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Application of detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology to surface and subsurface

correlations of provenance, paleodrainage, and tectonics of the Middle
Magdalena Valley Basin of Colombi...

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 Research Paper
GEOSPHERE
GEOSPHERE; v. 11, no. 6
doi:10.1130/GES01251.1
10 figures; 2 supplemental files
CORRESPONDENCE: horton@jsg.utexas.edu
CITATION:  Horton, B.K., Anderson, V.J., Caballero,
V., Saylor, J.E., Nie, J., Parra, M., and Mora, A.,
2015, Application of detrital zircon U-Pb geochronol-
ogy to surface and subsurface correlations of prov-
enance, paleodrainage, and tectonics of the Middle
Magdalena Valley Basin of Colombia: Geosphere,
v. 11, no. 6, p. 1790–1811, doi:10.1130/GES01251.1.
Received 17 August 2015
Revision received 13 September 2015
Accepted 2 October 2015
Published online 12 November 2015
For permission to copy, contact Copyright
Permissions, GSA, or editing@geosociety.org.
© 2015 Geological Society of America
GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6
Application of detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology to surface
and subsurface correlations of provenance, paleodrainage, and
tectonics of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin of Colombia
Brian K. Horton1, Veronica J. Anderson1, Victor Caballero2, Joel E. Saylor 3, Junsheng Nie4, Mauricio Parra2,5, and Andrés Mora2
1
Institute for Geophysics and Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA
2
Ecopetrol, Instituto Colombiano del Petróleo, Bucaramanga, Colombia
3
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204, USA
4
MOE Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 73000, China
5
Institute of Energy and Environment, University of São Paulo, 05508-010 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
ABSTRACT
Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology has been used extensively to develop
provenance histories for surface outcrops of key stratigraphic localities within
sedimentary basins. However, many basins lack sufficiently continuous and
widespread exposures of complete successions to evaluate proposed long-
term tectonic histories, stratigraphic correlations, and paleodrainage patterns
within individual basins. Here, we demonstrate the utility of subsurface detri-
tal zircon U-Pb analysis by integrating ages from three key wells (21 subsur-
face samples) with previously reported data from six exposed intervals (90
surface samples) within a single basin. Samples from the 5–10-km-thick clastic
successions span several structural blocks over an ~300 × 50 km swath of
the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, a north-trending intermontane basin in
the northern Andes of Colombia. Available U-Pb age distributions for mod-
ern rivers highlight the distinctive signatures of several competing sediment
sources, including two major contiguous ranges (Central Cordillera and East-
ern Cordillera) and two localized block uplifts (Santander Massif and San
­Lucas range). U-Pb results from Jurassic through Neogene stratigraphic units
spanning the nine surface and subsurface sites, including several type locali-
ties, enable comparisons of provenance shifts at specific sites and spatial vari-
ations among key stratigraphic intervals across multiple sites.
Distinctive age populations for the Andean magmatic arc, retroarc fold-
thrust belt, and South American craton facilitate correlation of stratigraphic
units and reconstruction of the long-term provenance and tectonic evolution
of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin. Nearly all surface and subsurface lo-
calities show up-section changes in age spectra consistent with (1) Jurassic
growth of extensional subbasins fed by local igneous sources, (2) Cretaceous
deposition in an extensive postrift setting, and (3) protracted Cenozoic growth
of basin-bounding ranges during Andean crustal shortening. Subsurface sam-
ples augment surface samples, highlighting their utility in developing regional
source-to-sink relationships, the timing of paleodrainage integration, and tec-
tonic reconstructions.
Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes
Provenance shifts of mid-Paleocene and latest Eocene–earliest Oligocene
age are consistent with incipient uplift of the flanking Central Cordillera and
Eastern Cordillera, respectively. However, a well-documented phase of latest
Paleocene–middle Eocene beveling of basement uplifts in the Middle Magda-
lena Valley Basin appears to be largely aliased in the detrital record. Moreover,
despite the proximity of the magmatic arc, there is insufficient syndeposi-
tional evidence for a proposed Paleogene pulse of magmatism and, in this
case, limited utility of U-Pb ages in pinpointing precise depositional (strati-
graphic) ages.
U-Pb age spectra for Oligocene through Pliocene basin fill underscore
complex along-strike (north-south) and cross-strike (east-west) variations re-
flective of compartmentalized transverse deposystems demarcated by point-
source contributions from the Central Cordillera and Eastern Cordillera. The
late Miocene appearance of 100–0 Ma grains and a regional switch to broad,
multimodal age distributions suggest the initial integration of the longitu-
dinal proto–Magdalena River, linking the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin
with southern headwaters in the Upper Magdalena Valley and likely driving
increased sedimentation rates farther north in the offshore Magdalena sub­
marine fan of the southern Caribbean margin.
INTRODUCTION
Although advances in detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology have fueled a re-
surgence in sediment provenance studies, subsurface and intrabasinal applica-
tions remain limited. Rapid data acquisition through laser-ablation–­inductively
coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) has propelled U-Pb analyses
of sand-sized zircon grains to the forefront of provenance studies seeking to
discriminate among potential source regions (e.g., Dickinson and Gehrels,
2008; Nie et al., 2012; Gehrels, 2014). Further applications for sedimentary
­basin analysis include assessments of: (1) the relative volumetric contribu-
tions from known sources in modern watersheds (Saylor et al., 2013); (2) the
1790
 Research Paper
c­ omplex mixing and downstream dilution of source signals within modern
­rivers (Amidon et al., 2005; Link et al., 2005; Zhang et al., 2012; He et al., 2014);
(3) large-scale paleodrainage patterns, including the onset and evolution of
major paleorivers (Davis et al., 2010; Dickinson et al., 2012; Mackey et al., 2012;
Blum and Pecha, 2014); and (4) absolute ages of stratigraphic units (Fildani
et al., 2003; DeCelles et al., 2007; Dickinson and Gehrels, 2009; Horton et al.,
2015). Although accurate ages for syndepositional volcanic zircons clearly im-
prove chronostratigraphic correlations, U-Pb geochronology may provide a
viable correlation tool on the basis of comparable age distributions (e.g., Rain-
bird et al., 2007; Lawton et al., 2010; Beranek et al., 2013; Lewis and Sircombe,
2013), an approach that could considerably enhance subsurface investigations.
Despite the wide range of applications, complexities over multiple scales
highlight various difficulties in pinpointing sediment source regions, recon-
structing paleodrainage patterns, and correlating stratigraphic units. Whereas
most basin-scale studies focus on temporal provenance shifts registered within
key stratigraphic sections, uncertainties persist over the effectiveness of signal
transmission from source to sink. These issues can include (1) uneven con-
tributions from source areas, (2) storage, buffering, or recycling within drain-
age systems, and (3) potential sequestration due to intrabasinal variations in
hydrodynamics or depositional environments (e.g., Métivier and Gaudemer,
1999; DeGraaff-Surpless et al., 2003; Allen, 2008; Lawrence et al., 2011; Saylor
et al., 2013; Latrubesse, 2015). In river-dominated basins, many of these po-
tential problems can be minimized by sampling a range of depositional sub­
envi­ron­ments over a sufficiently large region (e.g., Potter, 1978; Ingersoll, 1990;
Ingersoll et al., 1993). Nevertheless, few investigations have explored both the
temporal and spatial variations in U-Pb provenance signatures for both surface
and subsurface deposits within a single sedimentary basin.
In this study, we explore an ~150 m.y. provenance history for surface and
subsurface samples from a single elongate basin exhibiting important along-
strike, cross-strike, and proximal-to-distal variations. The Middle Magdalena
Valley Basin of Colombia is a narrow intermontane basin spanning an area of
30,000 km2 within the northernmost Andes (Fig. 1). Depositional systems in the
north-trending basin are dictated locally by transverse sources derived from
the two major flanking mountain ranges, the Central Cordillera and Eastern
Cordillera, and regionally by the longitudinal Magdalena River, which today
flows ~1500 km along the basin axis to the Caribbean coast. The Middle Mag-
dalena Valley Basin is a prolific hydrocarbon basin, with ~100 yr of explora-
tion efforts. Nevertheless, despite hundreds of wells, problems of stratigraphic
correlation are highlighted by complex spatial variations in Mesozoic–Ceno-
zoic depositional systems (Morales, 1958; Van Houten and Travis, 1968; Van
Houten, 1976; Butler and Schamel, 1988; Schamel, 1991; Cooper et al., 1995;
Ramon and Rosero, 2006; Naranjo-Vesga et al., 2013).
These complexities are reflected in competing models for paleodrainage
and basin evolution in the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin. The Paleogene
­Middle Magdalena Valley Basin has been envisioned as the locus of either
northward axial paleodrainages or eastward transverse paleorivers (Nie et al.,
2010, 2012; Moreno et al., 2011; Saylor et al., 2011; Caballero et al., 2013a, 2013b;
GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes
Silva et al., 2013; Bayona et al., 2013; Reyes-Harker et al., 2015). Alternative sce-
narios propose a north-flowing proto–Magdalena River developing in middle
to late Miocene time (Hoorn et al., 1995, 2010). Evolution of the Middle Magda­
lena Valley Basin drainage systems and establishment of a through-going
Magdalena River also directly affected sediment accumulation and offshore
hydrocarbon prospectivity of the Magdalena delta in the Caribbean Sea.
Further uncertainties center on potential basin responses to the important re-
gional phases of Mesozoic extension and Cenozoic shortening in the northern-
most Andes, as well as critical transitions involving focused basement uplift
and punctuated magmatism (e.g., Colletta et al., 1990; Dengo and Covey, 1993;
Gómez et al., 2003, 2005a, 2005b; Horton et al., 2010a; Bayona et al., 2012; Parra
et al., 2012; Nie et al., 2012; Saylor et al., 2012a, 2012b; Caballero et al., 2013a,
2013b; Reyes-Harker et al., 2015). Here, we present U-Pb ages of detrital zircons for
21 subsurface samples of Mesozoic–Cenozoic basin fill, and we integrate these
data with results from 83 surface outcrop samples and seven modern river
samples to help correlate the provenance and tectonic histories of surface and
sub­surface basin fill.
GEOLOGIC AND STRATIGRAPHIC FRAMEWORK
The Middle Magdalena Valley Basin is a long-lived sedimentary basin that
has recorded uplift and exhumation of the major ranges and block uplifts of the
northernmost Andes at 4°N–7°N (Fig. 1). Modern sediment is delivered to
the narrow intermontane Middle Magdalena Valley Basin by transverse rivers
and alluvial fans from the flanking Central Cordillera and Eastern Cordillera,
with the Magdalena River flowing longitudinally northward along the basin
axis into the Caribbean Sea. Additional sediment sources include the isolated
San Lucas range and Santander Massif, which form block uplifts at the north-
ern terminations of the Central and Eastern Cordilleras, respectively.
Although the 5–10-km-thick clastic fill of the elongate Middle Magdalena
Valley Basin now defines a 20–100-km-wide by 500-km-long swath, the Meso­
zoic–Cenozoic succession contains a composite history involving a more-­
expansive early Cenozoic foreland basin (Gómez et al., 2003, 2005b; Caballero
et al., 2010, 2013a, 2013b; Moreno et al., 2011) and isolated Mesozoic exten-
sional subbasins (Cooper et al., 1995; Sarmiento-Rojas et al., 2006; Kammer
and Sánchez, 2006; Mora et al., 2013; Tesón et al., 2013). To the west, the
north-trending Central Cordillera is mostly composed of Mesozoic–early Ceno­
zoic igneous rocks of the Andean magmatic arc unroofed during Mesozoic
extension and Cenozoic shortening. In contrast, to the east, the north-north-
east–trending Eastern Cordillera consists of the Andean retroarc fold-thrust
belt, dominated by Cretaceous sedimentary rocks that, along with localized
basement uplifts, were erosionally recycled as the Middle Magdalena Valley
Basin transitioned from a broad foreland basin to an intermontane hinterland
basin (Caballero et al., 2010, 2013a; Moreno et al., 2011; Saylor et al., 2011; Hor-
ton, 2012; Parra et al., 2012; Sánchez et al., 2012; Silva et al., 2013; Moreno et al.,
2013; Tesón et al., 2013).
1791
 Research Paper

modern river
77°W 75°W 73°W

in
sand sample
Santa Marta

o Bas
Lower subsurface
sandstone
CARIBBEAN Magdalena Massif sample

caib
PLATE Valley surface
9°N sandstone
sample

Mara
syncline
anticline
thrust fault
strike-slip fault

San Santander normal fault

city
Lucas Massif
range Cagui well
stratigraphic
profile
Rio Santo
Domingo
Nuevo Mundo syncline (W) watershed
boundary
Rio Nechi

Cocuyo well Nuevo Mundo syncline (E)

Guane well

EY
ILLER
Rio Umbala Rio Manco Figure 1. Geologic map of the northern-

CORDILLERA

LL
La Salina footwall most Andes of Colombia (after Gómez
Tapias et al., 2007) showing nine study

2
VA
ure
localities (six surface, three subsurface) of

CORD
the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin and

Fig
A
seven modern sand samples from river

EN
drainage outlets of watersheds that span
Rio Nare Opón syncline diverse geologic units in highland portions

RA
AL
6°N of the Central Cordillera, San Lucas range,

LE
Rio Ermitaño syncline

GD
RAL
Santander Massif, and Eastern Cordillera.

