Tracing long term tectonic evolution of accretionary orogens by U-Pb zircon geochronology: Proterozoic to Jurassic tectonics of the Santander Massif, northern Colombia

Accurate orogenic models are nedded to reconstruct complex tectonic histories of long lived convergent margins. Integrated zircon U-Pb geochronology on igneous, sedimentary and metasedimentry rocks within single crustal domains is a powerful tool, as it can be used to trace the timing of rock forming events, magmatic style and episodity, and identify crustal recycling. U-Pb detrital zircon and magmatic geochronology was carried on multiple litostratigraphic units of the Santander Massif in the northeastern Andes, in order to reconstruct its long term Late Proterozoic to Early Mesozoic tectonic evolution. Major zircon forming events includ well defined Grenvillian, Late Neoproterozoic to Ordovician, Silurian, Early Permian and Jurassic events. Major peaks of activity at ca. 197 Ma, 440-410 Ma and 470-490 Ma and 950-1052 Ma, support the existence of continental scale tectonic cycles. Older Mesoproterozoic (1.3-1.5 Ga) crustal input in metasediments and magmatic rocks link these units to crustal recycling on the margins of the Amazon Craton, whereas the older 950-1052 Ma peak indicates the link of this crustal segment with other Andean Grenvillian remnant. Previous interpretations of the Paleozoic Silgara Formation seem incorrect, as acquired dates from this study includ different metamorphic units, deposited and formed after the Silurian and Permian during final stages of Pangea's assemblage, probably as Laurentia migrated to its final Alleghanian position. Finally the presence of the NW South America Jurassic arc is also present in the region by granitoid ages. The limited input of this arc signature within the contemporaneous and overlapping Early Cretaceous sedimentary rocks suggest that this arc was developed in a back arc setting.