Pardo, G., 2009, Overview, in G.
Pardo, The geology of Cuba: AAPG
Overview
Studies in Geology Series, no. 58, p. 1 – 47.
INTRODUCTION
The geology of Cuba has been a challenge to ge-
ologists because of features such as the presence of
well-preserved Jurassic ammonites, the rich Tertiary
foraminiferal faunas (including remarkable Paleogene
orbitoids), the gigantic Upper Cretaceous rudistids, the
spectacular limestone Mogotes of Pinar del Rio, the ex-
tensive outcrops of ultrabasic igneous rocks, the chro-
mite and manganese deposits, and the extraordinary
structural complexity. In addition to these features, the
numerous petroleum seeps, many of them coming out
of basic igneous rock, have attracted much attention.
It is interesting to read early papers by reputable
geologists such as E. DeGoyler (1918), J. W. Lewis
(1932), or R. H. Palmer (1945), and to realize how little
was known or understood about the geology of the
southern portion of the North American continent
in the early part of the 20th century.
Much early understanding of the geology of Cuba
resulted from a series of studies conducted between 1936
and 1946 by the University of Utrecht, Holland, under
the direction of L. M. R. Rutten. Some resultant publica-
tions are Rutten (1936), MacGillavry (1937), Thiadens
(1937a, b), Vermut (1937), van Wessen (1943), Keijzer
(1945), Hermes (1945), and De Vletter (1946). These
authors outlined the components of a classic geosyn-
cline. Between the late 1930s and late 1950s, Cuban
geologists and paleontologists, such as P. R. Ortega y
Ros, J. Broderman, P. Bermudez, and J. F. Albear, pub-
lished several articles about the island’s geology.
The search for oil has contributed significantly to
the present understanding of the island’s geology.
Prior to the 1959 revolution, hydrocarbon exploration
was mostly undertaken by international oil companies
such as Atlantic Refining, Esso Standard, Gulf Oil,
Shell Oil, and the California Oil Company.
Late in 1959, the oil company files were copied and
confiscated. In 1960, the oil companies were expropri-
ated, and the search for oil became the responsibility of
Copyright n2009 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
DOI:10.1306/13141059St583328
1
the Instituto Cubano del Petroleo (ICP) and Cuba-
petroleo (CUPET). After the revolution, Cuba joined
the Committee for Mutual Economic Assistance
(COMECON), formed by the former Soviet Union and
associated countries, and received considerable assis-
tance from Soviet, Polish, Bulgarian, Czechoslovakian,
and Romanian earth scientists and technicians. Ex-
ploration and drilling became the responsibility of the
Instituto Cubano de Recursos Minerales (ICRM), and
later of the Empressa de Perforacion y Extraccion de
Petroleo (EPEP). These agencies were under the con-
trol of the Ministerio de Industrias Basica (MINBAS).
A large number of deep wells (3000–5000 m [10,000–
16,400 ft] deep) were drilled in central and western
Cuba, many of them (Pozos Parametricos) only for
stratigraphic and structural information.
Non-Soviet and non-COMECON foreign work be-
gan again in 1988, resulting in an increase in explo-
ration and development activity (mostly seismic sur-
veying and drilling). So far, major international oil
companies and United States-based companies have
not participated.
There has been an ongoing program of mapping
the entire island conducted under the direction of
the Cuban Academy of Science, Institute of Geol-
ogy and Paleontology, with, formerly, the assistance
of the former Soviet Union’s Academy of Science.
This program has yielded several publications, most-
ly in Spanish, but some in English. It also resulted
in a 1:500,000 geologic map in 1985 (Cuba, 1985a),
an excellent 1:250,000 geologic map in 1988 (Push-
charovsky et al., 1988), a good 1:500,000 tectonic map
in 1989 (Pushcharovsky et al., 1989), and a 1:500,000
nonmetallic mineral and combustible deposits and
indication map in 1988 (Cuba, 1988).
Unfortunately, the Cuban Academy of Science and
the Cuban government agencies responsible for pe-
troleum exploration and production do not appear to
work together; matters related to petroleum are con-
sidered confidential.
2 / Pardo

FIGURE 1. Cuba: old provinces.

FIGURE 2. Cuba: new (1976) provinces.


FIGURE 3. Regional setting.
In 1967, Khudoley (at that time with the former
Soviet Union’s Academy of Sciences) published, through
AAPG, his concepts and interpretation of Cuban ge-
ology. In 1971, Khudoley and Meyerhoff presented
their conflicting concepts in a joint article in a Geo-
logical Society of America memoir. Contacts between
Cuban, American, and international earth scientists
have now revived. An example is International Union
of Geological Sciences – United Nations Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization International
Geological Correlation Programme (IGCP) Project 364
and ongoing Project 433 on Caribbean geology.
Manuel Iturralde-Vinent, from Havana’s Museo Na-
cional de Historia Natural, has made significant con-
tributions to the understanding of the island’s geolo-
gy; not only has he authored papers on several aspects
of Cuban geology, but he has written and cooperated
on projects by a number of international organiza-
tions (Iturralde-Vinent, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1975a, b,
1981, 1985, 1988, 1996, 1998; Iturralde-Vinent and de
la Torre, 1990; Iturralde-Vinent et al., 2006), thus dis-
Overview / 3
seminating information that was previously restricted
to Cuba and eastern European Countries.
Until recently, very little has been published in
English describing Cuban geology. This is unfortu-
nate because a better understanding of Cuban geol-
ogy might lead others to become aware of processes
not recognized elsewhere. The interpretations pre-
sented here are based on models derived from areas
such as the Alps or the Pacific. This report presents as
much factual material as possible in addition to an
interpretation of the data. Cuba is, geographically and
geologically, a part of the Caribbean. English-language
reviews of Caribbean geology such as those found in
Nairn and Stehli (1975) and Dengo and Case (1990)
are useful for understanding Cuban geology.
Recently, Pindell et al. (2006, p. 304) suggested that
much of the Caribbean geology is well understood,
and that new evaluations, ‘‘may also partly reflect the
involvement of new or younger workers who were not
actively involved in much of the older work.’’ Unfortu-
nately, Cuban geology has been an inadequately known
4 / Pardo
FIGURE 4. Cuba generalized geologic map.
part of Caribbean geology. I hope this book helps im-
prove knowledge of Cuban geology and will stimulate
further work by both younger and older workers.
The work done by Gulf Oil Corporation (Gulf ) in
the early 1950s has never been published in its entirety.
This publication an attempt to present it in the frame-
work of Cuban geological studies done since and new
general geological concepts. It must be stressed that
the only way to properly describe this work is by de-
fining and using the original stratigraphic nomencla-
ture. Unfortunately, many of the names used have
found their way into the official Cuban nomencla-
ture, commonly with a different meaning than the
original intent. Therefore, in this book, when a name
used by Gulf is used in its original meaning, an as-
terisk follows (Santa Teresa*), thus differentiating it
from any other usage. This in no way suggests changes
to the present nomenclature.
This book is divided into two sections. The first sec-
tion, Overview, is printed herein and presents a broad
description of Cuba’s geology and provides an inter-
pretation of the geological events leading to the for-
mation of the island. The second section, Data, is on
the accompanying CD-ROM in the back of this pub-
lication and provides a detailed description of Cuban
stratigraphy, geophysics, and structures.
Because hydrocarbons have been a significant driver
for much of the study of Cuban geology, Chapter 6 in
this publication entitled Hydrocarbons, gives a histor-
ical overview of work on petroleum occurrences.
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
Before 1976, Cuba was subdivided into seven prov-
inces (Figure 1). In 1976, the island was subdivided into
14 provinces plus a district for the city of La Habana
(Figure 2). The change postdates the acquisition of
much of the precise information in this publication.
To avoid errors converting from the old to the new
provinces, the pre-1976 provincial nomenclature is
used here.
It should be noted that the Isla de Pinos is now Isla
de la Juventud. The province of Matanzas has been
 Overview / 5

FIGURE 5. Cuba generalized structure.

FIGURE 6. Cuba generalized cross sections.

6 / Pardo

FIGURE 7. Cuba’s geologic provinces.

extended to the south coast and includes part of the and Sancti Spiritus provinces. The ‘‘Camaguey’’ prov-
old Las Villas (Santa Clara) province. The remaining ince remains, but the boundaries have been changed;
part of the old Las Villas province has been approx- its western portion has been named ‘‘Ciego de Avila,’’
imately subdivided into the Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, and its eastern part has been named ‘‘Las Tunas.’’ The

FIGURE 8. Lithologic symbols used in sections.

 Overview / 7

FIGURE 9. Sedimentary terranes generalized geologic map.

old Oriente Province has been approximately sub- REGIONAL SETTING

divided into Holguin, Granma, Santiago de Cuba,
and Guantanamo provinces. Pinar del Rio and La
Habana have remained essentially unchanged except
that the boundary between the two has moved some
30 km (18 mi) westward.
Cuba is the largest of the Caribbean islands and
has an arclike shape, concave to the south (Figure 3).
This shape has tempted some authors to call Cuba an
‘‘island arc.’’ The truth is much more complex. The

FIGURE 10. Eastern Cuba: sedimentary terranes generalized geologic map.

8 / Pardo
FIGURE 11. North-central terrane sections. See Figure 8 for definitions of lithologic symbols.
broad and deep Straits of Florida separate Cuba from
Florida, and the narrow, and relatively shallow, Nich-
olas and Old Bahamas channels separate Cuba from
the Bahamas. To the northwest, Cuba adjoins the
Gulf of Mexico and is separated from the Yucatan
Platform by the narrow but deep Yucatan Channel. To
the south, the Yucatan Basin appears to be enclosed
between Cuba to the north and the Cayman Ridge,
which is the westward continuation of the Sierra
Madre in the southern Oriente province. Cuba, the
Cayman Basin, and the Cayman Ridge appear to con-
stitute a physiographic province between the stable
margin of the North American craton and the highly
mobile Caribbean Basin. This province is separated
from the Chortis-Nicaraguan rise block, including
Jamaica and Hispaniola, by the east – west pull-apart
basin of the Cayman trough, whose spreading center
has been recording the eastward migration of the Ca-
ribbean plate since the late Eocene.
Over most of its length, the northern coast of Cuba
is the dividing line between stable conditions (at least
since the Middle Jurassic) to the north and west and
very complex ones to the south. Figure 4 shows a
generalized geologic map of Cuba. Although it is geo-
logically deformed, the part of the northern coast of
Cuba extending from eastern Matanzas to western
Oriente belongs to the Florida-Bahamas carbonate-
bank province. To the south, in part under an upper
Eocene or younger cover, is a relatively narrow belt,
45 –160 km (28–99 mi) wide, of intensely folded and
faulted Middle Jurassic to middle Eocene rocks con-
sisting, from north to south, of:
 the north-central sedimentary terranes, charac-
terized by very thick platform carbonates and
evaporites on the north and a relatively thin sec-
tion of platform to pelagic carbonates and cherts
on the south

FIGURE 12. Western Cuba: southwestern terrane generalized geologic map.
 the ophiolitic basic igneous-volcanic (called
igneous-volcanic because of being a mixture of
intrusive and volcanic rocks with a general pre-
dominance of volcanic rocks) terranes, with ultra-
basic intrusive rocks, many types and great thick-
nesses of basic, basaltic to andesitic volcanic
rocks, volcanic-derived sediments, and granodio-
ritic intrusives
 the southwestern sedimentary terranes, with pri-
marily thin stratigraphic sections of platform to
pelagic carbonates and cherts but locally with
great thicknesses of older, continental-derived
sandstones and shales showing various degrees
of metamorphism
The most striking feature about the geology of the
island is the great disparity between the ophiolite-
volcanic sequence of the basic igneous-volcanic ter-
ranes and the sedimentary sequences of the north-
central and southwestern sedimentary terranes. Except
for a few notable cases, essentially no relationship ex-
ists between these sedimentary and igneous terranes.
There has been much argument about how the terranes
Overview / 9
came into contact and became structurally mixed,
but it is generally accepted today that the ophiolite-
volcanic sequence is totally allochthonous. Figure 5
shows a map of Cuba’s major structural features and
terrane distribution, and Figure 6 shows, in cross sec-
tion, the structural relations between the various
terranes.
Nearly all major structural features formed after
the early Maastrichtian and prior to the late Eocene.
Quiet, continuous uplift has predominated in Cuba
since the late Eocene. The island rose almost entirely
above sea level during the Miocene and, except in the
Escambray and the Sierra Maestra, Cuba today has a
generally low elevation, although many areas have
rugged topography. Cuba has had no volcanism since
the middle Eocene and, with the exception of south-
ern Oriente, has been seismically inactive in histor-
ical times.
Despite its general low elevation, Cuba is an exam-
ple of a Cretaceous – Paleogene Alpine orogenic fea-
ture in which thrust sheets moved northward over
the craton. The ophiolites and volcanics are essen-
tially unmetamorphosed, which is uncommon for an
10 / Pardo
FIGURE 13. Southwestern terrane sections: Guaniguanico See Figure 8 for definitions of lithologic symbols.
Alpine orogenic feature. In the northern Caribbean
(with the possible exception of southeastern Belize),
only in Cuba are shelfal deposits juxtaposed against
ophiolites and deep-water volcanics and clastics. The
other Greater Antilles Islands show intense deforma-
tion, but any former relationship to a continent is
missing or has been obscured by strong transcurrent
motion.
The northern Venezuela Caribbean Mountains and
their borderlands are structurally and timewise, but
not stratigraphically, a mirror image of Cuba. This is
the only other place in the Caribbean where thrust
sheets of ophiolites, volcanics, and sediments moved
over a craton (in this case, southward) during the early
to middle Eocene. The associated metamorphism is
much more extensive and intensive than in Cuba.
Between these two orogenic belts with opposing
vergence are the essentially undisturbed Late Creta-
ceous to Holocene Colombian and Venezuelan basins.
These basins are limited on the north and south by
the trenches of the Muertos trough and the southern
Caribbean (Curazao Ridge) deformed belt. The trenches,
related to, respectively, north- and south-dipping sub-
duction zones, are essentially inactive today. Sepa-
rating Cuba from the Yucatan Basin is the Cama-
guey Trench, a northeast-dipping, apparently inactive
trench under the Jardines de la Reina Cays.
Although Cuba is now part of the North Amer-
ican continent, it is a remnant of a Cretaceous to early
Tertiary orogenic belt that has been preserved be-
cause of the local configurations of the North Amer-
ican and Caribbean plates. As a consequence, Cuba
exposes sequences of Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous
nonvolcanic pelagic sediments that are rare, if not
unique, in the Caribbean as well as in North, Central,
and South America. However, Cuba has facies and fau-
nal similarities with equivalent strata of the Tethys re-
gion, specifically the Alps and Italian Apennines.

FIGURE 14. Southwestern terrane sections: Guaniguanico. See Figure 8 for definitions of lithologic symbols.
Similarities and differences exist between the
Jurassic–Cretaceous sedimentary sections of Cuba and
other areas in the region.
Nannoconus biomicrites containing aptychi, iden-
tical with the Neocomian of Cuba (and the Alps), are
present in southern Belize, south of the Maya Moun-
tains (Flores, 1952; Schafhauser et al., 2003); in Mex-
ico, in the Lower Cretaceous of the Sierra Madre Ori-
ental; and in the coreholes of Deep Sea Drilling Project
Leg 77 in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico (this type
of Cretaceous sediment is widespread in the deep At-
lantic Ocean).
In the Maya Block of the Yucatan Peninsula (and
northern Belize, north and west of the Maya Moun-
tains), all the reported carbonates belong to the Cre-
taceous Coban and Campur formations. They are
similar to the bank carbonates of the Bahamas Plat-
form and, therefore, are similar to the bank carbon-
ates of north-central Cuba. The Coban Formation
Overview / 11
grades northward into a thick evaporite section, which
overlies the dominantly red clastics of the Todos los
Santos Formation, that has been compared to the San
Cayetano Formation of Cuba’s Pinar del Rio. Carbon-
ates exist in the highly deformed Motagua fault zone,
in central Guatemala, but similarity to carbonates
found in Cuba is uncertain.
The clastic El Plan Formation in the Chortis block
of Central America in Honduras has been compared
to the San Cayetano Formation. It shows lithologic
and paleoenvironmental similarities. However, its
Triassic to Middle Jurassic age, although somewhat
in doubt, makes it older than the San Cayetano. El
Plan Formation is a very controversial unit because
all the contacts with other units are tectonic.
Present in much of Central America is a Cretaceous
carbonate section unlike the Cuban carbonates of the
same age. It consists of Neocomian to Cenomanian,
mostly shallow-water Yojoa Group limestone underlain
12 / Pardo
FIGURE 15. Southwestern terrane sections: metamorphics. See Figure 8 for definitions of lithologic symbols.
by Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous clastics of the
Honduras Group and overlain by the Upper Creta-
ceous Valle de los Angeles Group that consists mostly
of red beds.
Similar to the northeastern Cuban evaporites are
Upper Jurassic(?) to Lower Cretaceous Maraval evap-
orites in the Paria Peninsula and Gulf of Paria, in the
southern Caribbean between Venezuela and Trini-
dad. The metamorphosed clastics and marbles of
the Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Caracas series in
northern Venezuela have some similarities to Cuba’s
southern metamorphic massifs. In addition, the thick
section of Upper Jurassic clastics of the Cosina Group
(overlain by fossiliferous Neocomian carbonates of
the Kesima, Palare, Moina, and Yaruma formations)
in the Guajira Peninsula have similarities to the San
Cayetano of Cuba’s Pinar del Rio. Some similarity
exists between the Orbitolina-bearing reef carbonates
of Cuba, Venezuela’s Lower Cretaceous Cogollo Group
and Cantil Formation, and contemporaneous facies
of the Florida-Bahamas Platform.
Close similarities exist between the Mesozoic ig-
neous intrusive and associated volcanic rocks of Cuba
and those of the Caribbean.
Ophiolites are common throughout the Caribbe-
an and extend from the Motagua fault zone, between
the Maya and Chortis block, to Puerto Rico. They also
form the floor of the Cayman Trench. These rocks
are also common along the northern coast of South
America from Tobago to the Guajira Peninsula, al-
though they are not as intensely serpentinized as in
the northern Caribbean. Cuba’s outcrops of ultraba-
sic rocks are the most extensive in the region.
Similarities exist between the Caribbean and the
Cuban Upper Cretaceous volcanic and associated in-
trusive rocks. The Cuban Upper Cretaceous granodi-
oritic intrusion has counterparts outcropping in His-
paniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico in the north (where

FIGURE 16. Central Cuba: basic igneous-volcanic terrane generalized geologic map.
the intrusive’s ages range into the early Tertiary) and
in Aruba, the Venezuelan Antilles, and the Aves Ridge
in the south. Volcanics containing a characteristic
fauna of Acteonella, large rudists (Hippurites), and orbit-
oids are present in Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto
Rico, the Dutch West Indies, and northern Venezuela,
suggesting a connection between the various parts of
the volcanic province.
Other than the Yucatan Basin, Cuba is probably the
only place in the Caribbean with complete sections
representative of the early Caribbean region after the
separation of North and South America and before the
formation of the present Caribbean plate in the Tertiary.
STRATIGRAPHIC AND STRUCTURAL HISTORY
The geological history of Cuba is part of the his-
tory of the Caribbean and, consequently, the history
of the relative motions between the North and South
American continents. As a result, as a background
for the history of Cuba, some of the salient features
of Caribbean history are included here. A more in-
depth look at Caribbean geology is presented in Dengo
and Case (1990). Details of the stratigraphy and struc-
ture of Cuba are given in the Data section of this book
located on the CD-ROM in the back of this publication.
Overview / 13
To assist in the understanding of Cuba’s geologic
history, a number of simplified geologic maps (loca-
tions shown on Figure 7) and accompanying strati-
graphic sections will be presented. Triangles on the
maps show the location of the stratigraphic sections,
and Figure 8 shows the lithologic symbols used in
the sections. Limited stratigraphic names are shown
in the columnar sections for easy reference to the Data
section of this publication. Stratigraphic unit names fol-
lowed by an asterisk (i.e., Capitolio*) were originally
named by Gulf’s geologists and might, or might not, be
used today in the same context.
Central and western Cuba are the only areas where
the exposures of sedimentary terranes show sufficient
facies relationships to permit meaningful, paleogeo-
graphic reconstructions of the early stages of the open-
ing of the Caribbean. Central and eastern Cuba better
represent the paleogeography of the rims of the later
volcanic Caribbean plate.
In this publication, the term ‘‘belt’’ is used. A belt in
Cuba was originally defined by G. Pardo in 1953 and
later published (Pardo, 1975, p. 561) as follows:
‘‘The central part of Cuba can be divided into a
series of narrow linear and roughly parallel belts that
extend along the north-central part of the island in a
northwest–southeast direction. Each one of these is
14 / Pardo
FIGURE 17. Central Cuba: basic igneous-volcanic terrane sections. See Figure 8 for definition of lithologic symbols.
characterized by a diagnostic stratigraphy and struc-
tural style. These belts. . .’’
The definition of ‘‘belt’’ as applied in Cuba is dis-
cussed in detail in the Data section of this publication
under Chapter 1, The Belt Nomenclature Problem. The
use of belt was extended to western Cuba by Truitt
(1956a, b) and, later, by other authors. It is still used in
the Cuban literature. Belts are discreet, separate strati-
graphic features, structurally brought into contact, and
superimposed.
The fundamental structural-stratigraphic model
proposed here for Cuba is that of an Alpine orogeny
along the continental margin of North America. It
consists of shelfal carbonates paired with deep-water
sediments, volcanics, and ophiolites thrust northward
toward the craton. The model assumes the involve-
ment of plate-tectonic processes and includes a pro-
posal for Cuba (and other, geologically similar, areas)
of a mechanism explaining the obduction of oceanic
crust over continental margins. Superimposed on this
basic structure are other structural elements such as
possible rifting and wrenching, which have contrib-
uted to confusion about, for example, the origin and
mode of emplacement of the ophiolites.
Walter Bücher (1954, personal communication),
Hatten et al. (1958), Rigassi-Studer (1963), Hatten
(1967), Meyerhoff et al. (1969), Knipper and Cabrera
(1974), Iturralde-Vinent (1977, 1981, 1996), Pszczólk-
owski (1999), Cobiella-Reguera (2005), and others have
accepted variations on an Alpine orogenic model,
but the nature and degree of acceptance varies. Me-
yerhoff et al. (1969) rejected the involvement of plate
tectonics. Hess (1938) once used Cuba as the type sym-
metrical ‘‘Tectogene’’ (he changed his interpretation
in later years). Flint et al. (1948) interpreted some of
the major thrusting as being directed from north to
south. Ducloz and Vuagnat (1962) postulated that
many of the structures of central Cuba were caused

FIGURE 18. Eastern-central Cuba: basic igneous-volcanic terrane sections. See Figure 8 for definition of lithologic
symbols.
by deep-seated wrench faulting without major over-
thrusting and denied the existence of windows and
klippen. Interpretations from the era of the former
Soviet Union and Cuban cooperation are divided be-
tween thin-skinned and basement tectonics.
It should be mentioned that Bohor and Seitz (1990)
suggested that Cuba’s complex geology was caused by
a meteorite impact in the Isla de la Juventud vicinity.
This suggestion was not seriously followed, but mount-
ing evidence shows that the Chicxulub K-T boundary
meteorite impact had some effect on Cuba (see Officer
et al., 1992). Pszczólkowski (1986b, 1999) proposed
that the Cacarajicara Formation (and its correlative,
the Amaro) was caused by such an event. Mounting
evidence shows that the detritals of the Cacarajicara,
Peñalver, and the Amaro formations were caused by
the Chicxulub tidal wave (Takayama et al., 2000; Kiyo-
kawa et al., 2002), but carbonate turbidite deposits are
Overview / 15
very common through the entire Cuban Cretaceous
and lower–middle Eocene. The Lutgarta Formation
contains many turbidites, interbedded with biomi-
crites and radiolarian cherts, which accumulated from
the Santonian through the Maastrichtian. Furthermore,
the most impressive carbonate breccia, the Sagua*
Formation, reaches unquestionably into the lower to
middle Eocene.
Restoration of Cuban Geology
Structural complexities have shuffled the various
components of Cuban stratigraphy. The present rela-
tive position of the outcrops is quite different from
their position at the time of deposition or formation.
Any palynspastic restoration will depend, therefore,
on the assumed direction of thrusting. In this publi-
cation, all the major displacements are considered as
having been from south-southwest to north-northeast.
16 / Pardo
FIGURE 19. Western Cuba: basic igneous-volcanics terrane generalized geologic map.
North-Central Sedimentary Terranes
Figures 9 and 10 are maps of central and eastern
Cuba showing the distribution of the sedimentary
belts separated by folded and faulted major thrusts.
They also show the southwestern sedimentary ter-
ranes, Escambray and Asuncion, as windows through
the basic igneous-volcanic terranes.
This is the conventional interpretation and was
Gulf’s interpretation in the late 1950s. It is also the
interpretation of Hatten et al. (1958), Meyerhoff and
Hatten (1968), Pardo (1975), and Hatten et al. (1988).
This reconstruction is supported by: the presence of
Jaguita* and Ronda* unmetamorphosed carbonate
outcrops, along the Tuinicu fault, south of the basic
igneous-volcanic terranes; the total lack of volcanic
and ultrabasic components associated with the sedi-
mentary terranes; and the fact that the basic igneous-
volcanic terranes completely surround (in fault con-
tact) the Escambray and Asuncion massifs.
Figure 11 shows, from north to south, the thick Ju-
rassic and Cretaceous carbonate and evaporite bank
sections of the Punta Alegre* (PA) and Yaguajay* (Y)
belts, followed by the transitional Jatibonico* (J) belt
and the Las Villas* belt. The type locality of the Las
Villas* Belt at Quemado de Guines (QG) exposes a rel-
atively thick section of Upper Jurassic bank carbonates
of the Trocha* Group, which grade into the upper-
most Jurassic deep-water limestones of the Cagua-
guas* Formation. The Jurassic is overlain by Lower
Cretaceous, thin, deep-water, nannoplankton carbon-
ates of the Capitolio* Formation. The Upper Creta-
ceous is mostly pelagic and distal carbonate bank tur-
bidites, with radiolarian cherts, of the Calabazar* and
Carmita* formations. Of note are the carbonate con-
glomerates of the Sabanilla* Formation, definitely de-
rived from the south. The Upper Cretaceous is very
thin and in places not represented by sediments. To
the south, the Placetas* (P) and Cifuentes* belts, rep-
resenting the higher thrusts, do not show any appre-
ciable thickness of Jurassic sediments. In the south-
ernmost Cifuentes* belt of Las Villas province at La
Rana (LR), Jarahueca, and Rancho Veloz, the pelagic
limestones of the Lower Cretaceous Ronda* Forma-
tion and the Jobosi* conglomerate rest on weathered,

FIGURE 20. Northern Cuba: basic igneous-volcanic terrane generalized geologic map.
strongly deformed, and allochthonous granodioritic
basement. This basement must have formed a paleo-
ridge (Meyerhoff’s ‘‘Median Welt’’) called here ‘‘La
Rana’’; its original location is presently unknown. In
the Sierra de Camajan window of the Camaguey prov-
ince, the Lower Cretaceous Veloz (Ronda*) Formation
rests upon the Tithonian Nueva Maria Formation
that interfingers with tholeitic basalts. Present in the
Cifuentes* belt is a widespread quartz-muscovite
sandy limestone of Aptian–Albian age, the Constan-
cia* Formation. The presence of abundant muscovite
is surprising because the basement exposures are poor
in micas.
In the Yaguajay*, Sagua*, Jatibonico*, and Las Villas*
belts, varied thicknesses of basic igneous detritus of
the lower–middle Eocene Vega* Formation are invari-
ably present underlying the Rosas* orogenic mega-
breccia. Basic igneous detrital clasts are present in the
south in the Maastrichtian Miguel* Formation, as well
as in the Rodrigo*, indicating that the basic igneous-
volcanic terrane began to move in the Maastrichtian,
Overview / 17
with deformation culminating in the early middle
Eocene.
Southwestern Sedimentary Terranes
The southwestern sedimentary terranes are charac-
terized by the presence of a thick section of continen-
tally derived clastics of mostly Middle Jurassic age.
The Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous part of the section
is very similar to the Las Villas* to Cifuentes* belts of
the north-central sedimentary terranes. With one nota-
ble exception, the Cretaceous carbonate bank facies is
absent. The southwestern sedimentary terranes show
various degrees of metamorphism, principally in the
Isla de la Juventud and the Escambray massifs.
Figure 12 is a geologic map of western Cuba, in-
cluding the Isla de la Juventud. Here, the exposures of
Jurassic to middle Eocene sedimentary rocks form a
group of low-elevation hills called the Sierra de Gua-
niguanico. In contrast with the tightly faulted and im-
bricated stack of south-dipping plates of central Cuba,
the belts are less intensely tectonized, north-dipping,
18 / Pardo
FIGURE 21. Western and northern Cuba: basic igneous-volcanic terrane sections. See Figure 8 for definition of lithologic
symbols.
superimposed thrust sheets. Each belt consists of a stack
of several sheets showing great similarity to each other.
The present order of the belts is reversed from their
original position. The significance of the larger number
of imbrications in the Sierra de Guaniguanico (±30)
than in central Cuba (7) is not clear. The larger num-
ber may be partly, but not entirely, caused by the qual-
ity of exposure; perhaps the more numerous imbrica-
tions are a result of greater horizontal displacement.
Figure 13 shows sections on the eastern part of the
Sierra de Guaniguanico, with the belts in their assumed
original position.
The Sierra de los Organos belt (PG, SG), like the
Las Villas* belt, exhibits a fairly thick Upper Jurassic
section of shallow-water carbonates, the Mogotes-
forming Guasasa Formation. It is transitionally un-
derlain by the Jagua as well as the San Cayetano con-
tinentally derived clastics of Middle to Late Jurassic
age. The thickness of the San Cayetano varies from
possibly very thin to nonexistent in the north to pos-
sibly very thick (more than 10,000 ft [3000 m]) in the
south. Simultaneously, in the southern Rosario belt
(CP), the Guasasa grades into the thinner, deeper wa-
ter, thin-bedded carbonate facies of the Artemisa For-
mation. These carbonates are similar to and partly
coeval with the Caguaguas*, Capitolio*, and Ronda*
formations of the Las Villas*, Placetas*, and Cifuentes*
belts. Farther south, in the northern Rosario belt (N),
the Artemisa overlies and partially interfingers with
the tholeitic basalts of El Sabalo Formation. This situ-
ation is identical with the one found in Loma Cama-
jan in the Camaguey province. The Cretaceous section
is generally thin and accumulated in deep water.
The highest thrust sheet of the Sierra de Guani-
guanico, Guajaibon–Sierra Azul (GSA), is highly un-
usual and difficult to explain. It consists mostly of

FIGURE 22. Eastern Cuba: basic igneous-volcanic terrane generalized geologic map.
massive bank carbonates with a facies (and microfacies)
identical with the carbonate banks of the Yaguajay*
belt of north-central Cuba. Being the highest thrust
sheet under the basic igneous-volcanic terranes sug-
gests a position south of much deeper water facies and
no connection to the Bahamas banks. These rocks may
have been deposited over the westward continuation
of the southern La Rana granodioritic ridge exposed
in the southernmost sheets of the Cifuentes* belt.
Figure 14 shows sections on the western part of
the Sierra de Guaniguanico. They differ from the
eastern sections in having a greater thickness of San
Cayetano clastics-Loma del Muerto (LM), and Pizarras
del Sur (PDS) by an indication that the Guasasa Forma-
tion carbonates at EPEP Pinar-1 might not have been
underlain by thick San Cayetano clastics (total depth
of the well was near seismic-refraction basement) and
by considerable quartz-sand development in the Cre-
taceous of the Esperanza (E) belt. Although these sands
might have come from the Yucatan (Pszczólkowski,
1999), they are consistent with the southern granodi-
orite high and might correlate with the Cifuentes* and
Placetas* belts’ Constancia* Formation of Early Creta-
ceous age. The Santa Teresa* Formation cherts, charac-
teristic of the Cifuentes* belt, are well represented in the
southern Rosario (LM, LP) and La Esperanza (E) belts.
Although the Cacarajicara detrital limestone rep-
resents a remarkable distal turbidite, it is similar to
the Carmita*, Amaro*, Lutgarta*, and Sagua* of north-
Overview / 19
central Cuba. These turbidites were deposited through-
out the Cretaceous and the early–middle Eocene.
In the Sierra de Guaniguanico, variable thicknesses
of Paleocene to lower–middle Eocene Manacas (simi-
lar to Vega*) basic igneous-derived detrital rocks, over-
lain by the Vieja (similar to Rosas*) orogenic mega-
breccia, are present above most thrust slices.
Figure 15 shows sections of the metamorphosed
massifs of Escambray and Isla de la Juventud. Because
of the structural complexities in both massifs, the
indicated thicknesses are questionable. The slightly
metamorphosed Cangre belt–Pino Solo (PS) unit on
the southern border of the Sierra de Guaniguanico is
also shown. The Isla de la Juventud and Escambray
massifs, although not studied to the extent of other
areas in Cuba, have sections dominated by Middle Ju-
rassic clastics (La Llamagua, Loma la Gloria, Cañada,
Agua Santa) equivalent to the San Cayetano Forma-
tion. The Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous carbon-
ates (Sauco, Cobrito, Mayari, and Collantes) seem to
have accumulated in deep water, akin to the Artemisa
Formation. In both massifs, as well as in the Cangre
belt, the metamorphism appears reversed. The up-
per units are more metamorphosed than the core of
the structures. For example, the upper Pino Solo unit
has a higher metamorphic grade than the lower Mes-
tanza unit. The age of metamorphism of the Cangre
belt is Paleocene–early Eocene (Pszczólkowski, 1985).
It is also very significant that the median radiometric
20 / Pardo
FIGURE 23. Eastern Cuba: basic igneous-volcanic terrane sections. See Figure 8 for definition of lithologic symbols.
age of metamorphism in Escambray and Isla de la
Juventud is 66 m.y. or Paleocene (Iturralde-Vinent,
1996). This, together with the sedimentary evidence of
the timing of thrusting, suggests that the reverse meta-
morphism was caused by the slab of basic igneous-
volcanic terranes riding over the sedimentary terranes
and not by the island arc thermal activity.
Basic Igneous-Volcanic Terranes
Central Cuba
Figure 16 is a map showing the distribution of the
general types of igneous and volcanic rocks (includ-
ing volcaniclastic) in central Cuba. Generally speak-
ing, the basic igneous-volcanic terranes occur in a
complexly folded and faulted synclinorium, which is
separated from the underlying sedimentary terranes
by the Domingo* fault. Above the fault and at the
base of the volcanic section are various-sized bodies of
ultrabasics (serpentine, gabbro) to the north and meta-
morphosed ultrabasics (amphibolite) to the south.
Highly sheared serpentine forms the base of the sec-
tion and contains large blocks of exotic metamor-
phics. The trough of the synclinorium consists of oce-
anic volcanics overlain by arc volcanics and associated
sediments. Several granodiorite bodies intruded the
volcanic section from the central to the southern parts
of the synclinorium and extend from the Escambray
massif to eastern Camaguey.
Figures 17 and 18 are representative columnar sec-
tions of the basic igneous-volcanic terranes in cen-
tral Cuba. It should be noted that the sections of
Santa Clara (SC), Santo Domingo (SD), and Camajan
(C) show the best and most complete exposures of
probable oceanic crust (Domingo* belt) and, possibly,
upper mantle. The most complete and least deformed
volcanic (Cabaiguan* belt) sections are exposed on
the north and south flanks of the Seibabo syncline
 Overview / 21

FIGURE 24. Palynspastic base.

FIGURE 25. 163 Ma: Callovian. PC = Precambrian; PZ = Paleozoic.

22 / Pardo
FIGURE 26. 144 Ma: early Tithonian.
(SNF, SSF), and they provide the best basis for inter-
preting the origin of the volcanic rocks. The Lower
Cretaceous in the Seibabo syncline consists mostly of
basalts and basic volcaniclastics. Part of the Cenoma-
nian – Turonian section contains no volcanics. This
section comprises the Gomez* and Huevero* dark-gray
shale and black nodular limestones and the Cristobal*
and Casanova* detrital, fine- to medium-grained lime-
stones containing Upper Jurassic detrital oolites and
other fragments. This volcanic-free section represents
a period of volcanic quiescence following the forma-
tion of the new Upper Jurassic–Cretaceous oceanic
basement and preceding the development of an Upper
Cretaceous volcanic arc. Of the above units, the Gomez*
Formation is the most characteristic and can be rec-
ognized in many localities. It must be noted that in
the Las Villas province, most of the exposed volcanics
are Early Cretaceous or older in age, whereas in Ca-
maguey, they are middle to Late Cretaceous in age.
Contrary to the interpretation of Iturralde-Vinent
(1996) and others, volcanism was active during the
Maastrichtian as shown by outcrops of the Las Villas
province (Hilario*, Cotorro*, and Carlota*) (see Data
section on the CD-ROM in the back of this publica-
tion). Piggyback basins characterize the Paleocene and
lower–middle Eocene. They contain volcanic-derived
sediments, marls, and limestones. The Taguasco* For-
mation, consisting of conglomerates containing large
spherical granite boulders, and its equivalents are
found at the base of the section.
Northern and Western Cuba
Figures 19 and 20 are maps showing the distribu-
tion of the basic igneous-volcanic terranes in western
and northern Cuba. Here, the Sierra de Guaniguanico
occupies a structural position equivalent to the Es-
cambray massif; it is a window of sediments cut by
the Pinar fault to the south. An outlier of unmeta-
morphosed arc volcanics exists on the north of the
Isla de la Juventud, the Teneme Formation. The most
complete sections of basic intrusive and volcanic rocks
occur north of the Sierra de Guaniguanico in the Bahia
Honda (BH) and Felicidades (F) belts.
Figure 21 shows several sections of this terrane. The
most complete section of oceanic crust is found at the
base of the Bahia Honda (BH) belt and is very similar
to the section present in central Cuba. The Lower Cre-
taceous is not as well developed as in central Cuba and

FIGURE 27. 132 Ma: Valanginian.
has not been studied in detail, but the middle to Upper
Cretaceous Quiõnes Formation in the Felicidades (F)
belt shows some affinities with the Gomez* and
Huevero* formations of central Cuba. However, Up-
per Cretaceous, Paleocene, and lower–middle Eocene
outcrops are widespread and, being near Havana,
have been studied in detail for many years. These
lower Tertiary deposits form well-developed piggy-
back basins that were transported northward by the
advancing ophiolite sheet, with no indication of near-
by volcanic activity.
Eastern Cuba
Figure 22 is a map of eastern Cuba showing the
various provinces. Eastern Cuba is characterized by a
strongly tectonized, steeply southward-dipping, basic
igneous-volcanic section (Kozary, 1968, referred to it
as the collapsed Aura trench); a nearly horizontal, al-
lochthonous, ultrabasic sheet overriding the volcanics
in the Mayari and Baracoa massifs; the metamorphosed
volcanics of the El Purial massif; and a thick lower–
middle Eocene section of the El Cobre arc volcanics.
Figure 23 shows several stratigraphic sections through
eastern Cuba. The thicknesses are questionable in
Overview / 23
most areas, but especially in northern Oriente (NO) and
southeastern Oriente Purial massif (PM). However,
there is no question that the lower – middle Eocene
Cobre Formation is very thick. It contains the only
lower Tertiary volcanic rocks in Cuba. The Purial mas-
sif is the only place in Cuba where the volcanic section
exhibits regional metamorphism; these volcanic rocks
are under a nearly horizontal imbrication of an ultra-
basic sheet. A small window of slightly metamor-
phosed southwestern terranes sediments is present at
La Asuncion.
Figure 24 is a palynspastic base showing the ap-
proximate relative positions of the different belts at the
time of their deposition. It also shows the equivalence
of the belts between the different areas of Cuba. The
Domingo-Cabaiguan belt could have originated far-
ther to the southwest in the middle Cretaceous.
HISTORY OF CUBA
The summary here of the geological history of Cuba
has been strongly influenced by the geology of cen-
tral Cuba. However, the timing of the events was not
isochronous along the whole length of the orogen.
24 / Pardo
FIGURE 28. 110 Ma: Aptian.
Paleogeographic maps (Figures 25 – 34) illustrate
the possible past distribution of the most character-
istic stratigraphic units. These maps are on a conti-
nental drift base modified from the Ocean Drilling
Stratigraphic Network (ODSN) created in 2005 by
the University of Bremen, with Florida occupying
a fixed position. In all maps, Cuba is shown in its
present position relative to Florida, although dif-
ferent parts of the island came from various places.
The first map of the sequence, 163 Ma (Callovian),
shows the position of the African and South Amer-
ican cratons.
In these maps, ‘‘autochthonous nappes,’’ ‘‘alloch-
thonous nappes,’’ and ‘‘subduction’’ will be used to
describe, respectively, the thrusting toward the con-
tinent of the sediments, the basic igneous-volcanic
rocks, and the subduction. Supported by observa-
tions in Cuba and elsewhere, these maps (as well as
cross sections discussed later) show subduction as the
main cause of the uplift of a convergent continental
margin or ocean floor, whereas the nappes are the
result of sedimentary or volcanic cover sliding away,
under the force of gravity, from the area uplifted by
subduction.
Burke (1988), Pindell and Barrett (1990), Iturralde-
Vinent (1996), Cobiella-Reguera (2005), Garcı́a-Casco
et al. (2006), Giunta et al. (2006), and Pindell et al.
(2006), have interpreted the Cretaceous Cuban sub-
duction as northeast dipping and reversing polarity
to the southwest during the Upper Cretaceous. Cuba’s
geology suggests that the subduction was continu-
ously north dipping, and this concept is discussed in
more detail below.
The paleogeographic history presented here is
in general agreement with that of Pszczólkowski
(1999). Differences are, for example, the position of
the Guajaibon–Sierra Azul belt, the origin of the mid-
dle Cretaceous quartzose clastics, and the dip of the
subduction zone.
Early(?)–Middle Jurassic
Very little is known about the pre-Late Jurassic his-
tory of the island except that the lower part of the San
Cayetano clastics might be Lower Jurassic (163 Ma;
see Figure 25). The San Cayetano must have been de-
posited over an initially rifting basement that proba-
bly included fragments of continental crust as well as

FIGURE 29. 94 Ma: Cenomanian.
basaltic flows. This is supported by the pre-Neocomian
granodioritic klippen of La Rana, Trés Guanos, and
Rancho Veloz and the occurrences of the El Sabalo
and Nueva Maria tholeitic basalts underlying the sed-
imentary section of the northern Rosario belt and Ci-
fuentes* belt of the Sierra de Camajan.
It can also be assumed that, prior to the deposi-
tion of the Upper Jurassic rocks, a large area of base-
ment was exposed to the northwest, extending from
Florida’s Sarasota arch to the Maya Mountains. The
nature of this basement is generally unknown, but it
must have been of granitic to granodioritic compo-
sition as indicated by the arkosic nature of the San
Cayetano Formation. In south Florida, several wells
have penetrated an undifferentiated Jurassic–Triassic
volcanic section and Paleozoic granite. The basement
must also have included Paleozoic sediments known
to outcrop in the Maya Mountains, present as frag-
ments in San Cayetano conglomerates, and, perhaps,
as exotics in the Cayo Coco Formation. The bulk of
the San Cayetano Formation accumulated south of
this basement high.
The San Cayetano clastics could have originated
from the Gulf of Mexico, as well as nearby South
Overview / 25
America. As already mentioned, some studies indi-
cate that the southwestern part of the San Cayetano
originated from the southwest, and the northeastern
part originated from the northeast. Structural com-
plexity makes source direction hard to evaluate.
Toward the northeast, pre-Upper Jurassic sediments
have not been observed in situ, but the Cunagua salt
suggests the presence of an evaporite basin correlating
with the Louann Salt and Maraval evaporites and,
possibly, as suggested by the San Adrian Formation,
interfingering with the San Cayetano.
As rifting continued, new oceanic crust formed
with outpouring of basalts (El Sabalo) and serpenti-
nization of the upper mantle.
Tithonian
In the Tithonian (144 Ma; see Figure 26) section,
sediments vary from the shallow-water, carbonate,
and evaporite deposits of Wood River, Punta Alegre*,
and Guani* in the north, toward Florida and the Ba-
hamas, to shallow-water, normal marine limestones of
the Trocha* Group to the south in the Las Villas* belt.
Toward Pinar del Rio, thick, massive, shallow-water
26 / Pardo
FIGURE 30. 80 Ma: Santonian.
limestone of the Guasasa Formation accumulated
over a northward-thinning wedge of San Cayetano,
Jagua, and possibly, basement. Farther south, the thin-
bedded limestones of Cobrito, Sauco, and Isla de la
Juventud marbles were deposited over the lower Ox-
fordian thin, quartzose sandstones of La Llamagua,
Loma la Gloria, and Agua Santa formations. The out-
pouring of basalt continued forming the slightly
younger Nueva Maria Formation in the southern
Loma Camajan. Farther south, rifting produced ultra-
basic oceanic crust.
Neocomian
Shallow-water platform carbonates, with some evap-
orites, continued to accumulate in the north (coastal
area, Yaguajay* belt). Elsewhere in central and west-
ern Cuba (Las Villas*, southern Rosario belts), the
water was markedly deeper as indicated by the depo-
sition of the Capitolio* and Artemisa formations con-
taining abundant nannoplankton (commonly rock
forming) and other pelagic forms.
Some tectonic activity extended into the Neoco-
mian (132 Ma; see Figure 27), possibly associated with
the rifting, and uplifted blocks south of the Yaguajay*
belt. The result was denudation of previously depos-
ited sediments as indicated by northward shedding
of carbonate clastics (Sabanilla* Formation), a south-
ward increase in basement exposures (La Rana, Trés
Guanos, Rancho Veloz), and deposition of the Jobosi*
arkosic conglomerate. This basement could have
been derived from a continental block, here named
the La Rana block (after the best exposures) and sim-
ilar to the Maya or Chortis blocks, that was overridden
by later nappes.
In central Cuba, the Upper Jurassic and Neocomian
beds were only partially eroded. In western Cuba,
shallow-bank carbonates, similar to those of the Vinas*
Group, accumulated atop the La Rana granodiorite
horst and formed the Guajaibon – Sierra Azul belt.
South of the La Rana basement horst, deep-water lime-
stones of the Mayari, Collantes, and Cobrito forma-
tions were deposited and preserved.
Farther south, rifting continued, accompanied by
outpouring of tholeites and other basic to ultrabasic
material forming a layered oceanic basement con-
sisting of peridotite, gabbro, sheeted dikes, pillow ba-
salts (old volcanics of the Domingo* sequence), and

FIGURE 31. 67 Ma: Maastrichtian.
associated sediments. Although some genetic rela-
tionship exists between the Domingo* sequence and
the El Sabalo – Nueva Maria lithologies, these belong
to two entirely different provinces. El Sabalo and the
Nueva Maria formations, like the granodiorites, be-
long to the autochthonous nappes and were at the
continental margin, whereas the Domingo* sequence
forms the base of the allochthonous nappe and is en-
tirely oceanic.
Barremian
During the Barremian, deposition of platform car-
bonates continued in the north, grading from shallow-
water algal types, with fewer evaporites, to breccias.
South, west, and possibly east of the Bahamas Platform,
deep-water sedimentation of pelagic (nannoplankton)
carbonates continued. However, because of the late
Neocomian tectonic activity, conglomerates, derived
from the previously deposited limestones in the Las
Villas* belt and from the exposed granitic basement in
the Cifuentes* belt to the south, became common. No
Barremian sediments were deposited in some of the
southern areas. However, the basaltic to intermediate
Overview / 27
flows possibly continued to accumulate over the south-
ern part of the basic igneous basement.
Aptian
During the Aptian (110 Ma; see Figure 28), depo-
sition continued to be shallow-water marine along
the north coast (Yaguajay* belt) with, farther to the
north (Cayo Coco area) and as far as Oriente (Gibara
area), some pelagic influence (Casablanca Group). To-
ward central and western Cuba, conditions continued
to be pelagic. The pelagic and shallow-water condi-
tions were separated by a conglomeratic breccia zone
(Sagua la Chica* belt) representing a forereef facies, al-
though reefs themselves are not common in outcrops.
There was an influx of quartz- and mica-rich tur-
biditic detritus, possibly from the erosion of the pre-
viously formed basement high, which formed the
La Esperanza, Polier, and Constancia* formations. A
southern Guajaibon–Sierra Azul carbonate bank may
have been deposited.
Toward the south, the close of the Early Cretaceous
was characterized by a great outpouring of basaltic
flows (Mataguá* Formation) over rifted basement.
28 / Pardo
FIGURE 32. 50 Ma: top lower Eocene.
This activity was accompanied toward the north and
west (Cifuentes*, southern Rosario, northern Rosario,
and La Esperanza belts) by abundant and extensive
chert deposits (Calabazar*, Carmita*, and Santa Teresa*
formations).
Albian–Cenomanian
Except for the Yaguajay* belt along the north coast
where platform carbonates accumulated, deep-water
pelagic deposition continued during the Albian to
Cenomanian (93 Ma; see Figure 29). In the south,
volcanic activity contributed silica to the seawater,
which led to the deposition of primary radiolarian
cherts (Calabazar*, Carmita, and Santa Teresa) below
the carbonate compensation depth. Whereas non-
calcareous detritus was absent over most of the north-
ern area, volcanic-derived clays became increasingly
abundant toward the south (Santa Teresa* Formation).
The Rana granodiorite high was still active, providing
material for the Chaco Azul Formation. The position
of the Viñas* type carbonates of the Guajaibon–Sierra
Azul belt is problematic.
To the north, as during the Aptian –Albian, the
shallow carbonate banks continued to be separated
from the pelagic, deep-water sediments to the south
by a zone of carbonate-derived clastics, which shifted
progressively southward; carbonate turbidites became
increasingly abundant (Calabazar* and Mata* forma-
tions). In the Florida Straits, carbonate deposition did
not keep up with subsidence as indicated by the in-
crease in pelagic deposits, including chert (upper Casa-
blanca Group).
Toward the south, the volcanic activity that formed
the lower Cabaiguan* sequence decreased markedly,
and argillaceous, calcareous sedimentation became
predominant, whereas conditions remained pelagic.
The detrital limestones in the southernmost outcrops
of the volcanic sequence (Cristobal* Formation) that
contain abundant Upper Jurassic reworked carbon-
ates (including oolites) indicate an unknown south-
ern source, possibly the Yucatan Platform.

FIGURE 33. 40 Ma: base upper Eocene.
With the exception of the thick carbonate banks,
the Cenomanian sediments are mostly uniformly
thin.
Turonian–Campanian
Turonian and Coniacian sediments are not com-
mon across most of the nonvolcanic area (80 Ma; see
Figure 30). They are present to the north in the Cayo
Coco area, to the south in the Seibabo area in central
Cuba, and in a few units of the southern and north-
ern Rosario belts in western Cuba. The strata above
and below the missing interval all have deep-water
characteristics, and no evidence of subaerial erosion
exists to explain the lack of the Turonian and Conia-
cian sediments across such a large area. Either there
was no deposition, or the section was eroded because
of changes in current patterns or submarine slides.
Local erosion is unlikely because a hiatus of the same
age has been found in many of the holes drilled by
the DSDP in the southern Gulf of Mexico and the
western Atlantic. Toward the north, in the platform
Overview / 29
to deep water province, whatever sediments remain
show that sedimentation continued under pelagic con-
ditions and was essentially calcareous, with subordi-
nate cherts.
Toward the south in the basic igneous-volcanic prov-
ince, conditions were also dominantly pelagic. Sedi-
mentation was accompanied by a renewal of volca-
nism, with an outpouring of flows and other ejecta of
a more rhyolitic composition (Pastora* Group). Evi-
dence of subaerial volcanism (such as glass bombs and
ash beds) exists. Shallow-water reefs with rudists,
corals, and large foraminifera are commonly associ-
ated with the volcanics and volcaniclastics. This was
the period of major arc volcanism associated with sub-
duction. It was also the time of intrusion of the Mani-
caragua granodiorite into the central Cuba volcanics.
Campanian–Maastrichtian
After the period of the disconformity, pelagic con-
ditions characterized the platform to deep-water prov-
ince, which received massive, dominantly carbonate
30 / Pardo
FIGURE 34. Present.
turbidite flows from the north (Lutgarda* Formation)
and from the south (Amaro* and Cacarajı́cara forma-
tions) (67 Ma; see Figure 31). Over the basic igneous-
volcanic province, local provenance resulted in an
abundance of fragmental rocks; that is, limestones
toward the north (Peñalver Formation) and volcanics
toward the south. In the south, sedimentation was
accompanied during the Maastrichtian by an out-
pouring of late orogenic basaltic flows and flow brec-
cias (the Maastrichtian age of these flows disagrees
with the current interpretation of most Cuban geol-
ogists, including Iturralde-Vinent, 1996). Toward the
north, along the present outer line of clays, deposi-
tion of coarse Maastrichtian limestone conglomerate
(Mayajigua* Formation) graded into fine-grained pe-
lagic rocks. The basic igneous-volcanic province be-
gan its initial northward movement as indicated by
serpentine detritus in the turbidites, by basic intrusive-
derived clastics (Miguel Formation) associated with
the Domingo* thrust, as well as by the presence of
large Maastrichtian thrust sheets of ultrabasics in Ori-
ente. Thrusting (and metamorphism) of ultrabasics
began in the Escambray, and thrust sheets began to
stack into the former basin that is today represented
by the Guaniguanico Mountains. Northward-dipping
subduction to the south produced uplift of the conver-
gent margins. The northward-moving thrust sheets
or nappes formed as the result of the sedimentary or
volcanic cover sliding away from the uplifted areas.
Paleocene (Danian)
The Paleocene is very poorly represented in Cuba
for reasons that are not entirely clear. Fossils this age
have been found only in Cabaiguan* sequence rocks
in Habana, Las Villas, and western Camaguey prov-
inces, but the paucity of the Paleocene is probably
not just a paleontological artifact. Strata above and
below contain rich lower Eocene and Maastrichtian
faunas, respectively. Where present, the Maastrichtian

FIGURE 35. Obduction 1. See Figure 8 for definition of lithologic symbols.
was deposited in deep waters and so was the lower–
middle Eocene flysch. No indication of subaerial ero-
sion or unconformity exists.
Early to Middle Eocene
The early to middle Eocene was characterized by
intense orogenic activity (50 Ma; see Figure 32). Early
in the Eocene, the large-scale low-angle thrust sheets,
or gravity nappes, that first moved in the Maastrichtian
began to move at a greater rate. The volcanic section,
along with the oceanic basement, rode over the plat-
form to deep water province, probably along the line
separating the basic igneous-volcanic province from
the platform to deep basin province. As thrusting
proceeded, additional thrusts formed within the car-
bonate section in front of and north of the basic
Overview / 31
igneous-volcanic front. As a result, the thrust sheets
were generally arranged from older and more south-
erly sourced at the top of the stack to younger and
more northerly sourced at the base.
A large trough-shaped basin formed in front of
the thrust sheets, deeper near the thrust front and
shallower northward. Lower to middle Eocene flysch
deposition in the trough began with sediments de-
rived from limestones, such as the Sagua* and San
Martin* formations, followed by an increase in vol-
canic and intrusive-derived detritus, such as the lower
Vega* and lower Manacas (Pica Pica) formations, and
finally, capped by the intrusive and volcanic-derived
coarse conglomerates and wildflysch of the upper
Vega* (Rosas*) and upper Manacas (Vieja) formations.
In central Cuba, the rocks of the deep-water Vega*
Formation became coarser grained through time. In
32 / Pardo
FIGURE 36. Obduction 2. See Figure 8 for definition of lithologic symbols.
western Cuba, the fine-grained clastics and other pe-
lagic sediments of the Manacas Formation changed
abruptly to the coarse breccias of the Vieja Member.
The breccia clasts reflect the lithology of the associ-
ated fault blocks. This suggests some subaerial erosion
in central Cuba, whereas western Cuba was largely
submarine.
South of the front of the advancing volcanic and
basic intrusive-rock thrust plate, a second series of
basins developed parallel to the northern trough.
Within these basins, which were carried piggyback
by the thrust plate, lower Eocene igneous-derived sed-
iments accumulated, but under quieter tectonic con-
ditions (the Taguasco*, Bijabo*, Santa Clara*, Alkazar,
Bacunayagua, Capdevila, and Universidad formations,
for example).
As the thrust sheets advanced, they overrode the
lower to middle Eocene flysch, which had accumu-
lated in front of them, and the flysch served as a
lubricating medium for further thrusting. The sub-
duction responsible for the uplift driving the thrust-
ing ceased progressively from west to east, and vol-
canic activity continued in Oriente until the middle
Eocene. Along what appears to be a north-dipping
subduction zone and south of the Jardines de la Reina
Cays (Camaguey trench) is a filled trench, which is a
remnant of an accretionary prism. This trench could
be related to the exposures in Haiti’s southern penin-
sula and the Muertos Trench.
In central and eastern Cuba, the thrust front ad-
vanced until the volcanic and basic intrusive rocks
covered extensive areas of the massive shallow-water
carbonates of the northern coast of the island (Ya-
guajay* belt, coastal and Gibara areas). After the front
stopped advancing, compression from the south con-
tinued, tightly folding and then reverse faulting the
 Overview / 33

FIGURE 37. Scotia Sea bathymetry. Modified after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellite and
Information Service.

FIGURE 38. Scotia Sea structural interpretation. PZ = Paleozoic.

34 / Pardo

FIGURE 39. Scotia Sea structural interpretation on bathymetry. Modified after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Satellite and Information Service. FZ = fault zone; PZ = Paleozoic.

succession of thrust plates. The result was the late began lateral motion, probably because the north-
Eocene structures shown in Figure 33. As compression ward compression was not directed perpendicular
continued, the folds became sharper, and the faults to the front of the carbonate banks. It is possible

FIGURE 40. Caribbean topography.


FIGURE 41. Caribbean free air gravity. Modified after Sandwell and Smith (1997).
that a deep-seated, crustal transcurrent fault was also
involved.
In western Cuba, the northward-moving stack of
thrust sheets did not reach the buttress of the Ba-
hamas Platform, and the nappes came to rest on the
sea floor toward the southern Gulf of Mexico. As a
result, they are less deformed than they are to the
east.
It is possible that a large number of the present-day
high-angle faults, some with reverse thrusting (Sei-
babo syncline), formed during the last phase of the
orogeny.
The intense orogenic activity ceased toward the
close of the middle Eocene or early late Eocene, and
the uplifted, faulted, and folded orogenic complex
was subsequently eroded and peneplained.
Late Eocene to Present
Shallow-marine conditions prevailed during most
of this time interval, and mostly limestones, marls,
and shales accumulated, accompanied by some coarse
clastic sediment (present; see Figure 34). There was
very little tectonic activity. In the northern basins, a
strong angular unconformity separates the upper Eo-
cene strata from the older rocks. In the southern ba-
sins, sedimentation was essentially continuous from
the Cretaceous through the Tertiary, with no major
Overview / 35
unconformity. Some local basins may have formed as
gentle deformation of the old orogenic belt occurred.
This deformation consisted mostly of large-scale folds
(Habana-Matanzas) and high-angle faults (Pinar). This
type of deformation is still active today and is largely
responsible for Cuba’s present physiography.
Cuba is an example of subduction generating an
orogenic belt. The subduction progressed from an
oceanic environment through a region of relatively
recent oceanic crust between North and South Amer-
ica and, finally, became inactive at the southern mar-
gin of the North American continent. The main differ-
ence relative to most of the well-known marginal
orogenic belts is that the thrust sheets that accompa-
nied the subduction rode onto and over a much de-
pressed and fragmented continental margin (with
fragments now in the Bahamas Basin, Gulf of Mexico,
Yucatan) relatively far away from a fully continental
craton.
The orogeny was characterized by a scarcity of
detrital sediments on its continental side and by the
rapidity of the entire orogenic process that started
during the Late Cretaceous and culminated within
the early to middle Eocene. It also shows clearly that
when the thrusting occurred, the continental mar-
gin was not contiguous with the subduction, but was
separated from it by an arch, which mostly exposed
36 / Pardo
FIGURE 42. Caribbean structural interpretation. PC = Precambrian; PZ = Paleozoic. See Figure 8 for definition of
lithologic symbols.
granodioritic basement rocks. The Alps show sim-
ilar geology. The northward displacement of the vis-
ible thrusting was on the order of several hundred
kilometers.
CUBA’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE
UNDERSTANDING OF OBDUCTION
A great contribution of Cuba to our knowledge of
orogeny is that it provides evidence that obduction
must not be the converse of subduction. That is to
say, the obduction in Cuba did not result from the
pushing of oceanic crust over the top of a subducting
plate. The evidence from Cuba indicates a different
process, which could have much more general appli-
cation than just in Cuba. This process was referred to
above, will be explained further below, and is dia-
grammatically shown in Figures 35 and 36.
The Domingo* belt shows a characteristic cross sec-
tion of oceanic crust (>4000 m; >13,100 ft), with ser-
pentine at the base. The serpentine very probably
formed during oceanic rifting when seawater came
near, or in contact with, the upper mantle. As the ser-
pentine became buried under layers of basalt and as-
sociated volcaniclastic, its low permeability did not
allow the water to escape at a rate directly related to
the weight of accumulating overburden. The water
bore much of the overburden load, which generated
near geostatic pore-fluid pressure. The resultant de-
crease in shear strength would have produced a def-
inite low-velocity Moho discontinuity.
The decrease in shear strength created unstable oce-
anic crust, similar to the overpressured shales at the
base of normally compacted deltaic sedimentary sec-
tions. For Cuba, north-dipping subduction of oceanic
crust under the newly rifted oceanic crust raised the
newly formed oceanic crust. It broke up and, under

FIGURE 43. Structural interpretation on topography. Modified after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Satellite and Information Service. PC = Precambrian; PZ = Paleozoic. See Figure 8 for definition of
lithologic symbols.
the force of gravity, detached along the overpressured
serpentine and slid downhill toward the foreland ba-
sin and away from the subduction zone. This Cuban
scenario is supported by the presence of metamorphic
exotics in the serpentine; by the absence or the rela-
tively low-grade reverse metamorphism of the sedi-
ments underlying the serpentine; by the total lack of
metamorphism of the volcanics overlying the oceanic
crust; by the diapirism and evidence of flowage exhib-
ited by many serpentine bodies and contained exot-
ics; and by the definite evidence of stacked oceanic
thrust sheets in the Santa Clara–Placetas area, as well
as in the Mayari and Baracoa massifs in eastern Cuba.
As the subduction of oceanic crust under oceanic
crust migrated, the uplifted and now-detached alloch-
thonous fragment of newly formed oceanic crust kept
sliding northward away from the subduction zone
until it overrode (was obducted over) the continental
margin, capturing and dragging, in its base, fragments
of that margin, and eventually riding over a bed of
detritus derived from its own basic igneous rocks (the
Vega and Vieja formations). This obducted, allochtho-
nous sheet carried, piggyback, the arc volcanics and
volcanoclastic basins. The continental margin deep-
Overview / 37
water carbonates and cherts also became involved
in the slide and were pushed in thrust sheets in front
of the advancing oceanic crustal sheet. Away from
its front edge, the warm slab of sliding oceanic crust
caused reverse metamorphism (Maastrichtian –early
Eocene) in the Trinidad and Isla de la Juventud mas-
sifs and Pinar del Rio’s Cangre belt. The granodio-
rite associated with the arc volcanism was intruded
during the Late Cretaceous and, thus, preceded the
metamorphism.
The Cuba subduction was part of the Caribbean
oceanic crust subduction extending from the Yucatan
to the Saba Bank. A continuous series of oceanic crust-
al blocks became detached and began sliding north-
ward from late Maastrichtian near Yucatan to early
Eocene toward Hispaniola. To the west, the sliding was
over the oceanic crust of the Yucatan oceanic basin
(Pinar del Rio). In central Cuba, the sheet of oceanic
crust slid (was obducted) onto the southward-projecting
Florida-Bahamas continental margin. Exposed farther
to the east, in Hispaniola and Puerto Rico, is the Carib-
bean oceanic crust subducted under the Atlantic oce-
anic crust (Haiti southern peninsula, Muertos Trench),
where it is possible that the Caribbean oceanic crust
38 / Pardo
FIGURE 44. 162 Ma: Callovian. A = Africa; FL = Florida; NA = North America; SA = South America.
was also obducted by sliding over the Atlantic oceanic
crust.
Obduction appears to accompany subduction only
in cases of subduction of oceanic crust under oceanic
crust and, as in Cuba, northern Venezuela, and the
Alpine ranges, on thinned continental margins adja-
cent to spreading the Caribbean- and Mediterranean-
type oceans. In Cuba, the obducted sea floor is the sea
floor that was originally on the upside of the sub-
duction; therefore, the obduction moved in the same
direction as the dip of the subduction. In other words,
the evidence from Cuba indicates that the continen-
tal plate was not subducted under the oceanic plate. It
is very possible that this Cuban obduction process
may be the most common form of obduction.
CUBA’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY
OF THE CARIBBEAN
North America began separating from Africa dur-
ing the Triassic, approximately 200 Ma, and paleo-
geographic reconstructions prior to 150 Ma are un-
certain. Pindell and Barrett (1990) present what may
be the tightest fit, but at the expense of moving parts
of Mexico out of the way through the Mojave-Sonora
megashear and rotating and sliding crustal blocks such
as the Yucatan and southern Florida.
Salvador and Green (1980) give an interesting re-
construction of the early stages of separation in the
Late Triassic (200 Ma). They postulate that the Yu-
catan block was farther north in the Gulf of Mexico,
but otherwise, Florida, the Bahamas, and Cuba were as
they are today, except that the entire area was much
closer to South America. This reconstruction has the
advantages of being simple and based on regional ge-
ology and is adopted, in part, here. Also assumed here
is that since the Triassic period, the South American
continent has included the Cordillera Central and the
Santa Marta massif in Colombia, and that the Bocono
fault in Venezuela has been of minor importance.
Many problems concerning the history of the Ca-
ribbean exist that the geology of Cuba cannot re-
solve. An example is accounting for the postulated
1100 km (683 mi) of left-lateral displacement of the
Cayman rift and the introduction of the Nicaragua-
Jamaica rise since the upper Eocene, although the rel-
ative positions of North and South America remained

FIGURE 45. 144 Ma: early Tithonian. A = Africa; FL = Florida; NA = North America; SA = South America.
essentially unchanged during that time. It is almost
impossible to locate a right-lateral displacement of the
same magnitude (even with multiple smaller faults)
along the north coast of Venezuela. Another example
is whether the circum-Caribbean orogenies origi-
nated with a Great Arc (Pindell and Barrett, 1990),
spreading from the Pacific Ocean, or whether there
were multiple arcs. A third example is the polarity of
the subduction.
James (2006) proposed an in-situ origin based on
similarities to areas such as the Scotia Sea and Banda
arc. The gross morphological similarities between the
Caribbean and the Scotia Sea are obvious. Both ap-
pear to be eastward oceanic incursions between two
continental masses: North and South America, and
South America and Antarctica. Both are limited to the
east by an active volcanic arc resulting from westward-
dipping oceanic – oceanic subduction, and in both
cases, the western margins of the westward-drifting
continents are bounded by eastward-dipping conti-
nental and oceanic subduction. In both cases, it ap-
pears as if the oceanic floor is moving eastward in
relation to the continents.
Overview / 39
Some important differences exist. The Scotia Sea
shows a definite oceanic basement, with a presently ac-
tive east-northeast-spreading axis, interrupted by sev-
eral west-southwest transverse faults (Figures 37–39).
This oceanic basement seems to be continuous with
the Pacific, although separated by the Shackleton frac-
ture zone. Each spreading strip between transforms
seems to end in subduction, either under the South
American or the Antarctic continent. The oceanic
crust is being generated in situ and does not come
from the Pacific.
The major Caribbean basins (Yucatan, Colombian,
and Venezuelan), however, do not have presently
spreading oceanic crust; only one short, active, north–
south-spreading axis exists in the center of the Cay-
man trough (Figures 40–43). These basins are not
considered typically oceanic, and only weak magnetic
anomalies indicate a spreading center in the Vene-
zuelan Basin, which has remained inactive for the last
127 m.y. (since the Hauterivian). This is puzzling be-
cause the distance between North and South America
increased continuously from the Triassic until the
Campanian (80 Ma). In addition, in the Caribbean,
40 / Pardo
FIGURE 46. 132 Ma: Valanginian. A = Africa; FL = Florida; NA = North America; SA = South America.
undisturbed Upper Cretaceous (Turonian) and youn-
ger pelagic sediments overlie older volcanics (such
as basalts, dolerites, and tuffs).
The South American continent south of the Cerros
de la Ventana (correlated to the Africa’s Cape Moun-
tains) is covered by a large expanse of Jurassic volcanics
(Serie Tobifera), which forms the basement. Protrud-
ing out of this basement are the Paleozoic Falkland
(Maldives) Islands. Precambrian rocks have been cored
on the Falkland plateau. The Tierra del Fuego Andes
and the Antarctica Peninsula have a Paleozoic core.
The Scotia Sea appears, therefore, to have opened
across a Paleozoic to Precambrian continental mass
(Dalziel, 1974).
Unlike the Scotia Sea, very confusing evidence of
what happened at the end of the Paleozoic in the Ca-
ribbean area exists. The Ouachitas do not appear to be
a simple continuation of the Appalachians. Drilling
south of the Ouachitas shows thick, slightly meta-
morphosed(?), and relatively undisturbed Cambrian–
Ordovician Ellenburger carbonates. No known volca-
nic or igneous equivalent exists, unless it runs under
the Gulf of Mexico or farther south. The Andes of to-
day resulted from the superposition of orogenic defor-
mation that started in the Paleozoic. The Cambrian
of Colombia is characterized by Atlantic province
trilobites and not Pacific. How the Appalachian oro-
genic belt (or the Hercynian Atlas) connected with Co-
lombia is unknown, but it must have gone through
the Caribbean region prior to the opening of the Ca-
ribbean. Fragmental outcrops of Precambrian to upper
Paleozoic rocks are present in Mexico, from the Cabo
de las Corrientes through Oaxaca, in the Maya Moun-
tains, and in north-central Nicaragua (Dengo, 1975).
In central Florida, drilling has penetrated Paleozoic
granites and metamorphic rocks below a Triassic to
Lower Jurassic volcanic complex. Allochthonous base-
ment blocks in Cuba range in age from Precambrian to
at least Late Jurassic. The evidence suggests that the
early Caribbean basement also consisted of meta-
morphics and plutons reflecting the Appalachian or
Hercynian orogeny.
Perhaps the Scotia Sea is an analog of the early stage
of the opening of the Caribbean. That would suggest
that the Caribbean oceanic crust formed in situ and
was not of Pacific origin. Assuming that this is true,

FIGURE 47. 110 Ma: Aptian. A = Africa; FL = Florida; NA = North America; SA = South America.
both the Scotia Sea and the Caribbean would have
similar relations between spreading axis and ocean-
under-continent subduction on one side and ocean-
under-ocean on the other. The Caribbean continental
basement blocks, named here Chortis, Acapulco, Maya,
La Rana, and South Florida, were surely part of Gond-
wana and were fragmented by the opening of the
North Atlantic when North America started rifting
from Gondwana.
Figures 44 – 52 show the stages of Cuban evolution
described above relative to a possible plate-tectonic
reconstruction of the Caribbean. The continental po-
sitions in these reconstructions are based on the re-
constructions of the ODSN. The position of the Ca-
ribbean is shown in relation to Africa. Cuba is placed
in its present position relative to Florida, although dif-
ferent parts of the island come from different places.
The reconstruction shown by Figures 44–52 can ex-
plain several observations, but cannot be proven by
present evidence.
Callovian
The Callovian is an early stage of the opening of
the Caribbean (162 Ma; see Figure 44). Spreading oc-
Overview / 41
curred through Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, with
fragmentation of the Paleozoic basement and south-
ward motion of the resulting Chortis, Acapulco, Maya,
La Rana, and South Florida blocks. The Louann and
Cunagua Salt, as well as the Maraval evaporite ba-
sins, formed. This was the time of major continental-
derived clastic sedimentation in the opening Carib-
bean, with the deposition of the Todos los Santos and
the San Cayetano (and equivalent schists and quartz-
ites of the Isle of Pines and Escambray massifs). The
east-dipping Andes subduction zone is assumed to
have separated the Americas from the Pacific Ocean.
Cuba could have been located over one of the nu-
merous transforms offsetting the spreading axis. Such
transforms might have become later transcurrent
faults, thus explaining the so-called ‘‘crustal discon-
tinuity’’ running parallel to and north of the axis of
the island.
Early Tithonian
The opening between North and South America
continued with a strong left-lateral component, but
the spreading axis jumps south of the Paleozoic blocks
(144 Ma; see Figure 45). From then on, the southern
42 / Pardo
FIGURE 48. 94 Ma: Cenomanian. A = Africa; FL = Florida; NA = North America; SA = South America.
margin of the North American continent and north-
ern Cuba became fixed relative to each other, and the
entire north coast of Cuba, from Matanzas to Oriente,
became part of the North American plate. Shallow-
water conditions covered much of Cuba, the Bahamas,
Florida, La Rana, and Maya, and the deposition of the
Florida-Bahamas-Yucatan banks began. Some of the
Cayo Coco and Maraval evaporites were still being
deposited. This was the time of the formation and deep-
ening of the early Caribbean. The Maya Mountains-
Sarasota arch, the remnant of a late Paleozoic moun-
tain range, was an effective dam holding back the
sediments derived from North America. The major
marine opening was toward the Atlantic, resulting in
a strong influx of Tethys faunas.
Valanginian
The lower Cabaiguan* section indicates that the
Caribbean continued to expand with the generation
of new crust (132 Ma; see Figure 46). The rest of
Cuba showed a marked increase in water depth with
accumulation of calcareous nannoplankton. In south-
ern Belize, the ‘‘Aptychus’’ limestone accumulated
in a facies identical with that of Cuba’s Capitolio*.
The La Rana block appears to have remained positive
with deposition of bank limestone of the Vinas*
Group.
Aptian
South America began to separate from Africa, and the
Caribbean continued to open (110 Ma; see Figure 47).
The Maya Mountains-Sarasota arch continued to pre-
vent the Gulf of Mexico clastics from reaching the
Caribbean. The shallow-water Cogollo-Chimana reef
limestones of Venezuela accumulated in a facies sim-
ilar to that of the Coban, Marquesas, and Cayo Coco
to the north. Strong submarine (oceanic) volcanism
continued as indicated by the pillow basalts of the
lower Cabaiguan sequence and by the Curaçao lava as
well as the pre-Horizon B volcanics of the Venezuelan
and Colombian basins.
Albian–Cenomanian–Turonian
Oceanic spreading was mostly in the North and
South Atlantic (94 Ma; see Figure 48). The motion in

FIGURE 49. 80 Ma: Santonian. A = Africa; FL = Florida; NA = North America; SA = South America.
the Caribbean was mostly transcurrent, with in-
creasing separation between North and South Amer-
ica. In Cuba, this is reflected by a marked decrease in
volcanic material at the base of the Cabaiguan* se-
quence. The Cenomanian – Turonian was character-
ized by decreasing volcanic flows in the Gomez*
Formation (Cabaiguan* sequence), which were, how-
ever, still in proximity to basic submarine volca-
nism. The Gomez*, characterized by black shale and
thin nodular black limestone beds, is reminiscent
of the La Luna and Querecual in Venezuela and the
Eagle Ford in the Gulf states. It correlates, in part, with
the extensive Santa Teresa cherts and clays that are
similar to the San Antonio in Venezuela and the
Mowry in the Rocky Mountains. A major regional if
not worldwide marine transgression was accompa-
nied by extensive submarine volcanic activity. Per-
haps the silica was contributed by volcanism along
the mid-Atlantic rift.
Coniacian–Santonian–Campanian
The transcurrent motion between Cuba and South
America decreased from the Albian to the Maastrich-
Overview / 43
tian, whereas the separation between North and South
America increased (80 Ma; see Figure 49). During the
Coniacian, a new spreading axis formed (perhaps co-
inciding with today’s Cayman trough and under the
Curaçao Ridge), and subduction intensified along
the boundaries facing North and South America. The
subduction generated a new arclike, more acidic, vol-
canic sequence (Pastora* Group in Cuba, and Knip-
Villa de Cura in Venezuela). Pindell et al. (2006) consid-
ers that this volcanic sequence indicates the insertion
of a Pacific oceanic plate (the present Caribbean) be-
tween both continents. It could as well have been
generated in situ, which would agree better with the
geology of Cuba.
Maastrichtian
The Maastrichtian saw the initiation of the north-
ward gravity slide of the basic igneous-volcanic ter-
ranes in western Cuba and the clockwise rotation
of the Villa de Cura (Tiara volcanics) in Venezuela
(67 Ma; see Figure 50). Volcanism ceased in western
Cuba and greatly diminished in central Cuba. It per-
sisted during the middle and lower Eocene in eastern
44 / Pardo
FIGURE 50. 67 Ma: Maastrichtian. A = Africa; FL = Florida; NA = North America; SA = South America.
Cuba, Hispaniola, and Puerto Rico. The lack of meta-
morphism of the Cuban basic igneous-volcanic ter-
ranes was caused by their detachment from their
roots and their continuous slide away from the ac-
tive subduction area and toward the Florida-Bahamas
Banks.
Paleocene–Middle Eocene
Around the Caribbean, including Cuba, compres-
sion, gravity sliding, and other orogenic activity cul-
minated in the early to middle Eocene (50 Ma; see
Figure 51). In Cuba, the Vega*, Rosas*, and Vieja oro-
genic sediments accumulated at the same time as the
Venezuelan Guarico Formation, Matatere flysch, and
the Barquisimeto olistostrome. The synchroneity and
symmetry of deformation resulted from the two bound-
ing subduction zones that responded to similar spread-
ing and faced opposing continents and oceans. The
Lesser Antillean arc became active, and Puerto Rico
trench formed as a consequence of ocean-ocean sub-
duction. The Barbados deep-water fan, derived from
the Guyana shield, was deposited and began to be over-
ridden by the Lesser Antilles accretionary wedge. The
Curaçao Ridge became detached and slid northward
into the Venezuelan basin.
Early Late Eocene
The northern and southern parts of the Caribbe-
an began to look as they do today, and the circum-
Caribbean orogeny ended (see Figure 52; 40 Ma).
The Caribbean became isolated from the Pacific by
the north-dipping ocean – ocean Central American
subduction zone and from the Atlantic by the west-
dipping ocean – ocean subduction of the Lesser An-
tilles arc. The Chortis block moved to its present
position in Central America, and the Cayman Trench
pull-apart rift began. All significant tectonic activity
in Cuba ended.
CONCLUSIONS
Cuba rests on the site of oceanic crust that formed
as North America first began to separate from the
rest of Pangea in the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic. It
shows the most complete assemblage of intrusive,

FIGURE 51. 50 Ma: lower Eocene. A = Africa; FL = Florida; NA = North America; SA = South America.
volcanic, and sedimentary rocks in the Caribbean
region.
During and after the separation of South America
from Pangea in the Early Cretaceous, spreading con-
tinued in the Caribbean as well as the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans. Oceanic plates were subducting under
North and South America. As a result of the Caribbean
rifting, a pair of opposing orogenic belts developed.
Along strike, the northern subduction changed from
oceanic crust under continental crust (with obduc-
tion) in Cuba to oceanic under oceanic in Hispaniola
and Puerto Rico. Figure 53 shows, diagrammatically
(transforms have been omitted), the possible connec-
tion between Cuba and other Greater Antilles defor-
mation. On the south side of the Caribbean, continen-
tal and oceanic subduction (with obduction) occurred
in Venezuela, and oceanic – oceanic subduction oc-
curred in Panama (the Panama segment may have
Overview / 45
reversed polarity during the Tertiary). Both subduc-
tion zones operated simultaneously, and analogous
to the present-day Scotia Sea, there must have been a
spreading axis between them. Later processes, such
as those that formed the Cayman trough, probably
obscured the location of the spreading axis.
It is particularly interesting that the entire oro-
genic activity shown by the rocks of Cuba (with the
exception of some subaerial volcanism) appears to
have occurred below sea level. The introduction of the
Chortis block, as well as the relationship with older
Hercynian and Appalachian deformed belts, remains
poorly understood. The end of significant tectonic
activity in Cuba in the late Eocene means that the
island’s geology gives no indication about the nature
of the Cayman trough’s left-lateral motion nor about
the apparent right-lateral transcurrent motion in
northern South America.
46 / Pardo
FIGURE 52. 40 m.y.: base upper Eocene. A = Africa; FL = Florida; NA = North America; SA = South America.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Gulf Oil Corporation, which was very active in
Cuba in the late 1940s and 1950s, was acquired by
Chevron in 1984. Gulf donated, with Chevron’s au-
thorization, all its Cuban files and material avail-
able in the United States to the Institute of Geo-
physics, University of Texas, Austin. These data are
now in the public domain and are available at the
University of Texas. It must be mentioned that Gulf’s
original reports (like those of other foreign compa-
nies), were nationalized in 1959 by the revolution-
ary government. Unless lost, the reports are suppos-
edly available to the public at the Fondo Geologico,
La Habana.
Much of Gulf’s information was based on a field
mapping campaign conducted under my direction
from 1952 to 1955. Paul B. Truitt and Harry Wassall
were responsible for most of the fieldwork and gen-
eral stratigraphic and structural studies. Much credit
is also due to P. Brönnimann, who was in charge of
the stratigraphic laboratory in La Habana, and was
assisted by N. K. Brown in paleontology and K. K.
Dickson in petrography. Brönnimann discovered the
abundant presence, in Cuban strata, of Alpine nanno-
plankton, leading to the unraveling of much of Cuban
stratigraphy (Brönnimann, 1955a, b). M. T. Kozary, at
the time a graduate student at Columbia University,
was closely associated with the project.
In 1990, Harry Wassall, then at Petroconsultants,
requested that I write a report on the Geology and Oil
Prospects of Cuba. This report, issued in 1993, was, in
large part, based on the writer’s own experience, the
Gulf reports at the University of Texas, and the ex-
tensive literature available at the University of Texas.
Wassall and G. Winston, Geological Consultant, pro-
vided much assistance and information. After Was-
sall’s death, IHS Energy Group, which had acquired
Petroconsultants, relinquished all rights to this mate-
rial. This publication is a much revised version of the
Petroconsultants report.
I also thank Amos Salvador and E. Rosencrantz of the
University of Texas for making the data at the Insti-
tute of Geophysics easily available, giving valuable