IL
MA

RD
CENT
WESTERN

CO
PLATE

Rio Cravo Sur

SIN
Guaduas syncline
N

N
Rio Cusiana

BA
ER
NAZCA

OS
ST

AN
EA

LL
0 50 100 km

Sedimentary Igneous
Upper
f
ssi
Quaternary Cenozoic
Magdalena
Ma

Pliocene Cretaceous
Valley Miocene Jurassic
me

Paleogene Triassic
eta

Upper Cretaceous Paleozoic

Lower Cretaceous
Qu

Metamorphic
Jurassic Mesozoic
Triassic Paleozoic
Paleozoic Proterozoic

GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes 1792
 Research Paper

The Jurassic to Neogene succession in the Middle Magdalena Valley
­ asin (Fig. 2) recorded relatively continuous accumulation of 5–10 km of clas-
B and overbank accumulation, as well as alluvial-fan and possible fluvial mega-
tic sediment in marine and nonmarine settings. Age control is provided by
­marine fossil assemblages for the lower succession (Etayo-Serna et al., 1983;
­Etayo-Serna, 1985) and a combination of pollen, freshwater mollusks, and vol-
canic ash geochronology for the upper succession (Gómez et al., 2003, 2005b;
Jaramillo et al., 2011). Initial basin accumulation during Middle–Late Jurassic
(Girón Formation) to Early Cretaceous time (Los Santos, Rosa Blanca, and
Paja Formations) involved proximal deposition of clastic facies in alluvial-fan,
fluvial, and shallow-marine settings. Subsequent shallow- to deep-marine
deposition of mixed sand, mud, and limited carbonate persisted throughout
late Early Cretaceous to early Late Cretaceous time (Tablazo, Simití, and Simi-
jaca Formations). The latest Cretaceous–Paleocene marked a shift to sandier
sedi­menta­tion, with significant progradation of fluviodeltaic systems (Umir,
­Lisama, Seca, and Hoyón Formations). The Eocene through Pliocene history
was governed by fluvial deposition involving alternating phases of channel
fan sedimentation (La Paz, Cantagallo, San Juan de Rio Seco, Esmeraldas,
­Mugrosa, Colorado, Real, and Mesa Formations).
Mesozoic–Cenozoic stratigraphic units of the Middle Magdalena Valley
­Basin show complex spatial variations, leading to ambiguous stratigraphic
correlations (Morales, 1958; Sarmiento Rojas, 2001; Sarmiento-Rojas et al.,
2006). There are no field localities with complete exposures of the Jurassic
through Neogene succession, and many units are defined only in the sub­
surface. The lack of uninterrupted exposures and the subsurface presence of
intra­basinal structural highs (e.g., the subsurface Infantas, La Cira, and Cáchira
highs) and associated unconformities (Morales, 1958; Gómez et al., 2003,
2005b; Caballero et al., 2013a) have precluded delineation of systematic cross-
strike (east-west) trends in lithofacies and associated depositional systems.
Along-strike (north-south) variations in the aforementioned stratigraphic units

Guane Cocuyo Cagui

well well well
Quaternary
Pliocene SSW Mesa NNE
l Real Real
Mio m Honda Colorado
e Colorado
Santa Teresa
CENOZOIC

l Barzaloza Mugrosa Mugrosa

Olig e
l San Juan de Rioseco La Paz Esmeraldas Esmeraldas
Cantagallo
Eoc m upper Hoyon La Paz
e MMVB unconformity Infantas - La Cira high
Pal el lower/middle Hoyon Seca Lisama
Lisama
Seca Umir
Cimarrona Labor & Tierna Umir
Late Buscavides La Luna
Olini Salto
CRETACEOUS

Villeta
Simijaca Simití
Hilo Tablazo
Capotes Paja
Socotá
Early
Utica Paja Rosablanca
Naveta Murca Los Santos-Tambor

Guaduas Rio Ermitaño Opón La Salina Nuevo Mundo

syncline syncline syncline footwall syncline
– west – east

0 50 100 km

Figure 2. Generalized stratigraphic profile along the SSW-NNE axis of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin at 4°N–7.7°N (after Caballero et al., 2013b; Sarmiento Rojas,
2001) showing approximate spatial and chronological information for Mesozoic–Cenozoic stratigraphic units from the nine study localities. MMVB—Middle Magda-
lena Valley Basin.

GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes 1793
 Research Paper

Supplemental Table 1. Sample information for the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (MMVB) and adjacent tectonic provinces of the northernmost Andes of Colombia
Site Sample Age Stratigraphic Unit n = Latitude (N) Longitude (W) Reference

(Fig. 2) ­reveal more straightforward lithostratigraphic trends along the basin et al., 2012, 2013; Caballero et al., 2013a, 2013b). To enable reasonable com-
Cocuyo Well Cocuyo1-7 3. Late Cretaceous early Paleocene lower Umir Fm. 16 7.39530 73.85025 This study
Cocuyo Well Cocuyo1-5 5. early – late Eocene upper Cantagallo Fm. 101 7.39530 73.85025 This study
Cocuyo Well Cocuyo1-4 6. late Eocene – early Oligocene Esmeraldas Fm. 52 7.39530 73.85025 This study
Cocuyo Well Cocuyo1-3 7. Oligocene lower Mugrosa Fm. 48 7.39530 73.85025 This study
Cocuyo Well Cocuyo1-2 8. early – middle Miocene lower Colorado Fm. 102 7.39530 73.85025 This study
Guane Well
Guane Well
Guane Well
Guane1-14
Guane1-13
Guane1-12
1. Jurassic
2. Early Cretaceous
2. Early Cretaceous
Giron Fm.
Los Santos Fm.
Rosa Blanca Fm.
112
55
52
7.23360
7.23360
7.23360
73.79962
73.79962
73.79962
This study
This study
This study
axis, likely due to more-continuous north-trending structures within the re- parisons across these recent data sets from different researchers, we em-
Guane Well Guane1-9 6. late Eocene – early Oligocene Esmeraldas Fm. 112 7.23360 73.79962 This study

gional structural framework. ployed the aforementioned filters for age errors and age discordance across
Guane Well Guane1-8 7. Oligocene Mugrosa Fm. 107 7.23360 73.79962 This study
Guane Well Guane1-2 9. late Miocene Real Fm. 82 7.23360 73.79962 This study
Cagui Well CAG1-14 1. Jurassic Giron Fm. 99 7.68098 73.57646 This study
Cagui Well CAG1-12 2. Early Cretaceous Paja Fm. 96 7.68098 73.57646 This study

For the purpose of this study, we systematically consider results from an all s­ ample results.
Cagui Well CAG1-11 6. late Eocene – early Oligocene Esmeraldas Fm. 92 7.68098 73.57646 This study
Cagui Well CAG1-10 7. Oligocene lower Mugrosa Fm. 124 7.68098 73.57646 This study
Cagui Well CAG1-9 7. Oligocene upper Mugrosa Fm. 77 7.68098 73.57646 This study
Cagui Well CAG1-8 8. early – middle Miocene lower Colorado Fm. 94 7.68098 73.57646 This study
Cagui Well CAG1-7 8. early – middle Miocene middle Colorado Fm. 115 7.68098 73.57646 This study
Cagui Well
Cagui Well
Cagui Well
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East
CAG1-6
CAG1-5
CAG1-2
RS0114091
8. early – middle Miocene
9. late Miocene
9. late Miocene
3. Late Cretaceous early Paleocene
upper Colorado Fm.
lower Real Fm.
upper Real Fm.
Lisama Fm.
97
84
81
39
7.68098
7.68098
7.68098
7.21700
73.57646
73.57646
73.57646
73.32700
This study
This study
This study
Nie et al. (2010)
~300 × 50 km swath of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Fig. 1), including
three wells from the western to far northeastern basin (Cocuyo, Guane, and
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East U821 4. mid-Paleocene early Eocene Lisama Fm. 56 7.22500 73.32901 Nie et al. (2010)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East U08022 4. mid-Paleocene early Eocene La Paz Fm. 27 7.22900 73.33302 Nie et al. (2010)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East CU612P 5. early – late Eocene La Paz Fm. 46 7.23900 73.34202 Nie et al. (2010)

MODERN RIVERS AND SEDIMENT SOURCE REGIONS

Nuevo Mundo syncline - East U08024 5. early – late Eocene Esmeraldas Fm. 67 7.23497 73.35015 Nie et al. 2012)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East VC062 6. late Eocene – early Oligocene Esmeraldas Fm. 98 7.23894 73.35805 Nie et al. (2012)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East
VC063
U08025
VC066
6. late Eocene – early Oligocene
7. Oligocene
7. Oligocene
Esmeraldas Fm.
Mugrosa Fm.
Mugrosa Fm.
95
72
91
7.23672
7.25290
7.24389
73.35585
73.37502
73.35800
Nie et al. (2012)
Nie et al. (2010)
Nie et al. (2012)
Cagui wells), three surface sites from the eastern basin (Nuevo Mundo syn-
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East VC067 7. Oligocene Mugrosa Fm. 88 7.24664 73.35909 Nie et al. (2012)

cline west limb, Nuevo Mundo syncline east limb, and La Salina footwall), and
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East M09 8. early – middle Miocene Colorado Fm. 43 7.25500 73.38401 Nie et al. (2010)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East U08027 8. early – middle Miocene Colorado Fm. 67 7.26200 73.38902 Nie et al. (2010)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - East U08028 9. late Miocene Real Gr. 49 7.26200 73.41002 Nie et al. (2010)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West LM1505097 3. Late Cretaceous early Paleocene Lisama Fm. 53 7.13816 73.53906 Caballero et al. (2013a)

three surface sites from the central-southern basin (Opón syncline, Rio Ermi- Detrital zircon U-Pb age distributions for modern river sands in the north-
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West NM1-2 4. mid-Paleocene early Eocene La Paz Fm. 0 7.13365 73.52729 Reyes-Harker et al. (2015)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West NM2A 4. mid-Paleocene early Eocene La Paz Fm. 88 7.13365 73.52729 Reyes-Harker et al. (2015)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West NM2B 4. mid-Paleocene early Eocene La Paz Fm. 81 7.13365 73.52729 Reyes-Harker et al. (2015)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West NM3A 4. mid-Paleocene early Eocene Toro shale Fm. 78 7.13330 73.52692 Reyes-Harker et al. (2015)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West NM3B 4. mid-Paleocene early Eocene Toro shale Fm. 88 7.13330 73.52692 Reyes-Harker et al. (2015)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West
NM1
WS0110097
WS0107094
NM4
5. early – late Eocene
5. early – late Eocene
5. early – late Eocene
5. early – late Eocene
La Paz Fm.
La Paz / Esmeraldas Fm.
Esmeraldas Fm.
Esmeraldas Fm.
86
52
83
93
7.13364
7.25296
7.17364
7.13309
73.52727
73.52739
73.55413
73.52624
Reyes-Harker et al. (2015)
This study
This study
Caballero et al. (2013a)
taño syncline, and Guaduas syncline). ernmost Andes (Nie et al., 2012; Bande et al., 2012; Saylor et al., 2013) demon-
strate the distinctive age signatures for several competing sediment sources:
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West LM1505093 6. late Eocene – early Oligocene Esmeraldas Fm. 106 7.17364 73.55413 Caballero et al. (2013a)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West NM6A 6. late Eocene – early Oligocene Esmeraldas Fm. 75 7.17378 73.55220 Reyes-Harker et al. (2015)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West NM6B 6. late Eocene – early Oligocene Esmeraldas Fm. 104 7.17378 73.55220 Reyes-Harker et al. (2015)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West Santos111A 6. late Eocene – early Oligocene Esmeraldas Fm. 88 7.35276 73.45267 Caballero et al. (2013a)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West Santos111B 6. late Eocene – early Oligocene Esmeraldas Fm. 74 7.35276 73.45265 Reyes-Harker et al. (2015)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West
WS0109095
Lisama146A
LM1505094
6. late Eocene – early Oligocene
7. Oligocene
7. Oligocene
Esmeraldas Fm.
Mugrosa Fm.
Mugrosa Fm.
51
92
99
7.25555
7.12621
7.17369
73.52587
73.55093
73.55208
This study
Caballero et al. (2013a)
Caballero et al. (2013a)
principally two contiguous ranges, the Central Cordillera and Eastern Cor­di­
U-Pb GEOCHRONOLOGICAL METHODS
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West LM1505095 7. Oligocene Mugrosa Fm. 94 7.17481 73.54842 Nie et al. (2010)

llera, but also two localized block uplifts, the Santander Massif and San Lucas
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West NM7 7. Oligocene Mugrosa Fm. 79 7.17462 73.54541 Bayona et al. (2012)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West NM8A 7. Oligocene Mugrosa Fm. 92 7.17443 73.54496 Reyes-Harker et al. (2015)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West NM8B 7. Oligocene Mugrosa Fm. 89 7.17443 73.54496 Reyes-Harker et al. (2015)
Nuevo Mundo syncline - West LM1505096 8. early – middle Miocene Colorado Fm. 101 7.16872 73.53532 Caballero et al. (2013a)

range (Fig. 1).

