463 La Victoria unit: semipelitic schists
and gneisses
K/Ar ms, 12.730.24
bt El Tigre unit: greywackes, semipelites
and phyllites

Celica-Lancones Basin (Cretaceous)

4˚ 00'
99RS- sample which yielded data (sample number in brackets)
Previous work
Town
Fig. 3. Geological map of the Amotape Complex, Ecuador, modified from Aspden et al. (1995). The locations of samples analysed in this study and their fission track ages are shown
(biotite 40Ar/39Ar plateau, italic; ZFT, bold; AFT, plain). K/Ar data from previous studies are also shown (hbl, hornblende; ms, muscovite; bt, biotite; Feininger and Silberman, 1982;
Aspden et al., 1992). The values in brackets indicate the sample number (99RSxx series).
 202 R.A.
R.A.Spikings
Spikingsetetal.al./ /Tectonophysics
Tectonophysics399
399(2005)
(2005)195–220
195–220 201

00RS31 hornblende, dacite 00RS30 white mica, granite

250 120
Aparent age (Ma)

100
861 Ma
200
80
150 832 Ma
60
100
40
50 20
0 0

0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100
% 39Ar released

00RS24 biotite, arkose 00RS30 biotite, granite

250 120
200 100
2181 Ma 80
150
60
100
40
50
20
0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100

00RS43 biotite, volcanoclastic breccia 99RS22 biotite, muscovite schist

50 250
40 200

131 Ma 2131 Ma
30 150
20 100
10 50
0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100

Fig. 4. 40Ar/39Ar age spectra (F1j) of various mineral phases from the Cordillera Occidental.

(Laslett et al., 1987). Broad track length distributions are considered relatively minor for the determination
with shorter mean track lengths suggest a more of the regional thermal history.
complex thermal history, involving a significant Similar principles apply to the interpretation of
amount of time within the partial annealing zone zircon fission track (ZFT) data although the lack of a
(Gleadow et al., 1986) relative to the AFT age. suitable description of the annealing kinetics of tracks
Thermal history solutions have been recovered from in zircon group minerals inhibits the reconstruction of
samples displaying mean track lengths b14.5 Am potential thermal histories from track-length and age
following the approach described by Gallagher data. For the purpose of this study, the partial
(1995) using the quantitative description of apatite annealing zone is assumed to span between 300 and
annealing kinetics of Laslett et al. (1987). Apatite 220 8C (e.g., Tagami et al., 1998) and the mid-point of
compositions have not been determined in this study. 260 8C has been plotted against the ZFT age to
However, the magnitude of relative variation in produce a single point on the thermal history path.
temperature sensitivity for common apatite composi- When the single grain FT ages for an individual
tions (e.g., b2 wt.% Cl and only minor substitution sample yield a p(v 2) value of b5% it is assumed that
for Ca+2) is about F30 8C (Green et al., 1986). more than one age population is present and individ-
Therefore, while compositional variations may ual age populations have been resolved (Galbraith and
amplify or diminish the quantity of cooling and Green, 1990). Mineral separation and analytical
heating relative to standard (Durango) apatite, they procedures are provided in Appendix A.
202 R.A.
R.A.Spikings
Spikingsetetal.al./ /Tectonophysics
Tectonophysics399
399(2005)
(2005)195–220
195–220 202