FIGURE 53. Obduction over Cuba and Hispaniola.
suggestions, and participating in important discus-
sions. The author is grateful to M. Iturralde-Vinent of
Havana’s Museo Nacional de Historia Natural for pro-
viding much assistance and recent information. I am
also greatly indebted to T. Anderson for many sug-
gestions concerning the interpretation of the data and
Overview / 47
editing parts of the manuscript. Lastly, I am terribly
grateful to Andrzej Pszczólkowski from the Polish Acad-
emy of Sciences and author of many recent studies of
Cuban geology, who reviewed the manuscript and
made many suggestions for improvements, as well as
providing up-to-date information.
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Catalog of Stratigraphic Units
CUBAN GULF VERSUS 1988 CUBAN GEOLOGIC
MAP (PUSHCHAROVSKY ET AL., 1988)
TERMINOLOGY
1988 Cuban geologic map (Pushcharovsky et al.,
1988) terminology is underlined; areas are in italics.
Incl. = included.
YAGUAJAY BELT = REMEDIOS ZONE
Las Villas
Viñas Group = Remedios Group
Guani Formation = not recognized
Bartolomé Formation = not recognized
Puntilla Formation = not recognized
Palenque Formation = not recognized
Camaco Formation = Incl. in Remedios Group
Palone Formation = Incl. in Remedios Group
Mayajigua Formation = Incl. in Remedios Group
Remedios Formation = Incl. in Remedios Group
Grande Formation = Incl. in Remedios Group
Sagua Formation = Grande Formation (in part)
San Martin Formation = Caibarien Formation (in
part?)
Vega Formation = not recognized
Lower Vega Member = not recognized
Upper Vega Member-Rosas = not recognized
Caibarien Formation = Caibarien Formation (in
part)
YAGUAJAY BELT = REMEDIOS ZONE
Camaguey (Sierra de Cubitas)
Viñas Group = Remedios Group
Sagua Formation = Embarcadero Formation (in part)
San Martin Formation = Embarcadero Formation
(in part)
Vega Formation
Lower Vega Member = not recognized
Upper Vega Member-Rosas = Senado Formation
Caibarien Formation = Lesca Formation
COASTAL REGION = CAYO COCO?
Punta Alegre Formation = Punta Alegre Formation
Cayo Coco Formation = ?
Guillermo Formation = Incl. in Guaney Formation
Romano Formation = Incl. in Guaney Formation
61
Contrabando Formation = Incl. in Guaney Formation
Mayajigua Formation = not recognized
Jaula Formation = Venero Formation (in part)
Turiguanó = Venero Formation (in part)
SAGUA LA CHICA BELT = INCL. IN CAMA-
JUANI ZONE
Sagua Formation = Vega Formation-Breccia Sagua
(in part)
JATIBONICO BELT = INCL. IN REMEDIOS
ZONE
Guani Formation = Incl. in Remedios Group
Mabuya Formation = Incl. in Remedios Group
Florencia Formation = Incl. in Remedios Group
Mayajigua Formation = Incl. in Remedios Group
Sagua Formation = Embarcadero Formation (in part)
San Martin Formation = Embarcadero Formation
(in part)
LAS VILLAS BELT = CAMAJUANI ZONE
La Trocha Group = La Trocha Formation
Hollo Colorado Formation = Incl. in La Trocha
Formation
Jaguita Formation = Incl. in La Trocha Formation
Caguaguas Formation = Incl. in La Trocha
Formation
Penton Group
Capitolio Formation = Margarita Formation,
Paraiso Formation (in part)
Remblazo Formation = Paraiso Formation (in part)
Sabanilla Formation = not recognized (incl. in
Margarita? and Paraiso ?)
Malpaez Group
Calabazar Formation = Incl. in Mata Formation
Mata Formation = Incl. in Mata Formation
Lutgarda Formation = Lutgarda Formation
Sagua Formation = Incl. in Vega Formation-Breccia
Sagua
Camajuani Formation = Incl. in Vega Formation-
Breccia Sagua
San Martin Formation = Incl. in Vega Formation-
Breccia Sagua
Vega Formation = Incl. in Vega Formation-Breccia
Sagua
62 / Catalog of Stratigraphic Units
Lower Vega Member = Incl. in Vega Formation-
Breccia Sagua
Upper Vega Member-Rosas = Incl. in Vega
Formation-Breccia Sagua
PLACETAS BELT = PLACETAS BELT (in part)
Ronda Formation = Veloz Formation
Constancia Formation = Constancia Formation
(in part)
Carmita Formation = Carmita Formation
Encrucijada Member = not recognized
Bermejal Member = not recognized
Corona Formation = Amaro Formation
CIFUENTES BELT = PLACETAS BELT (in part)
Jobosi Formation = Constancia Formation (in part)
Ronda Formation = Veloz Formation
Constancia Formation = Constancia Formation
(in part)
Carmita Formation = Carmita Formation
Encrucijada Member = not recognized
Santa Teresa Formation = Santa Teresa Formation
Amaro (incl. Macagua) Formation = Incl. in Amaro
Formation
Rodrigo Formation = Incl. in Amaro Formation
DOMINGO SEQUENCE = ZAZA ZONE (in part)
Venega Formation = not recognized (mapped as
igneous)
Andrés Formation = not recognized (mapped as
igneous)
Cumbre Formation = Zurrapandilla Formation (in
part)
Miguel Formation = Incl. in Vega Alta Formation
Note: The 1988 geologic map shows an extensive
development of the Vega Alta Formation of middle–
lower Eocene described as an olistostrome. Gulf con-
sidered it a tectonic mixture of Cifuentes, Domingo,
and Cabaiguan (including Miguel, ophicalcite, and
rubble zones) belts; not a true sediment.
CABAIGUAN SEQUENCE = ZAZA ZONE (in
part)
North Seibabó syncline
‘‘Old Volcanics’’ = Mataguá Formation (in part),
Los Pasos Formation
Obregon Formation = Incl. in Mataguá Formation
Barro Formation = Incl. in Mataguá Formation
Huevero Formation = not recognized
Gomez Formation = Gomez Member of the Pro-
vincial Formation
Bruja Formation = Bruja Formation (in part)
Felipe Formation = Felipe Formation of the Tassajera
Group
Cotorro Formation = Cotorro Formation of the
Tassajera Group
Curamaguey Formation = Incl. in Tassajera Group
Yaya Formation = Incl. in Tassajera Group
Algarrobos Formation = Incl. in Tassajera Group
Bernia Formation = Santa Clara Formation (in part)
South Seibabó syncline
‘‘Old Volcanics’’ = Mataguá Formation (in part),
Los Pasos Formation
Relampago Formation = Incl. in Mataguá Formation
Mataguá Formation = Incl. in Mataguá Formation
Cristobal Formation = Incl. in Provincial Formation
Casanova Formation = Incl. in Provincial Formation
Seibabó Formation = Seibabó Formation
Pastora Group = Bruja Formation
Bruja Formation = Incl. in Bruja Formation
Pastora Formation = Incl. in Bruja Formation
Agabama Formation = Incl. in Bruja Formation
Escambray Formation = Incl. in Bruja Formation
Salvador Formation = Incl. in Tassajera Group
Palmarito Member = Palmarito Formation of
the Tassajera Group
Maguey Member = Maguey Formation of the
Tassajera Group
Cotorro Formation = not recognized
Hilario Formation = Hilario Formation of the
Tassajera Group
Tamarindo-Camajuani area
‘‘Old Volcanics’’ = Zurrapandilla Formation (in
part)
Gomez Formation = not recognized
Cotorro Formation = not recognized
Hilario Formation = not recognized
Carlota Formation = Incl. in Carlota Formation
Flow Breccia Member = not recognized
Porphyry Member = not recognized
Rana Member = not recognized
Turino Formation = Incl. in Carlota Formation
Jiquimas Formation = Incl. in Carlota Formation
Taguasco Formation
Fomento-Taguasco area (Taguasco vicinity)
‘‘Old Volcanics’’ = Incl. in Mataguá Formation
Viajaca Formation = not recognized
Potrerillos Formation = not recognized
Satasa Formation = not recognized
Undifferentiated tectonized Cretaceous Volcanics
Taguasco Formation = Taguasco Formation

Lucia Formation = Incl. in Bijabo Formation
Bijabo Formation = Incl. in Bijabo Formation
Siguaney Formation = Incl. in Siguaney Forma-
tion (Loma Iguara)
Rubio Formation = Incl. in Siguaney Formation
Fomento-Taguasco area (Fomento vicinity)
‘‘Old Volcanics’’ = Incl. in Mataguá Formation
Jucillo Formation (Upper Cretaceous) = Jucillo
Formation (lower Eocene)
Isabel Formation = Incl. in Perseverancia Formation
Fomento Formation = Incl. in Bijabo Formation
Santo Domingo-Santa Clara area
‘‘Old Volcanics’’ = Incl. in Mataguá Formation
Corojo Formation = Incl. in Mataguá Formation?
Hatillo Formation = Incl. in Mataguá Formation
Pardo / 63
Diego Formation = Albian –Cenomanian(?)
Bruja Formation = not recognized
Bayate (Bruja) Formation = not recognized
Felipe Formation = Incl. in Tassajera Group
Lower Member = Incl. in Tassajera Group
Middle Member (Roble) = Incl. in Tassajera
Group
Upper Member = Incl. in Tassajera Group
Cotorro Formation = not recognized
Belico Formation = not recognized
Bernia (Santa Clara?) Formation = Santa Clara
Formation?
Santa Clara Formation = Santa Clara Formation
Lower – Middle Eocene Units = Ochoa Formation
Vega Formation = Incl. in Ochoa Formation
Vicente Formation = Incl. in Ochoa Formation
Falcon Formation = Incl. in Ochoa Formation
Formation Index

Capitolio* –Gulf Name Ancón Formation, 153 – 165, 171

‘‘Cunagua Salt’’ –Informal Name Andrés* Formation, 62, 150, 199
Viñales –Published Name Apolo, 233
Apolo Formation, 233
‘‘Asiento Viejo Marbles’’, 186 Arroyo Cangre Formation, 180
‘‘Casa-escuela Conglomerate’’, 242 Artemisa (La Trocha* Group) Formation, 117, 336
‘‘Colombo Marbles’’, 187 Artemisa Formation, 18, 19, 26, 123, 150, 151, 157,
‘‘Cunagua salt’’, 25, 41, 91, 92, 103 164, 174
‘‘Daguilla amphibolite’’, 187 Bacunayagua Formation, 32
‘‘Ferrer Group’’, 285 Bacuranao Member, 242
‘‘Isla de la Juventud marbles’’, 26 Bahia conglomerate, 242
‘‘Jibacoa olistostrome’’, 242 Barraderas Member, 256
‘‘Jojo sequence’’, 265, 266 Barrancas Formation, 261, 262
‘‘La Reforma calci-siliceous rock’’, 187 Barro* Formation, 62, 206, 213
‘‘Las Casas marble’’, 187 Bartolomé* Formation, 61, 95, 96, 108, 111, 119,
‘‘Loma Quivican sequence’’, 265 145
‘‘Los Mangos flysch’’, 242, 243 Basement, 15, 17, 19, 26, 40, 41, 133, 150, 183
‘‘Mal Nombre sequence’’, 265, 266 Bayamo Formation, 287, 289
‘‘Manacal*’’, 284 Bayate* Formation, 63, 219
‘‘Mango*’’, 284 Belico* Formation, 63, 209, 221, 227
‘‘Marly Micritic Limestone’’ Member, 171 Bermejal* Member, 62, 129
‘‘Old Volcanics’’*, 26, 62, 63, 217 Bernia *Formation, 63, 209
‘‘Perdomo*’’, 284 Bernia* Formation, 63, 209
‘‘Playa Bibijagua marble’’, 186, 187 Bijabo* Formation, 32, 63, 218, 219
‘‘Pre-Camufiro beds’’, 222 Bitirı́ Formation, 288
‘‘Purial complex’’, 263, 265, 268 Blanco* Formation, 284, 285
‘‘Rio Baracoa sequence’’, 263, 266 Boquerón Formation, 189
‘‘Rio Piedras conglomerate’’, 242 Boquerones Formation, 189
‘‘Seibabo upper units’’, 209 Bruja Oriental Formation, 259
‘‘sheeted dikes’’, 26 Bruja* Formation, 62, 63, 207, 212, 219
‘‘Sierra Chiquita marble’’, 187 Bucuey (Santo Domingo, Teneme) Formation, 256
‘‘Sierra de Caballos marbles’’, 187 Buenavista Group, 152, 157, 165, 166, 181
‘‘Urria beds’’, 245 Cabacú Formation, 291
‘‘Via Mulata sequence’’, 263, 265 Cabaiguan* belt intrusives, 139
‘‘Via Túnel conglomerate’’, 242 Cabo Cruz Formation, 288
Agabama* Formation, 62, 212 Cacarajı́cara Formation, 15, 30, 124, 145, 147, 152,
Agua Santa Formation, 26, 185 154, 157, 238, 243
Algarrobo crystalline schists, 191 Caguaguas* Formation, 16, 61, 114, 119, 120, 138,
Algarrobos* Formation, 62, 209, 227 139, 151
Alkazar, 32 Caibarien* Formation, 61, 96, 99, 106
Alkazar Formation, 32, 233 Calabazar* Formation, 16, 28, 61, 105, 113, 114, 119–
Amaro* Formation, 15, 30, 62, 123, 124, 132, 135 121, 123, 124, 138
Ana* Formation, 139, 182, 233 Camaco* Formation, 61, 95, 112, 145
Ancon Formation, 153 – 165, 171 Camajuani* Formation, 61, 121, 123

65
66 / Pardo
Camarones Formation, 289
Camazán Formation, 288, 289
Camufiro Formation, 222
Cañada Formation, 185
Cañas Formation, 265
Caney Member, 262
Cangrejeras Formation, 283, 284
Cantabria Formation, 208, 213
Capdevila Formation, 32, 233, 235, 236, 237
Capiro Formation, 291
Capitolio Formation, 16, 26, 61, 114, 119, 120, 139,
151, 152, 174
Carlota* Formation, 62, 214, 215, 227
Carmita Formation, 135, 141, 152, 165
Carmita* Formation, 16, 28, 62, 123, 129, 131, 132,
137, 139, 152
Casablanca Group, 27, 28, 101, 105, 106, 111, 112,
120
Casanova* Formation, 62, 211, 219
Castillo de los Indios Formation, 101
Cayo Coco* Formation, 25, 61, 92, 103, 104, 107,
108, 111, 114, 118, 119, 160
Cepeda* Formation, 285
Chafarina Formation, 194, 195
Chambas* Formation, 106
Charcas*Formation, 286
Charco Azul Formation, 191
Charco Redondo Formation, 253, 254, 258
Chirino Formation, 232, 240
Cilindro Formation, 290
Coabilla Formation, 224, 225
Cobre Formation, 23
Cobrito Formation, 26, 189, 191, 193
Cojimar Formation, 280, 283, 284
Collantes Formation, 26, 191
Constancia* Formation, 17, 19, 62, 124, 128, 129,
131, 132, 134, 161, 183
Contrabando* Formation, 61, 105
Corea Formation, 255
Corojo* Formation, 63, 219
Corona*, 62, 123, 129, 130, 132, 133, 136, 202, 203
Corona* Formation, 62, 123, 129, 130, 132, 133,
136, 202, 203
Cotorro* Formation, 62, 63, 208, 212, 213
Cristobal* Formation, 28, 62, 210
Cuabitas Formation, 261
Cumbre Formation, 62, 204, 219, 251
Cumbre* Formation(?), 62, 251
Curamaguey* Formation, 62, 209
Diego* Formation, 63, 211, 212
dikes, 27
Durán Formation, 224, 225, 227
El Americano Member, 170
El Jobal Formation, 101
El Sabalo Formation, 18, 150, 164, 181
El Sabalo Formation(?), 18, 150, 160
El Tambor Formation, 191, 193
Embarcadero (Embarcadero Oriental) Formation,
101
Embarcadero Formation, 61, 99, 112, 253
Encanto Formation, 282
Encrucijada Formation, 232
Encrucijada* Member, 62, 129, 131, 132
Escambray* Formation, 62, 212
Falcon* Formation, 63, 221
Farallon Grande Formation, 262
Felicidad greenschists, 192
Felipe* Formation, 62, 208, 213, 219, 227
Ferrer* Formation, 62, 63
Florencia* Formation, 61, 113, 114, 122
Florida Formation, 124
flow breccia member, 62, 215
Fomento* Formation, 63, 217, 219
Francisco Formation, 123, 139, 164, 170, 181
gabbro, 20, 27, 138, 158, 179, 200, 201
gabbros, 125, 160, 175, 200, 205
gabbros G&BW*, 204, 205
Gibara Formation, 100
Gomez* Formation, 22, 43, 62, 132, 207, 213, 219,
225, 227
Gran Tierra Formation, 257, 258
Grande* Formation, 61, 96
granitoids, 164, 175, 200
Guajaibón Formation, 143, 145
Guanajay Formation, 281 – 283
Guani* Formation, 61, 95, 102, 114, 118, 119
Guasasa Formation, 18, 19, 126, 150, 161, 173
Guasasa Formation(?)– Pinar-1 deep-water carbon-
ate, 173
Guasasa Formation(?) – Pinar-1 shallow-water car-
bonate, 173
Guayos* Formation, 218
Guillermo* Formation, 61, 96, 104, 105
Guines Formation, 246
Güines Formation, 107
Güira de Jauco Formation, 195
Haticos Formation, 252, 253, 257
Hatillo* Formation, 63, 219
Herradura Formation, 189
Hilario* Formation, 62, 208, 213, 227
Hongolosongo Formation, 261
Hoyo Colorado* Formation, 117, 119, 139
Huevero* Formation, 23, 62, 132, 206, 207, 213,
219, 225
 Formation Index / 67

Husillo Formation, 282, 283, 284 Macagua* Formation, 62, 132

Iberia Formation, 251 – 254, 256 Madruga, 233
Infierno Member, 170, 181 Madruga Formation, 233
intermediate igneous, 199, 201, 204, 205 Maguey* Member, 62, 212
Isabel* Formation, 63, 218, 227 Malpaez* Group, 61, 120, 121, 171
Jabaco Formation, 281, 282 Manacas Formation, 31, 32, 102, 125, 138, 141, 146,
Jagua Formation, 150, 151, 164, 168, 174, 179 157
Jagua Vieja Member, 174 Manacas Formation, 31, 32, 102, 125, 138, 141, 146,
Jagüeyes Formation, 288 161, 183
Jaguita* Formation, 61, 114, 117, 118 –120, 132, Manzanillo Formation, 263
138 –140 Maquey Formation, 208
Jaruco Formation, 283 Maraguan Formation, 224
Jatibonico* Formation, 286 Marti Formation, 223
Jaula* Formation, 61, 106 Martin Mesa Group, 156, 157
Jia Formation, 284 Mata* Formation, 28, 62, 120, 123, 129, 171
Jicotea Formation, 284 Mataguá* Formation, 27, 62, 63, 204, 206, 219
Jimaguayu Formation, 224 Mayajigua* Formation, 30, 61, 95, 96, 101, 102, 105,
Jiquimas* Formation, 62, 215, 224, 227 106, 111, 112, 114, 115, 121
Jobosi* Formation, 62, 128, 129, 134, 138, 200, 205 Mayari Formation, 26, 192
Júcaro Formation, 288 Mercedes, 233
Jucillo* Formation, 63, 218 Mercedes Formation, 233
La Chispa Formation, 192 metamorphic exotics, 37, 203
La Cruz Formation, 291 Mı́cara Member, 257
La Esperanza Formation (Santa Lucı́a Formation), Miguel* Formation, 17, 30, 62, 130, 135, 202
27, 151, 160 Miranda Formation, 101
La Farola Formation, 256, 257 Moncada Formation, 171, 175
La Guira Member, 171 Monte Alto Formation, 287
La Jiquima Member, 252, 254 Moreno Formation, 152, 153, 165
La Legua Member, 171 Naranjo ‘‘Group’’, 192
La Llamagua Formation, 26, 192 Narciso Formation, 192
La Morena Member, 252, 256 Nazareno Group, 245, 246
La Sabina Formation, 191 Nueva Maria Formation, 17, 26, 27, 135, 150
La Sierra Formation, 223 Obregon* Formation, 206, 213, 214
La Trampa Group, 241, 247 Orozco Formation, 232
La Zarza Member, 149, 150, 151, 161, 164, 165 Palenque* Formation, 114
Lara* Formation, 286 Palma Mocha Member, 261, 263
Lesca Formation, 61, 99 Palmarito* Member, 212
Limones Formation, 263 Palone* Formation, 112, 121
Lindero Member, 282 Pan de Azucar Member, 168, 169
Llorente* Formation, 285 Paso Real Formation, 281
Loma Blanca Formation, 252 Pastora* Group, 208, 212
Loma la Gloria Formation, 26, 190 Pedernales Formation, 288
Loma Quivican Formation, 191 Peñalver Formation, 153, 232
Loma Yucatan Member, 223 Peñas Formation, 171, 174
Los Cayos Member, 153 Penton* Group, 119
Lucas Formation, 124, 150 Perazo* Formation, 285, 286
Lucia* Formation, 63, 217, 218 peridotite, harzburgite (serpentine), 203
Lutgarda* Formation, 30, 61, 113, 114, 121, 123, Pica Pica, 125, 146, 153, 193
124, 130, 132, 133 Pica Pica Member, 125, 138, 155, 156
Mabujina amphibolite, 188, 190, 193, 204, 266, 267, Picota Formation, 257, 258
327 Piedras* Formation, 277, 278
Mabuya* Formation, 61, 114, 119 Pilón Member, 262, 263
68 / Pardo

Pimienta Member, 151, 152, 169 San Juan y Martinez Formation, 232
Pinalilla Formation, 152 San Luis Formation, 278, 288, 289, 290
Piragua Formation, 222, 224 San Martin* Formation, 31, 61, 96, 99, 101, 113 –
Playuela* Formation, 286 115, 121 – 123, 234
Polier (Constancia*) Formation, 124 San Pedro Formation, 208, 213
Polier Formation, 150, 151, 157, 160, 176, 182 San Vicente Member, 150, 161, 164, 182
Pons Formation, 150, 152, 170, 171, 174 Sancti Spiritus granodiorite, 226, 327, 329
Porphyritic Serpentine, 203 Santa Clara* Formation, 32, 63, 209
Porphyry Member, 215 Santa Teresa Formation, 129, 135, 141, 160, 174
Potrerillos*Formation, 217 Santa Teresa Formation (Panchita Formation), 160
Principe Member, 245 Santa Teresa*, 4, 28, 44, 62, 139
Provincial Formation, 208, 212 Santa Teresa* Formation, 19, 28, 62, 132, 136
Puerto Boniato Formation, 254, 258 Santo Domingo Formation, 256
Punta Alegre* Formation, 140 Saramaguacan Formation, 224
Punta Brava Formation, 245 –247, 249 Satasa* Formation, 62, 217
Puntilla* Formation, 95, 97 Sauco Formation, 192
Purio Formation, 95, 98 Seibabo* Formation, 62, 207, 212
Quiñones Formation, 146, 153, 231, 232 Senado Formation, 61, 99, 112, 122
Ramblazo* Formation, 119, 120, 123, 139 Serpentine, 20, 92, 99, 101, 125, 133, 134, 135, 138,
Rana* Member, 215 139, 148, 154, 155, 175, 203, 205
Rancho Bravo Formation, 278 Sevilla Formation, 287
Relampago* Formation, 62, 210 sheeted dikes, 26
Remedios* Formation, 61, 93, 95, 96, 111, 112, 121, Sierra de Rompe sequence, 222
145 Sierra Verde Formation, 194, 195
Remedios* Formation(?), 61, 93, 95, 96, 111, 112, Siguaney* Formation, 62, 218, 221
121, 145 Suceso* Formation, 285
reticulate serpentine, 203 Sumidero (Capitolio*) Formation, 123
Roble Member, 63, 151, 157 Sumidero Member, 150, 151, 161, 165
Roble* Formation, 221, 227 Taguasco* Formation, 22, 32, 62, 133, 217
Rodrigo Formation, 62, 132, 133, 136, 183 Teguaro Formation, 284
Rodrigo* Formation, 62, 132, 133, 136, 183, 202, Tejas Formation, 259
227 Teneme Formation, 22, 185
Rollete* Formation, 285 The Guanı́* Formation, 114, 118, 119
Romano* Formation, 61, 105 Tinajita Member, 252 – 254
Ronda*, 16, 62, 135, 130 Tinguaro Formation, 246
Ronda* Formation, 16, 18, 62, 127, 129, 130, 132 – Toledo Member, 245
136, 174, 196 Tomas* Formation, 286
Rosario Formation, 283 Trocha* Group, 16, 25, 114, 117
Rosas* Formation, 31, 112, 114, 122, 125, 141 Tumbadero Member, 151, 170
Rosas* Formation, 31, 112, 114, 122, 125, 141 Tumbitas Member, 151, 171
Rubio* Formation, 63, 218 Turiguano* Formation, 106
Sabanilla* Formation, 16, 26, 61, 119 – 123, 125, 128 Turino* Formation, 62, 215, 227
Sagua de Tanamo Formation, 290 ultrabasic complex, 256
Sagua* Formation, 15, 61, 96, 99, 101, 106, 112, 113, ultrabasics, 30, 251, 253 –259
115, 121, 123, 141, 171 Universidad Formation, 32, 236, 237, 243 – 246
Salvador* Formation, 62, 208, 212, 227 Vaqueria Formation, 208, 213
San Adrian Formation, 25, 92, 95, 104, 118, 140 Varga* Formation, 285
San Cayetano Formation, 11, 19, 25, 92, 103, 142, Vasquez Formation, 280
161, 167, 179, 181, 185 Vega, 37, 61, 112
San Francisco Member, 223 Vega Alta Formation, 113, 135, 202
San Ignacio Formation, 290 Vega* Formation, 17, 31, 61, 83, 96, 99, 101, 102,
San Juan Group, 191 113, 114, 122, 125, 135, 138 – 140, 147, 156, 157
 Formation Index / 69

Veloz (Ronda*) Formation, 62, 127, 129, 135 Vilató Formation, 96

Venega* Formation, 61, 62, 200, 203 Viñales Group, 150, 169, 181
Vertientes Formation, 224 Viñas* Group, 26, 42, 61, 94, 95, 97, 98, 101, 104
Via Blanca Formation, 139, 157, 231, 232, 274 waxy serpentine, 203, 204
Via Crucis, 243 Yaguanabo Formation, 191, 193
Via Crucis Formation, 243, 244 Yaguaneque Formation, 256
Viajaca* Formation, 62, 217 Yateras Formation, 290
Vibora Group, 233 Yaya* Formation, 62, 209, 227
Vicente* Formation, 63, 229 Yayabo Formation, 189
Vieja Member, 32, 125, 138, 146, 155, 158, 160, 161, Yayabo* Formation, 286
231 Yayal Formation, 288, 289
Vigia (Vigia Oriental) Formation, 101 Zacarı́as Member, 169
Vigia* Formation, 101, 112 Zaza* Formation, 218
Localities

1988 GEOLOGIC MAP (PUSHCHAROVSKY Coralillo [12-34-54]

ET AL., 1988) GRID LOCATION OF LOCALITIES Cristal, Sierra de
MENTIONED IN THE TEXT Cristales oil field [21-24-72]
Cruz Verde oil field [3-36-38]
Amancio Rodriguez [30-24-42] Cubitas, Sierra de [2-21-82]
Ana Maria, Gulf of [21-19-73] Cumanayagua [12-25-58]
Ariguanabo 202 Cunagua, Cierra de Judas de la [13-25-76]
Arroyo Blanco [13-24-69] Cunagua, Loma [13-25-76]
Asuncion [32-17-77] Dimas [9-29-16]
Bacuranao oil field [3-36-38] Escambray massif [20-24-58] [20-22-64]
Bahia Honda [10-34-27] Esmeralda [21-22-79]
Baracoa [32-18-74] Florida [21-19-78]
Batabano [11-32-37] Fomento area [12-25-63]
Bauta [10-35-34] Fomento-Taguasco area [12-25-63] [13-24-68]
Bayamo [30-19-52] Gibara [23-26-57]
Blanquizal [4-36-55] Gibara, Silla [23-26-56]
Boca de Jaruco [3-37-39] Golfo de las Corrientes [17-22-12]
Boca de Jaruco oil field [3-37-39] Guaimaro [22-14-88]
Bolivia [13-25-77] Guaimaro-Las Tunas area [22-14-88] [30-25-49]
Bonachea, Loma [12-29-61] Guanabacoa [3-36-36]
Brisas [3-37-38] Guanabo oil field [3-37-38]
Cabaiguan [12-25-65] Guanacayabo, Gulf of [30-19-42]
Cabeza de Horacio [9-28-17] Guanajay [10-34-32]
Cajalbana, Sierra de [10-33-24] Guaney Beach [13-24-80]
Calabazar de Sagua [12-31-61] Guaniguanico, Sierra de [9-26-17] [10-33-29]
Camaco River [12-29-64] Guantanamo, Bay [31-15-67]
Camaguey [22-17-81] Guasima oil field [3-37-46]
Camajan, Sierra [22-19-84] Guayabo anticlinorium [12-31-60]
Camajuani [12-29-63] Holguin [31-25-56]
Camajuani River [12-30-62] Iguará [13-26-68]
Camarioca [3-35-46] Isle of the Pines [18-21-30]
Candelaria [22-17-21] Jarahueca [13-25-67]
Cantel oil field [3-36-46] Jarahueca Fenster[13-25-66] [13-26-68]
Cardenas [3-35-47] Jardines de la Reina [29-25-25] [29-30-34]
Cardenas, Bay [3-36-48] Jatibonico [21-23-69]
Catalina oil field [21-22-68] Jatibonico oil field [21-24-69]
Cauto [30-21-49] Jatibonico, Sierra de [13-26-71]
Cayo Coco-Punta Alegre area [13-29-75] [13-27-72] La Gabriela [22-20-65]
Cayo Frances [13-31-68] La Habana [3-37-36]
Central Depression [21-32-69] Las Mercedes [22-19-84]
Chambas [13-26-71] Las Tunas [30-25-49]
Chapelin oil field [3-37-47] Loma de Yeso [13-28-72]
Ciego de Avila [21-22-73] Los Barriles [13-25-71]
Cifuentes [12-31-60] Los Organos, Sierra de [9-27-18] [10-30-24]

71
72 / Pardo

Los Palacios [10-30-26] Sagua la Grande [12-33-59]

Lugareño [22-19-86] Sagua la Grande River [12-32-59]
Mamonal oil field [21-23-71] San Adrian [3-46-32]
Manati, Bay of [22-16-92] San Antonio de las Vueltas [12-29-63]
Manicaragua [12-25-60] San Diego de los Baños [10-31-25]
Mantua [9-27-16] San German [31-21-58]
Marbella oil field [3-37-47] San Juan de Sagua [10-33-25]
Mariel [2-35-31] Sancti Spiritus [21-23-66]
Martin Mesa Window [10-34-32-] [10-35-33] Sancti Spiritus, Alturas de [20-22-64]
Mata [12-31-60] Santa Clara [12-28-60]
Matanzas [3-35-44] Santa Clara, Bahia de [12-34-56]
Meneses, Sierra de [13-27-68] Santa Maria del Mar oil field [3-37-38]
Mir [30-23-52] Santo Domingo [12-31-57]
Morena, Sierra [12-33-54] Santo Domingo-Santa Clara area [12-30-59]
Moron [13-25-74] [12-28-62]
Motembo oil field [12-34-53] Seibabo syncline, north [12-28-59] [12-27-67]
Nipe Bay [31-23-61] Seibabo syncline, south [12-27-59] [12-26-52]
Nueva Maria quarry [22-19-84] Sierra Madre [30-15-35] [31-15-58]
Nuevas Grandes [22-18-91] Sitiecito [12-32-29]
Nuevitas [22-19-88] Taguasco [13-24-67]
Ojo de Agua [21-23-79] Tamarindo [13-25-71]
Pan de Guajaibón [10-23-25] Tamarindo-Camajuani area [12-30-62] [13-25-68]
Peñas Altas [3-36-38] Tiguani [31-19-54]
Perea-Mayajigua road [13-26-69] Trinidad, Sierra de [20-23-59]
Placetas [12-27-63] Tuinicu fault [12-24-63]
Placetas [12-27-63] Turiguano, Isla de [13-27-74]
Pons [10-30-20] Varadero [3-36-47]
Pons Valley [10-30-20] Varadero oil field [3-36-48]
Puerto Padre [22-16-95] Vega [12-30-62]
Punta Alegre [13-28-72] Vega Alta [12-30-62]
Purial, Sierra del [32-17-72] Vertientes [21-16-79]
Quemado de Güines anticlinorium [12-33-57] Via Blanca [3-36-37]
Rancho Veloz [12-33-56] Viñas [12-28-65]
Ranchuelo [12-28-58] Viñas River [12-29-65]
Reforma [21-24-70] Yaguayay [13-28-68]
Remedios [12-29-64] Yumuri [3-36-42]
Rosario, Sierra del [10-32-26] [10-32-29] Zaza del Medio [21-24-67]
Sagua la Chica River [12-30-62] Zulueta [12-20-64]
Glossary
Allochthonous Rocks that have been tectonically
displaced from their original location of formation.
Autochthonous Rocks that have not been tectoni-
cally displaced from their original location of formation.
Boudinage The stretching process which gives
the bedding a link sausage aspect (from ‘‘boudin’’ in
French); common in the underside of nappes.
CCD Carbonate compensation depth; water
depth at which the shells of calcareous planktonic
foraminifera are dissolved. Normally 5– 5.5 km (3.1 –
3.4 mi), although a shallower figure is possible be-
cause of upwelling. Below this depth, the sediments
commonly consist of clays and radiolarian oozes.
Eugeosyncline The part of an orthogeosyncline
characterized by volcanic activity, generally its oce-
anic side.
Exogeosyncline The continental side of an ortho-
geosyncline; commonly a basin receiving sediments
from both the continent and an active orogeny away
from the continent.
Flysch Sediments produced by the erosion of an
active orogeny where the structural uplift is the
continuing source of sediments. A flysch commonly
grades upward from fine to coarse.
Fragmental Any rock consisting of rock fragments,
i.e., fragmental tuff (tuff breccia), fragmental lime-
stone (detrital limestone, limestone breccia), etc. This
term has been used frequently in Cuba, and it is com-
monly difficult to translate written descriptions in more
modern terminology such as grainstone, packstone, etc.
Geosyncline Any large-scale depression or gradi-
ent of the Earth’s crust where sediments tend to
accumulate, such as passive continental margins, rifts
(taphrogeosynclines), continental interior basins
(autogeosynclines), orogenic continental margins
(orthogeosynclines), etc.
Melange Tectonic mixture of disparate lithologies
resulting from the process of subduction or obduc-
tion and commonly occurs at great subsurface depth.
Strictly tectonic in origin, it can be difficult to dif-
ferentiate from olistostromes, which commonly
73
accumulate in the front of thrusts and become in-
corporated into the melange.
Miogeosyncline The part of a geosyncline devoid
of volcanic activity. The sediments can have a con-
tinental or pelagic oceanic source.
Molasse Sediments derived from the erosion and
peneplanation of an inactive orogenic belt. They com-
monly grade upward from coarse to fine.
Nappe A large-amplitude thrust block commonly
beginning as a recumbent anticline. The reverse limb
is commonly considerably thinned, and sometimes
missing, through stretching. It is commonly the
result of gravity sliding.
Obduction The process by which a slab of oceanic
crust rides over the margin of a continental plate. The
results of obduction are commonly observed in
orogenies, but the mechanism remains obscure.
Olistolith Blocks within an olistostrome.
Olistostrome Large-scale rock slide consisting of a
fine-grained, commonly argillaceous, matrix in which
large blocks (from boulder size up to several kilometers)
of coherent lithologic units are imbedded. These slides,
which are commonly submarine and gravity driven,
are normally the result of orogenic uplift. They are
sedimentary bodies, but are related to nappes.
Orthogeosyncline A broad term that includes the
large-scale, linear, sedimentary, and tectonic fea-
tures characteristic of tectonically and magmatically
active continental margins.
Subduction The process by which an oceanic plate
plunges under a continental or another oceanic plate.
A subduction zone Term coined by Bally to de-
scribe the leading edge of an orogenic thrust front in
which the thrusts are directed toward the continent.
B subduction zone Term also coined by Bally to
describe the area where subduction of an oceanic
plate under a continental plate is occurring; B stands
for Benioff.
Wildflysch The coarsest conglomeratic upper part
of a flysch deposit. Related to and sometimes difficult
to differentiate from olistostrome.
1
Pardo, G., 2009, Structural and stratigraphic elements, in G. Pardo, The
geology of Cuba: AAPG Studies in Geology Series, no. 58, p. 77 – 83.
Structural and
Stratigraphic Elements
The generalized geologic map of Cuba (Figure 54)
shows that the island is segmented into eight gen-
eral areas of pre-upper Eocene outcrops surrounded
by relatively undisturbed later Tertiary sediments. Al-
though there are similarities between them, each area
has its own stratigraphic and structural characteristics.
From northeast to southwest, these areas can generally
be grouped as follows: (1) north-central sedimentary
terranes: from northern Las Villas to northern Oriente;
(2) basic igneous-volcanic terranes: from northern
Pinar del Rio to eastern Oriente; and (c) southwestern
sedimentary terranes: from Pinar del Rio and Isla de
la Juventud to southeastern Oriente.
These areas are complexly deformed structurally
and are present-day topographic highs. They are sur-
rounded by a relatively thin and much less disturbed
cover of sediments ranging in age from late lower Eo-
cene to Pleistocene. These areas are large-scale, mostly
post-Eocene, uplifts.
PRE-UPPER EOCENE
As already mentioned in the Overview section of this
publication under the Regional Setting subsection, in
Cuba, essentially, no stratigraphic mixing exists be-
tween the continental margin and deep-water marine
(miogeosyncline) sediments and the volcanics and vol-
caniclastics (eugeosycline). In other words, with a few
exceptions, all the mixing is of structural origin. Eight
major outcrop areas exist as follows.
Western Cuba
1) Pinar Del Rio area. Sediments ranging in age from
possibly older than Middle Jurassic to lower –
Copyright n2009 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
DOI:10.1306/13141059St583328
77
middle Eocene are present in a stack of folded and
faulted thrusts sheets (nappes) dipping generally
to the north. The direction of thrusting is believed
to be northward. Along the north coast, near Bahia
Honda, ultrabasics and Cretaceous volcanics are
present. The general strike is northeast. This area
extends into the western Habana Province.
2) Isla de la Juventud area. This consists mostly of a
core of relatively low grade, but intensely deformed
metamorphics of Middle to Upper Jurassic and pos-
sible Cretaceous age, similar to the older part of the
section in Pinar Del Rio. This core has the general
structure of a dome with the lower metamorphic
grades in the center. In contact with the metamor-
phics, unmetamorphosed Cretaceous volcanics
outcrop in the northwestern part of the island.
Central Cuba
1) Habana-Matanzas area. This consists of Cretaceous
volcanics and volcanic-derived sediments, as well
as sediments as young as lower–middle Eocene,
outcropping in an extremely deformed series of
fault blocks. Scattered bodies of ultrabasic rock
and some rare outcrops of unmetamorphosed Low-
er Cretaceous limestones exist. Dips are extremely
variable, from horizontal to vertical, and the sur-
face expression of the faults is nearly vertical. How-
ever, deep drilling along the north coast has proven
that these rocks are structurally underlain by Ju-
rassic and Cretaceous carbonates unrelated to the
volcanics. The general strike is west-northwest.
2) Las Villas–northwestern Camaguey area. This area
is similar to the Pinar Del Rio area in the sense that
78 / Pardo
FIGURE 54. Cuba, generalized geologic map.
numerous facies of Upper Jurassic to lower–middle
Eocene sediments are present. However, although
the area is highly fragmented by vertical faults and
is complexly folded, the general appearance is that
of several long (more than 100 km [62 mi]) south-
dipping belts. The carbonate sediments are gener-
ally found to the northeast, the ultrabasic igneous
in the middle, and the Cretaceous volcanics and
volcaniclastics in the southwest. The northern-
most exposed belt, the Yaguajay belt, shows mas-
sive carbonates similar to, and of the same order
of thickness, as the Florida – Bahamas banks. The
degree of deformation is most intense in the mid-
dle, mostly ultrabasic, area, between the carbon-
ates to the north and the volcanics to the south.
The general strike is northwest. Near the south
coast of Cuba is the massif of Escambray, which
consists of an igneous complex and variously meta-
morphosed, generally low-grade, Jurassic and Cre-
taceous sediments very similar to the Pinar Del
Rio section. The Escambray massif consists of two
nearly circular domes and, as in the Isle of Pines,
the metamorphic grade is lowest in their cores.
The Las Villas–northwestern Camaguey area has
the most complete sequences of sedimentary, vol-
canic, and igneous rocks occurring in the greatest
variety of observable relationships on the island.
For this reason, it is used here as a type geologic
province and is the basis for many interpretations
that will be extended to other parts of the island.
3) Central Camaguey area. This area is similar to the
Las Villas – northwestern Camaguey area; how-
ever, with the exception of the extensive Creta-
ceous massive carbonate exposures of the Sierra
de Cubitas and a few scattered outcrops of sedi-
mentary facies, most of it is covered by ultrabasic
and other igneous and Cretaceous volcanics in-
truded by large bodies of granodiorite. A steep
southwestern dip exists, and the general strike is
northwest.

Eastern Cuba
1) Northern Oriente area. This is very similar to the
central Camaguey area and consists mostly of
ultrabasics and Cretaceous volcanics, with the ex-
ception of an area of massive carbonate exposures
north and west of Gibara. The dips are very steep
toward the south, and the structures trend in a
northwest–southeast direction in the west. Toward
the east, the strike swings to an east-northeast di-
rection where the sedimentary and volcanic fa-
cies, as well as the ultrabasic bodies, strike out to
sea between Gibara and the Nipe Bay. Note that
the massive carbonate outcrops of Yaguajay in Las
Villas, Cubitas in Camaguey, and Gibara in north-
ern Oriente appear to be three large, northwest–
southeast en echelon structural highs partially
surrounded by and apparently emerging out of
an igneous and volcanic terrane.
2) Southeastern Oriente area. This is located south
of Nipe Bay and northeast of the Guantanamo
depression. Ultrabasic and other igneous rocks as
well as Cretaceous to lower Eocene volcanics make
up most of the outcrops. In general, they appear
less disturbed than in other parts of Cuba; how-
ever, in the Sierra del Purial, nearly horizontal
thrust sheets of ultrabasics lie on top of Upper
Cretaceous volcanics. In Asuncion, in easternmost
Cuba, low-grade metamorphics of Jurassic and Cre-
taceous age outcrop. Again, as with the previously
mentioned metamorphics, they exhibit a strong
similarity to part of the sedimentary section of
Pinar Del Rio.
3) Southwestern Oriente area. Formed by the Sierra
Maestra and located south of the Cauto depres-
sion, it consists almost entirely of Paleocene and
lower – middle Eocene volcanics and volcaniclas-
tics, with associated intrusives and a few Upper
Cretaceous volcanics.
The pre-upper Eocene rocks will generally be de-
scribed from north to south and west to east, and the
most complete sections will be described first. All the
sedimentary sections (miogeosynclinal rocks) will
be described together and separately from the basic
igneous-volcanic sections (eugeosynclinal rocks).
POST-UPPER EOCENE
The eight areas described above emerge topograph-
ically from a relatively undeformed late lower Eocene
or younger cover that, in places, can reach a thick-
Structural and Stratigraphic Elements / 79
ness of several thousand feet. The areas of younger
cover are
1) The northern coast of Habana, Matanzas, Las
Villas, and Camaguey
2) Southern Pinar Del Rio, Habana and Matanzas,
and the Gulf of Batabano
3) Southeastern Las Villas Central Depression and
the Gulf of Ana Maria
4) The Cauto depression and the Gulf of Guacanayabo
5) The Nipe Bay
6) The Guantanamo depression
These basins definitely are folded and faulted, but
to a much lesser extent than in the pre-upper Eocene
rocks.
The post-middle Eocene Tertiary sediments will
be described according to their geographic areas. In
general, the sections consist of classical epiorogenic
sediments, although possible time differences exist
in the change from flysch to molasse sedimentation
between northern and southern Cuba.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CUBAN STRUCTURAL
AND/OR STRATIGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE
The overall regional-stratigraphic history and the
structural evolution of Cuba are relatively simple and
not unique in the evolution of orogenies and con-
tinental margins. However, the position of Cuba on
the southern border of the North American continent
has been responsible for a complex tectonic history.
The Cuban area was successively (1) part of the Af-
rican and North American craton, (2) a passive mar-
gin north of a spreading center with strong left-lateral
component, (3) a foreland of what appears to be a sub-
duction zone (with ophiolite obduction in between),
and finally, (4) subjected to strong left-lateral shear.
This series of events has tectonized the geologic evi-
dence to such an extent that few interpretations are
incontrovertible.
From 1958 to 1985, there was very little commu-
nication between Cuba and the West. However, some
of the published information that filtered out in the
last 30 yr is of outstanding quality, such as the works
by Millán and Somin (1975, 1976, 1981, 1985a, b) on
the metamorphics, those by Piotrowska (1986a, b,
1987a) and Pszczólkowski (1985, 1987) in Pinar Del Rio
and Matanzas, and Iturralde-Vinent (1969, 1970, 1972,
1975a, b, 1977, 1981, 1985, 1996, 1998) in general
geology. These authors have used western stratigraphic
nomenclature and their work is easily interpretable.
80 / Pardo
Unfortunately, much other information follows Soviet-
era practice of naming rocks by age and interpretive
basin classification, such as ‘‘Cretaceous parautoch-
thonous miogeosynclinal,’’ which makes correlation
with simple lithostratigraphic units difficult. In a few
cases, the Cuban published information appears
erroneous when compared to the solidly established
pre-1960 data. Therefore, some of the recent informa-
tion, when added to the natural geological complex-
ities, increases the problems of interpretation.
It has to be mentioned that the Mapa Geologico de
la Republica de Cuba (Pushcharovsky et al., 1988), on
data collected up to November 1, 1985, is the best
overall published source of information available yet.
Another excellent publication is the Mapa Tectonico de
Cuba (Pushcharovsky et al., 1989).
Gulf’s Stratigraphic Nomenclature
When Cuban Gulf Oil initiated systematic geo-
logic mapping of central Cuba in 1951 at the scale of
1:40,000, the confusion over preexisting terminology
was such that it was decided to establish a framework
of stratigraphic units as if the geology of the island
was totally unknown. Conventional rules of strati-
graphic nomenclature were strictly adhered to; any
association of rocks with characteristic and recog-
nizable lithologic features were given a formation
name. The age was determined through fossils or
stratigraphic relationships and had no effect on the
lithostratigraphic terminology.
The number of formations thus described by the
Cuban Gulf Oil was quite large, on the order of 125
for the pre-upper Eocene in central Cuba. With the
extreme structural complexities, many groups of out-
crops had recognizable characteristics, but were to-
tally disconnected from each other, so that their
relationships could not easily be determined in the
field. In addition, to avoid misgrouping, it was deemed
necessary to separate related lithologies that, under
less extreme circumstances, might have been given
a member rank and grouped under one formation
name.
In addition, the extreme structural shortening jux-
taposes many lithologies that normally would be
spread across a large area. It can be said that the large
number of recognizable lithologic units across such a
relatively small area is a measure of the magnitude
of the telescoping of the basin. It should be empha-
sized that many of the stratigraphic units that have
been published in the recent literature, notably in
Pinar Del Rio and in the metamorphic massifs, are
well defined and follow accepted international guide-
lines of stratigraphic nomenclature (Hedberg, 1976;
Salvador, 1994).
The Belt Nomenclature Problem
Several important related terms have been widely
used in Cuba throughout the last 39 yr. These are belts,
facies-structural zones, structurofacies zones, zones,
tectonostratigraphic units, tectonic units, tecto-units,
etc. The fact that in central Cuba, the names of these
so-called units, zones, or belts have been freely inter-
changed by different authors increases the confusion
considerably. For instance, the Las Villas unit of Hatten
is approximately Pardo’s Cifuentes and Placetas belts,
whereas Pardo’s Las Villas and Sagua la Chica belts
are (more or less) Hatten’s Zulueta unit; Ducloz’s Re-
medios zone is Pardo’s Yaguajay, Jatibonico, and Cayo
Coco belts or Hatten’s Remedios and Cayo Coco
units; and so forth. Figure 55 is a chart showing the
terms that have been most commonly used in central
Cuba. What follows is an attempt to explain the or-
igin and the reason for such terminology and the en-
suing confusion.
Although the complexity of the pre-Tertiary geol-
ogy of Cuba has long been known (DeGolyer, 1918),
Rutten, in 1936, recognized that, broadly speaking, the
Las Villas Province could be divided into two terranes:
limestone to the north and igneous-volcanic to the
south. In 1937, a Cuban geologist, Ortega y Ros,
properly identified, described, and named many of the
Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Paleogene stratigraphic units
of central Cuba. Unfortunately, his work appeared in
an obscure publication and remained unnoticed until
the middle 1950s.
By the late 1940s, the two-terrane scheme had been
further refined by various geologists, and the standard
subdivisions of central Cuba became massive Reme-
dios carbonates to the north, serpentine and Tuff series
to the south, and the radiolarian-rich, thin-bedded,
siliceous Aptychus Limestone in between.
As Cuban Gulf Oil initiated the geologic mapping
that began with the pre-upper Eocene of central Cuba,
it became apparent that certain areas were charac-
terized by successions and associations of lithologies
quite different from those in adjoining areas, although
the ages represented were similar. Because these areas
tended to be elongated along the strike, they were
named ‘‘belts.’’ They were strictly informal operation-
al subdivisions. In 1953, Pardo (Cuban Gulf’s Mem-
orandum 92, p. 4) wrote the following:
Northern Las Villas and northwestern Camaguey
can be subdivided in several parallel northwest,
Structural and Stratigraphic Elements / 81
FIGURE 55. Central Cuba nomenclature.
82 / Pardo
southeast trending belts. Each one of these is
characterized by its structure and stratigraphy. . .
In 1954, Pardo (p. 5) modified this definition as
follows (the definition was published for the first time
in Pardo, 1975, p. 561):
The concept of belts exposed in G. Pardo mem-
orandum no. 92 (1953) has remained essentially
unchanged; however, due to the complexity of
the tectonics, many of the belts cannot be geo-
graphically separated onto continuous areas.
They are in many instances scattered in small
patches following certain general trends. There-
fore, for many of the belts, it is impossible to
define them as a geographic unit such as the Ya-
guajay or Las Villas belts (which are continuous),
and one has to recur to a stratigraphic definition
of the belt; that is, a belt will be defined as an
association of several lithologies that occur invari-
ably together. This definition can be carried even
further in a paleogeographic and paleotectonic
sense: every part of a belt will have had an iden-
tical succession of tectonic, sedimentary and ig-
neous events during geologic time.
It turned out that some belts have characteristic
internal structure. Lithologic associations are com-
monly bounded by faults, but they also grade into
one another (or at least are not separated from each
other by obvious major faults), making the assign-
ment of lithologies to belts difficult (facies do even-
tually change). In Cuba, faults are everywhere, and
they can be strongly deformed, so their importance is
difficult to judge from field mapping alone. The dis-
parity between two adjacent belts was used to de-
termine the probable magnitude of a fault and not
the magnitude of the fault to define the belt. In ad-
dition, the boundary faults are commonly imbricated
with components of the two adjacent belts repeated
several times.
The California Company (Chevron) initiated re-
connaissance work in 1951 and, in 1957, began their
systematic mapping of central Cuba. Of course, they
had no access to Gulf reports and, in 1957, formalized
a classification scheme, like Gulf’s belts, called ‘‘tecto-
units,’’ but differing from Gulf’s by being slanted more
heavily toward the present structure instead of stra-
tigraphy. In 1957, in a private California Company
report, Meyerhoff and Hatten wrote the following:
A tecto-unit is defined as a large and essentially
discrete structural unit, bounded on its two long
sides by a tectonic feature (such as a fault system),
and characterized by unique petrology. A tecto-
unit generally parallels regional stratigraphic
strike. The characteristic of the petrology and
stratigraphy in each tecto-unit are distinct. . .
As can be seen, the differences between the Gulf
and California Co. definitions are not major, but there
were strong differences of opinion relative to the as-
signment of some rocks to equivalent belts (units).
In 1960, the files of all foreign oil companies were
confiscated by the revolutionary government, and
the above concepts became public knowledge in the
geologic circles of Cuba and of the assisting Soviet
block countries; however, they remained virtually un-
known in the west, where essentially nothing was
published until the late 1960s to mid-1970s. Mean-
while, in Cuba, the application of these definitions,
with varying degrees of understanding, resulted in
confusion. For example, Dilla and Garcia (1984, 1985)
reshuffled the existing terminology and split the ex-
isting zones, units, etc., between the Cretaceous and
the Paleocene. They created two new zones (Sagua and
Cabaiguan) that they thought contained only flysch
sediments superimposed on the older rocks of all other
zones. This reduced the usefulness of previously rec-
ognized zones, units, and belts, and using names that
had been previously published added to the existing
confusion. Besides, their assumption that flysch sedi-
mentation always and only occurred from the Paleo-
cene to the middle Eocene is surely not correct.
In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), these belts, units,
zones, etc., are referred to as ‘‘zonas estructurofaciales’’
or structurofacies zones.
General Remarks
The Gulf data set forms a coherent package, with
well-established stratigraphic definitions now in the
public domain, and its nomenclature is used as a back-
bone for this publication. A significant reason to do
so is that the author of this publication knows pre-
cisely the meaning of the Gulf names whereas much
of what has been published later has ambiguous defi-
nitions. As will be seen, many Gulf names have been
incorporated in today’s official nomenclature or pub-
lished literature, but are not so credited. In some cases,
credit is given to the author of the Gulf name, i.e.,
Wassall, Truitt, etc., who were Gulf employees, but in-
terestingly enough, Gulf is never recognized; nor is any
other capitalist organization for that matter. As a re-
sult, it is not always known whether the presently

used Gulf names are the result of a coincidence (i.e.,
same type locality), or whether they found their way
into the terminology from Gulf’s early reports and
were sometimes given a somewhat different conno-
tation. This is also true of the work of other companies
such as Chevron, Shell, etc.
However, credit should be given to many Cuban
and Eastern European workers who made definite
efforts to identify the original author of many strat-
igraphic units. If the political situation had been dif-
ferent, much confusion would have been avoided. No
attempt will be made to identify the author of Gulf’s
terminology. It was a cooperative effort involving P.
Bronnimann, G. Pardo, P. B. Truitt, and H. Wassall.
Truitt and Wassall conducted most of the fieldwork
and were the originators of much of the terminology
(full references can be found in the University of Texas
copies of Gulf’s reports).
In some cases, Gulf used already existing names
and applied a precise definition that might not have
been followed by other authors. In this publication,
all the names defined and used by Gulf will be fol-
lowed by an asterisk (*), for example, to differentiate
the Vega* Formation as defined by Gulf from the Vega
Formation as used in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), or
Gulf’s Las Villas* belt from Hatten et al.’s Las Villas
unit. It is hoped that in this manner, confusion will be
avoided. At any rate, these homonyms will be clari-
fied in the text. There certainly will be some depar-
tures from original definitions and interpretations
because of new information such as age dating, pub-
lished studies on the metamorphics, deep drilling, new
geologic concepts, etc.
Of course, in areas where other sources give more
complete information, such as Pinar Del Rio, Cama-
Structural and Stratigraphic Elements / 83
guey, and Oriente, the published names will be used,
and an attempt will be made to correlate them with
Gulf’s data when pertinent. An attempt will be made
to always give credit where it is due, but this some-
times will be impossible, considering the large vol-
ume of unpublished material that is being consulted
(Gulf’s and others). However, the primary purpose of
this chapter is to give information about Cuba and
not to describe all the arguments that have ensued
ever since the second geologist visited the island.
The Geologic Map of Cuba, scale 1:250,000, (Push-
charovsky et al., 1988), and the Tectonic Map of Cuba,
scale 1:500,000, (Pushcharovsky et al., 1989), published
jointly by the Academy of Sciences of Cuba and the
Academy of Sciences of the former Soviet Union will
be extensively used to provide uniformity in discuss-
ing the entire island.
To assist the reader, a table has been prepared (the
Localities section of this publication) where the ap-
proximate location of geographic localities mentioned
in the text is given, using the 10  10-km (6  6-mi)
grid system on the 1988 geologic map (Pushcharovsky
et al., 1988). This grid has an arbitrary origin west and
south of Cuba, and the grid number refers to 10,000 m
(33,000 ft); for instance, 33N means 330,000 m
(1,082,677 ft) north of the origin. It should be noted
that the southern part of Oriente has a different origin
than most of the island (the usual problem of trying
to fit a square grid over a sphere). In the Localities
section of this publication, the southwestern corner
of the quadrangle in which the locality is situated
will be identified in the following manner: The lo-
cality name will be followed by [sheet number — grid
north — grid east]. For instance: Quemado de Guines
anticlinorium [12-33-37].
2
Pardo, G., 2009, Pre – Upper Eocene stratigraphy, in G. Pardo, The geology of
Cuba: AAPG Studies in Geology Series, no. 58, p. 85 – 275.
Pre–Upper Eocene Stratigraphy
INTRODUCTION
In this section, only the stratigraphy of the rocks
deposited before and during the violent events of the
Cuban orogeny will be described. The deformation
probably reached its peak during the early–middle Eo-
cene. The reason for this rather indefinite time assign-
ment is that no index faunas have been found to
separate the middle from the lower Eocene in the syn-
orogenic flysch sediments, much less in the wildflysch
that characterizes the culmination of the orogeny. The
only evidence that the orogeny is pre – upper Eocene
is a widespread, well-defined unconformity below an
upper Eocene orbitoid-rich limestone that, although
occasionally deformed, was not involved in the strong
orogenic tectonism.
As will be seen later, the tectonic events that marked
the end of the orogeny were not exactly synchronous
all over Cuba. In the south, the orogenic deformation
started in the late Maastrichtian to Paleocene, whereas
in the north, the deformation started in the early Eo-
cene. The molasse (or erosion of already inactive to-
pography) cycle started in the south in the early Eocene
while thrusting proceeded in the north in the middle
Eocene with the production of associated flysch de-
posits (or erosion of an active orogenic front). The mo-
lasse was carried piggyback by the northward advanc-
ing thrusts while contemporaneous flysch was being
generated in the north.
Stratigraphy and structure are intimately intertwined
in Cuba; the significance of structural features can be
understood only through the knowledge of stratigra-
phy. Therefore, in this chapter, the stratigraphy will
be described first to establish a plausible preorogenic
paleogeography.
As previously mentioned, many outcrops of re-
lated lithologies tend to be grouped in long, linear
belts, permitting the reconstruction of a qualitative
Copyright n2009 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
DOI:10.1306/13141061St583328
85
cross section across the former orthogeosyncline. By
qualitative, I mean that the abundant evidence of large
thrust and transcurrent displacements, which, together
with the scarcity of facies changes along the strike of
the belts, make the reconstruction of an accurate pa-
leogeography difficult.
Along much of the axis of the island, the structural
complexities are extreme. For instance, in one of the
less disturbed areas, a section being measured appeared
to consist of an interbedding of more than half a dozen
1-ft (0.3-m) beds of manganese-stained limestone, con-
sisting entirely of rudist fragments, and thin-bedded
fine-grained limestones; very detailed mapping re-
vealed that there was only one bed of rudist limestone
repeated many times by isoclinal folding. Extreme
boudinage is common. In one case, all the compo-
nents of a Lower Cretaceous to lower–middle Eocene
section, normally more than 4000 ft (1200 m) thick,
were present in an outcrop not more than 300 ft
(90 m) thick. In much of the outcrops, dip and strike
mapping is totally meaningless because the differ-
ent lithologic units are commonly present as isolated
blocks. Blocks of similar lithologies, although discon-
nected, follow some general mappable trend, much as
would be expected in landslides or olistostromes. Many
of these areas, mapped by Gulf in detail, have been
lumped by recent Cuban surveys into a stratigraphic
unit called Vega Alta and defined as an olistostrome.
Concerning well nomenclature, wells drilled prior
to 1959 will be named by company name (i.e., Texaco,
Gulf, etc.), lease name at the time of drilling (Cayo
Coco, Blanquizal III, etc.), and well number. Later wells
will be named by the organization responsible for the
drilling (ICRM, EPEP, etc.) and the well name.
In relation to well data, attention should be called
to the fact that because of structural complications
and the nature of the rocks (especially in the carbonate
areas), the only way that sections can be accurately
86 / Pardo
FIGURE 56. Lithologic symbols.
identified and correlated in the subsurface is through
continuous coring. Identification by cuttings is diffi-
cult and ambiguous because of the large amount of
natural reworking in many of the sections, and geo-
physical logs do not differentiate the subtle differences
between the many stratigraphic units that commonly
can only be identified through microfacies analysis in
thin sections. This is important because the lithologic
data available today outside of Cuba consist mostly
of cuttings.
It is not known what kind of data forms the basis
for most of the currently published identifications.
The descriptions of fossiliferous stratigraphic units
will contain a faunal list. Whenever possible, genera
and species will be given. In many cases, the genus is
followed by ‘‘sp.’’ or ‘‘spp.’’ Paul Brönnimann had es-
tablished an extensive type collection where, accord-
ing to the common practice of many oil companies,
numbers identified the species, such as, Dicyclina 2,
Globotruncana 5, etc. These were cross-indexed to
formal species names. Unfortunately, the type collec-
tion remained in Cuba, and as of this date, its fate is
unknown. In many of the reports, only the informal
species number is available. Because this number is of
no use to the readers of this study, it is replaced by
‘‘sp.’’ or ‘‘spp.’’ Even without species names, the fau-
nal composition is of interest.
The stratigraphic descriptions are accompanied by
a graphic columnar section. In most cases, the thick-
nesses given in Gulf Oil (Gulf) data (formation name
followed by an asterisk) were measured in the field or
in wells. Where measurements were impossible be-
cause of structural complications, thickness estimates
only will be given. When the thicknesses are from the
literature, it is not always possible to know whether
they are estimates or measurements.
For convenience, the pre–upper Eocene graphic co-
lumnar sections will show a scale in meters and feet
with the origin at the top of the Lower Cretaceous.
The post–middle Eocene columnar sections show the
measurements from the base of the upper Eocene.
Figure 56 shows the lithologic symbols used through-
out the study unless otherwise noted in the figures.
Cuba can be subdivided into the following major
geologic provinces:
1) The north-central terrane. It extends along the north
coast from the subsurface between Habana and

FIGURE 57. Central Cuba sedimentary terranes: generalized geologic map.
Matanzas to Gibara in Oriente and is best developed
in central Cuba. It consists of sediments deposited
along the southern margin of the North American
continent. This terrane can be further subdivided
into
a. Jurassic – Cretaceous carbonate platform
b. Cretaceous carbonate slope or scarp
c. Jurassic platform to Cretaceous deep-water lime-
stone and chert basin
These provinces have been further subdivided into
belts.
The structure varies from reverse faults and
south-dipping monoclines to complexly folded
and faulted, northward-directed thrust faults.
2) The southwestern terrane. It has been recognized
from the subsurface of the Guanacahibes penin-
sula in Pinar del Rio to the Escambray massif. This
terrane can be subdivided into an unmetamor-
phosed phase in the Guaniguanico Mountains,
and a metamorphic phase extending from the
Cangre through the Isla de la Juventud and the
Escambray massif. In southeastern Oriente, in an
area called Asuncion, are some metamorphosed
sediments showing strong affinities with the La
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 87
Esperanza belt of Pinar del Rio, and the Cifuentes*
belt of central Cuba.
The oldest Jurassic consists of a thick quartzose
terrigenous section overlain by Late Jurassic to
Early Cretaceous bank carbonates that grade south
and upward into a deep-water limestone and chert
section similar to the north-central terrane deep-
water facies.
In the Guaniguanico Mountains, the structure
consists of a succession of north-dipping thrust
sheets. The Isla de la Juventud and the Escambray
massif are domal structures showing stacks of
thrust sheets.
3) The basic igneous-volcanic terrane. This terrane ex-
tends along the axis of the island and forms a
complex syncline from Bahia Honda to Oriente
that today separates the north-central terrane from
the southwestern terrane. The contacts between
the three terranes are always of a tectonic nature.
This terrane can be subdivided into a lower basic ig-
neous sequence and an upper volcanic arc sequence.
The structure and stratigraphy of this terrane can
be quite complex, showing stacks of folded thrust
faults and a high variety of volcanic types.
88 / Pardo
FIGURE 58. Eastern Cuba sedimentary terranes: generalized geologic map.
A lingering question has been whether the south-
western terrane was directly in contact with, and
therefore part of, the deep-water part of the north-
central terrane, or if it was separated from it by the
basic igneous-volcanic terrane. It must be emphasized
that, with very few exceptions, rocks of the basic
igneous-volcanic terrane are never found in normal
sedimentary or intrusive contact with any of the com-
ponents of the sedimentary provinces. Furthermore,
no basic igneous and volcanic detritus is present in
these sedimentary belts before the very Late Creta-
ceous or early Tertiary. This suggests that the basic
igneous-volcanic terrane is completely exotic and was
tectonically emplaced over the other two terranes.
The stratigraphy of these provinces will be described
from north to south and west to east. However, as
will be seen later, the definition of belts (also referred
to as Hatten-Meyerhoff units, Hatten et al., 1958) given
in this chapter does not fit part of the carbonate plat-
form, and to some extent, the entire basic igneous-
volcanic terrane is a belt in itself.
The major subdivisions of the Cuban geology giv-
en in this study will be flexible and will be named
‘‘belt’’ only when the definitions are satisfied.
In the following discussion, the nomenclature of
the major faults will follow the original nomencla-
ture. Specifically, the faults are named for the belt of
which they form the northern (upthrown) bound-
ary. When consulting the literature, this can cause
confusion because other authors have used the same
names to designate other faults. For instance, the
Hatten et al. (1988) Las Villas fault is quite different
from the Las Villas* fault used in this study.
NORTH-CENTRAL TERRANE LAS VILLAS:
NORTHERN ORIENTE
Under this section heading will be grouped all the
sedimentary rocks (nonvolcanic) found outcropping
and in the subsurface in central and northern Cuba
that is extending from Habana to Gibara in northern
Oriente.
Figures 57 and 58 show the general distribution of
the north-central and southwestern terranes and
most of their subdivisions in central and eastern Cuba.
Figure 59 is a general correlation chart for the north-
central terrane arranged according to belts and areas.
As will be seen later, these outcrops can be restored
to a normal succession of facies typical of a continen-
tal margin, going from shallow bank carbonates to
a deep, pelagic oceanic environment.
Jurassic–Cretaceous Carbonate Platform
The carbonate platform province was character-
ized by the deposition of thick platform carbonates
and local evaporites during the Late Jurassic and Early
Cretaceous. Locally, the carbonate bank sedimenta-
tion continued uninterruptedly through the Late Cre-
taceous and Cenozoic much as in the Bahamas Bank.
This is generally known as the Remedios zone
(Ducloz and Vaugnat, 1962). This name will not be used
in this publication because (1) it includes the Sagua
 Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 89
FIGURE 59. Correlation chart, north-central terrane, central and eastern Cuba.
90 / Pardo
FIGURE 60. Central Cuba, basal section.
la Chica* and Jatibonico* belts that are not part of it
and (2) it has been given different connotations by
other authors.
In Cuba, the most complete sections are known
from the outcrops of the Yaguajay* belt. This is an un-
interrupted south-dipping monocline with very good
exposures and relatively little faulting. The Instituto
Cubano de Recursos Minerales’ (ICRM) wells and Gulf
Blanquizal III-1 have contributed additional but, un-
fortunately, incomplete knowledge of the area, and
Shell Cayo Coco-2, although it provided excellent in-
formation, is representative of somewhat different con-
ditions. Consequently, in this province, the descrip-
tion of the stratigraphy will not proceed from north to
south, but from the Yaguajay* belt–type section north
and south to other areas.
The lower part of the section has never been ob-
served in situ in surface exposures or in wells, but
something can be inferred from the outcrops of three
diapir complexes at Loma de Yeso, Isla de Turiguano,
and San Adrian (the Loma Cunagua diapir shows only
young Tertiary sediments on the surface). The drilling
of Kewanee Collazo-1 in Loma de Yeso, Kewanee Tina-1
and Kewanee Tina-2 in Loma Cunagua, and geophys-
ical data also contributed some information. As will
be seen later, the fragmentary information on the lower
part of the section suggests that an older sequence could
possibly underlie much of the carbonate platform prov-
ince. It could also underlie, or at one time have under-
lain, other provinces or belts, as indicated by the San
Adrian diapir, which is surrounded by rocks from the
basic igneous-volcanic province. In view of its pos-
sible widespread occurrence, this basal section will be
discussed first.
Basal Section
A fundamental question revolves around the total
thickness of sediments that can be expected under
the carbonate platform.
Gulf’s depth estimates to magnetic basement, made
during the early 1950s, based on a survey by Aero-
Service Corp. along the northeast coast of Cuba, Cay
Sal, and southern Bahamas, range between 30,000
and 40,000 ft (9000 and 12,000 m). In the Cayo Coco
area, the depth to magnetic basement is on the order
of 30,000 ft (9000 m).
Some old reflection seismic, by Shell in the Cayo
Coco area, suggests a minimum depth of 20,000 ft
(6000 m). Deep crustal seismic measurements by the
Soviets have given 41,000 ft (12,500 m) in Cayo Fragoso
and 36,000 ft (11,000 m) in Chambas (Scherbakova
et al., 1978a). See Figure 60 for localities.

The deepest wells drilled in the area are Tenneco
Doubloon Saxon-1 to 21,740 ft (6628 m) and Gulf-
California Cay Sal-1 to 18,906 ft (5764 m) in the Baha-
mas, 30 and 75 km (18 and 46 mi), respectively, north
of the Cuban coast. In the north coast of Cuba, the
deep wells drilled are ICRM Cayo Fragoso-1 to 16,450 ft
(5014 m), ICRM Cayo Frances-5 to 14,885 ft (4537 m),
ICRM Cayo Romano-1 to 13,317 ft (4060 m), Gulf Blan-
quizal III-1 to 11,218 ft (3419 m), and Shell Cayo Coco-2
to 10,563 ft (3220 m). None of them reached basement.
At least 10,000 ft (3000 m) of unknown section ob-
viously exist. An additional problem is that the deep
structure of the coastal area is poorly known, and no
data have been published by ICRM. For instance,
some information (Shein et al., 1984; Petroconsul-
tants, 1989, personal communication) suggests that
much of the coastal area of Cuba, where the deep
wells have been drilled, could be the upthrown block
of a large reverse fault, or system of faults, approxi-
mately paralleling the coast. It could have as much
as 10,000 ft (3000 m) of repeat. If this were the case,
the unknown stratigraphic thickness could be less
than 10,000 ft (3000 m).
Based on the exposures in the diapirs and the drilling
of Kewanee Collazo-1, Kewanee Tina-1, and Kewanee
Tina-2, three lithostratigraphic units have been estab-
lished: the informal Cunagua salt, the Punta Alegre*
Formation, and the San Adrian Formation.
Cunagua Salt
The name is derived from Loma Cunagua, where
the well Kewanee Tina-1 drilled through a section
of evaporites from 5508 to 10,526 ft (1679 to 3209 m).
Halite forms as much as 70% of the section. It contains
red and maroon shales, very finely crystalline white
anhydrite, brown dolomite, white to orange limestone,
and traces of red chert. No gypsum is present.
In the Kewanee Collazo-1 well drilled in Loma de
Yeso diapir, some halite was encountered at 1420 ft
(433 m) and became a dominant component at 1700 ft
(518 m).
1700 – 3100 ft (518 –945 m): The section consists
of fairly massive and pure halite (in average more
than 50%), containing many inclusions of anhy-
drite and dolomite.
3100–3963 ft (945–1208 m): The section consists
of halite, possibly containing many inclusions
of anhydrite, dolomite, and argillaceous silt.
According to Calvache (1958), the salt has impu-
rities fragments, pebbles, and masses of soft silt and
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 91
anhydrite, that in general have a tendency to be hori-
zontally aligned. The salt crystals, where seen, are hori-
zontal. On a core of silt, there are horizontal bands of
pure salt. There is nothing in the salt suggestive of ‘‘Salt
Dome Conditions’’ as vertical flowage, or vertical orien-
tation of impurities, unless it represents an ‘‘overhang’’.
The Cunagua salt is believed to stratigraphically
underlie the Punta Alegre* Formation, although in
Kewanee Collazo-1, the contact is structurally disturbed.
No direct evidence of the age of the salt exists, but
spores in the red shales included in the halite gave an
age of middle Mesozoic, probably Middle Jurassic. It
is considered equivalent to the Louann Salt by many
authors.
The geographic extent of the Cunagua salt is un-
known. Salt water has been reported in wells drilled
near the San Adrian diapirs in the Yumuri Valley in
Matanzas. Other diapirs have been reported from seis-
mic surveys in deep waters north of Cuba, but their
composition is unknown.
Punta Alegre* Formation
This unit, named by Truitt (1956b), has its type lo-
cality at the Loma de Yeso diapir and outcrops in the
Isla de Turiguano diapir, both near the town of Punta
Alegre. These diapirs are surrounded by younger Ter-
tiary sediments and are located to the northeast of
the carbonate platform outcrops of the Yaguajay* belt.
This is different from Meyerhoff and Hatten’s (1968)
Punta Alegre Formation. It must be emphasized that
halite is not included in Truitt’s original definition of
the Punta Alegre* Formation, which consists only of
exotics (many of them from rocks never observed be-
fore) in a gypsum matrix.
The formation name applies to a breccia of hetero-
geneous rock fragments in a gypsum matrix. The brec-
cia has been subdivided into four types based on the
number, size, and abundance of exotics and the red,
blue, yellow, and brown color of the gypsum matrix.
The exotics form most of the rock and vary in size from
a few centimeters to more than 100 m (330 ft). They
consist mostly of (1) blocks of black, dark-gray, and
dark-red medium-grained limestone, sometimes oolitic;
(2) dolomitized limestones and dolomites, (3) purple
slate, (4) red shale, (5) argillite, (6) blue quartz sedimen-
tary quartzite, (7) quartz sandstone, and (8) tuffs. The
carbonates form most of the clasts.
The age of the Punta Alegre* Formation is consid-
ered Tithonian or older based on abundant Favreina
joukowskyi that is found in the dolomite exotics.
Because of Favreina joukowskyi’s importance as an
Upper Jurassic fossil (it is the only identifiable fossil
92 / Pardo
found in the Punta Alegre Formation), it is worth
mentioning the remarks of Brönnimann (1956, p. 9),
where he discusses its recorded worldwide occurrence.
He concludes that
From these records it appears that Favreina is a
facies fossil of rather long range (Upper Juras-
sic to Tertiary). However, in Cuba and Trinidad,
B.W.I., possibly also Mexico, it seems charac-
teristic of a facies, which apparently is restricted
to the Upper Jurassic (Oxfordian – Tithonian). . ..
Faunistically therefore, the Upper Jurassic age of
the Punta Alegre* Formation may still be ques-
tioned, but it is most probable that lithology
and Favreina indicates here, as it does elsewhere
in Cuba, an Upper Jurassic age.
Kewanee Collazo-1 was spudded in the Loma de
Yeso diapir 45 ft (13 m) above the Punta Alegre* For-
mation and encountered the following section:
45 – 630 ft (14 – 192 m): This consists of a mixture
of gypsum, limestone, and dolomite, similar to
the one in the outcrop.
630 – 1700 ft (192 – 518 m): The gypsum is in-
creasingly replaced by anhydrite, and halite ap-
pears at 1420 ft (433 m).
Below 1700 ft (518 m) to total depth at 13,032 ft
(3972 m): Halite becomes common to dominant.
Meyerhoff and Hatten (1968) proposed that the
Kewanee Collazo-1 section, including the Cunagua
salt, from 45 to 3963 ft (14 to 1208 m) be designated
as the type section of the Punta Alegre Formation (for
the first time in print). In view of the tectonic compli-
cations, the original Truitt definition will be main-
tained in this study.
A question remains as to whether the gypsum at
Punta Alegre and Isla de Turiguano has a cap rock
origin by solution of halite (Meyerhoff and Hatten,
1968) or, as will be seen later, is derived from the anhy-
drite that is commonly interbedded with Lower Creta-
ceous and Upper Jurassic dolomites of the Cayo Coco*
Formation. Halite is certainly overlain by gypsum at
Loma de Yeso, but at Loma Cunagua, only halite con-
taining some anhydrite, with no gypsum, is present.
It is therefore possible that the Punta Alegre For-
mation of Meyerhoff and Hatten consists of a tec-
tonic mixture of two or more stratigraphic units, the
Punta Alegre* Formation, possibly equivalent to part
of the Cayo Coco* Formation (that will be described
later) and the Cunagua salt unit, which is dominant-
ly halite, with subordinate shale, siltstone, dolomite,
and anhydrite.
To consider the Punta Alegre and Isla de Turiguano
diapirs similar to the Gulf Coast salt domes is mislead-
ing. They are associated with the upthrown limbs of
large south-dipping Oligocene or later thrust faults.
San Adrian Formation
This formation, initially described by Flores (1949)
and formally named by Ducloz (1960), outcrops in
a cluster of four fault-associated diapirs close to San
Adrian, near the town of Matanzas. Compared to the
diapirs near Punta Alegre, in the carbonate coastal
province, these are surrounded by the basic igneous-
volcanic province. As in Loma de Yeso, the formation
name applies to a breccia of heterogeneous rock frag-
ments in a gypsum matrix. The breccia contains abun-
dant components up to 12 ft (4 m) in size. These com-
ponents consist of (1) light- to dark-gray, silty and
finely sandy, micaceous, slightly calcareous shales;
(2) well-indurated medium-gray, coarse- to fine-grained,
quartz sandstone with occasional feldspars and mica;
(3) beige fine-grained limestone; (4) gray Nannoconus
limestone; (5) fine-grained limestone with quartz grains;
(6) dark-gray, fine-grained, thin-bedded radiolaria lime-
stones; (7) dolomitic limestones; (8) marble; and (9)
quartz mica schists. Sandstones and shales form most
of the exotics, and a large inclusion of serpentine exists.
Piotrowski and de Albear (1986) consider the major
part of the diapirs to be a clastic-carbonate-evaporite
sequence that has been fragmented by diapiric evap-
orite flowage. A minor part of the diapirs contains
exotic blocks, from totally different environments,
dragged from the overlying country rock such as the
Neocomian Nannoconus limestones and serpentine.
Furthermore, the clastic components are very similar
to those outcropping 300–400 km (186–248 mi) to
the west as part of the San Cayetano Formation that
will be described below. Salt has not been observed in
the area, but salt water has been reported in some of
the water wells drilled in the vicinity.
The age of the San Adrian Formation is considered
Upper Jurassic (not later than Neocomian). It is be-
lieved to represent an evaporitic section, equivalent to
the Punta Alegre* Formation, but with a much higher
percentage of sandstones and shales. Here, like in the
Punta Alegre area, the diapirs consist of material flow-
ing along faults cutting a large variety of terranes.
Basal Section Discussion
The above is definite evidence that a poorly known
section at the base of the carbonate platform exists.