La Salina footwall LC08031 7. Oligocene Mugrosa Fm. 68 6.85400 73.77102 Caballero et al. (2013a)
La Salina footwall BEL1-2 8. early – middle Miocene Colorado Fm. 85 7.10662 73.57171 This study
La Salina footwall LC08033 8. early – middle Miocene Colorado Fm. 41 6.88500 73.75202 Caballero et al. (2013a)
La Salina footwall LC08035 9. late Miocene Real Gr. 89 7.09700 73.62702 Caballero et al. (2013a)
Opón Syncline 1072-014 3. Late Cretaceous early Paleocene Umir Fm. 102 6.24721 73.79026 Caballero et al. (2013b)
Opón Syncline
Opón Syncline
Opón Syncline
Opón Syncline
1072-028
1072-029
1072-030
1072-031
3. Late Cretaceous early Paleocene
4. mid-Paleocene early Eocene
4. mid-Paleocene early Eocene
4. mid-Paleocene early Eocene
Umir Fm.
Lisama Fm.
Lisama Fm.
Lisama Fm.
92
72
90
85
6.39791
6.37974
6.37288
6.35323
73.74854
73.78066
73.78633
73.85636
Caballero et al. (2013b)
Caballero et al. (2103b)
Caballero et al. (2103b)
Caballero et al. (2103b)
Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronological results for samples of Mesozoic- (1) Along the western flank of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, the
Ceno­zoic sandstones and modern river sands (Supplemental Tables 11 and 22) Central Cordillera forms a contiguous north-trending barrier constructed of
Opón Syncline 1072-017 7. Oligocene Mugrosa Fm. 76 6.36697 73.86109 Caballero et al. (2013b)
Opón Syncline 1072-018 7. Oligocene Mugrosa Fm. 95 6.38162 73.88144 Caballero et al. (2013b)
Opón Syncline 1072-025 7. Oligocene Mugrosa Fm. 89 6.41103 73.87002 Caballero et al. (2013b)
Opón Syncline RO3101092 8. early – middle Miocene Colorado Fm. 94 6.38095 73.89758 Caballero et al. (2103b)
Opón Syncline 1072-013 8. early – middle Miocene Colorado Fm. 95 6.40813 73.85950 Caballero et al. (2013b)
Opón Syncline
Opón Syncline
Opón Syncline
1072-020
1072-026
RO290109
8. early – middle Miocene
8. early – middle Miocene
9. late Miocene
Colorado Fm.
Colorado Fm.
Real Gr.
99
95
37
6.38096
6.44892
6.38984
73.89528
73.83852
73.93400
Caballero et al. (2013b)
Caballero et al. (2013b)
Caballero et al. (2103b)
were acquired through LA-ICP-MS, principally at the University of Arizona upper Paleozoic to lower Cenozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks (Fig. 1).
Opón Syncline 1072-016 9. late Miocene Real Gr. 86 6.45752 73.80868 Caballero et al. (2013b)

LaserChron Center following procedures established for the facility (Gehrels, Modern river sands collected from the mouths of the two largest drainage
1
Supplemental Table 1. Sample information for the 2000, 2014; Gehrels et al., 2008). New U-Pb results, consisting of a single U-Pb networks, the Rio Nare and Rio Nechi (Fig. 1), are both governed by zircon
Middle Magdalena Valley Basin and adjacent tectonic
date for each analyzed zircon grain, are reported for 21 subsurface samples U-Pb age peaks of 95–70 Ma (Figs. 3A and 3B), consistent with consider-
provinces of the northernmost Andes of Colombia.
Please visit http://​dx​.doi​.org​/10​.1130​/GES01251​.S1 acquired from three wells. Random selections of >100 inclusion-free zircon able exposure of the Upper Cretaceous Antioquia (Antioqueño) batholith
or the full-text article on www​.gsapubs​.org to view grains were analyzed for each sample, along with known standards to cor- (88–83 Ma) over roughly half the cumulative drainage area in the Central
Supplemental Table 1.
rect for inter- and intra-element fractionation (Gehrels et al., 2008), resulting Cordillera. Additional sources represented in the river sand U-Pb age spectra
Supplemental Table 2. U-Pb geochronological results for the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (MMVB) and adjacent tectonic provinces of the northernmost Andes of Colombia
Analysis ID U ppm U/Th
207Pb / 1 error 206Pb / 1 error 207Pb/235U 1 error 206Pb/238U 1 error 207Pb/206Pb 1 error
Best Age
1 error
in a 1–2% (2s) age uncertainty for each analysis. Common Pb corrections include Paleogene (65–50 Ma) and Permian–Triassic (300–200 Ma) granites,
235U (%) 238U (%) Age (Ma) Age (Ma) Age (Ma) (Ma)

COCUYO WELL

Cocuyo1-7: lower Umir Fm., Maastrichtian (7.39530°N, 73.85025°W)

were employed using measured 204Pb and an assumed initial Pb composi- and Paleozoic metasedimentary and meta-igneous rocks of the Cajamarca
Lower_Umir-10 484 1.9 0.1062 8.6 0.0160 0.6 102.5 8.4 102.6 0.6 99.9 204.5 102.6 0.6
Lower_Umir-9
Lower_Umir-14
Lower_Umir-5
Lower_Umir-2
84
293
36
41
2.5
1.9
1.1
1.0
0.0841
0.1710
0.2867
1.6805
90.7
17.7
116.3
846.4
0.0232
0.0242
0.0265
0.0271
5.0
2.2
2.6
3.1
82.0
160.3
256.0
1001.2
71.6
26.2
269.2
–
148.0
154.3
168.4
172.3
7.4
3.4
4.3
5.3
-1587.5
250.4
1160.6
4084.8
1677.0
406.0
303.4
38.1
148.0
154.3
168.4
172.3
7.4
3.4
4.3
5.3
tion (Stacey and Kramers, 1975). Errors in determining 206Pb/ 238U, 206Pb/ 207Pb, complex, defined chiefly by 300–250 Ma metamorphic ages with minor
Lower_Umir-15 20 9.7 0.4320 35.1 0.0286 5.8 364.6 108.0 181.9 10.4 1790.7 651.8 181.9 10.4
Lower_Umir-16
Lower_Umir-4
Lower_Umir-7
Lower_Umir-17
44
134
1432
154
2.3
1.6
32.1
4.9
0.2574
0.3089
2.3217
2.1996
40.3
10.2
1.1
3.7
0.0432
0.0438
0.2110
0.1994
4.2
1.6
1.1
3.5
232.6
273.4
1219.0
1180.9
83.9
24.5
8.1
26.1
272.3
276.2
1234.1
1171.9
11.2
4.3
12.4
37.6
-152.4
248.7
1192.2
1197.6
1030.5
232.7
5.9
25.0
272.3
276.2
1192.2
1197.6
11.2
4.3
5.9
25.0
and 206Pb/ 204Pb ratios yielded total measurement errors of ~1–2% (2s) for Protero­zoic to early Paleozoic (roughly 1000–400 Ma) inheritance (McCourt
Lower_Umir-12 256 5.0 2.3377 2.8 0.2073 2.6 1223.8 20.0 1214.4 29.0 1240.5 19.6 1240.5 19.6
Lower_Umir-3
Lower_Umir-11
Lower_Umir-1
Lower_Umir-13
49
282
213
225
3.1
2.7
4.1
2.3
2.6603
2.7268
2.8739
2.7136
4.9
2.0
2.0
2.1
0.2287
0.2294
0.2417
0.2279
1.5
1.9
1.7
1.9
1317.5
1335.8
1375.1
1332.2
36.5
15.2
15.1
15.3
1327.9
1331.3
1395.8
1323.4
18.6
22.9
21.0
22.9
1300.6
1343.0
1343.1
1346.2
91.1
14.0
21.5
14.5
1300.6
1343.0
1343.1
1346.2
91.1
14.0
21.5
14.5
each preferred age, which is reported as either the 206Pb/ 238U age (grains et al., 1984; Aspden et al., 1987; Aleman and Ramos, 2000; Cordani et al.,
Lower_Umir-8 153 1.8 2.9277 2.1 0.2447 1.7 1389.1 16.2 1411.1 21.2 1355.5 25.6 1355.5 25.6

Cocuyo1-5: upper Cantagallo Fm., middle-late Eocene (7.39530°N, 73.85025°W)

Lower_Esmeraldas-114
Lower_Esmeraldas-5
260
405
1.4
2.6
0.0743
0.0518
18.6
32.4
0.0085
0.0108
7.8
3.2
72.8
51.2
13.0
16.2
54.8
69.2
4.2
2.2
713.2
-726.0
361.2
919.0
54.8
69.2
4.2
2.2
younger than 900 Ma) or 206Pb/ 207Pb age (grains older than 900 Ma). Age 2005; Ordóñez-Carmona et al., 2006; Vinasco et al., 2006; Cardona et al., 2010;
discordance filters were employed following previous studies in the region, Villagómez et al., 2011).
Lower_Esmeraldas-84 100 1.5 0.1524 45.7 0.0237 4.4 144.0 61.4 151.3 6.6 25.9 1144.6 151.3 6.6
Lower_Esmeraldas-3 237 1.6 0.1181 13.5 0.0239 1.4 113.3 14.5 152.0 2.1 -639.5 369.3 152.0 2.1
Lower_Esmeraldas-78 187 2.7 0.1663 36.5 0.0241 2.1 156.2 52.9 153.7 3.1 195.2 873.4 153.7 3.1
Lower_Esmeraldas-105 149 2.1 0.1803 33.2 0.0242 2.8 168.3 51.5 154.1 4.2 373.1 763.1 154.1 4.2
Lower_Esmeraldas-7 185 1.8 0.1283 37.4 0.0244 3.7 122.6 43.2 155.1 5.7 -471.1 1014.3 155.1 5.7

with all single-grain analyses exhibiting >10% uncertainty and all 206Pb/ 238U (2) At the northern termination of the Central Cordillera, the San Lucas
Lower_Esmeraldas-58 439 1.7 0.1727 8.8 0.0248 1.9 161.7 13.2 157.6 3.0 222.4 199.1 157.6 3.0
Lower_Esmeraldas-107 245 2.2 0.1715 15.5 0.0251 1.3 160.7 23.0 159.9 2.1 173.5 362.1 159.9 2.1
Lower_Esmeraldas-1 178 1.0 0.1807 25.9 0.0253 1.2 168.7 40.3 161.1 2.0 277.0 601.5 161.1 2.0
Lower_Esmeraldas-70 407 2.4 0.1672 7.0 0.0260 1.4 157.0 10.1 165.3 2.3 33.0 163.4 165.3 2.3
Lower_Esmeraldas-4 62 1.4 0.2131 53.2 0.0260 7.0 196.2 95.2 165.5 11.5 584.0 1231.4 165.5 11.5

ages displaying >20% discordance or >5% reverse discordance omitted from range (Fig. 1) forms an isolated block uplift composed of Jurassic volcaniclas-
Lower_Esmeraldas-87 297 2.4 0.1871 26.7 0.0266 2.9 174.1 42.8 169.5 4.8 237.5 622.7 169.5 4.8
Lower_Esmeraldas-116 124 1.3 0.2055 28.0 0.0274 3.0 189.8 48.5 174.4 5.2 384.9 636.3 174.4 5.2
Lower_Esmeraldas-68 123 1.3 0.1808 19.0 0.0282 2.0 168.7 29.6 179.5 3.6 20.5 458.0 179.5 3.6
Lower_Esmeraldas-88 162 1.1 0.2025 19.7 0.0283 2.2 187.3 33.7 180.2 3.8 277.8 452.6 180.2 3.8
Lower_Esmeraldas-74 139 0.9 0.2044 30.1 0.0286 3.3 188.9 51.9 181.9 5.9 276.9 698.7 181.9 5.9

consideration. Given the potential for minor discordance, all provenance and tic rocks capping Triassic–Jurassic granodiorite and Grenvillian-age metamor-
Lower_Esmeraldas-91 91 1.5 0.1560 54.1 0.0288 1.7 147.2 74.3 183.1 3.0 -397.9 1509.6 183.1 3.0
Lower_Esmeraldas-81 157 1.5 0.1980 20.2 0.0288 1.5 183.4 33.9 183.3 2.8 185.4 473.3 183.3 2.8
Lower_Esmeraldas-97 672 0.6 0.2074 3.8 0.0291 1.1 191.3 6.6 185.0 2.0 271.0 83.1 185.0 2.0
Lower_Esmeraldas-80 110 1.7 0.2078 19.2 0.0293 7.3 191.7 33.5 186.0 13.4 262.0 409.8 186.0 13.4
Lower_Esmeraldas-118 74 1.6 0.2523 24.8 0.0294 3.6 228.5 50.8 186.8 6.6 681.8 531.5 186.8 6.6