4. Results Ma, a ZFT age of 75F4 Ma and an AFT age of 57F5

Ma with a partially annealed, mean track length of
4.1. Cordillera Occidental 13.8F0.2 Am. A clast of early–middle Paleocene,
turbiditic arkose (00RS32; Saquisilli unit) gives ZFT
40
Ar/39Ar, ZFT and AFT ages were obtained from and AFT ages of 70F4 Ma and 49F4 Ma, respec-
the Undifferentiated Metamorphics unit and both tively, and yields a partially annealed, mean AFT
basement rocks and cover sequences of the Pallatanga length of 13.4F0.3 Am.
and Macuchi Terranes along 5 traverses, which cross
the Cordillera Occidental (Fig. 1). The age data are 4.1.2.2. The cover sequences. 40Ar/39Ar, ZFT and
presented in Figs. 2 and 5 and Tables 1 and 2. AFT ages from detrital grains of the sedimentary
cover sequences of the Pallatanga Terrane have a
4.1.1. Undifferentiated Metamorphics unit complex distribution that includes pre-depositional
Graphitic schists of the Undifferentiated Meta- ages, stratigraphic ages and post-depositional ages
morphics unit (exposed south of 28S) are considered (Fig. 5). The variation in the relationship between the
to be separate to the Pallatanga Terrane (Fig. 2). The radiometric ages and the stratigraphic ages for any
age of the rocks is unknown although they preserve individual isotopic system is dependent on the
similar fabrics and have identical lithologies to structural position of the sample.
Jurassic schists exposed in the Cordillera Real Several detrital populations from the Campanian
(e.g., Litherland et al., 1994). Therefore, they Mulaute unit, Paleocene Saquisilli unit, late Paleo-
probably formed part of the continental margin, cene–Eocene Angamarca group and the Oligocene
which sutured against oceanic basement of the Silante unit yield pre-depositional ZFT ages, which
Pallatanga Terrane in the Late Cretaceous. ZFT and range between ~70 Ma and 320 Ma (Table 1). The
AFT ages of 60F3 and 7F4 Ma, yielded by a Angamarca group, Silante unit and the volcanic,
foliated schist (00RS6), are similar to ZFT and AFT Oligocene–early Miocene, Saraguro group also yield
ages yielded by similar Palaeozoic–Early Cretaceous ZFT ages from detrital and primary volcanic grains,
lithologies exposed in the Cordillera Real (Spikings which coincide with their stratigraphic ages and range
et al., 2001). between ~24 and ~60 Ma.
All ZFT and AFT ages from detrital grains of the
4.1.2. Pallatanga Terrane Maastrichtian Yunguilla unit are younger than their
All data from the Pallatanga Terrane were obtained stratigraphic age and range between ~36 and ~52
from blocks within the tectonic mélange (Pujilı́ unit; Ma (Fig. 5). Several sedimentary rocks of the
Fig. 2). The mafic and ultramafic basement rocks Santonian Pilatón unit, Angamarca group and the
(Pallatanga unit) were barren of datable mineral Silante unit also yield ZFT and AFT ages that are
phases. younger than their stratigraphic ages and range
between ~6 and ~24 Ma. A volcanic breccia in
4.1.2.1. The tectonic mélange (Pujilı́ unit). Samples the Silante unit, located in central regions of the
00RS30, 00RS31 and 00RS32 are from a locally Pallatanga Terrane (00RS28) yields indistinguishable
exposed, chaotic and highly deformed tectonic mél- ZFT and AFT ages of 9F3 and 9F1 Ma. These
ange (Pujilı́ unit) that occupies a structural position ages are similar to the plateau biotite 40Ar/39Ar, ZFT
along the eastern margin of the Cordillera Occidental and AFT ages of 12.7F0.2 Ma, 13F1 and 8F2 Ma,
between 08 and 18S (Fig. 2; Hughes and Pilatasig, respectively, that have been obtained from a
2002). A coarse-grained, muscovite rich, granitic volcanoclastic breccia of the Pilatón unit (00RS43)
block, yields white mica and biotite 40Ar/39Ar plateau located in the northern Pallatanga Terrane (Fig. 1). The
ages of 86F1 and 82F1 Ma, respectively. A youngest detrital population is from an unde-
metamorphosed, foliated dacitic block from the formed sandstone of the Angamarca group (00RS14)
mélange, which may have originally formed part of that is located very close (b1 km) to the Chimbo–
the Jurassic Undifferentiated Metamorphics unit (Fig. Toachi Shear Zone (Fig. 2) and yields a ZFT age of
2), yields a hornblende 40Ar/39Ar plateau age of 83F2 6F1 Ma.
 P a l l a t a n g a T e r r a n e
Age (Ma) Macuchi Terrane Amotape Complex
Basement/Mélange cover sequences

Undifferentiated Pallatanga Angamarca Silante Saraguro Macuchi North South

Pujilí Pilatón Mulaute Yunguilla Saquisilli
Metamorphics unit unit unit unit unit unit group unit group unit
43 14 28
18
10 28
6 14(2) 37 22
43 43 28(2)
20
14(3) 37 21

R.A. Spikings et al. / Tectonophysics 399 (2005) 195–220

30 42 5
3 22
40 24
34 32 7
4 13 12
31 B 27
50 18
6 42 ?
34 18
60 B

? 13(2) ?
31
70 B
32 19
30

80 ? B
B
? 31 27(2)
90 ? 30
12(2)
100 ? 13(3) 25
130
28(3)
140 ?