FIGURE 61. Central Cuba, Yaguajay* belt.
In the Punta Alegre area, the large percentage and
types of carbonates compared to the clastics suggest
a relationship between the evaporites and the bank
carbonates. However, some clastics appear to be re-
lated to the San Cayetano. Other clastics are totally
unrelated to anything known in Cuba and suggest
the Permian micaceous black shales and blue quartz-
ites of the Maya Mountains in Belize.
By contrast, in San Adrian, the great abundance of
the San Cayetano-like clastics suggests that here, the
evaporites were mostly interbedded with them. Al-
though some carbonates are present, many of the ex-
otics appear to belong to belts that structurally overlie
the evaporites (Las Villas*, Cifuentes*, etc.), and few of
them suggest the platform carbonates. This, together
with the fact that none of the wells drilled west of Gulf
Blanquizal III-1 encountered the continuous platform
facies, indicates that the edge of the platform must be
somewhere between Gulf Blanquizal III-1 and Cardenas
Bay. However, the evaporites must have existed, inter-
bedded with the San Cayetano, under the Las Villas* belt.
Other diapirs have been reported in deep waters
north of Cuba, but none has been confirmed.
Yaguajay* Belt
In 1975, Pardo extended the meaning of the
Yaguajay* belt to all the carbonate platform out-
crop areas, including the Sierra de Cubitas in northern
Camaguey and the Gibara area in northern Oriente.
See Figure 61 for locations in central Cuba.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 93
This area is parallel to the coastal province and is
limited to the south by a line running approximate-
ly through south of Sagua la Grande, San Antonio de
las Vueltas, Viñas, the southern part of the Sierra de
Bamburanao and Sierra de Meneses, and northern
the eastern end of the Sierra de Jatibonico. This belt
is poorly exposed west of San Antonio de las Vueltas.
This area is part of the Remedios (1) structurofacies
zone of Pushcharovsky et al. (1988).
This belt is approximately equivalent to the Reme-
dios unit of Hatten et al. (1988), but not the original
Remedios zone of Ducloz and Vaugnat (1962) that in-
cluded the entire coastal area. In the geologic map of
Cuba by Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), a Remedios ‘‘struc-
turofacies zone’’ exists that, like that of Hatten et al.,
(1988) includes the Yaguajay* and the Jatibonico* belts
of this study. Besides, the section exposed in this belt
is still largely undivided officially and referred to as
the Remedios Group in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988).
This name is the extension of a Maastrichtian well-
defined unit named Remedios Formation by Bermudez
(1950). For this reason, the name Yaguajay* belt will be
retained.
In central Cuba, the Yaguajay* belt follows the
original definition of belts, showing a characteristic
sequence of lithologies, dipping 30 –608 south, and
bounded to the north and south by major faults, the
Yaguajay* and Las Villas* faults, respectively. On air
photographs, it forms an easily mappable feature some
80 km (49 mi) long. To the southeast, it terminates at
94 / Pardo
FIGURE 62. Stratigraphic section:
Yaguajay* belt, Remedios to Sierra de
Jatibonico area.
the complex convergence of the two bounding faults,
whereas to the northwest, it plunges under upper Eo-
cene and later sediments.
Remedios to Sierra de Jatibonico Area
The most complete sections are exposed to the
northwest near the town of Remedios. The forma-
tions established in these sections will be described
from oldest to youngest (see Figure 62).
Viñas* Group. —This group includes several sim-
ilar lithologies that are commonly found together.
The essential types are dense, light-gray limestones
grading laterally into light-gray pellet limestones and
brown, fine-crystalline dolomites and dolomite brec-
cias. Many of the dolomites appear to be of the high
saline type; they are brown, thin bedded, and micro-
crystalline. The breccias are of a very distinctive type.
They are commonly found within sections of the above-
mentioned dolomites and consist exclusively of the
high-saline microcrystalline dolomites in jumbled
blocks with suture contacts. They strongly contrast
with the numerous heterogeneous carbonate breccias
found elsewhere in the section. They have been in-
terpreted as the probable result of anhydrite solution
(Littlefield, 1952). The bedding is medium to thick,
and the whole sequence is free of terrigenous material.

In the Viñas River–type section, 10,300 ft (3140 m)
have been measured. Its age ranges from the Upper
Jurassic through the Cenomanian. This group has
been subdivided into the Guani*, Bartolomé*,
Puntilla*, and Palenque* formations.
Guanı́* Formation. — The Guanı́* Formation con-
sists of 4200 ft (1280 m) of thick-bedded brown, crys-
talline dolomite, with rare interbeds of limestone and
dolomitized limestones. Some dolomite breccias, pos-
sibly caused by anhydrite solution, are present.
Fossils are absent, but the age, based on the strat-
igraphic position, is considered Upper Jurassic.
The nature of the upper contact with the Barto-
lomé* Formation is obscured by dolomitization. The
upper Guanı́* could be dolomitized lower Barto-
lomé*. The base has not been observed, but it could
be underlain by the Punta Alegre* or the San Adrian
Formation.
Bartolomé* Formation. — The Bartolomé* Forma-
tion consists of 2600 ft (793 m) in the Viñas River–
type section (up to 5000 ft [1525 m] in other areas) of
dense, medium- to thick-bedded, hard, light-brown
limestone. Some beds are slightly dolomitized, and
occasional interbedded dark-brown crystalline dolo-
mites are present. Toward the base, oolitic limestones
are present.
In the lower part of the formation, the fauna in-
cludes Favreina, Dukhania, Valvulinella, and Clypeina,
suggesting that the age extends from Upper Jurassic
into the Lower Cretaceous.
The upper contact with the Puntilla* Formation is
conformable.
Puntilla* Formation. — The Puntilla* Formation con-
sists of 2200 ft (670 m) in the Camaco River-type
section (3400 ft [1037 m] in other sections) of pure
light-gray to blue, dense, thick- to medium-bedded
miliolid limestones with interbeds of fine- to medium-
crystalline dolomite. At the base of the formation, an
800–1000-ft (245–300-m) dolomite is present.
The Puntilla* Formation extends from the Aptian, as
indicated by the Orbitolina cf. concava and Orbitolina
cf. texana to probably the top of the Cenomanian.
The contact with the overlying Camaco* forma-
tions is conformable. The Puntilla* Formation is a
lateral equivalent of the Palenque* Formation.
Palenque* Formation.— The Palenque* Formation
(Hatten et al., 1958, described a Palenque Formation
that appears to be synonymous with the entire
Viñas* Group) consists of 2200 ft (670 m) of massive
dolomite breccias with heterogeneous dolomite com-
ponents up to boulder size in a brown crystalline dolo-
mite matrix. The breccias have interbedded dolomites
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 95
and limestones of the Puntilla* type. Anhydrite so-
lution is believed to be the cause of brecciation.
This unit is nonfossiliferous, but the age is con-
sidered Aptian to Cenomanian based on stratigraphic
relationships.
The Palenque* is a facies of the Puntilla* Formation
and, in places, replaces the upper Puntilla*. It underlies
conformably the Camaco* Formation.
Hatten et al. (1958) described a Palenque Forma-
tion that appears to be synonymous with the entire
Viñas* Group.
Camaco* Formation. —The Camaco* Formation
consists of 2080 ft (635 m) of white to tan, porous algal
limestone, thin to thick bedded, and occasionally
thinly laminated. Algal remains and miliolids are very
abundant. Rudist reefs are common near the base of
the formation. In the Camaco River-type section, an
80-ft (25-m) interval of dolomitized limestone sharp-
stone conglomerate is present 1400 ft (427 m) from the
top of the formation and is overlain by the Palone*
Formation with apparent but questionable conformity.
The Stensiöina sp., Cuneolina sp. assemblage indi-
cates a Turonian to Santonian age.
It appears to be equivalent to the Purio Formation
of Hatten et al. (1958).
Palone* Formation. — The Palone* Formation
consists of 300 ft (91 m) of cream, organic, medium
to fine calcarenite with rare secondary dolomitiza-
tion. Most of the components are reworked forami-
nifera and abundant rudist fragments.
Based on an Alveolina sp., Siderolites sp., Dicyclina
sp., Cuneolina sp., and Coskinolina floridana assem-
blage, this formation is considered Campanian to early
Maastrichtian in age.
It is conformably overlain by the Remedios* For-
mation and is the lateral equivalent of the Mayajigua*
Formation.
Mayajigua* Formation. —This formation, besides
being present in the Yaguajay* belt, is also present in
the Cayo Coco–Punta Alegre area of the coastal prov-
ince, as well as in the Jatibonico* belt.
In the Perea-Mayajigua road-type section, it con-
sists of 400 ft (122 m) of thick-bedded heterogeneous
sharpstone conglomerate of cream and white, dense
limestone and light-brown dolomitic limestone com-
ponents in a translucent, finely crystalline, white or-
ganic limestone matrix. All the components originate
from both older and contemporaneous units of the
carbonate platform. This conglomerate is very well
indurated, hard, and nonporous. The upper part of
the formation is less conglomeratic and is made up
mostly of medium beds of white, translucent, organic
96 / Pardo
limestone similar to the matrix of the conglomerate.
In Punta Alegre-1A, it is 640 ft (195 m) thick.
Based on a rich Orbitoides sp., Pseudorbitoides sp.,
Lepidorbitoides sp., and Dicyclina sp. assemblage, the
age is considered Maastrichtian.
It is the southeastern lateral equivalent of the
Palone* Formation and also is interbedded with the
Remedios* Formation. It lies unconformably over
the Bartolomé*, Florencia*, and Guillermo* formations.
It is conformably overlain by the Remedios* For-
mation and in places unconformably by the lower–
middle Eocene.
Remedios* Formation. —This formation is best
developed to the northwest of the belt and was named
by P. Bermudez. It should not be confused with the
Remedios Group of Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) that
includes all Cretaceous and Jurassic carbonates in
the Remedios structurofacies zone. The upper part of
Hatten et al. (1958) Remedios Formation is certainly
similar to Gulf’s; however, as the descriptions suggest,
the lower part might be synonymous to the Mayajigua*
and Palone* formations.
Lower member. —It consists of 1550 ft (473 m) of
brown, finely crystalline dolomite, and limy dolo-
mite with occasional dolomitic limestone beds. The
dolomite is massive, but near the top of the mem-
ber, nearly 300 ft (91 m) of thinly laminated dolomite
with laminations exist only a few millimeters apart.
Upper member.— It consists of 850 ft (260 m) of
dense, white, porcelaneous limestone. In places, the
limestone is coarse to fine fragmental, light brown,
and occasionally pseudo-oolitic. The beds are 2– 3 ft
(60 –90 cm) thick.
The thickness of this formation varies consider-
ably, and it appears to lie with apparent conformity,
but probable hiatus, under the lower–middle Eocene.
The Remedios* Formation is richly fossiliferous
and was considered upper Maastrichtian on the basis
of a Borelis gunteri, Borelis floridanus, Cosinella sp.,
Siderolites sp., Rhapydiomina sp., and Gavelinella sp.
assemblage. It correlates perfectly with the Cedar Keys
of southern Florida.
There has been some question as to whether this
unit extends into the Paleocene because in Florida,
the Cedar Keys is considered to be Paleocene. In view
of recent claims of the discovery of Paleocene fossils
in the Remedios* Formation, it is pertinent to quote
Brönnimann (1956, p. 5), who was fully aware of the
Paleocene problem.
In the writer’s opinion, the Danian is unques-
tionably a Tertiary stage and forms in the pres-
ent chart part of the Paleocene epoch. . . .Typi-
cally Danian faunas with Globigerina daubjergensis
Brönnimann have not been encountered as yet
in Cuba, although such faunas are known from
the Gulf Coast. However, assemblages with Glo-
borotalia compressa Plummer, Globigerina pseudo-
bulloides Plummer, and Globorotalia triloculinoides
Plummer, and combined with the simultaneous
absence of Truncorotalias, are suggestive of Danian
or a younger Paleocene stage. Faunas of this com-
position have been found in Cuba only outside
Las Villas province.
Therefore, this remains an argument for paleon-
tologists. At any rate, even if the Paleocene is present,
it is not well represented.
Grande* Formation. —The Grande* Formation
consists of 80 ft (25 m) of white and gray, medium to
coarse, heterogeneous calcarenite with some pebble
conglomerates of white limestone fragments.
This unit is very fossiliferous and contains a Trema-
stegina lopeztrigoi, Discocyclina sp., and Coskinolina sp.
assemblage that indicates a lower–middle Eocene age.
At this locality, it is conformably overlain by the
Sagua* Formation. This unit occurs only at the type
locality in the Sagua la Grande River and in the Sierra
de Meneses. This name is not to be confused with the
Grande Formation as used in Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988) to designate limestone and carbonate breccias
of Paleocene–Eocene age in the Remedios zone.
Sagua* Formation.—This formation is a limestone-
dolomite conglomerate with angular components
up to several feet in size. A fine matrix is very scarce
compared to the number of larger blocks. In riverbank
outcrops, polished by the stream, it looks like a mo-
saic of interlocking fragments, with clean suture con-
tacts, smaller ones perfectly filling the space between
larger ones. It is extremely hard, with no visible po-
rosity and dogtooth weathering. The fragments con-
sist of all older units of the Yaguajay* and Las Villas*
belts. Fragments from the Yaguajay* belt are domi-
nant, 70% or more. In its type locality, it ranges from
Albian to lower–middle Eocene, but in the Yaguajay*
belt, it is lower–middle Eocene.
The lower – middle Eocene part of this formation
is also present in the Sagua la Chica* and Las Villas*
belts and the coastal province. It will be more fully
described under the Sagua la Chica* belt section, below
in this chapter, where it has its largest development. It
outcrops all along the southern flank of the Yaguajay*
belt, where it varies considerably in thickness; it is
80 ft (25 m) thick in the Sagua la Grande area, where it

overlies the Grande* Formation with apparent confor-
mity, whereas in the Camaco River; it is 690 ft (210 m)
thick and rests with strong unconformity over the
lower part of the Palone* Formation. In the Yaguajay*
belt and coastal province, the Sagua* Formation lies
with strong unconformity on older formations and
contains a greater amount of components belonging
to the older carbonate units.
San Martin* Formation. —The San Martin* For-
mation is well represented in the Yaguajay* belt. In
the Sagua la Grande River, 320 ft (97 m) of tan, fine to
coarse calcarenites with abundant igneous grains exist,
interbedded with pebble conglomerates containing
abundant chert fragments and with dull light-gray ar-
gillaceous limestones typically shattered in splinters.
It will be more fully described under the Las Villas*
belt section, below in this chapter.
The San Martin* Formation contains a rich fora-
miniferal fauna. Radiolaria are abundant, and cocco-
lithophoridae and discoasteridae are rock forming.
The age is lower –middle Eocene.
In this belt, the San Martin* Formation represents
the first influx of igneous detritus. This formation
underlies conformably the terrigenous clastic Vega*
Formation. The San Martin* Formation represents an
upward transition from an exclusively carbonate to
an exclusively terrigenous detrital regime.
Vega* Formation. —The Vega* Formation, which
is dominantly an igneous-derived unit, will be de-
scribed in detail under the Las Villas* belt section. Part
of the lower member of this formation, which consists
of calcareous shales, igneous-derived sandstones, and
occasional sandy limestones, occurs on the Yaguajay*
belt. In the Sagua la Grande River where it shows af-
finities to the San Martin* Formation, the sandstones
contain a large percentage of quartz grains. It also oc-
curs in the Sierra de Meneses in a more or less distorted
state all along the Las Villas* fault front.
Caibarien* Formation. — In the type section, 300 ft
(91 m) of Caibarien* Formation have been measured,
but as much as 900 ft (275 m) are estimated. It consists
of calcarenites and limestone conglomerates, with
brown secondary chert, interbedded with chalky and
marly limestones. The conglomerates are well and thin
bedded, with constituents of nearly uniform size, sel-
dom larger than 5 cm (2 in.). Iron oxide stains are
common. In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), a Caibarien
Formation of lower–middle Eocene in the Remedios
structurofacies zone described as limestones, marls
and carbonate breccias is present; it is not believed to
be the same as that of Gulf, although it is probably
partly equivalent.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 97
The fauna contains Asterocyclina sp. and Discocy-
clina sp. and indicates a lower – middle Eocene age.
This unit is lithologically related to the San Martin*
Formation and is also the lateral equivalent of the
Lower Vega* Formation.
Drilling.—Two wells were drilled in the Remedios–
Sierra de Jatibonico area of the Yaguajay* belt:
1) Atlantic Puntilla-1 to a total depth of 4034 ft
(1230 m). It was spudded in the Lower Creta-
ceous Puntilla* Formation. Orbitolina cf. texana
was encountered at 1790 ft (545 m). It probably
bottomed in the lower Puntilla* or Bartolomé*
Formation.
2) Texaco Mayajigua-1 to a total depth of 10,005 ft
(3050 m). It was spudded in the Lower Creta-
ceous, probably the Puntilla* or Palenque* For-
mation. At 2580 ft (785 m), the section became
dominantly dolomite, possibly the lower Puntilla*,
Palenque*, or Bartolomé*. Aptian–Albian was iden-
tified at 4850 ft (1480 m), and the section remained
in the Lower Cretaceous to total depth. In view of
the fact that dips ranged from 30 to 808, the total
thickness penetrated was not more than 5740 ft
(1750 m).
Sierra de Cubitas Area
This area of exposures has the same trend as the
Remedios –Sierra de Jatibonico area, but is offset ap-
proximately 90 km (56 mi) to the east. It is defined
to the south by a line running from Ojo de Agua to
Las Mercedes, north of which it terminates.
This is the Remedios (2) zone of Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988). Gulf did only reconnaissance in this area.
The Sierra de Cubitas is a 75-km (46-mi)-long feature
prominent in air photographs. It is bound to the south
and east by what has been known as the Cubitas fault
and disappears to the north and northwest under a
Quaternary cover. To the southeast, it terminates against
ultrabasics. Generally speaking, the dips are 30– 508
to the south, and the carbonates are cut by several faults
parallel to the strike that repeat the section several
times across the belt. The section, shown in Figure 63,
is reported as follows.
Viñas* Group Undifferentiated. —Formations of
the Viñas* Group, with a minimum thickness reported
by Hatten et al. (1958) of 1890 ft (575 m), outcrops
extensively in the area. This group must include the
Palenque Formation, shown as Albian massive lime-
stones by Iturralde-Vinent and de la Torre (1990).
Vilató Formation.— It consists of an unknown
thickness of calcarenites and calcirudites containing
98 / Pardo
FIGURE 63. Stratigraphic section:
Yaguajay* belt, Sierra de Cubitas area.
abundant rudist (Radiolites) fragments. It is considered
of Cenomanian age.
Purio Formation. — This name is used to identify
an unknown thickness (perhaps in the hundreds of
meters) of massive limestones of Turonian to Maas-
trichtian age.
Unnamed Maastrichtian. — This unit is 460 ft
(140 m) thick and consists of calcirudites containing
the rudist Biradiolites mooretownensis. The following
foraminifera have also been reported: Vaughanina
cubensis, Vaughanina guatemaltensis, Pseudorbitoides
spp., Sulcoperculina globosa, Chubbina cardenasensis,
Sidereolites skoirensis, Sidereolites vanbelleni, and Sto-
matorbina binkhorsti. Although no name has been given
to this unit, it is considered distinctive and separated
from the underlying section by Iturralde-Vinent and
de la Torre (1990), who consider it the equivalent of
the Camajan Formation of Loma Camajan. It is similar
and is very probably the equivalent to the Remedios*
and Mayajigua* formations. Hatten et al. (1958) reports
that the Viñas* Group is overlain by 7000 ft (2135 m)
of Remedios Formation, which in this case appears to
be synonymous with Vilató, Purio, and the unnamed
Maastrichtian (Remedios* and Mayajigua*) formations.

FIGURE 64. Eastern Cuba, Yaguajay* belt.
This thickness appears excessive, probably because
of faulting. The 1988 geologic map (Pushcharovsky
et al., 1988) shows that the thickness of the Remedios
Group (including the Viñas Group and Hatten’s Re-
medios Formation) is 2625 ft (800 m).
Embarcadero Formation. — Described in Push-
charovsky et al. (1988) as lower–middle Eocene lime-
stone with volcanic fragments and carbonate conglom-
erates, this description suggests the Sagua* and San
Martin* formations. The thickness is given as 165 ft
(50 m). In the northern Sierra de Cubitas, Hatten et al.
(1958) report an interfingering of the Sagua* with the
Jumagua (lower Vega*) Formation.
Lesca Formation. —Described in Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988) as middle Eocene conglomerates and
limestones with chert, this description suggests the
Caibarien* Formation. The thickness is given as 330 ft
(100 m).
Senado Formation.—This unit is described in Push-
charovsky et al. (1988) as olistostromes with blocks
of limestone and serpentine, interbedded with sand-
stones and siltstones of middle Eocene age. As will be
seen below, this is unquestionably the upper Vega*
(Rosas*) Formation. The thickness is given as 660 ft
(200 m).
Northern Oriente: Gibara Area
In northern Oriente, only representatives of the
carbonate platform and the basic igneous-volcanic
provinces are present. The general structural style is a
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 99
continuation of that of central Cuba, but is appar-
ently more compressed.
The rocks of the carbonate platform form a gener-
ally south-dipping, folded and faulted, regional half-
dome, bounded on the south by fairly continuous
Paleocene –middle Eocene carbonate conglomerates
and flysch. These outcrops with the Cubitas Range
(in Camaguey) and the Yaguajay* belt (in Las Villas)
form the three northwest – southeast-trending and
southeast-plunging en echelon carbonate platform
antiforms that define most of northern Cuba; these
might have been originally separate carbonate banks.
Here, the carbonates are present as a group of out-
crops covering an area of 22  9 km (13  5.5 mi) west
of, and including, the town of Gibara (see Figure 64).
This is the easternmost occurrence of carbonate plat-
form sediments in Cuba. Because the dolomitic con-
tinental margin carbonate complex is not present,
G. Winston (1994, personal communication) consid-
ers these carbonates to be unrelated to the Florida-
Bahamas Platform. He believes them to have been de-
posited as a separate bank, such as the present-day
eastern Bahamas.
The limestone massif is surrounded and broken up
by several faults. Of interest is that the fault that
separates it from the basic igneous-volcanic province
dips south and strikes northeast toward the sea, where
it terminates offshore on the steep continental slope
plunging to 1000 fathoms (1828 m). Although no in-
formation about the nature of the contact between
100 / Pardo
FIGURE 65. Stratigraphic section:
Gibara area, eastern Cuba – northern
area.
Cuba and the Bahamas along this part of the Old
Bahamas Channel is available (seismic profiles by the
University of Texas do not get close enough to
shore), it must certainly be a major fault. The section
is as follows and shown in Figure 65.
Gibara Formation. — The Gibara Formation con-
sists of 2300–2600 ft (700–800 m) of limestones. Some
estimates, including that of Pushcharovsky et al. (1988),
of up to 20,000 ft (6000 m) exist, with no reference to
their source. It would not be surprising if the total
thickness of the carbonate platform is on this order
of magnitude, but it is doubtful that such a thickness
is exposed in this area. The lower part of the formation
consists of brownish white, compact, medium-bedded,
crystalline limestones with intercalations of yellow-
ish white, sometimes laminated, hard, microcrystal-
line limestones. It is separated by a slight angular dis-
cordance from an upper part, consisting of massive,
crystalline, medium- to coarse-grained, yellowish
gray limestones with abundant rudist remains. The
uppermost part of the formation contains yellowish
white, dense, microcrystalline, pelagic limestones.

Beds of dolomite and dolomitic limestones are pres-
ent; the most persistent has been named the Jobal
Formation. The description suggests that one is deal-
ing with at least two and possibly three units.
The fauna of the lower part of the formation is char-
acterized by Coskinolinoides cf. texanus, Dictyoconus cf.
walnutensis, Orbitolina sp., Nommoloculina helmi, Millio-
lina sp., Planomalina buxtorfi, and Ticinella sp., indicat-
ing an Aptian–Albian age.
The upper part contains Globotruncana arca, Glo-
botruncana contusa, Globotruncana caliciformis, Globo-
truncana conica, Globotruncana fornicata, Globotrun-
cana lapparenti bulloides, Globotruncana linneana,
Globotruncana stuarti, Hedbergella sp., radiolaria, and
rudistids. This latter assemblage is definitely Upper
Cretaceous, possibly Turonian–Maastrichtian, and, ex-
cept for the rudistids that are probably detritus, indi-
cates pelagic depositional conditions similar to those
of the Casablanca Group in the Cayo Coco – Punta
Alegre and northwestern Cubitas of central Cuba; pe-
lagic faunas are typically absent in the carbonate plat-
form sediments. The mention of strong folding, ob-
served in the upper part of the Gibara Formation, also
suggests the thin-bedded marly limestones character-
istic of the upper Casablanca Group.
The lower part of the Gibara Formation is similar
and correlative with the Puntillas* Formation of the
Viñas* Group. The upper part definitely suggests the
Casablanca Group.
El Jobal Formation.— El Jobal Formation consists
of 230–330 ft (70–100 m) of gray to dark-brownish or
pinkish gray, sugary, medium- to coarse-crystalline
dolomites and dolomitic limestones. It is believed to
be a facies of the upper part of the Gibara Formation.
The dolomites are barren of fossils, but a limestone
interbed has been found to contain Milliolina sp., Sul-
coperculina sp., Vaughanina cubensis minor, Orbitoides
murchissoni, Orbitoides tissoti, Pseudorbitoides sp., Sulcor-
bitoides sp., and rudist fragments, indicating an upper
Campanian–lower Maastrichtian age.
This unit is similar and equivalent to the Palone*
Formation and is also equivalent to the Mayajigua*
Formation.
Embarcadero (Embarcadero Oriental) Forma-
tion. — This name has been used to designate the
Sagua*-like conglomerate that outcrops in the Sierra
de Cubitas in central Cuba. In Pushcharovsky et al.,
1988, it is named Embarcadero Oriental.
The formation consists of 150–1000 ft (50–300 m)
of limestone and dolomite conglomeratic breccia made
up of 95% of detritus, of which 90% consist of the
various limestone types found in the older carbon-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 101
ate platform, 6–8% of dolomites, and 2–4% of chert.
The percentage of igneous components from the ba-
sic igneous-volcanics is very small.
This conglomerate is identical with the Sagua* For-
mation of central Cuba, which ranges from the Aptian–
Albian to the lower–middle Eocene, where it becomes
geographically very extensive. No indigenous fauna
has been found, and its age is based on components
and because it underlies the upper Paleocene–middle
Eocene Vigia Formation. The Vigia Formation corre-
lates with the San Martin* and Vega* formations of
central Cuba; therefore, whether the Sagua* or Embar-
cadero are Paleocene or lower–middle Eocene, they
are coeval and reflect the same process.
Vigia (Vigia Oriental) Formation.—The Vigia (Vigia
Oriental) Formation (in Pushcharovsky et al., 1988, it is
named Vigia Oriental) consists of up to 2300 ft (700 m)
of mostly igneous-derived clastics, detrital limestones,
and tuffs as follows:
1) The lower part of the formation consists of an
interbedding of green to grayish green serpen-
tine, limestone, and volcanic-derived graywacke
sandstones and mudstones. They are well bed-
ded, and their grain size varies from coarse to fine
and sometimes contain large foraminifera.
2) The upper part consists of thin and well-bedded
white to grayish white, calcareous, commonly
silicified tuffs, and radiolaria-bearing marls, with
bentonite. Rhyodacites and greenish gray, dense
rhyodacitic tuffs are also present. The rhyodacites
are white to grayish white and porphyritic, with
phenocrysts of biotite, quartz, amphibole, and
plagioclase up to 2 mm (0.08 in.) in diameter. The
tuffs are commonly silicified or zeolitized.
A rich, foraminiferal fauna contains Globorotalia
(Acarinina) acarinata, Globorotalia (Acarinina) densa,
Globorotalia (Acarinina) mckannai, Globorotalia (Acari-
nina) pentacamerata, Globorotalia (Acarinina) rugosoacu-
leata, Globorotalia (Acarinina) spinuloflata, Globorotalia
(Acarinina) triplex, Amphistegina lopeztrigoi, Anomalina
grosserugosa, Asterocyclina sp., Clavulina parisiensis,
Cribohantkenina bermudezi, Dictyoconus americanus,
Dictyoconus cookei, Discocyclina crassa, Discocyclina
flintensis, Discocyclina pustulosa, Discocyclina vermunti,
Ellipsoglandulina velascoensis, Ellipsonodosaria annulifera,
Globigerina pseudoeocenica, Globigerinoides higginsi, etc.
The age is considered upper Paleocene–middle Eocene.
The Vigia Formation overlies unconformably the
Embarcadero and the Gibara formations. It is equiv-
alent to the Miranda and Castillo de los Indios for-
mations of southeastern Oriente. The lower part of
102 / Pardo
FIGURE 66. Central Cuba, coastal areas.
this formation represents a flysch deposited in deep
waters similar to, and coeval with, the Manacas For-
mation (Pica Pica Member) of western Cuba and the
Vega* Formation of central Cuba. However, the up-
per part is of volcanic origin and of a volcanism syn-
chronous to, and even postdating, the major thrust-
ing episode of the orogeny.
Yaguajay* Belt Discussion
This section exposes a minimum of ±8400 ft
(±2550 m) of Tithonian and Lower Cretaceous mas-
sive, bank-type carbonates. Dolomite breccias are
occasionally common, and evaporites are absent. The
Upper Cretaceous (and possible Paleocene) is charac-
terized by ±5600 ft (±1700 m) of occasionally richly
fossiliferous limestones and occasional dolomites.
It includes the regionally persistent, Campanian to
lower Maastrichtian carbonate conglomerate of the
Mayajigua* Formation, which is mainly derived from
reef material. Finally, during the lower–middle Eo-
cene, ±2200 ft (±700 m) were deposited, which are
characterized by the coarse-grained Sagua* conglom-
erate followed by the San Martin* and younger de-
trital limestones and clastics where igneous fragments,
derived from the orogenic front to the south, make
their first appearance. The entire section was deposited
under shallow water, and although the evaporites are
absent, it shows great affinity to the Bahamas section.
The above thickness figures give a constant average
rate of sedimentation (uncorrected for compaction)
of 167 ft/Ma (51 m/Ma) from the middle Kimmeridgian
through the middle Eocene or 114 Ma. However, the
Upper Jurassic alone could show a higher rate of sedi-
mentation depending on the age of the observed base
of the Guani* Formation, which is unfossiliferous.
Coastal Region
This region runs along the north coast. It is present
north of a line as follows:
It runs north of the Bahia de Cardenas, through
Jumagua, Sagua la Grande, the confluence of the
Camajuani and Sagua la Chica rivers, north of
Remedios, along the north flank of the Sierra
de Bamburanao, south of Yaguayay, Chambas,
Moron, Loma Cunagua, Bolivia, along the north
flank of the Sierra de Cubitas, La Gabriela, and
goes to sea north of Nuevitas (see Figure 66).
The original name, by Pardo (1953), was the Coast-
al Belt and was defined as the entire coastal area in-
cluding the cays, with little or no pre–upper Eocene

outcrops, and where the sparse drilling (Gulf Blanquizal
III-1, Shell Cayo Coco-2, Shell Punta Alegre-1A, Shell
Punta Alegre-2) indicated a carbonate platform sec-
tion with less structural complications than in the
Yaguajay* belt, farther to the south. This was a depar-
ture from either the Pardo (1953, 1954) or Hatten-
Meyerhoff (Hatten et al., 1958) definition of belts
(units). In 1956b, Truitt restricted the coastal belt
to a lithologic-type section as encountered in the well
Shell Cayo Coco-2 (the stratigraphic definition of belt).
The same area was named the Cayo Coco tectounit by
Hatten et al. (1958) and the Cayo Coco belt by Pardo
(1975). However, this restricted definition was difficult
to extend outside the Cayo Coco–Punta Alegre area
because of the lack of information, and Hatten et al.
(1958) included in it the area north of the Sierra de
Cubitas, although there was no information on the
Lower Cretaceous–Upper Jurassic facies. Further dril-
ling of the Kewanee Collazo-1 and Shell Manuy-1 wells
and the scarce information available on the deep
wells drilled by ICRM suggest facies changes within
the coastal province and a much greater structural
complexity, impossible to resolve with the informa-
tion at hand. For this reason, it is suggested that the
coastal areas of Las Villas and Camaguey, extending
from Gulf Blanquizal III-1 to the town of Nuevitas,
north of the Yaguajay* belt of carbonate platform out-
crops, be named the coastal region, outside the belt
(unit) classification scheme.
For description purposes, this region will be subdi-
vided into areas: the Cayo Coco–Punta Alegre (east)
and the Blanquizal (west). In addition, a short descrip-
tion of the well Gulf-Chevron Cay Sal-1 as well as a
discussion of the south Bahamas Platform will be pro-
vided under the Bahamas area.
Cayo Coco–Punta Alegre Area
The section shown in Figure 67 is a composite
section based on the Shell wells Cayo Coco-2, Punta
Alegre-1A, and Punta Alegre-2. The sequence from
older to younger is as follows:
Cunagua Salt. — It is believed to be at the base of
the section, although this unit has never been pen-
etrated in this area in a normal stratigraphic position.
Punta Alegre* Formation. — Although this unit
has not been drilled in a normal position in this area,
it is believed to be transitional between the evaporites
and the Cayo Coco Formation. The breccia must be in
part tectonic, but in part due to solution of the anhy-
drite. The abundance of components derived from a
silicoclastic section suggests some relationship with
the San Adrian and the San Cayetano Formations.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 103
Cayo Coco* Formation.—In the Shell Cayo Coco-2
type section, it extends from 3998 ft (1218 m) to total
depth at 10,563 ft (3220 m) for a total thickness, cor-
rected for dip, of 5684 ft (1733 m). The dips average 308.
3998 – 7150 ft (1218 –2180 m). The upper 2728 ft
(832 m) consists of massive to thick-bedded, brown
to light-brown, micro- to medium-crystalline do-
lomites and minor dolomitized oolitic zones. An-
hydrite occurs in minor amounts commonly as
vug fillings. Many zones of healed, brecciated do-
lomite are present; Shell geologists called it the
‘‘upper (breccia) dolomite group.’’ Some clay-
shale laminae exist.
7144–10,563 ft (2178–3220 m). The lower 2956 ft
(901 m) of the section consists of dolomites, cal-
carenites, and micritic limestones interbedded
with characteristic, sometime massive, white to
brown, micro- to fine-crystalline anhydrites. The
dolomites are brown in color, micro- to coarse
crystalline, with traces of anhydrite. The lime-
stones are light brownish gray and contain mi-
crofossils, and the calcarenites are coarse grained
and oolitic. A continuous limestone interval ex-
ists from 8982 to 9245 ft (2739 to 2819 m).
G. Winston (1984, personal communication) con-
siders the top of this lower section at 7144 ft (2178 m)
correlative with the top lower Comanchean (middle
Aptian), Punta Gorda Formation in Florida (COSUNA,
1988).
Within the brown dolomites of this lower section
are several zones of good intergranular to vugular po-
rosity (up to 15%) from 8112 to 8350 and 8765 to
9000 ft (2473 to 2546 and 2672 to 2744 m). Tests indi-
cated zones of reservoir-quality permeability. G. Win-
ston (1984, personal communication) considers these
two intervals of brown dolomite to be a section, re-
peated by a thrust fault at 8349 ft (2545 m), that cor-
relates with the lower Able Member and upper Twelve
Mile Member of the Lehigh Acres Formation of south
Florida. However, either this lithology is younger in
Florida, or unknown structural complications exist in
Shell Cayo Coco-2. G. Winston (1984, personal com-
munication) considers the Lehigh Acres Formation
lower Comanchean (middle Aptian; Childs et al., 1988),
whereas Upper Jurassic fossils have been identified at
9005 ft (2745 m) in Shell Cayo Coco-2.
Asphalt stains are common throughout the entire
section.
Coskinolinoides cf. C. texanus, considered an Aptian–
Albian index (lower Fredericksburg) in the Gulf Coast,
104 / Pardo
FIGURE 67. Stratigraphic section:
coastal province, Cayo Coco – Punta
Alegre area.
was found at 6667 ft (2032 m). Saccocoma sp., Cuneolina
sp., and Favreina joukowskyi, considered Upper Jurassic
indicators in Cuba, were found at 9005 ft (2745 m).
Based on scant but reliable paleontological evidence
and its position underlying the Aptian (possibly ex-
tending into the Neocomian) Guillermo* Formation,
the Cayo Coco* is therefore considered to range from
the Upper Jurassic into the Aptian.
The lower contact has never been drilled. The Cayo
Coco* Formation is probably underlain by the Punta
Alegre* or San Adrian formations. However, the pos-
sibility exists that the lower part of the Cayo Coco*
Formation is synonymous with the upper part of the
Punta Alegre* Formation.
The upper contact with the Guillermo* Forma-
tion is obscured by dolomitization but is believed
to be transitional. The Cayo Coco* Formation is
time equivalent to the lower and middle part of the
Viñas* Group and represents a similar carbonate
bank-evaporitic facies. It is very similar to the Guani*,
Bartolomé*, and Palenque* formations of the Yaguajay*
belt, the main difference being the presence of anhy-
drites in the Cayo Coco* Formation. As already men-
tioned, the absence of anhydrite in the Viñas* Group

is believed by some workers to be due in large part to
a later solution as indicated by the frequent intra-
formational dolomite breccias.
Except for Hatten, Meyerhoff, and associated au-
thors, the name Cayo Coco* Formation has been
used fairly loosely in the literature, scout reports, and
other sources of information.
The Cayo Coco* Formation was also penetrated in
Kewanee Collazo-1 from 8395 ft (2559 m) to total depth
at 13,030 ft (3973 m). The interval from 8395 to
12,250 ft (2559 to 3735 m) or 3796 ft (1157 m) of
thickness (after correction for an average 108 dip) sug-
gests the upper dolomite section in Shell Cayo Coco-2.
Below 12,250 ft (3735 m), 447 ft (136 m) of section
(after correction for an average 558 dip) suggests the
lower anhydrite-dolomite section in Shell Cayo Coco-2.
Favreina joukowskyi was found at 12,730 ft (3881 m).
Casablanca Group. — Giedt and Schooler (1959)
described an assemblage of lithologies from the coast-
al plain south of Guaney Beach, Camaguey, north-
west of the Sierra de Cubitas. It consists of light-gray to
yellowish gray, thin- to medium-bedded, fine-grained
limestones, with shaley intervals between the lime-
stone beds. The limestone is slightly chalky and con-
tains an abundant microfauna and poorly preserved
ammonites. These lithologies are similar to a section
from 950 to 4000 ft (290 to 1220 m) in Shell Cayo
Coco-2, where Pardo (1954) named three units, which,
in ascending order, are the Guillermo*, Romano*, and
Contrabando* formations. In this study, the Casa-
blanca Formation has been elevated to group status,
and it includes the three above-named formations.
The thickness in Shell Cayo Coco-2 might be exag-
gerated in view of reported high dips.
Guillermo* Formation. — It consists of massive-
bedded, pelagic foraminiferal white limestone and ap-
pears to be unconformably overlain by the Romano*
Formation. It contains abundant Nannoconus spp.,
Favusella washitensis, and Colomiella spp. Based on
the fauna, it is considered Aptian to lower Albian and
possibly extending into the Neocomian. It is, in part,
the deep-water equivalent of the upper Cayo Coco*
Formation.
In Shell Cayo Coco-2, the type section, it is found
between 3500 and 4000 ft (1067 and 1220 m). The
Guillermo* Formation has been found in Shell Punta
Alegre-2 between 3970 and 4220 ft (1210 and 1287 m)
and Shell Manuy-1 between 985 and 1213 ft (300 and
369 m). It is unconformably overlain by the upper
Maastrichtian Remedios* Formation. It is absent, pos-
sibly faulted out in Shell Punta Alegre-1A, and has not
been specifically recognized in Kewanee Collazo-1.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 105
Romano* Formation. — It consists of an interbed-
ding of argillaceous limestones, marls, and some
shales. It is comformably overlain by the Contra-
bando* Formation.
Based on abundant planktonic foraminifera with
Globigerina cretacea sl., Guembelina sp., and Nannoconus
spp., it is considered of Albian age. The influx of ar-
gillaceous material in this deep-water environment
is a definite departure from the previously predom-
inant pure carbonate environment.
Its type locality is the 2380 –3500-ft (726 – 1067-m)
interval in Shell Cayo Coco-2. It is also present in
Shell Punta Alegre-1A from 1225 to 1520 ft (373 to
463 m). It is missing through unconformity in Shell
Punta Alegre-2 and is not present in Shell Manuy-1.
It has not been specifically recognized in Kewanee
Collazo-1, but it could be present because the inter-
val 8060 – 8395 ft (2457 – 2559 m) has been reported
as limestone-chert-shale of Albian – Cenomanian –
Turonian age; this could be an interval of tectonically
disturbed Casablanca Group.
Contrabando* Formation. — It consists of chalky
limestone and marl, sometimes dolomitic, contain-
ing characteristic nodular black chert stringers.
It contains abundant pelagic foraminifera, among
them G. cretacea sl., Guembelina sp., and Rotalipora
appenninica. It is considered Cenomanian –Turonian
age and might extend into the Coniacian. As will be
seen later, this unit is lithologically and paleonto-
logically very similar to the Calabazar* Formation of
the Las Villas* belt.
It is unconformably overlain by the Mayajigua*
Formation. The type locality is the 950–2380-ft (290–
726-m) interval in Shell Cayo Coco-2, where the up-
per part is truncated by the younger Tertiary uncon-
formity. It is present in Shell Punta Alegre-1A from
920 to 1225 ft (280 to 373 m). It is probably present in
Kewanee Collazo-1 (see Romano* Formation descrip-
tion above). It is absent in Shell Manuy-1.
The Casablanca Group, with its definite open-
marine, deep-water, pelagic environment, has been
considered, in the past, as one of the characteristics
of the Cayo Coco belt (unit).
Mayajigua* Formation. —This formation is well
represented in the Cayo Coco–Punta Alegre area. It is
present in Shell Punta Alegre-1A from 280 to 920 ft
(85 to 280 m) and Kewanee Collazo-1 from 7347 to
8065 ft (2240 to 2459 m). It has not been specifically
identified in Shell Manuy-1, but based on sample
descriptions and the presence of a rich Maastrichtian
orbitoid fauna, it is believed to be present under the
Cayo Coco* Formation after crossing a major fault at
106 / Pardo
±8000 ft (±2400 m). In Shell Cayo Coco-2, it is missing
because of the Tertiary unconformity.
Jaula* Formation. — It consists of calcarenite of
lower – middle Eocene age. It is present in Kewanee
Collazo-1 from 6550 to 7347 ft (1997 to 2240 m), where
it overlies the Mayajigua* Formation. It is the correla-
tive of the Sagua* Formation.
In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), the Guaney Formation
is overlain by middle Eocene limestone with breccias
called the Venero Formation. It is a possible synonym of
the Jaula* Formation and even the Turiguano* Formation.
Turiguano* Formation. — The type locality of
this formation is a small outcrop north of the Isla de
Turiguano diapir. It consists of white calcarenite with
abundant dolomitization and a few dolomite inter-
vals of lower–middle Eocene age.
In Kewanee Collazo-1, it is present from 4325 to
6550 ft (1319 to 1997 m), where it overlies the Jaula*
Formation. With correction for an average 208(?) dip,
this represents a thickness of 2091 ft (637 m). It is pres-
ent in Shell Punta Alegre-2 from 3548 to 3970 ft (1082
to 1210 m), where it overlies the Guillermo* Forma-
tion with possible unconformity. It is the equivalent
to the Caibarien* Formation of the Yaguajay* belt.
It is unconformably overlain by various upper Eo-
cene or younger units; however, in the Kewanee
Collazo-1 and the Shell Punta Alegre wells, it is over-
lain by the lower Oligocene Chambas* Formation.
Drilling. — In addition to Shell Cayo Coco-2 and
Kewanee Collazo-1, several deep wells have been drilled
in this area. Sparse information is available on them
from the 1985 Cuban geologic map (Cuba, 1985a, b)
and Petroconsultants (1989, personal communication)
and no dips or lithologic details are given. This makes
precise assignment of formational unit and correla-
tion with the other wells in the area very difficult if
not impossible. For instance, it is impossible to
determine whether the Casablanca Group is present
in the ICRM wells, although the equivalent time in-
terval from Aptian to Turonian is shown in several of
them. The wells are Shell Manuy-1, and ICRM Cayo
Fragoso-1, ICRM Cayo Frances-5, ICRM Cayo Lucas-1,
ICRM Cayo Romano-1, and ICRM Moron Norte-1.
1) Shell Manuy-1. Neogene carbonates to ±655 ft
(±200 m), Campanian–Maastrichtian limestones
to ±1015 ft (±310 m), Aptian–Albian limestones
to ±1575 ft (±480 m), Upper Jurassic – Neocomian
dolomites (possible Cayo Coco* Formation) to
±7215 ft (±2200 m), Paleocene detrital carbon-
ates to ±7545 ft (±2300 m), and Campanian –
Maastrichtian limestones to total depth at 8895 ft
(2712 m). However, reliable reports indicate that
the well was cut by several thrust faults; at ±1600,
±6000, and ±8000 ft (±480, ±1800, and ±2400 m),
repeating the Casablanca Group and some youn-
ger units several times.
2) ICRM Cayo Fragoso-1. Oligocene and younger
carbonates to ±2330 ft (±710 m), lower – middle
Eocene detrital carbonates to ±2820 ft (±860 m),
Coniacian–Maastrichtian limestones and dolomites
to ±6079 ft (±1850 m), Albian–Turonian limestones
and dolomites to ±11,250 ft (±3430 m), and dolo-
mites and anhydrite of Upper Jurassic and Neo-
comian age (possibly Cayo Coco* Formation) to
total at 16,450 ft (5014 m).
3) ICRM Cayo Frances-5. Neogene and Oligocene
limestones drilled from the surface to ±2230 ft
(±680 m), middle – upper Eocene limestones to
±2755 ft (±840 m), Albian – Maastrichtian lime-
stones to ±8005 ft (±2,440 m), Neocomian do-
lomite (no anhydrite) to ±11,415 ft (±3480 m),
and Aptian–Turonian limestones and dolomites to
total depth at 14,881 ft (4537 m).
Petroconsultants reports that the well penetrated
Lower Cretaceous limestones and anhydrites at
11,513 ft (3510 m). This could be interpreted as
the well having drilled through ±3600 ft (±1070 m)
of upper Cayo Coco* Formation before crossing a
thrust at 11,513 ft (3510 m).
4) ICRM Cayo Romano-1. This well has the most
conflicting information. The 1985 geologic map
(Cuba, 1985a, b) shows middle Eocene and youn-
ger Tertiary to ±680 ft (±280 m), Campanian –
Maastrichtian limestones to ±1445 ft (±440 m),
Cenomanian – Senonian dolomite to ±7350 ft
(±2240 m), and Aptian – Turonian limestones to
total depth at 13,317 ft (4060 m).
However, a 1989 Petroconsultants report (personal
communication) shows Tertiary to 275 ft (84 m),
Maastrichtian to 623 ft (190 m), Cenomanian –
Turonian to 1591 ft (485 m) Albian to 4838 ft
(1475 m), Neocomian–Aptian to 7915 ft (2413 m),
Tithonian to 8397 ft (2560 m), Upper Cretaceous
limestones to 11,808 ft (3600 m), Lower Cretaceous
dolomite to 12,792 ft (3900 m), and Neocomian
dolomite to total depth. In view that the presence
of a thick dolomite section in the Upper Creta-
ceous in this area is rather unusual, the author is
inclined to think that the geologic map is in error,
and that the well did cross a major thrust fault at
8397 ft (2560 m).
5) ICRM Moron Norte-1. Upper Eocene and younger
terrigenous clastics penetrated from the surface

to ±6165 ft (±1880 m), Cretaceous volcanics to
±9185 ft (±2800 m), Paleocene coarse terrigenous
clastics to ±9480 ft (±2890 m), Neocomian dolo-
mite suggesting the Bartolomé* (or Cayo Coco*)
Formation to total depth at 16,407 ft (5002 m).
The well must have crossed the Domingo thrust
at ±9185 ft (±2800 m).
Blanquizal Area
Gulf’s Blanquizal III-1 is representative of this area
that is characterized by a lack of anhydrite and con-
tinuous shallow-water conditions through the Creta-
ceous. The section shows great affinity to that of the
Yaguajay* belt, and this well could have penetrated
the offshore extension of this belt (see Figure 68).
0 – 196 ft (0 – 60 m). Güines Formation consist-
ing of light tan reefoidal porous, locally dolomi-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 107
FIGURE 68. Stratigraphic section:
coastal province, Blanquizal area.
tized limestones, marls, and calcarenites of Mio-
cene age.
196 – 1775 ft (60 –875 m). Upper Cretaceous tan,
cream, and gray fine-crystalline limestones with
rare dolomites. It is typical of the Remedios* and
possibly Palone* formations.
1775 – 2872 ft (541 – 875 m). Upper Cretaceous
consisting of dolomitized, richly fossiliferous
miliolid limestones, with rudist fragments typical
of the Camaco* Formation. A 3-ft (1-m) shaley bed
containing rock-forming Pithonella spp. as well as
Globigerina cretacea sl. and Guembelina sp. of early
Upper Cretaceous age was encountered at 2180 ft
(665 m). This was the only evidence of open-water
pelagic conditions.
2872 – 5330 ft (875 –1625 m). Lower Cretaceous
tan and brown finely crystalline dolomites and
dolomite breccias and cream, brown, and tan
108 / Pardo
limestones, commonly with miliolids, of the
Puntilla* and equivalent Palenque* formations.
Littlefield (1959) interpreted the fine-crystalline
dolomites as primary. Circulation was lost at 4208
ft (1283 m), indicating the cavernous (boulder)
zone. The Aptian – Albian Orbitolina cf. texana is
present at 4745 ft (1447 m). The top of the Lower
Cretaceous has been a matter of discussion; it is
certainly below 2180 ft (665 m), but correlation
with Cay Sal-1 could place it as high as 2250 ft
(686 m). It should be noted that long stretches of
dolomite section are completely devoid of identi-
fiable fossils, and many of the limestones con-
tain only nondiagnostic, facies-dependent faunas.
5330 to total depth at 11,218 ft (1625 to total
depth at 3419 m). It consists dominantly of tan,
gray, and brown very fine to microcrystalline do-
lomite of the Lower Cretaceous Bartolomé* For-
mation. Two intervals of cream, tan, brown, and
white fine- to coarse-grained, commonly miliolid-
rich limestones at 7033–7180 ft (2144–2189 m)
and 9875–10,113 ft (3011–3083 m), respectively.
Littlefield (1952) interpreted the well as having
crossed a major thrust fault at 7650 ft (2332 m),
repeating ±3000 ft (±900 m) of section, although
this has never been definitely confirmed.
G. Winston (1986, personal communication) makes
the following correlations with Florida, but considers
them ‘‘iffy:’’ Rattlesnake Hammock, 4650 ft (1418 m);
Sunniland, 4740 ft (1445 m); West Felda, 6520 ft
(1988 m); Pumpkin Bay, 6550 ft (1997 m); Bone Island,
7980 ft (2433 m); and Wood River, 10,350 ft (3155 m).
No indication of anhydrite exists, although common
dolomite breccias are present, which Littlefield (1952)
believed were caused by anhydrite solution.
G. Winston’s correlations suggest that the well
penetrated the Jurassic at 10,350 ft (3155 m). Gulf’s
opinion at the time was that the well’s total depth was
still in the Lower Cretaceous.
Another well, ICRM Cayo Lucas-1, might also have
been drilled in this area, but published information
does not permit a positive determination; no evap-
orites were mentioned.
ICRM Cayo Lucas-1. —Upper Eocene and youn-
ger limestones drilled from the surface to ±920 ft
(±280 m), Campanian – Maastrichtian limestones
to ±2100 ft (±640 m), Cenomanian – Santonian
limestones to ±2950 ft (±900 m), Aptian – Turonian
limestones to ±8460 ft (±2580 m), Neocomian
dolomite (possibly Bartolomé* or upper Cayo Coco*)
to total depth at 10,152 ft (3095 m).
Florida-Bahamas Area
Many wells have been drilled in southwest Flor-
ida, and five wells have been drilled in the Bahamas:
Superior Andros-1, Chevron Great Isaac-1, Gulf-Mobil
Long Island-1, Tenneco Doobloon Saxon-1, and Gulf-
Chevron Cay Sal-1. Only the last two have a direct
bearing on Cuba’s coastal province. Winston (1991)
is a good source of general information on the Ba-
hamas and Florida stratigraphy.
1) Tenneco Doubloon Saxon-1. This well was drilled
in the southern Bahamas, 43 km (26 mi) northeast
from Cayo Coco-2 and, according to Petroconsul-
tants (1988, personal communication), was in the
dolomites and anhydrites of the Cayo Coco* For-
mation at a total depth of 21,740 ft (6628 m). Oil
shows were reported. Unfortunately, no other de-
tails are available.
2) Gulf-Chevron Cay Sal-1. This well was jointly
drilled 82 km (50 mi) north-northeast of Gulf
Blanquizal III-1 by Standard of California and Gulf
Oil to a total depth of 18,906 ft (5764 m). Accord-
ing to G. Winston (1991, personal communica-
tion), the section is as follows (see Figure 69):
0– 1400 ft (0 – 427 m). Post-Eocene white micritic
limestones and white euhedral microcrystalline
dolomites.
1400 – 3620 ft (427 – 1104 m). Eocene tan, cream,
and white micritic limestones with skeletal remains
and orange-brown euhedral fine to microcrystal-
line dolomite.
3620–4680 ft (1104–1427 m). Paleocene lime-
stone, dolomite bank facies, and dolomite reef fa-
cies. The limestone is nonporous, white litho-
graphic, and chalky. The bank facies dolomite is
nonporous, cryptocrystalline, light gray, and tan.
Numerous beds of porous euhedral fine-crystalline
dolomite are interbedded with the above. The reef
facies is medium- to coarse-crystalline, euhedral,
and porous dolomite.
4680 to ±7300 ft (1427 to ±2226 m). The Upper
Cretaceous consists of 1460 ft (445 m) of massive
tan, cream, light- to dark-gray, fine- to microcrys-
talline dolomite. It overlies 470 ft (143 m) of white
chalky limestone with dolomite inclusions. The
base is made of 690 ft (210 m) of tan and brown,
euhedral fine- to medium-, and occasionally, coarse-
crystalline dolomite. The coarse dolomite appears
to have a reef origin. The dolomite is very porous,
and large cavities (caverns at the base of the inter-
val) exist. The exact boundaries are questionable.

±7300– 10,310 ft (±2226– 3143 m). Much of the
Albian and the upper part of the Aptian to the top
of the Lake Trafford Formation consist of the lower
part of the Rattlesnake Hammock Formation over-
lain by 2540 ft (774 m) of cream to tan, cryptocrys-
talline to anhedral dolomite called the Cay Sal do-
lomite. The lower 480 ft (146 m) of section consists
of an interbedding of tan, brown, and cryptocrys-
talline to euhedral dolomite, cream to tan micritic
limestones, and a minor amount of anhydrite.
10,310 –10,460 ft (3143 –3189 m). It consists of
tan micritic limestone and tan, euhedral, and mi-
crocrystalline dolomite of the Lake Trafford Forma-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 109
FIGURE 69. Stratigraphic section:
Bahamas Gulf-Chevron Cay Sal-1. Li-
thology and correlations courtesy of
G. Winston.
tion. Anhydrite is present. This interval represents
the beginning of continuous evaporitic conditions
in Cay Sal.
10,460–10,620 ft (3189–3238 m). It consists of tan,
micritic limestone with rare tan, microcrystalline
dolomite and anhydrite of the Sunniland Formation.
10,620–11,500 ft (3238–3506 m). This is the first
interval consisting dominantly of anhydrite. The
subordinate carbonates are dominantly tan and
brown micritic limestones with occasional skele-
tal remains. Minor microcrystalline tan and brown
dolomite also exists. It is considered equivalent
to the Punta Gorda Formation.
110 / Pardo
FIGURE 70. Stratigraphic sections: coastal province, Gulf Blanquizal III-1 to ICRM Cayo Romano-1.
11,500–13,850 ft (3506–4223 m). This interval con-
sists of dominantly cream, brown, and tan, micritic
limestones interbedded with subordinate amounts
of brown and tan, medium- to microcrystalline
dolomites and subordinate anhydrite of the Able,
Twelve Mile, West Felda(?), and Pumpkin Bay
formations.
13,850–16,200 ft (4223–4938 m). This interval con-
sists of 35% of anhydrite with tan to brown, micritic
to lithographic limestone as the dominant carbon-
ate. The dolomite is tan to brown, very fine to fine
crystalline. It represents the Bone Island Formation.
G. Winston considers it to represent the lower part
of the Coahuilan and the upper part of the Jurassic.
The COSUNA Charts (Childs et al., 1988) consider
it of Berriasian to Hauterivian (Durangoan) age.
16,200 to total depth at 18,906 ft (4938 to total
depth at 5764 m). It consists of anhydrite inter-
bedded with tan to brown cryptocrystalline do-
lomite with occasional remains of oolites. Some
subordinate brown to tan micritic limestones exist.
A few thin salt beds are present near the bottom of
the section, which caused considerable drilling dif-
ficulties. Winston considers this interval to be the
Wood River Formation of Jurassic age. The COSUNA
Charts (Childs et al., 1988) consider it of Tithonian
(Lacastian) age. At the time of the drilling, Gulf’s
geologist on the well, R. A. Worrell, also considered
the well to have bottomed in the Jurassic.
Jurassic–Cretaceous Carbonate
Platform Discussion
The carbonate platform southern boundary is well
defined by the Yaguajay* belt. This province can be
divided into two areas on the basis of the distribution
of facies; however, this facies distribution is not nec-
essarily related to identifiable structural features. Be-
cause of the lack of information, it is difficult to draw
a boundary between the areas.
Figure 70, based on the ICRM wells, Gulf Blan-
quizal III-1, and Shell Cayo Coco-2 (shown in Cuba,
1985a, b), shows a spectacular increase in the thick-
ness of the interval between the top of the Neocomian

and the top of the Cretaceous in the 85 km (52 mi)
between Shell Cayo Coco-2 and ICRM Cayo Fragoso-1,
from ±3410 to ±8365 ft (±1040 to ±2550 m). In Gulf
Blanquizal III-1, this interval is at least 5134 ft (1565 m)
thick. In the Yaguajay* belt, this same interval is
10,780 ft (3290 m). In addition, this interval is shown
containing dolomites in ICRM Cayo Fragoso-1. Do-
lomites are present in this interval in Gulf Blanquizal
III-1 and the Yaguajay* belt, whereas dolomites are ab-
sent in the Cayo Coco – Punta Alegre area. In Gulf-
Chevron Cay Sal-1, the Upper Cretaceous consists of
3100 ft (945 m) of dominantly dolomites. This indi-
cates that the basic difference between the Cayo Coco–
Punta Alegre area and the Yaguajay* belt–Blanquizal
area is that in the former, the carbonate platform con-
ditions were replaced by pelagic, deeper water con-
ditions from the lower Aptian to the Maastrichtian,
whereas in the latter, they persisted at least until the
end of the Cretaceous or Paleocene.
This change occurred along a line running approx-
imately from Cayo Frances through Chambas, Moron,
Bolivia, and along the northern border of the Sierra de
Cubitas, suggesting the presence of a deep-water tongue,
possibly an ancestral Old Bahamas Channel, along the
north coast of Cuba. The presence of Cenomanian,
open-water Oligostegina limestone in Gulf Blanquizal III-
1 at 2180 ft (665 m) indicates the proximity to such a
feature. However, note that in the well ICRM Cayo
Romano-1, 3411 ft (1040 m) of Upper Cretaceous lime-
stones were reported under the fault in the Tithonian
at 8397 ft (2560 m) compared to the 1315 ft (401 m) in
the upthrown block. It is not known whether this dif-
ference in thickness is caused by an incomplete section
in the upthrown block, steep dips in the downthrown
block, or the superposition of two different facies.
Anhydrite beds occur, or have been reported, in the
Cayo Coco* Formation only in ICRM Cayo Fragoso-1,
Shell Cayo Coco-2, and in the lowermost part of the
section penetrated by Kewanee Collazo-1. No anhy-
drite is present, or has been reported, in the Lower
Cretaceous or Upper Jurassic of the Yaguajay* belt
(Remedios – Sierra de Jatibonico and Cubitas areas),
Gulf Blanquizal III-1, Shell Manuy-1, and the ICRM’s
wells Cayo Frances-5, Cayo Lucas-1, Cayo Romano-1,
and EPEP Moron Norte-1, although collapse brec-
cias in high-saline dolomites are common in the
Yaguajay* belt and Gulf Blanquizal III-1. In view of
the fact that no dip information for the ICRM wells
exists and that Shell Manuy-1 is apparently very
disturbed structurally, it is impossible to say whether
the above wells might not have drilled through the
upper ±3000 ft (±900 m) of the Cayo Coco* Forma-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 111
tion, where no anhydrites are found. The well Gulf-
Chevron Cay Sal-1 shows 3010 ft (918 m) of Lower
Cretaceous dolomites overlying 8596 ft (2621 m) of
interbedded dolomites and anhydrites. This section
certainly suggests the Cayo Coco* Formation. How-
ever, in this well, the Upper Cretaceous consists of
2620 ft (799 m) of dominantly dolomites with some
interbedded limestones with no indication of Casa-
blanca Group lithologies, therefore suggesting a greater
affinity to the Yaguajay* belt.
The absence of anhydrite in the Yaguajay* belt and
Blanquizal area could be depositional and caused by
the proximity to the bank edge. However, the presence
of abundant monomictic dolomite breccias, inter-
bedded with what has been interpreted as high-saline
primary dolomites, suggests that their absence could
also be caused by secondary solution (Littlefield, 1952).
The age of this solution ranges from the top of the
Lower Cretaceous to the upper Eocene. This phenome-
non might have been related to the fluid expelled from
the deep basin sediments under the advancing thrust
sheets; the basic igneous-volcanic province rocks are
present over part of the Cayo Coco–Punta Alegre area.
As already pointed out, none of the wells drilled along
the north coast of Cuba west of Gulf Blanquizal III-1
has ever encountered this bank facies. This suggest
that the carbonate bank province does not extend
along the coast as a continuous bank farther west than
the Blanquizal–Cardenas Bay area, although platform
carbonates are present in Pinar del Rio.
In conclusion, it appears that the Yaguajay* belt
and the Blanquizal area of the coastal province show
a strong affinity to the Bahamas section, with con-
tinuous sedimentation of bank carbonates (and evap-
orites in the lower part of the section), throughout
the Upper Jurassic and the entire Cretaceous.
The importance of the Mayajigua* Formation should
be noted. The abundance of indigenous shallow-water
fossils, the intertonguing with the Remedios* Forma-
tion, and the strong unconformity at the base suggest
that it was deposited in shallow waters and, as the re-
sult of an uplift of the coastal province, accompanied
with the erosion of reefs, during the Campanian –
Maastrichtian. In the southeastern part of the Sierra de
Meneses, the Campanian–Maastrichtian Mayajigua*
Formation breccias rest directly on the Neocomian
Bartolomé* Formation, with some 7700 ft (2350 m)
of Aptian – Santonian section missing. In Texaco
Mayajigua-1, drilled in the same general area, a mini-
mum of 2782 ft (848 m), after dip correction, of Aptian–
Albian is present above the Neocomian. In the Cayo
Coco–Punta Alegre area, the shallow-water Mayajigua*
112 / Pardo
FIGURE 71. Central Cuba: carbonate slope or scarp province.
Formation is in contact with the deep-water Casa-
blanca Group, indicating a strong uplift. Toward the
northwest, the Mayajigua is equivalent to the detrital
Palone* Formation and, as will be seen later, to part of
the Sagua* Formation, a similar conglomerate but ap-
parently deposited in much deeper waters. All this is
evidence for strong tectonic relief at the time of the
pre-Mayajigua* Formation unconformity, in addition to
the natural bathymetric relief of the carbonate banks.
At present, it is difficult to estimate the possible
tectonic shortening of the carbonate platform across
the strike, but it must be appreciable. At least three
major reverse fault zones are known in the Cayo Coco–
Punta Alegre area, in ICRM Cayo Romano-1, Shell
Manuy-1, and Kewanee Collazo-1, and in the Blanquizal
area in ICRM Cayo Frances-5 and possibly Gulf Blan-
quizal III-1. The Yaguajay* fault brings the Upper Ju-
rassic in contact with the Eocene. The total shorten-
ing, even assuming high-angle faults, could be of the
order of 50,000 ft (15,000 m), or 20% of the original
width of 75 km (46 mi) for the entire carbonate plat-
form. This estimate is believed conservative because
these faults could be ramps of much larger thrusts over
evaporite décollements.
The carbonate platform province in eastern Cuba
has certainly strong similarities with central Cuba that
suggest the presence of Viñas* Group-type carbonates
in the Lower Cretaceous. However, it is not clear if
the Camaco*, Palone*, and Remedios* Formation bank
type of lithologies are present, or whether they have
been entirely replaced by the pelagic carbonates of the
Casablanca Group. Furthermore, few dolomites have
been reported, and those have been dated as Upper
Cretaceous, so there is no indication that the outcrop
section exposes the Jurassic, but this appears unlikely.
Therefore, what is known about this section sug-
gests a Cayo Coco – Punta Alegre area type of carbon-
ate for the Aptian through Maastrichtian, but gives
no indication about the nature of the pre-Aptian rocks.
The low percentage of dolomite clasts in the Embar-
cadero Formation might be significant in that it prob-
ably represents the general composition of the bank.
The presence of the Embarcadero overlain by the
lower Vigia Formation is a close analog of the Sagua*
overlain by the Vega*. It should be noted that, con-
trary to the Yaguajay* belt in Las Villas and Cama-
guey provinces, here, no orogenic conglomerate is as-
sociated with the Vigia Formation, as in the Rosas*
and the Senado formations. On the contrary, the up-
per Vigia Formation represents a return to volcanic
activity in a deep-water environment.
Cretaceous Carbonate Slope or Scarp
The carbonate slope or scarp province consists of
two belts of outcrops located between and with affin-
ities to the Yaguajay* and the Las Villas* belts. In large
part, their rocks seem to represent the foot of the slope
where carbonate detritus from the shallow-water banks
accumulated. These outcrops belong to the Sagua la
Chica* and the Jatibonico* belts (see Figure 71).

Sagua la Chica* Belt
The belt runs south of and parallel to the Yaguajay*
belt in the Remedios to Sierra de Jatibonico area. This
belt is not well defined geographically. Gulf observed
it only in the Sagua la Chica and Camajuani Rivers,
where it is very well developed. It could be more than
45 km (27 mi) long and is closely related to, but sep-
arated from, the Jatibonico* belt.
Originally, the Gulf geologists thought that it was
an exceptional development of the lower – middle
Eocene Sagua* Formation conglomerates in the Las
Villas* belt. Further studies indicated that it con-
tained a more complex stratigraphic sequence, time
equivalent to part of the Las Villas* belt section. Un-
fortunately, it was not mapped in detail. In general,
it appears to be a steeply south-dipping block, show-
ing tight folds and imbrications, located between
the central part of the Yaguajay* belt and the Las
Villas* belt and extending from Sitiecito to south of
Remedios. It can reach 3–4 km (1.8–2.5 mi) in width.
It is in fault contact with the lower–middle Eocene
part of the Sagua*, the San Martin* and Vega* forma-
tions that belong to the Yaguajay* belt and outcrop
all along its southern flank.
It appears that other authors have most certainly
included it in the same unit or zone that comprises
Gulf’s Las Villas* belt, although Dilla and Garcı́a (1985)
created, without fully describing it, a Sagua structuro-
facial zone. They admit that this zone has not been
studied, and they restrict it to the Tertiary. Further-
more, they do not discuss the origin of the name that is
very probably Gulf’s. Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) place
it in the Camajuani zone. Only Pardo (1975) has men-
tioned it previously in the English-language literature.
Sagua* Formation
At Gulf’s type locality, the Sagua la Chica River in
Las Villas province, it is 1000 ft (300 m) thick. In the
same river, this section is repeated by faulting, so the
total apparent thickness is 2100 ft (640 m).
Hatten et al. (1958) who used the same formation
name (but from a different type locality at Calabazar
de Sagua), estimates 2500 ft (760 m) at other locali-
ties, but this thickness could be structurally exagger-
ated and must include the Sagua*, the Yaguajay* Forma-
tion, and perhaps part of the San Martin* Formation.
Ortega y Ros (1937) named this unit the Santa Colona
Formation, but included in it other lithologies that to-
day are given other formation names. Dilla and Garcı́a
(1985) show the Sagua and Jumagua (lower Vega*) for-
mations as equivalent to the Vega Alta Formation that
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 113
is a tectonic breccia; this is a serious misconception.
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show more than 8200 ft
(2500 m) of a Vega Formation or ‘‘Brecha Sagua’’ de-
scribed as ‘‘breccias, conglomerates, limestones, sand-
stones, siltstones, marls, and claystones’’ in the Cama-
juani ‘‘structurofacies zone,’’ which is more or less
equivalent to the Las Villas* belt. Although this unit
must certainly include Gulf’s Sagua*, San Martin*, and
Vega* formations, the thickness appears excessive prob-
ably because of repeats.
This unit is a limestone-dolomite conglomerate with
angular components up to several feet in size. Like in
the Yaguajay* belt, a fine matrix is very scarce com-
pared to the number of larger blocks. It consists of a
mosaic of interlocking fragments, with clean suture
contacts, smaller ones perfectly filling the space be-
tween larger ones. It is extremely hard, with no poros-
ity and prominent dogtooth weathering. The frag-
ments consist of all older units of the Yaguajay* and
Las Villas* belts. Fragments from the Yaguajay* belt
are dominant. Chert fragments derived from the Cre-
taceous Lutgarda* and Calabazar* formations of the
Las Villas* belt are abundant toward the base. The
Sagua* Formation is very thickly bedded. Many depo-
sitional cycles, grading from fine to coarse grained,
are visible. Chert nodules are present. In the lower
part of the conglomerate section are a few thin beds
of dense limestone, suggesting the Florencia* Forma-
tion of the Jatibonico* belt.
The fauna can be divided into three groups; the
dense limestones in the lower part of the section con-
tain common Orbitolina sp., Dictyoconus walnutensis,
and Coskinolinoides sp., suggesting an Aptian–Albian
age. Higher in the section, a fauna consisting of Glob-
truncana lapparenti sl., Vaughanina, Orbitoides sp., and
Sulcoperculina sp., and Globigerina cretacea sl., identical
with that of the Mayajigua* Formation, appears, sug-
gesting a Maastrichtian age. Dense limestone inter-
beds containing Globigerina cretacea, Gumbelina, and
Globotruncana sp. also exist. Finally, toward the upper
part of the section, the typical lower–middle Eocene
faunas of Discocyclina spp., Asterocyclina spp., Globoro-
talia spp., and spinose globigerinas are present. Al-
though many of the fossils are found reworked into
the conglomerates, the characteristic associations and
the dating of the dense limestones interbedded with
the conglomerates leaves little doubt of the presence
of three ages of beds (Aptian–Albian, Maastrichtian,
and lower–middle Eocene) separated by unconformi-
ties or hiatuses. However, the breaks are undetectable,
and there is no way to subdivide the unit on lithologic
grounds.
114 / Pardo
Upward, the Sagua* Formation is gradational into
the San Martin* Formation. The base was not observed;
however, Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show it overly-
ing directly onto Berriasian to Barremian sediments
identified as the Margarita and Paraiso formations. It
would be interesting to determine if these are out-
crops of Mabuya* or Capitolio* Formation.
The lower Aptian – Albian part of the Sagua* For-
mation has been observed only in the Sagua la Chica
belt, although it has great similarities to the age-
equivalent Florencia* Formation in the Jatibonico*
belt and the Calabazar* Formation of the Las Villas*
belt, which also contain numerous detrital limestones
with identical fauna as components. The middle part
is very similar to and correlates with the Mayajigua*
Formation of the Yaguajay* belt and coastal province,
although it appears to have been deposited in deeper
waters. It is also similar to the deep-water calcarenites
of the Lutgarta* Formation of the Las Villas* belt. The
lower–middle Eocene part is very widespread and oc-
curs in the Yaguajay* belt from the town of Remedios,
in Las Villas, to Gibara in northern Oriente. It has been
found in the Las Villas* belt from the subsurface in
northern Matanzas to Loma Camajan in Camaguey.
The possible origin of this rather unique rock will be
discussed later in this study.
San Martin* Formation
In this belt, the San Martin Formation is present
in its typical development.
Vega* Formation
The San Martin* grades into the Vega* Formation,
which, in this belt, is characterized by a large devel-
opment of coarse, poorly sorted polymict conglom-
erates in its upper member (Rosas* Formation).
Jatibonico* Belt
This belt is limited to the northeastern part of the
Sierra de Jatibonico. It runs south of and parallel to
the Yaguajay* belt. It represents a distinct stratigraphic
section with affinities to both the Yaguajay* and Las
Villas* belts. It is a south-dipping fault block bounded
to the north by the Jatibonico* fault and to the south
by the Las Villas* fault (see Figure 72).
Other authors have included this belt in the Reme-
dios zone of Ducloz and Vaugnat (1962), Zulueta unit
of Hatten et al. (1958), and Remedios structurofacies
Zone of Pushcharovsky et al. (1988). Shopov (1982)
called it the Jatibonico subzone of the Camajuani
zone.
Guani* Formation
This unit consists of at least 1300 ft (400 m) of mas-
sive dolomites identical with those of the Yaguajay*
belt. The base is unknown, and it is conformably over-
lain by the Mabuya* Formation.
Mabuya* Formation
It consists of 2300 ft (700 m) of thin-bedded brown
to yellow argillaceous limestone with interbedded
yellow weathering claystone and brown crystalline do-
lomite. The limestone is occasionally pseudo-oolitic
and commonly dolomitized. At the top is a sequence
of interbedded coarse dolomite conglomerate and
medium- to coarse-crystalline banded dolomite 350 ft
(107 m) thick. It is overlain with a possible unconfor-
mity or hiatus by the Florencia* Formation.
Toward the top of the formation, Choffatella sp.
and Pseudocyclammina sp. have been found. At the
base, associated with the oolitic beds, Calpionella cf.
elliptica, Calpionella alpina, Calpionella undelloides, and
Nannoconus spp. are present, showing definite open-
water pelagic influence. The fauna indicates an age
ranging from Upper Jurassic to Aptian.
It is equivalent to the Cayo Coco* Formation of
the coastal province, the Bartolomé* and, possibly, the
lower Palenque* formations of the Yaguajay* belt, and
the Capitolio* Formation and upper Trocha* Group
(Caguaguas* and Jaguita* formations) of the Las Villas*
belt. Lithologically, it definitely shows an interme-
diate facies between the Yaguajay* and Las Villas*
belts.
Florencia* Formation
The Florencia* Formation (not related to the
Florencia Formation of middle Eocene age described
by Hatten et al., 1958) consists of 900 ft (274 m) of
white to gray-brown, dense to thin-bedded calcar-
enites, with interbeds of coarse limestone sharpstone
conglomerates. Abundant silicified megafossils are
concentrated in layers. Occasional dolomitic lime-
stone beds exist. Near the top, a 120-ft (37-m) very
coarse sharpstone conglomerate exists devoid of
megafossils.
The finer grained units contain rock-forming Nanno-
conus spp., Globigerina cretacea sl. var., Orbitolina sp.
cf. O. texana–O. concava, and miliolids, suggesting an
Aptian to middle Albian age.
As mentioned before, this formation has great sim-
ilarities to the lower part of the Sagua* Formation of
the Sagua la Chica* belt. It appears to be unconform-
ably overlain by the Mayajigua* Formation, although
some structural complications are observed.