chronostratigraphic interpretations were developed on the basis of age popu- phic basement developed on a Mesoproterozoic protolith (Gómez Tapias et al.,
Lower_Esmeraldas-86 50 0.7 0.2191 34.2 0.0296 3.9 201.2 62.6 187.8 7.2 360.2 788.6 187.8 7.2
Lower_Esmeraldas-79 284 1.2 0.1955 10.3 0.0300 1.1 181.3 17.1 190.6 2.1 62.1 244.4 190.6 2.1
Lower_Esmeraldas-82 119 2.3 0.2705 17.1 0.0374 9.7 243.1 37.0 236.4 22.6 307.9 322.3 236.4 22.6
Lower_Esmeraldas-119 378 4.0 0.2419 7.8 0.0374 2.0 220.0 15.4 236.7 4.6 43.9 180.2 236.7 4.6
Lower_Esmeraldas-39 622 2.9 0.2555 6.7 0.0381 2.4 231.0 13.9 240.8 5.6 132.6 148.1 240.8 5.6

lations defined by results for three or more zircon grains. U-Pb data are plotted 2007; Clavijo et al., 2008; Cuadros et al., 2014; Blanco-Quintero et al., 2014).
Lower_Esmeraldas-24 95 1.8 0.2827 20.8 0.0383 1.8 252.8 46.5 242.6 4.3 348.6 471.9 242.6 4.3
Lower_Esmeraldas-110 149 1.8 0.2748 9.2 0.0398 2.1 246.5 20.2 251.8 5.3 196.3 209.3 251.8 5.3
Lower_Esmeraldas-9 65 1.5 0.2947 28.0 0.0402 4.3 262.2 64.9 254.3 10.8 333.8 639.0 254.3 10.8
Lower_Esmeraldas-57 102 1.5 0.2722 21.8 0.0411 3.0 244.4 47.5 259.7 7.6 100.8 517.0 259.7 7.6
Lower_Esmeraldas-10 336 1.7 0.2947 6.3 0.0415 1.5 262.2 14.6 261.9 3.8 265.4 141.4 261.9 3.8

as age probability distribution functions and age histograms. Significant age U-Pb results from modern river sands collected at the mouth of the Rio Santo
Lower_Esmeraldas-25 179 1.8 0.2679 13.9 0.0420 1.3 241.0 29.8 265.0 3.3 13.3 334.3 265.0 3.3
Lower_Esmeraldas-32 380 2.0 0.3059 6.8 0.0420 1.6 271.0 16.2 265.3 4.1 320.6 150.5 265.3 4.1
Lower_Esmeraldas-31 206 1.8 0.2967 8.2 0.0422 1.4 263.8 19.0 266.2 3.6 242.7 185.9 266.2 3.6
Lower_Esmeraldas-18 235 1.7 0.2929 7.7 0.0426 2.8 260.8 17.6 268.7 7.3 190.2 166.3 268.7 7.3
Lower_Esmeraldas-19 650 1.7 0.3097 4.9 0.0430 2.2 274.0 11.7 271.2 6.0 297.6 98.3 271.2 6.0

populations are generally reported as age ranges rather than individual age Domingo along the northwestern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin margin ex-
Lower_Esmeraldas-8 270 1.2 0.2975 5.3 0.0430 3.1 264.5 12.4 271.5 8.4 202.4 99.3 271.5 8.4
Lower_Esmeraldas-29 160 1.6 0.3061 15.6 0.0432 2.2 271.2 37.0 272.8 6.0 257.7 355.5 272.8 6.0
Lower_Esmeraldas-37 141 1.7 0.2789 21.1 0.0434 1.4 249.8 46.8 274.0 3.7 27.8 510.0 274.0 3.7
Lower_Esmeraldas-103 76 1.2 0.3741 19.5 0.0434 2.6 322.7 54.0 274.1 7.0 689.6 415.8 274.1 7.0
Lower_Esmeraldas-94 386 1.6 0.3178 5.5 0.0435 0.9 280.2 13.5 274.6 2.5 327.2 123.6 274.6 2.5

peaks (i.e., the probability maxima of distribution functions), in order to em- hibit a dominant Permian–Triassic (300–200 Ma) population within a broad
Lower_Esmeraldas-104 481 1.8 0.3030 4.4 0.0436 2.0 268.8 10.3 275.2 5.4 213.2 90.1 275.2 5.4
Lower_Esmeraldas-33 759 1.3 0.3073 4.8 0.0438 2.1 272.1 11.5 276.3 5.7 236.6 99.9 276.3 5.7
Lower_Esmeraldas-52 158 1.2 0.3074 12.5 0.0440 1.8 272.2 29.9 277.4 4.9 227.4 286.9 277.4 4.9
Lower_Esmeraldas-67 539 1.6 0.3152 3.4 0.0440 2.2 278.2 8.2 277.4 5.9 285.1 58.9 277.4 5.9
Lower_Esmeraldas-120 260 1.6 0.3037 8.2 0.0440 1.3 269.3 19.4 277.4 3.6 198.8 188.3 277.4 3.6

phasize and correlate age trends across multiple samples. population of Carboniferous–Jurassic (350–150 Ma) ages, along with a minor
Lower_Esmeraldas-65 290 1.8 0.3153 5.3 0.0440 0.8 278.3 12.8 277.5 2.1 284.7 119.2 277.5 2.1
Lower_Esmeraldas-64 293 2.2 0.3082 8.7 0.0441 4.4 272.8 20.9 277.9 12.1 229.3 173.6 277.9 12.1
Lower_Esmeraldas-109 250 2.5 0.3433 6.4 0.0455 2.2 299.7 16.6 286.6 6.0 402.6 134.9 286.6 6.0
Lower_Esmeraldas-69 210 1.2 0.3663 5.7 0.0516 2.1 316.9 15.6 324.6 6.8 261.1 122.0 324.6 6.8
Lower_Esmeraldas-48 562 5.0 0.5563 2.6 0.0736 1.8 449.1 9.5 457.9 8.0 404.0 42.5 457.9 8.0

Previously published U-Pb data are incorporated into our regional analy- early Paleozoic (500–400 Ma) signal (Fig. 3C).
Lower_Esmeraldas-40 115 1.5 0.5468 10.5 0.0745 1.7 442.9 37.7 463.5 7.7 337.0 235.3 463.5 7.7
Lower_Esmeraldas-13 299 5.0 0.6291 3.3 0.0801 1.8 495.5 13.1 496.8 8.4 489.8 62.8 496.8 8.4
Lower_Esmeraldas-53 143 1.8 1.4423 6.4 0.1468 4.8 906.7 38.3 883.2 39.8 964.3 85.4 883.2 39.8
Lower_Esmeraldas-30 103 3.0 1.4313 3.6 0.1500 1.8 902.1 21.3 900.8 15.4 905.1 63.0 905.1 63.0
Lower_Esmeraldas-27 235 5.1 1.5224 2.3 0.1569 1.7 939.5 14.0 939.8 14.7 938.7 31.9 938.7 31.9

sis, including results for 83 samples from six exposed stratigraphic sections (3) In the Santander Massif, along the northern margin of the Eastern Cor-
Lower_Esmeraldas-102 165 3.0 1.5458 3.3 0.1576 1.6 948.8 20.4 943.2 14.1 961.9 59.1 961.9 59.1
Lower_Esmeraldas-55 210 5.1 1.5599 2.7 0.1578 2.1 954.4 17.0 944.4 18.2 977.6 36.7 977.6 36.7
Lower_Esmeraldas-23 156 5.4 1.7177 3.8 0.1705 2.7 1015.2 24.5 1015.0 25.3 1015.6 54.9 1015.6 54.9
Lower_Esmeraldas-11 180 2.2 1.7540 4.2 0.1735 3.7 1028.6 27.2 1031.6 35.5 1022.4 39.4 1022.4 39.4
Lower_Esmeraldas-85 246 4.1 1.8246 1.9 0.1767 1.4 1054.3 12.6 1049.0 13.2 1065.4 27.3 1065.4 27.3

and seven samples of modern river sands (Nie et al., 2010, 2012; Ibañez-Mejia dillera, two modern drainage networks encompass Triassic–Jurassic granites
Lower_Esmeraldas-34 477 3.4 1.8303 2.4 0.1751 2.3 1056.4 16.1 1040.2 21.9 1090.0 17.8 1090.0 17.8
Lower_Esmeraldas-2 64 1.2 1.9088 6.2 0.1808 3.4 1084.2 41.6 1071.4 33.1 1109.9 105.2 1109.9 105.2
Lower_Esmeraldas-71 637 3.6 2.1331 2.0 0.1980 2.0 1159.6 14.2 1164.3 20.8 1150.8 12.0 1150.8 12.0
Lower_Esmeraldas-15 142 3.6 1.7528 5.8 0.1621 4.9 1028.2 37.2 968.2 44.2 1158.3 59.4 1158.3 59.4
Lower_Esmeraldas-51 50 2.1 2.2096 3.4 0.2040 2.0 1184.1 23.8 1196.6 21.8 1161.3 54.6 1161.3 54.6

et al., 2011; Bayona et al., 2012, 2013; Caballero et al., 2013a, 2013b). These and subordinate Ordovician–Silurian metasedimentary rocks and Precambrian
Lower_Esmeraldas-106 74 2.1 2.2278 4.6 0.2047 1.8 1189.8 32.1 1200.5 20.1 1170.5 83.0 1170.5 83.0
Lower_Esmeraldas-77 406 3.9 2.2606 1.9 0.2076 1.5 1200.1 13.1 1216.2 17.1 1171.1 20.6 1171.1 20.6

2
Supplemental Table 2. U-Pb geochronological re- data were acquired by LA-ICP-MS in the same or similar laboratory settings basement (Fig. 1). These distributions are faithfully represented by U-Pb age
sults for the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin and ad- (in laboratories at the University of Arizona, University of Texas at Austin, spectra for modern river sands from the Rio Umbala and Rio Manco (Figs.
jacent tectonic provinces of the northernmost Andes
and Washington State University) using comparable methods, as detailed in 3D and 3E). The rivers are governed by 300–150 Ma ages, with clustering of
of Colombia. Please visit http://​dx​.doi​.org​/10​.1130​
/GES01251​.S2 or the full-text article on www​.gsapubs​ the original studies (Nie et al., 2010, 2012; Ibañez-Mejia et al., 2011; B
­ ayona 210–190 Ma ages, consistent with Late Triassic–Early Jurassic emplacement
.org to view Supplemental Table 2.

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100

50
A Rio Nare (n = 110)
Central Cordillera
0
40

20
B Rio Nechi (n = 92)
Central Cordillera
0
40

20
C Rio Santo Domingo (n = 67)
San Lucas range
0
40
D Rio Umbala (n = 83)

Relative Probability
number of analyses
20 Figure 3. (A–G) Detrital zircon U-Pb age
Santander Massif distributions for individual samples of
modern rivers in the northernmost Andes.
0
40 Age spectra are depicted as age probabil-

20
E Rio Manco (n = 80)
ity functions (thick black lines) and age
histograms (open rectangles). (H) Plot of
Santander Massif cumulative results, with horizontal arrows
0 highlighting diagnostic age populations
20 and gray shaded zones denoting the Cen-

10
F Rio Cravo Sur (n = 67))
tral Cordillera and Eastern Cordillera.

Eastern Cordillera
0
20

10
G Rio Cusiana (n = 79)
Eastern Cordillera
0
200 Central
al Cordillera
Cordi
H All Rivers (N = 7 samples)
ples) (n = 578)
p
100 S
SMSL
SMSL – Santander Massif, Eastern Cordillera (cratonic sources)
0 San Lucas range
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
Age (Ma)

ages for the Santa Barbara granodiorite, Pescadero granite, and associated
intrusions (Goldsmith et al., 1971; Irving, 1975; Forero-Suarez, 1990; Dörr et al.,
1995; Mantilla Figueroa et al., 2013). Populations of 500–400 Ma and 1200–
550 Ma grains record input from less-extensive igneous and metamorphic
rocks of Ordovician–Silurian and Proterozoic age, respectively.
(4) To the east, the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin is flanked by the broad
Eastern Cordillera, a north-northeast–trending fold-thrust system composed
mainly of Cretaceous clastic deposits (Fig. 1) originally derived from source
areas in the South American craton (Guyana Shield) to the east (Horton et al.,
2010b). U-Pb results from the Rio Cravo Sur and Rio Cusiana show primar-
ily Proterozoic grains (1800–900 Ma), with peak ages of 1100–900, 1600–1500,
1850–1750, and 1250–1200 Ma, and secondary early Paleozoic ages (500–
400 Ma; Figs. 3F and 3G), which are clear indicators of recycling from exhumed
Cretaceous sedimentary rocks (Bande et al., 2012; Saylor et al., 2013).
Although there is modest overlap in ages among these different tectonic
provinces, several essential distinctions are recognized in the U-Pb age distribu-
tions for modern rivers (Fig. 3H). First, the Eastern Cordillera is unambiguously
dominated by 1800–900 Ma zircons, which are diagnostic of voluminous Cre-
taceous clastic deposits originally derived from Precambrian cratonic sources
to the east in the Guyana Shield and possible subsurface basement sources
of the Llanos Basin (Figs. 3F, 3G, and 3H). Second, the Central Cor­di­llera is
uniquely characterized by Late Cretaceous–early Eocene (100–50 Ma) zircons,
with a limited population of Permian–Triassic (300–200 Ma) zircons (Figs. 3A,
3B, and 3H). Third, intrabasinal Middle Magdalena Valley and m ­ arginal Middle