40Ar/39Ar (this work)

150
Hornblende White 24
160 Mica 22
Biotite
170 FT (this work)
12(3)
180 ? Zircon
Apatite
190 13(4)

200
24
220

203
Fig. 5. Summary of 40Ar/39Ar, ZFT and AFT data from the Cordillera Occidental and the Amotape Complex. Grey bands indicate the stratigraphic age of the rock sequence and a dBT
indicates that it was determined using fossil evidence; see text for references.
 204
Table 1
Fission-track ages from the Amotape Complex and the Cordillera Occidental of Ecuador
Sample number Stratigraphy, lithology Latitude Longitude Altitude No. of Standard Spontaneous Induced p (v 2) U Fission Mean Standard
(m) grains track density track density track (%) (ppm) track age track length deviation
106 106 density 106 F1j (Ma) F1j (Am) (Am)
Apatite
Amotape Complex
99RS18 Limon Playa Unit, gneiss S03 33 04 W79 56 56 sea level 24 1.143(5925) 0.3402(265) 1.226(955) 13 5 61.1F5.1 12.45F0.26(62) 2.01
99RS22 La Victoria Unit, Ms Bt schist S03 42 11 W79 51 41 sea level 27 1.199(5925) 0.2477(409) 1.478(2441) 82 15 38.8F2.7 13.63F0.19(77) 1.68
99RS24 Marcabeli Pluton, granodiorite S03 46 04 W79 49 27 685F? 20 1.227(5925) 1.505(569) 7.817(2955) 31 80 45.6F3.0 12.73F0.24(84) 2.21

R.A. Spikings et al. / Tectonophysics 399 (2005) 195–220

Western Cordillera
Undifferentiated
Metamorphics unit
00RS6 Undiff́ Metamorphics, S02 29 26.4 W79 14 06.1 1022F? 3 1.462(6795) 0.0652(3) 2.500(115) 44 21 7.4F4.3 N.D. N.D.
phylitic schist

Pallatanga Terrane:
tectonic melange
00RS31 Pujili Unit, dacite block S00 51 04.8 W78 42 15.6 3015F? 17 1.307(6795) 0.5410(176) 2.161(703) 13 21 56.5F5.0 13.78F0.24(70) 1.98
00RS32 Saquisilli Fm., arkosic arenite S00 51 04.8 W78 42 15.6 3015F? 17 1.359(6795) 0.7482(208) 4.032(1121) 95 37 48.6F4.3 13.43F0.28(44) 1.73
Pallatanga Terrane:
cover sequences
00RS28 Silante Unit, breccia S00 26 23.0 W78 44 17.5 2058F6 7 1.437(6795) 0.0372(7) 1.213(228) 80 11 8.5F3.3 N.D. N.D.
00RS34 Yungilla Unit, arkosic arenite N00 00 22.8 W78 34 48.3 2362F6 25 1.282(6795) 0.1283(145) 0.6150(695) 100 6 51.5F5.3 N.D. N.D.
00RS37 Silante Unit, volcanic tuff N00 01 22.2 W78 39 13.1 1817F5 28 1.385(6795) 0.0121(24) 0.2948(587) 99 3 10.9F2.3 N.D. N.D.
00RS42 Silante Unit?, lithic arenite N00 36 03.6 W78 08 26.6 1390F12 23 1.285(6925) 0.0941(45) 0.5356(256) 100 5 43.6F7.3 N.D. N.D.
00RS43 Pilaton Unit?, volcanoclastic N00 41 31.4 W78 12 05.0 1138F5 32 1.510(6925) 0.0063(17) 0.2257(605) 100 2 8.2F2.1 N.D. N.D.
breccia
Macuchi Terrane
00RS18 Macuchi Fm., basaltic andesite S00 18 54.5 W78 57 20.2 805F6 11 1.335(6925) 0.0046(3) 0.4977(324) 78 5 2.4F1.4 N.D. N.D.
00RS21 Macuchi Fm., volcanoclastic S00 17 01.6 W79 03 08.8 627F? 17 1.260(6925) 0.0050(2) 0.0930(37) 100 1 13.2F9.6 N.D. N.D.
conglomerate
00RS22T Macuchi Fm., basaltic andesite S00 18 50.3 W78 55 53.7 866F6 6 1.310(6925) 0.04049(10) 1.166(288) 40 11 8.8F2.9 N.D. N.D.
Older Populations
00RS22 Macuchi Fm., basaltic andesite S00 18 50.3 W78 55 53.7 866F6 2 1.310(6925) 0.1667(13) 0.4744(37) 93 5 88.5F28.8 N.D. N.D.