Mayajigua* Formation
The Mayajigua* Formation is present in its typical
development, but with very coarse limestone and
dolomite conglomerates. It contains very abundant
Campanian – Maastrichtian orbitoids. It is 600 ft
(185 m) thick and appears to grade into the lower –
middle Eocene part of the Sagua* Formation with no
sign of unconformity, although the Paleocene has not
been recognized.
Sagua* Formation
Only the lower – middle Eocene part of the Sagua*
Formation is present and grading into the overlying
San Martin* Formation.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 115
FIGURE 72. Stratigraphic section:
Jatibonico* belt.
San Martin* Formation
It is present in its characteristic development with
a marked increase in pelagic forms.
Cretaceous Carbonate Slope or Scarp Discussion
The Jatibonico* and Sagua la Chica* belts are very
significant for the paleogeographic and paleotectonic
reconstruction of Cuba. They have not received the
attention they deserve.
The Jatibonico* belt shows transitional sedimenta-
tion during the Upper Jurassic and pre-Aptian Cre-
taceous between the Yaguajay* and the Las Villas*
belts and continuous, mostly coarse, clastic carbonate
sediments from the Aptian to lower–middle Eocene.
116 / Pardo
The Sagua la Chica* belt is also characterized by
continuous coarse clastic, dominantly carbonate sed-
imentation, which lasted from the Aptian –Albian to
the early – middle Eocene. Although no break in a
continuous well-exposed section is observable, no
Cenomanian to Santonian or Paleocene faunas have
been identified. These coarse deposits might repre-
sent the Yaguajay* belt carbonate bank talus, but this
interpretation leaves the common presence of pelagic
limestones and chert fragments originating from the
deeper water sediments of the Las Villas* belt to the
south unexplained. Perhaps the Sagua la Chica* belt is
evidence for a major fault, lasting from the Aptian to
the lower–middle Eocene, responsible for the carbon-
ate bank margin (Hatten et al., 1958).
All evidence points toward the Sagua* being a deep-
water deposit, although most of the reworked faunas
are of shallow-water origin. Perhaps the deeper water
fragments are of a tectonic nature, such as contem-
poraneous active rifts, whereas the shallow-water ones
were part of a conventional talus. The argument against
this is that, with the exception of the Mayajigua* For-
mation, components of a typical reef (corals, algae,
mollusks) are relatively infrequent; most of the debris
appears to have been derived from already solidified
back-reef material as if the bank was being tectonically
destroyed.
The original distance across the strike represented
by these two belts and the horizontal displacement
of the Sagua la Chica* and Jatibonico* faults is im-
possible to estimate.
Jurassic Platform to Cretaceous Deep Basin
The Jurassic platform to Cretaceous deep basin prov-
ince comprises three belts, Las Villas*, Placetas*, and
Cifuentes*, each representing a characteristic succes-
sion of lithologies. These belts may have been brought
into proximity by major thrust faults, but their pres-
ent outcrops are probably caused by later generations
of faulting that, in large part, mask or distort the
original ones. For this reason, the stratigraphic defi-
nition of the belts has been followed.
These three belts are believed to be representative
of part of a miogeosyncline as originally defined by
Marshall Kay, that is, devoid of volcanic activity. As
will be seen later, sedimentation was in a shallow-
water carbonate platform until the early Tithonian, at
which time sedimentation could no longer keep pace
with a probably accelerated subsidence. There was no
major contribution of silicate clastics until the lower–
middle Eocene diastrophism. The influence of volca-
nism was practically nonexistent except in the south-
ernmost part.
This is the area where the ‘‘belt,’’ ‘‘unit,’’ ‘‘zone,’’
etc., nomenclature has been the most confused. Gulf
subdivided the platform to deep basin province into
three belts and five unnamed informal subdivisions.
Most subsequent authors saw no need to have more
than two subdivisions. Three belts provide the best
basis for unraveling the geologic history of Cuba.
As will be seen below, the Las Villas* and Cifuentes*
belts represent two facies extremes, whereas the Placetas*
belt is transitional.
Las Villas* Belt
In the province of Las Villas, it strikes essentially
parallel to the previous belts and outcrops almost
uninterruptedly for 175 km (108 mi) from south of
the Bahia de Santa Clara in northern Las Villas to the
south end of the Sierra de Jatibonico in northwestern
Camaguey. It is limited to the south by a line running
through Rancho Veloz, Cifuentes and Mata, Calabazar
de Sagua, Vega Alta, Camajuani, slightly south of
Zulueta, and parallel to the south edge of the Sierras
de Bamburanao and Jatibonico, to Los Barriles. To the
west, it has been identified in the subsurface as far as
Via Blanca, near Habana.
Two windows in the Cifuentes* belt show the Las
Villas* belt: the Yabu window 7.5 km (4.6 mi) west
of the town of Cifuentes, and the Fidencia anti-
cline 12 km (7.5 mi) south-southeast of the town of
Camajuani. In the province of Camaguey, the Las
Villas* belt consists of limited outcrops immediate-
ly south of the northwestern end of the Sierra de
Cubitas and in the northern half of the Sierra Camajan
(see Figure 73).
This belt was defined by G. Pardo in 1952, who
redefined it to exclude the Sagua la Chica* belt (Pardo,
1954). Note that P. Ortegas y Ros described accurately
its essential stratigraphy in 1937, but because of the
obscurity of the publication, the work remained essen-
tially unknown until the middle 1950s. The following
are highlights of what happened to the Las Villas*
belt since then: (1) Hatten et al. (1958) named a feature
essentially equivalent of the original 1952 Las Villas*
belt, the Zulueta tectounit; (2) Ducloz and Vuagnat
(1962) named it the Camajuani zone; (3) Furrazola-
Bermudez et al. (1963) used the name Las Villas
structural-facies zone; (4) Meyerhoff and Hatten
(1968) named it the Camajuani zone; (5) Kniper and
Cabrera (1974) named it the San Felipe zone; (6) Dilla
and Garcı́a (1985) named it the Camajuani subzone

FIGURE 73. Central Cuba, Las Villas* belt.
of the Las Villas structurofacies zone; and (7) Hatten
et al. (1988) named it the Zulueta unit. In Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988), it is called the Camajuani structurofacies
zone. The amazing thing was that all this name chang-
ing was done in the absence of any new information
and based on mid-1950 data. This could be amusing
if each author had not modified the definition, so that
a translation is impossible from the literature alone.
For this reason, the Pardo, 1954, definition of the belt
will be maintained, and in this study, it will be named
the Las Villas* belt.
In 1954, Gulf used an informal local subdivision
named the ‘‘Las Villas* belt southern facies’’ to de-
scribe a lithologic sequence intermediate between the
Las Villas* and the Placetas* belt.
Las Villas Province Area
The Las Villas* belt is characterized by the most
complete and fossiliferous Jurassic to lower – middle
Eocene sedimentary section in central Cuba. It was
used by Gulf as its type section for the pre–upper Eo-
cene of central Cuba. It can reach up to 9.5 km (5.9 mi)
in width without counting the windows. It has been
recognized in the subsurface along the north coast
from the Bahia de Cardenas in Matanzas to La Habana.
The Las Villas* belt can be subdivided along its length
into a northeastern and a southwestern half by im-
portant facies differences.
The type localities for most of the formations are
located in the Quemado de Güines anticlinorium in
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 117
northern Las Villas. The section will be described
below (see Figure 74).
Trocha* Group.—The Trocha* Group includes sev-
eral Upper Jurassic–related carbonate and chert lithol-
ogies. The lower part of the group was deposited in
shallow water, although the presence of some radi-
olaria indicate open waters. It outcrops mostly in the
southwestern half of the belt. The total thickness is at
least 2800 ft (850 m). This unit was named the Trocha
Formation by Ortega y Ros (1937). In Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988), 1310 ft (400 m) of an Upper Jurassic –
Tithonian Trocha Formation are present. Although
the thicknesses do not match, it is believed to be
synonymous with Gulf’s Trocha* Group. In 1952, Gulf
geologists divided it as follows:
Hoyo Colorado* Formation. —The Hoyo Colorado*
Formation consists of a minimum of 2100 ft (640 m)
of dense, gray to light gray, in places pseudo-oolitic,
limestone and light brown, medium-bedded, fine-
crystalline secondary dolomite. Occasional red and
brown secondary cherts exist. This unit is medium
to thick bedded. In the upper part, the fauna is sim-
ilar to the overlying Jaguita* Formation, and in its
lower part, only unidentifiable radiolaria have been
found.
Based on the fossils and its stratigraphic position,
it is considered of possible Kimmeridgian to lower
Tithonian age. It definitely seems to have been depos-
ited under shallow-water bank conditions, with the
exception of the radiolaria fauna found at the base.
118 / Pardo
FIGURE 74. Stratigraphic sections: Las
Villas* belt.
It is partly equivalent to the Guanı́* Formation of
the Yaguajay* belt and the Cayo Coco* Formation of
the Cayo Coco –Punta Alegre area. The base has not
been observed, but it could have been originally un-
derlain by the Punta Alegre* or the San Adrian For-
mation. The present base is very likely to be a fault.
It is conformably overlain by and grades into the
Jaguita* Formation.
Jaguita* Formation. — The Jaguita* Formation con-
sists of 1400 ft (425 m) (some structural repeats are
possible) of cream orange, brown gray and gray,
pseudo-oolitic to oolitic limestones, interbedded
with dense radiolarian limestones occasionally stained
by iron and manganese oxides. This formation is
commonly medium to very thick bedded.
The fauna consists of Pseudocyclammina sp., Coscino-
conus sp., Nautiloculina sp., Lenticulina sp., and radio-
laria. Aptychi and ammonites are locally abundant.
R. Imlay (1954, personal communication) identified
the following ammonites: Pseudolissoceras zittelli,
Lithoplites caribbeanus, Protancyloceras hondenses, and
Microacanthoceras sp. In addition, several microfossils
exist incertae sedis, such as Globochaetes alpina, Eothrix
alpina, and Saccocoma spp. Favreina has been found in
this formation in Cuban Gulf Hicacos-1. These assem-
blages indicate a middle Tithonian age and show a

strong affinity to those described in the Upper Jurassic
of the Tethys region. The facies (and microfacies) are
also very similar. The fauna is mostly shallow water;
however, the presence of radiolaria in dense limestones
indicates a definite deepening of the water, and the
oolites, as well as the shallow-water assemblage, could
well be reworked from nearby banks.
This formation is believed to be in part equivalent
to the Guanı́* and lower Bartolomé* formations of the
Yaguajay* belt and in part to the Cayo Coco* Forma-
tion of the Cayo Coco–Punta Alegre area. It is com-
formably overlain by the Caguaguas* Formation.
Caguaguas* Formation.—It consists of 375 ft (115 m)
of dense, medium-bedded, gray carbonaceous lime-
stone interbedded with medium-bedded banded lime-
stone. The banded limestone has flesh pink to buff
porcelaneous bands alternating with carbonaceous,
wavy laminated, gray, dense bands. The wavy laminae
are commonly orange colored, and the whole forma-
tion on weathering is stained by limonite and man-
ganese oxide. In fresh exposures, the color is black.
The Caguaguas* Formation appears to be a transi-
tion between the Jaguita* and the overlying Capitolio*
Formation.
The fauna consists of abundant radiolaria, C.
elliptica, and C. alpina. The age is considered upper
Tithonian. The Caguaguas* Formation represents a
marked water deepening compared with the bank car-
bonate environment of the Hoyo Colorado* Forma-
tion. It is equivalent to the lower Mabuya* Formation
of the Jatibonico* belt, the lower Bartolomé* Forma-
tion of the Yaguajay* belt, and part of the Cayo Coco*
Formation of the Cayo Coco – Punta Alegre area. It
grades into the overlying Penton* Group.
Penton* Group. —This group was described and
named by Ortega y Ros (1937). It consists of 1100 ft
(335 m) of medium-bedded buff dense limestone
with wavy orange laminations and black and brown
interbeds of chert and some secondary silicification.
In the southwestern Las Villas* belt, it contains
calcarenites and calcirudites. It is subdivided into the
following formations.
Capitolio* Formation. —The Capitolio* Formation
consists of 800 ft (245 m) of buff, dense, biomicrite,
with thin, yellow-orange, wavy laminae, interbedded
with brown and black thin-bedded banded vitreous
chert. Most of the chert is a secondary silicification of
limestone (the limestone fabric can be seen in thin
sections) containing abundant radiolaria that are now
replaced by calcite. The limestone layers are thick and
flat-bedded, but commonly split into set plates par-
allel to the bedding. Aptychi are common along the
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 119
surface of these plates. This unit outcrops along the
northeast part of the Las Villas* belt. It grades into the
overlying Ramblazo* Formation.
Hatten et al. (1958) describe 1178 ft (359 m) of a
Margarita Formation that appears to be at least partly
synonymous with the Capitolio* Formation. Pushcha-
rovsky et al. (1988) show in the Zulueta zone 985 ft
(300 m) of biomicrites with little chert of Beriassian –
Hauterivian age called the Margarita Formation and
820–985 ft (250–300 m) of stratified limestones (bio-
micrites) with interbedded cherts of Hauterivian –
Barremian age called the Paraiso Formation. These two
units appear to be synonymous with the Capitolio*
Formation.
In addition to aptychi and abundant unidentifiable
radiolaria, it contains Nannoconus steinmanni and com-
mon Calpionellites darderi, Tintinosporella carpathica,
Calpionclla elliptica, and Calpionellopsis oblonga. The
Nannoconus is rock forming and, together with the
abundant radiolaria, indicates a deep, open-water en-
vironment. It is considered of Neocomian age.
The conspicuous aptychi are the reason for formerly
calling this type of lithology the ‘‘Aptychus Formation.’’
Ramblazo* Formation. — The Ramblazo* Formation
consists of 340 ft (104 m) of medium-bedded but very
thin-plated, rust-laminated to white dense limestone,
similar in microstructure to that of the Capitolio* For-
mation, but with fewer wavy laminae. Thin stringers
of dark-black, waxy chert are present and are one of
the distinguishing features of the formation. Some cal-
cirudites with a somewhat argillaceous matrix are
present. Thin interbeds of shale that weather white
and form a faint white band in air photographs are
common throughout the formation. The Ramblazo*
Formation has a very characteristic aspect when ex-
posed on roads; each bed separates into a book of very
fine plates because of the presence of argillaceous
partings.
It contains abundant radiolaria and rock-forming
Nannoconus steinmanni and Nannoconus spp. Abun-
dant Orbitolina cf. texana exists in the calcarenites.
The presence of a shallow form such as Orbitolina in
calcarenites interbedded with deep-water sediments
indicates the presence of turbidites, probably origi-
nating from the carbonate banks to the north. This
situation is repeated later in the section. The age is
considered Aptian.
The Ramblazo* Formation is equivalent to the upper
part of the Sabanilla* Formation. It is comformably
overlain by the Calabazar* Formation. Hatten et al.
(1958) probably include the Ramblazo* Formation in
the lower part of the Alunado* Formation. It might be
120 / Pardo
included in the Paraiso Formation in Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988), but there is no mention of an Aptian unit.
Sabanilla* Formation. — The Sabanilla* Formation
consists of 500 – 800 ft (150–250 m) of interbedding of
Capitolio*-type limestones and cherts with calcare-
nites, commonly fine grained but sometimes becom-
ing limestone conglomerates. The matrix is conspic-
uous and consists of a yellow to gray dense, structureless
limestone. The fragments are mainly derived from
the underlying Jaguita* and Caguaguas* formations,
although some are derived from the Capitolio* For-
mation. It should be pointed out that no components
other than carbonates are present. This unit is present
in the southwestern half of the Las Villas* belt, and
the size of the fragments increases southward, along
with the percentage of detrital beds. Along the south-
western edge of the Las Villas* belt, detrital beds com-
pletely replace the Capitolio* lithology. The origin of
this unit is certainly caused by an unconformity with-
in the Capitolio* Formation; as from north to south,
the Sabanilla* Formation is characterized by (1) thin
calcarenites interbedded with the Capitolio* lithology,
(2) dominantly detrital beds resting on the Capitolio*
Formation, and (3) dominantly detrital beds, with com-
ponents becoming conglomeratic in size, resting on
the Caguaguas* Formation. A study of the detrital bed
components indicates the southern origin of the sed-
iments. Hatten et al., 1958, mentions the presence of
a Tithonian Sabanilla Formation, but no description
is given.
The fauna is characterized by Coskinolinoides sp.,
Cuneolina sp., miliolids, Robulus sp., Nannoconus stein-
manni, Calpionellites darderi, Tintinnopsella carpathica,
Calpionella elliptica, and Calpionellopsis oblonga. This
fauna indicates two disparate environments, shallow
bank and pelagic, possibly deep water.
The upper part of this unit is also the lateral equiv-
alent of the Ramblazo* Formation and is comform-
ably overlain by the Calabazar* Formation.
The character of the Sabanilla* Formation suggests
Neocomian rifting. Obviously, an area south of the
Las Villas* belt either failed to subside or, after an ini-
tial subsidence in the early stage of Capitolio* depo-
sition, was uplifted. The nature and mix of the com-
ponents in the Sabanilla* Formation suggests a steep
scarp with fragments of Jaguita*, Caguaguas*, and al-
ready deposited Capitolio* formations dropping into
a deep basin. The situation was a forerunner of the
fault system that later would be responsible for the
Sagua la Chica* belt. The shallow-water Aptian fauna
could have come from either the north or the south.
This fault must have become inactive in the late Aptian,
the time of the earliest Sagua* development, because
the Calabazar* Formation conformably overlies both
the Ramblazo* and the Sabanilla* formations.
Malpaez* Group. —Hatten et al. (1958) named
the lower 450 ft (135 m) of this group the Alunado
Formation.
This group includes several interbedded calcarenites,
limestone conglomerates, dense argillaceous white
limestones, powdery radiolarites, cherts, and shales.
The fact that it contains what appears to be a sig-
nificant regional break in sedimentation during the
Coniacian could be an argument to restrict it to the
lower two units. The thickness of the group ranges from
600 to 1000 ft (185 to 300 m).
This group is subdivided into the following
formations.
Calabazar* Formation.—It consists of 230 ft (70 m)
of interbedded white to very light-gray weathering
dense limestone and waxy black and steel-gray thin
cherts. Medium- to coarse-grained calcirudites exist.
The bedding is thin, but some medium beds are pres-
ent. In places, intervals of brown thin-bedded, some-
times thick, vitreous chert and white-weathering, dark-
gray shale (with no limestones present) are observed.
This formation is typical of the Las Villas* belt. In
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), 330 ft (100 m) of lime-
stones (calcarenites and biomicrites), cherts, and brec-
cias (conglomerates) of Albian–Cenomanian age called
the Mata Formation exist. This unit must certainly
be synonymous with the Calabazar* and overlying
Mata* Formation.
The lower part contains abundant Nannoconus spp.,
whereas toward the upper part, it contains abun-
dant Globigerina cretacea sl., Rotalipora appenninica, and
Guembelina sp. Radiolaria are abundant, and a calcar-
enite at the base of the formation contains detrital
Orbitolina cf. texana.
The age is believed to range from the late Aptian
through the Cenomanian. The environment is definitely
deep water, but an influx of turbidites brings in
shallow-water detritus, most probably from the north.
It grades into the overlying Mata* Formation. To
the south, the upper part of the Calabazar* becomes
equivalent to the entire Mata* Formation. Note that
the Calabazar* and Mata* formations have strong
lithologic and paleontologic similarities with the Ca-
sablanca Group of the Cayo Coco–Punta Alegre area
and are generally its equivalent.
Mata* Formation. — It consists of 150–220 ft (45–
70 m) of interbedded calcarenites, dense limestones,
and cherts. In the lower part of the formation are thin-
to medium bedded, buff to orange, dense limestones

interbedded with medium- to coarse-grained heterog-
eneous calcirudites. In some places, these calcirudites
contain chert nodules and, in others, are completely
silicified. In its upper part, opaque dense brown and
gray cherts consist of silicified radiolarites. The orig-
inal radiolarite can be seen as a yellow-brown pow-
dery coating on the upper surface of the cherts; it is
made entirely of perfectly preserved radiolaria. This
unit is distinguished from the underlying Calabazar*
Formation by the presence of silicification and ab-
sence of black waxy chert. This unit as shown in
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) includes the Maastrichtian
Lutgarda Formation.
In addition to the abundant radiolarian fauna,
it contains Globigerina cretacea sl. and Rotalipora
appenninica. It is considered late Cenomanian and
Turonian in age. The calcarenites contain an abun-
dant reworked Lower Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic
fauna.
As suggested by the thickness changes, the weath-
ered appearance of the upper Mata*, the abundant
manganese staining at the base of the Lutgarda*, and
the regional absence of Coniacian fossils, it is believed
to be overlain with disconformity, or slight uncon-
formity, by the Lutgarda* Formation. However, no
evidence exists of a shallower-water environment.
Lutgarda* Formation. — At the type section, the
Lutgarda* Formation consists of 180 ft (55 m) of thin-
to medium- bedded, heterogeneous calcarenites and
calcirudites, bright red and brown chert as beds and
nodules, very fine detrital to porcelaneous white lime-
stone, greenish-blue clay, and a characteristic sugary-
white limestone consisting exclusively of small broken
rudist fragments, which give it a sparkling crystal-
line appearance. At the base of the formation, the
limestones are strongly stained with manganese, giv-
ing them a pink to black color. This unit is shown in
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) as the Maastrichtian Lut-
garda Formation.
In other outcrop sections, as much as 660 ft (200 m)
have been measured, but this extra thickness could be
caused by isoclinal folding that, in the Las Villas* belt,
becomes common toward the upper part of the sec-
tion. For the same reason, a question of whether more
than one Rudist fragment bed are observed exists.
The Lutgarda* Formation is very persistent through-
out the Las Villas* belt, but thins southwestward to
20 ft (6 m), across the belt. This thinning results in a
spotty outcrop pattern along the southern margin of
the belt.
The indigenous fauna is very scarce. Only Glo-
botruncana lapparenti sl., Globigerina cretacea sl., and
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 121
Pseudorbitoides sp. fragments are found. The very great
abundance of rudist fragments suggests that large
rudist colonies were living nearby. Other, probably
reworked, fossils are abundant such as Cuneolina
sp., Coskinolina sp., Dictyoconus sp., Nummoloculina
sp., and Dicyclina sp. The age is Santonian through
Maastrichtian.
This formation appears to grade into the lower –
middle Eocene conglomerates of the Sagua* Forma-
tion, despite the fact that no Paleocene fauna has been
recognized. It correlates with the middle part of the
Sagua* Formation in the Sagua la Chica* belt, the
Mayajigua* Formation of the Jatibonico* belt and
Cayo Coco–Punta Alegre area, and the Remedios* and
Palone* formations of the Yaguajay* belt.
The Malpaez* Group, therefore, represents a deep-
water sequence that ranges from the end of the Aptian
to the end of the Cretaceous, and perhaps into the
Paleocene, and received progressively increasing
amounts of detrital material in the form of turbidites
from the carbonate platform to the north. The entire
section shows a total lack of silicate clastics.
The overlying lower –middle Eocene part of the
Sagua* Formation conglomerates represents the cul-
mination of this process. Pszczólkowski (1986b) has
suggested that the Maastrichtian detrital turbidites
were originated by a catastrophic event at the end of
the Cretaceous. The Malpaez* Group section indicates
that the turbidite deposition was a continuous pro-
cess of long duration.
Sagua* Formation. — This unit is present along the
entire length of the northeastern half of the Las Villas*
belt, where it is seldom more than 100 ft (30 m) thick
and is of lower–middle Eocene age. It thins abruptly
across the strike and is either a few feet thick or disap-
pears completely before reaching the southwestern
edge of the belt. This formation grades southward into
the Camajuani* Formation. Upward, it grades into the
overlying San Martin* Formation.
Camajuani* Formation. — It is the southern facies
of the Sagua* Formation and ranges in thickness from
±20 to 0 ft (±6 to 0 m). It is characterized by a great
abundance of black, brown, and red tabular chert clasts
derived from the older Malpeaz* Group.
Like the Sagua* Formation, it appears to grade into
the overlying San Martin* Formation.
It is interesting to speculate why the downdip feath-
eredge of the Sagua* Formation would contain such
a high concentration of chert. One possibility could
be the reactivation of an old source of sediments to
the south of the Las Villas* belt, as suggested by the
underlying Sabanilla* Formation clastics. Another
122 / Pardo
could be the concentration of low-density material,
such as silica, at the base of a submarine slope. At any
rate, the underlying Calabazar* cherts had to be eroded.
Another possibility is that if the cherts were solidi-
fied penecontemporaneously with sedimentation in
a marly nannoplankton matrix (like chert nodules in
chalk), they might have been loosened and reworked
by submarine currents.
San Martin* Formation. — In the type section, it
consists of 220 ft (70 m) of tan, fine to coarse calca-
renites with abundant igneous grains. It is interbedded
with pebble conglomerates containing abundant chert
fragments and with a dull light-gray argillaceous lime-
stone that typically shatters into splinters. The Hatten
et al. (1958) name, Gonzal Formation, appears to be
synonymous with the San Martin* Formation.
As already mentioned, in the Las Villas* belt, as
well as in the belts to the north of it, the San Martin*
Formation represents the first influx of igneous de-
tritus from the south. It is transitional to the over-
lying Vega* Formation.
The San Martin* Formation contains a rich fora-
miniferal fauna characterized by Globorotalia sp.,
Tremastegina sp., Baggina sp., Discocyclina sp., Planor-
bulina sp., Dyctyoconus sp., and spinose Globigerina sp.
Radiolaria are abundant, and coccolithophors and
discoasters are rock forming.
The age is lower –middle Eocene.
This formation is present all along the Las Villas*
belt and can reach 1000 ft (300 m) in thickness, al-
though this figure might be tectonically exaggerated.
As already mentioned, it is present in the Yaguajay*,
Sagua la Chica*, and Jatibonico* belts.
Vega* Formation.—At the type section (Chambas-
Tamarindo road, Camaguey) in the southeastern end
of the Las Villas* belt (thrusted over the Jatibonico*
belt), 3300 ft (1006 m) of this clastic, igneous-derived
unit exists. The greatest percentage of fragments is
from basic igneous rocks. It is divided into two mem-
bers, as described below.
Lower Member. —The lower member consists of 300
ft (91 m) of calcareous shales, thin-bedded dull-white
limestones, and occasional calcareous, igneous-derived
sandstones. It is distinguished from the upper member
by its calcareous content. Hatten et al. (1958) named
the Jumagua Formation, which appears to be synon-
ymous with the lower member of the Vega*. Based on
the presence of Truncorotalia cf. aragonensis, Globigeri-
noides mexicana, and Hantkenina aragonensis, they as-
sign it to the middle Eocene.
The unit contains a rich pelagic fossils consisting of
foraminifera, radiolaria, and sometimes rock-forming
discoasters and cocolithophors. The age is lower –
middle Eocene.
This unit is obviously a deep-water turbidite
deposit.
Upper Member.— The upper member consists of
3000 ft (915 m) of graywacke sandstone, shales, and
conglomerates. The sandstones and conglomerates are
poorly sorted and commonly thick bedded. The shales
are commonly silty and thin bedded. In the coarser
conglomerates, the boulders can reach several feet in
diameter and commonly consist of various igneous
rocks, although limestone and other sedimentary clasts
are present. Sometimes, the boulders bleed oil when
broken. The general color of the formation is gray
when fresh, but the rock weathers to rust brown. The
lower part of the upper member is almost exclusive-
ly shale and finer grained sandstones, whereas the
coarser clastics are toward the top. This member is
noncalcareous.
The very coarse wildflysch part of the upper mem-
ber was called by Gulf the Rosas* Formation. This was
done because in many instances, it is only the Vega*
Formation lithology that can be seen along fault
zones.
The upper member is essentially barren of organ-
isms except for a few detrital foraminifera and radio-
laria. The age is considered lower – middle Eocene
because of its stratigraphic position and because it
contains fragments of all older units. The Hatten et al.
(1958) name, Florencia Formation, appears to be syn-
onymous with the Vega* upper member. The Vega*
Formation is certainly included in the Vega Forma-
tion in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), together with the
San Martin* and Sagua* formations. It also describes a
Senado Formation in the Sierra de Cubitas, which is
certainly synonymous with the upper Vega* or Rosas*
Formation.
The Vega* Formation is widely distributed all along
the Las Villas* belt either in synclines or caught in
fault planes, where it appears to form the main lu-
bricant. This is especially true in the major Las Villas*
fault. For this reason, in addition to poor exposures,
it is very difficult to find and measure reliable sec-
tions. The Vega* Formation represents a typical flysch
deposited in deep waters ahead of the advancing
allochthonous basic igneous-volcanic province thrust
front. The unit is caught in the deformation and fault-
ing of the more autochthonous units ahead of the
thrust plates. As previously mentioned, the Vega* was
also deposited over the Yaguajay* (Remedios – Sierra
de Jatibonico and Cubitas areas), Sagua la Chica*,
and Jatibonico* belts.

Las Villas* Belt Southern Facies
This informal belt forms a narrow band south and
adjacent to the Las Villas* belt. It extends for some
45 km (27 mi) from near the town of Camajuani to
the town of Iguará.
This belt is lithologically similar to the Las Villas*
belt, but is differentiated by the absence of Jurassic
and lower–middle Eocene rocks and a slightly dif-
ferent facies in the Maastrichtian.
The oldest rocks exposed are a thick (±3000 ft;
±1000 m) development of the Lower Cretaceous
Capitolio* and Sabanilla* formations. However, the
Sabanilla* Formation is not as characteristically devel-
oped, and the conglomerates and detrital limestones
do not contain fragments as coarse as in the southern
part of the Las Villas* belt to the north. This suggests
that the highs responsible for the detritus were linear
and relatively narrow as would be expected of fault
blocks located between the Las Villas* and the Las
Villas* belt southern facies.
The succession continues with the Ramblazo* and
Calabazar* formations, the last showing an increase
in the frequency of red and brown-weathering cherts
and shales.
The Upper Cretaceous Mata* Formation is occa-
sionally present but not as well developed as in the
Las Villas* belt.
The Lutgarda* Formation is well represented and
apparently thicker than in the Las Villas* belt but
has some intervals of the dense, pink porcelaneous
limestones found in the Corona* and Amaro* for-
mations of the Placetas* and Cifuentes* belts respec-
tively. In addition, this unit contains a rich pelagic
assemblage with Globigerina cretacea sl., Guembelina
sp., and Globotruncana lapparenti sl.
Little is known about younger rocks. The Sagua*
and its equivalent, the Camajuani* formations, are def-
initely missing because there are scattered occurrences
of San Martin* Formation overlying the Lutgarda*
Formation. It appears that the lower – middle Eocene
was, in large part, not deposited, and whatever was laid
down was destroyed by the diastrophism.
Central Camaguey Area.—In central Camaguey,
the Las Villas* as well as the Cifuentes* belt lithologies
outcrop in small faulted windows in the Domingo*
sequence, south of the Sierra de Cubitas Yaguajay*.
In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), these lithologies are
shown as outcrops of the Esmeralda complex, consist-
ing of detrital and calcarenites, cherts, and argillaceous-
calcareous slates of Upper Jurassic through Albian
age. The Las Villas* belt lithologies also outcrop in the
northern third of the Sierra de Camajan. There, they
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 123
are in fault contact with the Cifuentes* belt to the
south. In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), only the Veloz
and Carmita formations are shown. The entire feature
is surrounded by Domingo* sequence rocks.
Northern Cuba Area.—In the Habana and Ma-
tanzas provinces, the Las Villas* belt is found only in
the subsurface, underlying the basic igneous-volcanic
province (see Figure 75). Figure 76 is a correlation chart
of the northeastern terrane units recognized in north-
ern Cuba. According to Kuznetsov et al. (1985), who
call the Las Villas* (or Mogotes?) belt equivalent the
para-autochthonous section, the following units as
shown in Figure 77 have been recognized.
Upper Jurassic.— Two wells, one in the Boca de
Jaruco and the other in the Varadero field, encoun-
tered a carbonate and terrigenous section contain-
ing Cadosina sp. and Globochaetes alpina that sug-
gests the Francisco Formation. Above this unit are
micritic, partially dolomitized, oolitic, and sometimes
black limestones with shale partings, which contain
Calpionellites darderi, Chitinoidella cubensis, Chitinoidella
bermudezi, Favreina sp., Saccocoma sp., Cadosina sp.,
Calpionella alpina, aptychus, and ammonites and are
identified as the Artemisa Formation (A. Pszczólkowski
[2006, personal communication] considers it an error).
Although the measured thickness shown is greater
than 4000 ft (1200 m), the real thickness is believed to
be not greater than 650 ft (200 m) because of high
dips. It should be noted that the Varadero field is the
easternmost reported occurrence of terrigenous clas-
tics of Oxfordian age in northern Cuba. This supports
the postulated Jurassic age of the exotics in the San
Adrian diapir.
Cretaceous.—Most of the information on the sub-
surface is provided by the agencies responsible for
drilling for petroleum in Cuba (ICRM, EPEP). They
obviously follow the type of geological nomenclature
initiated in the former Soviet-era; that is, age determi-
nations based on fossils, not the lithostratigraphic no-
menclature used by the U.S. Geological Survey and the
Cuban Academy of Sciences. It therefore requires a cer-
tain amount of interpretation to correlate the units
with the well-established lithostratigraphic sections.
Neocomian: — This part of the Lower Cretaceous
has been recognized in many wells of the Boca de
Jaruco and Varadero fields.
Berriasian–Valanginian:—The lower part of the sec-
tion consists of micritic, cherty limestones with clayey
partings correlated with the Sumidero (Capitolio*) For-
mation. The upper part consists of thin-bedded micritic
limestones, marls, and shales that have quartz, feld-
spars, mica, pyrite, sulfur, and organic matter along
124 / Pardo
FIGURE 75. North-central terrane, northern Cuba, generalized geologic map.
the bedding planes. It has been correlated to the Polier
(Constancia*) Formation. The fauna consists of Nan-
noconus sp., Calpionellites darderi, Tintinopsella spp.,
Calpionellopsis spp., and Remaniella sp. It is estimated
to be up to 1300 ft (400 m) thick.
Hauterivian–Barremian:—The Hauterivian–Barremian
consists of micritic, bituminous limestones with a few
shales provisionally considered similar to the Lucas For-
mation. The fauna consists of Nannoconus spp., radi-
olaria, aptychus, and ammonites.
The Neocomian is believed to be unconformably
under the Campanian – Maastrichtian in the Boca de
Jaruco, Via Blanca, and Yumuri fields and the middle–
upper Paleocene in the Varadero field. Kuznetsov et al.
(1985) compares this section to the La Esperanza–
Martin Mesa zone, although the considerably re-
duced thickness, the lesser grade of dolomitization,
the smaller quantity of terrigenous material, and the
increase in carbonates and cherts indicate a more
offshore zone of the miogeosynclinal deposits or to a
subzone within the limits of the Las Villas* belt.
Aptian–Turonian:—This interval of time is poorly
represented, and Kuznetsov et al. (1985) consider it to
be only remnants preserved in synclines under the
Campanian unconformity.
Aptian–Albian:—The Aptian–Albian interval con-
sists of micritic, cherty limestone containing a fauna
of Hedbergella sp., Ticinella sp., Praeglobotruncana sp.,
and Nannoconus sp. It is equivalent to the Calabazar*
Formation. It has been recognized in the Yumuri and
Colorados fields, where it reaches 1300 ft (400 m) in
thickness.
Cenomanian – Turonian: — The Cenomanian –
Turonian interval is shown as calcarenite contain-
ing Rotalipora sp., Hedbergella sp., and Shackoina sp.
It is equivalent to the Calabazar* Formation. It has
been recognized only in the Colorados field, where
it reaches 2600 ft (800 m).
It should be emphasized that the Coniacian and
Santonian have not been recognized in northern
Cuba.
Campanian –Maastrichtian: —The Campanian–
Maastrichtian interval consists of up to 1550 ft (470 m)
of calcarenites, calcirudites, coarse limestones brec-
cias, calcareous shales, and cherts. The fauna consists
of Asatomphalus mayaroensis, Vaughanina cubensis,
Globotruncana spp., and orbitoides. It suggests the
Lutgarda* Formation and is also similar and coeval to
the Amaro* and Cacarajı́cara formations. It is uncon-
formably under the middle–upper Paleocene.

Middle – Upper Paleocene: — The middle – upper
Paleocene interval is described as up to 650 ft (200 m)
of micritic limestones, calcarenites, marls, shales,
and igneous-derived sandstones. The fauna contains
Globorotalia velascoensis. This unit is similar and equiv-
alent to the Vega* Formation and the Pica Pica Mem-
ber of the Manacas Formation.
Lower Eocene: — The lower Eocene interval is
described as up to 1300 ft (400 m) of an olistostrome
complex containing blocks of the underlying lime-
stones, gabbros, serpentine, etc. It contains Globoro-
talia palmerae, Globorotalia formosa, and Globorotalia
rex. It is similar to and correlates with the Rosas* Forma-
tion and the Vieja Member of the Manacas Formation.
Las Villas* Belt Discussion
The Las Villas* belt shows the most complete sed-
imentary section in central Cuba. It exposes 3875 ft
(1180 m) of Upper Jurassic dominantly shallow-water
carbonates, with influx of deeper and/or open-water
elements. Conformably over these, the Cretaceous is
represented by ±2100 ft (640 m) of lithified nanno-
plankton and radiolarian oozes interbedded with car-
bonate bank-derived turbidites. The Neocomian nan-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 125
FIGURE 76. North-central terrane,
northern Cuba, correlation chart.
noplankton limestones are the northern equivalent
of southern-derived conglomerates containing Upper
Jurassic limestone fragments. The Coniacian and Pa-
leocene have not been recognized. The lower–middle
Eocene is represented by at least 3620 ft (1100 m) of
detrital sediments, ranging from pure carbonate brec-
cias at the base, shales in the middle, and igneous-
derived, noncalcareous sandstones and conglomer-
ates at the top. These conglomerates become orogen-
ic megabreccias near the thrusts. It should be noted
that no igneous-derived detritus is present in this belt
until the lower–middle Eocene, above the Sagua* con-
glomerate. The rate of sedimentation for the Upper
Jurassic is ±260 ft/Ma (80 m/Ma), and its thickness is
on the same order of magnitude as in the Yaguajay*
belt. However, the rate of sedimentation drops to
±29 ft/Ma (±8.8 m/Ma) for the Cretaceous. This is
quite typical of deep-water conditions. For instance,
in the Deep Sea Drilling Project Hole-535, drilled in
11,316 ft (3450 m) of water, 1738 ft (530 m) of marly
limestones with approximately 35% porosity were
deposited in 43 Ma. Correcting for the difference in
compaction, one obtains a sedimentation rate of 28 ft/
Ma (8.5 m/Ma).
126 / Pardo
FIGURE 77. Stratigraphic section: Las
Villas* belt, northern Cuba, subsurface.
The flanks of the Quemado de Güines and Guayabo
anticlinoria show a marked stratigraphic asymme-
try (Capitolio*-Sabanilla* formations). In view of
the fact that (1) their width is on the order of 8 km
(5 mi), (2) the dips are in the order of 508, and (3) nu-
merous longitudinal reverse faults exist (dipping
both north and south), the original predeforma-
tion distance between the two flanks could easily
have been between 20 and 30 km (12 and 18 mi).
This provides a measure of the rate of the horizon-
tal facies changes that occurred across the Las Villas*
belt. In addition, the Yabu window, surrounded by the
Cifuentes* belt, is 7.5 km (4.6 mi) southwest of the
Guayabo anticlinorium, and the Fidencia anticline
is 5 km (3 mi) southwest of the Las Villas* belt and
separated from it by the basic igneous-volcanic
province. Therefore, the minimum observable width
of the belt could have been on the order of 50 km
(31 mi). The total displacement of the Las Villas* fault
is impossible to estimate.

FIGURE 78. Central Cuba, Placetas* belt.
Placetas* Belt
It has an irregular outline, but in general, has a
northwest–southeast trend. It extends from Calabazar
de Sagua, through Vega Alta, central Fidencia, north
and east of Placetas, disappearing some 16 km (10 mi)
to the southeast of Placetas. It reappears again some
10 km (6 mi) farther on to form the core of a 26-km
(16-mi)-long canoe-shaped body, the Jarahueca Fenster,
with the Jarahueca oil field in its center, south of the
town of Jarahueca (see Figure 78).
The Placetas* belt was named by Pardo in 1954,
and it is part of (1) Hatten et al.’s (1958) Las Villas
unit, (2) Ducloz and Vaugnat’s (1962) Placetas zone,
(3) Meyerhoff and Hatten’s (1968) Placetas zone, (4)
Khudoley and Meyerhoff’s (1971) Las Villas zone,
(5) Shopov’s (1982) Cifuentes and Rancho Veloz sub-
zones of the Placetas zone, (6) Dilla and Garcı́a’s (1985)
Placetas subzone of the Las Villas zone, (7) Knipper and
Cabrera’s (1974) Placetas(?) zone, and (8) Hatten et al.’s
(1988) Las Villas unit. In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), it
is part of the Placetas zone. Again, as in the case of the
Las Villas* belt, the boundaries of all these belts, zones,
and units do not necessarily correspond to each other.
The succession can be divided as follows (see
Figure 79).
Ronda* Formation
This unit has been mapped both in the Placetas*
and Cifuentes* belts. It is estimated to be ±1000–
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 127
2000 ft (±300 – 600 m) thick, but this figure could be
off because of the intense faulting and isoclinal
folding commonly present. It consists of thin, platy,
bedded limestone and interbedded, thin, yellow and
brown calcareous shales.
Hatten et al. (1958) describe a Placetas Formation
that probably includes the Ronda, but seems to also
include several other lithologic units. It is assigned a
Neocomian to Cenomanian age. The Ronda Forma-
tion is very probably synonymous with the Veloz
Formation of many authors, including Hatten et al.
(1958) and Pushcharovsky et al. (1988). Some authors
(Dilla and Garcı́a, 1985, for example) restrict it to the
Berriasian–Valanginian, whereas Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988) and others consider it Upper Jurassic through
Aptian.
Three distinct types of limestones, each with a sig-
nificant areal distribution, have been recognized. They
appear to grade into each other and are as follows:
type 1: consists of brown limestone, with slightly
wavy laminations of argillaceous, carbonaceous
material (somewhat like, but not as pronounced
as, in the Capitolio* Formation limestones).
type 2: the wavy laminations are absent, and the
limestones are uniformly brown.
type 3: the limestones are very dark brown to jet
black, lack laminations, and have a somewhat
coarser crystalline aspect.
128 / Pardo
FIGURE 79. Stratigraphic section,
Placetas* belt.
Most of the limestones are biomicrites consisting
almost entirely of Nannoconus spp. Nannoconus
steinmanni is dominant, radiolaria are abundant,
and ostracods and ammonite remains are present.
Calpionella spp. has been found in the Ronda li-
thology interbedded with the Jobosi* Formation of
the Cifuentes* belt. The age is considered Neocomian
and Aptian.
The Placetas* belt is characterized by types 1 and 2.
In the Placetas* belt, the base of the formation has
never been observed, but in the Cifuentes* belt, it
grades into and is in part equivalent to the underlying
Jobosi* Formation. It is conformable with the overlying
Constancia* Formation. This unit is considered to be
correlative with the Capitolio* and Sabanilla* forma-
tions of the Las Villas* belt.
Constancia* Formation
The Constancia* Formation consists of ±50 ft (±15 m)
of brown, sandy, micaceous limestone and limy mi-
caceous quartz sandstone interbedded with yellow-
tan shales. The sandstones contain abundant mica,
some quartz, iron oxide–stained limestone grains,
and angular limestone fragments up to 1 cm (0.4 in.)
in diameter. These sandstones derive the bulk of their
components from metamorphic rocks, as indicated

by the abundance of muscovite and the presence of
tremolite, metamorphic quartz, hornblende, zircon,
blue tourmaline, garnet, etc. Although uncommon
and badly weathered, some volcanic, mostly basaltic,
grains exist.
The name Constancia Formation is widely used in
the present literature to describe a sandy, arkosic
limestone unit underlying the Veloz Formation. It
appears to be synonymous with the Jobosi* and has
been attributed a Tithonian – Berriassian age. This is
the way it is shown in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988). See
the comments on the Jobosi-Constancia nomencla-
ture problem under the Jobosi* Formation descrip-
tion for more details.
As will be seen below, the source of the abundant
metamorphic components, especially muscovite, is
puzzling because in the Aptian, the metamorphism
of the Escambray massif to the south had not oc-
curred yet, and the known exposed allochthonous pre-
Cretaceous basement does not contain muscovite.
The fauna consists of Globigerina cretacea sl., Glo-
bigerinella sp., Pithonella spp., common radiolaria, and
fragments of Orbitolina sp. The Constancia Formation
is considered Aptian in age.
This unit grades into and is equivalent to the up-
per part of the older Ronda* Formation. It is partly
conformably and partly unconformably overlain by
the Carmita* Formation.
Carmita* Formation
This unit is probably included in Hatten et al.’s
(1958) Placetas Formation, and it is recognized by
Dilla and Garcı́a (1985). Unfortunately, because these
authors lump the Placetas* and Cifuentes* belts to-
gether, they show the Carmita overlying the Santa
Teresa Formation instead of being its calcareous
equivalent.
The thickness of this unit is unknown, but prob-
ably is on the order of several hundred feet. It consists
of a tan calcilutite to dense slightly argillaceous lime-
stone with abundant secondary nodular black and
brown chert. Intervals of thin, flat-bedded primary
chert and brown to gray, carbonaceous, and non-
calcareous shales with occasional tan dense, nodular
limestone stringers exist. The limestones are com-
monly lightly banded, stained with limonite, and have
small, clear, calcite-filled foraminifera and radiolaria
arranged in rows parallel to the bedding. At the base of
the formation are two recognizable lithologic units,
which are described below.
Encrucijada* member. — The Encrucijada* mem-
ber consists of a white, spotted calcarenite with much
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 129
clear calcite cement and abundant, angular, cream-
white limestone components, interbedded with brown,
nonfissile, thin-bedded shale and reddish brown to
brownish gray argillaceous limestone.
Bermejal* member.— The Bermejal* member con-
sists of a distinctive limestone conglomerate with con-
spicuous white and tan angular fragments in a dark-
brown carbonaceous limestone matrix.
These members were at one time called formations
related to the Carmita*. Because of the deformation,
the relations between them and the Carmita* Forma-
tion are not clear, but they are probably transitional
into one another.
The fauna of the Carmita* Formation is mostly pe-
lagic and consists of abundant radiolaria, Globigerina
cretacea sl., Rotalipora appenninica, Globigerinella sp.,
Pithonella spp., Schakoina cenomana bicornis, and rare
Guembelina sp. Some Nannoconus spp. are present in
situ at the base of the formation and are also reworked
throughout. The age is therefore considered to extend
from the Albian through the Turonian. Some shark
remains have been reported and described (Mutter
et al., 2005).
This formation is equivalent to the Calabazar* and
Mata* formations of the Las Villas* belt. The nature of
the contact with the overlying Corona* Formation is
not clear, but there appears to be a hiatus or a slight
unconformity.
The Carmita* Formation represents an influx of
fine, noncalcareous clastic material and is a transition
between beds of equivalent age in the Las Villas* and
Cifuentes* belts.
Corona* Formation
Other authors do not seem to recognize this unit.
In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), it is probably included
in the Amaro Formation of the Placetas zone and as-
signed a Maastrichtian age.
This unit consists of an estimated ±200 ft (±60 m)
of an interbedding of
1) gray, medium calcarenite with common green and
occasional red and black igneous grains
2) green to yellow-brown calcareous medium to fine
sandstones, some with abundant quartz, some with
mostly colored volcanic grains
3) pastel green and pink clay shales, sticky in fresh
outcrops
4) maroon and brown, thin-bedded primary cherts,
some looking like the silicification of the shales
5) argillaceous, very fine, fragmental, soft, maroon
limestone
130 / Pardo
FIGURE 80. Central Cuba, Cifuentes* belt.
6) pink to light-maroon argillaceous, semiporcela-
neous, dense limestone
All the above lithologies occur in thin to medium
beds, although the calcarenites occur in thick beds or
as thick packages of medium beds. The Corona* For-
mation is unconformably overlain by young Tertiary.
Based on its faunal content, it is assigned a
Santonian through Maastrichtian age.
The Corona* Formation is the southern equivalent
of the Lutgarda* and the northern equivalent of the
Miguel* Formation. Note that this is the northernmost
Upper Cretaceous unit to contain igneous-derived
detritus.
Placetas* Belt Discussion
The Placetas* belt does not expose rocks older than
the lowermost Cretaceous. The reason for this is un-
known, but based on the presence of southern-derived
conglomerates with Jurassic components in the Las
Villas* belt, it is reasonable to assume that the Jurassic
was eroded prior to the deposition of the Neocomian.
The presence of metamorphic-derived material dur-
ing the Aptian indicates the erosion of an unknown
metamorphic basement. Except for the presence of
silicate clastics, the Cretaceous section is very similar
to that of the Las Villas* belt, and although thicknesses
cannot be accurately measured, they are believed to
be on the same order of magnitude as in the Las Villas*
belt. In contrast with the Las Villas* belt, there was, in
the Maastrichtian, an influx of igneous detrital ma-
terial derived from the early orogenic activity to the
south. The upper Cenomanian through Coniacian is
missing.
Cifuentes* Belt
The Cifuentes* belt was named by Pardo in 1954,
and it is part of (1) Hatten et al.’s (1958) Las Villas
unit, (2) Ducloz and Vaugnat’s (1962) Placetas zone,
(3) Meyerhoff and Hatten’s (1968) Placetas zone,
(4) Khudoley and Meyerhoff’s (1971) Las Villas zone,
(5) Shopov’s (1982) Cifuentes and Rancho Veloz sub-
zones of the Placetas zone, (6) Dilla and Garcı́a’s (1985)
Placetas subzone of the Las Villas zone, (7) Knipper
and Cabrera’s (1974) Placetas(?) zone, and (8) Hatten
et al.’s (1988) Las Villas unit. In Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988), it is part of the Placetas zone. Again, as in the
case of the Las Villas* belt, the boundaries of all these
belts, zones, and units do not necessarily correspond to
each other.
The Cifuentes* belt outcrops most extensively in
Las Villas province; in central Camaguey, the expo-
sures are very limited (see Figure 80).
Las Villas Province Area
The bulk of this belt in Las Villas province can be
circumscribed by a line running from Coralillo to
Rancho Veloz to the southeast, through southwest
of Sitiecito, Cifuentes, and swinging back at Loma
Bonachea to the northwest, toward Santo Domingo,

where it disappears under a Neogene cover to reappear
southeast of the Motembo oil field. The Cifuentes*
belt also can be seen associated with the Placetas* belt,
specially rimming the Placetas* belt body in the vi-
cinity of Jarahueca oil field.
In the type Cifuentes* belt, near the town of
Cifuentes, a stack of three thrust plates has been
mapped. The stack is interpreted as a north to south
succession of facies, the upper plate being southern-
most. Along the strike of the Cifuentes* belt, the num-
ber of plates outcropping varies; although all three
are present to the northwest, only the upper one is
recognizable to the southeast. The units composing
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 131
FIGURE 81. Stratigraphic section:
Cifuentes* belt, upper (southern) plate.
this belt will be described from lower to upper plate.
Figure 81 is a composite of the three plates, but is
more representative of the upper (southern) plate.
Lower (Northern) Plate
Ronda* Formation.— Here, the Ronda* Formation
is identical with the brown, with slightly wavy lamina-
tions, type 1 described under Placetas* belt. The base is in
fault contact with a sliver of basic igneous-volcanic prov-
ince. It grades upward into the Constancia* Formation.
Constancia* Formation.— This unit has the same
development as in the Placetas* belt. It grades up into
the Encrucijada* Member of the Carmita* Formation.
132 / Pardo
Carmita* Formation. —
Encrucijada* Member.—It is similar to that described
under the Placetas* belt, and it grades laterally into
the Santa Teresa* Formation.
Santa Teresa* Formation. — Although this unit is
considered to be ±500 ft (±150 m) thick, this figure is
only an order of magnitude because of the intense
folding and faulting. This unit consists of a monoto-
nous succession of thin, 1–2-in. (3–6-cm) flat-bedded
red, brown, yellow, gray, and black primary chert inter-
bedded with dark fissile, carbonaceous but sometimes
marly or clayey shales of probable volcanic origin. It is
mineralized and stained with manganese oxides. This
is characteristically a noncarbonate unit. It is a deep-
water deposit and received a strong influx of silica and
fine detritus from contemporaneous submarine vol-
canism in the Cabaiguan* sequence to the south. A
marked unconformity exists between it and the over-
lying Amaro* Formation. Hatten et al. (1958) included
this unit in the Placetas Formation. The name Santa
Teresa appears in much of the present literature.
Dilla and Garcı́a (1985) consider it Aptian – Albian.
In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), it is described as above
and shown as ranging from the Albian through the
Cenomanian.
This unit is very poorly fossiliferous, containing
only unidentifiable radiolaria and other remains.
Because of its stratigraphic relationships, it has been
considered to range from upper Aptian through
Turonian in age. As already mentioned, it grades lat-
erally into the Carmita* Formation, but it could be
equivalent only to the lower part. This is supported by
the fact that in some areas, the Carmita* lithology
overlies the Santa Teresa*. A marked similarity also
exists between the Santa Teresa* and the Huevero*
Formation of the volcanic Cabaiguan* sequence to
the south. The Huevero* lies immediately under the
Cenomanian Gomez* Formation.
As will be seen below, the Cenomanian was a time
of essentially no volcanic activity in central Cuba
and separates an older basic submarine volcanism
from younger, more acid, arc volcanics. If the Santa
Teresa* Formation is related to volcanism, it should
not be of Cenomanian age, but either younger or
older. In view of its relationship with the underly-
ing Constancia* and Ronda* formations, and that
its lithology suggests an association with submarine
instead of arc volcanism, an upper Aptian through
Albian age, not younger than lower Cenomanian, is
more likely.
The Santa Teresa* Formation is very widespread
in Cuba, and its lithology has been recognized from
the Pinar del Rio to central Camaguey province (a
similar lithology has been reported in Hispaniola).
Amaro* Formation.—It consists of ±200 ft (±60 m)
of gray, medium heterogeneous limestone with bright-
green igneous grains and small, green clay pellets in-
terbedded with light-gray to white or pink, very dense,
porcelaneous, pure limestone with a characteristic net-
work of tiny calcite-filled cracks. It is thickly bedded
and, when standing vertically, weathers to a flat but
sharply fluted surface that is a distinguishing mark
of the formation. The basal part of the formation is
a coarse conglomerate made up principally of frag-
ments of chert from the underlying Santa Teresa* For-
mation and heterogeneous calcarenites containing
Jurassic Jaguita* oolites, mollusks (rudists), and other
carbonate fragments and igneous grains. In the north-
ern part of the Cifuentes* belt are interbeds of green
clay shale. The Amaro* Formation contains a bed, up
to 50 ft (15 m) thick, of white, tan, or pink dense lime-
stone, commonly with secondary chert, and character-
ized by abundant, very small specimens of Guembelina
sp. and Globigerina cretacea sl. This bed was formerly
referred to as the Macagua* Formation.
The name Amaro is widely used in the literature
and must be derived from the original Gulf name.
Presently, it includes the Rodrigo* Formation and,
very likely, the Corona* Formation. In Loma Cama-
jan, central Camaguey, the Camajan Formation is
synonymous with Amaro. The Amaro Formation is
shown in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) as 165–1650 ft
(50–500 m) of breccias, conglomerates, limestones
with components of chert, igneous rocks, and clay
of Maastrichtian age in the Zulueta zone. As already
mentioned, Pszczólkowski (1986b) considers the
Amaro* Formation (Amaro* and Rodrigo* formations)
a megabed, with a volume of 240 km3 (57 mi3), cor-
relative with the Cascarajı́cara of Pinar Del Rio. He
considers them to represent one major turbidite event
caused by one large earthquake possibly related to the
Chicxulub meteorite impact at the K-T boundary.
There is no question about the turbiditic origin, but
the correlation with the Lutgarda* Formation, consist-
ing of a large number of turbidite flows interbedded
with pelagic sediments ranging from the Santonian
through the Maastrichtian, does not support that it was
a single depositional event. Perhaps the meteorite trig-
gered a larger flow in an area that was turbidite prone.
The Amaro* Formation contains a rich, larger fora-
minifera fauna, with Sulcoperculina sp., Sulcorbitoides
sp., Vaughanina sp., Orbitoides sp., Pseudorbitoides sp.,
Lepidorbitoides sp., and Dicyclina sp. In addition, abun-
dant Globotruncana lapparenti sl., Globotruncana stuarti,

FIGURE 82. Central Cuba, Cifuentes* belt basement outcrops.
Globotruncana ganseri, Guembelina spp., Globigerina cre-
tacea sl., and Pithonella spp. are present. This assem-
blage indicates a Santonian through Maastrichtian
age. The mixture of shallow-water and pelagic forms
suggest turbidites in open, relatively deep waters.
It grades into the overlying Rodrigo* Formation.
This unit is correlative with the Corona* and
Lutgarta* formations to the north. All three are sim-
ilar in the sense that they are dominantly detrital
biogenic limestones, with closely related faunas, and
that most of the components are derived from shal-
low carbonate banks and deposited in relatively deep
waters. However, distinct differences exist, such as
textural and bedding characteristics and an increas-
ing influx of igneous-derived material from the south.
Rodrigo* Formation. — It consists of ±200 ft (±60
m) of gray to maroon dense, fine, fragmental
argillaceous soft limestone with green clay and black
carbonaceous inclusions. It is not recognized in the
literature.
The Rodrigo* Formation contains abundant pelagic
foraminifera, among them Globotruncana lapparenti
sl., Globotruncana stuarti, Globotruncanella havanensis,
Globotruncanella contusa, Globotruncanella ganseri,
Globigerina cretacea sl., Rugoglobigerina macrocephala,
Globigerinella sp., and Guembelina spp. It also con-
tain Pithonella spp. and Robulus spp. This fauna in-
dicates a late Maastrichtian age.
The upper Eocene overlies this unit with marked
unconformity.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 133
Middle (Central) Plate. — This plate is identical with
the lower (northern) one, except that the Lower
Cretaceous Ronda Formation has lost all similarities
with the Capitolio* Formation. Here, it consists of
typical type 2 brown radiolaria and rock-forming
Nannoconus limestones separated by yellow clay
intervals.
Upper (Southern) Plate. — This plate is characterized
by exposing the only known basement of the cal-
careous sedimentary section (see Figure 82).
Basement. —In Las Villas province, one locality
exists where the contact between the Cifuentes* belt
sediments and basement has been unquestionably
observed, near the La Rana village in western Las
Villas province. Two other localities show a very prob-
able basement under the sediments, but the contact
is tectonically disturbed. These are Sierra Morena and
Trés Guanos in western and in eastern Las Villas prov-
ince, respectively.
La Rana locality. — About 13 km (8 mi) south-
southwest of the town of Jarahueca is a large out-
crop of granodiorite surrounded by Upper Cretaceous
volcanics and possibly below a Paleocene conglomer-
ate (Taguasco* Formation) of the volcanic Cabaiguan*
sequence.
The granodiorite is medium grained and cataclas-
tic and appears similar to several other diorite-granite
type of rocks that outcrop in the northern Las Villas
province. Patches of serpentine also exist. Over the
granodiorite is a granodiorite regolith that grades
134 / Pardo
upward into the Jobosi* Formation, the basal con-
glomerate below the Ronda* Formation. It is a nor-
mal sedimentary contact. In view of the presence of
Neocomian Calpionella spp. and Nannoconus spp. in
the basal Jobosi* Formation, the granodiorite must be
pre-Neocomian, possibly Jurassic. The section is near-
ly horizontal and is allochthonous. It appears to be a
large olistolith (or slide block) that perhaps moved
during the Paleocene. The presence of this exposure
has never been reported in the literature. In Pushcha-
rovsky et al. (1988), an outcrop designated ‘‘Upper
Cretaceous granodiorite, etc.’’ is shown at this location
but with no indication of overlying Veloz Formation.
Trés Guanos locality. — At the southeastern end of
the Jarahueca area of Placetas* belt exposures are
some outcrops of a granodiorite (quartz monzonite)
of the same family as the granodiorite at La Rana.
Hatten et al. (1958) observed the Quemadito ( Jobosi*)
Formation in normal sedimentary contact over the
quartz monzonite. Although the relationship is struc-
turally more complex than at La Rana, the Jobosi*
Formation is unquestionably present, which is fur-
ther evidence for a pre-Neocomian age basement.
Unfortunately, an age determination of this rock
based on the K-Ar method run by Lamont Geological
Laboratory on biotite yielded an age of 61 ± 3 Ma.
Somin and Millán (1981) report a K-Ar determination
of 79 ± 5 Ma. This might represent an Upper Creta-
ceous or early Tertiary overprint and not the true age
of the rock.
Sierra Morena locality. — About 10 km (8 mi) south-
southwest of the town of Sierra Morena (Socorro, Cañas
River, Coralillo) is a cataclastic pegmatitic granite
associated with marble and patches of serpentine,
Jobosi* and type 3 Ronda* formations. The outcrops
cover an area of some 12  3 km (7.5  1.8 mi).
These units appear to lie in a complex structure sur-
rounded by the Upper Cretaceous of the Cifuentes*
belt. Pszczólkowski (1983, 1986b) mapped the area in
some detail. He interprets the granite as a window
through the Cifuentes* belt. The granite and associ-
ated outcrops coincide with the strongest Bouguer
gravity low of the island (Gulf’s gravity survey), which
lends strong support to their being allochthonous
and not deep rooted.
This basement has been named the Socorro com-
plex (Renne et al., 1989a, b; Iturralde-Vinent, 1996).
The analyses of four samples of the granite (Somin and
Millán, 1981; Renne et al., 1989a, b), dated by whole
rock K-Ar method, yielded 142 ± 3, 150 ± 5, 139 ± 6,
and 140 ± 2 m.y. The U-Pb method gave the intrusion
age of zircons at 172.4 m.y. and the K-Ar age deter-
mination on the marble phlogopite gave the intru-
sion age at 910 ± 25 and 945 ± 20 m.y. The original
limestone is therefore older, suggesting a Precambrian
basement affected by a Kimmeridgian–Tithonian mag-
matic intrusion.
Jobosi* Formation.—The Jobosi* Formation con-
sists of ±50 ft (±15 m) of quartz granule to pebble-size
conglomerates, sandstones, and siltstones containing
abundant fragments of type 3 Ronda* Formation. In
addition to Ronda*, the conglomerates have compo-
nents of quartz and granodiorite, as well as grains of
serpentine, sericite schist, and porphyry. The sand-
stones and conglomerates are interbedded with and
grade up into the type 3 black Ronda* Formation lime-
stones. At La Rana, where the lower contact is the best
exposed, it grades down into a granodiorite regolith.
Hatten et al. (1958) named the Quemadito Forma-
tion in Trés Guanos, which, by the description, is
obviously synonymous to Jobosi*. It should be noted
that these authors assign it to the Upper Jurassic,
although it has the same type locality and fauna as
Jobosi*. My personal opinion is that where it was
observed, it is of Neocomian age, but it could very well
extend into the Upper Jurassic at other localities. This
difference in age assignment and the fact that in some
early Gulf reports there was a question whether the
Constancia* Formation was the Jobosi* lateral equiv-
alent, have created some confusion in the literature.
Some authors have used the name Constancia as a syn-
onym to Jobosi*; Kantchev et al., (1976) and Pushchar-
ovsky et al. (1988) show this unit as the Tithonian–
Berriassian Constancia Formation of the Placetas zone,
consisting of polymict and arkosic sandstones and
sandy limestones underlying the Veloz Formation.
Other authors, including Dilla and Garcı́a (1985),
used the names Quemadito (Jobosi*) and Constancia
as two different units in their original sense.
The interbedded type 3 Ronda Formation contains
Calpionella spp., radiolaria, and Nannoconus spp., in-
cluding Nannoconus steinmanni, which are rock form-
ing. The age of the upper part of the formation is
considered Berriassian, whereas Tithonian ammonites
have been found within the formation (Shopov, 1982).
Foraminifera (Globuligerina sp.) of questionable Ox-
fordian age have been reported (Pszczólkowski and
Myczynski, 2003).
In addition to La Rana, this unit is found in Trés
Guanos and Rancho Veloz.
The Jobosi* Formation must have formed under
unique conditions. The granodiorite regolith, with
its altered feldspars, indicates weathering of the
granodiorite. However, the interbedding with the

type 3 Ronda* Formation, consisting mostly of nan-
noplankton, and the nannoplankton in the matrix
of the conglomerates indicate deposition in deep,
anoxic water. In addition, the presence of black Ronda*
fragments, showing no sign of prediagenetic defor-
mation or weathering, suggests that an appreciable
thickness of Ronda* was already deposited and at least
partially consolidated before its erosion and redeposi-
tion, together with granodiorite fragments, in a deep-
water environment. This strongly suggests deposition
at the base of a very active fault scarp such as in the
Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous rifts of west Africa
(Lucula-Bucomazi of Cabinda). Similarly, the lack of
Jurassic carbonate components in the conglomerates
suggests that the Ronda* Formation was deposited on
a granodiorite basement after previous erosion of the
limestones, or that Jurassic carbonates were never
deposited in the area. If the Oxfordian age was con-
firmed, the latter case would be likely.
Ronda* Formation. — In the southern plate, this
formation contains only the dark-gray to black type
3 limestones.
Good evidence of the pre-Santonian unconformity
exists because the Ronda Formation can be overlain by
the Maastrichtian Amaro* Formation or separated from
it by a much reduced section of Santa Teresa* Formation.
Vega Alta Formation.—Pushcharovsky et al. (1988)
show a Vega Alta Formation in the Placetas zone that
consists of 820–980 ft (250–300 m) of a chaotic com-
plex containing blocks of limestones, serpentinite,
and volcanics in a sandy and argillaceous matrix of
Paleocene–Eocene age. Although this description
suggests the Upper Vega* Formation (Rosas*), Gulf
never found any Eocene sediments associated with
the belts thought to be equivalent to the Placetas zone
(Placetas* and Cifuentes* belts). The absence of Eocene
sediments in these belts was considered one of their
important features. This was odd because the Vega* For-
mation was recognized over the Cabaiguan* sequence.
From its distribution on the map, the Vega Alta
Formation appears to be what Gulf mapped as a com-
plex tectonic mixture (folded and faulted imbrications,
olistostromes) of components from the Cifuentes*,
Placetas*, Domingo*, and Cabaiguan* sequences, and
in places, a Maastrichtian brown shale called the
Miguel* Formation (see Domingo* sequence) that ap-
pears to underlie the Domingo* sequence. These com-
plexly deformed areas include rubble zones and calcite
mesh (ophicalcites). Although the deformation that
brought about this tectonic mixture is certainly of
lower–middle Eocene age, in the true sense, it was not
considered a sedimentary deposit.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 135
Central Camaguey Area
In the central Camaguey area, the lithologies of
the Cifuentes* belt can be found southwest of the
Sierra de Cubitas in small areas surrounded by ser-
pentine. They also outcrop in the southern half of
the Sierra de Camajan. They are shown as part of
the Esmeralda complex in Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988).
Sierra de Camajan Locality. —At the Nueva Maria
quarry, Iturralde-Vinent and Morales (1988)
describes a sedimentary contact between the strongly
folded Veloz (±Ronda*) Formation and an underly-
ing sequence of tholeitic basalts (see Figures 82, 83).
Nueva Maria Formation. — This unit consists of
more than 203 ft (62 m) of interbedded black and
gray amygdular pillow basalts, black and gray cataclas-
tic obsidian, and dark-gray laminated tuffs. The chem-
ical composition of the basalts is similar to that of
oceanic tholeites. The tuffs contain radiolaria, calpio-
nellids, and molds of small ammonites of a middle
Tithonian age. These basalts yielded a K-Ar age of
146 ± 6 Ma.
Veloz (Ronda*) Formation. — The Veloz Forma-
tion is essentially synonymous with the Ronda* For-
mation. In this locality, the basal part of the Veloz
Formation is conformable over the Nueva Maria For-
mation and contains thin tuffs and glassy laminae
interbedded with the fine-grained limestone biomi-
crites. The Veloz contains the same middle Tithonian
fauna as the Nueva Maria Formation. The entire se-
quence is allochthonous.
This locality is the only one in central Cuba where
a carbonate belt is seen in normal stratigraphic con-
tact with the basic igneous-volcanic province, with
the type 3 dark-gray to black Ronda overlying the
Nueva Maria Formation. As will be seen later, pillow
basalts are commonly associated with the deep-water
carbonates of the northern Rosario belt in the south-
western terrane of Pinar del Rio. This unit, in turn, is
overlain by the Santa Teresa, Carmita, and, separated
by a Coniacian – Campanian hiatus, the Amaro for-
mations. Only the Veloz and the Carmita formations
are shown in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988).
Northern Cuba Area
According to Kuznetsov et al. (1985), the rocks as-
signed to this belt can be subdivided into two super-
imposed allochthonous miogeosynclinal thrust plates
(not necessarily correlative with those observed in
Las Villas area) (see Figures 75, 84).
Lower Plate.— The lower plate is recognized in
Cantel and Camarioca fields.
136 / Pardo
FIGURE 83. Stratigraphic section:
Cifuentes* belt, Loma Camajan.
Aptian–Albian.—The Aptian–Albian unit consists
of up to an apparent 2755 ft (840 m) of limestones,
sometimes dolomitized, and cherts with shales, pos-
sibly corresponding to the Ronda* and Santa Teresa*
formations. The fauna contains Nannoconus sp., Ticinella
sp., Schackoina sp., Hedbergella sp., Pithonella sp., and
Globigerinelloides sp. The thickness is certainly struc-
turally exaggerated.
Campanian – Maastrichtian. — The Campanian –
Maastrichtian unit consists of between 150 and 650 ft
(50 and 200 m) of siltstones, sandstones, and calca-
renites containing Globotruncana spp., Sulcopercu-
lina sp., Vaughanina sp., and Pseudorbitoides sp. This
unit suggests the Corona* and Rodrigo* forma-
tions of the Placetas* and Cifuentes* belts, although
it appears to contain a higher percentage of silicate
clastics.
Upper Plate. — The upper plate is recognized in
Varadero, Camarioca, and Guasimas fields.
Aptian – Albian. — The Aptian – Albian unit consists
of rocks identical with those of the lower plate: up to
an apparent 2000 ft (600 m) of limestones, some-
times dolomitized, and cherts with shales, possibly
corresponding to the Ronda* and Santa Teresa*
formations. The fauna contains Nannoconus sp., Tici-
nella sp., Hedbergella sp., and Globigerinelloides sp.

Cenomanian –Turonian. — The rocks representing
this interval of time have not been recognized in the
lower plate and consist of up to 1650 ft (500 m) of
polymict sandstones and siltstones interbedded with
limestones containing Globotruncana sp., Rotalipora
sp., Schackoina sp., and Hedbergella sp. This section
containing abundant coarse clastics has been recog-
nized in a few wells and appears to be in part equiv-
alent to the Santa Teresa* or Carmita* formations,
but (barring structural complications) has greater af-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 137
FIGURE 84. Stratigraphic section:
Cifuentes* belt (upper and lower
plates), northern Cuba, subsurface.
finity with rocks of the same age in the La Esperanza
belt of western Cuba and not the Cifuentes* belt.
Campanian – Maastrichtian. — The Campanian –
Maastrichtian unit consists of up to 2600 ft (800 m)
of arkosic sandstones and gravels, occasionally with
anhydrite(!), containing Pseudorbitoides sp. It is unfor-
tunate that no better description of this unit is avail-
able; the anhydrite could be related to that of the San
Adrian diapirs, and if the arkosic sandstones and grav-
els are in place in the Cifuentes* belt, it could indicate
138 / Pardo
a Late Cretaceous erosion of nearby allochthonous
granodiorite highs such as the Sierra Morena of cen-
tral Cuba.
Upper Paleocene – Middle Eocene. — The Upper
Paleocene–Middle Eocene unit consists of up to 1650 ft
(500 m) of shales, siltstones, sandstones, and conglom-
erates, as well as an olistostrome-containing gabbro
and serpentine. This section is reported to contain
Globotruncana spp., Sulcoperculina sp., and Vaughanina
sp., which is the reason for the assignment to the
Campanian–Maastrichtian by Kuznetsov et al. (1985).
In my opinion, this section is very suggestive of the
younger Vega* and Rosas* formations or the Pica Pica
and Vieja Members of the Manacas Formation of
upper Paleocene–middle Eocene age (see the follow-
ing Cifuentes* belt discussion). This same section has
been found toward the east in Guasimas, Cardenas,
and Camarioca.
Cifuentes* Belt Discussion
This belt represents the southernmost part of the
miogeosyncline, with minor influences from volca-
nism (clay and cherts), and the deepest and most an-
oxic depositional conditions. This is the only belt
where basement, although allochthonous, is exposed.
This belt was the farthest away from the North Amer-
ican margin and was deposited on granodiorite and
tholeites; it is therefore considered the most oceanic
of the carbonate belts. As in the Placetas* belt, the
thicknesses cannot be measured, and the Tithonian
dolomites and oolitic limestones are absent; however,
the base of the pelagic carbonates has been considered
uppermost Jurassic in places. The Cretaceous sediments
that compose this belt are the most extensive in Cuba,
having been recognized from the Pinar del Rio to cen-
tral Camaguey. This belt is also characterized by having
most of the Turonian–Santonian missing, although no
evidence of a subaerial unconformity exists. Although
the area where this belt was deposited was originally
the most remote from the carbonate banks, it never-
theless received from them a considerable amount of
turbiditic material during the Maastrichtian.
In the northern Las Villas province, outcrops of
similar diorite-granite igneous rocks have been in-
cluded in the igneous Domingo* sequence. These
show cataclastic alteration. In the field and under
the microscope, they are practically indistinguishable
from the Manicaragua and southern Camaguey prov-
ince intrusive bodies that, from field relationships
and K-Ar, have been dated as ±85 m.y. of age or
Coniacian–Santonian. Presently, no report exists on
the ages of most of these bodies. They could be late
intrusions associated with the Cretaceous volcanism
or an older Jurassic basement mechanically incorpo-
rated in the ultrabasics through tectonism.
However, the presence of granodiorite and mar-
bles of possible Precambrian age (±925 m.y.) affected
by an Upper Jurassic (±145 m.y.) thermal event and
the tholeitic basalts of Upper Jurassic age underly-
ing the Ronda* (Veloz) Formation in normal sedi-
mentary contact suggests that the Precambrian base-
ment of the North American continental margin
was fragmented and invaded by oceanic rift ba-
salts during the Middle and Upper Jurassic. Other
evidences of Late Jurassic – Early Cretaceous rifting
exist, such as the presence of the Sabanilla* and
the Jobosi* formations with southern local sources
of detritus.
An important difference of opinion exists between
Hatten et al. (1958, 1988), Meyerhoff and Hatten
(1968), and Meyerhoff (in Khudoley and Meyerhoff,
1971), on the one hand, and myself, on the other, on
the present position of these basement outcrops. Al-
though I agree that they could represent remnants of
a ridge that might have separated the miogeosyn-
cline from the eugeosyncline, I interpret them as the
most allochthonous elements of the sedimentary ba-
sin, the basement of the highest sedimentary plate
below the ophiolite obduction. However, these au-
thors consider them as the relatively autochthonous
(nothing is totally autochthonous in Cuba) basement
of Meyerhoff’s ‘‘median welt.’’
Drilling. —Several wells have been drilled in the
Las Villas*, Placetas*, and Cifuentes* belts.
Gulf Hicacos-1. — This was drilled in northeastern
Cardenas Bay in 1949 by Cuban Gulf (Gulf Oil). It
penetrated the Las Villas* belt at 2290 ft (698 m) to
the total depth at 5045 ft (1538 m) below an Eocene
to Holocene cover and was cut by a major fault at
4030 ft (1229 m), bringing the lower–middle Eocene
(Sagua* or Vega*) under the Upper Jurassic Caguaguas*
Formation.
Texaco Guayabo-1. — This was drilled by Texaco in
the Guayabo anticlinorium, 2.5 km (1.5 mi) south-
west of the Las Villas fault. One of the main objectives
was to drill through the fault into the underlying
Yaguajay* belt; this objective was not reached,
indicating that the fault is steeper than 508.
The following section was drilled:
0– 103 ft (0 –31 m): alluvium.
103 –183 ft (31 – 56 m): Caguaguas* Formation.
183 –2910 ft (56 – 887 m): Jaguita* Formation.
2910 ft (887 m): Reverse fault.

2910–3060 ft (887–933 m) Calabazar* Formation.
3060–3292 ft (933–1004 m): Ramblazo* Formation.
3292 – 5760 ft (1004 – 1756 m): Capitolio*
Formation.
5760 – 5940 ft (1756 – 1811 m): Caguaguas*
Formation.
5940 to total depth at 10,010 ft (1811 to total
depth at 3052 m): Jaguita* Formation.
The Hoyo Colorado* Formation was not reported,
but it is believed to be present under the Jaguita*.
The moderate to high dips average 508 to the south-
west. The Jurassic has porosities of up to 10%. Tar
(18-58 API) shows were present throughout the section,
mostly in fractures, and 6 gal of tar were collected in a
test between 7488 and 7700 ft (2283–2348 m).
Boca de Jaruco – Via Blanca: — These fields are
along the north coast between Habana and Matan-
zas. The following section is interpreted from scout
information provided by Petroconsultants (1990, per-
sonal communication).
0 ft (0 m): Middle Eocene and younger overlap.
±2550 ft (±780 m): Cabaiguan* sequence con-
sisting of the Maastrichtian Peñalver and possible
Via Blanca formations.
±3200 ft (±980 m): Domingo* sequence con-
sisting dominantly of serpentine (only to the
south of the field).
±4660 ft (±1420 m): Major thrust under the
Domingo* sequence to the south and Cabaiguan*
sequence to the north.
±4660 ft (±1420 m): Cifuentes* belt, where the
Ronda*, Santa Teresa*, Carmita*, and Amaro* for-
mations are represented in a very complex, cha-
otic, and structural situation.
±6560 ft (±2000 m): Major thrust, with slivers of
Vega* and Rosas* formations caught along the thrust
plane overlying the Campanian – Maastrichtian
Lutgarda formation.
±6560 – 11,940 ft (±2000 – 3640 m): Strongly
deformed and fractured (60 –908 dips) Las Villas*
and/or southern Rosario belt, with a unit similar
to the Oxfordian Francisco Formation, with quartz-
ose clastics at the base, overlain by the Jagüita* and
Caguaguas* (equivalent to the Artemisa Group),
and the Capitolio*, Ramblazo*, and/or Constan-
cia formations (equivalent to the Polier Group).
This subsurface section is very important as it
proves the structural superposition of the Cabaiguan*,
Domingo*, Cifuentes*, and Las Villas* belts.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 139
Varadero – Varadero Sur – Marbella – Marbella
Mar – Cantel – Chapellin – Guasimas: — These fields
rim the northwest of Cardenas Bay, near Hicacos-1,
and a representative section (Varadero) encountered
is as follows:
0 to ±2130 ft (0 to ±650 m): Middle Eocene and
younger overlap.
±2130 ft (±650 m): Aptian to Maastrichtian
Cifuentes* belt section.
±4530 ft (±1380 m): Major thrust fault.
±4530 – 8200 ft (±1380– 2,500 m): The Oxfordian
to Valanginian part of the Las Villas* belt section
is overlain by the lower middle Eocene Vega* and
Rosas* formations.
Note that the Oxfordian to Valanginian part of the
section correlates with the pre-Eocene of the Gulf
Hicacos-1 well.
Jurassic Platform to Cretaceous Deep Basin
Province Discussion
The part of the depositional basin represented by the
Las Villas* and possibly the Placetas* and Cifuentes*
belts accumulated shallow-water carbonates during
the late Kimmeridgian through the middle Tithonian
up to a thickness of at least 2100 ft (640 m) of sedi-
ments. Near the close of the Jurassic, there must have
been an increase in the rate of subsidence south of
the Yaguajay* belt because carbonate bank sedimen-
tation did not keep pace with the deepening of the
basin. There might have been other factors pre-
venting the continuation of the buildup of these
banks, such as changes in oceanic circulation brought
about by the widening of the rift between North and
South America.
Sedimentation continued under deep-water (oce-
anic?) conditions during the entire Cretaceous to the
middle Eocene. This sedimentation consisted mostly
of calcareous nannoplankton during the Neocomian
and Aptian. From the Albian through the Turonian,
increasing amounts of silica were present in the form
of radiolaria and volcanic-derived material. It should be
noted that the change from Capitolio* and Calabazar*
to type 3 Ronda* and Santa Teresa* indicates an in-
crease in anoxic conditions. The increase in cherts
indicates a deepening through the carbonate com-
pensation zone. A total of not more than 2400 ft
(730 m) of pelagic carbonates and cherts were depos-
ited in deep waters from the upper Tithonian through
the Cretaceous.
140 / Pardo
During the same interval of time, some 9000 ft
(2750 m) of shallow-water carbonates were deposited
on the carbonate platform, suggesting that in the Las
Villas* belt, the water depth was more than 6000 ft
(2000 m) by the Late Cretaceous. Initially, the rate of
basement subsidence under the carbonate platform
would have been equal to that under the basinal sed-
iments. As sedimentation continued, basin subsidence
must have been much greater than under the banks.
During the Neocomian through Aptian, the basin
must have been broken by horsts and grabens, as in-
dicated by the localized presence of coarse detrital
material apparently deposited in deep water. There are
clasts of Upper Jurassic and Neocomian carbonates de-
rived from the south in the southern Las Villas* belt
and pre-Neocomian metamorphic and granodiorite
detritus of local origin in the southern Cifuentes* belt.
From the Aptian onward, an increasing contribu-
tion of fine to coarse material was apparently derived
in large part from the carbonate banks to the north
and deposited as turbidites interbedded with pelagic
deposits. The increase in amount of radiolarian cherts
indicates a great deepening of the water.
Through the Campanian and Maastrichtian, turbi-
dites derived from the north dominated the sedimenta-
tion. However, at the same time, toward the south, ero-
sion and redeposition of the Santa Teresa* cherts and
the presence of igneous-derived material in the Amaro*
Formation indicated early orogenic activity there.
In the lower –middle Eocene, the northern half of
the basin continued to receive the Sagua* Formation
detritus from the carbonate banks, together with those
derived from the early deformation and faulting of
the Yaguajay* and Las Villas* belts.
Finally, the Eocene San Martin* and lower Vega*
formations reflect the proximity of the advancing ba-
sic igneous-volcanic province thrust sheet. The ero-
sion off that sheet culminated with the deposition
of the wildflysch of the upper member of the Vega*
(Rosas*) Formation.
The entire deep-water nature of this basin is re-
markable. Despite the possibility of a Coniacian and
Paleocene hiatus, the presence of reworked intrafor-
mational detritus, and the direct evidence of uncon-
formities, no indication of deposits of shallow-water
origin exist other than turbidites. The possibility of
submarine erosion on a regional scale has to be con-
sidered because subaerial erosion is unlikely. As has
already been mentioned, the entire deep-water Upper
Jurassic and Cretaceous section has great lithologic
and faunal affinities with the Tethys, suggesting a di-
rect connection with the Tethyan Mediterranean, es-
pecially if one considers the dissimilarity with sec-
tions of equivalent age in North and South America.
Finally, it should be emphasized that all the contacts
between Las Villas*, Placetas*, and Cifuentes* belt
deep-water lithologies and those of the basic igneous-
volcanic province are tectonic.
It is important to attempt an estimate of the orig-
inal width of the basin in which the sediments of the
Las Villas*, Placetas*, and Cifuentes* belts were de-
posited. As previously mentioned, the Las Villas* belt
could have been 50 km (31 mi) in width; the Placetas*
belt could have been some 5–10 km (3–6 mi), and the
Cifuentes* belt, considering the three plates, could have
been some 15–20 km (9–12 mi). Therefore, the basin
was a minimum of about 70–80 km (43–49 mi) wide.
This distance is only the present estimated original
width of the belt’s outcrops without allowing any
distance for the facies to change from belt to belt.
Arbitrarily, one could allow another 70 km (43 mi) to
take care of the overriding of the thrust sheets and
the facies changes from belt to belt.
As will be described below, large outcrops of Ronda*
and Jaguita* formations along the Tuinicu fault ex-
ist between the Cabaiguan* sequence and the Mani-
caragua granodiorite, 25 km (15 mi) south of the
southernmost exposure of the carbonate belts. The
basin width before deformation could, therefore, have
been close to 150 km (93 mi). Intuitively, this dis-
tance is on the low side because the type of sediments
in these belts suggests the scrapings, or remnants, of a
much larger, deep-water, perhaps oceanic, basin.
In La Habana and Matanzas, this province has been
found only in wells and as far west as the Via Blanca
field. Because of serious structural complications, thick-
nesses are only estimates. Despite problems with the
published descriptions of the formations, some im-
portant points can be made:
1) The belts are continuous from central Cuba to
western Cuba, with the Las Villas* belt (equivalent
to the northern Rosario and possibly the Mogotes
area) being the lowermost penetrated sheet.
2) The presence of Upper Jurassic Favreina sp. and
Globochaetes alpina indicates that, during that time,
shallow-water conditions existed uninterruptedly
from central to western Cuba, suggesting a con-
tinuous basin, with evidence that in the Oxford-
ian, clastic sedimentation extended east as far as
the Cardenas Bay, possibly extending farther east
toward the Punta Alegre area (supporting the Ju-
rassic origin of the exotics in the San Adrian and
Punta Alegre formations).