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 Research Paper

Magdalena Valley uplifts such as the San Lucas range and Santander Massif
(and by inference, additional subsurface structural highs such as the I­nfantas,
La Cira, and Cáchira highs) share the 300–200 Ma signature but are differenti-
ated by Jurassic (200–150 Ma), Carboniferous (350–300 Ma), and early Paleo-
zoic (500–400 Ma) populations (Figs. 3C–3E and 3H).
SUBSURFACE MIDDLE MAGDALENA VALLEY BASIN RESULTS
Detrital zircon U-Pb ages for 21 sandstone samples from three wells define
several key populations and provenance shifts for subsurface Jurassic through
Neogene clastic deposits of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Supplemental
Tables 1 and 2; Figs. 4 and 5). Whereas the Guane and Cocuyo wells are closer
to the western margin, the Cagui well is situated near the far northeastern
basin margin (Figs. 1 and 2).
Jurassic
The oldest stratigraphic units of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, which
are not exposed at the surface, consist of coarse-grained deposits of Middle–
Late Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous age. At the base of the succession, U-Pb
analyses of two subsurface samples of the coarse-grained nonmarine Girón
Formation yield similarly unimodal age populations composed of Jurassic
grains dated at 200–165 Ma (Figs. 4 and 5). Over 70% of analyzed zircon grains
fall in the 190–170 Ma age range, with strong Early to Middle Jurassic peaks
at 185–175 Ma in the southwest (Guane well) and 180–170 Ma in the northeast
(Cagui well). Results from the three youngest grains define a population at
ca. 166 Ma, providing a maximum depositional (stratigraphic) age constraint
for the subsurface Girón Formation. The only other age signature involves a
limited occurrence of Precambrian (principally 1800–900 Ma) grains, including
an 1100–1000 Ma signal.

20
Cocuyo well
10 Late Miocene – Pliocene (n = 80) Guane well

0
40

20 Early − Middle Miocene (n = 101)

0
40

20 Oligocene (N = 2 samples) (n = 152)

0
40
number of analyses

Relative Probability
Late Eocene − Early Oligocene (N = 2 samples) (n = 163)
20
Figure 4. Comparative plots of detrital zir-
con U-Pb age distributions for 11 individual
0
40 subsurface samples from the northwest-
ern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Guane
20 Early − Late Eocene (n = 101) and Cocuyo wells), arranged in strati-
graphic order and color coded according to
0 mapped geologic units (Fig. 1).
4

2 Late Cretaceous − Early Paleocene (n = 16)

0
40

20 Early Cretaceous (N = 2 samples) (n = 104)

0
100

50 Jurassic (n = 112)

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
Age (Ma)

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40 Cagui well
20 Late Miocene – Pliocene (N = 2 samples) (n = 164)

0
40
Early − Middle Miocene (N = 3 samples) (n = 305)
20

0
40

number of analyses

Relative Probability
20 Oligocene (N = 2 samples) (n = 199)
Figure 5. Comparative plots of detrital zir-
con U-Pb age distributions for 10 individual
0
20 subsurface samples from the northeastern
Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Cagui
10 Late Eocene − Early Oligocene (n = 92) well), arranged in stratigraphic ­order and
color coded according to mapped geologic
0 units (Fig. 1).
20

10 Early Cretaceous (n = 96)

0
100

50 Jurassic (n = 98)

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
Age (Ma)

Cretaceous
For the relatively finer-grained marine deposits of the Lower Cretaceous
succession, U-Pb ages for three samples from the Los Santos, Paja, and Rosa
Blanca Formations (Guane and Cagui wells) show the continuation of the
prominent Jurassic (200–150 Ma) age signature, with an Early Jurassic concen-
tration at 190–175 Ma (Figs. 4 and 5). The establishment of a significant popula-
tion of Precambrian (1800–900 Ma) zircons, composing roughly half of the total
analyzed grains, is expressed in subpopulations of late Mesoproterozoic–early
Neoproterozoic (1300–900 Ma), early Mesoproterozoic (1600–1500 Ma), and
Paleoproterozoic (1800–1700 Ma) age. The U-Pb results also reveal the first
appearance of several minor signals in the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin,
including late Paleozoic (300–250 Ma) ages in the northeast (Cagui well) and
early Paleozoic (400–500 Ma) ages in the southwest (Guane well).
Latest Cretaceous–Eocene
U-Pb age spectra for two sandstone samples from the uppermost Cre-
taceous Umir Formation and Eocene Cantagallo Formation indicate an up-­
section rise in the late Paleozoic (300–250 Ma) population and, within the major
Jurassic (200–150 Ma) signal, a shift toward younger Middle to Late Jurassic
(170–150 Ma) ages (Figs. 4 and 5). The continued broad distribution of Precam-
brian ages (principally 1400–900 Ma), which accounts for roughly half of ana-
lyzed grains, includes a substantial Mesoproterozoic component with notable
1400–1300 Ma and 1250–1150 Ma peaks.
Latest Eocene–Earliest Oligocene
Three samples of the uppermost Eocene–lowermost Oligocene Esmeral-
das Formation, collected across the three wells, point to spatial and temporal
variations among several detrital age populations within the Middle Magda-
lena Valley Basin. In the southwest (Guane and Cocuyo wells), an up-section
reduction of the Jurassic (200–150 Ma) signal is accompanied by increased
late Paleozoic (300–250 Ma) and continued Precambrian (1800–900 Ma) pop-
ulations, including Mesoproterozoic subpopulations matching those of subja-
cent units (Fig. 4). In the northeast, the Cagui well displays the persistence of
a strong Jurassic (200–150 Ma) signal and a broader distribution of Precam-
brian (1800–900 Ma) ages, including a sizeable Paleoproterozoic–early Meso­
protero­zoic (1800–1400 Ma) population (Fig. 5). In addition, early Paleozoic
(500–400 Ma) and Eocene (40–30 Ma) peaks occur at the expense of the late
Paleozoic (300–250 Ma) population.

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Oligocene
U-Pb results from four samples of the Oligocene Mugrosa Formation sig-
nify a considerable reduction in the formerly dominant Jurassic (200–150 Ma)
signal across the three wells, accounting for only ~5% of analyzed zircon grains
(Figs. 4 and 5). This drop is accompanied by the sustained presence of a re-
gionally significant late Paleozoic (300–250 Ma) population along with an in-
creased Precambrian (1800–900 Ma) signal. Both margins of the Middle Mag-
dalena Valley Basin exhibit high amounts of Precambrian detritus, constituting
roughly 60–80% of total grains analyzed. For the western basin margin, the
Oligocene Mugrosa Formation represents the greatest proportion of Precam-
brian grains for any part of the Middle Magdalena Valley succession within the
Guane and Cocuyo wells (Fig. 4).
Miocene–Pliocene
For the uppermost basin fill, U-Pb results for seven subsurface samples of
the Miocene–Pliocene Colorado and Real Formations define key provenance
shifts and a sharp spatial contrast across the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin.
In the northeast, five samples from the Cagui well display nearly exclusively
(~85–95%) Precambrian ages, with prominent age peaks of 1700–1300 and
1100–900 Ma, along with subordinate Triassic–Jurassic (250–150 Ma) and early
Paleozoic (500–400 Ma) populations (Fig. 5). In contrast, in the southwest, sam-
ples from the Guane and Cocuyo wells record much fewer (<50%) Precam-
brian ages, and a relative strengthening of the Jurassic (200–150 Ma) signature
(Fig. 4). The stratigraphically highest sample, from the upper Miocene Real
Formation in the Guane well (Fig. 4), shows not only the loss of a late Paleozoic
(300–250 Ma) signal, but also the emergence of the most substantial propor-
tion (up to 10%) of 100–0 Ma grains among all stratigraphic units along the
western basin margin; these pre-Miocene (30–100 Ma) grains likely reflect con-
tributions from Cretaceous–Paleogene igneous sources.
SURFACE MIDDLE MAGDALENA VALLEY BASIN RESULTS
AND REGIONAL CORRELATIONS
A survey of detrital zircon U-Pb ages for outcrop samples enables spatial
comparisons and correlations among surface and subsurface deposits. Cumu-
lative data sets are presented for the eastern, central, and southern segments
of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Figs. 1 and 2), including the type sec-
tions of several stratigraphic units, following the analytical and data treatment
procedures of the original studies (Nie et al., 2010, 2012; Ibañez-Mejia et al.,
2011; Bayona et al., 2012, 2013; Caballero et al., 2013a, 2013b; Silva et al., 2013;
Reyes-Harker et al., 2015). The eastern Middle Magdalena Valley data set in-
cludes cumulative results for 40 samples from the La Salina locality (footwall
of the La Salina thrust), Nuevo Mundo syncline west limb, and Nuevo Mundo
GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes
syncline east limb (Fig. 6). The central-southern Middle Magdalena Valley data
set consists of results from 43 samples of the Opón syncline, Rio Ermitaño
syncline, and Guaduas syncline (Fig. 7).
Cretaceous
Exposures of Mesozoic strata are extremely limited within the basin. A
single mid-Cretaceous sample from the Simijaca Formation in the southern
Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Guaduas syncline) yields a U-Pb age signa-
ture (Fig. 7) governed by Precambrian ages (1800–1450, 1350–1250, and 1150–
1000 Ma). This broad Proterozoic age distribution can be correlated with the
aforementioned detrital zircon age spectra for subsurface Cretaceous strata,
and it can be readily discriminated from the unimodal Jurassic (200–150 Ma)
age signature for Middle–Upper Jurassic deposits at the base of the basin fill
succession (Fig. 4).
The strong Proterozoic signal is compatible with crystalline basement
sources such as the expansive Precambrian exposures of the South Ameri-
can craton (Guyana Shield) to the east. However, given the similarity of U-Pb
age distributions, it is likely that localized highs composed of basement and
Paleozoic cover strata within the Eastern Cordillera and/or Llanos Basin also
provided Proterozoic detritus. Such local sources, however, were largely elim-
inated by late Early Cretaceous time, when marine depositional conditions
characterized the Eastern Cordillera and flanking Llanos and Magdalena re-
gions (Cooper et al., 1995; Sarmiento-Rojas et al., 2006; Mora et al., 2009).
The absence of the 200–150 Ma signal characterizing subsurface Creta-
ceous equivalents farther north (Fig. 4) suggests that the preferential influence
of isolated uplifts such as the San Lucas range and Santander Massif in the
northern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin does not persist for the central-south-
ern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin.
Latest Cretaceous–Early Paleocene
Variations in U-Pb age populations are expressed in 10 samples from the
Upper Cretaceous–lower Paleocene Umir, Seca, Labor-Tierna, lower Lisama,
and lower Hoyón Formations. Most distinctive is the first appearance of Late
Cretaceous–Paleocene (90–60 Ma) zircons, with 90–70 Ma grains delineat-
ing the central-southern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Fig. 7) and a small
80–60 Ma population defined in the eastern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin
(Fig. 6). These signatures are not detected in correlative subsurface strata far-
ther north. However, similar to the age distributions of older Cretaceous units
(Figs. 4 and 5), Precambrian zircons (primarily 1800–1200 Ma) are present and
remain dominant in the eastern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, with subordi-
nate populations of Paleozoic (500–400 and 300–250 Ma) ages.
Collectively, these results are consistent with continued clastic contribu-
tions from distal cratonic sources to the east, but also a localized introduction
of 90–60 Ma zircons along the western margin of the southern Middle Magda-
lena Valley Basin (as particularly well expressed in the Guaduas syncline; Figs.
1798
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40 Nuevo Mundo Syncline (E)

Late Miocene – Pliocene (N = 2 samples) (n = 135) Nuevo Mundo Syncline (W)
20
La Salina footwall
0
100

50 Early − Middle Miocene (N = 5 samples) (n = 335)

0
200

100 Oligocene (N = 10 samples) (n = 850)

number of analyses

Relative Probability
0 Figure 6. Comparative plots of detrital zir-
200 con U-Pb age distributions for 40 individual
samples (arranged into seven composite
100 Late Eocene − Early Oligocene (N = 8 samples) (n = 684)
plots) from the eastern Middle Magdalena
Valley Basin (Nuevo Mundo syncline east
0 limb, Nuevo Mundo syncline west limb,
100 and La Salina footwall), arranged in strati-
50 Early − Late Eocene (N = 6 samples) (n = 423) graphic order and color coded according to
mapped geologic units (Fig. 1).
0
40

20 Mid-Paleocene − Early Eocene (N = 7 samples) (n = 402)

0
10

5 Late Cretaceous − Early Paleocene (N = 2 samples) (n = 86)

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
Age (Ma)