Zircon
Amotape Complex
99RS18 Limon Playa Unit, gneiss S03 33 04 W79 56 56 sea level 6 3.800 (2999) 11.68(406) 4.372 (152) 6 460 68F6.8 N.D. N.D.
99RS22 La Victoria Unit, Ms Bt schist S03 42 11 W79 51 41 sea level 10 3.903 (2999) 13.86 (947) 1.991 (136) 23 204 180F17 N.D. N.D.
99RS24 Marcabeli Pluton, granodiorite S03 46 04 W79 49 27 685F? 6 4.006 (2999) 19.13 (420) 3.734 (82) 87 373 137F17 N.D. N.D.
99RS25T El Tigre Unit, metagreywacke S03 48 30 W79 48 43 890F? 9 4.109 (2999) 20.80 (1307) 4.090 (257) 99 398 139F10 N.D. N.D.
Older Populations
99RS25 El Tigre Unit, metagreywacke S03 48 30 W79 48 43 890F? 44 4.109 (2999) 19.76 (7690) 2.025 (788) 21 197 264F13 N.D. N.D.
Western Cordillera
Undifferentiated
Metamorphics unit
00RS6 Undiff́ Metamorphics, S02 29 26.4 W79 14 06.1 1022F? 34 0.4571(3572) 9.319(3422) 4.746(1743) 12 415 60.1F2.5 N.D. N.D.
graphitic schist
 Pallatanga Terrane:
tectonic melange
00RS31 Pujili Unit, dacite block S00 51 04.8 W78 42 15.6 3015F? 16 1.307(6795) 16.14(2501) 6.777(1050) 83 558 75.4F3.7 N.D. N.D.
00RS32 Saquisilli Fm., arkosic arrenite S00 51 04.8 W78 42 15.6 3015F? 22 0.3509(3866) 10.33(1330) 3.457(445) 13 394 70.2F4.3 N.D. N.D.
Pallatanga Terrane:
cover sequences
00RS3 Angamarca Gp., Ms arenite S02 37 17.8 W79 27 42.4 382F7 20 0.3592(2078) 5.437(1184) 3.348(729) 24 364 39.0F2.3 N.D. N.D.
00RS4T Yungilla Unit, Ms arenite S02 39 31.1 W79 26 47.2 856F7 26 0.4148(3572) 9.426(1794) 5.028(957) 37 473 52.1F2.6 N.D. N.D.
00RS5 Saraguro Gp., Pl rich ignimbrite S02 29 38.8 W79 13 06.1 1145F6 23 0.4359(3572) 6.728(1974) 5.538(1625) 21 508 35.5F1.6 N.D. N.D.
00RS7 Angamarca Gp., Ms Hbl arenite S02 12 08.1 W79 07 38.3 385F? 9 0.3936(3572) 10.43(477) 6 571 50.4F5.5 N.D. N.D.
00RS12T Angamarca Gp. Apagua Fm., S00 57 42.9 W78 55 22.2 3957F5 16 0.4994(3572) 11.78(2609) 7.583(1679) 6 607 52.0F2.2 N.D. N.D.
sandstone
00RS13T Angamarca Gp. Apagua Fm., S00 58 52.6 W78 56 24.5 3881F9 8 0.3706(2078) 8.034(1083) 4.985(672) 75 538 40.1F2.3 N.D. N.D.
sandstone
00RS14T Angamarca Gp. Apagua Fm., S00 56 48.6 W79 00 14.4 2417F5 4 0.4049(2078) 1.282(79) 6.265(386) 71 619 5.6F0.7 N.D. N.D.
sandstone