3) As in the rest of Cuba, the Late Jurassic and all of
the Cretaceous were times of marked deepening of
the basin, shown by the influx of nannoplankton.
4) The Aptian–Santonian appears to be less well rep-
resented than in other Cuban regions, and the
Coniacian–Santonian has never been identified.
5) The Campanian–Maastrichtian is, like everywhere
else in Cuba, characterized by carbonate detritus;
however, in the subsurface upper plate of the
Cifuentes* belt, there is a reported influx of ter-
rigenous arkosic detritus suggesting the proxim-
ity of southern granitic highs, possibly similar to
allochthonous Sierra Morena or La Rana, that has
never been observed on outcrops—perhaps it be-
longs to another part of the section.
6) There is no report of middle Eocene carbonate
conglomerates such as the Sagua* Formation, in-
dicating that the Bahamas-type carbonate banks
were farther away from the Las Villas* belt than
in central Cuba.
7) Terrigenous flysch deposits derived from the de-
struction of the basic igneous-volcanic province
characterize the upper Paleocene–middle Eocene,
and culminate in the middle Eocene showing the
chaotic wildflysch of the Rosas* Formation and
Vieja Member of the Manacas Formation.
SOUTHWESTERN TERRANES
This province is found in the Guaniguanico Moun-
tains, the Escambray Mountains, the Isla de la Juventud,
and as far east as the Asuncion area in Oriente. The
southwestern terranes do not show as clear a con-
tinental margin succession of facies as do the north-
central terranes. They show, to a greater or lesser ex-
tent, a succession of facies that include silicate
clastics, bank carbonates, and deep-water pelagic en-
vironment. For convenience, they can be generally
subdivided into metamorphics and unmetamorphosed
sediments. The unmetamorphosed rocks occur in the
Guaniguanico Mountains, whereas the metamor-
phics are found along the southeastern edge of the
Guaniguanico Mountains (along the Pinar fault), the
Isla de la Juventud, the Escambray massif in central
Cuba, and Asuncion in extreme eastern Cuba.
Nonmetamorphics
Guaniguanico Mountains
Because of the spectacular exposures, Pinar del Rio
has historically received more attention from the geo-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 141
logic community than central Cuba. As a result, the dis-
cussion here will be based heavily on the published lit-
erature, especially on the work of Andrzej Pszczólkowski,
with references to Gulf’s or other works when pertinent.
Several units were first described and named by De-
Golyer (1918), Lewis (1932), and Palmer (1945). As in
central Cuba, these units turned out to cover a larger
time span and may be more complex than originally
thought.
Although western Cuba was not mapped in detail
by Cuban Gulf, P. B. Truitt conducted extensive re-
connaissance during 1955–1956, in which he estab-
lished the basis for the presently used structurofacies
zones nomenclature and resolved much of the struc-
tural and stratigraphic confusion that existed at the
time. It should be noted that one of the important
aspects of Truitt’s work is that it was done after the bulk
of Gulf’s work in central Cuba had been conducted,
and Truitt had been one of the main participants in
that study; he was therefore ideally suited to compare
the two areas. His regional correlations are still valid
(central Cuba names such as Carmita and Santa Te-
resa formations are presently widely used in Pinar del
Rio). In addition, the samples were described, and
their fauna were identified by P. Brönnimann’s labo-
ratory. During the late 1950s, C. W. Hatten mapped
the central part of the Sierra de los Organos, and much
of the present structural and stratigraphic concepts
and terminology of the area are based on his 1957
California Co. unpublished reports, nationalized by
the Cuban revolution. He recognized several peel
nappes and identified what is still believed to be the
most autochthonous of all the exposed structural
elements: the pons autochthon. Since 1970, a team
of geologists from the Polish Academy of Science has
been involved in mapping and working out the de-
tails of the stratigraphic sequences of this area, no-
tably among them A. Pszczólkowski, K. Piotrowska,
and J. Piotrowski. R. Myczynsky (1987a, b), Myczynsky
and Brochwicz-Lewinski (1981), and Myczynsky and
Pszczólkowski (1987) studied the Ammonite fauna.
Consequently, and unlike other areas in Cuba, much
has been recently published on Pinar del Rio. In the
last several years, Pszczólkowski (1999) has made
some important and needed revisions to the pub-
lished nomenclature. The revised nomenclature is
used here.
As will be seen below, although very important
information can be derived from this region, the dis-
tribution of exposures and the structural complexi-
ties make it very difficult to reconstruct the geologic
history from these data alone.
142 / Pardo
In contrast with central Cuba, western Cuba has a
thick and extensive section of Jurassic and Creta-
ceous continentally derived clastics, and the Creta-
ceous carbonate platform is poorly represented.
In general, western Cuba has not suffered as much
from the nomenclatural nightmare that has afflicted
central Cuba, but problems remain. Truitt (1956a, b), the
first to use the concept of belts in Pinar del Rio, sub-
divided the province into the sedimentary Organos*,
Rosario*, and Cacarajı́cara* belts and the basic igneous-
volcanic Bahia Honda* belt. Pardo (1975) used the
same nomenclature. In addition, Truitt named an in-
formal unit: the ‘‘northwestern Rosario* belt,’’ that
was also recognized by Hatten (1957), who named it
‘‘La Esperanza.’’ This terminology is, in large part, still
in use today, although it has been modified, enlarged,
and further subdivided. Pszczólkowski (1999) recog-
nizes four facies-tectonic zones: La Esperanza (which
is equivalent to Truitt’s northwestern Rosario*), Bahia
Honda, Cordillera de Guaniguanico, and Los Palacios
Basin. The Cordillera de Guaniguanico is subdivided
into Sierra de los Organos, Cangre, northern Rosario,
southern Rosario, and Guajaibon-Sierra Azul belts as
major subdivisions and a large number of smaller tec-
tonic units. Each one of the smaller units is a separate
thrust sheet with a characteristic stratigraphic sequence.
The Guajaibon-Sierra Azul belt is equivalent to Truitt’s
Cacarajı́cara* belt. Pushcharovsky et al., 1988, show
the Bahia Honda, Sierra del Rosario, Sierra de los Or-
ganos, La Esperanza and Cangre facies-structural units,
and the Los Palacios Basin. The Cangre unit is the
metamorphosed southern part of the Sierra de los Or-
ganos belt (along and northwest of the Pinar fault),
and the lower part of the mostly younger Tertiary Los
Palacios Basin is synonymous with Truitt’s southern
Bahia Honda* belt. Unfortunately, a serious nomen-
clatural problem exists: Truitt’s original Rosario–Los
Organos belt subdivision was more physiographic
than structurostratigraphic and only partially fol-
lows the Pardo ‘‘belt’’ or Hatten-Meyerhoff’s ‘‘facies-
structural unit’’ definition (in 1957, Hatten did not
use facies-structural units in Pinar del Rio). As will be
seen below, from a structural and facies point of view,
a large part of the outcrops included by Truitt and
others in the Los Organos belt really do belong to the
Rosario belt.
In this study, an attempt will be made to use a
facies-structural nomenclature without creating un-
necessary confusion. With the exception of Sierra
de los Organos, the names used will be the same as
the ones presently used in the Cuban literature or
on maps and will be modified to consistently reflect
the structure and stratigraphy. For the sake of uni-
formity, the major stratigraphic-structural subdivi-
sions will be named ‘‘belt,’’ and because of the struc-
tural complexity, the term ‘‘unit’’ will be used for
groups of strata that belong to one individual thrust
sheet. The names of the major subdivisions used by
Pszczólkowski (1999) will be used throughout; how-
ever, Pszczólkowski’s subdivisions (which he calls
‘‘belts’’ but others call ‘‘facies-structural zones’’) will
be modified as follows: The Sierra de los Organos belt
will be subdivided into
the Mogotes area: all the units of the Sierra de los
Organos belt minus the Alturas de las Pizarras del
Sur unit
the Alturas de las Pizarras del Sur area: the Alturas
de las Pizarras del Sur unit
As will be seen later, the Mogotes area is a window
through a thrust sheet of San Cayetano Formation that
is partially included in the southern Rosario belt. So
far, there is some evidence that the maximum thick-
ness of San Cayetano does not coincide with the thick-
est Mogote belt carbonates. It appears as if the San
Cayetano depocenter was south (restored position) of
the Mogotes carbonates depocenter.
Figure 85 shows the correspondence of the several
nomenclatural systems used in western Cuba.
The distribution of the major stratigraphic-structural
subdivisions is shown in Figure 86. Figure 87 is a pre–
upper Eocene correlation chart of the northwestern
terrane units in western Cuba.
Pinar del Rio is the area where the Cuban orogen
extended between the Bahamas and Yucatan platforms,
and consequently, much of the section younger than
Late Jurassic consists of rocks originating in a deep-
water environment. Here, many authors assume that
the general thrusting must have occurred northward
toward the deep-water facies of the southern Gulf of
Mexico; however, contradictions exist. Truitt (1956a, b)
was convinced that the thrusting was directed south-
ward. In Pinar del Rio, it is difficult to establish a nat-
ural basinal succession on account of the apparent
opposing directions of thrusting or nappe emplace-
ment and the lack of a well-defined continental mar-
gin to the north. As will be seen below, some remnants
of carbonate banks exist, caught in the thrusting, in
the northwestern as well as the central part of the
province. These suggest a partial shallow-water link
between the Bahamas and Yucatan or perhaps small
shallow-water banks surrounded by a deep-water en-
vironment (similar to the eastern end of the Bahamas).
 Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 143

Although the tectonics will be discussed in Chap-

ter 5 of this publication, most authors (Hatten, 1957;
Rigassi-Studer, 1963; Piotrowska, 1975, 1978; Pszczól-
kowski, 1971, 1977, 1994a, 1999) agree that (1) part
of the section present in the north of the Los Organos
region has been displaced northward and thrust over
the La Esperanza belt; (2) the southern and lower
part of the section of the Los Organos region has also
been thrust northward over the carbonates that form
the core of the same region; and (3) the Rosario belt
is the lateral equivalent of the La Esperanza belt and
also of the northern part of the Rosario belt, which
has been thrust over the rocks in the Los Organos
region. The present general opinion (first published
by Iturralde-Vinent, 1994) is that all major thrusting
was directed northward and that the basic igneous-
volcanic Bahia Honda belt originated south of the
sedimentary belts. Regardless, the thrusting direc-
tions in Pinar Del Rio have been the subject of much
discussion.
The major belts that form most of the exposures
of the Cordillera de Guaniguanico will be described
in the following order: (1) Gujaibon – Sierra Azul,
(2) northern Rosario belt, (3) La Esperanza belt,
(4) southern Rosario belt, and (5) Sierra de los Or-
ganos belt that, in this study, has been subdivided
into the Mogotes and the Pizarras del Sur (including
Cangre) areas.
As will be discussed below, this is not necessarily
the original depositional order.

Guajaibon–Sierra Azul Belt

Sediments belonging to the carbonate platform
were recognized in Pinar del Rio by Truitt (1956a, b),
who defined the narrow and discontinuous Caca-
rajı́cara* belt. Herrera (1961) also reported these car-
bonates. Later workers do not seem to have realized
FIGURE 85. Western Cuba belt nomenclature.

the similarity to the Yaguajay* belt of Las Villas prov-

ince and included these rocks in the Quiñones unit
under the name of Guajaibón Formation. Pszczól-
kowski (1978) realized that although the Guajaibón
Formation was placed in the Quiñones sequence, it
should be considered as a distinct tectonic unit.
In 1987, as well as in his most recent article,
Pszczólkowski (1999) considers the Guajaibón For-
mation to belong to a separate unit he called the
Guajaibon –Sierra Azul. Although Truitt’s Cacarajı́-
cara* belt has priority, the Guajaibon – Sierra Azul
name will be used in this study.
Massive Jurassic shallow-water carbonates have
been drilled in EPEP Pinar-1 in the Mogotes area; how-
ever, from the descriptions, the types of carbonates
144 / Pardo

FIGURE 86. Western Cuba: southwestern terrane generalized geologic map.

FIGURE 87. Correlation chart, southwestern terrane, western Cuba.


FIGURE 88. Western Cuba, Guajaibon – Sierra Azul belt.
are more akin to the lower Las Villas* than to the
Yaguajay* belt. For this reason, they will be described
under the section on clastics and platform to deep
basin province.
The Guajaibon–Sierra Azul belt extends as a dis-
continuous belt for 20 km (12 mi) from San Juan de
Sagua to the east-northeast. Its maximum width is
1.5 km (0.9 mi) (see Figure 88). It consists of steeply
northward-dipping fault blocks; one of them, the Pan
de Guajaibón, is the highest elevation in Pinar del
Rio. It appears not to have been studied in detail be-
cause of difficult access. In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988),
it is shown as the Albian–Cenomanian Guajaibón For-
mation that consists of light-gray massive limestones,
some being fragmental and richly fossiliferous; some
local dolomitization is present. Miliolids, algae, and
mollusks are abundant. Bauxite has been reported in
the Cenomanian.
Truitt (1956a, b) was more precise in characterizing
this belt’s lithologies and estimated the total exposed
thickness at not more than 1000 ft (300 m). Pszczólk-
owski (1978) gives a thickness of 1250 ft (380 m) at the
Pan de Guajaibón type section and estimates a maxi-
mum of 1650 ft (500 m). The following is Truitt’s de-
scription (see Figure 89).
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 145
Viñas* Group.— The Viñas* Group consists of the
typical Upper Jurassic to Albian Puntilla* or Bartolomé*
Formation lithologies described under the Yaguajay*
belt. One sample contained faunas with Jurassic af-
finities. It is included in the Guajaibón formation by
Pszczólkowski (1978) and Pushcharovsky et al. (1988).
Camaco* Formation.— This formation, also included
in the Guajaibón Formation, is of Cenomanian to
Santonian age, is present in its typical development
of white, porous algal, and miliolid limestones. Pszczól-
kowski (1987) reports Rotalipora sp., Ticinella sp., Hed-
bergella sp., and Preaglobotruncana sp. from the upper
part of his Guajaibón Formation, indicating a lower
Cenomanian age. The Manacas Formation overlies this
unit with unconformity.
Remedios*(?) Formation. — This unit has not been
specifically identified in this belt. The presence of
Maastrichtian faunas reported by Pszczólkowski (1978)
in the Guajaibón Formation was not confirmed; how-
ever, the presence of abundant Remedios* Formation
clasts in Eocene conglomerates of the Bahia Honda
belt, immediately to the north, as well as in the Caca-
rajı́cara Formation to the south, suggest its presence,
or that it was deposited and subsequently eroded.
It must be emphasized that the Gulf’s Remedios*
146 / Pardo
FIGURE 89. Stratigraphic section:
Guajaibon – Sierra Azul belt.
Formation (as opposed to the general Remedios lithol-
ogy) has a characteristic Paleocene microfacies easily
recognizable in clasts.
Manacas Formation. — This name includes several
related lithologic units with highly variable thick-
nesses. They range from 300 to ±1500 ft (100 to ±500
m), of basic igneous-derived sandstone, and shales,
argillaceous red to white limestones (Pica Pica
Member), and coarse and medium heterogeneous
limestone (and chert) conglomerates and orogenic
conglomerates containing blocks of ultrabasic and
basic igneous, volcanic, and sedimentary rocks in a
clay matrix (Vieja Member).
This unit was named Quiñones* Formation by
Truitt (1956a, b), who assigned it to the Maastrichtian.
Hatten (1957) named the same flysch in Los Organos
belt the Pinar Group (including the Pica Pica and
Manacas Members, the ‘‘Vieja wildflysch,’’ and the
‘‘Canaletes chert’’) and named part of Truitt’s Qui-
ñones* the Cascarajı́cara (not Cacarajı́cara as presently

spelled) Formation and considered them lower Eocene
and middle to upper Eocene, respectively. Pszczólk-
owski et al. (1975) considered the Pinar Group name
invalid and redefined it as the Pica Pica Formation, as-
signing it to the Paleocene to middle Eocene. Orig-
inally, the Cacarajicara Formation was considered to
be in part equivalent to the Pica Pica; however, Push-
charovsky et al. (1988) and Pszczólkowski (1986a, b)
consider it as a distinct unit of Maastrichtian age. In
his most recent article, Pszczólkowski (1999) follows
the current usage, sanctioned by the Cuban Commis-
sion of the Paleogene, of naming the unit Manacas
Formation. Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) call it the Pica
Pica (Manacas) Formation and includes in it the Vieja
wildflysch. This does not agree with Hatten’s (1957)
original definition of the Manacas Formation.
This flysch occurs in all the structural units of the
Sierra de Guaniguanico, with a variable character re-
flecting the underlying stratigraphy. In this belt, it
has its thickest development and separates the bank
carbonates from the Bahia Honda area Cabaiguan*
sequence rocks. It contains a large proportion of basic
igneous-volcanic detritus. Compositionally and tem-
porally, this unit is similar to the lower–middle Eo-
cene Vega* Formation of central Cuba, although it is
considered to extend into the upper Paleocene.
The flysch problem will be further discussed, and the
Manacas Formation will be more completely described
under the northern Rosario belt section.
Guajaibon – Sierra Azul Belt Discussion. — Al-
though essentially nothing has been written about it
in the recent literature (except the recognition of the
existence of bank carbonates), the presence of the typ-
ical Yaguajay* belt lithologies structurally sandwiched
between the basic igneous and volcanics of the Bahia
Honda belt, and the pelagic sediments of the northern
Rosario belt, is of extreme importance. Although in
central Cuba, the Domingo* sequence can be found
north of the Yaguajay* belt, the presence of Creta-
ceous and possible Upper Jurassic platform car-
bonates 280 km (173 mi) west of the westernmost
known occurrences of Bahamas Bank lithologies
(Gulf Blanquizal-1 and Gulf-Chevron Cay Sal-1) is sur-
prising, although similarity of facies and fauna should
not be automatically interpreted as suggesting paleo-
geographic continuity.
The Quiñones unit of the northern Rosario belt
dips northward under the Lower to Upper Cretaceous
platform carbonates of the Guajaibon–Sierra Azul belt
and consists almost entirely of a Neocomian through
lower Maastrichtian pelagic section related to the
Cifuentes* belt of central Cuba. The section is right-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 147
side up, and the faulting direction could be either
northward or southward. As already mentioned, the
Guajaibon–Sierra Azul belt is similarly right-side up
under the north-dipping basic igneous-volcanic Ba-
hia Honda belt. It should be noted that its thickness is
only a fraction of that of the Yaguajay* belt, with only
parts of the Lower and Upper Cretaceous represented.
Regardless of the thrusting direction, these outcrops
suggest a Cretaceous, prethrusting, basic igneous-
volcanic–carbonate platform–deep basin succession.
If the thrusting responsible for the present config-
uration of the belts was from north to south, then a
source of volcanics must have been present to the
north, within the carbonate bank province, which
would be surprising. If the thrusting was from south
to north, then carbonate banks were far removed from
the Bahamas, south of the deep basin and north of
the volcanics. The presence of bauxite in the Ceno-
manian suggests a proximity to volcanic activity.
Perhaps the Guajaibon–Sierra Azul belt represents
the remnants of Jurassic – Cretaceous isolated banks,
not connected to the Bahamas and surrounded by a
deep-water environment; this is the situation with
the Jurassic limestones of the Catoche Knoll or the
present Bermuda Island. The age of the base of these
banks is somewhat questionable, but is believed to
be at least Early Cretaceous. At any rate, the banks
must have been fairly extensive and continuous to
have supplied the material for the Cacarajı́cara and
Manacas formations and other related detritals of the
northern Rosario and Bahia Honda belts. Perhaps these
banks were deposited over the continuation of the
Lower Cretaceous Rancho Veloz and La Rana base-
ment highs.
As an explanation for the position of the carbonate
banks, which is the reverse from that of central Cuba,
one can invoke opposing thrusting directions (north-
ward thrusting of the Bahia Honda belt over the car-
bonate bank, followed by southward thrusting of both
over the previously thrusted complex of deep-water
basin sediments), but this would considerably com-
plicate the structural picture.
Northern Rosario Belt
The name Rosario was derived from a range char-
acterized by low rounded topography caused by the
presence of thin-bedded cherty and chalky limestones,
and distinguished from the Los Organos (The Organs)
Mountains characterized by sheer cliffs of massive,
thick-bedded, limestone in a mature karst topography
(mogotes). The original Rosario belt has been sub-
divided for structural and stratigraphic reasons into
148 / Pardo
FIGURE 90. Western Cuba, northern Rosario belt.
a northern and southern Rosario belt. The northern
Rosario belt corresponds quite well to the original defi-
nition of belt or facies-structural zone. The sequence of
this subdivision of Truitt’s Rosario* belt was defined by
Pszczólkowski (1977, 1978, 1994a, b, c, d; 1999).
The northern Rosario belt, as shown in Figure 90,
has been subdivided into several low-angle, mostly
north-dipping thrust sheets or units; from lower to
higher, these are as follows:
1) Belen Vigoa unit. This is the lowest of the sequence
and overlies the southern Rosario belt. It is over-
lain in the east by the Naranjo and in the west by
the Cangre units.
2) Naranjo unit. It generally overlies the Belen Vigoa
unit and, to the east, the southern Rosario belt.
From east to west, the Dolores, La Serafina, and
Cangre units overlie the Naranjo.
3) Dolores unit. It is limited to the eastern part of the
northern Rosario belt, where it overlies the Naranjo
unit and is overlain by the La Serafina unit.
4) La Serafina unit. It is also limited to the eastern
part of the Rosario belt and is mostly underlain
by the Dolores unit and overlain by the Cangre
unit.
5) Cangre unit. It is rather extensive and covers two-
thirds of the northern Rosario belt. From east to
west, La Serafina, Naranjo, Belen Vigoa units, and
the southern Rosario belt underlie the Cangre.
Between the Cangre and the Naranjo units, a large
elongated serpentine body exists. Everywhere, the
Sierra Chiquita unit overlies the Cangre unit. The
name Cangre has been used for the metamor-
phosed equivalent of the Alturas de las Pizarras del
Sur area, or unit, of the Los Organos belt.
6) Sierra Chiquita unit. Extending for the entire length
of the northern Rosario belt, it is underlain by
the Cangre unit and the southern Rosario belt to
the west. It is mostly overlain by the Quiñones
unit and in the east by the Bahia Honda area of
the Cabaiguan* sequence.
7) Quiñones unit. It is the highest unit of the se-
quence. It extends for 45 km (27 mi) east-northeast
of San Juan de Sagua immediately south of the
Cacarajı́cara* belt.
In addition, there is the Martin Mesa window, con-
sisting of northern Rosario belt sediments surrounded
by basic igneous and volcanics of the northern Bahia
Honda area and outcropping between Mariel and

Guanajay in western Habana province. The rocks ex-
posed in the Martin Mesa window are tectonically
highly crushed and show no direct structural relation-
ships with any of the units of the northern Rosario
belt.
The stratigraphic sections of the northern Rosario
belt and the Martin Mesa window in western Habana
province are described below.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 149
FIGURE 91. Stratigraphic section:
northern Rosario belt.
Northern Rosario Belt (Sensu Stricto). — This
belt extends for 65 km (40 mi) from south of the
Sierra de Cajalbana to Cayajabos, along the south
flank of the Cacarajı́cara* belt. It has a wedge shape
and is bound by what are considered to be major
north-dipping faults. It fits the definition of belt in that
it has a set of characteristic sequences and is bounded
by faults. The section is as follows (see Figure 91).
150 / Pardo
Basement. —
El Sabalo Formation: —El Sabalo Formation con-
sists of 500 to more than 650 ft (150 to more than
200 m) of an interbedding of
1) Basic igneous rocks ranging in thickness from ±1
to 23 ft (±0.3 to 7 m) in thickness, consisting of
dark-green, massive diabases and basaltic flows
exhibiting pillow structures, mostly toward the
upper part of the layer. Sometimes, the basalts are
spilitized. In some cases, the pillows contain ves-
icles. These volcanics form 60–80% of the section.
The chemical composition of these rocks suggests
oceanic tholeiites.
2) Dark-gray to black, weathering light-gray to gray,
well-bedded to finely laminated limestones up
to 16 ft (5 m) in thickness. Some samples contain
abundant G. alpina and phosphatic (fish) remains.
Didemnoides moreti, Didemnum carpaticum, Didemnum
minutum, ‘‘Colomisphaera’’ cf. pieniniensis, and
‘‘Colomisphaera’’ cf. nagyi have also been found.
Although this assemblage is not very diagnostic,
its local occurrence suggests a pre-Tithonian, Ox-
fordian(?)–lower Kimmeridgian age. These carbon-
ates were deposited under reducing conditions.
3) Well-bedded calcareous shales. There are occa-
sional marly limestones containing fine pyro-
clastic material. Occasional tuffs and rare thin
siliceous lenses are associated with the volcanics.
This unit is well developed and present only in
the Naranjo and Belen Vigoa units. It is believed to
be equivalent to the Francisco (in which a basalt has
been identified) in the southern Rosario belt, and it
also correlates and show similarities with the Jagua
Formation in the Cangre belt. It is also believed to
have similarities with the basalts associated with the
base of the La Esperanza Group in the western La Es-
peranza unit, although these have been attributed to
the Tithonian–Berriassian.
This section is probably related to the Nueva Maria
(Ronda*) Formation section in the Sierra de Camajan
that also shows Tithonian limestones in contact
with tholeiitic basalts. Like the southern Cifuentes*
belt in central Cuba, it could well represent a sliver
of basement belonging to the transition between the
northern and southern Rosario belts caught in the
thrusting.
Viñales group. — This term is not being presently
used (Pszczólkowski, 1999) because it is too general,
but appears widely in the literature. It is mentioned
in this publication for historic reasons.
DeGolyer (1918) proposed the name ‘‘Viñales
limestone’’ for all the ‘‘mogote-forming’’ limestones
of the Sierras de Los Organos and Rosario. No type
section was given. Truitt (1956a, b) and Hatten (1957)
limited the Viñales Formation to the Los Organos
belt. Herrera (1961) elevated the Viñales to Group,
including in it many limestone types in both the Los
Organos and the Rosario belts. This move was not
justified because the original intent was to separate the
mogote-forming, shallow-water massive Jurassic lime-
stones (San Vicente Formation) from the deep-water,
thin-bedded cherty limestone of Jurassic and Creta-
ceous age. These two types of limestones give the
distinctive physiographic character to the Los Orga-
nos and Rosario belts.
In outcrops, it consists of a maximum of 2625 ft
(800 m) of limestone with minor quantities of sand-
stones, cherts, and shales. It is present in the entire
Guaniguanico Mountains. It has been subdivided into
the Guasasa, Pons, Artemisa, Polier, and Lucas forma-
tions. The Artemisa Formation is restricted to the
Rosario belts, and the Polier and Lucas formations are
restricted to the northern Rosario belt.
Artemisa Formation. — The Artemisa Formation
consists of 150 – 1300 ft (50 – 400 m) of well-bedded
fine-grained limestones, calcilutites, calcarenites,
and a few calcirudites. In a few places, thin beds of
radiolarian chert and some marly shales exist. At
the base of the formation are occasional fine-grained
sandstones and siltstones. The limestones emit a
strong petroleum odor when fresh (dry or wet), and
asphalt is commonly found in fractures. The Artemisa
Formation contains three members: San Vicente,
La Zarza, and Sumidero. Of these, only La Zarza and
Sumidero are found in the northern Rosario belt, and
only Sumidero can be recognized in all the sections.
This formation was named the ‘‘Artemisa Lime-
stone’’ by Lewis (1932), the ‘‘San Andrés formation –
eastern part’’ by Vermut (1937), ‘‘Aptychus limestone’’
by Palmer (1945), Artemisa Formation by Truitt (1956a,
b), and the Rosario limestone by Hatten (1957).
In contrast to the mogotes-forming Guasasa For-
mation, the Artemisa forms low to moderate roll-
ing hills.
La Zarza Member: — La Zarza Member consists of
250 –650 ft (80 –200 m) of thin-bedded micritic lime-
stones interbedded with thin shales overlain by more
massive beds of gray fine-grained limestones inter-
bedded with bioclastic limestones and coquinas con-
taining ammonites and aptychi. Some parts of the
section are tectonically disturbed. Aptychi are present
throughout but rare.

The fauna consists of Cubaspidoceras sp., Micro-
sphinctes sp., Pseudolissoceras sp., Butticeras sp., Para-
dontoceras sp., Corongoceras sp., Protoncyloceras sp.,
Dickersonia sp., and Viñalesites sp. They, together with
Chitinoidella sp., indicate an age ranging from the late
middle Oxfordian–early upper Oxfordian to Tithonian.
The presence of Calpionella sp. in the upper part of the
section indicates that La Zarza Member reaches the
upper Tithonian or Berriasian.
This unit grades into the overlying Sumidero Mem-
ber. It is equivalent to the upper Pimienta Member
of the Jagua Formation and to the San Vicente, El
Americano, and lower Tumbadero members of the
Guasasa Formation in the Mogotes area. It is equiv-
alent to the Jagüita*, Caguaguas*, and lower Capitolio*
formations of central Cuba. However, it appears to
have been deposited in much deeper water than the
Jagüita*.
Sumidero Member:— The Sumidero Member con-
sists of 150 – 650 ft (50 – 200 m) of a succession of
micritic pink and brown limestones, interbedded light-
gray limestones and thin cherts, and finally, toward
the top, gray to bluish gray micritic limestones inter-
bedded with thick, radiolarian cherts and laminated
limestones. Abundant calcified radiolaria exist.
An abundant fauna exists characterized by Cal-
pionella alpina, Calpionella elliptica, Crassicolaria brevis,
Tintinnopsella cf. carpathica, Tintinosporella longa,
Remaniella cadischiana, Calpionellopsis simplex, Calpio-
nellopsis oblonga, and Calpionellites darderi. In addi-
tion, the ammonites Thurmaniceras cf. novhispanicus
and Karsteniceras cf. subtilis have been identified. The
age is considered Berriasian to Hauterivian.
The contact with the overlying Polier Formation
is conformable. This unit is equivalent to the upper
part of the Tumbadero and the Tumbitas Members
of the Guasasa Formation in Los Organos belt and to
the Capitolio*, Sabanilla*, and Ronda* formations of
central Cuba.
Polier Formation. —The Polier Formation consists
of thin-bedded micritic limestones interbedded with
sandstones and shales. The sandstones are best
developed in the Sierra Chiquita and Cangre units,
where the formation is 650 – 1000 ft (200 – 300 m) in
thickness, decreasing to less than 100 ft (30 m) south-
ward in the Belen Vigoa unit. This unit is absent in the
southern Rosario belt. The lower part of the forma-
tion consists of thin-bedded gray micritic limestones
interbedded with claystones and sandstones. The sand-
stones are thin bedded, gray to dark gray, hard, fine-
grained with calcareous cement. They show organic
and inorganic markings at the base, graded bedding,
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 151
and horizontal and cross-laminations. Some of the
sandstones reach 3 ft (1 m) in thickness. The domi-
nant component is poorly rounded quartz with sub-
ordinate plagioclases and muscovite. They are con-
sidered to be turbidites.
This formation was named by Pszczólkowski
(1977) and was formerly included in the upper part of
the Artemisa Formation. Truitt (1956a, b) recognized
it as a separate unit and named it Soroa Formation.
The base of the Polier Formation has yielded Cal-
pionellopsis simplex, Calpionellopsis oblonga, and Calpio-
nellites sp. The Polier Formation contains a rich
ammonite fauna, including Partschiceras infundibulum,
Lytoceras cf. stephanensis, Biasaloceras cf. subsequens,
Macroscaphites cf. yvani, Leptoceras cf. studeri, Hamuli-
nites parvulus, and Karsteniceras polieri, which indicates a
Valanginian–Aptian age, although most of the depos-
its are believed to be Hauterivian–Barremian.
In the upper part of the Polier Formation is a dis-
tinct lithologic unit named the Roble Member.
Roble Member: —The Roble Member consists of
±80 ft (±25 m) of thick- to medium-bedded, medium-
grained quartz sandstone. Most of the sandstone beds
show graded bedding, cross-bedding, current marks,
groove marks, and prod casts indicating an origin as
turbidites coming from the northwest and north. Some
fine interbeds of shales exist, as well as a few micritic
limestones in the middle part of the member. At the top
of the member is a 3-ft (1-m) bed of detrital limestone.
This unit contains only poorly preserved, unidenti-
fiable fossils, and the age is considered Aptian–Albian
based on the stratigraphic position.
Although the contact is sharp, the Roble Member is
conformable with the overlying Santa Teresa Formation.
The Polier Formation, especially the Roble Mem-
ber, shows an influx of quartz sand with muscovite.
There could be a relationship with the deep-water
Constancia* Formation of central Cuba of Aptian age,
which is quite unique in showing quartz and abundant
muscovite. It is also very similar to and coeval with the
La Esperanza Formation of the La Esperanza belt.
Lucas Formation. —The Lucas Formation (named
by Pszczólkowski, 1977) consists of 650–1000 ft (200–
300 m) of thin-bedded, gray micritic limestones inter-
calated with hard, calcareous shales and marly shales.
The limestones contain abundant aptychi, a few am-
monite imprints, and calcified radiolaria, and the unit
is considered of upper Hauterivian to Barremian age.
It is comformably overlain by the Santa Teresa For-
mation. It is in part equivalent to the Polier Formation
and is restricted to the Sierra Chiquita and Quiñones
units. It is also equivalent and lithologically similar
152 / Pardo
to the Capitolio*, Ramblazo*, and Ronda* formations
of central Cuba.
Buenavista group.— This name is not in use at pres-
ent (Pszczólkowski, 1999). It consisted of 650–1300 ft
(200 – 400 m) of an association of three lithologies;
cherts, limestones, and shales.
This group was formerly named the Buenavista
Formation by Pszczólkowski, 1977, 1978. It is subdi-
vided into four formations; the Santa Teresa, Carmita,
Pinalilla, and Moreno. The Buenavista Group was time
equivalent to the upper Guasasa and most of the Pons
Formation in the Mogotes area. In the Rosario belt, it
was mapped by Truitt (1956a, b) as the Carmita*
Formation of central Cuba because of its lithologic
similarity and time equivalence, and he recognized
the change to the dominantly chert Santa Teresa*
Formation facies toward the Mogotes area.
Santa Teresa Formation. — The Santa Teresa Forma-
tion consists of up to 130 ft (40 m) of green, thin-
bedded, and laminated radiolarian cherts and silicified
argillite at the base, turning into red to reddish brown
cherts toward the top.
This unit, the name of which was originally es-
tablished in central Cuba, was formerly named the
Sabanilla Member of the Buenavista Formation and
was included in the lower member of the now invalid
Sierra Azul Formation by Pszczólkowski (1977, 1978).
It is synonymous with the Panchita Formation of
the La Esperanza unit. It was mapped as part of the
Carmita* Formation by Truitt (1956a, b), although
he recognized that locally, it was more similar to
the Santa Teresa.
This unit contains a fauna of Ticinella sp., indicat-
ing an Albian to lower Cenomanian age. A sample of
the Polier Formation immediately below the Santa
Teresa yielded Nannoconus wassalli and Nannoconus
cf. carniolensis latus, indicating an Aptian age. A
sample at the top of the formation yielded Rotalipora
appenninica, Rotalipora cf. reicheli, Rotalipora cf. cush-
mani, Praeglobotruncana stephani, Praeglobotruncana
cf. delrioensis, Hedbergella cf. delrioensis, and Schackoina
sp., indicating an upper Cenomanian age. The age
therefore ranges from the Aptian through the Cen-
omanian. It grades upward into an interbedding of
limestones and cherts characteristic of the Carmita
Formation, but in some units (mostly in the southern
Rosario belt), it has been subject to erosion and is un-
conformably overlain by the Cacarajı́cara Formation.
This formation appears in all the units of the north-
ern and southern Rosario belts.
The formation is equivalent to the Pons Formation
of the Mogotes area. This unit is lithologically similar
to and partially correlates with the Santa Teresa* For-
mation (Cifuentes* belt) of central Cuba.
Carmita Formation. — The Carmita Formation
consists of 0 –230 ft (0 – 70 m) of an interbedding of
micritic limestones, cherts, and detrital limestones,
which are calcareous turbidites, with graded bedding,
containing common fragments of organisms, and rare
foraminifera. They also contain occasional detritus of
angular quartz, sandstone, graywacke, and plagioclase.
This unit, whose name was originally established
in central Cuba, was called the ‘‘Limestone and Chert
Member’’ of the Buenavista Formation by Pszczólkowski
(1977, 1978). It was recognized and mapped as Carmita
Formation by Truitt (1956a, b).
This member is typical of the northern Rosario belt
and is particularly well developed in the Sierra Chi-
quita, Cangre, and La Serafina units. It is only partially
present because of erosion in the Belen Vigoa, Naranjo,
and Dolores units. It is absent in the Quiñones unit.
The planktonic fauna indicates a Cenomanian –
Turonian age; however, in the upper part of the forma-
tion, which is commonly barren of fossils (or only con-
tains unidentifiable ones), a fauna of Archeoglobigerina
cf. cretacea, Globotruncana cf. linneiana, and Rugoglo-
bigerina sp. has been found, suggesting a Coniacian–
lower Santonian(?) age.
This unit is lithologically similar to and correlates
with the Carmita* Formation (Placetas* and Cifuentes*
belts) of central Cuba.
Pinalilla Formation. — The Pinalilla Formation (orig-
inally named the Pinalilla Member of the now in-
valid Sierra Azul Formation by Pszczólkowski, 1977,
1978) consists of a 560-ft (170-m)-thick, massive, thick-
bedded, gray-green micritic limestone. The fauna con-
sists of planktonic foraminifera and radiolaria that in-
dicate a Turonian age. It is confined to the Quiñones
unit. The contact with the Santa Teresa and Moreno
formations is sharp, but appears transitional.
Moreno Formation. — The Moreno Formation con-
sists of 0– 800 ft (0– 240 m) of argillite, polymictic
sandstones, and marly detrital limestones. The lower
part of the section is dominated by argillites inter-
bedded with limestones. Toward the top, the lime-
stones become rare, and sandstones and conglomer-
ates containing clasts of volcanics, all interbedded
with the shales, appear. Intercalations of green dacitic
tuffs are also present.
This formation was formerly named the Moreno
Member of the Buenavista Formation and included
in the upper member of the now invalid Sierra Azul
Formation by Pszczólkowski (1977, 1978) and was in-
cluded in the Carmita* Formation by Truitt (1956a, b).

This member is well developed in the Cangre and
Quiñones units. It is present in all other units, with
the exception of Belen Vigoa.
The following microfauna has been identified:
Dicarinella cf. concavata, Dicarinella cf. imbricata(?),
Marginotruncana pseudolinneiana, Marginotruncana cf.
marginata, Globotruncana mariei, Globotruncana arca,
Globotruncana saratogensis, Globotruncana ventricosa,
Globotruncana linneiana, Globotruncana cf. linneiana-
mariei, Globotruncana cf. bulloides-linneiana, Globotrun-
cana cf. tricarinata, Globotruncana cf. insignis-orientalis,
Globotruncanita elevata, Globotruncana cf. elevata, Glo-
botruncana stuartiformis, Globotruncana cf. stuartiformis,
Globotruncana calcarata, Globotruncana cf. subspinosa,
Globotruncana cf. stuarti, Rosita fornicata, Rosita cf. pa-
telliformis, Archaeoglobigerina cretacea(?), Hedbergella
monmouthensis, Hedbergella cf. crassa, Plummerita hant-
keninoides(?), Rugoglobigerina cf. rugosa, Rugoglobigerina
cf. pilula, Rugoglobigerina cf. pilula-rugosa, Rugotruncana
sp., Hastigerinoides sp., Globotruncanella sp., Globigerinel-
loides sp., Schackoina cf. cenomana, Sulcoperculina cf.
diazi, Sulcoperculina cf. globosa, Vaughanina cf. cubensis,
Pseudorbitoides sp., Orbitoides(?) sp., Sulcorbitoides(?) sp.,
Nummoloculina heimi, Stomiosphaera sphaerica, Pitho-
nella ovalis, Pithonella cf. trejoi, and Globochaete sp.
This fauna indicates a Santonian(?) to Campanian age,
but mostly Campanian.
This formation exhibits an unconformable con-
tact with the overlying Cacarajı́cara Formation.
The Moreno Formation shows great similarity with
the Corona* Formation of the Placetas* belt. In cen-
tral Cuba, the Corona* Formation is considered
Santonian to Maastrichtian and is equivalent to the
Amaro* Formation. It could be, however, older than
the Amaro* because the Amaro* is not present (eroded?)
in the Placetas* belt, and the Corona* is overlain by
younger Tertiary.
Cacarajı́cara Formation. — The Cacarajı́cara Forma-
tion consists of 330–1475 ft (100–450 m) of limestone
and chert breccia grading up into a coarse calcarenite.
Most of the fragments consist of shallow-water lime-
stones containing algae, rudists, echinoids, miliolids,
and large foraminifera. The lower part of the forma-
tion, named the Los Cayos Member, can be chaotic
and contain very large clasts; the limestone compo-
nents can reach 4 ft (1.3 m) and are richly fossiliferous
with benthonic foraminifera and rudists. A block of
chert 16 ft (5 m) wide has been observed. Olistoliths
of Santa Teresa Formation (formerly called the ‘‘up-
per chert’’ member of the Buenavista Formation)
exist. The blocks are tightly packed with no visible
matrix.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 153
This unit was named Quiñones* Formation by
Truitt (1956a, b) and assigned to the Maastrichtian.
Hatten (1957) named the same flysch in Los Organos
belt the Pinar Group and named part of Truitt’s
Quiñones* the Cascarajı́cara (not Cacarajı́cara as
presently spelled) Formation and considered them
lower Eocene and middle to upper Eocene, respectively.
The Pinar Group name was considered invalid by
Pszczólkowski et al. (1975), who redefined it as the
Pica Pica Formation and assigned it to the Paleo-
cene to middle Eocene. Originally, the Cacarajicara
Formation was considered to be in part equivalent to
the Pica Pica; however, Pushcharovsky et al. (1988)
and Pszczólkowski (1986a, b) consider it as a distinct
unit of Maastrichtian age. It was formerly included
in the now invalid ‘‘calcareous breccia,’’ ‘‘upper chert,’’
and Los Cayos members of the Buenavista Formation
by Pszczólkowski (1977, 1978).
Fragments of deep-water biomicrites, radiolarian
cherts, dolomites, shales, sandstones, quartzites, and
volcanics are also present. The terrigenous material
forms up to 5%, and the volcanic fragments form up
to 2% of the clasts. The matrix is sparse and consists of
fine detritals. The upper part of the formation is fine
grained and can be well bedded.
The fauna consists of Omphalocyclus cf. macroporus,
Globotruncana arca, Globotruncana bulloides, Globotrun-
cana lapparenti, Globotruncana linneiana, Globotruncana
ventricosa(?), Globotruncanita calcarata, Globotruncanita
stuarti, Globotruncanita cf. conica, Rosita patelliformis,
Rosita fornicata, Rosita cf. contusa, Gansserina ganseri(?),
Globigerina stuarti, Rugoglobigerina scotti, Rugoglobiger-
ina rugosa, Pseudotextularia elegans, Sulcoperculina cf.
globosa, Sulcoperculina cf. diazi, Sulcoperculina dicker-
soni(?), Abathomphalus cf. mayaroensis, Racemiguembe-
lina fructicosa(?), Globotruncanella havanensis, Globotrun-
canella minuta, Plummerita hantkeninoides, Lepidorbitoides
sp., Pseudorbitoides sp., and Vaughanina sp., indicating
an upper Maastrichtian age. The upper sedimentary
contact of this formation with the Ancón has been
observed in a few sections; however, the contact is
commonly tectonic.
This unit is best developed and is thickest in the
northern Rosario belt, where it outcrops continuously
for 53 km (32 mi) in the Sierra Chiquita unit. It is
absent in the Quiñones unit. It correlates with and is
lithologically very similar to the Amaro* Formation
(Cifuentes* belt) of central Cuba. It is also similar and
coeval with the Peñalver Formation of northern Cuba.
Ancón Formation.—The Ancón Formation reaches a
maximum of 325 ft (100 m), but is commonly 65–100 ft
(20 – 30 m) thick. It consists of micritic limestones
154 / Pardo
containing planktonic foraminifera and radiolaria
characterized by a reddish or greenish gray color.
Truitt (1956a, b) named this unit first from the Finca
Ancón locality. Hatten (1957) also named an Ancón
Formation from the same type locality. Truitt consid-
ered the age Upper Cretaceous, whereas Hatten con-
sidered it lower Eocene. From the descriptions, they are
certainly the same unit, and Truitt’s age must have
been based on the abundant reworked fauna.
The following fauna has been reported: Morozovella
pseudobulloides, Morozovella cf. trinidadensis-precursoria,
Morozovella uncinata, Morozovella cf. angulata, Morozo-
vella cf. acuta(?), Morozovella cf. aequa, Morozovella cf.
velascoensis-acuta, Planorotalites compressa, Planorota-
lites cf. pseudomenardii, Acarinina cf. soldadensis, Acar-
inina cf. brodermani, Globigerina cf. triloculinoides, and
Globigerina chascanonna. The age is considered upper
Paleocene–lower Eocene.
In places, the upper part of the formation is char-
acterized by reddish, marly limestones that grade into
the overlying red or yellow shales of the Manacas For-
mation. In one locality, the lower part of the Ancón
Formation contains thinly interbedded polymictic
sandstones and red shales. The red calcisiltite of the
Ancón Formation has been observed filling fractures
in the underlying Cacarajı́cara Formation.
The Ancón Formation has been identified in the
Naranjo, Dolores, La Serafina, and Quiñones units.
Manacas Formation. — The Manacas Formation
consists of 1500 ft (500 m) to a few tens of feet of
dominantly shales, sandstones, and limestones in the
lower part and chaotic megaconglomerates and
breccias (olistostromes) in the upper part.
There have been differences of opinion as to the
classification of these deposits. They have been de-
scribed under the names of Pinar Group, Manacas,
Pica Pica, and Quiñones* formations, Vieja wildflysch
(also referred to as the ‘‘Big Boulder bed’’), and Canaletes
chert.
Hatten (1957) named the Pinar Group and divided it
into the Manacas Formation, the Vieja wildflysch
(Big Boulder bed), and the Canaletes chert. They
were described as follows:
1) Manacas Formation — Graywackes and lithic
wackes predominate in the Manacas Formation.
The sequence is marine. The color of the weath-
ered outcrop is generally light olive brown; how-
ever, some horizons are light olive to pale green.
Bedding is poorly developed. The sediments are
poorly sorted, ranging from 2 mm (0.08 in.) to
material the size of silt. Graded bedding is com-
monly present in the formation. Much of the ma-
terial seems to be made up of angular quartz and
feldspar grains and fine volcanic rock fragments;
all this is enclosed in a matrix of silt and clay.
Common greenish gray shale horizons are found
interbedded with the graywackes; some of these
have been reported to be tuffaceous. Besides the
above graywackes and lithic wackes, some pebbly
conglomerates also exist with angular limestone
clasts of a bank and near-reef type, dolomite, and
rounded volcanics of olivine basalt and some in-
termediate porphyritic rocks. Also present are
coarse grains of angular felspar and quartz. Or-
ganic material is sparse in the Manacas; the ratio
of sediment to fossil remains is high. This seems
to be a typical characteristic of flysch deposits of
the Alpine type.
On the strength of the presence of Globigerina
cf. bulloides, this unit is considered lower Eocene
in age.
2) Vieja Wildflysch — The Vieja Wildflysch is made
up of dark greenish grey to grayish blue green
highly sheared serpentinized rock. This serpenti-
nized rock has been observed to have many
varied textures. Sometimes relic crystals of ensta-
tite(?) up to 3 mm in size can be seen. More often
the serpentine is very fine grained to aphanitic.
Many ‘exotic’ blocks of amphibolite, actinolite
garnet schists, and hornblende-quartz rocks are
enclosed by the serpentinized rock. These meta-
morphics are of unknown origin. Some large
blocks of sharpstone conglomerate with abun-
dant limestone clasts are frequently found. Blocks
of the metamorphics as well as the conglomerate
have been seen as large as 6 to 8 feet in diameter.
Hatten’s Vieja wildflysch, which is intimately
related to the base of the basic igneous-volcanic
thrust sheet, could be a mixture of a true orogenic
conglomerate and serpentine with exotics, which
is common in the lower Domingo* sequence of
central Cuba.
3) Canalete Cherts—The cherts are generally dark
grey but weather to light grey. Bedding is generally
well developed with beds uniformly near 1 cm in
thickness. Between individual beds, a thin, approxi-
mately 2 to 3 mm, siliceous shale bed occurs.
Radiolaria are abundant to common in the cherts
and shales. No diagnostic fauna has been found
in the cherts or shales. The exact stratigraphic
position is therefore uncertain. From field obser-
vations, there is considerable evidence that the
cherts are associated with the Pinar Group.

Truitt (1956a, b) described a unit that he named
the Quiñones* Formation showing great similarity to
Hatten’s Pinar Group description. It consists of basic
igneous-derived conglomerate, sandstone, shale and
siltstone. Dirty argillaceous red white limestone. Coarse
and medium fragmental heterogeneous orbitoid lime-
stone and limestone conglomerate. Dark brown and
black thin-bedded cherts near the base. Rare basalt
porphyry. Near the top are enormous tectonically jum-
bled blocks of actinolite schist, serpentine, diabase,
spilite, tuff, and assorted flow rocks mixed with the
sediments. These blocks are probably a very coarse
orogenic conglomerate.
Truitt considered his Quiñones* Formation to be
of Maastrichtian age (possibly on account of the abun-
dant reworked fauna) and, unlike Hatten’s Manacas,
included in it the chaotic megaconglomerates.
Pszczólkowski et al. (1975) proposed the name Pica
Pica Formation to replace Hatten’s Manacas and
Canaletes cherts. Piotrowska (1975) describe the Pica
Pica at the type locality as calcareous shales and sand-
stones (10.0 m), interbedding of polymict sandstones
and grey micritic limestones (2.5 m), light grey and red
micritic limestones (2.5 m), calcarenites with tuffa-
ceous material (3.0 m), green tuffaceous shales (8.0 m),
interbedding of polymict sandstones with shale and
cherts (15.0 m), thin bedded red chert (5.0 m), polymict
sandstones interbedded with breccias and shales
(20.0 m). Higher up in the section chaotic rocks ap-
pear. The thickness of the Pica Pica Formation in the
stratotype is 85 m.
At the co-type locality it is described as yellow shales
with sandstones with graywacke composition (6.0 m),
a breccia with limestone and chert fragments (2.5 m),
shales and graywacke sandstones (up to 30.0 m) and in
the upper part, volcanic rocks (diabase and andesite)
and tuffaceous rocks (30.0 m). The total thickness
of the Pica Pica Formation in this section is almost
80 m. These rocks are overlain by chaotic rocks. (Note:
The position of the volcanics in the Pica Pica Forma-
tion is not clear. The contact could be tectonic or they
could belong to the chaotic rocks.)
This unit contains abundant reworked Upper Cre-
taceous foraminifera and a scarce Paleogene fauna.
Globorotalia cf. velascoensis has been found in the
lower limestones of the formation. Therefore, the
age was believed to range from the upper Paleocene
through the lower Eocene.
Pszczólkowski (1982) considered Hatten’s Manacas
Formation to be the lower Manacas Member of the
Pica Pica Formation and the Canalete chert to be
an informal upper member of the same formation.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 155
He did not, however, include the chaotic rocks (capas
de grandes bloques) in the Pica Pica Formation. However,
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) use the name of Pica Pica
(Manacas) Formation, which is defined as including
olistostromes.
More recently, Pszczólkowski (1994d) has renamed
most of the Pinar Group the Manacas Formation. He
subdivides it into the lower Pica Pica and upper Vieja
members and considers the Canaletes chert invalid.
He describes the section as follows.
Pica Pica Member: — Consists of several feet to
325 ft (a few to 100 m [330 ft]) of interbedded yellow
weathering clay-shales, graywacke sandstones, marly
limestones, and detrital limestones.
This member contains an abundant foraminifera
fauna in which the following forms have been iden-
tified: Morozovella aequa, Morozovella brodermani,
Morozovella cf. crassata (spinulosa), Morozovella cf.
pseudobulloides, Morozovella cf. velascoensis-acuta, Moro-
zovella cf. subbotina, ‘‘Globorotalia’’ cf. perclara, Planor-
otalites cf. pseudoscitula (convexa), Planorotalites com-
pressa, Planorotalites cf. pseudomenardii, Pseudohastigerina
cf. wilcoxensis, Acarinina cf. soldadensis, Globigerina cf.
triloculinoides, and Chiloguembelina sp. This assem-
blage suggests an upper Paleocene–lower Eocene age.
In addition, abundant reworked Cretaceous forami-
nifera exist. This member grades into the overlying
Vieja Member and is in part equivalent to the Ancón
Formation.
Vieja Member: —The Vieja Member consists of up
to ±1300 ft (400 m) of a silty and argillaceous matrix
in which are embedded pebbles to large blocks of sed-
imentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. Common-
ly, the lower part of the section contains limestones
and chert breccias containing abundant Campanian–
Maastrichtian foraminifera, with little terrigenous
material. In the upper part of the member are large
olistoliths (reaching several hundred meters) where
serpentine dominates. Large olistoliths of interbedded
basalts and cherts also exist, containing well-preserved
radiolaria, very similar to the Encrucijada Formation
of the Bahia Honda belt. Metamorphic blocks are also
present, including eclogitic ophiolites and garnet am-
phibolites. Most blocks are strongly deformed (espe-
cially serpentine and pelagic limestones), indicating
violent tectonic activity prior to inclusion in the de-
posit. The components of the breccias and conglom-
erates at the base of the member commonly reflect
the composition of the rocks of the belt they are asso-
ciated with, whereas the igneous, metamorphic, and
volcanic components are commonly concentrated to-
ward the top. No indigenous fossils have been found,
156 / Pardo
FIGURE 92. Western Cuba, Martin Mesa area.
but this unit is considered lower–middle Eocene. The
upper contact is always tectonic.
The presence of ‘‘Manacas chert,’’ which was some-
what puzzling in such an environment, is explained
as large olistoliths of an older chert section that slid
into the basin in front of the advancing thrust and
has chaotically mixed within the Vieja wildflysch.
It should be noted that on maps, the Pica Pica,
Manacas, and Quiñones* formations and the Pinar
Group all have a similar distribution and, therefore,
are synonymous in their practical usage.
It is very important to note that Truitt’s (1956a, b),
Hatten’s (1957), and the most recent of Pszczólkowski’s
(1994d) descriptions convey the impression of the Vega*
and Rosas* Formation flysch of central Cuba; they
obviously depict the destruction of an advancing ba-
sic igneous-volcanic front with its detritus caught in
successive, stacked, thrust sheets.
On the basis of regional considerations, the Manacas
Formation probably correlates with the San Martin*,
Vega*, and Rosas* formations of central Cuba and
the Paleocene–lower (middle?) Eocene versus lower–
middle Eocene age assignments probably have more to
do with the vagaries of paleontological determinations
than true age differences.
As already mentioned, the Manacas Formation is
present in all the belts of the Guaniguanico Range
with the exception of the La Esperanza belt and the
Quiñones unit of the northern Rosario belt. This is
in contrast with central Cuba, where the Vega* is re-
stricted to the Las Villas* and northern belts. Perhaps
the Miguel* Formation, underlying the Domingo* se-
quence, is a somewhat equivalent facies of the Pica
Pica Member.
Northern Rosario Belt (Martin Mesa Window).—
This window, containing the northern Rosario belt
sediments surrounded by basic igneous and volcanics
of the Bahia Honda belt, extends for 15.7 km (9.7 mi)
between Mariel and Guanajay in the western Habana
province (see Figure 92).
The sediments within the window are tectonically
very disturbed, and for this reason, the entire section
has been named the Martin Mesa Group with no
formal subdivisions.
Martin Mesa group. — This unit is considered a tec-
tonic complex. It consists of thin-bedded, sometimes
massive, gray micritic limestones. The limestones are
associated with medium-grained, brownish gray sand-
stones and calcareous slates. In places, the sandstones
are dominant.

The fauna consists of Nannoconus sp., Ticinella sp.,
Stomiosphaera sp., Pithonella sp., Rotalipora appenni-
nica, Rotalipora cushmani, Globigerinelloides sp., and
radiolaria. The age is considered Albian to Turonian,
although it could extend down into the Neocomian.
This unit appears to be made of Artemisa and Polier
Formation components.
The Martin Mesa Group (including some Upper
Jurassic) has been found in several wells in northern
Cuba where it has been correlated with the Placetas-
Camajuani zone (Las Villas* – Cifuentes* belt) of cen-
tral Cuba.
According to Pszczólkowski (1999), the EPEP Martin
Mesa-1 well was spudded in the Via Blanca Formation
and encountered the Lower Cretaceous Polier Forma-
tion at 2460–5250 ft (750–1600 m), drilled across a
thrust into the Campanian–Maastrichtian Cacarajicara
Formation to 4105 ft (1800 m), and back into the Polier
to the total depth of 9350 ft (2850 m).
Northern Rosario Belt Discussion. — This belt is
characterized by tholeiitic basalts interbedded with a
relatively shallow-water Oxfordian sedimentary sec-
tion, overlain by a complete Late Jurassic, Cretaceous,
and early Paleogene section.
1) Middle and early Upper Jurassic. Nothing is known
about these sediments because they do not occur
in this belt. Their absence might be entirely caused
by structural reasons, although the possibility exists
that they were never well developed in this area or
were displaced by a younger oceanic basement.
2) Middle Oxfordian– upper Oxfordian. This period of
time is represented by outpourings of tholeiitic
basalts, believed to be representative of a passive
margin’s rifting episode. The limestones inter-
bedded with the basalts indicate shallower than
deep pelagic, reducing, and quiet water conditions.
They were possibly less than 1000 ft (300 m) deep,
but somewhat deeper than those in the Mogotes
area.
3) Upper Oxfordian –Tithonian. A marked deepening
of the basin exists in this belt accompanied by
carbonate deposition, contrasting with shallower
conditions of the Mogotes area. The outpour-
ing of submarine basalts continued through the
Tithonian as indicated by their presence in the La
Esperanza belt.
4) Berriasian to Albian. Deep-water pelagic sedimen-
tation continued near the carbonate compen-
sation depth (CCD) or 3500 – 4500 m (11,482 –
14,763 ft) as indicated by the appearance of cherts
and abundant radiolarians. There was an influx
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 157
of quartz turbidites of the Roble Member of the
Polier Formation, probably flowing along the axis
of the basin, possibly from northwest to south-
east. This quartzose material, with subordinated
feldspars and muscovite, probably extended as far
as the Constancia* Formation of central Cuba. As
will be seen later, these clastics probably correlate
with those of the La Esperanza Formation in the
La Esperanza belt.
5) Cenomanian to lower Maastrichtian. The Buena-
vista Group is a complex unit that is probably not
well understood. It is still of probable deep-water
origin with cherts, micritic limestones, and detrital
limestones to polymictic carbonate and chert brec-
cias. Some volcanic-derived sandstones exist.
6) Upper Maastrichtian. This time interval is repre-
sented by up to 2100 ft (700 m) of graded frag-
mental carbonate of the Cacarajı́cara Formation.
This is an unusual detrital carbonate bed similar
to and contemporaneous with the Amaro* For-
mation of central Cuba.
7) Upper Paleocene to lower–middle Eocene. The Manacas
Formation is found capping most sections near
fault zones in the same way as the Vega* Forma-
tion does in central Cuba. Its absence between the
southern Rosario and the Guajaibon–Sierra Azul
belts requires an explanation.
It appears that the northern Rosario belt represents
a post–San Cayetano–rifted basin that received an
influx of quartzose clastics during the upper part of
the Lower Cretaceous; this appears to be a regional
Cuban phenomenon because the same sequence of
events can be observed in central Cuba. During the
upper Maastrichtian, it also received a large influx of
turbiditic clastics from an unknown but obviously
large source of shallow-water carbonates, which also
appears to be of a regional nature.
La Esperanza Belt
This belt extends along the north coast of Pinar
del Rio for 105 km (65 mi) between Rio Blanco and
Mantua, averaging less than 3 km (1.8 mi) in width
over most of its length. In southwesternmost Pinar
del Rio, it is repeated by folded faults. It is believed
to be the western equivalent of the northern Rosario
belt, possibly the lower units (see Figure 93).
This belt was recognized (but not defined) by Truitt
(1956a, b); he gave it the informal name of ‘‘north-
western Rosario* belt.’’ Hatten (1957) also recognized
it and gave it the name ‘‘La Esperanza.’’ Both Truitt
(1956a, b) and Hatten (1957) considered it as being
158 / Pardo
FIGURE 93. Western Cuba, La Esperanza belt.
related, but with a much higher percentage of Cre-
taceous clastics, to the sequences of the Rosario belt.
Pszczólkowski (1976a, b, 1977, 1978) considered it a
major, distinct structurofacies zone. Pszczólkowski
(1999) does not consider it part of the Guaniguanico
terrane, although he considers it equivalent to the
northern Rosario belt. Most of the published descrip-
tions are poor and incomplete, in part because of
poor exposures, but mostly due to the fact that the
best data are from drilling because the information
supplied by EPEP is scarce and of poor quality when
available; they commonly ignore the existing litho-
stratigraphic nomenclature.
Toward the southwestern end of the belt, Push-
charovsky et al. (1988) show several serpentine and
gabbro bodies associated with this unit; some are
shown in fault contact with the sediments, but others
are not. The largest one, the ‘‘Cabeza de Horacio
window,’’ is a generally oval-shaped body, 2  5.5 km
(1.2  3.4 mi) of folded gabbro and serpentine
present south of Dimas. Originally, it was thought
that it was surrounded by the San Cayetano Forma-
tion. However, Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show that
it is associated, and partially surrounded, by the La
Esperanza Formation. It is not an intrusive as postu-
lated by Truitt (1956a, b) and Ducloz and Vaugnat
(1962), but is a different tectonic unit. Pardo (1975)
considered it part of the Bahia Honda belt, but it could
also represents ultrabasics (El Sabalo?) associated with
the La Esperanza belt. The serpentine could be related
to the Vieja Member, although the Manacas Forma-
tion is not shown.
In general, no good published description of the
section exists. Some of the reports are conflicting, and
much of the information is sketchy. Truitt (1956a, b)
remarked that in the area north of the Organos* belt
west of La Palma almost all the limestones of the
Rosario* belt are missing and the sandstones and
shales of the Cayetano Formation are overlain by the
sandstones, shales, and cherts of the Lower and Up-
per Cretaceous. The sandstones and shales are all de-
rived from an acid igneous source, probably from the
same source, and except for the interbedded cherts in
the Upper Cretaceous, are almost impossible to sep-
arate into age groups. Furthermore, the exposures of
this part of the Rosario* belt are very poor, and most
of the area is covered. Towards the west, towards Santa
Lucia, the interbedded cherts are missing, and it is
unknown whether the belt continues to the west as a
solid sandstone and shale belt, representing both

the Jurassic and Cretaceous time, or whether the only
rocks exposed are the Cayetano Formation.
Pszczólkowski (1978) states that there are some
deposits in the La Esperanza Zone in which facies are
similar to the Polier and Buenavista formations of the
northern Sierra del Rosario. They probably represent
the Lower and Upper Cretaceous. These deposits con-
tain greater quantities of turbiditic sandstones than
are present in many sections of the Sierra del Rosario,
from which it can be inferred that there was a terrig-
enous influx from the northwest in Early Cretaceous.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 159
FIGURE 94. Stratigraphic section:
La Esperanza belt.
Several wells, 10,827–18,144 ft (3300–5532 m) deep,
have been drilled in this belt: EPEP Esperanza-1 and
2, EPEP San Ramon-1, EPEP Dimas-1, and EPEP Los
Arroyos-1 and 2. Kuznetsov et al. (1985) and Cuba
(1985a) published some incomplete information on
some of these wells.
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) also provide some gen-
eral information. What has been published about this
belt can be summarized as follows (see Figure 94).
Basic igneous rock.—In the area north of Mantua
and near the Cabeza de Horacio window are several
160 / Pardo
basic igneous bodies interbedded with the sediments
of the La Esperanza Formation. They are not similar
in character to El Sabalo Formation, although they
are reported to be Tithonian to lowermost Creta-
ceous. Unfortunately, little information is available.
La Esperanza Formation (Santa Lucı́a Forma-
tion). — According to Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), it
consists of 3940 ft (1200 m) of interbedded sand-
stones, shales, and limestones of Tithonian through
Neocomian age.
This unit is named a formation in Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988). It is informally referred to as a group by
Kuznetsov et al. (1985).
This section is described by Kuznetsov et al. (1985),
and their description unfortunately leaves much to
be desired (Spanish translation of a Russian paper).
However, they divide the section into three groups
of lithologies that from the bottom to the top can
be named: (a) carbonate-terrigenous complex (sandy-
shaly-carbonaceous), (b) terrigenous complex (sandy-
shaly-carbonaceous), and (c) carbonate complex. In
general, the section of the Esperanza Group contains
several types of limestones: micrites; biomicrites;
sandy, nodular, dolomitized limestones; dolomites
with terrigenous material represented by calcareous
sandstones; quartziferous sandstones; and thin clay
beds. The Esperanza Group shows lithologic variations
with the presence of carbonate rocks that contain do-
lomite and anhydrite in the Puerto Esperanza wells. As
can be seen, this description leaves much to be de-
sired, but suggests a possibility of a shallower-water
environment of deposition with clastic influx.
Unfortunately, the descriptions do not mention
thicknesses, dips, type of fauna, microfacies, texture,
etc., and do not mention whether the anhydrite is in
beds or just fills voids and fractures (it is probably frac-
ture filling). Furthermore, no information is present
as to the nature of the dolomites. However, Kuznet-
sov et al. (1985) emphasize that they are similar to the
Perros Formation (understood to be the Cayo Coco*
Formation) of the Remedios zone. However, the pres-
ence of polymict terrigenous material in the middle
of the section shows its similarity to the isochronous
sections in the Sierra del Rosario (Sumidero, Polier, and
Lucas formations), but these do not contain dolomites
and anhydrites. They emphasize the fact that the Neo-
comian deposits of the La Esperanza are dissimilar from
those of the Sierra de los Organos, outcropping near
the Puerto Esperanza wells.
According to some Cuban sources, there is a cer-
tain amount of politics involved; the La Esperanza
drilling program was based on the theory that the
wells would encounter autochthonous, shallow-water
sediments at depth. The reports are written empha-
sizing this aspect and minimizing the disturbed, deep-
water turbiditic aspect.
The logs of EPEP Dimas-1, EPEP San Ramon-1, and
EPEP Esperanza-2 are shown in Kuznetsov et al. (1985)
and in Cuba (1985a). The two sets of logs, which differ
somewhat from each other, are very sketchy, but in-
dicate that in the three wells, the section is repeated,
and the Tithonian overrides the Neocomian. These
logs show that the Tithonian (equivalent to the mid-
dle of the Guasasa and Artemisa formations) contains
approximately 50% sandstones and shales, and that
the dolomites are present in the Neocomian. In EPEP
Dimas-1, a ±3300-ft (±1000-m)-thick (unknown dip)
Paleogene chaotic breccia, containing gabbros and di-
abase (very likely the Vieja Member of the Manacas
Formation), was encountered at ±13,280 ft (4050 m),
below what was supposed to be the lower La Espe-
ranza section. In the 1985 geologic map of Shien et al.,
1984, logs of only a few dips are shown, and most range
from 40 to 758. In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) the sur-
face dips shown range from 30 to 908 with the major-
ity in the high range. Although Kuznetsov et al. (1985)
considers it very important that the lower La Espe-
ranza section is little disturbed, there is no question
that it has been involved in much deformation.
The La Esperanza Formation, which is considered
by Pszczólkowski (1999) to be in part equivalent and
similar to the Polier Formation, is conformable to, and
possibly in part equivalent with, the overlying Santa
Teresa Formation.
Santa Teresa Formation. — The Santa Teresa For-
mation (formerly locally named the Panchita Forma-
tion) consists of 325 – 650 ft (100 – 200 m) of typical
radiolarian cherts, shales, and tuffs with occasional
sandstones. According to Truitt (1956a, b), the cherts
seem to disappear westward, and the entire section be-
comes clastic. If this is the case, the Santa Teresa For-
mation is time equivalent to the upper part of the La
Esperanza Formation, and the clastics would reach
into the Upper Cretaceous. According to Pushchar-
ovsky et al. (1988), it outcrops in the eastern part of
the La Esperanza belt and has not been reported
from the subsurface, although Kuznetsov et al. (1985)
shows the chert symbol in the Neocomian of the
EPEP Esperanza-2 well.
La Esperanza Belt Discussion. — Obviously, not
enough attention has been paid to this belt, and
much more work needs to be done. From the sparse
descriptions in a few publications, it seems to be a
northwestern equivalent of the northern Rosario belt,

with a considerable increase in acid igneous-derived
clastics. It was considered as such by Truitt (1956a, b)
and Hatten (1957) and, more recently, by Pszczólk-
owski (1999). The source for these clastics is debat-
able (Pszczólkowski, 1999, suggests Yucatan), but their
composition suggest that they might have had the
same origin as those of the San Cayetano Formation,
and in the Aptian–Albian, they spread out as far east
as central Cuba (Constancia* Formation).
The relationship with the San Cayetano Forma-
tion of the southern Rosario belt (Pizarras del Norte
subbelt) is more difficult to establish; no section has
been described showing a sedimentary contact be-
tween the San Cayetano and the La Esperanza forma-
tions (the oldest reported La Esperanza is Tithonian,
and the youngest San Cayetano is middle Oxfordian).
The only character in common is that the clastics of
both formations seem to have a similar composition.
It is possible that the La Esperanza Formation strat-
igraphically overlies the San Cayetano and belongs
to the same major thrust sheet. If this were to be the
case, the fault separating the Pizarras del Norte subbelt
from the La Esperanza belt would be a relatively mi-
nor imbrication. This could be supported by the ab-
sence of Manacas Formation between the La Esper-
anza belt and the Pizarras del Norte subbelt, although
it has been found under the La Esperanza belt. How-
ever, the presence of El Sabalo-like volcanics suggests
that the San Cayetano might not be present under
the La Esperanza Formation, and that the La Esper-
anza belt, like the northern Rosario belt, forms a ma-
jor thrust sheet over the southern Rosario belt and the
Alturas de las Pizarras del Sur area. However, despite the
presence of the Vieja Member below the La Esperanza
Formation in EPEP Dimas-1, the possibility still exists
that it is less displaced than the other nappes, in which
case it would be related to the Gulf of Mexico, and its
presence could contradict the southern origin of the
San Cayetano clastics. This problem will be discussed
later in this chapter.
Southern Rosario Belt
In this study, the southern Rosario belt is defined
as including all the exposed sediments south of the
northern Rosario and La Esperanza belts and north
of the window exposing the thrust units of the
Mogotes area. It therefore includes the former Pizarras
del Norte. Pszczólkowski (1977) defined the sequence
of this subdivision of Truitt’s Rosario belt.
The geographic distribution of the conventional
southern Rosario belt was more difficult to describe,
and as already mentioned and like the former Los
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 161
Organos belt, it did not fit the belt and facies-structural
unit concept. To the east, the belt was bounded by
major faults from the northern Rosario belt; howev-
er, the separation from the Pizarras del Norte unit of
the former Los Organos belt was very questionable
(see Figure 95).
Like the northern Rosario belt, it has been sub-
divided into several structural units consisting of
superimposed, thrust fault slivers (scales) repeating
the section. These are, from bottom to top,
1) San Francisco–Soroa windows. These small features
are believed to expose the uppermost part of
the lowest sheets in the Sierra del Rosario. Only
the Manacas Formation is exposed. La Zarza unit
mostly surrounded the windows.
2) La Zarza unit. It is the lowest, fully exposed unit
and, from east to west, is overlain by the north-
ern Rosario belt, and the Los Tumbos, Cinco Pesos,
and Taco Taco units.
3) Taco Taco unit. It overlies the La Zarza and un-
derlies the Cinco Pesos and Caimito units. In the
west, La Zarza is exposed in a window.
4) Caimito unit. It overlies the Taco Taco and under-
lies the Cinco Pesos, Los Bermejales, and El Ma-
meyal units. The Caimito unit forms the axis of a
broadly folded, northwest–southeast-trending
stack of thrust sheets.
5) Cinco Pesos unit. It is found on the northeastern
flank of the Rosario belt and overlies the three
previously mentioned units. It is below the El
Mameyal, Niceto Perez, and Los Tumbos units.
It is also overlain by the northern Rosario belts.
6) Los Tumbos unit. It is of small extent and overlies
the Cinco Pesos and La Zarza units and under-
lies the volcanic-sedimentary and the northern
Rosario belts.
7) El Mameyal unit. East of La Palma, it overlies the
Caimito and Cinco Pesos units and underlies
the northern Rosario belt; it overlies the Bahia
Honda area and La Esperanza belt. South and west
of La Palma, it overlies the Los Bermejales (Loma
Colorada), Loma del Puerto, La Paloma, and the
northeastern Pizarras del Norte (La Llave, Loma
del Muerto) units. It is the uppermost thrust sheet
in the western part of the southern Rosario
belt.
8) Niceto Perez unit. It is a small sheet that over-
lies the Cinco Pesos and El Mameyal units and
underlies the northern Rosario belt. It is the
uppermost sheet in the eastern part of the south-
ern Rosario belt.
162 / Pardo
FIGURE 95. Western Cuba, southern Rosario belt.
9) Los Bermejales (Loma Colorada) unit. It overlies
the Mogotes area and the Caimito unit and un-
derlies the El Mameyal unit. It appears to have a
structural position equivalent to that of the Cinco
Pesos unit.
10) Loma del Puerto unit. It overlies the Mogotes
subbelt and underlies the El Mameyal and La
Paloma units.
11) La Paloma unit. It overlies the Mogotes subbelt
and the Loma del Puerto unit and underlies the
Loma del Muerto and El Mameyal units.
12) Loma del Muerto unit. In most of the recent pub-
lished information, including Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988), this unit is named Pizarras del Norte,
which is somewhat arbitrarily divided into the
eastern Pizarras del Norte unit, belonging to the
Los Organos belt, and the western Pizarras del
Norte unit, belonging to the southern Rosario
belt. The contact between these two units is
poorly defined, with no clear reason given for the
distinction. The division appears unfounded, and
Pszczólkowski (1994a, b, c, d; 1999) replaces the
term ‘‘Pizarras del Norte’’ by Loma del Muerto
and La Paloma units belonging entirely to the
southern Rosario belt. In this study, it extends
from La Palma to Mantua and Guane to the
west. It approximately replaces the term Pizar-
ras de Norte. It overlies the La Paloma unit and
underlies the El Mameyal unit. It is in contact
with, sometimes over or sometimes under, the
La Esperanza belt. It structurally overlies the
Sierra de los Organos belt.
The composite exposed section, as shown in Figure 96,
is as follows.
San Cayetano Formation. — The San Cayetano
Formation consists of a thick monotonous section
where shales, sandstones, and siltstones dominate.
Occasional interbeds of conglomerates and limestones
(commonly at the top) exist. The color is dark gray to
black when fresh, weathering to white, grayish
orange, red, or grayish black. Bedding is exceptionally
well developed, ranging from 1 mm (0.04 in.) laminae
to 6 ft (2 m) thick. In outcrop, the formation is soft
and porous; however, it is very hard and dense in the
subsurface. Some authors report a slightly metamor-
phosed aspect.
The original name was the Cayetano Formation
given by DeGolyer (1918). The name was changed to
San Cayetano Formation by Schuchert (1935), Imlay

(1942), and others. The present usage is San Cayetano
Formation.
This formation is well developed in the Pizarras del
Norte subbelt, Loma del Puerto, La Paloma, Mameyal,
Cinco Pesos, and Taco Taco units. It is missing or poor-
ly represented in the La Zarza unit to the east.
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) divide the San Cayetano
into a lower unit A and an upper unit B or Castellanos
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 163
FIGURE 96. Stratigraphic section:
southern Rosario belt.
Formation. According to the map legend, unit A con-
tains sandstones, shales, and siltstones, whereas
unit B is characterized by phyllitic carbonaceous
schists, shale, siltstones, and limestones. The mean-
ing of this subdivision is not entirely clear; it appears
to be a lithostratigraphic subdivision, but it does
not correspond to other descriptions. For instance,
Pszczólkowski (1977) and Haczewzki (1987) report
164 / Pardo
the sandier, and coarser, section to be near Soroa, in
the eastern part of the southern Rosario belt, whereas
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show it to be the upper
unit B, which is characterized by finer materials. If it is
a true time division, the criterion for the assignment is
unknown. The Pizarras del Norte subbelt contains
mostly outcrops of unit B; however, outcrops of unit
A also exist in the northwest of the subbelt. Note that
the Castellanos Formation and the units A and B
scheme were never formally described.
In the Mameyal, Cinco Pesos, and Taco Taco units,
the San Cayetano Formation is mostly described as
sandy-silty-shaly deep-water turbidite facies; a deep-
water, coarse sand, fan facies is found toward the
east. Although up to 1500 ft (500 m) of San Caye-
tano is exposed below the contact with the overlying
carbonates, only some ±650 ft (±200 m) have been
measured and described, which is a small percentage
of the possible thickness of the entire San Cayetano
Formation.
The finer grained sediments are micaceous and con-
tain occasional limestone beds. The coarse-grained
facies occurs in thick beds, with pebbles up to 2 in.
(5 cm), and in addition to quartz, they contain, as
minor components, shale fragments, sparry carbon-
ates (including dolomite), quartzite, chert, quartz-
sericite schists, granitoids, and volcanics. Plant remains
are abundant.
Because of the intense deformation and the mo-
notonous nature of the section, no reliable thickness
measurements exist. In the Matahambre mine, a min-
imum thickness of 5000 ft (1500 m) has been mea-
sured. Khudoley and Meyerhoff (1971) give estimates
ranging from 10,000–16,000 ft (3000–5000 m). Push-
charovsky et al. (1988) show a thickness of more than
12,500 ft (3800 m), including 2600 ft (800 m) for the
upper unit B. These estimates are compatible with the
fact that the San Cayetano Formation outcrops over
a large area.
It should be emphasized that in the southern Ro-
sario and Mogotes areas, the exposures of San Caye-
tano that underlie the carbonates are relatively thin.
This could be a reflection of the original thickness of
this formation. No San Cayetano has been reported
in the EPEP Pinar-1 well.
The Francisco or Artemisa Formation conformably
overlie this unit.
In this part of the belt, the following ammonites
were collected from the upper part of the formation:
Perisphinctes spathi, Glochiceras cf. subclausum, and
Ochetoceras sp., giving an Oxfordian age; however,
there is good evidence that the upper part of the San
Cayetano is equivalent to the Jagua Formation of the
Mogotes area. Consequently, the San Cayetano fa-
cies becomes younger from the Mogotes toward the
Rosario belt. It is not entirely clear whether the San
Cayetano shown in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) in-
cludes the western time equivalents of younger car-
bonate units.
Francisco Formation. —The Francisco Formation
consists of a maximum of 80 ft (25 m) of shales, silt-
stones, fine-grained limestones, and thin-bedded
sandstones. Sometimes, the shales contain limestone
concretions.
This formation was named by Pszczólkowski (1976a,
b). It was previously considered as the transition be-
tween San Cayetano and Artemisa formations.
A few ammonites have been found as well as fish
and plant remains. Globochaetes sp. has been identi-
fied. The fauna indicates a late middle Oxfordian age.
This unit occupies the same position as the Jagua For-
mation, but is of a discontinuous nature. This unit
represents a transition between the underlying San
Cayetano Formation and the overlying Artemisa For-
mation. It is well developed over most of the belt
where the Artemisa Formation is present except for
parts of El Mameyal unit, where the Artemisa overlies
directly the coarse-grained development of the San
Cayetano. In the type area, at San Francisco, a 20-in.
(50-cm) volcanic bed exists within the laminated lime-
stones interbedded with the sandstones. It consists
of basalt with albitized alkaline feldspars. This vol-
canism correlates with the volcanics present in the
metamorphosed Jagua Formation of the Pino Solo unit
and is believed related to the previously described El
Sabalo Formation.
Artemisa Formation.—This unit is well developed
in the eastern and southern part of this belt where
the La Zarza and Sumidero members are generally
present. However, in addition to the two above mem-
bers, the San Vicente Member of the Guasasa Forma-
tion (characteristic of the Mogotes area) intertongues
with La Zarza Member. It is absent in the Pizarras del
Sur and the western part of the Pizarras del Norte
subbelts.
San Vicente Member. —The San Vicente Member
consists of up to 30 ft (10 m) of light-gray to black,
massive and thick-bedded, partially dolomitized
limestones with gray or black chert nodules. Micrites
commonly form the base, whereas calcarenites are
present in the upper part.
This unit contains gastropods (Nerinea sp.), pelecy-
pods, algal fragments, echinoid spines, and benthonic
foraminifera. This assemblage indicates shallow-water

conditions of deposition. Because of the San Vicente
Member’s relation to other units, it is considered late
Oxfordian to early Tithonian.
La Zarza Member. — It has the same character as
in the northern Rosario belt and has its best de-
velopment in the La Zarza and Cinco Pesos units.
Sumidero Member. — It has the same development
as in the northern Rosario belt and is always present
in the upper part of the Artemisa Formation. The age
has been determined to be Valanginian.
The Santa Teresa Formation overlies the Artemisa
Formation (1) transitionally and (2) with a disconti-
nuity (hiatus?).
Buenavista group. —The term is not in use at
present (Pszczólkowski, 1999). It occurred in the south-
ern and central parts of the belt (lower thrust sheets),
where it used to consist of the Santa Teresa, Carmita,
and Moreno formations.
Santa Teresa Formation. — In this belt, the Santa
Teresa Formation (formerly called Sabanilla Member
of the Buenavista Formation by Pszczólkowski, 1977,
1978) can reach 130 ft (40 m) and contains abundant
Rotalipora sp., Praeglobotruncana sp., Clavihedbergella
sp., Schackoina sp., and Hedbergella sp., indicating
a Cenomanian to lower Turonian(?) age. However,
this unit is in contact with the Artemisa Formation;
therefore, here, it could range from Hauterivian to
lower Turonian(?). However, it is questionable if the
advent of such a characteristic chert section (observed
throughout the island), which is the result of large-
scale geologic events (submarine volcanism), can
be heterochronous. The base of the chert deposition
could be an important time marker in the Aptian –
Albian. It has been recognized in all the units of this
belt.
Carmita Formation. — This limestone-chert
formation (formerly called the Limestone and Chert
Member of the Buenavista Formation by Pszczól-
kowski, 1977, 1978) occurs sporadically and does not
contain detrital sediments. It has been recognized in
the Loma Del Puerto, Los Bermejales, La Paloma,
Caimito, La Zarza, and Cinco Pesos units.
Moreno Formation. —This formation is mostly
absent and has been recognized only in the Loma Del
Puerto and Los Bermejales units.
Cacarajı́cara Formation. — This detrital unit,
formerly called Breccia Member of the Buenavista
Formation by Pszczólkowski (1977, 1978), is well rep-
resented in here, where it is 6–100 ft (2–30 m) thick
and overlies unconformably the Carmita or the Santa
Teresa Formation. It contains mostly limestone clasts
and subordinate chert fragments.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 165
This member is well developed in all the tectonic
units with the exception of the Taco Taco unit.
Ancón Formation. — It is present in the Loma del
Puerto, Los Bermejales, La Paloma, Caimito, La Zarza,
and Cinco Pesos units.
Manacas Formation. —This formation is present
in all the tectonic units of this belt, overlying all
older rocks, along the trace of the faults separating
the units from each other.
Drilling. — EPEP Guanahacabibes-1. The 1985 geo-
logic map of Shien et al. (1984) shows a highly dia-
grammatic log of the EPEP Guanahacabibes-1 well
drilled on the shores of the Golfo de las Corrientes in
southwesternmost Cuba. It shows that the well pen-
etrated Lower–Middle Jurassic shales and siltstones,
under late Paleogene, at ±3345 ft (±1020 m) and slightly
metamorphosed terrigenous sediments of the same
age at ±4840 ft (±1475 m) until total depth at 7223 ft
(2202 m). This is obviously the San Cayetano. It could
represent the Cangre belt.
Southern Rosario Belt Discussion. —The south-
ern Rosario belt represents a transition between the
northern Rosario belt and the Sierra de los Organos belt.
1) Middle and early Upper Jurassic. In this belt, the
San Cayetano is very well developed. In the east-
ern part of the belt, it mostly consists of slope
turbidites and coarse sandstone fan facies. In the
northwestern part of the belt, shales and silt-
stones tend to dominate, whereas in the south-
ern part, nearshore conditions seem to have pre-
vailed. Fossiliferous limestones are common in
the upper part of the unit, indicating shallower
conditions of deposition.
2) Middle Oxfordian. It is represented by a transition
between the clastics and the overlying Artemisa
Formation. A good development of shale exists
with ammonite-bearing limestone concretions,
indicating a moderate depth of deposition with
quiet conditions. In some cases, the transition is
sharp. Occasional volcanics are present, possibly
related to the El Sabalo Formation.
3) Upper Oxfordian–Tithonian. This is as in the north-
ern Rosario belt. A marked deepening of the basin
exists in this belt, with deeper-water carbonate
deposition contrasting with shallower conditions
of the Mogotes area. However, near the base of
the section are tongues of the shallow-water San
Vicente Member of the Guasasa Formation inter-
bedded with the deeper water limestones of the
Zarza Member of the Artemisa Formation, indi-
cating a transition between the two belts.
166 / Pardo
4) Berriasian to Hauterivian. Deep-water pelagic sed-
imentation continued near the CCD as indicated
by the appearance of cherts and the abundant
radiolaria.
5) Hauterivian to Albian. The deep-water sedimenta-
tion continued with the deposition of limestones,
cherts, and clays of the lower Buenavista Group,
and unlike the northern Rosario belt, silicate de-
tritus is totally absent.
6) Cenomanian to lower Maastrichtian. The Buena-
vista Group is not as well developed in this belt
as in the northern Rosario belt. It is of probable
deep-water origin with cherts, micritic and de-
trital limestones, to polymictic carbonate and
chert breccias. Some volcanic-derived sandstones
exist.
7) Upper Maastrichtian. This time interval is repre-
sented by up to 100 ft (30 m) of graded fragmental
carbonate of the Cacarajı́cara Formation.
8) Upper Paleocene to lower–middle Eocene. The Ancón
and the Manacas formations are found capping
many sections near fault zones.
The southern Rosario belt exhibits marked differ-
ences from the northern Rosario belt; it shows a very
thick, possibly southern-derived, clastic section in
the Lower(?) and Middle Jurassic. No evidence of ex-
tensive Upper Jurassic volcanism exists, and during
the upper Oxfordian, the carbonates were deposited
in shallower waters. Furthermore, no silicate clastics
exist in the Early Cretaceous. The upper Maastrich-
tian Cacarajı́cara breccias are not as well developed as
in the northern Rosario belt. Like in other parts of
Pinar del Rio, the Paleocene –middle Eocene Vieja
tectonic conglomerates and breccias are invariably
present near fault zones.
Sierra de los Organos Belt
The Sierra de los Organos belt is not a belt in the
Pardo (1953) sense. It consists of a grouping of several
similar carbonate-containing units and a large area
where the silicoclastics of the San Cayetano alone are
exposed. To better reflect the geological conditions
and to avoid changing existing nomenclature, the
Sierra de los Organos belt has been subdivided into
the Mogotes area and the Alturas de las Pizarras del Sur
area. Furthermore, the Mestanza unit of the Cangre
belt, although treated as a separate belt, belongs to the
Sierra de los Organos belt.
Mogotes area. — The Mogotes area (the name Mo-
gotes area has been created for this publication, but
Pszczólkowski, 1978, 1987, described the section) is
defined as a complex window, showing several stacked
thrust sheets containing the massive carbonates of the
Sierra de los Organos, through the clastics of the south-
ern Rosario belt and Alturas de las Pizarras del Sur
area. It extends for 105 km (65 mi) from San Diego
de los Baños to Mantua and Mendoza. Its width is
commonly less than 8 km (4.9 mi) (see Figure 97).
Its name is derived from the spectacular vertically
faced limestone hills, named Mogotes, that form a
median mountain range in the Sierra de Guanigua-
nico, the Sierra de los Organos. The name Mogotes
Area has been created for this study, but Pszczól-
kowski (1978, 1987) described the section.
Like the Rosario belt, this area has been subdivided
into several units, each representing the outcrops of a
nearly horizontal thrust sheet with a characteristic
stratigraphic sequence.
The results of the deep EPEP Pinar-1 well in the Pons
Valley, in the central Mogotes area, have been recently
published. A previously unknown, thick Upper Juras-
sic, shallow-water carbonate bank section has been
reported. The previously unknown lower part of the
Valle de Pons unit has also been described. This
new information will be described separately in more
detail.
These units, the outcrops of which are shown in
Figure 97, are as follows.
1) ‘‘Pinar-1’’ unit. It is the lowest unit and is only
known from the deep EPEP Pinar-1 well. The unit
has not been formally named, and the name
‘‘Pinar-1’’ is used only in this study. It underlies
the Valle de Pons unit, and its base is unknown.
2) Valle de Pons unit. Its upper part is known from
outcrops in the Pons Valley, but the lower part
is only known from Pinar-1. Because of a repeat
of section in the well, Pszczólkowski (1999) con-
siders that two units are involved; this is pos-
sible. This unit is probably equivalent to the out-
crops exposed in the Los Portales window in the
southwest of the Mogotes area. The Quemado,
Infierno, Viñales, and Pizarras del Norte units
overlie it.
3) Quemado unit. It outcrops only south of the town
of Pons, where it overlies the Valle de Pons unit.
The Infierno unit overlies it. In the southwestern
Mogotes area, it is probably equivalent to the
Paso Real unit that overlies Los Portales outcrops
and is overlain by the Guane unit.
4) Infierno unit. It occurs mostly in the south-central
part of the Mogotes area and overlies the Valle
de Pons and Quemado units. To the southwest,
the Guane unit is considered equivalent to the