1 and 2). This western source can be linked to earliest uplift of Cretaceous–
Paleo­cene magmatic arc rocks of the Central Cordillera, but it is restricted to
the southern segments of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin.
Late Paleocene–Eocene
Widespread changes in U-Pb age spectra are expressed in a sizeable set of
34 upper Paleocene–lowermost Oligocene samples from the upper Lisama,
upper Hoyón, La Paz (including Toro Shale), lower Esmeraldas, and lower San
Juan de Rio Seco Formations. The most pronounced shift is represented by
the regional mid-Paleocene emergence of a Late Cretaceous–Paleocene (90–
60 Ma) age population (Figs. 6 and 7), with a subset of probable syndeposi-
tional zircon grains concentrated at 65–55 Ma (Figs. 6 and 7). Additional pop-
ulations include a broad Precambrian (1800–900 Ma) distribution, a Jurassic
(200–150 Ma) signal, and minor clusters of early Paleozoic (500–400 Ma) and
Permian–Triassic (300–200 Ma) ages.
The Late Cretaceous–Paleocene population, which dominates the entire
Paleogene succession of the southern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Fig. 7)
and progressively replaces an extensive Precambrian component in the east-
ern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Fig. 6), is absent in nearly all subsurface
Paleogene deposits of the northern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Figs. 4
and 5). These results may point to progressive northward growth of an inte­
grated western source, with local concentrations of these 90–60 Ma grains
suggesting temporally or spatially focused pulses of sediment influx from Cre-
taceous–Paleocene igneous rocks of the Central Cordillera. Such northward
propagation of Central Cordillera uplift matches paleogeographic reconstruc-
tions (Gómez et al., 2003, 2005b; Bayona et al., 2011; Ayala et al., 2012).
Oligocene–Middle Miocene
Complex shifts in U-Pb age distributions characterize 30 samples of Oligo-
cene–middle Miocene clastic fill, including the upper Esmeraldas, Mugrosa,
Colorado, and Santa Teresa Formations. The most distinct change involves an
up-section reduction of the Cretaceous–Paleogene (100–50 Ma) signature that
dominated the underlying Eocene section. The progressive relative decline of
this population in the central-southern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Fig. 7),

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100 Opón Syncline

Late Miocene – Pliocene (N = 8 samples) (n = 618) Rio Ermitaño Syncline
50 Guaduas Syncline
0
100

50 Early − Middle Miocene (N = 6 samples) (n = 519)

0
400

200 Oligocene (N = 9 samples) (n = 821)

0
200

number of analyses

Relative Probability
100 Late Eocene − Early Oligocene (N = 2 samples) (n = 213) Figure 7. Comparative plots of detrital zir-
con U-Pb age distributions for 43 individ-
ual samples (arranged into eight compos-
0
400 ite plots) from the central-southern Middle
Magdalena Valley Basin (Opón syncline,
200 Early − Late Eocene (N = 3 samples) (n = 296) Rio Ermitaño syncline, and Guaduas syn-
cline), arranged in stratigraphic order and
0 color coded according to mapped geologic
200 units (Fig. 1).

100 Mid-Paleocene − Early Eocene (N = 7 samples) (n = 595)

0
200

100 Late Cretaceous − Early Paleocene (N = 7 samples) (n = 665)

0
10

5 Early Cretaceous (n = 61)

0
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800
Age (Ma)

and its early–middle Miocene disappearance in the eastern Middle Magdalena
Valley Basin (Fig. 6), is coupled with the joint introduction of Jurassic (200–
150 Ma) and late Paleozoic (300–250 Ma) signals. These trends are accompa-
nied by Precambrian age distributions (1800–900 Ma) that define an up-section
increase in the central-southern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin but a com-
plex increase and then subsequent decrease in the eastern Middle Magdalena
Valley Basin. The complex fluctuation of Precambrian detritus in the eastern
Middle Magdalena Valley Basin can be correlated with comparable shifts in
the subsurface record of the Guane and Cocuyo wells (Fig. 4). However, none
of the three wells shows the Late Cretaceous–early Paleogene signal, and the
Cagui well is uniquely distinguished by the Miocene dominance (up to 90%) of
Precambrian zircon populations (Fig. 5).
The results signify a complex interplay among source areas. Phases of rela­
tively diminished influx from Cretaceous–Paleogene igneous sources (such as
the 100–50 Ma signal) in the Central Cordillera broadly coincide with ampli-
fied contributions of Paleozoic and Precambrian ages. Although Precambrian
age distributions are consistent with direct input from a cratonic source, these
grains were most likely recycled from uplifted Cretaceous sedimentary rocks
during mid-Cenozoic growth of the Andean fold-thrust belt encompassing the
Eastern Cordillera and associated basement uplifts.
Late Miocene–Pliocene
U-Pb results from uppermost levels of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin
show a distinctively cosmopolitan assemblage distinguished by the abrupt
­arrival of young zircons of chiefly Cenozoic age. Results from 10 samples of the
upper Miocene–Pliocene Real and Mesa Formations show a pronounced intro-
duction of grains younger than 100 Ma, with significant age probability peaks at
88–84, 81–78, 43–40, 14–11, and 9–6 Ma (Figs. 6 and 7). The youngest ages cluster
in the 12–6 Ma range and reflect contributions from syndepositional ­magmatic

GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes 1800
 Research Paper
sources that approximate the depositional ages for the southern-central Middle
Magdalena Valley Basin (Opón syncline). A broad spread of subordi­nate age
populations includes Precambrian (1800–900 Ma), early Paleozoic (500–400 Ma),
Permian–Triassic (300–200 Ma), and Jurassic (200–150 Ma) ages comparable to
results for the underlying Oligocene–middle Miocene deposits.
The overall age distributions correlate with subsurface age spectra for
the Guane well (Fig. 4), matching both the appearance of young grains and
the multiple modes of older pre-Cenozoic populations. Neither data set, how-
ever, correlates with the Precambrian-dominated age signatures for Miocene–
Pliocene strata of the Cagui well (Fig. 5). The internal consistencies among
some localities yet sharp contrasts among others underscore the continued
competition among disparate sediment sources in the Central Cordillera and
Eastern Cordillera. The wholesale emergence of 100–0 Ma zircons indicates
that late Miocene paleodrainage systems of the Middle Magdalena Valley
Basin gained access to a new sediment source, either through bedrock un-
Cagui well (N = 8 samples) (n = 760)
Cocuyo well (N = 3 samples) (n = 201)
Guane well (N = 3 samples) (n = 295)
Nuevo Mundo Syncline (N = 25 samples) (n = 2004)
Opón Syncline (N = 15 samples) (n = 1248)
Rio Ermitaño Syncline (N = 5 samples) (n = 487)
Central Cordillera
Guaduas Syncline (N = 5 samples) (n = 436)
0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200
Age (Ma)
GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes
roofing or drainage modifications. This late Miocene shift is particularly well
expressed in a comparison of composite U-Pb age distributions for Cenozoic
basin fill (Fig. 8), which shows the introduction of Late Cretaceous–Cenozoic
zircons, consistent with the birth of a proto–Magdalena River.
SEDIMENT SOURCES AND TECTONIC RECORDS
Key provenance trends summarized from the U-Pb results (Figs. 3–8)
facili­tate spatial comparisons and correlations of Mesozoic–Cenozoic strati-
graphic and tectonic histories for surface and subsurface deposits within the
Middle Magdalena Valley Basin. Broader consideration of statistical simi­lari­
ties among U-Pb age spectra is enabled by calculation of cross-correlation co-
efficients between probability density plots of all sample pairs (Saylor et al.,
2012b, 2013; Saylor and Sundell, 2014). Following recent studies (e.g., Chap-
Figure 8. Comparative plots of detrital
zircon U-Pb age spectra for 64 individual
samples (arranged into composite plots for
seven different localities) of late Eocene to
Pliocene deposits from the Middle Magda-
Relative Probability
lena Valley Basin. Differences in age distri-
butions reflect relative contributions from
the Central Cordillera and Eastern Cor­
di­
llera, as denoted by horizontal arrows
and gray shaded zones. The northernmost
Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Cagui
well) is distinguished by large Precambrian
(1800–900 Ma) populations, indicative of
greater input from the Eastern Cordillera.
The late Miocene introduction of 100–0 Ma
grains (open arrows) reveals a shift in prov­
enance patterns, possibly related to the ap-
pearance of a through-­going proto–Magda­
lena River. Note that the color scheme
departs from mapped geologic units (Fig. 1)
Eastern Cordillera and other U-Pb age plots (Figs. 4–7).
Late Miocene – Pliocene
Early – Middle Miocene
Oligocene
Late Eocene-Early Oligocene
1400 1600 1800
1801
 Research Paper
man et al., 2012, 2015; Vermeesch, 2013), these correlation values are displayed
graphically in multidimensional scaling (MDS) plots (Fig. 9) in which greater
similarity is shown as closer proximity. The MDS plots for 104 Jurassic through
Pliocene samples (Figs. 9A–9D) and seven modern river sand samples (Fig. 9E)
reveal clear quantitative distinctions among samples derived from the major
source regions.
The Eastern Cordillera, San Lucas and Santander block uplifts, and Central
Cordillera all define diagnostic U-Pb age signatures (Fig. 9). Whereas the East-
ern Cordillera is dominated by Cretaceous sedimentary units originally derived
from the Precambrian craton, the Central Cordillera is composed largely of
Cretaceous–Paleogene igneous rocks of the Andean magmatic arc, and the
San Lucas and Santander block uplifts are characterized mostly by Jurassic
igneous rocks and their sedimentary derivatives. These age distinctions, as ex-
pressed in modern rivers (Figs. 3 and 9E), serve as critical markers in the sedi­
mentary record that allow discrimination of evolving sources during Meso­
zoic–Cenozoic basin evolution, thus providing the paleogeographic framework
for tectonic reconstructions of the region (Fig. 10).
Jurassic
Coarse-grained Upper Jurassic–lowermost Cretaceous units of the lower-
most Middle Magdalena Valley Basin are dominated by bedrock signatures of
localized uplifts. The unimodal 200–150 Ma U-Pb age populations (Figs. 4 and
5) are consistent with local exposures of Lower to Middle Jurassic granitoid
intrusions and correlative volcanic rocks (Cáceres et al., 2003; Gómez ­Tapias
et al., 2007; Bayona et al., 2011). Unimodal age signatures also define the
modern rivers draining intrabasinal and marginal Middle Magdalena Valley
uplifts such as the San Lucas range and Santander Massif (Figs. 3C–3E, 3H, 9A,
9E, and 10A). A similar Jurassic age signature is observed in selected Upper
­Jurassic strata (Horton et al., 2010b), suggesting the possibility of a correlation
tool between the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin and Eastern Cordillera (e.g.,
Fabre, 1987; Cáceres et al., 2003).
Local sources of sediment are consistent with interpretations of a Juras-
sic–earliest Cretaceous extensional setting containing localized coarse-grained
depocenters (Cooper et al., 1995; Sarmiento-Rojas et al., 2006). In this regional
extensional system, segregated fault-bounded subbasins (e.g., Mora et al.,
2013; Tesón et al., 2013) were fed sediment by small drainage networks erod-
ing uplifted ranges dominated by Triassic–Jurassic igneous rocks (Fig. 10A).
These isolated ranges were likely developed in the structural zones presently
occupied by marginal block uplifts such as the San Lucas range and Santander
Massif (Fig. 1).
Cretaceous
Cretaceous deposits record a mix of distal cratonic sources and diminished
basement uplifts. U-Pb results are most distinguished by the introduction of a
substantial Precambrian (1800–900 Ma) age population (Figs. 4, 5, and 7). Al-
GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes
though continental crystalline basement underlies the Eastern Cordillera and
Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, and small populations of inherited Precam-
brian grains are detected in Paleozoic–Mesozoic rocks of the Central Cordillera
(Figs. 3A and 9E; Cordani et al., 2005; Vinasco et al., 2006), the sizeable fraction
and broad spread of dated Precambrian grains in the absence of major west-
ern signatures suggest most basement contributions were derived from the
South American craton (Guyana Shield) to the east (Figs. 9A and 10B). How-
ever, the coupled reduction in the formerly dominant Jurassic (200–150 Ma)
populations and emergence of subordinate Paleozoic (300–250 Ma and 500–
400 Ma) signals attest to deeper unroofing of local intrabasinal Middle Magda-
lena Valley uplifts and probable extrabasinal uplifts, principally in the Eastern
Cordillera, but also conceivably in isolated zones of the Central Cordillera. The
absence of syndepositional Cretaceous zircons underscores the lack of signifi-
cant contributions from the Andean magmatic arc to the west, possibly due to
transport distance or a regional west-dipping topographic gradient.
Whereas local signatures are consistent with individualized basement
uplifts, the prevalent basement ages require an integrated drainage system
across a broad region linking the distal eastern craton to the Middle Magdalena
Valley Basin (Figs. 10B and 10C). This region includes the present-day Eastern
Cordillera and Llanos Basin, where several subbasins were active during Early
Cretaceous extension (Cooper et al., 1995; Sarmiento-Rojas et al., 2006; Mora
et al., 2009). The coalescence of local fault-related subbasins into larger basin
systems enabled regional westward transport of basement detritus. Postexten-
sional thermal subsidence during mid- to Late Cretaceous time induced further
basin expansion and depositional overlap of formerly active normal faults and
local sediment sources (Fig. 10C). Regionally, progressive stratigraphic onlap
eastward across the Llanos Basin (Fig. 1) and onto the South American cra-
ton (Guyana Shield) resulted in a Late Cretaceous shift to older Precambrian
sources, with lessened 1200–900 Ma and enhanced 1900–1300 Ma populations
(Horton et al., 2010b; Saylor et al., 2013).
Latest Cretaceous–Eocene
A comprehensive reversal of sedimentary polarity is recorded by the intro-
duction of a detrital zircon U-Pb age population indicative of a new sediment
source along the western margin of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Figs.
10D and 10E). The Late Cretaceous–Paleocene (90–60 Ma) population (Figs. 6
and 7) is unambiguously linked to erosion of igneous rocks in the Central Cor-
dillera (Figs. 8, 9B, and 9E), as comparable ages are not observed elsewhere.
The dominance of this signal is demonstrated by the unimodal 95–70 Ma sig-
natures for modern rivers draining the region (Figs. 3A, 3B, and 3H). Less clear
is the precise timing. Although the central-southern Middle Magdalena Valley
Basin shows a roughly Maastrichtian appearance, data sets from the east-
ern-northeastern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin show a striking mid-Paleo-
cene shift (e.g., Nie et al., 2010, 2012; Caballero et al., 2013a, 2013b). The intro-
duction of this key signature progressively from south to north suggests that
uplift of the Central Cordillera was not a single simultaneous event, but rather
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0.6 0.6
C middle–late Oligocene E modern rivers
early Oligocene
0.4 0.4