R.A. Spikings et al. / Tectonophysics 399 (2005) 195–220

00RS27T Silante Unit, lithic arenite S00 26 29.8 W78 46 29.8 1610F5 2 0.4506(2078) 3.825(35) 3.196(29) 41 281 36.5F9.2 N.D. N.D.
00RS28T Silante Unit, breccia S00 26 23.0 W78 44 17.5 2058F6 12 0.4620(2078) 1.074(205) 3.818(729) 38 322 8.7F0.7 N.D. N.D.
00RS34 Yungilla Unit, arkosic arenite N00 00 22.8 W78 34 48.3 2362F6 26 0.3652(3866) 4.022(1590) 1.923(760) 98 211 51.2F2.7 N.D. N.D.
00RS37 Silante Unit, volcanic tuff N00 01 22.2 W78 39 13.1 1817F5 33 0.3866(3866) 1.622(662) 1.568(640) 100 158 26.9F1.7 N.D. N.D.
00RS42 Yungilla Unit, lithic arenite N00 36 03.6 W78 08 26.6 1390F12 7 4.009(3866) 3.018(232) 2.251(173) 11 225 36.1F3.8 N.D. N.D.
00RS43 Pilaton Unit, volcanoclastic N00 41 31.4 W78 12 05.0 1138F5 9 4.080(3866) 4.423(518) 9.255(1084) 83 885 13.1F0.8 N.D. N.D.
breccia
Older populations
00RS4 Yungilla Unit, Ms arenite S02 39 31.1 W79 26 47.2 856F7 17 0.4148(3572) 16.98(1761) 4.233(439) 15 408 111.0F6.7 N.D. N.D.
00RS12 Angamarca Gp., arkose S00 57 42.9 W78 55 22.2 3957F5 20 0.4994(3572) 12.57(4093) 4.722(1538) 45 378 88.8F3.7 N.D. N.D.
00RS12 Angamarca Gp., arkose S00 57 42.9 W78 55 22.2 3957F5 5 0.4994(3572) 12.11(1012) 2.417(202) 90 194 166.2F13.7 N.D. N.D.
00RS13 Angamarca Gp. Apagua Fm., S00 58 52.6 W78 56 24.5 3881F9 11 0.3706(2078) 8.158(1060) 3.425(445) 87 370 59.1F3.8 N.D. N.D.
sandstone
00RS13 Angamarca Gp. Apagua Fm., S00 58 52.6 W78 56 24.5 3881F9 11 0.3706(2078) 9.773(1401) 2.630(377) 83 284 92.0F6.1 N.D. N.D.
sandstone
00RS13 Angamarca Gp. Apagua Fm., S00 58 52.6 W78 56 24.5 3881F9 11 0.3706(2078) 12.41(1787) 1.744(251) 97 188 175.2F13.1 N.D. N.D.
sandstone
00RS13 Angamarca Gp. Apagua Fm., S00 58 52.6 W78 56 24.5 3881F9 17 0.3706(2078) 16.81(2841) 1.272(215) 95 137 321.7F24.5 N.D. N.D.
andstone
00RS14 Angamarca Gp. Apagua Fm., S00 56 48.6 W79 00 14.4 2417F5 18 0.4049(2078) 2.396(475) 6.028(1195) 79 581 10.8F0.7 N.D. N.D.
sandstone
00RS14 Angamarca Gp. Apagua Fm., S00 56 48.6 W79 00 14.4 2417F5 2 0.4049(2078) 7.700(155) 8.644(174) 53 854 24.2F2.8 N.D. N.D.
sandstone
00RS27 Silante Unit, lithic arenite S00 26 29.8 W78 46 29.8 1610F5 8 0.4506(2078) 10.16(434) 3.044(130) 25 264 100.5F10.5 N.D. N.D.
00RS28 Silante Unit, breccia S00 26 23.0 W78 44 17.5 2058F6 7 0.4620(2078) 2.290(197) 3.976(342) 91 336 17.9F1.7 N.D. N.D.
00RS28 Silante Unit, breccia S00 26 23.0 W78 44 17.5 2058F6 1 0.4620(2078) 6.855(51) 2.419(18) 100 210 87.5F24.1 N.D. N.D.
Macuchi Terrane
00RS19 Macuchi Fm., basaltic andesite S00 19 09.8 W78 59 20.1 766F? 5 0.4163(2078) 16.20(415) 6.167(158) 1 578 67.5F10.7 N.D. N.D.

Numbers in parentheses are the number of tracks counted, no track lengths and hence standard deviations in track lengths have been measured in the zircon crystals.
When p (v 2) is b5% the fission track age is the central age, otherwise it is the pooled age. Sample codes in bold type indicate those samples which yielded both apatite and zircon FT ages.
All zircon and apatite separates were counted by R. Spikings. See Appendix A for analytical details.
Bt, biotite; Hbl, hornblende; Ms, Muscovite; N.D., No data; Pl, Plagioclase.
T Denotes sample which is comprised of N1 source population. The age of the older population is listed under dpopulationsT.

205
206 R.A.
R.A.Spikings
Spikingsetetal.al./ /Tectonophysics
Tectonophysics399
399(2005)
(2005)195–220
195–220 206