FIGURE 97. Western Cuba, Sierra de los Organos belt, Mogotes area.
Infierno. A minor structural segment included
in this unit is named the Celadas unit.
5) Viñales unit. This is the most extensive of the
carbonate units and overlies the Infierno and the
Valle de Pons units. The Ancón, Pico Grande, and
Pizarras del Norte units overlie it.
6) Sierra la Güira unit. It occurs in the northeast of
the Mogotes area. It lies over the Viñales unit.
The Loma del Puerto, Los Bermejales, and Pizarras
del Sur units of the southern Rosario belt overlie
it. Toward the southwest, it overlies the Pizarras
del Sur that is believed to be a local structural
phenomenon.
7) Pico Grande. This unit occurs between the Vi-
ñales and Ancón units (it is the lower part of the
original Rigassi-Studer, 1963, Ancón unit).
Toward the east, The Loma del Puerto and La
Paloma units of the southern Rosario belt over-
lies it.
8) Ancón unit. It the highest carbonate unit from
the Mogotes area. It is developed mostly toward
the northeast, where the La Paloma unit overlies it.
9) Limonar – Cayo las Damas window. This long and
narrow window through the Pizarras del Norte sub-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 167
belt extends from La Palma to south of Mantua.
It shows mostly the underlying Manacas Formation
and other outcrops of unidentified lower units.
Note that the descriptions of all the stratigraphic
units are based on sections exposed in the various
thrust sheets forming the complex core of the Mo-
gotes area; here, the maximum exposed San Caye-
tano is less than 300 ft (100 m). No proof exists that
the thick, shallow-water Jurassic carbonates were orig-
inally underlain by a thick clastic section; in EPEP
Pinar-1, no clastics were reported under the Valle de
Pons unit. In the following, the section will be de-
scribed in ascending order (see Figure 98).
San Cayetano Formation. — Here, this unit consists
of up to 1200 ft (400 m) of exposures of interbedded
sandstones, shales, and claystones. Occasional lime-
stones, found near the top of the section, are not more
than 6 ft (2 m) thick, dark gray to black, bituminous,
well bedded, recrystallized, highly fossiliferous (oys-
ter hash), and emit a strong fetid odor when hit with a
hammer. Some conglomerates are present. The base
of the section is always tectonic. The San Cayetano
Formation grades conformably upward into the Jagua
168 / Pardo
FIGURE 98. Stratigraphic section: Sierra
de los Organos belt, Mogotes area.
Formation, and the age of the contact varies slightly
from place to place, becoming younger toward the
north and east. It should be emphasized that these
gradational relationships have been observed only in
the units of the Mogotes area.
Jagua Formation. —The Jagua Formation (named
by Palmer, 1945, and described later by Pszczólkowski
et al., 1975) consists of 100–520 ft (30–160 m) of dense,
black, bituminous, medium-bedded limestones, thick
beds of ‘‘oyster hash,’’ and purple-black shale with
limestone concretions in which a rich fauna of am-
monites, fish, and reptile bones have been found.
The Jagua Formation is characteristic of the Mo-
gotes area and has been subdivided into the follow-
ing members.
Pan de Azucar Member:—The Pan de Azucar Mem-
ber (originally named the Azucar Formation by Hatten,
1957, but reduced to member rank by Pszczólkowski,
1978) consists of 130 ft (40 m) of well-bedded, dense,
bioclastic limestones (3–4 ft [1–1.5 m] thick). The

color is dark gray to black, weathering to light gray.
Some sandy limestones exist in the lower part of the
member. Beds or lenses of silicified limestones con-
tain a large number of pelecypod shells.
Ostreidae and pelecypods are common, and Gry-
phaea mexicana is abundant. Conicospirillina basil-
lensis is the only identified microorganism. Conico-
spirillina sp. has an age ranging from the Bathonian to
the Kimmeridgian. Based on stratigraphic relationships,
this member is assigned to the middle Oxfordian.
This member is restricted to the Ancón and Viñales
units, the Mestanza unit, and to some sections in the
Pizarras del Norte and Pizarras del Sur units, lies on the
San Cayetano, and is overlain by the Jagua Vieja Mem-
ber of the Jagua Formation. It is the lateral equivalent
of the Zacarı́as Member.
Zacarı́as Member: — It consists of up to 130 ft (40 m)
of argillites with fine coquina and siltstone beds.
It contains abundant poorly preserved ammonite
prints. In addition, less frequently, it contains Liostrea
sp., Ostrea sp., Exogyra sp., and Plicatula sp. The
age, based on the ammonites, is considered middle
Oxfordian.
This unit is restricted to the Ancón unit, rests
directly over the San Cayetano, and is overlain by the
Jagua Vieja Member. It is the lateral equivalent of the
Pan de Azucar Member.
Jagua Vieja Member: —It consists of up to 200 ft
(60 m) of laminated black shales and marly lime-
stones with typical calcareous concretions.
The calcareous concretions contain a well-preserved
ammonite fauna. In this unit are the best known
Cuban Jurassic fossil localities. A partial list is Para-
cenoceras mullerreidi, Euaspidoceras o’connelli, Ochetoceras
canaliculum var. burckhardti, Ochetoceras mexicanum,
Perisphinctes (Discosphinctes) subgraneri, Perisphinctes
(Discosphinctes) carribeanum, Perisphinctes (Discosphinctes)
antillarum, Perisphinctes (Orthosphinctes) rutteni, Peri-
sphinctes (Arisphinctes) aguayoi, Viñalesphinctes roigi, Viña-
lesphinctes niger, and Viñalesphinctes brodermani. Wierz-
bowski (1976) and Myczynski (1976) consider it lower
Bimammatum-Bifurcatus zone or upper Oxfordian.
The Jagua Vieja Member is characteristic of the
Mogotes area and grades upward into the overly-
ing Pimienta Member. It is the lateral equivalent
of the Francisco Formation of the southern Rosario
belt.
Pimienta Member: —It consists of up to 200 ft
(60 m) of interbedded dark-gray to black, well-bedded
limestones and shales. The limestones are micrites,
sometimes marly and medium bedded. No calcareous
concretions exist in the shales.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 169
This member contains some ammonites and has
been assigned to the upper Oxfordian. The limestones
contain poorly preserved planktonic foraminifera and
Globochaete alpina has been identified.
This member is restricted to the tectonically less-
disturbed sections of the Mogotes area and is equiv-
alent to the contact between the Francisco and Ar-
temisa formations of the Rosario belt. This member
grades into the overlying Guasasa Formation of the
Viñales Group.
Guasasa Formation.—The Guasasa Formation (named
by Herrera, 1961, and is, in part, synonymous with the
Viñales Formation of Truitt, 1956a, b; Hatten, 1957)
consists of 1000 ft (300 m) in the Ancón unit to 2600 ft
(800 m) in the Viñales unit of bedded to massive,
medium-gray to black, bituminous, sometimes dolo-
mitized limestones. In some sections, a sedimentary
breccia exists at the base consisting mostly of Guasasa
fragments but also containing fragments of Jagua For-
mation. Chert nodules are present in the lower part,
and chert beds are present in the upper part.
The limestones are responsible for the character-
istic rugged mogotes landscape that is a mature stage
of karst topography. Streams flow uninterruptedly
underground through limestone hills and ridges.
The age ranges from the upper Oxfordian to the
early Valanginian.
It has been subdivided into five members: San
Vicente, El Americano, Tumbadero, Tumbitas, and
Infierno.
San Vicente Member: — The San Vicente Member
consists of up to 1000 –2150 ft (300 –650 m) of light-
gray to black, massive, and thick-bedded, partially
to totally dolomitized limestones with gray or black
chert nodules and lenses. In places, the limestones are
bedded, oolitic, and contain abundant pellets. Micrites
commonly form the base, whereas calcarenites are
present in the upper part. In places, the dense micrites
at the base of the formation have a peculiar pseudo-
porphyritic texture with euhedral anhydrite clusters
of phenocrysts. In several sections, at the base, a con-
glomeratic limestone is made up almost entirely of
Viñales and upper Jagua fragments. This conglomer-
ate can be very thick in the south of the Mogotes area.
This unit contains belemnites, gastropods (Nerinea
sp.), pelecypods, algal fragments, echinoid spines,
and benthonic foraminifera. Oolitic limestones con-
taining Favreina sp. are also present in the upper part
of the member. This assemblage indicates shallow-
water conditions of deposition.
This member has been found in all the complete
sections of the Mogotes area.
170 / Pardo
Because of the San Vicente’s relation to other mem-
bers, it is considered late Oxfordian to Kimmeridgian.
It is equivalent to the lower part of the La Zarza
Member of the Artemisa Formation in the Rosario belts
and extends as a tongue within that member in the
southern Rosario belt. It also resembles and is very
probably synonymous with the shallow-water carbon-
ates of the EPEP Pinar-1 well. The upper part of this
member is coeval and lithologically suggests the Hollo
Colorado* and Jagüita* formations of central Cuba.
El Americano Member: —El Americano Member
consists of 65 – 180 ft (20 –45 m) of dark-gray to black,
granular, well-bedded limestones. Some dolomites
and dolomitic limestones are present. Occasional
intraformational unconformities are also present.
Ammonites are present, among them Mazapilites
sp. and Pseudolissoceras sp., that indicate a Tithonian
age. Microfossils include Chitinoidella bermudezi, Chi-
tinoidella cf. cubensis, Chitinoidella cf. boneti, Calpio-
nella alpina, Calpionella elliptica, and Crassicollaria brevis.
In addition, brachiopods, gastropods, pelecypods, rep-
tile bones, and fish teeth and vertebrae are present.
This fauna indicates a middle and upper Tithonian
age. This member shows an increase in pelagic con-
ditions compared to the San Vicente Member.
This member also appears in the Infierno and
Viñales units.
The El Americano Member is conformable with the
overlying Tumbadero Member and is equivalent to the
upper part of the La Zarza Member of the Artemisa
Formation and the Caguaguas* Formation of central
Cuba.
Tumbadero Member:—It consists of 65–160 ft (20–
50 m) of well-bedded, thinly laminated, micritic lime-
stones and calcilutites with intercalations of black chert.
Rare ammonites are present, as well as a rich mi-
crofauna; Calpionella alpina, Calpionella elliptica, Cras-
sicollaria brevis, Tintinnopsella carpathica, Tintinnospor-
ella longa, Remaniella cadischiana, Calpionellopsis simplex,
and Calpionellopsis oblonga are part of it. These indicate
a Berriasian age.
This member is present in all complete sections of
the Guasasa Formation.
It is equivalent to the lower Sumidero Member of
the Artemisa Formation and is also similar and equiv-
alent to the Capitolio* Formation in central Cuba.
Tumbitas Member: —It consists of 130 – 260 ft
(40 –80 m) of light-gray, dense, micritic limestones
with some thin beds of darker color. The beds are
commonly mottled because of bioturbation.
A rich microfauna is present, with Calpionella
alpina, Calpionella elliptica, Tintinosporella carpathica,
Tintinosporella longa, Romaniella cadischiana, Roma-
niella dadayi, Calpionellopsis simplex, Calpionellopsis
oblonga, Calpionellopsis darderi, Globochaetes alpina,
and Nannoconus sp., among others.
The age is considered to be late Berriasian to early
Valanginian.
This member has been also recognized in the
Infierno and Viñales units.
This unit is considered equivalent to the upper
Sumidero Member of the Artemisa Formation and
to the upper Capitolio* and Ronda* formations
of central Cuba, although aptychi are not common.
It is conformable with the overlying Infierno
Member.
The upper Guasasa Formation used to be called In-
fierno Member (very likely synonymous with Truitt’s
Guajanı́ Formation; it is included in Hatten’s [1957]
upper Viñales), consisting of 0–160 ft (0–50 m) of well-
bedded, light-gray, micritic limestones and black
cherts. This member was present in the Infierno and
Viñales units. However, Pszczólkowski (1999) elimi-
nated the term and considers it part of the lower
Pons Formation, equivalent to the Santa Teresa
Formation. It also resembles and is part equivalent to
the Ramblazo* and Calabazar* formations of central
Cuba. The upper boundary of the Guasasa Forma-
tion is erosional and overlain by the Paleocene
breccias of the Ancón Formation.
Pons Formation. —The Pons Formation consists of
650 ft (200 m) of light-gray to almost black, well-
bedded, micritic limestones interbedded with thin,
black chert beds, nodules, and lenses. Some thin yel-
lowish brown shales are present. In the lower part,
thick-bedded, light-gray mottled limestones are more
common. The microfauna of the lower part consists
of Globigerina cretacea, Planomalina buxtorfi, Praeglobo-
truncana sp., Ticinella sp., Globotruncana lapparenti,
Rotalipora cf. appenninica, Thalmalinella cf. greenhornensis,
Nannoconus truitti, N. wassalli, Nannoconus bucheri,
and Nannoconus elongata. Hatten (1957) considered this
unit to extend from the Albian through the Campa-
nian. More recently, the range has been extended
from the Hauterivian(?) to the Turonian.
Hatten (1957) described and named two super-
imposed stratigraphic units that he called the Pons
and Peñas formations. Piotrowska (1975) considered
both of them lithologically similar and included the
Peñas into the Pons Formation. The present thinking
is that both formations should be recognized (Pszczól-
kowski, 1999).
The Pons Formation outcrops are restricted to the
Pons Valley, in the central part of the Sierra de los

Organos, in windows exposing the Pons and Pica Pica
units. These are the lowermost thrust sheets observ-
able on the surface. Consequently, the base of the
Pons Formation has not been observed in the type
section. This unit is lithologically similar and equiv-
alent, and could well be synonymous, with the In-
fierno Member of the Guasasa Formation and the
Carmita Formation of the Buenavista Group. It also
appears to be equivalent to the Aptian – Albian part
of the deep-water carbonate section drilled in EPEP
Pinar-1 (spudded in the Pons Valley) between 1640
and 2870 ft (500 and 875 m), although in this section,
cherts are not mentioned. The Pons Formation is
equivalent to the Ramblazo* and certainly part of the
Malpaez* Group (Calabazar* and Mata* formations) in
central Cuba.
Peñas Formation. — It is similar to the Pons Forma-
tion, but the beds are thinner; the color of the lime-
stone tends to be darker, with white calcite veins;
and the chert beds are more abundant. The limestones
give off strong petroleum odor when freshly broken.
In the type section, it is 250 ft (80 m) thick. It con-
tains Globigerina cf. cretacea, Rugoglobigerina sp., Rugo-
truncana calcarata, and Globotruncana lapparenti sl. The
age is considered Campanian – Maastrichtian. Recent
paleontological studies indicate the presence of a
hiatus in the Sierra de los Organos comprising the late
Turonian and the Santonian.
Moncada Formation. — The Moncada Formation
(described and named by Tada et al., 2003) consists
of 6 ft (2 m) of a calcareous sandstone complex. It
contains a mixed faunal assemblage from Aptian to
Maastrichtian. It is considered to represent the sedi-
ments produced by the Chicxulub meteorite im-
pact at the K/T boundary. Grains of impacted quartz
are abundant, and the upper calcareous claystone
bed is rich in iridium. This unit correlates with the
Cacarajicara.
Ancón Formation. — The Ancón Formation consists
of 0 – 160 ft (0 – 50 m) of well-bedded, pink, green,
yellowish brown, and red, laminated, marly, micritic
limestones. The limestones are highly fossiliferous.
Interbeds of breccias and conglomerates exist with
subangular clasts up to several centimeters consisting
of oolitic limestones, calpionellid-bearing limestones,
cherts and dolomites. Occasionally, thin beds of light-
green volcanic sand grains occur in the calcareous
sandstones. The Ancón Formation rests disconform-
ably on the Peñas and Pons formations. No angular
unconformity exists, but an irregular erosion surface
can be observed. In the Mogotes area, it has been di-
vided into three members: La Güira, ‘‘Marly Micritic
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 171
Limestone,’’ and La Legua. This formation has been
found in all the units of the Mogotes area.
La Guira Member: —It consists of up to 160 ft (50 m)
of a breccia with fragments up to 16 in. (40 cm), de-
rived mainly from the limestones of the various mem-
bers of the Guasasa Formation. Chert is also present.
The matrix is commonly invisible. Marly limestones
can be observed at the top of the breccia and are also
its lateral equivalent. The breccia contains reworked
fossils of all the underlying units.
This member is found in the Sierra de la Güira,
Ancón, Viñales, Infierno, Valle de Pons and La Legua
units.
Marly Micritic Limestone Member:— As indicated
by its name, it consists almost entirely of the above-
described limestones. This unit is richly fossiliferous,
and the following foraminifera have been identified:
Globorotalia (Morozovella) velascoensis (very abundant),
Globorotalia (Morozovella) wilcoxensis, Globorotalia (Mor-
ozovella) brodermani, Globorotalia (Morozovella) elongata,
Globorotalia (Morozovella) occlusa, Globorotalia (Morozo-
vella) cf. aequa, Globorotalia (Morozovella) cf. acuta, Pla-
norotalia (Planorotalites) pseudomenardii, Acarinina cf.
soldadoensis, and Globigerina velascoensis. This assem-
blage indicates the upper Paleocene.
La Legua Member. — La Legua Member consists
of a breccia similar to the La Güira Member, but com-
monly occurs at the top of the formation. It can reach
80 ft (25 m) in thickness, and the blocks are 16 ft (5 m)
in length. Fewer chert fragments are present.
The Ancón Formation has obviously been depos-
ited in deep water as indicated by the rich pelagic
fauna in the micritic limestones and the interbedded
coarse breccias without visible matrix, suggesting the
Sagua* Formation of central Cuba. In this case, the
talus origin of the breccia has certainly to be ruled
out because no shallow banks were present to sup-
ply the coarse detritus. The breccias must have been
originated from an uplift of the previously deposited
carbonates and cherts.
The Ancón Formation is younger than the Caca-
rajı́cara and older than the Sagua* Formation. The
Manacas Formation overlies the Ancón with strong
unconformity.
Manacas Formation. — It is well developed in the
Mogotes area where it was originally described; it is
found at the top of every structural unit.
Pinar-1. — Two of the units of the Mogotes area
deserve special description because the complete sec-
tions have been seen only through drilling of EPEP
Pinar-1, a deep, parametric well drilled to 17,056 ft
(5200 m) in the Pons Valley, 4 km (2.5 mi) south of
172 / Pardo
FIGURE 99. Stratigraphic section: Sierra
de los Organos belt, Pinar-1 unit.
the town of Pons (see Figure 97). This well, located in
the middle of the complex Pica Pica and other out-
crops belonging to the Valle de Pons unit of the Mo-
gotes area, encountered a possibly autochthonous,
shallow-water carbonate section of Jurassic age. The
base has not been observed. Lopez Rivera et al. (1987)
and Pszczólkowski (1994a, b, c, d; 1999) described the
section, which is partially repeated three times, and
the lithostratigraphic units have not been formally
named. A recurring problem in Cuba is that, accord-
ing to the Soviet-era stratigraphic philosophy (strong-
ly biostratigraphic), the geologists working for EPEP
emphasize the fossil content and the age of the section
penetrated by the drill and only summarily describe
the lithology and, contrary to the geologists working
for the Academy of Science, seldom attempted to clas-
sify them within the established lithostratigraphic
framework (see Figure 99).
Pinar-1 Unit: —The Pinar-1 unit is present from
7872 to 17,056 ft (2400 to 5200 m). Part of the section

is repeated by a fault at ±10,500 ft (±3200 m). This unit
is entirely subsurface and is not in the literature; it has
been named solely for this study.
Guasasa Formation(?): Pinar-1 Shallow-Water
Carbonate:— It consists of 4920 ft (1500 m) of massive
limestones.
Lower section:—The lower section consists of 2296 ft
(700 m) of fine-grained limestones with variable
amounts of coproliths and organic remains. The color
is dark gray to black, and gypsum and anhydrite com-
monly fill fractures and vugs. The anhydrite increases
toward the lower part of the hole.
The fauna consists of Favreina salavenses, Didem-
noides moreti, Globochaete alpina, and Cadosina sp.,
indicating an Upper Jurassic age.
Upper section: —The upper section consists of 2624 ft
(800 m) of fine-grained limestones, with variable
amount of clay and varying degrees of dolomitization.
Abundant coral and pelecypod fragments, echino-
derm spines, coproliths, molds of ostracods, brachio-
pods, and benthonic foraminifera are present. Ques-
tionable recrystallized radiolaria are also present.
The following forms have been identified: Sacco-
coma sp., Cadosina sp., Favreina salavensis, and mi-
liolids, indicating an Upper Jurassic age.
This shallow-water carbonate unit has similarities
(although much thicker) and is partly coeval with the
San Vicente Member of the lower Guasasa Formation
of the Mogotes area and also suggests the Hollo Col-
orado* Formation of the Las Villas* belt in central
Cuba. Although gypsum and anhydrite are reported,
there is no mention of evaporite beds. Note that the
crustal measurements described in Chapter 6 of this
publication indicate that the top of the basement in
Pinar del Rio is at ±5 km (±3.1 mi). This is close to the
total depth of EPEP Pinar-1, and yet, there is no indi-
cation of the presence of terrigenous clastics.
Guasasa Formation(?): Pinar-1 Deep-Water Carbon-
ate:—It consists of 3575 ft (1090 m) of a tectonically
repeated 1800-ft (550-m) section of fine bioclastic,
massive, light-gray to black limestone. The section can
be subdivided from bottom to top into three
biozones as follows.
1) Upper Jurassic (Tithonian) containing Saccoco-
ma sp., Aptychus sp., Cadosina sp., and molds of
radiolaria.
2) Neocomian containing Cadosina sp., Nannoconus
steinmanni, Nummulites cf. bermudezi, Tintinospor-
ella longa, Calpionellopsis simplex, Remaniella sp.(?),
Globochaete alpina, and Calpionella sp. Radiolaria
and embryonic ammonites are also present.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 173
3) Aptian – Albian containing Nannoconus truitti,
Nannoconus elongatus, Nannoconus spp., Hedber-
gella cf. infracretacea, Hedbergella spp., Clavihed-
bergella sp., Cadosina sp., Globigerinelloides sp.,
Ticinella sp., Preaglobotruncana sp.(?), Tintinopsella
sp.(?), and Heteroelicidae.
The middle zone is argillaceous with clay beds,
whereas the lower zone has pronounced light-gray
and black banding. In general, the dips are low (58
or less; only one core shows 408 dips). This section is
correlative with the upper Guasasa Formation of the
Mogotes area and the upper Artemisa – lower Buena-
vista Group of the southern Rosario belt. It also sug-
gests the Caguaguas*, Capitolio*, and Ramblazo* for-
mations of central Cuba, although no chert is reported.
Manacas Formation: — In the Pinar-1 unit, this
formation consists of 689 ft (210 m) of breccia, with an
argillaceous matrix containing fragments of several
types of limestones, chert, silty shales, quartz sand-
stones, diabase, and tuffs. The fragments contain a
fauna consisting of Orbitocyclina sp., Pseudorbitoides
sp., Sulcoperculina globosa, Ctenorbitoides cardwelli,
Globotruncana sp., Globigerinelloides sp., Stomiosphaera
sp., Sulcorbitoides pardoi, and rudist fragments, echi-
noid spines, and mollusks. The age of the components
is as young as Maastrichtian, although the Manacas
Formation is considered of Paleocene to middle Eo-
cene age.
Valle de Pons Unit: Lower Section. — The lower sec-
tion of the Valle de Pons unit is present from the sur-
face to 7872 ft (2400 m).
In Pinar-1, the interval from the surface to 7872 ft
(2400 m) is found a sequence of Lower Cretaceous
deep-water and Upper Jurassic shallow-water car-
bonates below the Manacas Formation. This section
represents the lower part of the Valle de Pons unit,
which has never been observed on the surface. Parts
of the section are missing, and intense fracture zones
are present. The drilled interval seems to be part of a
complex thrust sheet.
Guasasa Formation(?): Pinar-1 Shallow-Water
Carbonate: — This section is present from 2870 to
7872 ft (875 to 2400 m). The thickness of 5000 ft
(1525 m) is believed to be in part caused by a repeat by
a reverse fault. The dips are not mentioned, but the
contact with the overlying deep-water carbonates is
believed to be faulted.
Guasasa Formation(?): Pinar-1 Deep-Water
Carbonate:—The Pinar-1 deep-water carbonate is pre-
sent from less than 1640 to 2870 ft (500 to 875 m).
This section is believed to be part of a recumbent fold
174 / Pardo
because the top and bottom of the section contains
Aptian–Albian faunas, whereas the center of the in-
terval is of Neocomian age. This inversion could be
caused by faulting.
Manacas Formation: —This unit occurs from the
surface to less than 1640 ft (500 m). It is described as a
volcanic sequence pertaining to an olistolith in the
Vieja Formation or, not very likely, as the eugeosynclinal
overthrust. The lower contact is questionable because
the well was spudded in the Manacas Formation, and
no data were taken until 1640 ft (500 m).
Mogotes area discussion. — The Mogotes area repre-
sents a series of thrusts, or nappes, supposedly di-
rected toward the north. The possibility exists that
the Pinar-1 unit is very nearly in place and is resting
directly over basement. The predeformation succession
of facies is not as easy to visualize as in central Cuba.
The most important aspects of the present facies
distribution are as follows.
1) Middle Jurassic to middle Oxfordian. The continen-
tal margin clastics of this age are not well devel-
oped in this belt. Although the base of the Pinar-1
unit was not reached, clastics were not reported
between the base of the Valle de Pons unit and
the top of the Pinar-1 unit. The only rocks of this
age observed in the higher structural units are
middle Oxfordian and characterized by shallow-
water, anoxic sediments as indicated by abun-
dant oyster-hash sulfurous limestones, suggesting
\swamp conditions. These shallow-water con-
ditions appear to be somewhat younger in the
Rosario belt than in the Mogotes area.
2) Middle Oxfordian. The Jagua Formation and the
Zacarı́as and Jagua Vieja members indicate
nearshore conditions of deposition in an
anoxic environment probably less than 350
ft (100 m) deep. The large, laminated, early
diagenetic concretions and the abundant un-
damaged ammonite shells indicate quiet condi-
tions not affected by waves and currents. The
rate of sedimentation must have been low, and
the presence of wood remains indicates some
connection to a delta and/or swamps.
3) Upper Oxfordian. The equivalent of the base of
the Artemisa Formation indicate a decrease in
terrigenous material, an increase in planktonic
microorganisms, and a deeper water carbonate
platform environment.
4) Kimmeridgian and early Tithonian. The sedimen-
tation was of shallow-water bank carbonates;
oolites, oncolites, biomicrites, coprolitic micrites,
etc. Favreina spp. is a common fossil. These de-
posits appear to be the thickest in the Pinar-1 unit,
reaching more than 4920 ft (1500 m) in the lower
thrust sheet. This gives a rate of sedimentation
(after compaction) of ±410 ft/Ma (±125 m/Ma),
which is quite comparable with that of sediments
of the same age in the Las Villas* belt. On the
outcrop, the thickness reaches 2132 ft (650 m).
It should be mentioned that the San Cayetano
facies was not reached in EPEP Pinar-1, although
according to seismic studies, the total depth is
supposed to be near the top of the basement. The
next higher thrust sheet, the Valle de Pons unit,
still does not show clastics at the base. Only the
uppermost outcropping sheets, Quemado and
higher, shows the transition from San Cayetano,
through Jagua, into the San Vicente Member of
the Guasasa Formation.
5) Middle Tithonian. There was regional subsidence
and a marked deepening of the sea. The deeper
water, pelagic facies of El Americano Member,
with abundant tintinids and radiolaria, replaced
the shallow waters of the San Vicente Mem-
ber. The sedimentation rate (after compaction)
dropped to ±33 ft/Ma (±10 m/Ma). The depth
was probably close to the aragonite compensation
depth. These deposits, and the depth change they
represent, are very similar and might be coeval
with the change from the shallow-water, oolitic
Jaguita* to those of the Caguaguas* Formation
of central Cuba.
6) Upper Tithonian through Valanginian. Deep-water
conditions continue throughout the Mogotes
area, with the deposition of pelagic limestones
containing tintinids, nannoconids, and radiolaria
of the Tumbadero and Tumbitas members of the
Guasasa Formation. These units are coeval and
lithologically very similar to the Sumidero Mem-
ber of the Artemisa Formation and to the Capi-
tolio* and Ronda* formations of central Cuba.
7) Hauterivian and Barremian. Deep-water condi-
tions continue with added siliceous sediments
of the Tumbitas Member and the lower part of
the Pons Formation. These suggest that the wa-
ter depth was near the carbonate compensation
depth. These sediments correlate with the lower
part of the Santa Teresa Formation and the Polier
Formation. However, no traces of clastics exist,
which would indicate that the Polier Formation
clastics could not have come through the Mogotes
area.
8) Aptian through Albian. This is represented by the
Pons Formation and its possible equivalent in a

different structural unit, the Santa Teresa For-
mation. The deposition of chert continues, in-
dicating a continuing deep-water environment,
possibly near the carbonate compensation depth
(CCD).
9) Upper Cretaceous. The Pons Formation continues
into the Turonian; however, the Peñas Forma-
tion of Campanian–Maastrichtian age has sim-
ilar facies. It is separated from the Pons by a hiatus.
The total thickness of the Pons and Peñas is not
more than 650 ft (200 m), which could represent
the entire Cretaceous, or a sedimentation rate
(after compaction) of ±8.8 ft/Ma (±2.7 m/Ma).
This is very low compared to other deep-water
sedimentation rates and indicates that part of
the section is missing. It should be noted that
the Maastrichtian carbonate detritus of the Ca-
carajı́cara Formation have not been reported in
this belt, but is replaced by the calcarenites of
the Moncada Formation.
10) Paleocene. The Ancón Formation marks an im-
portant break in the section; an influx of brec-
cias and polymict detritus exists in a deep-water
environment characterized by marls and cherts.
The rate of sedimentation is still low, and the
type of sediments indicates some early defor-
mation and subaerial erosion of carbonates as
well as a basic igneous-volcanic terrane.
11) Lower –middle Eocene. This time span witnesses
the continuation of the influx of polymict detri-
tus (Pica Pica Member) of the Manacas Forma-
tion and subsequent chaotic rocks of the Vieja
Member. This is an orogenic conglomerate con-
taining not only large-size components of the
nearby carbonates, but also of volcanics, gabbros,
serpentine, schists, etc., in a graywacke matrix.
It is very significant that this breccia is found
mostly in fault zones above the carbonate sec-
tion in the Mogotes area as well as in the Rosario
belts. It has never been found in stratigraphic con-
tact with the underlying San Cayetano Forma-
tion of the Pizarras del Norte unit and Alturas de
las Pizarras del Sur area; the nearly continuous
band of Manacas outcrops in contact with the
San Cayetano shown in the Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988) is a window through the Pizarras del Norte
unit. This indicates that the unit was deposited
as the youngest layer in the basin, possibly as a
large-scale olistostrome, prior to the faulting,
but after some erosion or collapse of the basic
igneous-volcanic terrane to the south had oc-
curred. Whether it was synchronous over the
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 175
entire basin or was deposited as a wave in front
of an advancing thrust sheet is not known. At
any rate, it must have been deposited over a
short period of time.
Alturas de Las Pizarras del Sur area. —This area
is to the south of, and tectonically overlies, the
carbonate units of the Mogotes area. To the south,
the Pinar fault and the Cangre belt form its southern
limit (see Figure 100). It is the southern equivalent of
the Pizarras del Norte unit. The section consists en-
tirely of the San Cayetano clastics because the con-
tact with the overlying carbonates has only been ob-
served in the metamorphosed Cangre belt.
This group of rocks should not be part of the Mo-
gotes area and, in view of its following fairly well the
definition of belt or facies-structural zone ( because it
is limited by faults and has a characteristic stratigra-
phy), should be a belt.
The section is shown in Figure 101.
San Cayetano Formation. —It consists of the same
thick monotonous section of shales, sandstones, and
siltstones as present in the southern Rosario belt,
except that coarser clastics predominate.
The shales are phyllitic with common sericite. Rare
carbonaceous zones with carbonized wood particles
are present.
The sandstones are poorly sorted with two gen-
erations of quartz. One is rounded, whereas the other
is angular. More than half of the matrix consists
of silt or finer particles. The cement is ferruginous-
argillaceous. Feldspars are rare, and muscovite is com-
mon. The sandstones weather to a soft friable sand.
The coarse sandstones and conglomerates have frag-
ments up to 2 in. (5 cm) in diameter. In addition to
quartz, they contain, as minor components, shale frag-
ments, sparry carbonates (including dolomite), quartz-
ite, chert, mica schists, granitoids, and volcanics.
The sedimentary features include cross-bedding,
graded-bedding, slump folds, load-casts, and cut-and-
fill structures.
As already mentioned, Pushcharovsky et al. (1988)
subdivide the formation into units A and B informal
members and shows that most of the outcrops in the
Alturas de las Pizarras del Sur area belong to the sand-
ier unit A.
A normal stratigraphic contact between the San
Cayetano and the overlying Jagua (or Francisco) has
not been reported in the Alturas de las Pizarras del
Sur area. Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show such a
contact only in the easternmost part of the Pizarras
del Sur unit, near San Diego de los Baños. Pszczólk-
owski (1999) shows it to be a window exposing the
176 / Pardo
FIGURE 100. Western Cuba, Sierra de los Organos, Pizzaras del Sur area.
Mogotes area Viñales unit. The base has never been
observed.
The San Cayetano Formation is very poorly fos-
siliferous in this area. Very few fossil localities are
known, and these contain only pelecypods and plant
remains. One fossil locality yielded Cuspidaria sp.,
Modiolus sp., and Trigonia sp., nondiagnostic of either
Jurassic or Cretaceous. However, the trigonias have
affinities to species from the Middle to Late Jurassic.
Another locality had an assemblage of Eocallista spp.,
Vaugonia spp., Gervillia sp., and Neocrassina spp. of
undetermined age. As already mentioned, ammonites
were collected from the upper part of the formation
in the southern Rosario belt, Perisphinctes spathi, Glo-
chiceras cf. subclausum, and Ochetoceras sp., giving an
Oxfordian age. The transitional contact with the Ja-
gua Formation, observed in the Mogotes area and the
Cangre belt, has been well dated at upper middle
Oxfordian to lower upper Oxfordian, therefore fixing
the age of the top of the San Cayetano at middle Ox-
fordian. However, no reliable evidence exists for the
age of the base of the formation; guesses range from
the Middle to the Lower Jurassic (Triassic has even
been proposed).
Of great importance is the origin of the San Ca-
yetano clastics. Haczewski (1976, 1987) published the
result of a sedimentological reconnaissance of the San
Cayetano. He recognized nine facies characteristic of
deltaic sedimentation on a continental margin. Most
of the fluviatile, delta-plain, and nearshore facies
were found to the southwest in the Alturas de las
Pizarras del Sur area and western Pizarras del Norte
unit; the turbidite deposits are characteristic of the
eastern southern Rosario belt (eastern Pizarras del
Norte unit, El Mameyal unit), and the slope deposits
were located to the northeast of the Mogotes area
(Ancón unit). This pattern suggests that the deep wa-
ter is to the east-northeast of the Sierra de Guanigua-
nico. What it was before deformation is another story.
In addition, measurements on ripple marks indicate
that the direction of transport was in a general north-
easterly direction, indicating a southwestern source.
The exact meaning of these observations is not clear
until the relative motions of the Mogotes, Pizarras del
Sur areas, and Rosario belt are resolved. At any rate,
the San Cayetano exposures in the Pizarras del Norte
show a higher percentage of fine-grained clastics and
clay than the Pizarras del Sur. Assuming that both

sections were continuous, approximately of the same
age, and that the Pizarras del Norte were deposited
south of the Pizarras del Sur, this supports the argu-
ment of the northern origin of the clastic detritus.
If the thickness of the detritus exposed under the
different thrust sheets has any bearing on the orig-
inal thickness of sediments (the décollement might
have been at the base of the clastics), then the San
Cayetano would have been well developed only in the
Pizarras del Sur and southern Rosario belts. The Mo-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 177
FIGURE 101. Stratigraphic section:
Sierra de los Organos belt, Pizzaras
del Sur area.
gotes area and the northern Rosario belt would have
been originally underlain by thin or no San Cayetano.
Therefore, regardless of the direction of thrusting, no
autochthonous Jurassic clastics should be expected in
the present northern half of Pinar del Rio.
Alturas de Las Pizarras del Sur area discussion. —
The San Cayetano Formation in this area repre-
sents deposition in a relatively deep basin receiv-
ing sediment from a major continental source such
as an important river delta. The depth of deposition
178 / Pardo
FIGURE 102. Western Cuba, Cangre belt.
is difficult to estimate because of the lack of well-
preserved faunas (which is common in turbid sed-
iments). The sedimentological studies indicate near-
shore, shallow-water deposits as well as deeper water
turbidites and fans. These suggest a southern source
of sediments; however, because of the absence of
recognizable markers in the section and the struc-
tural dislocations, it is impossible to reconstruct
the three-dimensional geometry of the deposits.
In general, field mapping indicates that the lower
part of the section contains a dominance of coarser
sediments, whereas the upper part, with few excep-
tions, is characterized by a much higher percentage
of shales.
As already mentioned, the possibility exists that
the Alturas de las Pizarras del Sur area is the northern
and western equivalent of the southern Rosario belt.
Cangre Belt
This narrow belt is called Cangre unit in Push-
charovsky et al. (1988) (and other publications) (see
Figure 102). This unit is referred to as the Cangre
structurofacies unit in the Pushcharovsky et al. (1988)
and other publications. This name will not be used in
this study because it has been previously used by
Pszczólkowski (1976a, b) to identify a structural unit
in the northern Rosario belt. It is present along the
northern upthrown side of the Pinar fault and ex-
tends for some 72 km (44 mi). It has been subdivided
into two units:
1) Mestanza unit. It is a thin, south-dipping, thrust
sliver wedged between the Alturas de las Pizarras
del Sur area and the Pino Solo unit. It is char-
acterized by a thin Jurassic carbonate section and
by some degree of metamorphism.
2) Pino Solo unit. It extends for 70 km (43 mi) along
the Pinar fault and represents the uppermost and
most metamorphosed thrust sheet of the Alturas
de las Pizarras del Sur area. North of it is a klippe
of the same subunit named the Cerro de las
Cabras unit.
Although Piotrowski (1977) reports the section as
overturned, Pszczólkowski (1985) shows the Mestanza
unit to be right-side up, with the Pino Solo unit riding
over rocks ranging from the Guasasa to the Manacas
Formation. The total exposed thickness of the Pino
Solo thrust sheet is 1990 ft (610 m) and is considered
the highest thrust fault of the Cangre belt. The lower

Mestanza unit exposes some ±650 ft (±200 m) of sec-
tion (see Figure 103). The section is as follows.
Mestanza unit. —
San Cayetano Formation. —In this unit, only the
uppermost outcrops of this formation are present. A
gabbro is present at the top of the formation.
Jagua Formation.— The Jagua Formation consists
of 100 (30 m) of a section very similar to the non-
metamorphosed section in the Mogotes area. It con-
tains limestone concretions with middle Oxfordian
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 179
FIGURE 103. Stratigraphic section:
Cangre belt.
ammonites. The volcanics consist of a gray chloritic
tuff and, higher in the section, several horizons of a
very altered, greenish gray, volcanic rock, which is
believed to have been originally a basalt of interme-
diate composition (Piotrowski, 1987).
This unit grades conformably into the Guasasa
Formation.
Guasasa Formation. —The base of this massively
bedded unit, with the exception of some recrystalli-
zation, is identical with the unmetamorphosed section
180 / Pardo
of the Mogotes area. In the Piotrowski (1977) descrip-
tion of the section, it is not clear if this lithology
belongs to the Pino Solo or Mestanza units. According
to Pszczólkowski (1985), more than 230 ft (100 m) of
Guasasa normally overlies the Jagua Formation in the
Mestanza unit. It is represented by the San Vicente
Member, which is unconformably overlain by the
Guı̈ra Member of the Ancón Formation.
Ancón Formation. — In this unit, this formation con-
sists of some 15 ft (5 m) of metamorphosed breccias
of the Guı̈ra Member and the red and gray recrys-
tallized, schistose limestone with a breccia at the top.
The Manacas Formation conformably overlies it.
Manacas Formation. —The unit consists of some
25 ft (8 m) of red, green, and gray schists of the Pica
Pica Member of this formation. This is the youngest
unit present under the Pino Solo unit basal thrust
sheet and represents the youngest metamorphism in
western Cuba, lower – middle Eocene.
Pino Solo Unit. —
Arroyo Cangre Formation.—This formation is 1836 ft
(560 m) of a metamorphosed, dominantly clastic se-
quence described by Piotrowski (1977) from south to
north as follows:
59 ft (18 m): Polymictic meta-sandstones, quartz-
chlorite schists, and marbles.
62 ft (19 m): Recrystallized limestones, banded,
with oriented texture caused by the presence of
muscovite and sericite; quartz lenses.
43 ft (13 m): Quartz-chlorite-muscovite schists
interbedded with meta-sandstones.
30 ft (9 m): Fine-grained amphibolite with lepido-
blastic structure and oriented texture.
33 ft (10 m): Metasiltstones, metamorphosed
limestone, and chloritic schists.
20 ft (6 m): Cataclastic gabbro.
590 ft (180 m): Interbedding of fine to medium
grained quartz meta-sandstones, containing sub-
ordinate amounts of volcanic rocks, plagioclase,
mica, and epidote, and quartz-muscovite schists.
836 ft (255 m): Interbedding of muscovite-chlorite-
quartz crystalline schists with sericite and beds of
metasandstones.
Although this section is reported to be continuous
and overlain by the Jagua Formation, the contact be-
tween the two units is always reported as strongly
tectonized. The thickness of 1436 ft (435 m) for the
San Cayetano equivalent appears low compared to
its thickness in the Alturas de las Pizarras del Sur
area.
This unit, which is very similar to and the equiva-
lent of the San Cayetano Formation, was given a dif-
ferent name on account of the marbles near the top, the
metamorphism, and the presence of volcanics.
The volcanics in the southern 246 ft (75 m) of the
section are tuffs consisting of a cryptocrystalline mass
in which quartz, feldspars, chlorite, and sericite can
be recognized. This mass is saturated with epidote.
Above the tuffs are cataclastic, medium-grained, crys-
talline basalts and a porphyroclastic gabbrolike rock.
In the northern 164 ft (50 m) of the Arroyo Cangre
Formation, near the contact with the Jagua Forma-
tion (probably belonging to the Mestanza unit), are
thin lamprophyres (monchiquite) interbedded with
the carbonate rock.
It is worth mentioning that the lower Mestanza
thrust sheet is less metamorphosed than the upper
Pino Solo sheet, which is reminiscent of the situation
in the Escambray and other metamorphic massifs.
Cangre Belt Discussion. — In the metamorphic
Cangre belt, volcanics are present in the Jagua For-
mation; they are equivalent in age to the El Sabalo
Formation and to the basalts found in the Francisco
Formation. These are the oldest volcanics associated
with the Mesozoic sediments of Pinar del Rio and are
therefore not related to the thermal activity respon-
sible for the lower–middle Eocene regional metamor-
phism of the metamorphosed units. Also of great in-
terest is the fact that the regional metamorphism is
dated as middle Eocene or younger and appears to be
equivalent or even predate the thrusting; remnants of
the metamorphosed Arroyo Cangre are found along
the southern border of the Pizarras del Norte unit. The
reason for this metamorphism is not clear; it could be
related to the ophiolite obduction.
Guaniguanico Mountains Sediments Discussion
As mentioned, unlike central Cuba, the paleocon-
figuration of the platform to deep basin province will
depend heavily on the structural interpretation (and
vice versa); it is difficult to set an a-priori facies dis-
tribution. An attempt will be made to reconstruct
some likely models of what this sedimentary prov-
ince might have been like prior to the deformation.
It is not the purpose of this book to revise the
present stratigraphic nomenclature of Cuba; how-
ever, it is pertinent to remark that, until now, the ter-
minology tended to obscure the important aspects
of Pinar del Rio stratigraphy. Although E. DeGolyer’s
original name of Viñales limestone was poorly de-
fined and much misused, the way it was used by
Truitt (1956a, b) and Hatten (1957) described well the

shallow-water, massive, commonly very thick, mogote-
forming limestones of Upper Jurassic age. It is a major
stratigraphic unit of the area, which, in today’s no-
menclature, is lost as the San Vicente Member of the
Guasasa Formation of the Viñales Group. The same
is true for Lewis’ Artemisa Formation, also poorly de-
scribed, but given a precise meaning by Truitt (1956a,
b) and Hatten (1957), who called it the Rosario For-
mation. It was originally the thin-bedded, argillaceous,
deep-water equivalent of the Viñales Formation. Until
recently, it was the La Zarza Member of the Artemisa
Formation of the Viñales Group.
However, some very distinctive and approximate-
ly coeval lithologic assemblages, all characterized
by the presence of thin-bedded chert with variable
amounts of thin-bedded limestones and clays, are
given names with the rank of formation or mem-
bers within or outside higher hierarchical units. For
instance, until recently, the Pons Formation of the
Viñales Group was similar to (1) the Infierno Mem-
ber of the Guasasa Formation of the Viñales Group,
(2) the Sumidero Member of the Artemisa Formation
of the Viñales Group, (3) the Sabanilla Member of
the Buenavista Formation, and (4) the Sierra Azul For-
mation. Recently, Pszczólkowski (1994a, b, c, d; 1999)
improved the situation by not using the Viñales
Group, the Buenavista Formation, and the Infierno
Member and substituting Santa Teresa Formation (of
much wider usage) for both a part of the Sierra Azul
Formation and the Sabanilla Member.
Nothing is wrong in establishing a large number
of lithostratigraphic units if these are necessary to
depict the configuration of a basin, but these should
be grouped in a lithologically significant manner
and not according to their geographic position or
historical precedents. Truitt (1956a, b) named all the
above units Carmita* (and Santa Teresa*), and Hatten
(1957) named all the above units the Pons and Peñas
formations.
An attempt will be made to relate the facies of the
previously described stratigraphic units to see if some
coherent picture of a basin, or parts of basins, can be
made.
It will be first assumed that the Cretaceous Bahia
Honda belt, as in central Cuba, originally belonged to
a separate basin. Except for some ash and siliceous ma-
terial, it did not interfinger with the sedimentary belts
of the clastic and platform to deep-water basin prov-
ince. Although some volcanics are interbedded with
the Late Jurassic, these are of the tholeiitic oceanic type
and probably representative of an early rifting phase.
The most important units are as follows.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 181
San Cayetano. — This formation, characteristic of
Pinar del Rio, is unfortunately too disturbed inter-
nally for drawing conclusions based on its thickness
or zonation. It is well represented in the Southern
Rosario and Alturas de las Pizarras del Sur areas but is
not represented in the northern Rosario belt, and has
not been reported at the base of the Valle de Pons unit
in Pinar-1. This could be an indication that the San
Cayetano is absent or thin under the northern Ro-
sario belt and under the Pinar-1 and Valle de Pons
units of the Mogotes area. It is worth mentioning that
there is some evidence that the San Cayetano of the
northeastern southern Rosario belt was deposited in
deeper waters than in the Pizarras del Sur or the
Mogotes areas.
The relation between the Alturas de las Pizarras
del Sur area and Pizarras del Norte unit is not clear,
except that both overlie all the Mogotes area carbon-
ate units.
In the Mestanza unit, the Guasasa Formation is
generally thin, commonly less than 300 ft (100 m),
and only part of it has been recognized as the San
Vicente Member. The upper part of this member
(thin bedded with chert nodules) is overlain by the
Ancón Formation. The Jagua and Ancón formations
are also thinner. This indicates that the thinning of
the Guasasa could be tectonic in origin and a con-
sequence of the thrusting.
San Cayetano Formation–Viñales Group Bound-
ary.—The Jagua Formation, which is present transi-
tionally below the shallow-water carbonates of the
San Vicente Member, is well developed, 100–520 ft
(30–160 m) thick in the thrust sheets, showing through
the window of the Mogotes area. It is quite probable
that the underlying San Cayetano was thin and was
deposited in shallow to moderate depth (shelf) con-
ditions. However, in the southern Rosario belt where
a probably thick San Cayetano is overlain by the deeper
water sediments of the La Zarza Member, its equiv-
alent, the Francisco Formation, is much thinner, 80 ft
(25 m), and sometimes absent altogether. Evidence
exists that the San Cayetano clastics under the Arte-
misa Formation in the southern Rosario belt are pro-
gressively younger northeastward and, therefore,
equivalent to the Jagua Formation of the Mogotes area.
Late Jurassic Tholeiites. — The Jagua Formation in
the Cangre belt and equivalent Francisco Formation
in the southern Rosario belt contain volcanics related
to the dominantly volcanic El Sabalo Formation of the
northern Rosario belt. The equivalent La Esperanza
belt contains similar volcanics, although they are
considered Tithonian instead of Oxfordian (the age
182 / Pardo
difference might not be real; the information on the
La Esperanza belt is very sketchy). The presence of
these oceanic volcanics interbedded with Upper Ju-
rassic limestones at the base of the northern Rosario
and La Esperanza belts along the fault that separates
the thick from the absent San Cayetano suggests, as
in central Cuba, that rifting was active during that
time and might have been responsible for the basin
configuration.
San Vicente Member–Guasasa Formation.—This
unit is the only Jurassic, massive, shallow-water carbon-
ate unit in Pinar del Rio. The age is late Oxfordian –
early Tithonian, and the thickness ranges from 4920 ft
(1500 m) in the Pinar-1 unit, to 985 – 2130 ft (300 –
650 m) in most outcropping units of the Mogotes area,
and 230 ft (100 m) in the Alturas de las Pizarras del
Sur area. It is absent or very thin (10 m; 33 ft) in most
of the southern Rosario belt and absent in the north-
ern Rosario belt, although the coeval, much deeper
water, lower La Zarza is well developed in both belts.
The San Vicente Member is lithologically similar to
and coeval with the Hollo Colorado* and Jagüita*
formations of central Cuba; no known counterpart
to the lower La Zarza exists. As already mentioned, the
Pinar-1 unit is nearly autochthonous. This member
therefore indicates that, during the late Oxfordian –
early Tithonian, the carbonate bank conditions were
much more widespread than during the late Titho-
nian and Cretaceous and might have extended south
of the present Bahamas Platform, from Yucatan to at
least as far as central Cuba. Here, however, contrary to
central Cuba, evidence exists that the carbonate banks
had a possibly southern equivalent deep-water facies.
The lower part of the La Esperanza Formation, which
is considered Tithonian, consists of interbedded
limestones, sandstones, and shales. The base of this
unit has never been observed nor has its stratigraph-
ic relation to the San Cayetano. It could therefore be
a partial equivalent of the San Vicente Member.
Middle and Late Tithonian.— The entire basin is
under deep-water conditions as indicated by the El
Americano Member in the Mogotes area and the
upper La Zarza Member of the Rosario belts. No out-
crops of time-equivalent sediments in the Quiñones
belt exist. This deepening of the basin is synchronous
with the basin deepening in central Cuba as indicated
by the character of the Caguaguas* Formation.
Cretaceous Pelagic Sediments and Cherts. — A
relatively thin section of pelagic sediments and the
presence of chert beds and nodules characterize the
Cretaceous. This indicates deposition in the vicinity
of 4000 m (13,100 ft) CCD. The approximate max-
imum thicknesses of Cretaceous pelagic sediments
(excluding massive turbidites) for the different belts
are as follows: Quiñones belt (no pre – upper Hauteri-
vian recognized), greater than 2950 ft (900 m); north-
ern Rosario belt, 1540 ft (470 m); southern Rosario belt,
890 ft (270 m); and Mogotes area, 600 ft (180 m). Al-
though these figures are very approximate, they show
systematic thickening from south to north. This in-
crease in thickness could be caused by an increase in
small- to medium-size turbidite bodies.
Turbiditic Sediments. —Turbidites are character-
istic of the La Esperanza, Rosario, and Quiñones
belts. In the Tithonian and throughout the Lower
Cretaceous are abundant turbiditic quartz-feldspar-
muscovite sandstones and shales in the La Esperanza
Formation. In the Lower Cretaceous, they are inter-
bedded with dolomites, which, together with the
presence of anhydrite, suggests a conflicting shallow-
water environment of deposition. The relationship
between these turbidites and the San Cayetano is
always reported as a fault; however, the possibility
remains that the La Esperanza Formation was transi-
tional with and deposited over the San Cayetano. In
the Albian–Cenomanian, these turbidites are inter-
bedded with the cherts of the deep-water Santa Teresa
Formation, which they can totally replace. In the
northern Rosario belt, the Polier Formation, of Valan-
ginian through Albian age, also contains similar
quartzose turbiditic sandstones that are considered
correlative to the upper La Esperanza Formation. The
Polier Formation has been recognized only in the
northern Rosario belt, where it reaches 1000 ft (300 m)
in the north, thinning abruptly to the south; it is
absent in the Quiñones unit and the southern Rosario
belt. These sandstones are time equivalent and sim-
ilar in composition to the Constancia* Formation of
central Cuba (although much better developed here)
in the Placetas* and Cifuentes* belts.
In the Upper Cretaceous are several well-developed
carbonate turbidites, apparently derived from car-
bonate banks. The thickest and most extensive is
the Cacarajı́cara Formation of late Maastrichtian
age, which has its maximum development of 1475 ft
(450 m) in the northern Rosario belt. It is present
(originally identified as the calcareous breccia mem-
ber of the Buenavista Formation) in a much reduced
thickness in the southern Rosario belt. This unit cor-
relates with and is similar to the Amaro* and Rodrigo*
formations of the Cifuentes* belt in central Cuba, and
in both areas, these turbidites contain a small but
significant amount of quartz and volcanic detritus.
These detrital components suggest a southern source.

Manacas Formation. — In its broadest sense, this
unit includes the end of the basinal sedimentation
and an early stage of flysch sedimentation, abruptly
followed by the wildflysch from the destruction of a
basic igneous-volcanic orogenic front to the south.
The presence of the thin Pica Pica Member suddenly
overlain by orogenic breccia (Vieja Member) in almost
every major fault slice over the entire Guaniguanico
area suggests a major collapse of the orogenic front
and an olistostrome of large proportions. This col-
lapse occurred in a relatively short period of time and
simultaneously with the early stages of deformation.
The generally low dips, absence of overturning, and
attitude of the faults indicate that here, in contrast
with central Cuba, gravity was the main cause of the
observed deformation. From the standpoint of re-
construction, this means that, by the Paleocene, the
clastic and platform to deep basin province formed
one continuous geomorphic unit. It is also intriguing
that the Manacas has not been mapped at the contact
between the Pizarras del Norte subbelt and the La
Esperanza belt, although it underlies both. Perhaps the
compositional differences between these two tectonic
units, as observed by Truitt (1956a, b), is more appar-
ent than real. However, the presence of thick Vieja
Member under the La Esperanza belt in Dimas-1 in-
dicates that the Manacas flysch deposition extended
farther north than the present position of the La
Esperanza belt.
It appears that the clastic and platform to deep
basin province is represented in a continuous stack
of sheets. These sheets have been described as scales
of variable limited extent. The basin represented by
these sheets was asymmetric and can be summa-
rized as follows:
1) Basement (continental or oceanic) and/or thin Ju-
rassic clastics overlain by thick, massive, shallow-
water carbonates covered, in turn, by Upper Juras-
sic deep-water carbonates and cherts (Mogotes
area)
2) (a) East Guaniguanico Mountains: thin to thick
Jurassic deep- to shallow-water clastics overlain
by Upper Jurassic shallow- to deep-water carbon-
ates and covered, in turn, by Cretaceous deep-
water carbonates and cherts (eastern southern
Rosario belt); and (b) west Guaniguanico Moun-
tains: thick Jurassic deep- to shallow-water clas-
tics overlain by thin Upper Jurassic shallow- to
deep-water carbonates (western southern Rosario
and Alturas de las Pizarras del Sur areas, includ-
ing the metamorphosed Cangre belt)
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 183
3) (a) East Guaniguanico Mountains: middle to late
Oxfordian oceanic rift volcanics overlain by thin
Upper Jurassic deep-water carbonates, covered in
turn by Cretaceous deep-water carbonates, clas-
tics, and cherts with influxes of miscellaneous
turbidites (northern Rosario belt including the
Pizarras del Norte unit); and (b) west Guaniguanico
Mountains: Tithonian oceanic rift volcanics
overlain by shallow- to deep-water Lower Creta-
ceous carbonates and continental derived clastics
overlain by deep-water cherts and clastics (La
Esperanza belt)
4) Lower and Upper Cretaceous bank carbonates
(Guajaibon – Sierra Azul belt)
Whatever the direction of movement of the dif-
ferent structural units or scales, it is important to
arrive at some sort of estimate of the width of basin
involved. The northern and southern Rosario belts
have been subdivided into 17 rather extensive struc-
tural units, the Mogotes area has been subdivided
into at least 9, and the Alturas de las Pizarras del Sur
area has been subdivided into 3 in addition to the La
Esperanza and the Cacarajı́cara belt; this is a mini-
mum of 31 tectonic units. Assuming that, prior to the
thrusting, folding, and stacking, each unit was as
wide as half the width of the Sierra de Guaniguanico
(an average of 12 km [7.5 mi]), a total width of ap-
proximately 375 km (233 mi) is indicated. This extrap-
olative guess gives an order of magnitude of the area
involved. As a comparison, the total carbonate basin in
central Cuba was estimated at a minimum of 225 km
(139 mi). Again, it is worth mentioning that one could
be dealing with much larger areas because most of the
sediments involved consist of pelagic, oceanic-type de-
posits, and there is much less evidence of compression
than in central Cuba.
The present thinking is that despite structural com-
plications, all major movements were from south to
north. If one attempts to restore these scales back to
their predeformation position, that is, the higher sheets
south of the lower ones, one can obtain a sequence not
unlike the one of central Cuba, where the shallow-
water Jurassic carbonates are to the north (Las Villas*
belt) and the deep-water limestones and cherts are to
the south (Cifuentes* belt). The major difference is
the presence in western Cuba of a thick Jurassic clastic
basin between these two extremes. The presence of
oceanic tholeiites of uppermost Jurassic age sug-
gests that, as in central Cuba, rifting was respon-
sible for the basin configuration. The relationship of
the Guajaibon –Sierra Azul belt to this basin still has
184 / Pardo
FIGURE 104. Isla de la Juventud:
metamorphics.
to be resolved, as well as the possibility of southward-
directed faults in the Rosario belt. However, the stron-
gest argument for northward-directed movement is
the fact that, except in the uppermost Cretaceous,
Paleocene, and Eocene, the Guaniguanico section does
not contain any appreciable amount of volcanic-
derived clastics. Furthermore, whatever volcanics
occur, they are found in the southernmost belts (after
restoration), Cangre and La Esperanza. This is evi-
dence that the Bahia Honda igneous and volcanics
were carried to their present position from south of
the Guaniguanico terrane.
Metamorphics
Under this heading will be grouped rocks that
show great similarity to those outcropping in the
Guaniguanico Mountains, but exhibit various de-
grees of metamorphism.
Pinar Fault Area
The sediments outcropping along the southern
edge of the Guaniguanico Mountains, on the northern
side of the Pinar fault, although showing some meta-
morphism, have been described under the Guaniguanico
Mountains. They form the Cangre belt.
Isla de la Juventud
The metamorphic province forms the core of the
outcrops in the Isla de la Juventud (see Figure 104).
In a quick reconnaissance of the island, Truitt (1956a,
b) pointed out the similarity between its metamorphic
section and the unmetamorphosed rocks of Pinar del
Rio. This part of the study will be mostly based on the
work of Millán (1981, 1992), who, with Somin (Millán
and Somin [1975; 1976; 1981; 1985a, b]), has studied
the Cuban metamorphics for more than 30 yr. The
1988 geologic map (Pushcharovsky et al., 1988) is also
based on his work.
The internal structure of the Isla de la Juventud is
somewhat less complex than that of the Escambray
Mountains. The main feature is a large dome in the
southwest area of the exposures, which has been sub-
divided into six structural units.
These units are interpreted as folded and faulted
major fault blocks. They are
1) Rio de los Indios antiform
2) Guayabo antiform
3) San Juan synform
4) Nueva Gerona area
5) Caballos tectonic wedge
6) Sierra de las Casas nappe

The massif has also been subdivided into five meta-
morphic zones where, generally speaking, zone I,
the lowest grade, is in the center of the Rio de los Indios
antiform, and zone V, the highest grade, occupies a
small area, in the north of the massif near the Creta-
ceous volcanic Sabana Grande zone (Teneme Forma-
tion). Generally speaking, the metamorphic grade in-
creases from zone I in the lowest stratigraphic unit to
zone V in the uppermost part of the section, giving
(as in the Escambray massif) the impression of inverse
metamorphism. Here, however, the correlation be-
tween metamorphic grade and structural unit, or
thrust sheet, is not as well defined as in Escambray. The
metamorphism is described as moderate pressure–high
temperature. The zones are characterized as follows:
Zone I. It is the lowest metamorphic grade and is
found at the base of the section in the Rio de los
Indios antiform. The shales show the follow-
ing assemblages: quartz-muscovite-biotite, quartz-
muscovite-biotite-chlorite, quartz-muscovite-
chlorite, and quartz-muscovite. It appears to grade
into zone II, but is in fault contact with zones III
and IV.
Zone II. It shows complete recrystallization. The
sedimentary schists contain the following as-
semblages: garnet-biotite-muscovite, kyanite-
biotite-muscovite, staurolite-biotite-muscovite,
staurolite-muscovite, garnet-muscovite, staurolite-
biotite-chlorite-muscovite, and zoisite-biotite-
muscovite. The calcareous-silicate rocks contain
some diopside and potassium feldspars. These oc-
currences show the beginning of the amphibolitic
phase. It grades into zone I, but is in fault con-
tact with zones III and VI.
Zone III. The sedimentary schists contain the fol-
lowing assemblages: kyanite-staurolite-muscovite,
kyanite-staurolite-biotite-muscovite, kyanite-
staurolite-andalusite-muscovite, kyanite-muscovite,
and garnet-muscovite. The kyanite and staurolite
are abundant, and the crystals can become very
large. The contacts with zones II and IV are tectonic.
Zone IV. The sedimentary schists contain assem-
blages that represent all the combinations of
garnet, kyanite, staurolite, muscovite, biotite, sil-
limanite, and andalusite. Oligoclase and andesine
are commonly present and can be as much as
10% of the rock. The calc-silicate rocks and some
marbles contain diopside (commonly partially re-
placed by tremolite or actinolite). The calc-silicate
rocks also contain basic plagioclase, calcite, scapo-
lite, zoisite, epidote, hornblende, phlogopite, and
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 185
potassic feldspar. The contacts with zones I, II,
and III are tectonic and gradational into zone V.
Zone V. This zone is transitional with and ap-
pears included within zone IV. It consists mostly
of gneisses. It shows intense migmatization and
granitization shown by bands of gneiss inter-
bedded with bands of granite; commonly, these
are intensely contorted. The mineral association
quartz-andesine-hornblende-biotite is present.
The stratigraphic section of Figure 105 shows the
stratigraphic units as well as the metamorphic zone
to which they belong. It should be mentioned that
in most cases, the given thicknesses are estimates.
Cañada Formation. — It consists of at least
1650 ft (500 m) of quartz-muscovite and quartz-
plagioclase-muscovite, graphitic, fine-grained schists
interbedded with similar coarser grained schists. The
fine-grained schists are dark gray to black when fresh
because of the disseminated graphite; they are pink,
reddish, or reddish brown when weathered. The
coarser quartz schists are light gray to light greenish
gray; they have a whitish color when weathered. Rare
occasional outcrops of a dark-gray, fine- to medium-
grained marble are present.
This formation, which makes up 40% of the meta-
morphic massif outcrops, comprises most of meta-
morphic zone I and zone II in structural unit 1. How-
ever, it is found in metamorphic zone III in the core of
unit 2.
This formation is believed to be equivalent to the
Lower to Middle Jurassic San Cayetano Formation of
Pinar del Rio.
Agua Santa Formation. —The Agua Santa Forma-
tion consists of at least 3000 ft (1000 m) of inter-
bedded fine-grained, graphitic schists and occasional
to common marbles that can reach several meters in
thickness. Locally, quartz-muscovite schists are inter-
bedded with quartzites. The schists are greenish gray,
dark gray, or black when fresh and weather reddish
to reddish brown. The marbles are gray or black, fine
to medium grained, commonly graphitic and schis-
tose, and at times banded. Small amounts of gray or
white, sugary dolomitic marble and calcareous quartz-
muscovite-graphite schist are present.
The Agua Santa Formation, which makes up 50%
of the metamorphic massif outcrops, comprises most
of metamorphic zone II in structural unit 1. It forms
zone III and zone IV in the other structural units.
This Agua Santa Formation is believed to be equiv-
alent to the Middle to Upper Jurassic part of the San
Cayetano Formation of Pinar del Rio.
186 / Pardo
FIGURE 105. Stratigraphic section:
metamorphic province Isla de la
Juventud (Isle de la Juventud).
Isla de la Juventud marbles.—This informal group
of lithologies consists of several types of marbles
that form only 5% of the metamorphic massif out-
crops. They are generally found in the troughs of the
synforms. They are believed to be interbedded with,
or lie above, the upper part of the Agua Santa
Formation. Their relative stratigraphic position is
not entirely clear. The aggregate thickness is be-
lieved to be on the order of 1500 ft (450 m), although
they might not constitute a continuous stratigraphic
succession.
Playa Bibijagua marble. — It consists of a black,
graphitic, fossiliferous marble with interbeds of sug-
ary dark-gray dolomite. This unit is only a few meters
thick and is in stratigraphic contact with the Agua
Santa Formation. The black marbles contain a pos-
sible Jurassic microfauna and cephalopods, possibly
nautiloidea.
Asiento Viejo marbles.—They consist of less than
100 ft (30 m) of a flaggy, banded, sometimes graphit-
ic, marble with thin beds of metamorphosed cherts
(quartzite), garnet amphibolite, and calc-silicate

schists. It is in stratigraphic contact with the Agua
Santa Formation.
Colombo marbles. —They consist of more than
300 ft (100 m) of fetid gray marbles with interbedded
sugary, dark-gray, tremolitic marbles. In places, thin
beds of metamorphosed cherts (quartzite) and marbles
derived from an intraformational breccia are present.
This rock unit is in stratigraphic contact with the Playa
Bibijagua marble and the Sierra Chiquita marbles.
Sierra Chiquita marble. —It consists of more than
150 ft (50 m) of light-colored, commonly banded
and sugary, dolomitic marbles that contain thin beds
of metamorphosed chert. These are interbedded with
gray, fetid, medium- to coarse-grained, gray marbles.
These marbles are found only in the tectonic unit 5,
where they are in stratigraphic contact with the Co-
lombo marbles and the Sierra de Caballos marbles.
Sierra de Caballos marbles. — They consist of at
least 300 ft (100 m) of bluish gray, fetid marbles
with thin beds of metamorphosed chert. In places,
layers of garnet amphibolite, a calc-silicate rock and
sugary gray dolomites. It is in stratigraphic contact
with the Sierra Chiquita marble.
Las Casas marble. —It consists of nearly 300 ft
(100 m) of light-gray, very coarse-grained, fetid, mas-
sive, homogeneous, sometimes banded marbles.
Commonly, they contain millimeter-thin laminae
of a black, sugary, graphitic dolomite. In places, inter-
beddings of dark-gray, medium-grained marble and a
white to light-gray, fine- to medium-grained marble
are present. These rocks constitute the tectonic unit 6
(Sierra de las Casas nappe).
La Reforma Calc-Siliceous rock. — This consists
of ±100 ft (±30 m) of a commonly banded quartz
and calcite rock containing abundant diopside and
basic plagioclase. Generally, it contains layers of
centimeter-thick, light-gray marble forming boudins.
Daguilla amphibolite. —This consists of groups
of strata, several centimeters to several meters thick,
of hornblende (occasionally with remains of clino-
pyroxene), intermediate plagioclase, and garnet am-
phibolite. It is interbedded with a calc-silicate schist
rich in diopside and basic plagioclase of sedimentary
origin. This amphibolite appears to be interbedded
with the Agua Santa Formation; the original rock could
have been a basic tuff, basalt, or diabase, although a
sedimentary origin is not completely discarded.
Isla de la Juventud Section Discussion
The section exposed in the Isla de la Juventud
shows a terrigenous section with interbedded carbon-
ates that become more numerous and thicker to-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 187
ward the upper part of the section. It is considered to
be entirely of Jurassic age and equivalent to the San
Cayetano and possibly Jagua and lower Viñales. In-
terbedded with the carbonates and terrigenous sed-
iments, presumably toward the upper part of the
section, are some amphibolites that could be equiv-
alent to the Oxfordian El Sabalo or the volcanics in
the Cangre belt. It must be noted that most of the
marbles are dark, graphitic, and with a sulfurous odor,
suggesting deeper water original carbonates.
The age of the metamorphism is considered syn-
chronous with the deformation. This is supported by
K-Ar age dating, giving ages ranging from 49.3 ± 3.8 to
78 ± 4.0 m.y. with a median value of 66.0 Ma or early
Paleocene (Iturralde-Vinent et al., 1996). Millán (1981)
recognizes four or five superimposed stages of defor-
mation. As already mentioned, the metamorphism
is distinctively zoned with four mesozones and one
catazone. It appears inverse in relation to the section
and the structures (less metamorphism in the older sedi-
ments in the cores of anticlines and more metamorphism
in the younger sediments in the troughs of synclines).
The zonation appears to be transitional and not re-
lated to individual thrust sheets as in the Escambray
massif (perhaps it is, but the Isla de la Juventud has
not been as intensively mapped and studied as the
Escambray massif). The metamorphism is of high tem-
perature and relatively low pressure compared to the
high pressure and low temperature for Escambray.
Inverse regional metamorphism is a phenomenon
difficult to understand. The original explanation by
Millán and Somin (1976) for the Cuban apparent re-
versal of metamorphism was that the hot slab of
basic igneous and volcanics was thrusted over the
Escambray and Isla de la Juventud massifs with a greater
accompanying metamorphism of the upper layers of
the section than that of the lower layers.
If all the regional metamorphism was related to the
activity of the arc and, therefore, to the Manicaragua
granitoid (Cenomanian–Maastrichtian?), it must pre-
cede the overthrusting of the Domingo*-Cabaiguan*
sequences (Maastrichtian?–middle Eocene); this is not
the case.
In light of available data, the thrusting hypothesis
is the most likely. The predeformation width of the
Isla de la Juventud is highly uncertain, but because
40 km (25 mi) are exposed, it must represent a mini-
mum of 80 km (50 mi).
Escambray Massif
This province in the Escambray massif consists of
two outcropping domal uplifts near the southern
188 / Pardo
FIGURE 106. Escambray massif.
coast of Cuba: the Sierra de Trinidad to the west
and the Alturas de Sancti Spiritus to the east (see
Figure 106).
No similar rocks have been reported from the
Camaguey Province. Gulf conducted only short re-
connaissance trips to this area, so the following dis-
cussion is mostly based on the excellent work of
Millán and Somin (1975, 1976, 1981, 1985a), Somin
and Millán (1977, 1981), Millán and Myczynsky (1979),
and Millán-Trujillo (1990). The 1988 geologic map
(Pushcharovsky et al., 1988) is also based on their work.
The Escambray massif is, in large part, made up of
generally low-grade metamorphics that have been
fairly well dated and correlated with the unmeta-
morphosed Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous sec-
tion of Pinar del Rio.
The internal structure of these two domes is very
complex with steep, radially directed dips. The Trin-
idad and the Sancti Spiritus domes have been sub-
divided into six structural units each or eight different
units between the two domes (see Figure 106). These
units are interpreted as folded and faulted superim-
posed thrust sheets.
Each dome has also been subdivided into distinct
packets of thrust sheets called units. In general, unit 1
is found at the highest level of each dome, in contact
with the Mabujina amphibolite. Units 4 –6 are found
in the core of the domes. Each unit has a character-
istic degree of metamorphism, generally decreasing
from unit 1 to units 4– 6. It is described as high pres-
sure and low temperature.
The metamorphism of units 4– 6 shows little re-
crystallization and much preservation of the orig-
inal texture. The shales show preservation of the
original sedimentary structures with little or no schis-
tosity. The volcanics show an assemblage of chlorite,
clinozoisite-epidote, actinolite, and white mica. Quartz-
ites can have white mica, clinozoisite, garnet, and
magnetite. The marbles contain tremolite and white
mica. Units 2 and 3 show complete recrystallization.