0.2 0.2

Y
0 0

–0.2 Central San Lucas / –0.2 Central San Lucas /

Cordillera Santander Cordillera Santander

–0.4 –0.4

Eastern Cordillera / craton Eastern Cordillera / craton

0.6 0.6
B middle Eocene–late Eocene D late Miocene–early Pliocene
middle Paleocene–early Eocene early–middle Miocene
0.4 0.4

0.2 0.2
Y

Y
0 0

–0.2 Central San Lucas / –0.2 Central San Lucas /

Cordillera Santander Cordillera Santander

–0.4 –0.4

Eastern Cordillera / craton Eastern Cordillera / craton

0.6 –0.6
A Late Cretaceous–early Paleocene
Early Cretaceous
0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1
X
0 –0.1 –0.2 –0.3 –0.4

Jurassic
0.4

0.2
Figure 9. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) plots showing relative quantitative
similarity among all U-Pb age distributions for 111 samples, including (A–D)
Jurassic through Pliocene samples (N = 104) and (E) modern river sand sam-
Y

0 ples (N = 7), from the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin and adjacent regions,
arranged in stratigraphic order and color coded according to mapped geologic
units (Fig. 1) and other U-Pb age plots (Figs. 4–7). Similarity was quantified as
–0.2 Central San Lucas / cross-correlation coefficients of probability density plots for all sample pairs
Cordillera and converted to MDS plots in which individual samples (­color-coded dots)
Santander
plotting closer to each other signify a higher degree of similarity. For com-
–0.4 parison, the major source regions identified from modern river samples (the
Central Cordillera, San Lucas/Santander block uplifts, and Eastern Cordillera
[and South American craton]) are plotted as rectangular fields.
Eastern Cordillera / craton
–0.6
0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 –0.1 –0.2 –0.3 –0.4
X

GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes 1803
 Research Paper

A Jurassic B Early Cretaceous C Late Cretaceous D Paleocene 9°N

SM SM SM SM
SL Cagui
SL Cagui
SL Cagui
SL Cagui

Cocuyo Cocuyo Cocuyo Cocuyo

NUE NUE NUE NUE
Guane Guane Guane Guane

SAL SAL SAL SAL

VB

VB

VB
VB
OPO OPO OPO OPO
MM

MM

MM
MM
CC CC CC CC
ERM ERM ERM ERM
EC EC EC EC 6°N

Figure 10. Jurassic through Miocene non-

palinspastically restored map-view paleo-
GUA GUA GUA GUA
geographic reconstructions of the Middle
Magdalena Valley Basin (MMVB) and ad-
QM QM QM QM
LB LB LB LB jacent regions showing major sedi­ ment
dispersal patterns (arrows), zones of active

E Eocene F Oligocene G Miocene 75°W 73°W deposition (stipple pattern), and zones of
exhumation, as defined by exposed out-
n to
Sedimentary Igneous crop regions (color coded accord­ ing to
a
uS Neogene outcrop Cenozoic

Buc
írit mapped geologic units; Fig. 1). Present-day
p

a
Es
Miocene

ram
Cretaceous fault locations are from Gómez Tapias et al.

ang
Paleogene outcrop (2007).
Jurassic

a
Paleogene

Palestina
Triassic
SM SM SM Upper Cretaceous Paleozoic
SL SL El Bagre
SL

Servitá
Cagui Cagui Cagui
Lower Cretaceous Metamorphic
Cocuyo Cocuyo Cocuyo Jurassic Mesozoic
NUE NUE NUE
Guane Guane Guane Triassic Paleozoic
rra
Otú

