Geological and Geochemical Constraints on the Evolution of the
Panama Isthmus
Supervisors
Main supervisor: Doctor David Buchs (Cardiff University)
Co-supervisor: Doctor Andrew Kerr (Cardiff University)
Co-supervisor: Prof. Agustin Cardona (
National University of Colombia (Medellin) /
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Sede Medellín
)
Project enquiries - Email: [email protected]
Host Institution: Cardiff University
Project description
The formation and emergence of the Isthmus of Panama is, arguably, one of the most significant geological
events in Earth’s recent history. This event resulted in the final closure of the inter-American seaway and
formation of a land bridge between North and South America ca. 3 Ma ago, with regional biological
implications and global paleoceanographic and climatic effects. Collision of the Panama volcanic arc with the
South American continent is commonly regarded as the primary cause of formation of the Isthmus (1), but
constructional emergence (in addition to collisional emergence) controlled by volcanic activity may have
played an equally important role due to unusual formation of the arc on top of an oceanic plateau (2).
Fundamentally, the exact mechanisms and timing of formation of the Panama Isthmus remain very poorly
constrained because geological exploration and study in relevant areas of Panama and Colombia have remained
very limited (Figure 1).
The project will test the hypothesis that the Panama volcanic arc started to collide with South America shortly
after its initiation in the Late Cretaceous, and formed an early inter-oceanic barrier between North and South
America. The early geological evolution of the Panama volcanic arc along the edge of the Caribbean oceanic
plateau and its collision with South America will be characterised based on new field data and sampling in the
Panama Canal area, eastern Panama and western Colombia. Methods will include extensive field work in
remote (poorly studied) areas, igneous geochemistry and geochronology, and sediment provenance analysis.
Expected results will provide new insights into the spatial and temporal development of the early Panama arc,
subduction initiation along oceanic plateau margins, and arc-continent collision. An improved model of interAmerican paleogeographic evolution will be developed.
This project will benefit from secured funds from the National Geographic Society as well as logistical support
from the Panama Canal Authority, University of Panama and National University of Colombia.
References:
(1) Montes, C., Cardona, A., Jaramillo, C., Pardo, A., Silva, J.C., Valencia, V., Ayala, C., Pérez-Angel, L.C.,
Rodriguez-Parra, L.A., Ramirez, V., Niño, H., 2015. Middle Miocene closure of the Central American Seaway.
Science 348, 226-229.
(2) Buchs, D.M., Arculus, R.J., Baumgartner, P.O., Baumgartner-Mora, C., Ulianov, A., 2010. Late
Cretaceous arc development on the SW margin of the Caribbean Plate: Insights from the Golfito, Costa Rica,
and Azuero, Panama, complexes. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 11, Q07S24.
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