FIGURE 107. Correlation chart, central and eastern Cuba metamorphics.
The sedimentary schists have white mica and occa-
sionally chlorite, and some show remnants of the
original structures, exhibiting the same minerals found
in zone I, plus lawsonite. The quartzites contain the
same minerals as zone I, but with a greater variety of
garnet. In unit 1, the sedimentary schists, chlorite
has disappeared, and albite can be abundant. Quartz-
albite-white mica schists are common. Some crystal-
line schists contain garnet, glaucophane, diopside,
hornblende clinozoisite, epidote, zoisite, and lawsonite.
In the metabasic rocks, hornblende is present instead of
actinolite and so are glaucophane, garnet, clinozoisite-
epidote, white mica, diopside, zoisite, and lawsonite.
Quartzites can contain garnet, magnetite, glaucophane,
riebeckite, hornblende, zoisite, clinopyroxenes, and di-
opside. White mica is always present. In marbles, zoisite
is occasionally present.
Figure 107 is a correlation chart of the named
formations, and Figure 108 shows, from the center
of the domes (units 4 – 6) toward the rim, the order
of the structural units and the names of the units. In
general, units 3, 4, and 6 are the internal units, where-
as units 1 and 2 are the external ones. It should be
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 189
mentioned that in most cases, thicknesses are impos-
sible to determine; however, they are occasionally
estimated.
Unit 1
Herradura Formation. —It consists exclusively of
quartz and quartz muscovite schists commonly with
abundant graphite. It is in stratigraphic contact with
the Boqueron Formation. It is characteristic of unit 1
on the northern margin of both domes. However, the
degree of metamorphism is less than in unit 2, which is
nearer the core of the domes.
Boquerones Formation. — It is characterized by a
sequence of calcareous schists (with white mica and
graphite) and black to dark-gray, very foliated mar-
bles. In places, cherts and greenschists are present. It
is very similar to the Cobrito Formation.
Unit 2
Yayabo Formation. — The Yayabo Formation
consists of a sequence of amphibolites made of
hornblende, acid plagioclase, white mica, clinozois-
ite, and garnet. It contains beds of metaquartzite with
190 / Pardo
FIGURE 108. Stratigraphy: Escambray massif.
muscovite and garnet. The Yayabo is considered
Jurassic in age. This unit is shown in Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988). These amphibolites appear to be
independent of all other units within the massif. In
their association with other rocks, they are dif-
ferent, both petrographically and chemically, from
the Mabujina amphibolite. Unlike the Mabujina,
the Yayabo does not appear to be a remnant of
basement.
Loma La Gloria Formation. — It consists of a se-
quence of quartz schists, quartz-muscovite schists, and
muscovite schists, commonly with abundant graph-
ite. Calcareous schists are common, and sometimes,
intercalations of garnet-eclogite with glaucophane

and garnet amphibolite are present. This formation
occurs in unit 2, which is peripheral to both domes. It
is shown in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988).
Included in this formation are bodies of multi-
mineralic crystalline schists, commonly calcareous,
that are named ‘‘Algarrobo crystalline schists.’’ K-Ar
dating from four samples of white mica yielded ages
from 71 to 82 m.y. (Campanian–lower Maastrichtian).
Cobrito Formation. — It consists of a succession of
calcareous schists and schistose marbles with a fine,
rhythmic stratification. Compositionally, calcite dom-
inates, with subordinated white mica, graphite, quartz,
and variable quantities of albite. Occasionally, chlo-
rite, clinozoisite, and lawsonite are present. Com-
monly included in the schists are small boudins, less
affected by the metamorphism, of black dolomitic
and crystalline limestone, with radiolaria (Spumellaria
spp. and Nassellaria? spp.) and other organic remains.
Some of the fossils have been tentatively identified as
the Upper Jurassic–Neocomian Globochaetes alpina
and Cadosina sp. Poorly preserved remains also exist,
suggesting Calpionella or Chitinoidella. Breccias with
black graphitic marble components are common.
This formation is in possible stratigraphic contact
with the underlying Loma la Gloria Formation and
could be, at least in part, equivalent to part of the San
Juan Group. This sequence is characteristic of unit 2
in both domes. This unit is shown in Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988).
Unit 3
Collantes Formation. — The Collantes Formation
consists of a sequence of well-bedded black marble,
with abundant graphite. Schistosity is well developed,
and generally, the marbles are nonfetid and non-
bituminous. Chert is absent. The thickness is esti-
mated at tens of meters. It belongs to zone II and
unit 2 in the Trinidad dome. In Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988), this unit is included in the Yaguanabo forma-
tion. Its stratigraphic relationships are not well known,
but it conformably underlies the Loma Quivican and
Charco Azul formations.
The age is estimated as Upper Jurassic – Lower
Cretaceous.
Loma Quivican Formation.—The Loma Quivican
Formation consists of estimated tens of meters of
light-colored (whitish, grayish, greenish, pink, and
violet), fine-grained, crystalline limestones. They
show good foliation, with thin laminae of white
mica and thin chert beds. In addition, they contain
intercalations of greenschists (tuffaceous?), sometimes
calcareous, and intraformational breccias up to 13 ft
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 191
(4 m) thick. Most of the contacts are tectonic; how-
ever, it conformably overlies the Collantes and un-
derlies the Charco Azul and La Sabina formations. In
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), this unit is included in
the Yaguanabo formation.
In contrast with the limestones of the San Juan
Group, this formation appears to have been depos-
ited in an open, pelagic, marine environment. The
age is considered Lower Cretaceous, possibly extending
into the early Upper Cretaceous. It belongs to unit 3 in
the Trinidad dome.
Charco Azul Formation.—The Charco Azul Forma-
tion consists of metaquartzites, muscovite-chlorite
and muscovite-quartz schists, light-colored calcare-
ous rocks, and to a minor degree, metamorphosed
sandstones with albite and chlorite and green meta-
volcanic schists. This unit belongs to unit 3 in the
Trinidad dome. In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), this
unit is included in the Yaguanabo formation.
This unit comformably overlies the Collantes For-
mation and is the lateral equivalent of the Loma
Quivican Formation. The Yunaguabo Formation over-
lies this unit with apparent conformity. Near the con-
tact of this formation, a Tithonian–Lower Cretaceous
microfauna has been recognized in marbles.
Yaguanabo Formation. — It consists of metavol-
canic greenschists, interbedded with gray marbles
and minor amounts of quartzites and siliceous mica
schists. It conformably overlies the Charco Azul For-
mation. It is believed to be of Cretaceous age, but
whole rock chemical analyses argue against being a
metamorphosed equivalent of the Cabaiguan belt;
the TiO2 content is much higher than in similar
rocks of the Cabaiguan* sequence. This formation
occurs in unit 3 of the Trinidad dome.
This unit is shown in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988),
but it also includes Loma Quivican, La Sabina, Charco
Azul, and the Tambor formations.
La Sabina Formation. —The La Sabina Formation
consists of well-bedded quartzites, occasionally stained
with manganese, interbedded with quartz mica
schists. Occasional marbles occur. This unit belongs to
unit 3 in the Trinidad dome. In Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988), this unit is included in the Yaguanabo for-
mation. It overlies the Loma Quivican Formation and
appears to be the metamorphosed equivalent of the
Santa Teresa Formation. Therefore, it is considered
Cretaceous.
El Tambor Formation. — The El Tambor Forma-
tion is described as a metamorphosed alpine-type
flysch. It consists of well-bedded, rhythmic, some-
times calcareous, fine-grained chlorite schists to
192 / Pardo
greenschists that include coarse-grained metamor-
phosed sandstones. Numerous interbeds of light-
colored marbles and a few beds of metaquartzite
occur. This formation seems to contain olistoliths of
older formations. It is assigned to the Upper Creta-
ceous and is believed to overlie the Yaguanabo For-
mation, but apparently, the contact has not been
observed. This unit occurs in unit 3 of the Trinidad
dome. In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), this unit is
included in the Yaguanabo formation.
Note that the metamorphism of the flysch and
olistostromes indicates strong tectonic activity si-
multaneously with, or prior to, the thermal activity
of the arc. It means that some tectonic activity was
early Maastrichtian or older.
Units 4–6
Naranjo Group. —The name Naranjo has been
used to describe all the metamorphics of a terrige-
nous origin that form the lower part of the section
in the Escambray massif. The Naranjo Group was
named the ‘‘series of crystalline schists’’ by Thiadens
(1937), the ‘‘crystalline schists of the Trinidad series’’
by Hatten et al. (1958), the ‘‘Trinidad Formation’’ by
Khudoley and Meyerhoff (1971), and the ‘‘Naranjo
Group’’ by Millán and Myczynski (1979). In 1981,
Millán and Somin described it as a formation. In
1985a, b, Millán and Somin assigned new forma-
tion names to the different parts of this unit. In view
of the fact that the Naranjo Formation name appears
in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), whereas some of the
new units do not, it will be treated as a ‘‘group.’’ It
includes the following formations.
La Llamagua Formation. —It consists of an inter-
bedding of quartz-arenites and lustrous phyllites. This
unit stratigraphically underlies the basal, middle Ox-
fordian marbles of the San Juan Group and is consid-
ered equivalent to the Jurassic San Cayetano Formation
of Pinar del Rio. It outcrops in the Trinidad dome.
La Chispa Formation. — It consists of a sequence of
mica schists (quartz muscovite or muscovite schists
at times rich in graphite) of terrigenous origin,
interbedded with quartzites, micaceous siliceous
schists, metavolcanic greenschists with lawsonite,
marbles, and calcareous schists. The greenschists with
lawsonite and black marbles are named the Felicidad
greenschists and are considered Lower–Upper Jurassic
or Oxfordian. It is shown in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988)
in the Trinidad dome, but in the Sancti Spiritus dome,
it is included in a Jibacoa Group.
San Juan Group.— It consists of ±1000(?) ft (±300?
m) of well-bedded, black to dark bluish gray marbles
and calcareous schists. They are commonly graphitic
and have a fetid odor. They form 40 – 45% of the
outcrops of the metamorphic province. This group
was named the ‘‘series of crystalline schists’’ by
Thiadens (1937a, b) and ‘‘San Juan marbles’’ by Hatten
et al. (1958). The group is shown in Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988), but not the individual formations. The
formations of the San Juan Group appear to have all
been deposited under restricted, anoxic conditions, as
indicated by the dark color, abundant graphite, and
common hydrogen sulfide odor. Under the proper
conditions, they could have served as petroleum source
rocks prior to the Late Cretaceous metamorphism.
Narciso Formation. —It consists of 130 ft (40 m) of
beige and light- to dark-gray, finely crystalline lime-
stones containing much detrital quartz. Many un-
identifiable fossil remains occur. It outcrops in the
Trinidad dome.
The ammonites Perisphinctes and Microsphinctes
have been identified, giving a late middle Oxfordian
age. The Sauco Formation conformably overlies the
Narciso.
This unit is thought to correlate with the Jagua
and Francisco formations in Pinar del Rio.
Sauco Formation. — It consists of medium-bedded,
fine- to medium grained, dark bluish gray to almost
black crystalline limestones. They are very fetid and
at times show a high concentration of graphite. The
Sauco outcrops in the Trinidad dome.
It is barren of organisms, but is assigned an upper
Oxfordian –lower Tithonian age.
Mayari Formation. —It consists of 300(?) ft (100? m)
of gray, bluish gray to black, graphitic, crystalline lime-
stones, always bituminous and fetid. They are com-
monly well stratified and thin-bedded and are inter-
calated with thin beds or nodules of chert. It outcrops
mostly in both domes. Based on ammonites of the
Perisphinctidae family, the age is considered Titho-
nian, but it could be extended into the Neocomian. It
is considered equivalent to the Guasasa and Artemisa
formations of Pinar del Rio and the Caguaguas* For-
mation of Las Villas* belt. In the Sancti Spiritus dome,
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) include it in the Jibacoa
Group.
Escambray Massif Section Discussion
The Escambray massif consists of the superposi-
tion of a minimum of six sedimentary thrust sheets
(nappes) of Jurassic and Cretaceous age. This super-
position shows that rocks of different facies and
increasing metamorphic grade, but of equivalent
age, have been stacked on each other. In addition, a

sheet of amphibolite, the Yayabo Formation, is be-
lieved to be significantly different from the Mabujina
amphibolite.
As has been already mentioned, the Escambray sec-
tions show greater similarities to the unmetamor-
phosed Guaniguanico sections than to the central
Cuba carbonate belts. This has been reported by
many authors such as Somin and Millán (1981),
Pszczólkowski (1987, 1999), and Iturralde-Vinent
(1996). Such similarity has led these authors to pos-
tulate an early rift between the Yucatan and South
America, predating the central Cuba basin succession.
The development history of the massif is complex
and will benefit from additional work on dating the
original rocks, the stages of deformation, and the meta-
morphism. Several radiometric dates by the K-Ar
technique (Iturralde-Vinent et al.,1996) give ages for
the high-pressure metamorphism ranging from 43 to
85 m.y. or Maastrichtian. The median value is 66 m.y.
or Paleocene. Stanek et al. (2006) consider the end of
the subduction at approximately 70 Ma, followed by
northward thrusting.
It must be pointed out that the southeasternmost
outcrops of thrust sheets in the Guaniguanico Moun-
tains, the Cangre belt, contain volcanics and show
inverse metamorphism of Paleocene to middle Eo-
cene sediments (Guasasa, Ancón, and Pica-Pica for-
mations), predating the thrusting.
Despite a general correspondence between the struc-
tural units and the metamorphic zonation, definite
evidence exists that some thrusting occurred prior to
the metamorphism, whereas more thrusting occurred
afterward. For instance, in the Sancti Spiritus dome,
it appears that the La Chispa Formation of units 4 –
6 rode over the Cobrito Formation of unit 2, with a
very low angle, and both were later folded and meta-
morphosed. This is supported by the fact that the
metamorphosed El Tambor Formation, of probable
Upper Cretaceous age, is described as an alpine flysch
with olistostromes. Because the age of the thermal
metamorphism is not later than Maastrichtian and
can be as early as the Albian, the thrusting must have
occurred in the pre-Maastrichtian and even Early Cre-
taceous, simultaneously with the deposition of the
Cabaiguan* sequence and, therefore, much earlier than
the deformation of the volcanic and carbonate belts
to the north. The Cretaceous Yaguanabo Formation
also significantly contains volcanics.
The Escambray massif is 29 km (18 mi) at its widest
point. Considering the complex folding and the gen-
eral high dips, 20–708, this could conservatively rep-
resent a 50-km (31-mi) distance before folding. If
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 193
the metamorphosed sediments are stacked in seven
thrust sheets, the distance between the most autoch-
thonous at the base and the most allochthonous at
the top could be on the order of 300 km (186 mi) or
more.
The lowermost plate, units 4– 6, with the lowest
metamorphic grade, consists of dominantly quartz
sandstones of Middle to Upper Jurassic age, overlain
by dark organic limestones of Oxfordian to Lower
Cretaceous age that suggest restricted, anoxic, con-
ditions. The uppermost plate, unit 1, with the highest
metamorphic grade, shows an age-equivalent sec-
tion consisting entirely of quartz-muscovite schists
with graphite, suggesting a much more argillaceous
original sediment. This section is overlain by light-
colored calcareous schists and marbles, with a fine
rhythmic stratification, which contain radiolaria and
other organic remains. This upper plate, with the
highest metamorphic grade, was therefore originally
farther away from a source of sediment, possibly
by some 200 km (124 mi), and seems to have had
more open-marine conditions in the Late Jurassic–
Early Cretaceous; it was also closest to the source of
metamorphism.
It is impossible from the published data to draw
much of a trend for the Cretaceous. There appear to
be two distinct groups of facies: (1) a carbonate-chert
overlain by clastics and (2) a clastic overlain by vol-
canics and occasional carbonates. Both groups of fa-
cies overlie the Upper Jurassic Collantes open-water
carbonates and grade transitionally into each other.
It is not clear if these volcanics are related to the
Cabaiguan* sequence; based on the TiO2 content,
Millán and Somin (1985b) consider them of a differ-
ent origin. At any rate, these volcanics are believed to
be related to the metamorphism, which would place
them in a direction opposite to the less metamor-
phosed quartz sandy section and, consequently, away
from the source of sediments.
Although it has been generally assumed that the
direction of thrusting was from south to north, this
direction of movement is uncertain; Millán and
Somin (1985b) and Iturralde-Vinent (1996) recog-
nize this possibility. Therefore, the direction of the
source of the clastics that accumulated during the
Jurassic is unknown. It might be significant that unit
1 is present only along the northern rim of the domes
and is less metamorphosed than unit 2 that under-
lies it. The possibility exists that there were two sets
of movements along the thrusts; for instance, an early
south-to-north movement before metamorphism,
followed by a late north-to-south one. The above data
194 / Pardo
FIGURE 109. Eastern Cuba, metamorphic southwestern terrane.
could also be further evidence that the metamorphism
of the Escambray massif was caused by a different
phenomenon than the one that was responsible for
the emplacement of the Manicaragua granodiorite.
Asuncion Area: Eastern Cuba
It is a relatively small area 10  12 km (6  7 mi)
near the town of Asuncion (see Figure 109) and in
fault contact to the west with the metamorphics of
the Purial massif. The stratigraphic thicknesses have
not been measured, and those shown in Figure 110
are for illustration purposes only. This area was also
studied by Millán and Somin (1981, 1985b)
Chafarina Formation. —The Chafarina Forma-
tion consists of schistose calcitic and sometimes do-
lomitic marbles. In the east, the marbles are dark,
micaceous, banded, commonly graphitic, and some-
times bituminous and grade transitionally into cal-
careous schists. Toward the west, the marbles are
gray, cream, and pinkish, interbedded with dark-gray
marbles. Dark-gray to black cherts are present and
sometimes abundant. These beds are intensely de-
formed in isoclinal folds, making the measurement
of thickness impossible; however, this might reach
several hundreds of meters. In some dark-gray mar-
bles, near the contact with the Sierra Verde Formation,
are remnants of a dark-gray limestone with Ophtal-
midium sp., Spirillina sp., Chitinoidella(?) sp., and
miliolids, suggesting an Upper Jurassic age possibly
extending into the Lower Cretaceous.
Sierra Verde Formation. —The Sierra Verde For-
mation consists mostly of phyllites and metamor-
phosed shales, with beds of crystalline limestone,
metavolcanics, and metamorphosed cherts.
The phyllites constitute 80% of the section and
are black when fresh, graphitic, schistose, and finely
banded. They weather to pinkish, violet, creamy,
and greenish and occur in groups 600–1000 ft (200–
300 m) in apparent thickness. They contain sericite,
graphite, quartz, chlorite, albite, and commonly,
lawsonite. The quartz grains maintain their original
sedimentary shape, and abundant detrital zircon
exists.
Isolated beds, or groups of beds, up to 65 ft (20 m)
in thickness of a green to grayish green, fine- to
medium-grained, sometimes banded rock with an
imperfect schistosity exist. It contains albite, chlorite,
actinolite, epidote, and sphene. Glaucophane and
white micas are also present but in lesser quanti-
ties. This rock appears to be metamorphosed basic
volcanics.
One body of amygdular basalt, with altered pla-
gioclase phenocrysts, was also observed.
Regular interbeds of gray, schistose, laminated crys-
talline limestones up to 10 ft (3 m) thick exist, which

occasionally contains small remnants of a uncrystal-
lized cream limestone in which microfossils have been
found. The fauna consists of Calpionella sp., Nanno-
conus sp., and undetermined globigerinidae (Ticinella?
sp. and Hedbergella? sp.), suggesting a Neocomian age,
possibly extending into the Tithonian.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 195
FIGURE 110. Stratigraphic sec-
tion: Asuncion metamorphics,
eastern Cuba – southeastern
Oriente.
Common interbeds of metamorphosed cherts and
an argillaceous, lustrous (sericitic), meta-silicate schist
showing abundant remains of radiolaria also exist.
This unit is in fault contact with the metamor-
phic Güira de Jauco Formation to the west. The na-
ture of the contact with the Chafarina Formation has
196 / Pardo
not been described, but it is assumed that the Sierra
Verde overlies it.
According to Millán and Somin (1985a), the Sierra
Verde Formation is similar to (with less sandstone)
and possibly of the same age as the La Esperanza (and
possibly the Santa Teresa) Formation of northern
Pinar del Rio, but not the San Cayetano Formation as
previously supposed (Somin and Millán, 1981). It al-
so strongly suggests the Cifuentes* belt of central Cuba.
Asuncion Area Discussion
The metamorphics of Asuncion show a possi-
ble slightly metamorphosed equivalent of the La
Esperanza belt in Pinar del Rio and not the Jurassic
clastic sequence that is present in other metamor-
phic massifs. This is very significant because it in-
dicates the extent of the La Esperanza sandy facies,
and it is also suggestive of the outcrops of the un-
metamorphosed Neocomian Ronda* Formation along
the Tuinicu fault separating the Manicaragua belt from
the Cabaiguan* sequence north of the Escambray massif
in central Cuba.
The relation between the metavolcanics of the
Purial and the Asuncion metamorphics is tectonic
and further confused by the presence of ultrabasics.
However, the band of ultrabasics separating the meta-
morphosed Cabaiguan* sequence from the Güira de
Jauco amphibolites is believed to be part of the major
ultrabasic Mayari-Baracoa thrust sheet that formerly
covered the Purial massif and was wedged along the
faults that separate the Purial from the Asuncion area.
It is no coincidence that in central and western Cuba,
amphibolites (Mabujina, Daguilla) are also found in
contact with metamorphosed sediments, suggesting
that the Asuncion area was originally part of a win-
dow of metamorphosed sediments showing through
the thrust sheet of amphibolite basement under the
Purial metavolcanics.
BASIC IGNEOUS-VOLCANIC TERRANE
This province is a belt in the Pardo (1954) sense.
It includes a wide variety of igneous rocks, metamor-
phic rocks, volcanic rocks, igneous- and volcanic-derived
sediments, and some carbonates. Originally, Pardo
(1954, 1975) subdivided it into the Domingo* basic
igneous and the Cabaiguan* volcanic belts. In this
study, it will be subdivided into the Domingo* and
Cabaiguan* sequences. The Domingo* sequence
(formerly Pardo’s Domingo* belt and part of Hat-
ten’s Manicaragua unit) is generally to the north and
south of the volcanic terrane and consists mainly of
basic to ultrabasic igneous rocks; the Cabaiguan* se-
quence (formerly Pardo’s Cabaiguan* belt and part of
Hatten’s Manicaragua unit), generally in the center of
the province, consists of mostly unmetamorphosed
basic to arc volcanics and associated sediments and
includes an Upper Cretaceous intrusive granodiorite
body.
The name Zaza is widely used in the present lit-
erature to describe the area where these types of rocks
occur, but unfortunately, it has suffered the same
nomenclatural confusion as the other belts. The Zaza
tectounit was used by Hatten et al. (1958) for much of
the rocks included in the basic igneous-volcanic
terrane. However, the igneous rocks outcropping north
of the Placetas* and Cifuentes* belts were, in large
part, considered by them to be the basement of the
Las Villas tectounit, whereas they were included in
the Domingo* belt by Pardo (1954). Furthermore, the
Zaza unit did not include the Manicaragua unit. This
terrane was named (1) the Santa Clara zone by Ducloz
and Vaugnat (1962), (2) the Zaza zone by Khudoley
(1967), (3) the Santa Clara zone by Meyerhoff and
Hatten (1968), (4) the Seibabo and Santa Clara zones
by Knipper and Cabrera (1974), (5) the Zaza and Santa
Clara zones by Dilla and Garcı́a (1985), and (6) the
Zaza and Manicaragua units by Hatten et al. (1988).
The Zaza zone in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) appears
to coincide fairly well with Domingo* sequence of this
publication.
In this chapter, the names have been extended to
the entire island.
These two sections are intimately related, and it is
believed that at one time, the Domingo* sequence,
including the metamorphosed Mabuyina amphib-
olite, was part of an oceanic basement upon which
the Cabaiguan* sequence was deposited.
Central Cuba
Central Cuba is considered the type area for the
basic igneous-volcanic province and will be described
first, followed by western Cuba, northern Cuba, and
Oriente. For each region, the Domingo* and Cabaiguan*
sequences will be described together (see Figure 111).
Figure 112 is a correlation chart of all the basic
igneous-volcanic terrane units of central Cuba. In the
literature, the Mabuyina amphibolite and the grano-
diorite have been referred to as the Manicaragua belt
(unit) and have been associated with the Escambray
metamorphics. (A possible source of geographic confu-
sion exists. In prerevolution days, the mountains along
the south coast of Cuba, near the town of Trinidad,

FIGURE 111. Central Cuba: basic igneous-volcanic generalized geologic map.
known then as the Trinidad Mountains, now appear
in the literature as the Escambray massif. It includes
the Sierra de Trinidad and the Alturas de Sancti Spi-
ritus, whereas a range of low serpentine hills near
the city of Santa Clara was used to be known as the
Escambray Mountains and appear under that name
in many old reports.) In this publication, the Mabuyina
amphibolite is considered to be part of the Domingo*
sequence, and the granodiorite intrudes and is part of
the Cabaiguan* sequence.
In Las Villas province, the basic igneous-volcanic
province is bound on the north by the Domingo*
fault and its imbrications and to the south by the
Escambray fault zone that is considered to correlate
with the Domingo* fault.
Domingo* Sequence
The Domingo* sequence consists of an association
of intermediate to ultrabasic igneous and metamor-
phic rocks having definite layering. Its distribution is
almost impossible to describe accurately. It occurs
north of the Jatibonico* belt, in long linear bands
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 197
between the Las Villas* and Cifuentes* belts and be-
tween the Las Villas* and Placetas* belts. To the south,
it forms a nearly complete ring at the base of the vol-
canic section around the Escambray metamorphics.
However, it mostly occurs south of the Cifuentes*
and Placetas* belts. The width of the Domingo* se-
quence ranges greatly from a few kilometers to as
much as 22 km (13 mi) in its maximum development
southeast of Santa Clara. In central Camaguey, it most-
ly forms a large body south and east of the Sierra de
Cubitas (see Figure 113).
In Las Villas province, in general, this section can
be divided into a Vega-Tamarindo area, a Santa Clara–
Arroyo Blanco area occurring generally south of
the first, and a northern Escambray area. The Vega-
Tamarindo and Santa Clara–Arroyo Blanco areas are
separated by a possible major imbrication of the
Domingo* sequence at the base or within the serpen-
tine. The Vega-Tamarindo area of the Domingo* se-
quence continues in a much reduced and structurally
highly disturbed condition to the northwest between
the Cifuentes* and Las Villas* belts. In the northern
Escambray area, they rim a window of metamorphics
 198 / Pardo
FIGURE 112. Correlation chart, basic igneous-volcanic terrane, central Cuba.

FIGURE 113. Central Cuba, Domingo sequence.
that can be seen through the Domingo* thrust. These
rocks will be described according to their location as
well as to their position in the sequence. The Domingo*
sequence rocks outcropping in the central part of the
Camaguey province will be described under the cen-
tral Camaguey area section below.
Vega-Tamarindo Area
It extends from Vega to Tamarindo, between the
Placetas* and Las Villas* belts (see Figure 114). It is
the northern part of what recent literature refers to
as the Iguará-Perea area (Iturralde-Vinent, 1996). Its
northern boundary is along the Domingo* fault over
the Las Villas* and Jatibonico belts. Its southern bound-
ary is formed by an intra–Domingo* sequence im-
brication, the Jarahueca* fault, that brings the ser-
pentinites of the Santa Clara–Arroyo Blanco area in
contact with the various lithologies described as fol-
lows (see Figure 115).
Intermediate Igneous Rocks. — Within this
group are diorites, quartz diorites, and granodiorites
that have many common characteristics.
The main rock type is a gray, medium-grained quartz
diorite, commonly with black hornblende and biotite
crystals standing out from a salt-and-pepper matrix.
Some samples have a distinct gabbroic appearance.
Quartz is not visible in most hand specimens. The prin-
cipal mafic is a dark-green hornblende. The feldspar
is labradorite or andesine. Most of the samples from
this rock show crushing of the grains and appear to
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 199
be a mechanical mixture between diorite and basic
igneous rocks. K. Dickson (1955, personal communi-
cation) stated that
All the quartz diorites except for some few aplit-
ic differentiates are cataclastic in varying de-
grees; no occurrence is lacking some stress phe-
nomena. Quartz is crushed and rounded into
granules, which appear as relicts in patches of
newly formed, limpid, untwined albite. Biotite
and chlorite are bent and smeared, and feldspar
laths are cracked, show undulatory extinction
and incipient replacement. . .Whether this cata-
clasis is due to emplacement in a crystalline
state, or postintrusion deformation due to thrust-
ing, or both, is unknown. . ..
A great similarity in texture and composition ex-
ists between this igneous rock and the granodiorites
that form the basement below the upper (southern)
plate of the Cifuentes* belt.
Gulf geologists recognized another widespread
type of intermediate igneous rock and named it the
Andrés* Formation. The Andrés* Formation is be-
lieved to be synonymous with the Perea metamor-
phics of Hatten et al. (1958), which they consider to
be the result of the intrusion of a diabase by the
Trés Guanos granodiorite (quartz monzonite) (Hatten
et al., 1988). Hatten et al. (1958) also reported the
intrusion of the San Marcos troctolite by the Trés
200 / Pardo
FIGURE 114. Domingo* belt, Vega-Tamarindo, Santa Clara – Arroyo Blanco areas.
Guanos granodiorite. Gulf considered the San Marcos
troctolite as part of the ultrabasic sequence, the Venegas*
Formation, which will be described below. The similarity
among all the rocks of intermediate type, and the ap-
parent intrusion of the Perea metamorphics and the
San Marcos troctolite by the Trés Guanos grano-
diorite, is the main reason for including all these
units as part of the pre–Lower Cretaceous basement,
the median welt, of the Las Villas unit (Placetas* and
Cifuentes* belts) by Hatten et al. (1958), Meyerhoff and
Hatten (1968), Meyerhoff, in Khudoley and Meyerhoff
(1971), and Hatten et al. (1988). This unit consists of
a mixture of hornblende dolerite, hornblende-augite
gabbro, hornblende dacite or quartz porphyry, and
quartz diorite. This unit appears to be the result of the
intrusion of basic igneous rock by quartz diorite.
As already mentioned, the Trés Guanos granodi-
orite, outcropping in the southeastern rim of the
Jarahueca window, and associated with the Jobosi*
Formation, is probably the metamorphosed basement
of the Cifuentes* belt upper plate.
Therefore, it appears that in the Vega-Tamarindo
area of the Domingo* sequence, a pre – Lower Creta-
ceous oceanic crust was intruded by and mechani-
cally mixed with granodiorite as indicated by the
metamorphism and the abundant cataclasis. Millán
and Somin (1981) consider the metamorphism to be
of high temperature and low pressure. The timing of
this intrusion has been a long-standing problem be-
cause of the similarity of all the granitoids in central
Cuba. Several K-Ar age determinations have yielded
ages from 70 to 88 m.y. (Millán and Somin, 1981,
1985b), correlating with the Upper Cretaceous volca-
nic arc, although there are arguments for the Andrés
Formation to be older and metamorphosed during
the Upper Cretaceous.
Ultrabasics.—In this area, the serpentine is char-
acteristically absent, and the ultrabasics are repre-
sented by the gabbros of the Venegas* Formation.
Venegas* Formation. —This formation consists of
an unknown thickness, but probably several thou-
sands of feet, of fine- to very coarsely crystalline
uralite gabbro, olivine gabbro, hornblende gabbro,
hornblende diallage gabbro, augite-hornblende gab-
bro, and epidiorite. It is of dark-gray color and
weathers to dark greenish gray or powdery white and
black. The feldspars, commonly up to 5 mm (0.2 in.)
or larger, are borderline labradorite-bytownite, com-
monly replaced by zeolites. The coarse-grained develop-
ment is restricted to the top of the unit. It is in contact

and intermixed with the underlying intermediate
igneous described above. In places, it appears to be in
conformable contact with the overlying serpentine,
but is very probably in fault contact. The metaba-
sites of the Venegas* Formation are considered to
have been subjected to low-pressure (<3-kbar) and
high-temperature (8008C) metamorphism (Garcia-
Casco et al., 2003). This unit includes Hatten et al.’s
(1958) San Marcos troctolite.
In places, the Venegas* Formation, together with
the intermediate igneous, overlies in fault contact
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 201
FIGURE 115. Stratigraphic section:
Domingo* sequence, Vega-Tamarindo
area.
the Las Villas* and Jatibonico* belts, as well as the
carbonates of the coastal province.
Dikes. —A complex of gabbro and diabase parallel
dikes cuts the Venegas* outcrop in an area south of
the Jatibonico Mountains. These dikes suggest oce-
anic crust.
Santa Clara–Arroyo Blanco Area
In this area, which is generally south and west of
the preceding one, are some peculiar sediments in-
variably associated with some of the igneous rocks.
202 / Pardo
FIGURE 116. Stratigraphic sections:
Domingo* sequence, Santa Clara –
Arroyo Blanco area.
Although this association is unquestionably tec-
tonic, these sediments will be described first as they
stand by themselves. Although they have some sim-
ilarity to the Corona* Formation, they have no clear,
direct relationship with any of the sediments found
in any of the other belts. The section is graphically
shown in Figure 116.
Miguel* Formation.—In the general vicinity of the
towns of Santa Clara and Placetas, and associated with
fault zones in the serpentine, are outcrops of olive-
brown, red, noncalcareous, slightly fissile shales, brown
nonfissile mudstones, and brown calcarenites with
abundant igneous grains. No sign of metamorphism
exists. The Miguel* Formation is probably included
in the Vega Alta Formation in Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988).
This unit, which contains a rich pelagic fauna of
Globigerina cretacea sl., Guembelina sp., Globigerinella
sp., Globotruncana lapparenti sl., Pithonella spp., and
orbitoid fragments, was considered of Maastrichtian
age. It is therefore the age equivalent to the Corona*,
Amaro*, and Rodrigo* formations of the Placetas* and
Cifuentes* belts, but is lithologically similar to the
lower – middle Eocene Vega* Formation. The faunal
content suggests that this unit was deposited in deep
waters.

Although all the contacts are tectonic, it appears
to structurally underlie the Domingo* sequence. The
fact that the Miguel* Formation is not associated with
older sediments could be an indication that it was
originally deposited on some sort of basement. This
could be expected in view of the fact that the pre-
Santonian–Maastrichtian unconformity appears more
pronounced southward. It shows similarities with and
is equivalent to the Corona* Formation. It is an early
flysch and also might have overlain the Cifuentes*
belt.
Associated with this unit and at the contact be-
tween the serpentine and the sedimentary Cifuentes*
and Placetas* belts are outcrops of a rubble zone con-
sisting of a crushed mixture of serpentine and sedi-
ments, as well as outcrops of calcite mesh (ophicalcite).
Unnamed Metamorphic Exotics. — In the Santa
Clara area, metamorphic rocks occur as exotics in
a waxy type of serpentine. The size of the exotics
ranges from a few centimeters to well over 1 km
(0.6 mi). The zone of exotics is considered to repre-
sent the lowermost part of the section. They consist
of several low- to high-grade metamorphic types
such as metagraywacke, quartz-amphibole-albite
schist, quartz-zoisite-chlorite schist, muscovite schist,
glaucophane schist, graphite schist, amphibolites,
eclogites, and phyllites. Vein quartz and pegmatite
blocks are also present. Many of the exotics show
plastic flow structure (recumbent teardrop) conform-
ing to the flow structure of the serpentine. These
exotics appear to have been torn from a metamor-
phic basement, having similarities to some meta-
volcanic types found in the Manicaragua belt and
transported by the serpentine. The metamorphism
is of the high-pressure/low-temperature type charac-
teristic of subduction. However, the origin of some
of the exotics is still unknown. Mosakovskiy et al.,
(1986) considers them to be a pre–late Mesozoic base-
ment complex of a mafic type. Some of the meta-
morphics have given ages between 85 and 91 m.y.
(Somin and Millán, 1981). However, the northern Es-
cambray area metamorphism has been reliably dated
at 75 – 85 Ma or Coniacian – Maastrichtian (Hatten
et al., 1988; Iturralde-Vinent, 1996). This might not
be a contradiction because pre–Upper Cretaceous vol-
canics, deposited over a basic to ultrabasic basement
(rift), could have been metamorphosed during the
Upper Cretaceous thermal event and later torn away
and incorporated in the ultrabasics during the lower–
middle Eocene obduction.
Ultrabasics. — This large body of ultrabasics has a
definite layered appearance in the field. Although it
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 203
is highly disturbed, cut by countless faults, and al-
ways in fault contact with sediments, a succession of
distinct units is very apparent. For mapping purposes,
these units have been given both formational and in-
formal names.
Serpentine. —In Cuba, it is formed from the al-
teration of pyroxene-bearing olivine rock grading at
depth into fresh, unaltered peridotite. Its color varies
from greenish black to light green. Weathered sam-
ples take a brownish or reddish appearance because
of iron oxidation. The original rock was probably ei-
ther harzburgite (orthorhombic pyroxene and olivine)
or lherzolite (ortho- and clinopyroxene and olivine).
Peridotite has been encountered in wells where it
contains hypersthene and augite, as well as olivine.
The serpentine can be subdivided, from base to
top, into three types.
Waxy Serpentine.—It is a chlorite schist with a scaly,
highly sheared, glossy aspect. This shearing is unques-
tionably tectonic because it is commonly found near
fault zones and in areas of intense deformation. Waxy
serpentine is the type in which the metamorphic blocks
previously described are found. The thickness is highly
variable. In the Santa Clara–Arroyo Blanco area, the
thickness is more than 3000 ft (1000 m), whereas in
other places, only thin slivers are present. The waxy
serpentine is considered to represent a shear or un-
stable zone at the base of the oceanic crust.
Reticulated Serpentine.—It is relatively massive, with
numerous thin crisscrossing bands of dark-green
serpentine.
Porphyritic Serpentine. — It is similar to the reticu-
lated serpentine, but contains large bastite structures
that stand out prominently as bronze or greenish
cleavage flakes. Under the microscope, besides bastite,
a characteristic mesh structure after olivine is seen.
Many bastite grains contain relics of the original py-
roxene, and rhombic pyroxene grains may be present.
The total thickness of the serpentine body is
unknown, but shows large variations. North of the
Placetas* belt, it does not exceed a few hundred feet
and, in places, might be absent altogether, whereas
south of Santa Clara, it might be several thousands
of feet thick. Hatten et al. (1958) estimate 8500 ft
(2600 m). The distribution suggests that the serpentine
forms an irregular elongated body with a lenticular
cross section. The thickness irregularities are probably
caused by flowage in response to tectonism. Note that
north of the town of Placetas, the serpentine structurally
overlies the Venegas* Formation and associated units,
whereas toward the south, near Santa Clara, the pres-
ence of metamorphic exotics suggest proximity to
204 / Pardo
a metamorphic basement. In most other areas, the
waxy serpentine is in contact with the Cifuentes* belt.
The serpentine is overlain by and transitional with
the Gabbros G&BW*.
Hatten et al. (1958) also considers the serpentine
the lowest unit of the ultrabasic association.
Gabbros G&BW*. — This informal name stands
for gabbros that can be mapped in the field by their
green (G) or black-and-white (BW) appearance.
They consist of a section, estimated to be ±4800 ft
(±1450 m) thick by Hatten et al. (1958), of horn-
blende dolerites with augite and uralite and micro-
gabbros very similar in composition to the Venegas*
Formation but are finer grained. In the lower part
of the section, these lithologies are interbedded with
serpentine. The dolerites are commonly cut by thick
quartz veins mineralized with copper, magnetite, etc.
According to Somin and Millán (1981), K-Ar dating
of this sequence gave 160 Ma or lowermost Oxfordian.
Although somewhat different in character from
the Venegas* Formation, this unit is thought to be its
equivalent and represents a tectonic repeat. This is
suggested by (1) the presence of Cabaiguan* sequence
volcanics apparently directly overlying the Venegas*
north of the serpentine contact between the Placetas*
and the Las Villas* belts and (2) the underlying ser-
pentine structurally overlying the Venegas*. The base
of the waxy serpentine would therefore represent
the sole of a major imbrication in the Domingo* se-
quence, the Jarahueca fault separating the serpentine
to the south from the intermediate igneous rocks to
the north. The Gabbros G&BW* are overlain by the
Cumbre* Formation. Hatten et al. (1958) describe a
Zurrapandilla Formation consisting of all the igneous
rocks with a diabasic texture, which lie above the
Jarahueca serpentine and below the Fomento volca-
nics or the Cabaiguan tuffs.
This certainly includes the Gabbros G&BW*, but
it appears to include the overlying Cumbre* Forma-
tion because it includes spilites in the upper part. In
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), the Gabbros G&BW*
are shown as undifferentiated gabbroic rocks.
Cumbre* Formation.— This unit consists of at
least 1000 ft (300 m) of uralite basalt flows, dolerites,
and possible tuffs. The color is gray green, and pillow
structures have been observed. The principal ferro-
magnesian mineral is uralite, which occurs in grains
and nodules, and is commonly replaced by chlorite.
Epidote is scattered throughout and associated with
quartz, which is quite abundant in some areas in the
form of veins. Euhedral magnetite is abundant. Some
samples are identical with those of the Gabbros G&BW*.
The Cumbre* Formation shows extensive spilitiliza-
tion, which is a common characteristic of submarine
volcanics. Despite being a volcanic unit, the Cumbre*
Formation is placed in the Domingo* sequence, and
not the Cabaiguan*, because it is invariably associated
with the ultrabasics and shows petrographic affinities
with them.
This unit was included in the Zurrapandilla For-
mation by Hatten et al. (1958). In Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988), the unit is shown as the Zurrapandilla
Formation of undifferentiated Lower Cretaceous age.
It is very probably the Cumbre* Formation because it is
described as basalts, diabase, cherts, and tuffs overly-
ing undifferentiated gabbroic rocks (Gabbros G&BW*
and not the serpentine as described by Hatten et al.
(1958) and underlies the Mataguá Formation.
The Cumbre* Formation is overlain by the volca-
nics of the Cabaiguan* sequence. Although the contact
is tectonically disturbed, it is believed to be a normal
depositional one.
Dikes. —Two main kinds of dikes are present:
1) Black-and-white, sparkling, fine-grained diorites
identical with the Gabbros G&BW*. They are com-
monly found cutting the serpentine.
2) Hornblende trachyte and andesite porphyries.
They cut the Cumbre* Formation and sometimes
the overlying volcanics of the Cabaiguan* sequence.
Northern Escambray Area
Mabujina Amphibolite Complex. — It consists
of an unknown thickness, but possibly several thou-
sands of feet, of green hornblende amphibolite, with
crystals ranging from 1 mm (0.04 in.) to several centi-
meters in length; plagioclase, ranging from andesine
to labradorite; relict pyroxene; sphene; and zircon.
Most of the amphibolite consists of metamorphosed
basalts and thin-bedded metamorphosed basaltic tuffs.
Some fine-grained biotite and hornblende gneisses
(meta-andesite flows) are present.
The age of the amphibolites protolith has been
and still is widely discussed. Mosakovskiy et al. (1986)
considers them as ‘‘pre–late Mesozoic basement com-
plex of a basic type.’’ Much of the evidence points
toward an Upper Jurassic(?) to Lower Cretaceous age,
with superimposed Upper Cretaceous metamorphism.
Several K-Ar age determinations have given between
69 and 95 Ma, or middle Cenomanian to middle Maas-
trichtian, thus coinciding with the arc volcanism.
Somin and Millán (1981) suggest that a great simi-
larity exists between these metabasalts and those of
the previously described Sierra de Rompe in Camaguey,

although Tchounev et al. (1986) disagree. As already
mentioned, blocks of similar metamorphics are in-
cluded in the serpentine at the base of the serpentine
in the Santa Clara–Arroyo Blanco area.
It therefore appears that the Mabujina complex
is related to the Domingo* sequence and, regardless
of its age, represents the basement over which the
Cabaiguan* sequence was deposited south of the Seibabo
syncline.
Central Camaguey Area
Gulf did only reconnaissance in central and west-
ern Camaguey; however, several authors published
on the subject. A good summary can be found in
Iturralde-Vinent (1996).
The ultrabasics here are represented by a large
body that occupies a broad area to the south and wraps
around the east end of the Sierra de Cubitas, from west
of Esmeralda to north of the town of Camaguey and
to Lugareño. In addition, several isolated outcrops of
serpentine are present near the north coast between
the bays of Manati and Nuevas Grandes.
Serpentine and associated ultrabasics form the bulk
of the outcrops. Within the serpentine are inclusions of
1) Green to red, metamorphosed cherts, the Mate
Prieto Formation.
2) Dark-gray diabase and basalts, the Abaiza Formation.
3) To the east of the town of Camaguey, Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988) show several large metamorphic
bodies, 1–3 km (0.6–1.8 mi) in length, consisting
of schists, quartzites, and calcareous schists em-
bedded in serpentine, and named La Suncia For-
mation (Iturralde-Vinent, 1988), suggesting the
association described under the Santa-Clara–Arroyo
Blanco area section above.
The same map also shows, 15 km (9 mi) northwest
of the city of Camaguey, a large number of elongated
outcrops of gabbros and troctolites near what appears
to be an elongated depression in the serpentine filled
with a klippe of Upper Cretaceous volcanics. The as-
sociation of gabbros and troctolites with serpentines
certainly suggests the Venegas* Formation or the Gab-
bros G&BW*. It is therefore possible that here are ele-
ments of a succession similar to that observed in Las
Villas.
Domingo* Sequence Discussion
The Domingo* sequence shows an association of
ultrabasics and basics that appear to be stratified and
mixed at the base with at least two types of basement:
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 205
granodioritic (intrusive and/or cataclastic mixing) to
the north and metamorphic (exotic inclusions) to the
south. The mixing of these disparate lithologies would
have occurred, in large part, during the lower–middle
Eocene diastrophism that could explain the 61-m.y.
dating of the Trés Guanos granodiorite.
As indicated by the dating of the Gabbros G&BW*,
the ultrabasics must be of pre-Oxfordian age and
appear to be related to the oceanic crust and the sub-
marine volcanism that occurred during the opening
stages of the Upper Triassic to Lower Cretaceous rift
between North America and Pangea. The pre–Upper
Jurassic Cifuentes* belt basement has been identi-
fied as a granodiorite (Tres Guanos, La Rana) in the
Jarahueca area. To the west, in the Socorro area, ex-
posures of a Jurassic-dated granite and Precambrian
marbles (African craton?) are near outcrops of the
Jobosi* Formation and must represent the Cifuentes*
belt basement. The metavolcanics of the Manicaragua
belt, to the south, are probably pre–Lower Cretaceous
and, together with the Domingo* sequence to the north,
form the basement beneath the Cabaiguan* sequence
volcanics. They were metamorphosed by the Upper
Cretaceous arc, prior to the inclusion of some of their
exotic fragments in the mobilized peridotite. It should
be pointed out that there is a great petrographic sim-
ilarity between the intermediate igneous and the Up-
per Cretaceous granodiorites of the Manicaragua belt
to the south.
Cabaiguan* Sequence
The Cabaiguan* sequence extends in a northwest–
southeast direction along the central part of Las Villas
and Camaguey provinces as far south as the foothills of
the Escambray Mountains and apparently surrounds
this feature. Its width ranges from a maximum of 26 km
(16 mi) to a minimum of 10 km (6 mi). The volcanics
of this belt also occur in several localities within the
Domingo* sequence, as well as between the Las Villas*
and Placetas* belt (see Figure 117).
The Cabaiguan* sequence is characterized by a
large development of volcanics and volcanic-derived
sediments, and it is geographically and stratigraph-
ically associated with the Domingo* and Manicaragua
belts.
The Cabaiguan* sequence is equivalent to the
Tuff series of Rutten (1936) and Tuff Formation of
Thiadens (1937a, b).
The Cabaiguan* sequence shows significant areal
variations. Six representative successions will be de-
scribed. These are the Tamarindo-Camajuani area,
Fomento-Taguasco area, Santo Domingo–Santa Clara
206 / Pardo
FIGURE 117. Central Cuba, Cabaiguan sequence.
area, the north and south flanks of the Seibabo syn-
cline, and central Camaguey. The Seibabo syncline is
a large asymmetrical feature, some 50 km (31 mi) long
and 15 km (9 mi) wide, located between the Domingo*
sequence and the Manicaragua belt to the south. Al-
though cut by several faults, it is relatively undisturbed
and exposes the best and most complete unmetamor-
phosed volcanic section in Cuba. Consequently, the
Seibabo syncline sections will be described first.
Seibabo Syncline, North Flank
As previously mentioned, the base of the Cabaiguan*
sequence volcanics rest on the Cumbre* Formation,
although bedding slippage and faults obscure the true
nature of the contact. The section, shown in Figure 118,
is as follows.
Old Volcanics*. — This unit was not studied in
detail by Gulf. Its thickness ranges possibly from
±1000 to as much as 13,000 ft (±300 to as much as
4000 m) in the southeastern flank of the Seibabo syn-
cline. The ‘‘Old Volcanics*’’ consist of a monotonous
succession of well-indurated basalt flows, porphy-
ries, siliceous tuffs, breccias, and associated volcanic-
derived sediments, which will be described in more
detail under the section on Fomento-Taguasco area.
The age is considered to be Lower Cretaceous based on
their stratigraphic position. In Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988), the Old Volcanics* are included in the Mataguá
Formation assigned to the Aptian–Albian. This should
not be confused with Gulf’s Mataguá* Formation that
will be described below. Hatten et al. (1958) includes
this unit in the Fomento volcanics. A Los Pasos For-
mation exists that is synonymous with the lower part
of the Mataguá Formation of Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988); it must be, in part, synonymous with the Old
Volcanics*. They are conformably overlain by the
Obregon* Formation.
Obregon* Formation. —This unit (also included
in the Mataguá Formation of Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988) and Fomento Volcanics by Hatten et al., 1958)
consists of 1000–1500 ft (300–450 m) of dark, por-
phyritic, dolerite flows interbedded with yellowish
brown weathering, dark-green siliceous tuffs; black,
fine-grained vitric tuffs; black-and-white spotted ar-
gillite; and tuffaceous ferruginous sandstones. No di-
rect evidence of age exists, but it is considered Lower
Cretaceous. It is comformably overlain by the Barro*
Formation.
Barro* Formation. — This unit (also included in
the Mataguá Formation of Pushcharovsky et al. (1988)
and Fomento Volcanics by Hatten et al., 1958) consists
of 500–700 ft (150–210 m) of black, slightly calcareous
sandstone with characteristic spheroidal, onion-
skin weathering, interbedded with dark shales, con-
glomerates, and some porphyritic flows. The sand-
stones contain limestone fragments.
This is the first unit where Cretaceous-looking
radiolaria and some problematic remains have been
found. The age is considered late Lower Cretaceous. It
is comformably overlain by the Huevero* Formation.

Huevero* Formation. — This unit consists of 100–
200 ft (30 – 60 m) of dark, thin-bedded, siliceous
shales, interbedded with marls and a few sandstone
beds. The fauna consists of spheroidal and discoidal
radiolaria. The siliceous shales show similarities to
and are believed to correlate with those of the Santa
Teresa* Formation of the Cifuentes* belt. This unit is
not recognized in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), and it
is uncertain in what formation it is included.
Based on stratigraphic position and lithologic sim-
ilarities, the age is considered Albian and possibly ex-
tending into the lower Cenomanian. This formation
is conformably overlain by the Gomez* Formation.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 207
FIGURE 118. Stratigraphic section:
Cabaiguan* sequence, Seibabo syncline–
north flank.
Gomez* Formation.—It consists of ±500 ft (±150 m)
of black to dark-brown, thin-bedded, sometimes nod-
ular, shaly limestone with interbedded dark-gray
shales toward the base. Toward the top, the lime-
stones are lighter colored and occasionally frag-
mental and interbedded with yellowish marls. Some
calcareous, fine-grained sandstones are present, con-
taining basic plagioclase, green hornblende, apatite,
chlorite, volcanic grains, and bands of heavy miner-
als. This is a true detrital unit and is not directly as-
sociated with volcanism. It is overlain, with a hiatus
or unconformity, by the Bruja* Formation; the 600-ft
(185-m)-thick Seibabo* Formation, overlying the
208 / Pardo
Gomez in the south flank of the Seibabo syncline, is
missing here.
This unit is included in the Provincial Formation.
It is equivalent to Hatten et al.’s (1958) Serrucho For-
mation. This unit is certainly included in the Albian–
Cenomanian Provincial Formation of Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988), where it is given a thickness of 650–1650 ft
(200–500 m). Here, the name Gomez Member appears
as part of the Provincial Formation without explana-
tion. The name Provincial was given by Thiadens in
1937.
The fauna consists of mollusks, algal fragments,
Globigerina cretacea sl., Globigerina sp., and Pithonella
spp. The age is considered Cenomanian to Turonian.
This formation was deposited under pelagic con-
ditions, and it represents a pause in volcanic activity.
It correlates with, and shows lithologic similarities
to, the upper part of the Carmita* Formation in the
Placetas* belt (it should be mentioned that there is a
great lithologic similarity to Venezuela’s Cenomanian–
Turonian La Luna and Querecual formations).
Bruja* Formation.— This formation is the basal
unit of the Pastora* Group in the south flank of the
Seibabo syncline. Here, it is the only representative
of this group. It is included in Hatten et al.’s (1958)
Cabaiguan Tuffs. There is a unit shown as the Bruja
Formation in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), but it is
not known if it has the same definition; this point
will be further discussed in the Seibabo Syncline-
South Flank section.
It consists of a ±300-ft (±100-m) massive flow of
quartz andesite porphyry with abundant glass. It is
fine grained and translucent, with abundant glass
and white phenocrysts. It is dark green when fresh,
but weathers to a dull earthy yellowish brown. Its out-
crops stand up in hard high ridges. It has pillow struc-
tures with chilled glass borders and has interbeds of
siliceous, translucent, green pumiceous beds with ra-
diolaria. It is unconformably overlain by the Felipe*
Formation. The upper 1650 ft (500 m) of the Pastora*
Group present in the south limb of the Seibabo syn-
cline were either eroded or never deposited here.
No diagnostic fossils are present, but it is consid-
ered Turonian on the basis of its stratigraphic rela-
tionships. The presence of radiolaria and pillow
structures indicates submarine deposition.
Felipe* Formation.—It consists of 1000 ft (300 m)
of yellowish brown, friable tuffaceous, igneous-
derived sandstones interbedded with sandy calcar-
enites. Near the base, a distinctive coarsely crystalline
hornblende-biotite porphyry is present. In this loca-
tion, a 100-ft (30-m) white massive rudist and orbitoid
reef is present, indicating local shallow-water condi-
tions. It is included in Hatten et al.’s (1958) Cabaiguan
tuffs. Dilla and Garcı́a (1985) consider it synonymous
with, and therefore renamed it, the Cotorro Forma-
tion and give it a Campanian and Maastrichtian age.
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show a Tasajera Group of
Coniacian–Campanian age that includes formations
names such as Cotorro, Salvador, Maguey, Hilario,
Palmarito, and Felipe. All were described and named
by Gulf geologists and considered at the time to be
Maastrichtian in age.
At the type locality of this unit, which is some 7 km
(4 mi) north of here, it has been divided into three
members. Here, although fully developed, subdivi-
sions are impossible. The subdivided section is de-
scribed under the Santo Domingo–Santa Clara area.
A planktonic fauna exists containing Globigerina
cretacea sl. and Pithonella spp. Lithothamnium sp. is
also present. In this unit are exceptionally large spec-
imens of rudists; Radiolites and Hippurites are embed-
ded in a clay matrix. This is an intriguing occurrence
of typically clear, shallow-water organisms found in
an argillaceous environment. They, together with the
reef limestones, suggest the presence of reefs on the
flanks of volcanic islands, with some of their com-
ponents falling in deeper waters.
The sandstones are probably equivalent to the
San Pedro Formation, and the limestones are prob-
ably equivalent to the Cantabria Formation, found
along the northwestern flank of the Escambray mas-
sif (Pszczólkowski, 2002). There, these units are under
the Vaqueria Formation marl, which is believed to
span the Cretaceous–Tertiary boundary.
The Felipe* is transitionally overlain by the Cotorro*
Formation.
The Felipe* Formation is considered lower Maastrich-
tian in age, perhaps extending into the Campanian.
Cotorro* Formation.—It consists of ±300 ft (±90 m)
of thin-bedded, green and brown, sometimes calcar-
eous, volcanic-derived conglomerates, sandstones, and
shales with occasional sandy calcarenites, tuffaceous
sandstones, and vitric crystal tuffs. It is included in
Hatten et al.’s (1958) Cabaiguan tuffs. They also de-
scribe a Carramayana Formation, interbedded with
the Dagamal Formation, that could be part of the
Cotorro* Formation. Dilla and Garcı́a (1985) consider
the Cotorro Formation as equivalent to the Felipe
Formation and include in it the Hilario, Magüey, and
Salvador formations. They assign it a Campanian–
Maastrichtian age. As mentioned above, Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988) include it in the Tasajera Group of
Coniacian – Campanian age.

An abundant fauna of Globigerina cretacea sl.,
Globigerinella sp., Guembelina sp., Pseudorbitoides spp.,
sponge spicules, and radiolaria is present. The age is
considered Maastrichtian.
This formation is overlain by several related litho-
logic units that are present as isolated outcrops near
the axis of the Seibabo syncline. In this study, they
are given the informal name of Seibabo upper units.
The nature of the contact is unclear for structural reasons.
Seibabo Upper Units.—In the center of the Seibabo
syncline are several lithologies, which Gulf geologists
called the Curamaguey*, Yaya*, and Algarrobos* for-
mations. The relation between these units is not clear
because of structural complications. However, they
all appear to be related to each other and are found in
contact with and overlying the Cotorro* Formation.
These units are equivalent to the Belico* Formation
in the Santo Domingo –Santa Clara area. This group
of formations is included in Hatten et al.’s (1958)
Cabaiguan tuffs. None of the three units can be readily
recognized in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), but are
included in the Coniacian – Campanian Tasajera
Group. A Maastrichtian Perseverancia Group exists
that apparently overlies all older units with marked
unconformity; however, it is not shown along the axis
of the Seibabo syncline and appears not to be related
to the Seibabo upper units.
Curamaguey* Formation.—The Curamaguey* Forma-
tion consists of ±150 ft (±45 m) of thin- to medium-
bedded, brown and gray, calcarenites with abundant
volcanic fragments.
It is richly fossiliferous containing Globigerina cre-
tacea sl., Globotruncana lapparenti sl., Globotruncana
stuarti, Globotruncana contusa, Guembelina sp., Pithonella
spp., Pseudorbitoides spp., Dicyclina sp., Lithothamnium
sp., and, in places, abundant radiolaria. The age is
considered Maastrichtian.
Yaya* Formation. —The unit consists of ±300 ft
(±90 m) of tan to gray, dense limestone with wispy
brown markings and abundant foraminifera.
It contains Globigerina cretacea sl., Globotruncana
lapparenti sl., Globotruncana stuarti, Globotruncana
contusa Guembelina sp., Pithonella spp., Globigerinella
sp., orbitoid fragments, echinoid remains, sponge spic-
ules, inoceramus prisms, and radiolaria. The age is
also considered to be Maastrichtian.
Algarrobos* Formation.—The unit consists of ±200 ft
(±60 m) of marly, coarse-grained, igneous-derived sand-
stones and conglomerates, interbedded with fragmen-
tal sandy limestones, marls, and tan shales.
It contains Globigerina cretacea sl., Globotruncana
lapparenti sl., Globotruncana stuarti, Globotruncana
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 209
contusa, Guembelina sp., Pithonella spp., Pseudorbitoides
spp., and Lithothamnium sp. It is considered of Maas-
trichtian age, possibly extending into the Paleocene.
This formation was mapped by Gulf at only one
locality.
There appears to be an important difference of opin-
ion between Gulf and Pushcharovsky et al. (1988)
regarding the dating of the youngest volcanism in the
Cabaiguan* sequence in central Cuba. Gulf considered
it Maastrichtian, whereas in the map, it is considered
Campanian.
Bernia* Formation. —The Bernia* Formation (in
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), a Paleocene Santa Clara
Formation probably includes this formation) consists
of ±300 ft (90 m) of tan, pseudo-oolitic, medium-
bedded, sometimes fragmental, limestone contain-
ing sparse to abundant igneous grains. The compo-
nents consist of fragments of mollusks, echinoids, and
foraminifera.
The fossils consist of Globotruncana lapparenti sl.,
Guembelina sp., Pithonella spp., Lockhartia sp., Textularia
sp., Ventilabrella sp., Lithothamnium sp., and miliolids.
The age is considered Maastrichtian, possibly extend-
ing into the Paleocene.
This unit is lithologically and faunistically related
to the Santa Clara* Formation of the Santo Domingo–
Santa Clara area, but its relationships with other units
are not clear.
Seibabo Syncline, North Flank: Discussion.—
Here, during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous,
very active submarine volcanism occurred with an
outpouring of thick basaltic flows and associated tuffs
and deposition of volcanic-derived sediments. The vol-
canism was essentially of the basic type with alterna-
tions of more acidic periods. Toward the close of the
Lower Cretaceous, volcanic activity was greatly reduced
and was probably absent during the Cenomanian,
which is characterized by an influx of carbonate pe-
lagic sedimentation.
During the Turonian and Senonian, there was a
renewal of volcanism with outpouring of flows of a
more acidic composition. Prior to the Maastrichtian,
a period of nondeposition or erosion occurred that
appears to be shorter than in the sedimentary belts
to the north.
The Campanian–Maastrichtian sedimentation be-
gan with an influx of volcanic-derived clastics and
the outpouring of a prominent rhyolitic flow. After-
ward, sedimentation continued, with an alternation
of pelagic and shallow-water, reefoidal sediments,
but always with abundant silicate detritus. Toward the
end of the Cretaceous, there appears to have been a
210 / Pardo
renewal of volcanic activity as indicated by tuffs and
volcanic-derived detritus, but now under dominantly
shallow-water conditions.
The present thinking in Cuba is that all volcanic
activity ceased by the end of the Campanian, and that
only volcanic-derived material was deposited dur-
ing the Maastrichtian. This problem will be discussed
below.
Sedimentation extended into the Paleocene with
the deposition of thin calcarenites with igneous-
derived grains.
Seibabo Syncline, South Flank
In this area, the section is mostly similar to that
of the northern flank, but the marked facies differ-
ences deserve a complete description.
The base of the volcanics cannot be observed here.
Toward the east, between the towns of Fomento and
Zaza del Medio, the volcanics are separated from the
Manicaragua belt metamorphics by a thick wedge of
lower – middle Eocene sediments and the Tuinicu
fault. In the vicinity of this fault are outcrops of un-
metamorphosed Jaguita* and Ronda* formations
identical with those characterizing the Las Villas*
and Cifuentes* belts to the north.
Toward the west and east, at the base of the
Cabaiguan* sequence, volcanics are intruded by the
Manicaragua granodiorite and associated igneous.
In places, numerous Upper Cretaceous diorite and
diabase intrusives of the same type as those intrud-
ing the Mabujina complex exist.
Generally, the Cabaiguan* sequence volcanics ap-
pear to overlie the amphibolites of the Mabujina
complex, and the evidence seems to indicate that the
granitoids were intruded along the contact between
the two. Several authors (Millán and Somin, 1976, 1981;
Millan-Trujillo, 1996a, b; Iturralde-Vinent, 1981, 1988,
1996) believe that the Mabujina complex is part of
a metamorphosed oceanic basement over which
the southern Cabaiguan* sequence was deposited.
This problem will be more fully discussed under the
Manicaragua belt. The Cabaiguan* volcanics, to-
gether with the Manicaragua belt, generally wrap
around and radially dip away from the Escambray
massif metamorphics.
The Seibabo syncline – south flank succession,
shown in Figure 119, is as follows.
Old Volcanics*. — In this particular locality (Zaza
River), the thickness may reach several thousands of
feet. The lithology is similar to that of the northern
flank but is conformably overlain by the Relampago*
Formation.
Relampago* Formation. — The Relampago For-
mation (Pushcharovsky et al. [1988] include it in the
Mataguá Formation) consists of 2000 ft (600 m) of in-
terbedded basalt porphyries, amygdular basalts, gray,
banded siliceous shales, and slightly calcareous coarse
volcanic sandstones, conglomerates, and agglomer-
ates. The basalts contain abundant serpentine as re-
placement of the ferromagnesians.
Some unidentifiable, Globigerina-looking forami-
nifera and other fossil remains are present. The age
is considered Lower Cretaceous.
It is conformably overlain by the Mataguá*
Formation.
Mataguá* Formation. — It consists of ±2500 ft
(±750 m) of olivine and augite dolerites in thick, mas-
sive, sometimes porphyritic, flows frequently show-
ing pillow structures. These flows are interbedded
with conglomerates, tuffaceous sandstones, shales,
and noncalcareous tuffs. As already mentioned,
Puscharovsky et al. (1988) show more than 11,500 ft
(3500 m) of an Aptian–Albian Mataguá Formation
that appears to include the Old Volcanics* as well
as the Relampago*, Mataguá*, Obregon*, and Barro*
formations.
This unit is barren of organisms, but is considered
Lower Cretaceous on field relationships.
It shows similarities to and is considered the equiva-
lent of the Obregon* and possibly, in part, of the
Barro* formations in the north flank of the Seibabo
syncline. It is conformably overlain by the Cristobal*
Formation.
Cristobal* Formation.— The Cristobal* Forma-
tion consists of ±500 ft (±150 m) of an interbedding
of thin- to medium-bedded limestones and thin-
bedded shales. The limestones are oolitic, dense, and
fragmental and contain radiolaria. The calcarenites
can be coarse and contain mollusk remains and re-
worked oolites from the Upper Jurassic Jaguita* (or
San Vicente) Formation.
This unit is included in the Provincial Formation
by Dilla and Garcı́a (1985) and in Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988).
The fossils consist of Globigerina cretacea sl., Cuneo-
lina sp. or Dicyclina sp., Archeolithothamnium sp., and
radiolaria. The age is considered Cenomanian, and it
is correlative with the Diego*, Gomez*, and possibly
Huevero* formations. This unit was deposited in part
under deep-water conditions, but shallow waters were
nearby as indicated by the presence of oolites, mol-
lusks, and algae.
This unit grades into the overlying Casanova*
Formation.

The presence of Jaguita* (San Vicente?) oolites is
considered extremely important because
1) The Upper Jurassic shallow-water carbonate bank
facies must have extended as far south as the south-
ernmost volcanics of the Cabaiguan* sequence.
2) During the Cenomanian, there must have been a
source of Jaguita* detritus south of the Cabaiguan*
sequence because they are absent in the equiva-
lent Diego*, Huevero*, and Gomez* formations to
the north.
3) The relative scarcity of associated igneous or
volcanic-derived detritus indicates uplift and ero-
sion of a block with a section similar to the Las
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 211
FIGURE 119. Stratigraphic section:
Cabaiguan* sequence, Seibabo syncline–
south flank.
Villas* belt and the dumping of sediments north-
ward into a basin previously filled with submarine
basic volcanics (northward means not from the
Bahamas Jurassic carbonate banks to the north).
This influx of carbonate detritus happened dur-
ing a pause in the volcanism that coincided with a
marked change toward more acidic flows and ejecta,
thus presenting some intriguing questions concern-
ing the evolution of the basin.
Except for Pardo (1975), these observations have
never been reported or discussed in the literature.
Casanova* Formation. — The Casanova* Forma-
tion consists of ±600 ft (±180 m) of argillaceous, dense
212 / Pardo
to fragmental, yellowish brown limestone interbedded
with thinly bedded shales. A 150-ft (45-m) flow of dark-
gray porphyry, weathering yellowish brown with white
phenocrysts, is present in the middle of the section.
Toward the top, tuffaceous sandstones and conglom-
erates are present as well as a rudist reef.
This unit is included in the Provincial Formation
by Dilla and Garcı́a (1985) and in Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988).
The fauna consists of Rotalipora appenninica sl.,
Globigerina cretacea sl., Globigerina sp., Globigerinella
sp., Guembelina sp., and radiolaria. The age is consid-
ered Cenomanian.
It has strong similarities to the underlying Cristobal*
Formation and is the correlative of the Huevero*,
Gomez*, and Diego* formations on the north flank of
the Seibabo syncline. This unit was deposited mostly
under deep-water conditions, but shallow waters were
also present at some time as indicated by the rudist
reefs.
This formation grades upward into the Seibabo*
Formation.
Seibabo* Formation. —This unit consists of ±600
ft (±185 m) of coarsely fragmental tuffs with
abundant dark-green pumice fragments, interbedded
with thin beds of shale, tuffaceous sandstones, and
occasional black limestones. The percentage of
limestone decreases upward. Dilla and Garcı́a
(1985), as well as Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), rec-
ognize the name Seibabo Formation. In the latter, it is
assigned to the Cenomanian and given a thickness of
500–2950 ft (150–900 m).
The fauna consists of Rotalipora appenninica sl.,
Globotruncana aff. Globotruncana renzi, Globigerina
cretacea sl., Guembelina sp., Globigerinella sp., Meyenella
sp., and radiolaria. The age is considered Turonian.
There is no equivalent to this formation in the north
flank of the Seibabo syncline.
This unit was deposited under deep-water condi-
tions and is conformably overlain by the Pastora*
Group.
Pastora* Group. —It is included in Hatten et al.’s
(1958) Cabaiguan tuffs. Dilla and Garcı́a (1985)
recognize a Bruja Formation, but assign it to the
Coniacian and Santonian. As already mentioned,
with the exception of the Bruja Formation described
as 1640 ft (500 m) of Turonian andesites, marls, and
tuffs, no unit is a clear-cut equivalent to the Pastora*
Group in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988).
This group is made of three units as follows.
Bruja* Formation. —It consists of 1000 ft (300 m)
of massive quartz andesite porphyry interbedded
with tuffaceous, siliceous, radiolarian shales and
volcanic agglomerates containing characteristic glass
bombs up to 1 ft (30 cm) in length in a yellow ash
matrix. Glass-coated pillow lavas are abundant.
Agabama* Formation. —It consists of ±500 ft (±150 m)
of thin, even bedded, siliceous, brown to sulfur-
yellow, hard and soft shales.
These shales contain abundant radiolaria and
sponge spicules and, therefore, appear to have been
deposited in very deep waters.
Escambray* Formation. — This consists of ±450 ft
(±140 m) of hard brown siliceous shales and massive
black to tan chert with a 50-ft (15-m) augite basalt
to andesite porphyry in the lower part and a 100-ft
(30-m) glassy basalt porphyry with a fractured
hackly appearance in the upper part.
In addition to the abundant radiolaria and sponge
spicules, it contains Globigerina cretacea sl. and Guem-
belina sp., indicating pelagic, deep-water conditions.
The Pastora* Group is considered Turonian –
Senonian in age and is conformably overlain by the
Salvador* Formation.
Salvador* Formation. — It consists of ±300 ft
(±90 m) of mottled, orange, and buff, sometimes
sandy, calcarenites interbedded with marls and
volcanic-derived sandstones and conglomerates.
Dilla and Garcı́a (1985) include a Palmarito Mem-
ber in the Cotorro Formation. Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988) include the Palmarito, Maguey, Hilario, and
Salvador formations in the Tassajera Group of
Coniacian and Campanian age. It appears that, for
this map, all the Cabaiguan* sequence units younger
than the Bruja* Formation have been lumped to-
gether without any attempt to unravel the strati-
graphic relationships. The absence of Maastrichtian
is very surprising. The presence of Maastrichtian
Pseudorbitoides spp. in some of the above-mentioned
units raises questions as to the age assignment of the
Tassajera Group.
The fossils consist of Globotruncana lapparenti sl.,
Globotruncana fornicata, Globigerina cretacea sl., Guem-
belina sp., Sulcoperculina spp., Pithonella spp., Pseu-
dorbitoides spp., radiolaria, Inoceramus spp. prisms,
and algae. The age is considered lower Maastrichtian,
perhaps including the upper Campanian.
The Palmarito* and Maguey* members (formerly
given the rank of formation) are two characteristic
lithologies of this formation:
Palmarito* Member.— It is a ±100-ft (±30-m)-thick,
massive, white, organic calcirudite containing large
rudists (Hippurites, etc.) and other mollusks and, in
places, contains coarse volcanic fragments.