i ta Paleozoic Proterozoic
im
b e
SAL SAL C SAL
sa

Sample sites
Ca
VB

VB

Cagui well Fault

OPO OPO OPO Cocuyo well name active
MM

MM

CC CC CC Guane well deposition

Boyacá
rez

NUE —Nuevo Mundo syncline

á
Su

ERM ERM ERM

EC EC EC SAL —La Salina footwall
Bi Cambao

OPO —Rio Opón syncline local

ERM —Rio Ermitaño syncline paleoflow
ma

io
ga
tu i

ac

GUA —Guaduas syncline

pa

Ig n
á
So
a
nd

Tectonic provinces
n
Sa
Ho

CC —Central Cordillera
EC —Eastern Cordillera
o

regional
m
ra

GUA GUA GUA

na

SL —San Lucas range

ca

ica

paleoflow
sia
s

a
Pe

SM —Santander Massif
Cu
Gu

QM QM QM QM—Quetame Massif 0
LB LB LB 50 100 km
a

Ibagué
li

LB —Llanos Basin
sa
Te

GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes 1804
 Research Paper
progressed northward along strike during Paleogene shortening and trans-
pressional deformation. This spatial variability also precludes usage of this
provenance signal as a robust tool for stratigraphic correlation. Subsurface
samples of Paleogene units from more northwestern regions of the Middle
Magdalena Valley Basin show none of the Central Cordillera sources detected
in the southern, central, and eastern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin. Instead,
an up-section increase in the late Paleozoic (300–250 Ma) population (Figs. 4
and 5) implies derivation from intrabasinal and marginal Middle Magdalena
Valley uplifts comparable to the San Lucas range and Santander Massif adja-
cent to the northern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Figs. 1, 3C–3E, and 3H).
This conspicuous along-strike variability in provenance history indicates a
­basin dominated by transverse rather than longitudinal deposystems.
Regionally, the provenance record is consistent with proposed latest Creta-
ceous–Paleocene uplift and exhumation in the Central Cordillera (Figs. 10D and
10E; Gómez et al., 2003; Villagómez and Spikings, 2013). This tectonic episode
appears to represent a fundamental switch from a regional postrift setting to a
zone of shortening and transpression linked to active subduction and possible
minor collisions along the western margin.
Oligocene–Middle Miocene
Another distinctive reversal in sediment dispersal is expressed by the
emergence of U-Pb age populations revealing growth of a substantial new
sediment source along the eastern margin of the Middle Magdalena Valley
Basin. A marked Oligocene amplification of a broadly distributed Precam-
brian population (1800–900 Ma) coincides with increased late Paleozoic (300–
250 Ma) to Jurassic (200–150 Ma) ages and an abrupt decline of the formerly
dominant Cretaceous–Paleogene (100–50 Ma) signature (Figs. 8 and 9C). The
ubiquitous increase in Precambrian detrital populations across all sample lo-
calities (Figs. 4–7) offers a potential correlation tool for surface and subsurface
units. Although Precambrian signatures are consistent with a distal cratonic
source (Figs. 3F–3H), independent thermochronological and sedimentary evi-
dence for early uplift in the Eastern Cordillera (Parra et al., 2009a, 2009b, 2012;
Mora et al., 2010; Bande et al., 2012; Saylor et al., 2012a, 2012b; Sánchez et al.,
2012) requires that Precambrian grains were recycled from uplifted Cretaceous
strata in the Andean fold-thrust belt (Figs. 8 and 9C). Therefore, these old zir-
con signatures are regarded as a high-fidelity record of early rock uplift and
exhumation of the Eastern Cordillera, with a dominance of eastern over west-
ern sources (Fig. 10F).
Following this provenance reversal, complex early–middle Miocene shifts
are defined by fluctuations in various age populations. Most pronounced are
irregular spatial variations in Precambrian populations, with decreases in most
of the northern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Figs. 4 and 6) contrasting with
increases in the central-southern and far northeastern Middle Magdalena Val-
ley Basin locations (Figs. 5 and 7). A sharp increase in Precambrian detritus
occurs within the Cagui well (Fig. 5), indicating a punctuated point source of
GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes
sediment from the Eastern Cordillera. Further spatial variability is delineated
by the Cretaceous–Paleogene signature: Although this 100–50 Ma population
is severely reduced to nonexistent in most locations, its local persistence in
the Opón syncline (Rio Oponcito) locality (central-southern Middle Magda-
lena Valley Basin) signifies spatially focused input from the Central Cordillera.
These complex alternations reflect continued competition among eastern and
western sources (Figs. 8 and 9C–9E) and suggest a compartmentalized prov-
enance record displaying significant spatial variations, both along-strike and
across-strike (Fig. 10F). Such provenance variations attest to a Cenozoic record
in the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin dominated by transverse (east-west)
rather than longitudinal (north-south) deposystems, consistent with a closed
topographic basin disconnected from the Caribbean Sea (Moreno et al., 2011;
Caballero et al., 2013b; Moreno et al., 2013; Silva et al., 2013; Reyes-Harker
et al., 2015).
Miocene–Pliocene
Final modification then establishment of the modern axial drainage config-
uration in the Magdalena Valley was achieved in late Miocene–Pliocene time
(Fig. 10G). U-Pb results for upper Miocene–Pliocene deposits show the most
cosmopolitan provenance assemblage for the entire Middle Magdalena Val-
ley Basin succession, as defined by multimodal Precambrian, Paleozoic, and
Mesozoic populations (Figs. 4, 6, and 7). This diverse and very broad distribu­
tion (Fig. 9D) contrasts with the concentrated unimodal and bimodal distri­
butions expressed in most underlying deposits (Figs. 9A–9C). Although minor
up-section increases and decreases characterize the various modes, a substan-
tial shift is recorded by the sharp introduction of a 100–0 Ma signal (Fig. 8).
This critical signal appears across all but one of the surface and subsurface
samples (Figs. 4, 6, and 7), and it is only absent from the Cagui well (Fig. 5),
which shows the continued dominance of Precambrian detritus derived from
a point source of sediment eroded from Cretaceous strata in the Eastern Cor-
dillera fold-thrust belt. The Cretaceous–Cenozoic (100–0 Ma) signature requires
important contributions from the Central Cordillera (e.g., McCourt et al., 1984;
Aspden et al., 1987; Gómez Tapias et al., 2007; Villagómez et al., 2011; Bayona
et al., 2012, and references therein), but most probable candidates include the
large Antioquia batholith and satellite intrusions (broadly 95–80 Ma) adjacent
to the central Middle Magdalena Valley Basin and multiple 65–45 Ma batholiths
and stocks (including the Manizales, El Bosque, and ­Hatillo intrusions) near the
transition from the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin to the Upper Magdalena
Valley Basin.
The regional emergence of the 100–0 Ma signature (Fig. 8), and the consis-
tency of multimodal pre-Cenozoic zircon populations across studied localities
reflect drastic modifications in large-scale paleodrainage patterns. Although
localized input of syndepositional Neogene volcanic material characterized
the Opón syncline (central-southern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin), the en-
hanced Cretaceous–Cenozoic populations point to a drainage expansion, likely
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 Research Paper
through capture of upstream catchments of the Upper Magdalena Valley, in
which the evolving system gained access to new sediment sources (Fig. 10G).
This episode corresponds with a transition from a series of compartmentalized
transverse deposystems, each dominated by sources in either the Central Cor-
dillera or Eastern Cordillera, into an integrated longitudinal system. This late
Miocene switch constitutes the onset of a through-going proto–Magdalena
River, flowing axially from south to north, and linking the Upper Magdalena
Valley and Middle Magdalena Valley Basin to the Caribbean coast (Fig. 10G).
DISCUSSION
Surface and Subsurface Provenance Signatures
Tectonic events of the northernmost Andes (Fig. 1) are robustly expressed
in both the surface and subsurface provenance record of the Middle Magda-
lena Valley Basin (Figs. 4–9). At the broad scale, the detrital zircon U-Pb geo-
chronological data set faithfully records the three principal Mesozoic–Cenozoic
episodes of the northernmost Andes. First, for the Jurassic–earliest Creta-
ceous phase of regional extension involving the growth of synrift subbasins
(e.g., Colletta et al., 1990; Sarmiento Rojas, 2001; Sarmiento-Rojas et al., 2006;
­Kammer and Sánchez, 2006; Mora et al., 2009), detrital zircon data show uni-
modal age signatures emblematic of uplifted bedrock sources along localized
normal faults (Fig. 10A). Second, a Cretaceous phase of regional postexten-
sional subsidence (Fabre, 1987; Toussaint and Restrepo, 1994; Cooper et al.,
1995; Roeder and Chamberlain, 1995; Toro et al., 2004) is reflected in the emer-
gence of a distal eastern cratonic source replacing localized footwall uplifts
(Figs. 10B and 10C). Third, a protracted Cenozoic period of Andean shortening
(Dengo and Covey, 1993; Taboada et al., 2000; Gómez et al., 2005a; Parra et al.,
2009b; Mora et al., 2010) is expressed as a complex mix of proximal sources
dictated by a competition between eastern and western sources during the
growth of basin-bounding ranges (Figs. 10D–10G).
At finer scales, U-Pb age distributions also provide accurate signatures
of two critical transitions during Andean mountain building. First, earliest
shortening-related uplift in the flanking Central Cordillera (Gómez et al., 2003,
2005b) can be tied to a latest Cretaceous–Paleocene reversal in paleodrainage,
as defined by a shift in U-Pb age spectra from an eastern cratonic source to a
western orogenic source (Figs. 9A, 9B, 9E, 10C, and 10D). Second, initial uplift
of the Eastern Cordillera (Parra et al., 2009b; Mora et al., 2010; Bande et al.,
2012; Saylor et al., 2012a; Sánchez et al., 2012) is identified by U-Pb age signa-
tures (recycled populations of craton-derived Precambrian detritus) recording
the latest Eocene–Oligocene unroofing of Mesozoic strata in the Andean fold-
thrust belt (Figs. 9B, 9C, 9E, 10E, and 10F).
Of these provenance shifts, nearly all of them provide sufficient fidelity
for correlation of surface and subsurface deposits. Rather than constraining
precise matches among U-Pb age spectra of individual samples, such correla-
tions are reliant on the up-section appearance or disappearance of the afore-
GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes
mentioned tectonic signatures. Perhaps the most valuable criteria involve the
identifications of important reversals of sediment polarity (e.g., Coney and
Evenchick, 1994). Such reversals prove to be sufficient in identifying whole-
sale uplift of contiguous barriers but can be complicated by along-strike vari-
ations. As an example, along-strike propagation of uplift in the Central Cor­di­
llera (­Gómez et al., 2003, 2005b; Villagómez and Spikings, 2013) may explain­
­modest discrepancies from south to north within the flanking Middle Magda-
lena V
­ alley Basin.
Insufficient Provenance Signatures
Despite the utility of detrital provenance archives, several key components
of the geologic and tectonic history appear to be less well expressed, even
missing, from the U-Pb data set. First, a well-documented phase of late Paleo-
cene–middle Eocene basement uplift and erosional beveling in the central to
northern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (Fig. 10; Gómez et al., 2003, 2005b;
Moreno et al., 2011) appears to be mostly aliased in the detrital record, as there
is no corresponding major shift in U-Pb age distributions (Figs. 4–7 and 9B).
Several subsurface basement highs and the associated Middle Magdalena Val-
ley Basin angular unconformity (Fig. 2) are well imaged by seismic-reflection
profiles, with supporting borehole data. Although localized, these are large
features (Infantas, La Cira, and Cáchira highs) with over several kilometers
of vertical structural relief (Morales, 1958; Moreno et al., 2011; Parra et al.,
2012; G­ ómez et al., 2003, 2005b; Caballero et al., 2013a, 2013b; Mora et al.,
2013; Tesón et al., 2013). Therefore, it is difficult to envision a case where the
provenance signal would be volumetrically eclipsed by other source regions.
Rather, we suggest that comparable U-Pb age signatures of 300–250 Ma and
200–150 Ma for both the uplifted basement and recycled sedimentary units
preclude clear discrimination of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin base-
ment sources. Never­ the­less, low-temperature thermochronological results
from other deposits of this age reveal a sharp influx of material that can be
attributed to Middle Magdalena Valley Basin basement uplift (Saylor et al.,
2012b), highlighting the utility of complementary techniques.
Second, despite the proximity to the western magmatic arc, there is no
robust Middle Magdalena Valley Basin record of a proposed Paleogene mag-
matic pulse, and U-Pb ages prove to be of limited utility in constraining Paleo-
gene depositional ages. Bayona et al. (2012) suggested that the clear pulse of
65–45 Ma magmatism in the Central Cordillera, near the transition from the
Middle Magdalena Valley Basin to the Upper Magdalena Valley Basin (Mc-
Court et al., 1984; Aspden et al., 1987; Gómez Tapias et al., 2007; Villagómez
et al., 2011), may also extend to undiscovered igneous units in the Eastern
Cordillera. Nevertheless, the U-Pb results illustrate very limited proportions
of possible syndepositional zircons within Paleocene–middle Eocene Middle
Magdalena Valley Basin strata. Of the 47 samples from the uppermost Creta-
ceous–lowermost Oligocene section, only three samples (all restricted to the
Guaduas syncline in the southernmost basin) contain statistically significant
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 Research Paper
populations of grains (n > 2 ages) approaching stratigraphic ages, accounting
for a cumulative total of ~1% of all analyzed grains. Given the short transport
distances (<100–200 km) between the Central Cordillera and the Middle Mag-
dalena Valley Basin, the limited amount of Cenozoic ages cannot be attributed
to preferential weathering and selective removal of these grains (e.g., Bayona
et al., 2012). Therefore, erosion of the observed Paleogene magmatic centers
in the Central Cordillera must have fed sediment to only a limited portion of
the southernmost Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, with no measurable contri-
butions to downstream localities in the central and northern parts of the basin
(Figs. 10D–10F).
Recognition of Paleodrainages and Paleorivers
U-Pb age distributions from the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin illus-
trate a complex series of transverse paleodrainage alternations followed by
a wholesale drainage reorganization involving the establishment of a major
axial paleoriver (Fig. 10). After initial topographic growth of the Eastern Cor­di­
llera, the mid- to late Cenozoic evolution of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin
was governed by competing sediment sources along both the western and
eastern margins. Rather than a simple mix of source signatures, most Oligo-
cene–middle Miocene samples of fluvial basin fill indicate a clear dominance
of either the Eastern Cordillera (e.g., Cagui well; Fig. 5) or the Central Cor-
dillera (e.g., southern Middle Magdalena Valley Basin; Fig. 7). In fact, several
episodes of pronounced sediment influx are recorded over a wide range of
sites (in both the north-south and east-west directions) in which the Middle
Magdalena Valley Basin was dominated by either a western source or an east-
ern source (Fig. 9). For example, Oligocene deposits from most of the surface
and subsurface localities show the originally bimodal eastern versus western
signals progressively superseded by a complex integrated signature (Figs. 8
and 9). At face value, the lengthy Paleocene to middle Miocene record could be
largely construed as alternating “see-saw” episodes of shifting paleodrainage
between two opposing transverse margins (Fig. 10). Although this character-
ization may seem overly simplistic, the provenance record does suggest that
Middle Magdalena Valley Basin deposystems were highly sensitive to sedi-
ment flux and subsidence parameters controlled by processes in the flanking
ranges. Regardless of the driving mechanisms, the U-Pb results require that
these fluvial systems were mostly dominated by either an Eastern Cordilleran
or Central Cordilleran source, without large amounts of mixing or downstream
dilution. This time-space complexity likely reflects relatively short transport
distances for the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin (tens to hundreds of kilome-
ters), as compared to systems in the modern Andean foreland (thousands of
kilometers). The results further suggest isolated deposystems within a com-
partmentalized basin system, without an integrated regional drainage network
(Figs. 10D–10F).
The provenance data provide a refined understanding of the evolution of
the proto–Magdalena River (Fig. 10G). Disagreement persists over the inferred
onset of a regional longitudinal Magdalena River, with previous estimates cen-
GEOSPHERE  |  Volume 11  |  Number 6 Horton et al.  |  Provenance and paleogeographic reconstruction of the Magdalena Valley, northern Andes
tering on the late Miocene (Duque-Caro, 1978; Guerrero, 1993; Hoorn et al.,
1995), Oligocene (Villamil, 1999), or middle Eocene (Escalona and Mann, 2011).
Most studies propose that growth of the Eastern Cordillera as a topographic
barrier would have deflected an axial Magdalena River northward into the
Carib­bean Sea, with the isolated Santa Marta Massif near the northern coast
also playing a role in the drainage shift away from a former eastern outlet
within the Maracaibo Basin (Fig. 1; Duque-Caro, 1978; Ayala et al., 2012). How-
ever, the U-Pb results show no clear integration of a large-scale fluvial system
until late Miocene time (Fig. 8). In fact, an integrated paleodrainage system
is precluded by the highly variable U-Pb age distributions, which show the
appearance and disappearance of local signals in the pre–late Miocene suc-
cession. Furthermore, a late Miocene onset is consistent with the depositional
record of the Magdalena delta and submarine fan (Flinch, 2003; Flinch et al.,
2003a, 2003b; Rincón et al., 2007; Cadena and Slatt, 2013; Cadena Mendoza,
2014). This delayed integration of a through-going Magdalena River (Fig. 10G)
may be due to the role of complex intrabasinal Middle Magdalena Valley
structures or localized subsiding depocenters, or upstream processes farther
south such as uplift along the margins of the Upper Magdalena Valley ­Basin
(­Butler and Schamel, 1988; Ramon and Rosero, 2006; Montes et al., 2005;
­Anderson, 2015).
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the complex time-space interaction of Mesozoic–Cenozoic tec­tonics
and sediment accumulation in the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, robust
provenance trends are revealed by U-Pb age distributions from both surface
and subsurface basin fill. Published U-Pb age distributions for detrital zircons
collected from the mouths of modern rivers demonstrate that small to large
watersheds provide clear signals representative of the competing source re-
gions. Therefore, U-Pb ages within the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin strati-
graphic succession allow for discrimination of sediment influxes from the
contiguous Central Cordillera and Eastern Cordillera, as well as the localized
Santander Massif and San Lucas range.
The principal Mesozoic–Cenozoic tectonic events of the northernmost A ­ ndes
are well expressed in the sediment provenance record, including (1) ­Jurassic
growth of extensional subbasins fed by local sources, (2) Cretaceous depo-
sition in a regional postrift setting, and (3) Cenozoic crustal shortening and
surface uplift of contiguous ranges and localized block uplifts. Finer-scale
transitions in the Andean shortening history are also preserved. Early uplift in
the flanking Central Cordillera is defined by a mid-Paleocene provenance shift
reflecting the first arrival of material derived from the west, principally from
magmatic arc rocks of Cretaceous age. Subsequent uplift and unroofing of the
Eastern Cordillera are indicated by the late Eocene introduction of considerable
cratonic Precambrian detritus recycled from Cretaceous–Paleogene strata.
The subsurface data set provides essential access to the older, pre-Eocene
succession and reveals a complex Cenozoic history of transverse and axial
1807
 Research Paper
paleodrainage. However, several components of the provenance record are
poorly defined. A well-documented phase of late Paleocene–middle Eocene
uplift of basement highs in the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin appears to be
aliased in the U-Pb age distributions, likely due to similarities with recycled
sedimentary signatures. In addition, despite the proximity of the Middle Mag-
dalena Valley Basin to the Andean magmatic arc, strong evidence for a pro-
posed Paleogene magmatic pulse is lacking, and U-Pb ages are of relatively
limited utility in defining precise depositional ages. The time-space complexity
of U-Pb age distributions during Oligocene–Miocene time shows alternating
periods of sediment influx from the two opposing transverse margins, without
significant source dilution, consistent with a compartmentalized basin system
characterized by isolated proximal deposystems. The abrupt up-section intro-
duction of youthful (100–0 Ma) zircons signifies the late Miocene establishment
of an integrated longitudinal drainage network and activation of the proto–
Magda­lena River along the axis of the Middle Magdalena Valley Basin, coinci-
dent with growth of the Magdalena submarine fan along the Caribbean margin.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This research was funded by the Instituto Colombiano del Petróleo (ICP), a division of Ecopetrol,
and the Jackson School of Geosciences, as part of a collaborative research agreement between
ICP and the University of Texas at Austin. Additional support during the data synthesis phase
of this research was provided by National Science Foundation grants EAR-1019857 and 1338694.
Many Colombian researchers for the ICP-Ecopetrol project “Cronologia de la deformación en las
Cuencas Subandinas” shared valuable information during this research. We thank Alejandro
Bande, Todd Housh, Chris Moreno, Julian Naranjo, Juan Carlos Ramírez, Andres Reyes-Harker,
Jorge Rubiano, C. Javier Sanchez, Jair Sierra, Eliseo Tesón, and Vladimir Torres for beneficial
discussions. Reviews from François Roure and Raymond Russo helped improve the manuscript.
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