Maguey* Member.— It is a ±150-ft (±45-m)-thick
flow of an amygdular basalt porphyry with translu-
cent zeolite phenocrysts.
The Salvador* Formation is lithologically very sim-
ilar to and an age equivalent of the Felipe* Formation
of the north flank of the Seibabo syncline. Further
fieldwork might indicate that the two formations
are synonymous. It is conformably overlain by the
Cotorro* Formation.
Cotorro* Formation. — This clastic unit is similar
to that of the northern limb of the syncline. It is
comformably overlain by the Hilario* Formation.
Hilario* Formation. — The unit consists of ±400 ft
(±120 m) of green to buff, dense to fragmental, dull,
siliceous, medium-bedded to massive lithic crystal and
vitric tuffs. It is very well developed in this locality.
Hatten et al. (1958) describe a Dagamal Formation
of olive-green to grayish blue-green well-bedded tuffs
and massive tuff breccias. They report a fauna of re-
worked Pseudorbitoides sp. in some samples, indicat-
ing that the age cannot be older than upper Cam-
panian. Hatten’s Dagamal is believed to be the same
as the Hilario* and could include part of the under-
lying Cotorro* Formation. As previously mentioned,
it is included in the Tassajera Group in Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988).
This unit is barren of fossils but is considered Maas-
trichtian because of its stratigraphic position. It is over-
lain with apparent conformity by the Seibabo up-
per units (see section above on the Seibabo syncline,
north flank).
Seibabo Syncline, South Flank: Discussion. — In
the southern flank of the Seibabo syncline, the Early
Cretaceous was characterized by an almost continuous
and impressive outpouring of basalts. This vol-
canism was submarine as indicated by the common
lava pillows and the unweathered and unabraded char-
acter of the particles in the associated sediments.
During the Cenomanian, a marked decrease in vol-
canic activity was observed, whereas sedimentation
continued under pelagic conditions with a sudden,
and short-lived, influx of Upper Jurassic carbonate
detritus originating from a southern source.
The Turonian through the Senonian marks a re-
newal of volcanic activity, but with a definitely more
acidic and explosive character. A second period of
relative volcanic quiescence occurred during the early
Maastrichtian.
Afterward, during the remainder of the Cretaceous,
a new episode of volcanism occurred accompanied by
an increase in subaerial eruption. This is indicated by
the character of the ejecta and the increasing presence
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 213
of shallow-water reefs associated with the volcanics
and volcanic-derived sediments. No clear evidence of
unconformities exists, and the entire section appears
continuous.
Cienfuegos Area
This area (Pszczólkowski, 2002) is of interest be-
cause it shows well the K/T boundary above the
Cabaiguan* sequence. It is located in the lower part of
the Maastrichtian–Paleocene marls of the Vaqueria
Formation, above the shallow-water limestones of
the Maastrichtian Cantabria Formation and the
Campanian – Maastrichtian marls and conglomer-
ates of the San Pedro Formation.
The K/T boundary occurs in a zone of crustacean
burrows within the Vaqueria marls, with Paleocene
fossils above and Maastrichtian fossils below.
Tamarindo-Camajuani Area
This area is mostly associated with the Vega-
Tamarindo area of the Domingo* sequence. Here,
the structural deformation is intense, making the
estimate of thicknesses impossible and masking the
true nature of the contacts. However, several strati-
graphic units can be readily recognized, and a sec-
tion can be pieced together as shown in Figure 120.
Compared to the Seibabo syncline, the section is in-
complete. It is not known if the missing components
are absent through tectonism or sedimentation.
Old Volcanics*. — They are poorly exposed, but
basalts, basalt porphyries, and associated sediments can
be readily recognized. They do not appear to be very
thick. This unit overlies the Cumbre* Formation and
is overlain with apparent unconformity by the
Gomez* Formation. Compared to the north limb of
the Seibabo syncline, at least 1600–2400 ft (500–750 m)
of Obregon*, Barro*, and Huevero* formations were ei-
ther eroded or never deposited. Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988) show extensive outcrops of Zurrapandilla For-
mation in this area but very little Mataguá. It is pos-
sible that the Old Volcanics* have been included in
the Zurrapandilla Formation.
Gomez* Formation.— Here, it outcrops in thin
slivers with its characteristic development of dark-
gray to black, thin-bedded to nodular limestones in-
terbedded with dark-gray shales. It is overlain with
apparent unconformity by the Cotorro* Formation.
Compared to the north limb of the Seibabo syncline,
1300 ft (400 m) of the Pastora* Group and the Felipe*
Formation are missing. This unit, shown in the Gulf
maps, is not shown in this area in Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988). Perhaps it is a matter of scale.
214 / Pardo
FIGURE 120. Stratigraphic section:
Cabaiguan* sequence, Tamarindo-
Camajuani area.
A Cenomanian pelagic fauna is present.
Cotorro* Formation.—Here, the Cotorro* Forma-
tion has a typical development of thin-bedded green
and brown volcanic-derived sandstones, conglom-
erates, crystal tuffs, shales, and occasional sandy to
argillaceous limestones. It is overlain by the Hilario*
Formation. It is not shown in Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988).
Here, it also contains the typical pelagic Maas-
trichtian fauna.
Hilario* Formation. — The Hilario* Formation is
represented by the green to buff, dense to fragmen-
tal dull earthy, medium-bedded to massive siliceous,
and vitric crystal tuffs. It is not shown in Pushcha-
rovsky et al. (1988). It is overlain by the Carlota*
Formation.
Carlota* Formation. —It consists of more than
500 ft (150 m) of three very characteristic litho-
logic assemblages that are given informal member
ranks. Hatten et al. (1958) named this unit La Rana

Formation. They believed it to be a late outpouring
of basalt several thousand feet thick and considered
it, on indirect evidence, to be of probable Coniacian–
Santonian age. However, they also mention that it
overlies their Dagamal Formation of probable Maas-
trichtian age. They propose some volcanic process
(nué ardente) to explain this inversion of ages. They
also named a Carlota Formation that has no relation to
this Carlota* Formation. Dilla and Garcı́a (1985) place
La Rana in the Coniacian and Santonian and make it
a facies of the Dagamal Formation and equivalent to
the Bruja Formation. This contradicts field evidence.
In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), the Carlota Formation
is widely represented, considered Santonian and Cam-
panian, resting on the Mataguá Formation, and is
described as tuffs, marls, shales, basic to intermediate
volcanics, and reef limestones. It is obvious that it
includes much more than the Carlota* Formation.
The Carlota* Formation is restricted to the south-
eastern part of the Tamarindo-Camajuani area.
Flow Breccia Member. — It consists of rounded,
slightly glassy-surfaced blocks of hypersthene basalt
porphyry in a noncalcareous yellow-green matrix.
Porphyry Member. — It consists of pink, gray, and
green hypersthene and augite basalt porphyry in thick
flows. The phenocrysts are mostly labradorite and
hypersthene.
Rana* Member. — It consists of an interbedding of
the two above lithologies with even-bedded, volcanic-
derived conglomerates and tuffaceous, fine to coarse
sandstones with abundant colored igneous grains.
The Carlota* Formation is devoid of fossils, but is
considered Maastrichtian because of its stratigraphic
position. It grades westward into the Turino* Forma-
tion and is overlain by the Jiquimas* Formation.
Turino* Formation. —The unit consists of ±200 ft
(±60 m) of calcirudite, with abundant igneous grains,
interbedded with the Carlota* Formation basalt por-
phyries. It contains some marls and sandstones. It
is the western equivalent of the Carlota* Formation.
Hatten et al. (1958) describe a Carlota Formation that
might in part include the Turino*. It is certainly in-
cluded in the Carlota Formation of Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988).
The fossils consist of Globotruncana lapparenti tri-
carinata, Globigerina cretacea sl., Sulcoperculina cf. Sul-
coperculin vermunti, Pseudorbitoides sp., Pithonella spp.,
miliolids, rotaloids, Archeolithothamnium sp., and mol-
lusk and echinoid fragments. The assemblages are ho-
mogeneous, but the orbitoids and mollusk fragments
have a dark coating, suggesting redeposition. The age
is considered Maastrichtian.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 215
The Turino* Formation is overlain by and could also
be a facies of the Jiquimas* Formation.
Jiquimas* Formation. —It consists of relatively
thin, lenticular, white, massive orbitoidal reefs. The
limestone is very pure, containing only rare igneous
grains, although the reefs were growing directly on the
underlying porphyries. It is probably included in
Hatten et al.’s (1958) Carlota Formation and is cer-
tainly included in the Carlota Formation of Pushcha-
rovsky et al. (1988).
The fossils consist of Globotruncana contusa, Globo-
truncana stuarti, Globotruncana lapparenti sl., Guembe-
lina sp., Pithonella spp., Vaughanina cubensis, Dicyclina
sp., Pseudorbitoides sp., Lepidorbitoides(?) sp., Sulcoper-
culina sp., Archeolithothamnium sp., and fragments
of rudists, echinoids, and algae. The age is considered
Maastrichtian.
It is unconformably overlain by the Taguasco*
Formation.
Taguasco* Formation.— This unit, consisting of a
Paleocene igneous-derived conglomerate, is found only
in a few outcrops in the eastern part of this area, so it
will be described under the section on the Fomento-
Taguasco area, where it is characteristically developed.
Tamarindo-Camajuani Area: Discussion. —
Structural complications make it difficult to draw pos-
itive conclusions about the history of the Tamarindo-
Camajuani area of the Cabaiguan* sequence. Thick-
nesses are impossible to measure because most units
are bound, or repeated, by faults. In most cases, it is
not known whether formations are missing because
of faults, nondeposition, or erosion. However, the au-
thor believes that (1) the presence of the thin Gomez*
Formation, (2) the relatively thick development of
the Maastrichtian sediments, and (3) the absence or
poor development of the Lower Cretaceous and the
Turonian–Campanian volcanics (which are very thick
in the Seibabo syncline) reflect, in large part, the sedi-
mentary and erosional history prior to tectonism.
Tentatively, one can hypothesize that the area was
characterized by a period of volcanic activity during
the Lower Cretaceous, although the thick Lower Cre-
taceous basalts present in the Seibabo syncline are
essentially missing. The presence of the sedimentary
Gomez* Formation indicates that, here, volcanism
also paused during the Cenomanian.
The missing Turonian to Santonian volcanics and
derived sediments were probably eroded during the
pre-Maastrichtian unconformity.
In the early Maastrichtian, the volcanic activity was
renewed, with late basalt outpourings, but this activ-
ity was apparently less intense than before. Volcanism
216 / Pardo
FIGURE 121. Stratigraphic section:
Cabaiguan* sequence, Fomento-
Taguasco area.
must have been, in large part, submarine, as indi-
cated by the pelagic faunas of the associated sediments
and the fact that the volcanic-derived sandstones
show whole mineral grains with no sign of weather-
ing or abrasion. Toward the late Maastrichtian, volcan-
ism decreased, and several shallow-water reefs devel-
oped on the volcanoes. The Paleocene shows a great
influx of igneous detritus, marking the onset of strong
deformation.
Fomento-Taguasco Area
This area is related to the preceding one and rep-
resents the southeastern termination of the Cabai-
guan* sequence in Las Villas. It is the easternmost
continuation of the Seibabo syncline. In this area,
the Late Cretaceous – early Paleogene stratigraphy
becomes quite complex, with rapid facies changes; so
it is necessary to subdivide it into the Taguasco vicin-
ity to the north and the Fomento vicinity to the south.
Taguasco Vicinity. —In this region, overlying the
Cumbre* and underlying the Barro* Formation are
several badly tectonized outcrops of volcanics. Al-
though consisting of characteristic lithologies, they
are difficult to correlate with established formations.
These units will be briefly described and shown in
Figure 121 in what is believed to be the proper suc-
cession, but their relative position in the section is

questionable. All have been grouped under the infor-
mal name of Old Volcanics*.
Old Volcanics*. — Here, Gulf’s geologists subdivided
them into three distinctive units. This is included
in the Mataguá Formation of Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988).
Viajaca* Formation: — This unit consists of ±700 ft
(±200 m) of thin-bedded, light-gray, red, and brown
weathering, siliceous, shaly tuffs containing radiolaria.
Potrerillos* Formation: — This consists of 5000 –
10,000 ft (1500 – 3,000 m) of thin-bedded, yellow-
brown tuffs, with circular patches of a lighter color
interbedded with the following:
1) dark, blue-gray augite, glassy, basalt porphyry
2) hornblende spherulitic porphyry
3) massive granophyre hornblende porphyry with
1-in. (2.5-cm)-long phenocrysts
4) hard, blue-green weathering to yellow-brown
dense siliceous, thin-bedded tuffs
5) thin to medium-bedded platy fragmental to pu-
miceous tuffs
6) medium-crystalline augite quartz diorite flows
Satasa* Formation: —It consists of 1000 ft (300 m)
of coarsely fragmental, dark-green tuffs with abundant
wavy laminated grains. It is interbedded with thick
augite andesitic porphyritic flows with a cryptocrystal-
line to coarse-crystalline groundmass. Sandy tuffs,
tuffaceous sandstones, and volcanic conglomerates
are present. This formation might be in part equiva-
lent to the Obregon* Formation, and it grades into the
overlying Barro* Formation.
As previously mentioned, the Old Volcanics*
were not mapped in detail by Gulf geologists.
Lower and Upper Cretaceous Units. —Above the Old
Volcanics* are representative outcrops of the Barro*,
Gomez*, Bruja*, Felipe*, and Cotorro* formations. A
unit named the Saltadero* Formation and consisting
of 500 –1000 ft (150 –300 m) of yellow-weathering
rhyolite porphyry interbedded with laminated, dull-
green vitric tuffs, is now believed to be an inlier of the
Bruja* Formation. The above units are separated by
faults and do not exhibit complete sections. In the
northern part of this area, they are overlain with
marked unconformity by the Taguasco* Formation.
Taguasco* Formation. —This unit consists of a very
variable thickness, probably averaging 250 ft (75 m), of
well-bedded, fine- to coarse-grained, noncalcareous
sandstones and shales, which contain spherical granite
and basalt boulders up to 3 ft (1 m) in diameter. The
sorting is impressively bimodal. The boulders are very
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 217
fresh, showing almost no sign of weathering. Most of
the components appear to be derived from acidic types
of igneous rock, apparently related to the Manicar-
agua belt intrusive. Although volcanics (other than
the basalt boulders) and limestone components are
occasionally present, they are surprisingly rare. Essen-
tially, no ultrabasic material exists. The sandstones and
shales are interbedded with igneous grain-bearing
limestones, marls, and occasional reef limestones.
Hatten et al. (1958) describe the Eloisa conglom-
erate that appears to be similar to the Taguasco* For-
mation, but they consider it Campanian to Maas-
trichtian on the basis of pelagic foraminifera (the
possibility of reworking exists). They also consider it
to be the lateral equivalent of the Catalina Shale in
the Central Depression. Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show
1150 ft (350 m) of a Taguasco Formation of Paleo-
cene age that is undoubtedly synonymous to Gulf’s.
It shows the Taguasco Formation resting conform-
ably in several places over the Maastrichtian Persever-
anza Group shown as dominantly limestone in this
area, but described as conglomerates, sandstones, silt-
stones, shales, and limestones. Both units rest over sev-
eral older units. As already mentioned under the sec-
tion on the north flank of the Seibabo syncline, this
map shows the Zaza unit major break, representing
the onset of the diastrophic phase, at the base of the
Maastrichtian.
The fauna consists of abundant Tertiary Globiger-
ina spp., Globorotalia spp., and radiolaria. The age is
considered Paleocene.
The Taguasco* Formation represents a synoro-
genic deposit associated with and apparently riding
forward with the basic igneous-volcanic province
over the northern carbonate belts. It is believed to be
older than the Vega* Formation, which is a similar
deposit, but associated with the carbonate belts. It is,
in part, equivalent to the Lucia* Formation in the
Sancti Spiritus area and the Fomento* Formation in
the Fomento area. It is equivalent to the Santa Clara*
Formation in the Santo Domingo – Santa Clara area.
The composition and texture of the Taguasco* sug-
gest a strong, short mechanical erosion of a nearby
source area, without much weathering, and the dump-
ing of coarse erosion products into a deep basin that
was being filled with fine clastic material under dom-
inantly pelagic conditions. Interestingly, the Taguasco*
Formation is restricted to the area between Cabaiguan
and Tamarindo, away from the most obvious south-
ern source of granitic material. Hatten et al. (1958)
raise the possibility of a now-disappeared northern
source in the basement klippes of the Cifuentes* belt.
218 / Pardo
The Taguasco* Formation is conformably and tran-
sitionally overlain by the Bijabo* Formation, but ap-
pears to rest unconformably on many older units of
the basic igneous-volcanic province.
Lucia* Formation.—The Lucia* Formation outcrops
southwest of Cabaiguan and consists of 200–700 ft
(60–200 m) of thick-bedded, fragmental to conglom-
eratic, detrital limestones, with interbeds of rudist
reefs, red shales, and marls. The base is unknown. In
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), it must be included in the
lower–middle Eocene Bijabo Formation.
The fauna consists of Globigerina spp., Globorotalia
spp., Vaughanina sp., Discocyclina sp., Orbitocyclina
sp., Dictyoconus cookei, Eoconuloides wellsi, Sulcoper-
culina sp., Pithonella spp., and Orbitoides spp. Algae
are abundant. The age is considered to extend from
the Maastrichtian to the lower – middle Eocene.
It underlies and is in part equivalent to the Ta-
guasco* and Isabel* formations. Toward the east, in
the Sancti Spiritus area, its base appears to contain
300 ft (90 m) of a massive and thick-bedded, porce-
laneous, Maastrichtian fossiliferous limestone that
was called the Guayos* Formation. It is overlain by
the Bijabo* Formation.
Bijabo* Formation. —This unit consists of 500 –
1000 ft (150 –300 m) of thin-bedded, loosely con-
solidated brown sandstones, shales, and conglom-
erates interbedded with sandy limestones. Hatten
et al. (1958) describe more than 4000 ft (1200 m) of
the Zaza Formation, which undoubtedly includes
the Bijabo* Formation. Pushcharovsky et al. (1988)
show a Bijabo Formation that certainly includes Gulf’s
Bijabo*, but must also include the Lucia* that was con-
sidered by Gulf a southern equivalent of the Taguasco*
Formation.
The fossils consist of Globigerina spp., Globorotalia
spp., Asterocyclina sp., Discocyclina spp., Vaughanina
sp., Sulcoperculina sp., ‘‘Nummulites’’ bermudezi,
Orbitoides sp., and algal remains. The planktonics
are occasionally abundant. The age is considered
lower – middle Eocene. Although it is equivalent to
the Vega* Formation, it represents the beginning of
the molasse deposition.
Siguaney* Formation.—This unit consists of ±300 ft
(±90 m) of massive, thick-bedded, porcelaneous, fine
calcarenites. It is interbedded with massive limestone
conglomerates of the Sagua* type. Hatten et al. (1958)
describe an identical unit and called it Loma Iguará
Formation. Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show a lower
Eocene Sicuaney (sic) (Loma Iguará) Formation near
the town of Taguasco in sheet 13. This is obviously a
typo because it is spelled Siguaney in the master legend.
The fauna consists of Discocyclina mestieri, Discocyc-
lina spp., Vaughanina sp., Sulcoperculina sp., Asterorbis
sp., Truncorotalia sp., Pithonella spp., Guembelina sp.,
and Orbitoides spp. Algae are abundant. It is considered
lower–middle Eocene and is correlative with the
Sagua* Formation in the carbonate belts to the north.
It grades into the overlying Rubio* Formation.
Rubio* Formation. —The unit consists of ±100 to
±500 ft (±30 to ±150 m) of thick-bedded, detrital, pellet
limestone with scattered, small igneous grains,
interbedded with nondetrital calcarenites and thick
marls. This unit is certainly included in the Loma
Iguará by Hatten et al. (1958) and in the Siguaney
Formation in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988).
The fauna consists of Discocyclina spp., Vaughanina
sp., Sulcoperculina sp., Guembelina sp., ‘‘Nummulites’’
bermudezi, Globorotalia spp., Globigerina spp., radi-
olaria, and Orbitoides spp. The age is considered lower–
middle Eocene.
It disappears westward and gradually increases in
thickness to the east. Although it is in fault contact
with younger Tertiary sediments, it is believed to be
the youngest pre– upper Eocene overlap unit of the
Cabaiguan* sequence.
Fomento Vicinity. — In this region, the Old
Volcanics* are overlain with a strong unconformity
by the Jucillo* Formation.
Jucillo* Formation. — The unit consists of a volca-
nic pebble conglomerate with a thickness ranging
from 0 to 3000 ft (0 to 900 m). All the components are
derived from the underlying volcanics. Toward the
top, it grades into and is interbedded with the reef
limestones of the Isabel* Formation. In Pushchar-
ovsky et al. (1988), it is shown as the Jucillo Forma-
tion, but is considered lower Eocene.
It is barren of organisms, but because of its strat-
igraphic position and the reef limestones in its upper
part, it is considered Maastrichtian.
To the east, near Sancti Spiritus, the Capiro* Mem-
ber (it was formerly called a formation) is distinguished
by containing a high percentage of components de-
rived from the granodiorite that outcrops nearby.
Isabel* Formation. — The Isabel* Formation out-
crops in the Fomento area and consists of 0– 300 ft
(0 – 90 m) of reefoidal limestones with large rudists,
corals, and orbitoids. Igneous-derived grains are com-
mon to abundant. In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), it is
included in the Maastrichtian Perseverancia Group,
underlying the Paleocene Fomento Formation.
The fossils consist of Globotruncana stuarti, Pitho-
nella spp., Globigerinella sp., Lepidorbitoides sp.,
Pseudorbitoides sp., Vaughanina sp., Sulcoperculina sp.,

and Archeolithothamnium sp. The age is considered
Maastrichtian.
This unit is similar and equivalent to both the
Turino* and Jiquimas* formations in the Tamarindo-
Camajuani area. It is conformably overlain by the
Fomento* Formation.
Fomento* Formation. — The Fomento* Formation
consists of an unknown thickness of gray to pink, fine
calcarenite, occurring in nodular and lenticular beds,
and a coarser calcarenite containing abundant igneous-
derived grains. The limestones are interbedded with
tan, noncalcareous, fissile shales, calcareous shales, clay-
stone, and pink sandstones. In Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988), it is shown as the Bijabo Formation, of Paleo-
cene age overlying the Perseverancia Group.
The fossils consist of Globigerina spp., Globorotalia
spp., Asterocyclina sp., Discocyclina sp., Dictyoconus sp.,
Baggina sp., Lithothamnium sp., radiolaria, discoasters,
and sponge spicules. The age is considered lower –
middle Eocene, possibly extending down into the
Paleocene.
It is in part equivalent to the Lucia*, Taguasco*
and Bijabo* formations.
Fomento-Taguasco Area: Discussion. — In the
Fomento-Taguasco area, some 7000–12,000 ft (2000–
3500 m) of Old Volcanics* are overlain by fragmented
outcrops representative of the Upper Cretaceous lith-
ologic units. In the north, in the vicinity of Taguasco,
the volcanics are overlain, with strong unconformity,
by a Paleocene conglomerate (Taguasco*) that grades
into the dominantly clastic lower – middle Eocene
(Bijabo*) that, in turn, is overlain by reefoidal to de-
trital carbonates (Siguaney*, Rubio*). In the south, in
the vicinity of Fomento, the volcanics are overlain by
thick Maastrichtian volcanic detritus (Jucillo*), which
is overlain by Maastrichtian reefoidal to detrital car-
bonates (Lucia*, Isabel*) and are, in turn, overlain by
lower–middle Eocene calcarenites (Fomento*) and
clastics (Bijabo*).
All the Paleocene and lower – middle Eocene units
appear to be lateral equivalents of the Catalina Shale,
of which 800 ft (240 m) were drilled, overlying 600 ft
(180 m) of Eloise conglomerate (Taguasco* Formation),
in Adelaide-1, some 7.5 km (4.6 mi) northwest of the
town of Jatibonico.
As can be seen, the present state of knowledge does
not provide much information on the Cretaceous vol-
canic history of this area, but does provide informa-
tion and dates on the diastrophism. The volcanic arc
became inactive and was being eroded during the late
Maastrichtian and Paleocene. The relief must have been
quite low in the lower – middle Eocene as indicated
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 219
by the type of clastics and the abundance of shallow-
water, fragmental, and reefoidal limestones. This was
the time when the Vega* Formation flysch and the
Rosas* wildflysch were being deposited in deep waters
to the north over the Las Villas* and Cabaiguan*.
Santo Domingo–Santa Clara Area
This part of the Cabaiguan* sequence lies east, north,
and northwest of the city of Santa Clara. In this area,
the outcrops are found in isolated groups surrounded
by ultrabasics and, like in the Tamarindo-Camajuani
area, they are severely disturbed. Here, the Cumbre*
Formation also appears to underlie the Cabaiguan*
sequence volcanics; however, it is difficult to establish
the relationship with the overlying units. The section
is shown in Figure 122.
Old Volcanics*. — They (Pushcharovsky et al.
[1988] include them in the Mataguá Formation)
appear to be represented by one formation. The as-
signment of this unit to the Old Volcanics* is strictly
on the basis of lithologic similarities because its strat-
igraphic position is impossible to unravel.
Corojo* Formation. — The Corojo* Formation
consists of an unknown thickness of dense, green,
siliceous tuffs, weathering yellow-brown inter-
bedded with dark-gray, amygdular, aphanitic, por-
phyritic dolerites.
Hatillo* Formation. — The Hatillo* Formation
(Pushcharovsky et al. [1988] include it in the Mataguá
Formation) consists of ±500 ft (±150 m) of brown, in
part tuffaceous, sandstone and siltstones, interbedded
with pumiceous tuff, shale, marls, and fine calcarenites.
The fauna consists of radiolaria, sponge spicules,
and traces of Globigerina sp. The age of this unit is
undetermined, but possibly Lower Cretaceous and
possibly equivalent to the Barro* and Huevero* for-
mations in the north flank of the Seibabo syncline.
Diego* Formation. —The Diego* Formation con-
sists of 300 ft (90 m) of a white, thin-bedded, marly
limestone interbedded with marls and a yellow, soft,
tuffaceous sandstone. Where the Diego* Formation
outcrops, Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show several
areas with a pattern indicating Albian – Cenomanian
outcrops, similar to the one used for the Tasajera and
Santa Teresa formations, but without identification.
A rich planktonic fauna is present consisting of
Globigerina cretacea sl., Globigerinella sp., Rugoglobiger-
ina sp., Hastigerinoides rohri, Planulina sp., and radi-
olaria. The age is considered Cenomanian.
It is the northwestward equivalent of the Gomez*,
Cristobal*, and Casanova* formations of the Seibabo
syncline.
220 / Pardo
FIGURE 122. Stratigraphic section:
Cabaiguan* sequence, Santo Dom-
ingo– Santa Clara area.
Bruja* Formation. — In this area (not shown in
Pushcharovsky et al. [1988]), only minor patches of
the typical Bruja flows of quartz-andesite porphyry
are present. These flows are the only representatives
of the Pastora* Group.
Bayate* Formation. —The unit consists of more
than 1000 ft (300 m) of a soft weathering, yellow-
brown, massive flow consisting of fine-grained spher-
ulitic quartz andesite porphyry. The spherulites are
filled with quartz, and the phenocrysts are altered
feldspars. These flows appear to be interbedded with
tuffs, which are badly weathered. This unit is petro-
graphically very similar to the Bruja* Formation. Its
stratigraphic position is questionable because of struc-
tural complications, and it could be synonymous with
Bruja*, although at one time, it was thought to belong
to the Old Volcanics.
Felipe* Formation.—The type locality is in this area
where it has a full development. In Pushcharovsky
et al. [1988], it is very probably included in the
Tassajera Group. Here, it has been divided into
three members.
Lower Member.— This consists of 300–400 ft (90–
120 m) of dark-gray, friable tuffaceous, in part calcar-
eous sandstones containing basic feldspars, biotite,
calcite, chert, and silicified ash fragments.

Middle Member.— It consists of 50 ft (15 m) of fine
fragmental, dense, light-gray limestone interbedded
with marls.
An abundant planktonic fauna is present contain-
ing Globotruncana lapparenti sl., Globotruncana contusa,
Globigerina cretacea sl., and Guembelina spp.
This member is considered equivalent to a 100-ft
(30-m), white, massive, reefoidal limestone that has
been called the Roble* Formation and is considered of
Maastrichtian–Campanian age. This unit unfortunate-
ly outcrops only as isolated blocks and, for this reason,
is not included in the volcanic sequence of this area.
Upper Member.—This member consists of 50–1000 ft
(15 – 300 m) of pistachio-green shale interbedded
with tuffaceous sandstones with common feldspar
crystals and gray, finely fragmental, slightly sandy
limestones.
An abundant planktonic fauna is present, contain-
ing Globotruncana lapparenti sl, Globigerina cretacea sl,
and Guembelina spp. The upper member is transition-
ally overlain by the Cotorro* Formation.
As already mentioned, the Felipe* Formation is con-
sidered of lower Maastrichtian age, perhaps extending
into the Campanian.
Cotorro* Formation.—This unit consists of ±300 ft
(±90 m) of its typical development of volcanic-derived
clastics with occasional argillaceous limestones.
It contains a characteristic Maastrichtian, pelagic
fauna and is overlain by and grades into the Belico*
Formation.
Belico* Formation. —This unit (not recognized in
Pushcharovsky et al. [1988]) consists of ±500 ft (±150 m)
of white to pale-green, in part calcareous, tuffs; inter-
bedded light-colored, limy, tuffaceous sandstones;
and rare white siliceous (devitrified glass?) beds. It
shows some similarities to the Hilario* Formation
and is characterized by a white color and calcareous
content.
The fossils consist of Globotruncana lapparenti sl.,
Guembelina sp., Pithonella spp., Dicyclina sp., Pseudorbi-
toides sp., Sulcoperculina sp., Archeolithothamnium sp.,
mollusk fragments, and radiolaria. The age is consid-
ered Maastrichtian.
It is overlain with a marked unconformity by the
Santa Clara* Formation.
Bernia* Formation.—This unit consists of ±300 ft
(90 m) of tan pellet to oolitic, medium-bedded lime-
stone with sparse to abundant igneous grains.
The fossils consist of Guembelina sp., Lockhartia
sp., Pithonella spp., and Lithothamnium sp. It is con-
sidered Maastrichtian, possibly extending into the
Paleocene.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 221
The relationships with other units are not clear, but
it appears faunally and lithologically related to the
Santa Clara* Formation; they might be synonymous.
Santa Clara* Formation. — This unit (recognized
in Pushcharovsky et al. [1988]) consists of 100 – 300 ft
(33 –90 m) of white to cream, fragmental to conglom-
eratic limestone, with abundant algal and tuff frag-
ments. In addition, some interbedded marls and a 10–
20-ft (3–6-m) conglomerate with boulders of white,
fossiliferous Paleocene limestone without igneous
grains are present.
The fossils consist of Discocyclina sp., Broeckella bel-
gica, Globorotalia spp., Globigerina pseudobulloides, Glo-
bigerina spp. (of Tertiary type), and Lithothamnium spp.
(of Tertiary type), indicating a Paleocene to lower–middle
Eocene age. It also contains an abundant reworked
Maastrichtian fauna. It is considered to be equivalent
to the Taguasco* Formation to the southeast, but
older than the lower–middle Eocene part of the
Sagua* Formation of the carbonate belts to the north.
As already mentioned, the base of the Santa Clara*
Formation marks a pronounced unconformity over
the Maastrichtian because it rests on the Cotorro*,
Felipe*, and Belico* formations. At Loma Capiro, north-
east of the town of Santa Clara, the K/T boundary
has been identified within this formation (Alegret
et al., 2005). The presence of impact material has been
recognized.
The Santa Clara* Formation is overlain by several
lower – middle Eocene units, including the Vega*,
Vicente*, and Falcon* formations.
Lower –Middle Eocene Units. — Under this title
are grouped several units of this age whose relation-
ships with each other are not clear. Their total thick-
ness is ±2000 ft (±600 m). They consist of graywacke
sandstones, shales, and conglomerates, with occasion-
al marls and limestones of the Vega*, Vicente*, and
Falcon* formations. The Vega* Formation has already
been described; the Vicente* Formation consists of
maroon shales and calcarenites with igneous grains;
and the Falcon* Formation is made up of light-gray,
dull calcarenites with rounded igneous components
and marls. In Pushcharovsky et al., 1988, they appear
under the name of Ochoa Formation of lower–middle
Eocene age, consisting of conglomerates, sandstones,
shales, siltstones, and limestones.
These units are equivalent to the Bijabo*, Siguaney*,
and Rubio* formations to the southeast.
Santo Domingo–Santa Clara Area: Discussion.—
In the Santo Domingo–Santa Clara area, the Cabai-
guan* sequence is characterized by (1) intense vol-
canic activity in the Lower Cretaceous, although the
222 / Pardo
thickness is not as great as in the other areas; (2) a
volcanic pause during the Cenomanian, accompanied
by pelagic carbonate sedimentation; (3) a renewal of
volcanism during the Turonian–Senonian, with more
acidic-type rocks characterized by rhyolitic flows; (4) a
strong pre-Maastrichtian unconformity; and (5) re-
duced volcanic activity during the Maastrichtian, as
evidenced by volcanic-derived sediments only. In the
Paleocene and through the lower–middle Eocene, there
was a completely new cycle. All volcanic activity ceased,
and igneous detritus derived from the uplift of the
Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences, as well as other
crystalline areas, became the dominant sediment.
Central Camaguey Area
The Cabaiguan* sequence rocks form most of the
outcrops south of the Domingo belt, extending from
Ciego de Avila to Vertientes, Amancio Rodriguez, and
the vicinity of Las Tunas. As already mentioned, Gulf
did only reconnaissance in this area. A major difference
between the Las Villas and Camaguey provinces is that
in Camaguey, the Cabaiguan* sequence is divided into
two segments by a nearly continuous, fairly linear body
of granodiorite and associated intrusives that extends
from Ciego de Avila to east of Las Tunas. This body,
like the Manicaragua belt granodiorite, is of Late Cre-
taceous age and, therefore, shows extensive intrusive
relationships with the volcanics. In Las Villas province,
the intrusion is limited to the southern edge of the
Cabaiguan* sequence and intrudes only its oldest rocks.
The most complete exposed sections are south of
the granitoid body or south of a line running from
Florida to Las Tunas. This exposure of volcanics is
shown in the 1988 geologic map (Pushcharovsky et al.,
1988) as the Las Tunas unit, consisting of a broad anti-
cline where, in several fault blocks with no clear rela-
tion to each other, the older units lie under a succes-
sion of later Cretaceous overlaps. This map shows more
than 28,000 ft (8500 m) of Albian to Maastrichtian
volcanics. The dips are generally low (under 308), and
recent information reports a considerable amount of
repetition, indicating that the thickness estimates are
greatly exaggerated. In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988),
Contramaestre, Guaimaro, and Vidot formations rep-
resent much of the volcanic section. This nomencla-
ture is being replaced by the section, which is shown
in Figure 123, and described as follows. It is based on
Iturralde-Vinent and de la Torre (1990), and Iturralde-
Vinent (1996).
Pre-Camujiro Beds. — This is the informal name
for a monotonous section of intermediate flows, gray
tuffs, shales, and graywacke sandstones. They contain
Hedbergella sp. and Nannoconus sp., Globigerinelloides
sp., and radiolarians (Furrazola-Bermudez et al., 1964),
indicating an Aptian–Albian age. The Camujiro For-
mation unconformably overlies these beds.
Camujiro Formation.—The unit consists of approx-
imately 11,500–13,000 ft (3500–4000 m) of volcanic-
derived basal conglomerates, overlain by crystalline
tuffs, and basaltic to intermediate lavas. A horizon
some 40 ft (12 m) in thickness consists of lenses of
gray crystalline limestones containing rudists and in-
terbedded with tuffs. The limestones contain Tepeya-
sia corrugata and Ichtyosarcolites sp. The tuffs contain
Hedbergella sp. and Ticinella sp. The Camujiro forma-
tion is considered to be upper Albian to Turonian in
age. It is considered equivalent to the Bruja* Forma-
tion in Las Villas. It is in part synonymous and re-
places the Guaimaro and Contramaestre formations
of Pushcharovsky et al. (1988).
The Piragua Formation overlies the Camujiro with
an unconformity. Intrusive contacts with the grano-
diorite and associated intrusives are common.
Sierra de Rompe. — This unit (originally described
by Somin and Millán, 1981) consists of an unknown
thickness of metamorphosed basalts and associated
volcaniclastics. Some strongly deformed marbles
containing rudist remains have been described, sug-
gesting a possible late Lower Cretaceous to Campa-
nian age. Tchounev et al. (1986) report the presence
of this unit in the Guaimaro –Las Tunas area, where
they were formerly considered to be contact meta-
morphics between the granodiorite and the volca-
nics. The type of metamorphism is regional, and there
is a similarity to the Mabujina complex. The position
of this unit is questionable because no normal con-
tacts with other units of the volcanic sequence have
been observed. It could be equivalent to the Camujiro
Formation (Millan-Tujillo, 1996) and appears to be re-
lated to Cretaceous volcanics, such as the Old Vol-
canics* in Las Villas province, instead of the ophiolitic
association.
Piragua Formation. —The Piragua Formation (in
large part synonymous with, and replaces, the Vidot
Formation of Pushcharovsky et al. [1988]) consists
approximately of ±1400 ft (±500 m) of tuffs and ba-
saltic to rhyolitic flows. A basal conglomerate is pres-
ent, overlain by two levels of limestone lenses con-
taining rudists. Both levels are near the base of the
formation.
In the upper limestone level consisting of dark-
gray massive limestone lenses, up to 150 ft (50 m)
thick, Barretia monolifera, Pseudorbitoides sp., and Sulco-
perculina sp. have been identified.

The lower part of the section has been divided
into two members representing different facies of the
formation.
Loma Yucatan Member. —It consists of a basal con-
glomerate overlain by thick, massive, dark-gray lime-
stones interbedded with tuffs. The limestone contains
the rudists Durrania curasavica and Vaccinites sp. It is
considered of Santonian age.
San Francisco Member. —This member consists of
cream to pink calcareous tuffs considered to be the
deep-water equivalent of the Loma Yucatan Mem-
ber. The basal conglomerate is absent.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 223
FIGURE 123. Stratigraphic section:
Cabaiguan* sequence, central Cama-
guey area.
This member contains radiolaria and ammonites
(Paratexanites? sp., Texasia? dentocarinata).
The Piragua Formation is considered to extend
from the Santonian through the Campanian. Meta-
morphosed contacts with the granodiorite and asso-
ciated intrusives are common. It is equivalent to the
Coabilla Formation that outcrops mostly north of
the granodiorite body. Some rhyolitic flows at the
top of the Piragua Formation have been called La
Sierra Formation.
Marti Formation. — The Marti Formation consists
of an unknown thickness of acid flows, tuffs,
224 / Pardo
volcanic-derived sediments, and limestones and is
considered of Campanian age. It is equivalent to the
Piragua Formation and shows contact metamorphism
with the granodiorite. According to Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988), it has a very limited distribution in the
vicinity of the town of Marti.
Aguilar Formation. —This unit (partially synon-
ymous with the Contramaestre Formation) consists
of 380 – 400 ft (100 – 150 m) of a monotonous section
of light-cream, well-bedded tuffs, cherts, calcareous
tuffs, and biomicritic limestones. The age is consid-
ered Santonian on the basis of Paratexanites sp. and
Texasia? dentatocarinata. It could extend into the
Campanian.
Coabilla Formation.—This unit (named by Iturralde-
Vinent, 1981) consists of an unknown thickness of
medium acid- to acid-flow breccias and tuffs that have
been assigned to the Campanian. This formation oc-
curs mostly north of the granodiorite body and ap-
pears to rest directly, in fault contact, on the ultra-
basics of the Domingo* sequence. Good evidence also
exists that it was intruded by the granodiorite. It is the
northern equivalent of the Piragua and Aguilar for-
mations. In the upper part of the Coabilla Formation
is a body of columnar andesitic basalt named La
Mulata Formation, an equivalent of La Sierra. It is
considered of Campanian –upper Maastrichtian age.
The Duran or Jimaguayu Formation unconformably
overlies the Coabilla Formation.
Durán Formation. — This unit consists of ±330 ft
(±100 m) of conglomerates, sandstones, volcanic-
derived sandstones, and siltstones.
Some reef limestones contain a fauna of the rudists
Titanosarcolites giganteus and Microcaprina tschoppi. The
associated foraminifera are Vaughanina cubensis, Orbit-
oides apicullata, Pseudorbitoides sp., S. globosa, and a rich
pelagic fauna containing Globotruncana spp. and Rugo-
globigerina spp. It is considered of Campanian through
Maastrichtian age.
The base of the Duran Formation marks an impor-
tant unconformity over all older volcanic units. This
is the oldest unit not to show the effects of the grano-
diorite intrusion.
It is the northern equivalent of the Jimaguayu
Formation.
Jimaguayu Formation.— It consists of 1000 ft
(300 m) of fossiliferous limestones, calcirudites, marls,
and sandstones.
The limestones contain a rich rudist fauna, includ-
ing Biradiolites mooretownensis, Titanosarcolites gigan-
teus, Microcaprina tschoppi, and Praebarrettia sparcilir-
ata. The associated foraminifera consist of Vaughanina
cubensis, Vaughanina guatemaltensis, Orbitoides apicul-
lata, Orbitoides media, Pseudorbitoides sp., and Sulco-
perculina globosa. A pelagic foraminifera fauna consist-
ing of Globotruncana spp. and Rugoglobigerina spp. is
also present. It is considered of Maastrichtian age, and
it overlies all older units with marked unconformity.
This formation is mostly confined to the south
Cabaiguan* sequence outcrop area, but the presence
of outliers to the north indicate that at one time, it
was a widespread unit.
It is equivalent to the Isabel* Formation (which is
included in the Perseverancia Group in Pushcharovsky
et al., 1988) in the Fomento area. It is also very prob-
ably equivalent to the Jiquimas* Formation of the
Tamarindo-Camajuani area.
To the south, in the Florida-Vertientes area, the
Jimaguayu Formation is overlain by the Vertientes
Formation.
Vertientes Formation. — This unit consists of
1500–2100 ft (500–700 m) of marls, sandstone, lime-
stones, and radiolarites of lower to middle Eocene age.
It shows similarities to and is probably correlative with
the Rubio* Formation. It is present mostly to the south
and west of the bulk of the volcanic rock outcrops.
This unit, although still considered as part of the pre–
upper Eocene deformed sediments, is much less
tectonized than the underlying Cretaceous.
Florida Formation. — It consists of 200 ft (60 m) of
calcirudites, limestones, and marls of middle Eocene
age. It is in part equivalent, and lithologically similar,
to the Siguaney* Formation and is in part equivalent to
the Vertientes Formation. It is best developed between
the towns of Ciego de Avila and Florida.
Toward the center of the island, in the Maraguan
area, the Jimaguayu Formation is overlain by the Mara-
guan Formation.
Maraguan Formation. — This unit outcrops in
the northeastern part of the Cabaiguan* sequence,
north of the granodiorite body, and northwest of the
city of Camaguey. It consists of 325 ft (100 m) of
interbedded conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones,
and marls. It is considered lower Eocene and overlies
with marked unconformity the Upper Cretaceous
Jimaguayu, Piragua, Coabilla, and Duran formations.
It occupies the same stratigraphic position as the Ta-
guasco* Formation, although the Paleocene has not
been reported. It underlies with apparent conformi-
ty the Saramaguacan Formation.
Saramaguacan Formation. — This consists of
1500–2100 ft (500–700 m) of an interbedding of lime-
stones, marls, sandstones, siltstones, and shales. It is
considered lower to middle Eocene.

Central Camaguey Area: Discussion.—In Central
Camaguey, the following points should be emphasized:
1) Possible late Lower Cretaceous to Campanian
tholeitic basalts were only recognized in 1986,
after the 1985 information cutoff date for the
1988 geologic map, (Pushcharovsky et al., 1988).
Since 1985, much of the geology of the area has
been revised, and most of the exposed volcanic
section is now thought to be post-Albian.
2) The oldest reported carbonates are Cenomanian
(Albian?) – Turonian, in the Camujiro (in part
Guaimaro of Pushcharovsky et al. [1988]) For-
mation. Therefore, carbonates equivalent to the
Cristobal* and Gomez* formations of Las Villas
are not known in this area, although the Albian–
Turonian is present and contains pelagic faunas.
The pre-Camujiro beds could be related and show
some affinities with the Huevero* Formation.
3) As already mentioned, the thickness of the Up-
per Cretaceous volcanics (Guaimaro and Contra-
maestre formations) shown in Pushcharovsky et al.,
1988, is exaggerated and does not exceed 6500 ft
(2000 m). This is caused by the abundant repeti-
tions of section. The Contramaestre Formation has
been found to be a structural mixture of Camujiro
and Piragua formations.
4) The extensive granodiorite body intrudes all the
volcanics older than the Duran Formation with-
out being associated with regional metamorphism.
Furthermore, this body seems to divide central Ca-
maguey into two distinct areas, with the bulk of
the volcanics to the south and only the Campa-
nian Coabilla and younger formations to the north.
This body is much more extensive in the subsur-
face than it appears on the surface.
5) A major unconformity exists at the base of the
Santonian and Campanian Piragua and its equiv-
alent, the Coabilla Formation, which is found in
fault contact with the Domingo* sequence.
In summary, no apparent sedimentary contact
exists between the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* se-
quences, although tholeitic basalts of possible Early
Cretaceous age have been reported. Except for the Al-
bian tuffs, no record of Lower Cretaceous volcanism
exists.
During the Cenomanian – Santonian, submarine
outpourings of intermediate basaltic-andesitic flows
interbedded with tuffs and volcaniclastics occurred. It
is not clear whether there was a pause in volcanism
in the Cenomanian as in Las Villas province, but this
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 225
is possible because a major hiatus exists between the
Camujiro and the pre-Camujiro beds.
During the Santonian–Campanian interval, an ac-
cumulation of tuffs, of intermediate to acid composi-
tion, and other volcaniclastics occurred, interbedded
with carbonate bodies possibly equivalent to part of
the Pastora* Group.
During the Coniacian, there was some deforma-
tion and uplift before the deposition of the Campa-
nian Piragua, Coabilla, and Marti formations.
The deformation continued, and a second uncon-
formity occurred at the base of the Campanian –
Maastrichtian Duran and Yaquimas formations. This
unconformity very possibly correlates with the pre-
Maastrichtian unconformity in Las Villas province.
The overlying units are characterized by further de-
position of tuffs and volcanoclastic sediments and
are probably correlative to the Cotorro* and Hilario*
formations of the Tamarindo-Camajuani area.
The granodiorite body shows contact metamor-
phism with all Campanian and older units. Several
smaller associated intrusives are concentrated around
Guaimaro, suggesting the presence of a volcanic center.
The close of the Maastrichtian is marked here,
as in Las Villas province, by the influx of carbonate
sedimentation characterized by the Jimaguayu Forma-
tion, correlative with the Jiquimas*.
The Paleocene is not reported, although the Ma-
raguan could be a counterpart of the Taguasco*
Formation.
The middle Eocene clastics, carbonates, and marls
of the Florida and Vertientes formations, similar
and correlative with the Siguaney* and Rubio* forma-
tions, are also unconformable over older sediments,
but are not as involved in the deformation as is the
lower Tertiary in the northern carbonate belts of Las
Villas and Camaguey provinces.
Although tuffs are reported in the Maastrichtian,
the present thinking of Cuban workers is that here,
as in Las Villas province, volcanism ceased at the close
of the Campanian.
In this area, the Domingo* is separated from the
Cabaiguan* sequence by a series of faults, which prob-
ably represents the highly deformed expression of a
Cabaiguan* sequence thrust sheet riding northward
over the Domingo*.
Intrusives
Part of this area was included in the Manicaragua
tectounit. Hatten et al., 1958, named this unit the
Manicaragua tectounit; it was redefined and described
by Hatten et al., 1988.
226 / Pardo
FIGURE 124. Central Cuba, Cabaiguan sequence intrusives.
It outcrops in Las Villas province, where it con-
sists of a narrow band of granodiorite and metavol-
canics, commonly ±10 km (±6 mi) wide, north of the
Escambray massif. It extends from the vicinity of Cu-
manayagua through Manicaragua to Sancti Spiritus.
In the Camaguey province, an assemblage of grano-
dioritic intrusive rocks (already mentioned) forms
the backbone of the province and outcrops almost
continuously from Ciego de Avila to Las Tunas. In this
study, these granodiorites and associated metamor-
phics will be included in the Cretaceous volcanic com-
plex of the Cabaiguan section (see Figure 124).
Escambray Massif Area. —
Sancti Spiritus Granodiorite.—In the recent literature,
no formal name exists for this group of related granit-
oids. Hatten et al. (1958) included it in the Mani-
caragua tectounit. I feel that it should be separated
from the Mabujina amphibolite for being genetically
different.
It is a large intrusive body ranging in composition
from diorite to granodiorite to plagiogranite. The pla-
gioclase ranges from andesine to labradorite. Some-
times, it has well-developed intergrowths of quartz. It
generally contains hornblende and biotite. Near the
contact with the Mabuyina, many scattered inclusions
of rounded to angular amphibolite are present. Unde-
formed pegmatite dikes cut both the Mabuyina com-
plex and the granodiorite.
Radiometric dates from the granodiorite (10 sam-
ples) range from 60 to 93 Ma, but have a median value
of 84 Ma or Santonian. It is worth mentioning that
some dates of the Escambray metamorphism are as
young as 70 Ma or middle Maastrichtian and as old as
95 Ma or middle Cenomanian. At any rate, there ap-
pears to be no question that the age of the intrusion,
as well as that of the corresponding more acidic vol-
canic phase of the Cabaiguan* sequence, is Upper
Cretaceous. As already mentioned, this body shows
intrusive relationships with the Lower Cretaceous
volcanics.
Porvenir Formation. — The Porvenir Formation
consists of badly weathered metavolcanics in con-
tact with the granodiorite. A mixture of lithologies
exists such as metatuffs, quartzites, and marbles.
Central Camaguey Area. — In this area, only a
granodiorite body of composition and age similar to
that of the Sancti Spiritus granodiorite is present.
Radiometric dates from the granodiorite (28 samples)
range from 58 to 99 Ma, but have a median value of
78 Ma or lower Campanian. It shows intrusive rela-
tionships with all the units from the possible Lower
Cretaceous Sierra de Rompe sequence to the Campa-
nian Piragua and Coabilla formations. A cluster of
related granitoid intrusions in the Cabaiguan* se-
quence, as well as in the granodiorite proper in the
vicinity of Guaimaro, suggests the location of a former
volcanic center.
The main difference between these two granodi-
orite bodies is their relation to the Cabaiguan* se-
quence exposures; the Sancti Spiritus body is to the

south of the exposures, whereas in central Camaguey,
it is located to the north of most of them.
Campanian–Maastrichtian Problem
Here, it seems appropriate to discuss the dating of
the end of the volcanism because there is a point of
disagreement between my interpretation and the cur-
rent opinion of several authors.
Gulf considered the volcanism in Las Villas prov-
ince to have continued into the Maastrichtian. How-
ever, Pushcharovsky et al., 1988, indicate that the
volcanism ceased at the end of the Campanian and
considers several units that were dated by Gulf as
Maastrichtian to be Campanian or older. In the Cama-
guey province, Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), Iturralde-
Vinent and de la Torre (1990), and Iturralde-Vinent
(1996) show an unconformity and hiatus below the
Maastrichtian separating a lower Campanian and older
volcanic section from an upper nonvolcanic one.
Because only a maximum of 3 m.y. are involved,
this might appear as splitting hairs. However, this
difference has an important effect on the age assign-
ment of certain unfossiliferous units, thus affecting
the reconstruction of the geologic history. Having
no access to documents with evidence supporting
the pre-Maastrichtian cessation of volcanic activity
in all of central Cuba, what follows is a review of the
reasons why Gulf’s geologists thought that some vol-
canic activity in this area continued until at least the
lower part of the Maastrichtian.
One idea to keep in mind during this discussion
is the common Cuban problem of the reworking of
older faunas into younger sediments.
1) Pelagic assemblages. In the Cifuentes* belt, the
Amaro* and Rodrigo* formations contain a rich
pelagic assemblage of the Globotruncana lapparenti
group, which was assigned a Santonian through
Maastrichtian age. P. Brönnimann considered that
much of the Amaro* Formation pelagic fauna per-
tained to the Globotruncana calcarata–Globotruncana
fornicata and Globotruncana ganseri zones of
Campanian–lower Maastrichtian age. The Rodrigo*
Formation fauna pertains to the Globotruncana
mayaroensis zone and was therefore considered to
be of upper Maastrichtian age. Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988) agree with this age determination and
considers the Amaro (and equivalent Camajan)
Formation, which includes Gulf’s Rodrigo* Forma-
tion, to be of Maastrichtian age. In the Cabaiguan*
sequence, the same assemblages have been iden-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 227
tified in the Algarrobos*, Belico*, Cotorro*, Felipe*,
and Yaya* formations.
2) Benthonic assemblages. Orbitoid assemblages are
considered mostly of Campanian – Maastrichtian
age. The Vaughanina-Orbitoides-Lepidorbitoides as-
semblage was considered definitely of Maastrich-
tian age. This assemblage was identified in the
Algarrobos*, Jiquimas*, Salvador*, and Turino* for-
mations. The Roble* Formation, containing primi-
tive pseudorbitoids, was considered of lower Maas-
trichtian–Campanian(?) age and to be an equivalent
to the middle member of the Felipe* Formation.
Of the above-mentioned units considered by Gulf
to be of Maastrichtian age, the Cotorro* Formation is
crucial because it is represented in the Seibabo syncline,
north and south flanks; the Tamarindo-Camajuani
area; and the Santo Domingo – Santa Clara area. It
is poorly represented to absent in the Fomento-
Taguasco area. The relationships of the Cotorro* with
other units is as follows.
1) In the Seibabo syncline–north flank and the Santo
Domingo–Santa Clara area, it conformably over-
lies the volcanic Felipe* Formation, considered by
Gulf to be lower Maastrichtian–Campanian(?).
2) In the Seibabo syncline– south flank, it conform-
ably overlies the volcanic Salvador* Formation,
which is similar to, and possibly synonymous with,
the Felipe*.
3) In the Tamarindo-Camajuani area, it lies with
strong unconformity over the Cenomanian Go-
mez* Formation.
4) In the Fomento-Taguasco area, it is either absent
because of a Paleocene unconformity or represented
by the Jucillo* conglomerates, interbedded with
the Maastrichtian Isabel* Formation, and lying
unconformably over the Old Volcanics*.
5) The Cotorro* Formation is definitely overlain by
the Hilario* Formation, which is made of massive
tuffs, the Belico* Formation, that definitely con-
tains tuffs and tuffaceous sandstones, and the
Turino* Formation, which, consisting mostly of
calcarenites, is interbedded with the basalt por-
phyries and breccias of the Carlota* Formation.
As previously mentioned, the Carlota* Formation,
La Rana of Hatten et al. (1958), was considered by them
to overlie the Maastrichtian and/or upper Campa-
nian Dagamal (Hilario*) Formation, although they
assign it to the Coniacian–Santonian. Their reasoning
is not entirely clear.
228 / Pardo
FIGURE 125. Correlation chart, Cabaiguan* sequence, Upper Cretaceous.
Overlying these Maastrichtian volcanics is a group
of Maastrichtian, reefoidal to detrital, carbonate units
that resemble the Camaguey province Duran and Ji-
maguayú formations; these are the Isabel*, Jiquimas*,
Bernia*, and the Seibabo upper units.
In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), most of the units
mentioned above are included in the Tassajera Group
of Coniacian –Campanian age.
It is therefore possible that the unconformity is
upper Campanian in age (see Figure 125). In Cama-
guey, it separates the upper Maastrichtian deposits
from the underlying Campanian, whereas in Las Villas
province, it separates the lower Maastrichtian from
Campanian and older sediments. In southeastern Las
Villas, the Maastrichtian (Cotorro*, Jucillo*) overlies
Cenomanian to Lower Cretaceous volcanics; in north-
western Las Villas, the Maastrichtian –Campanian(?)
(Felipe*) overlies the Turonian (Bruja*); and in south-
eastern Las Villas, sedimentation was apparently
uninterrupted.
The late phases of volcanism, therefore, extended
into the lower Maastrichtian in Las Villas, but were
not recorded in central Camaguey because no sedi-
ments accumulated there until the upper Maastrich-
tian. The evidence in Las Villas indicates that the
volcanism ended by the middle Maastrichtian and
was overlain by carbonate deposits similar to, and
contemporaneous with, the Duran and Jimaguayú
formations.
This disagreement will certainly not be settled
here, but it is not clear why the Amaro* and Rodrigo*
formations are accepted as Maastrichtian, whereas the
above-mentioned Cabaiguan* sequence units, with
an identical fauna, are not. However, the Isabel* and
Santa Clara* formations considered by P. Brönnimann
as Maastrichtian and Maastrichtian – Paleocene,
respectively, on the same faunal evidence, are
considered part of a Maastrichtian and later overlap,
the Perseverancia Group and Santa Clara Formation,
on the 1988 geologic map (Pushcharovsky et al.,
1988).
This volcanism cutoff date is a somewhat surpris-
ing conclusion in view of the fact that according to
K-Ar dating (Iturralde-Vinent et al., 1996), the period
of 65–75 m.y. (Maastrichtian) represents the highest
peak of thermal activity (rock formation, metamor-
phism, etc.) in the Cabaiguan* sequence. At any rate,
it must be pointed out that the flows of the Salvador*
and Carlota* formations are basalts, quite different
from the preceding, older, rhyolitic flows. The basalts
suggest late-orogenic volcanic activity, which, in this
study, will be considered lower Maastrichtian.
Drilling. —Several wells have been drilled in the
eastward continuation of the Cabaiguan* sequence.
Information is available on some of them.
1) Kewanee Cabrera-1. Drilled 3 km (1.8 mi) north of
the town of Seibabo, was spudded in the Bijabo*

FIGURE 126. Western Cuba: basic igneous-volcanics terrane generalized geologic map.
Formation, and encountered the Taguasco* at
3610 ft (1101 m) to total depth at 6193 ft (1888 m).
2) General Corporation Echevarria-1. Drilled approx-
imately 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of the town of
Jatibonico, was spudded in Oligocene sediments,
and penetrated undifferentiated Old Volcanics* at
1072 ft (327 m) to total depth at 8375 ft (2553 m).
The producing interval is at the contact between
the volcanics and the overlying Tertiary.
3) EPEP Jatibonico-78. Drilled 6.5 km (4 mi) west-
northwest of Jatibonico, was spudded in the
young Tertiary cover, and is reported (in Shien
et al., 1984) to have encountered Upper Cretaceous
intermediate to basic tuffs, flows, and agglomer-
ates at ±1150 ft (±350 m). At ±4725 ft (±1440 m), it
penetrated Aptian–Albian intermediate to basic
tuffs and flows. Below 10,030 ft (±3180 m), basic
flows were penetrated to 13,775 ft (±4200 m),
where pre-Mesozoic metamorphics were reported
to a total depth of 14,553 ft (4437 m). The kind of
metamorphics and the basis for dating the vol-
canics are unknown, but the succession suggests a
normal Cabaiguan into Domingo section.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 229
4) Cristales oil field. In this field, 30 km (18 mi) due
east of the town of Jatibonico, the production is
from the vugular reefoidal limestones of the
Jiquimas* Formation (Cristales limestone) at, or
under, an unspecified Tertiary unconformity over
the volcanics at ±1800 ft (±550 m).
Western Cuba
As in central Cuba, the basic igneous-volcanic prov-
ince can be subdivided into the Domingo* sequence,
consisting of ultrabasic rocks and basalts, spilites, etc.,
and the Cabaiguan* sequence that consists of inter-
mediate to acid volcanics and associated sediments.
In western Cuba, rocks belonging to these belts are found
in three general areas (see Figure 126), all forming
part of Truitt’s (1956a, b) Bahia Honda* belt: the Bahia
Honda vicinity, the area south of the Pinar fault, and
the north of the Isle de la Juventud. Figure 127 is a
correlation chart of western Cuba, including north-
ern Cuba.
In this study, the name Bahia Honda area will be
used in the geographically restricted sense of Furrazola-
230 / Pardo
FIGURE 127. Correlation chart, basic igneous-volcanic terrane, western and northern Cuba.
Bermúdez et al. (1964) (it is considered by them as a
subzone of the Zaza zone). Here, it will be subdivided
into a southern tectonic unit and a northern tectonic
unit. The area south of the Pinar fault is named the
Los Palacios Basin, and the unmetamorphosed volca-
nics outcropping in the north of the Isla de la Ju-
ventud is named the Isla de la Juventud area. These
areas are defined as follows.
Bahia Honda Area. — The Bahia Honda area is
present only in the northeastern Pinar del Rio (see
Figure 128) and is the continuation of the basic
igneous-volcanic province of central Cuba after out-
cropping through La Habana and Matanzas provinces,
where it is broken up by a large number of cross-faults
into relatively small segments. In western Cuba, it
forms a large body of parallel, fairly coherent, elongat-
ed outcrops that extends from Manuel Sanguily east-
ward for 74 km (46 mi).
The Bahia Honda area is found north of the
Guajaibon – Sierra Azul and northern Rosario belts,
east of the La Esperanza belt, and toward La Habana.
After the Pinar fault disappears, it merges with the
eastern Los Palacios Basin.
Pszczólkowski and Albear (1982) and Pushchar-
ovsky et al. (1988) subdivide the Bahia Honda area
into two units:
1) Northern tectonic unit. It contains ultrabasics. It
extends from the coast to the fault that defines
the southern limit of the ultrabasics.
2) Southern tectonic unit. It is characterized by vol-
canics and volcaniclastics, with no ultrabasics,

FIGURE 128. Western Cuba, Bahia Honda, and Los Palacios areas.
and dipping steeply northward under the north-
ern tectonic unit.
Los Palacios Basin. — This area extends along the
southern side of the Pinar fault all the way to the
south coast of Pinar del Rio. It is mostly a subsurface
feature, except for a narrow belt of early Tertiary and
Upper Cretaceous outcrops along the Pinar fault. Sev-
eral wells have been drilled into it. Pszczólkowski (1978)
used the term ‘‘San Diego de los Baños structurofacies
zone.’’ It is called Los Palacios Basin in Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988).
Isla de la Juventud Area. — A small area of unmeta-
morphosed Cretaceous volcanics exists outcropping
in the northwest of the Isla de la Juventud.
Domingo* Sequence
Bahia Honda Area: Northern Tectonic Unit
The Domingo* sequence is represented by an asso-
ciation of serpentines and gabbroic rocks that occur
in a continuous way only in the northern tectonic
unit of the Bahia Honda area (named the Felicidades
belt). Despite structural complications, like in other
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 231
areas of Cuba, it appears to be overlain by the Ca-
baiguan* sequence. The northern tectonic unit also
overlies the southern tectonic unit, where it is in a
north-dipping fault contact with the Quiñones, En-
crucijada, and Via Blanca formations of the Cabai-
guan* sequence.
Serpentine. — It forms most of the rocks repre-
senting this belt. In the southwestern part of the
northern area, they form the large mass of the Sierra
de Cajalbana. They are present throughout the area
in isolated patches, but form a narrow linear body
that extends for the entire length and defines the
southern limit of the unit. The serpentine appears to
form a steeply north-dipping tabular body. As in cen-
tral Cuba, the Domingo* sequence appears to represent
the base of the basic igneous-volcanic section. Accord-
ing to Garcia-Casco et al. (2003), it seems to have
been formed at moderate pressure (6–8 kbar) and
moderately high temperature (6008C). Thicknesses of
the serpentine are impossible to estimate, but as in
central Cuba, they are very variable. The serpentines
are highly disturbed and appear to be overlain by
gabbroic rocks. Concerning the wildflysch (Big Boul-
der bed) or Vieja Member of the Manacas (Quiñones)
232 / Pardo
Formation in contact with the serpentine, Hatten
(1957) described many ‘‘exotic’’ blocks of amphib-
olite, actinolite garnet schists, and hornblende-quartz
rocks are enclosed by the serpentinized rock. These
metamorphics are of unknown origin.
He might have been referring to the basal part of
the serpentine body, which is chaotic in nature, and
would therefore contain exotic metamorphic blocks
as does the lower Domingo* sequence in the Santa
Clara area of central Cuba.
Gabbros
A complex consisting of spilites, gabbros, diabase,
troctolite, and anorthosite is found associated with
the serpentines. Although most of the contacts are
modified by tectonism, this complex appears to over-
lie the serpentine and underlie the rocks of the Ca-
baiguan* sequence of the northern tectonic unit.
Other Areas
Outside the Bahia Honda area, many patches of ser-
pentine associated with faults are present through-
out the Sierra de Guaniguanico. Very commonly,
they are in contact with the Manacas Formation.
They might be remnants of a Domingo-Cabaiguan
belt thrust sheet over the Manacas Formation. Many
of them are large olistoliths of Domingo* sequence
in the wildflysch of the Vieja Member of the Mana-
cas Formation.
A particularly large outcrop of serpentine and gab-
bro, present in the Cabeza de Horacio window (sur-
rounded by San Cayetano and associated with La
Esperanza Formation), could be a remnant of Domingo*
sequence caught in the thrusting, as suggested by
Pardo (1975), or be an equivalent of the El Sabalo oce-
anic basement under the La Esperanza Formation. At
any rate, it appears to be allochthonous because it
has no gravity or magnetic expression.
Cabaiguan* Sequence
This belt is not nearly as well developed as in cen-
tral Cuba and in general is structurally much more
disturbed.
The section is shown in Figure 129.
Bahia Honda Area: Northern Tectonic Unit
This area is shown in Figure 128.
Encrucijada Formation. — This unit consists of
±2000 ft (±600 m) of massive, commonly badly
weathered and highly sheared, amygdaloidal, and
porphyritic basic flows and thick chert interbeds.
Occasional associated tuffs, volcanic derived shales,
and sandstones occur. Occasional dirty limestones are
also observed. The Encrucijada Formation is the lower
part of the Chirino Formation of Pszczólkowski and
Albear (1982). It is also part of Truitt’s (1956a, b) Nuñez
Formation. This unit is considered Aptian–Albian in
age and is believed to be transitional with the Orozco
Formation.
Orozco Formation. — The Orozco Formation is
the upper part of the Chirino Formation of Pszczólk-
owski and Albear (1982). It is also part of Truitt’s
(1956a, b) Nuñez Formation.
This unit consists of 1600 ft (500 m) of basaltic and
dacitic tuffs, basalts, tuffaceous sandstones, and con-
glomerates. It is considered Cenomanian–Turonian
and is a noncalcareous, noncherty equivalent of the
Quiñones Formation of the southern unit. It is un-
conformably below the Via Blanca Formation.
Via Blanca Formation. — The Via Blanca Forma-
tion consists of an unknown thickness (but as much
as several hundred meters) of reddish green shales,
graywacke siltstones, and sandstones with a few inter-
beds of white marls. Conglomerates are common and
consists of two types: (1) those consisting mostly of
igneous material and (2) carbonate breccias with a
high percentage of limestone components contain-
ing rudists (probably derived from San Juan y Martinez).
This formation is mostly restricted to the northern
unit and extends eastward toward La Habana, where
it was originally described.
It contains an abundant foraminiferal fauna (de-
scribed in the section on northern Cuba) indicating a
Campanian – late Maastrichtian age. In an area north
of La Palma, west of the Sierra de Cajalbana, the rud-
ist Titanosarcolites sp. has been identified.
This unit was deposited under shallow- to relatively
deep-water conditions, and the source of material ap-
pears to have been in the south-southwest. It is un-
conformably overlain by the Peñalver Formation and
is equivalent, and in places similar, to the San Juan y
Martinez Formation of the Los Palacios Basin.
Peñalver Formation. — The Peñalver Formation
consists of up to ±330 ft (100 m) of a dominantly
carbonate turbidite bed showing graded bedding. At
the base, the clasts are up to 5 ft (1.5 m) in diameter,
decreasing to silt size at the top. The clasts consist
mostly of rudist fragments, foraminifera (planktonic
and benthonic), shallow- and deep-water limestones,
and frequent terrigenous and igneous rock fragments.
Brönnimann and Rigassi (1963) originally described
the Peñalver Formation from the area of La Habana.
It will be described in more details in the section on

northern Cuba below in this chapter. The age is con-
sidered upper Maastrichtian and, therefore, is equiv-
alent and lithologically similar to the Cacarajı́cara and
Amaro formations (although the terrigenous material
is more abundant). It rest unconformably below the
Capdevila Formation.
Vibora Group. —It consists of 1000 ft (300 m) of
sandstones, conglomerates, shales, marls, and lime-
stones of Paleocene age. The origin of this name is
unknown, but it is shown in Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988) as a grouping of formations. The formations
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 233
FIGURE 129. Stratigraphic section:
Domingo and Cabaiguan* sequences,
Bahia Honda area.
composing it will be described in the section on
northern Cuba below in this chapter, where all the
individual formations were named. The Mariel Group,
consisting of the Madruga and Capdevila formations, is
also used. This group comprises of the Mercedes,
Apolo, Madruga, Via Crucis, and Alkazar formations
that will be described in detail in the below section
on northern Cuba.
Capdevila Formation.—It consists of 1500–2000 ft
(450–600 m) of an interbedding of polymict, gray-
wacke sandstones, sandy calcarenites, shales, marls,
234 / Pardo
and conglomerates. Some pebbles of leucocratic gneiss,
possibly originating from an older basement, are pres-
ent in the conglomerates. These sediments are typically
representative of flysch conditions with characteristic
turbidites in relatively deep waters. Originally named
by Palmer (1934) and described in detail by Brönni-
mann and Rigassi (1963) from the area of La Habana,
it will be described in more detail in the section on
northern Cuba. An abundant fauna of planktonic
foraminifera indicates an upper Paleocene to early
lower Eocene age. This unit is found in contact with
several older units, indicating some transgressive rela-
tionship. It is comformably overlain by the Universi-
dad Formation. This section correlates and shows
similarities with part of the Pica Pica of the Sierra de
Guaniguanico and with the Vega* and San Martin*
formations of central Cuba.
Universidad Formation. — The Universidad For-
mation consists of up to 150 ft (50 m) of white to
yellowish white marls interbedded with calcarenites
at the base. Occasional chert nodules are present.
Volcanic glass has been identified as a detrital compo-
nent. It was named by P. Bermudez in 1937 (Bermudez,
1961) and discussed in detail by Brönnimann and
Rigassi (1963) from the area of La Habana. It will be
described in more detail in the below section on north-
ern Cuba. It is sometimes called a group, including the
Toledo and Principe formations. Radiolaria are abun-
dant, as well as planktonic foraminifera. The age is
considered as lower–middle Eocene. This formation is
the youngest under the regional upper Eocene uncon-
formity and, like the Rubio* Formation (Fomento-
Taguasco area), indicates a late-orogenic return to
carbonate sedimentation.
Bahia Honda Area: Southern Tectonic Unit
This area is shown in Figure 128.
Encrucijada Formation.—Here, this unit is ±3000 ft
(±900 m) thick. It is believed to be transitional with the
Quiñones Formation. The Encrucijada Formation is the
lower part of the Felicidades Formation of Pszczólk-
owski and Albear (1982). It is also part of Truitt’s
(1956a, b) Nuñez Formation.
Quiñones Formation. — This unit consists of
±2000 ft (±600 m) of interbedded sandy limestones,
siltstones, shales, and cherts with an increasing per-
centage of shale and chert beds toward the upper part
of the section. Sandstones, shales, and breccias are
found at the top. The limestones contain abundant
planktonic microorganisms (calcisphaerulidae) as well
as terrigenous and pyroclastic material. The Quiñones
Formation is the upper part of the Felicidades For-
mation of Pszczólkowski and Albear (1982). It is also
part of Truitt’s (1956a, b) Nuñez Formation. The age
is considered mostly Cenomanian and Turonian, al-
though it might extend in the Campanian. This unit
is in part equivalent and shows similarities to the
Gomez* Formation of central Cuba and also shows
some affinities with some of the Upper Cretaceous of
the sedimentary belts of the Sierra de Guaniguanico. In
the eastern extreme of the southern unit, it lies un-
conformably under the Via Blanca Formation.
Via Blanca Formation. —The Via Blanca Forma-
tion occurs as a small area of outcrops in the eastern
end of this tectonic unit. It consists mostly of reddish
green shales, graywacke siltstones, and sandstones
with a few interbeds of white marls. Brönnimann and
Rigassi (1963) originally described the Via Blanca
Formation from the area of La Habana. It will be de-
scribed in more detail in the below section on north-
ern Cuba.
Drilling. —
EPEP Mariel-1. — A very generalized section of this
well is shown in Cuba, 1985a. This well encountered
the Neogene to ±820 ft (±250 m). From this point to
±5250 ft (1600 m), it penetrated volcanics and vol-
caniclastics of Valanginian to Santonian age. From
there to ±7950 ft (2150 m), it drilled through the
ultrabasics, and from that point to the total depth of
10,500 ft (3201 m), it went through Campanian–
Maastrichtian breccias, limestones, and shales. Obvi-
ously, this well penetrated the Cabaiguan* and Do-
mingo* sequences, and below, a thrust went into either
a repeat of the upper Cabaiguan* sequence or into a
carbonate, nonvolcanic unit. Kuznetsov et al. (1985)
show an unidentified Mariel well, perhaps a compos-
ite between EPEP Mariel-1 and 2 (the total depth does
not correspond with Petroconsultants, 1997, or Shien
et al., 1984). This section shows that this well penetrated
the Neogene to ±2200 ft (±670 m), the Campanian–
Santonian volcanics and volcaniclastics to ±4130 ft
(±1260 m), then the Aptian–Albian ultrabasic com-
plex and flows to ±7950 ft (±2420 m), and finally, after
going through a major thrust, into an igneous and
sedimentary Maastrichtian–Paleocene megabreccia
(probably the Vieja Member) to total depth at 10,825 ft
(3300 m). Whatever the origin of the published section,
it confirms the EPEP Mariel-1 section and show that
both bottomed in a major thrust zone without con-
clusively reaching one of the Sierra de Guaniguanico
sedimentary facies.
EPEP Martin Mesa-1. —It was drilled 10 km (8 mi)
east of the Mariel wells and on the northern edge of
the Martin Mesa window. It reached the total depth of

10,663 ft (3250 m) (Petroconsultants, 1997, depth), re-
maining within the carbonates of the Martin Mesa
Group without any trace of Domingo* or Cabaiguan*
sequence rocks.
These wells support the fact that if the basic igneous-
volcanic province has been thrusted over the carbon-
ate belts of the Sierra del Rosario, the present atti-
tude of the thrust is very steep and possibly cut by
imbrications.
Los Palacios Basin
Relatively little is publicly known about this ba-
sin. It extends for 150 km (93 mi) in a northeast –
southwest direction. It is bounded on the southeast
by a strong positive gravity and magnetic anomaly in
the Guanal area, giving it a width of 30 km (18 mi).
However, if these anomalies are intrabasinal features
caused by the shallow presence of Domingo* sequence
rocks (as suggested by drilling) and not related to an
in-situ basement, the basin could extend to the Isle de
la Juventud or a distance of 100 km (62 mi) from the
Pinar fault. This area is shown in Figure 128. Only the
upper part of the section is known through the ex-
posures along the Pinar fault. Several wells have been
drilled near the towns of Ariguanabo, Candelaria, and
Los Palacios in an area that generally coincides with
a major regional gravity low. Few results have been
published, and the ones that have are rather sketchy.
However, they indicate a narrow deep Tertiary basin,
obviously related to the Pinar fault. Unfortunately,
even the deepest wells provide little information on
the pre-Tertiary section.
The section, shown in Figure 130, is as follows.
San Juan y Martinez Formation. —The San Juan
y Martinez Formation (Herrera, 1961, named this
formation) consists of a minimum of 1070 ft (325 m)
of sandstones, siltstones, conglomerates, shales, marly
limestones, and masses of rudist limestones. Rapid
horizontal changes of lithology are typical for this
formation; very few beds extend for a long distance.
The most characteristic and dominant type of
sediment is a bioclastic limestone with an abundant
rudist fauna. The rudists are grouped in biostromes, or
pseudoreefs, showing the animal shells in their up-
right living position. In addition to rudists, corals,
algae, oysters, bryozoa, and other unidentified organ-
isms are present. The limestones are lenticular and are
transitional to clastic sediments, mainly conglomer-
atic lenses with boulders reaching several tens of cen-
timeters in diameter. The conglomerate’s dominant
components are andesite, trachite, basalts, and var-
ious types of tuffs. Minor components of quartz sand-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 235
stone, quartz, and cherts occur. The base of the forma-
tion has never been observed.
The rudist fauna is very rich, and some of the forms
identified are as follows: Antillocaprina annulata, Antil-
locaprina crassitella, Bournonia aff. bournoni, Bournonia
aff. africana, Chiapacella radiolitiformis, Coralliochama
sp., Dichtyoptychus sp., Joufia sp., Hippurites mulleriedi,
Lithocalamus colonicus, Mitrocaprina sp., Parabournonia
sp., Plagioptychus tschoppi, Praebarrettia corali, Praebar-
rettia aff. peruviana, Prebarretia sparcilirata, Praebarret-
tia torrei, Sabina aff. kugleri, Tampsia rutteni,
Titanosarcolites giganteus, and Titanosarcolites macgil-
lavryi. Abundant large foraminifera are also present,
including Orbitoides apiculata, Pseudorbitoides israels-
kyi, Pseudorbitoides kozaryi, Pseudorbitoides rutteni,
Somoutina bermudezi, Sulcoperculina angulata, and
Sulcoperculina diazi. The age of the formation is con-
sidered to extend from the Campanian through the
Maastrichtian; it is equivalent to the Via Blanca and
Peñalver formations. This formation lies unconform-
ably under the upper Paleocene Capdevila Formation.
Much of the Paleocene appears to be missing.
The sediments of the San Juan y Martinez Forma-
tion were deposited in a highly variable littoral en-
vironment. All along the Pinar fault, the results of
deep drilling indicate a southeastward deepening of
the basin. The sediments become finer, and there is
progressively less of a benthonic organism contribu-
tion toward the center of the Los Palacios Basin.
Capdevila Formation.—Here, this unit exceeds
5500 ft (1680 m) in thickness.
The lower part of the formation consists of sandy
and argillaceous sediments with a few marl inter-
beds.
Over these beds is an assemblage of polymict sand-
stones, argillite, and conglomerates that can reach
1650 ft (500 m) in thickness. The conglomerates are
poorly sorted, commonly strongly bimodal with boul-
der size components in a siltstone matrix. Graded bed-
ding and pebbly mudstones can be observed. The com-
ponents can reach several meters in diameter (±10 ft;
±3 m), are well rounded, and consist mostly of volcanic
rocks. Gneisses (possibly older basement) and carbon-
ates are occasionally present. Some unusual compo-
nents of the section are worth mentioning: tuffs and
agglomerates and pink to cream bioclastic lime-
stones with abundant algae, gastropods, pelecypods,
corals, and foraminifera. The bedding between the
above units is rather indistinct, and all grade into each
other.
The uppermost part of the section consists of sand-
stones, siltstones, and shales with thin interbedding
236 / Pardo
FIGURE 130. Stratigraphic section:
Cabaiguan sequence, Palacios Basin.
of marls. Graded bedding and flow structures are com-
mon. In the more complete sections, the marls be-
come more abundant toward the top where the Cap-
devila grades into the overlying Universidad Formation.
In other places, the Loma Candela Formation overlies
it with unconformity.
The Capdevila Formation contains abundant fora-
minifera, among them Distychoplax biserialis, Globiger-
ina mckannai, Globorotalia pseudomenardii, Globorotalia
quetra(?), Globorotalia velascoensis, Globorotalia cf. cras-
sata densa, Globorotalia cf. aequa, Globorotalia cf. acuta,
Globorotalia cf. aragonensis, Globorotalia cf. wilcoxensis,
and Nummoloculina heimi. The age is considered upper
Paleocene and lower Eocene.
The clastic material (volcanic) was derived from
the southwest.
Universidad Formation. — It is represented by a
thickness not exceeding 165 ft (50 m) of thin- to
medium-bedded, light-gray marls with a few inter-
beds of fine calcarenites, siltstones, and sandstones.
It contains a rich foraminifera fauna, including
Discocyclina cf. cubensis, Eoconuloides wellsi, Globigerina

cf. mckannai, Globorotalia aragonensis, Globorotalia cf.
crassata densa, and Globorotalia cf. aequa. The age is
considered late lower and early middle Eocene.
The Universidad Formation unconformably un-
derlies the middle Eocene, postorogenic sediments
of the Loma Candela Formation.
Drilling. — As mentioned, 16 wells between 3300
and 9800 ft (1000 and 3000 m) have been drilled in
this basin, but little information on them is publicly
available.
EPEP Candelaria-1. — The most detailed published
information on the subsurface of this basin is given
in a report by Fernández et al. (1987) on this well
drilled by EPEP, near the town of Candelaria, to a
total depth of 14,380 ft (4384 m). The section
encountered is as follows.
0 ft (0 m): Consists of post– middle Eocene de-
tritus equivalent to Loma Candela and youn-
ger units. A description of this younger section
will be given below in the Post – Middle Eocene
Stratigraphy.
11,676 ft (3560 m): This interval consists of poly-
mict sandstones and siltstones, shales, fine-grained
bioclastic shaly limestones, and gravels with an
increasing amount of volcanic detritus. Abundant
planktonic foraminifera are present, indicating a
lower Eocene age. No middle Eocene faunas were
found. This interval is considered to belong to the
lower Capdevila Formation.
12,169 ft (3710 m): This unit is characterized as a
very argillaceous, silty, bioclastic limestone with
fragments of basalts and a lithocrystallovitro-
clastic tuff. The age is considered middle – upper
Paleocene based on poorly preserved Globorotalia
acuta and Globorotalia pseudomenadii. It is also
considered equivalent to the lower Capdevila
Formation.
12,464 ft (3800 m): Arkosic-type sandstones,
siltstones, and gravels characterize the upper part
of this interval. The lower part of the interval, be-
low 13,999 ft (4268 m), is characterized by a de-
crease in the arkosic material and an increase in
volcanic components. At total depth of 14,380 ft
(4384 m), only volcanic detritus is present. The
report mentions high dips throughout the inter-
val, so not much section was penetrated. The fauna
is poorly preserved, but Globotruncana sp. and
other remnants of algae, bryozoa, corals, mollusks,
etc. have been interpreted as indicating an Upper
Cretaceous age (if such was the case, it would be
equivalent to part of the San Juan y Martinez For-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 237
mation). However, the Cretaceous fauna might be
reworked, and the lithology of the upper part of
the section suggests the Bacunayagua Formation
of upper Paleocene age.
Shien et al., 1984, show the generalized logs of
two wells: ARCO Los Palacios-1A, and ESSO CUBA
Guanal-1A (probably Guanal-1).
ARCO Los Palacios-1. — This well bottomed at 8000
ft (2439 m) in postorogenic middle–upper Eocene
clastics (therefore, not penetrating the Cabaiguan*
sequence rocks).
ESSO CUBA Guanal-1. — This well bottomed at
3214 ft (980 m), penetrating Coniacian–Santonian
volcanics below the Neogene (there are some doubts
about the accuracy of this study). H. Wassall reports
(1990, personal communication) that ESSO CUBA
Guanal-1 penetrated diabase or serpentine below lower
Miocene (it is not known whether it is in situ or a
boulder). The Guanal wells were drilled on a strong
regional gravity high and sharp magnetic high-low
anomaly.
Isla de la Juventud Area
In the northwestern Isle de la Juventud is a group
of outcrops, called the Sabana Grande zone by Millán
(1981) (see Figure 131) and Pushcharovsky et al. (1988),
limited by faults, which was mapped as the undiffer-
entiated and unmetamorphosed Cretaceous Teneme
Formation (named by Pushcharovsky [1988]; Push-
charovsky et al. [1988] also show a volcanic Teneme
Formation in southeastern Oriente; it is not known if
this is accidental or on purpose), consisting of andes-
ites and basalts. Not much more can be found in the
published literature, although these exposures are a
clear indication that unmetamorphosed Cabaiguan*
sequence volcanics are in contact with the Isle de la
Juventud metamorphics, as in the Escambray mas-
sif. Within the metamorphic massif proper, masses of
granitoids are present, believed related to the Creta-
ceous volcanics.
Western Cuba: Basic Igneous-Volcanic
Terrane Discussion
The basic igneous-volcanic province in western
Cuba is not as well developed and thick as in central
Cuba. Except for the Sierra de Cajalbana, the ultraba-
sics are poorly represented. Pre-Cenomanian volcanics
(Encrucijada Formation) also are not as well developed
as in central Cuba. The Cenomanian, as in central Cuba,
238 / Pardo
FIGURE 131. Isla de la Juven-
tud, Cabaiguan sequence.
represents a possible pause in volcanism, with the de-
position of carbonates and nonvolcanic-derived sedi-
ments. In western Cuba, important volcanic activity
seems to have ceased by the Turonian to Campanian;
the Via Blanca Formation contains abundant volcanic
detritus but no direct evidence of volcanic activity
(flows, tuffs, breccias, etc.). This is true for the remainder
of the section, although reports of tuffs exist in the
lower Paleogene.
Simultaneously, sediments were being carried north-
ward into the Via Blanca and Peñalver formations of
the Bahia Honda area. This is supporting evidence
that the Palacios Basin and the Bahia Honda area
were part, at one time, of the same sheet of the basic
igneous-volcanic province, which was being uplifted
and eroded in the late Campanian–Maastrichtian. This
uplift might have corresponded to the initial thrust-
ing of the primarily volcanic basin (eugeosyncline)
over the primarily carbonate basin (miogeosyncline).
This must have happened a considerable distance
away from its present position, but close enough so
the volcanics and intrusive rocks could contribute
fine detritus to the Campanian–Maastrichtian Mo-
reno and Cacarajı́cara formations.
The sediments of the Manacas Formation were
therefore derived from the erosion and collapse, in the
late Paleocene, of an already existing incipient thrust
sheet of basic igneous and volcanic rocks. Of greatest
importance is the fact that the initial overriding of
the sediments by the basic igneous-volcanic province
could have started during the Maastrichtian or as
much as 17 m.y. before the development of the nappe
structures, or thrusting, that characterize the Sierra de
Guaniguanico. A similar difference in timing could
have occurred in central Cuba as indicated by the
volcanic detritus in the Maastrichtian Amaro* For-
mation, preceding the lower – middle Eocene Vega
Formation.
The presence of arkosic sediments in the question-
able Upper Cretaceous of Candelaria-1 is puzzling. It
is reminiscent of the granitic boulders in the Paleo-
cene Taguasco* Formation of central Cuba or, as will
be discussed in the section on northern Cuba, of the
biotitic granite boulders in the conglomerates of the
Paleocene Bacunayagua Formation (part equivalent
to the Capdevila). These components seem to have
had a northern origin (originally suggested by Hatten
et al., 1958) that, with the exception of the Rancho
Veloz, Trés Guanos, and La Rana klippes, has mostly
disappeared today. Such a situation could be very
likely if a regional basement high (extensional) sep-
arated the volcanic and carbonate basins, and the

thrusting of the basic igneous and volcanics occurred
over a relatively thin sedimentary section, underlain
by a mixture of granodiorite and basalts. This is sug-
gested by the basement remnants in the northern
Rosario and Cifuentes* belts.
The rocks presently exposed in the core of the Gua-
niguanico Mountains do not show up in the sedi-
ments of the Palacios Basin until the middle – upper
Eocene, which is when they were effectively eroded
away. This is a very good proof of the timing of the
deformation in western Cuba.
It is impossible to estimate accurately the original
width of this province; however, its minimum width
should have been at least the distance from the coast,
north of La Habana, to the Isla de la Juventud, or 150 km
(93 mi).
The origin of the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* se-
quence rocks of the Bahia Honda area has been sub-
ject to much controversy.
Some authors have stated, and still maintain, that
the Bahia Honda area was thrusted from the north
over the Guaniguanico Mountains.
Iturralde-Vinent (1996) points out that no incon-
trovertible evidence exists that rocks from the basic
igneous-volcanic terrane are present in the Palacios
Basin. The position of the reported ultrabasics pene-
trated by ESSO CUBA Guanal-1 is questionable, and
the wells EPEP Candelaria-1 and ARCO Los Palacios-1
never reached basement and bottomed in the post-
volcanic Tertiary. He proposed an origin in the Pala-
cios Basin, with thrusting north over the Guaniguanico
and south over the Isla de la Juventud.
However, the well Shell Ariguanabo-1, south of
the Martin-Mesa window, in what appears to be the
northeast end of the Palacios Basin, drilled through
3775 ft (1150 m) of Cretaceous volcanics. They are a
continuation of the Domingo and Cabaiguan sec-
tions in northern and central Cuba, showing the same
relationship to the Guaniguanico Mountains as to
central Cuba sediments. In addition, the presence of
Cabaiguan sequence volcanics over metamorphosed
southwestern terrane sediments in the Isla de la Ju-
ventud suggests that these rocks very probably orig-
inated south of the Isla de la Juventud metamorphics
and were thrusted northward over them, the Palacios
Basin, and the Sierra de Guaniguanico.
Northern Cuba
Northern Cuba does not provide much informa-
tion about the general geology, but being near the
capital, it was probably studied and sampled more
than any other part of the island. Most of the older
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 239
stratigraphic names, type localities, and descriptions
(as well as many fossil determinations) originate from
the general Habana area. As will be seen below, here,
the section represents a very restricted phase of the
Cuban orogeny.
The lower part of the section is very fragmented;
however, as the rocks become younger, the structural
deformation is less intense, and as in eastern Las Villas
and western Camaguey provinces, the flysch deposits
of the middle Eocene extend into the upper Eocene and
become almost transitional with, and indistinguish-
able from, the postorogenic molasse deposits.
In addition, as already mentioned, many wells have
been drilled in the area. Figure 132 shows the locations
of the most heavily drilled areas and the outcrops of
the Domingo* as well as the upper and lower Cabaiguan
sequences.
Domingo*–Cabaiguan* Sequences
Albear Franquiz and Iturralde-Vinent (1985a, b) in-
clude the San Adrian Formation, which was described
at the beginning of this chapter (under the section on
the basal section of the carbonate platform province in
central Cuba) as a Cenomanian–Turonian evaporitic
unit in the Cabaiguan* sequence. This is an unusual
interpretation, based in part on the presence of a Ce-
nomanian fauna found by V. Kuznetsov (personal com-
munication to M. Iturralde-Vinent, 1975) in a shale
lens within the gypsum. However, this interpretation
may be caused by the desire to explain away a piece of
information that does not fit some tectonic theories.
The evaporite, and later the carbonate bank, were not
supposed to have extended this far west. It might
also be the reason why Truitt’s (1956a, b) Cacarajı́cara
(Guajaibon–Sierra Azul) belt of western Cuba was also
ignored for a long time. There is no question that the
San Adrian diapir is not a diapir in the true sense; it is a
mass of evaporite that was caught in a complex fault
system and served as lubricant, incorporating a large
range of exotics, including schists, marble, and ser-
pentine, as well as Nannoconus limestones that are
totally alien to the Cabaiguan* sequence. More than
50% of the total rock is composed of quartzose and
micaceous clastics, also totally foreign to the Ca-
baiguan belt, suggesting the San Cayetano or the La
Esperanza formations of western Cuba. It is likely that
the San Adrian Formation is a tectonically disturbed
sample of some unknown unit, close to the base of the
Las Villas* belt section and totally unrelated to the
Cabaiguan* sequence.
The section described as follows is a composite of
northern Cuba (see Figure 133).
240 / Pardo
FIGURE 132. Northern Cuba: basic igneous-volcanic terrane generalized geologic map.
Ultrabasics. —These rocks appear to form the base-
ment over which the Cabaiguan* sequence was depos-
ited. The outcrops consist mostly of highly sheared
(waxy) serpentine in bodies ranging from a few meters
to 16 km in length. In several outcrops, bodies of
gabbro or troctolite are associated with the serpen-
tines, and are commonly found between the serpen-
tine and the volcanics of the Cabaiguan* sequence.
Chirino Formation. — This unit consists of pos-
sibly more than 3300 ft (1000 m) of the following
lithologies: (1) green to grayish green tuffaceous cherts;
(2) vitric and crystalline tuff; (3) reddish medium- to
coarse-grained lithic tuff; (4) andesite and vesicular
lava; (5) and graywacke sandstones, tuffaceous shales,
and argillaceous limestones.
Ducloz (1960, 1963) named this formation. It was
formerly included in the Habana Formation and later
in the pre-Via Blanca beds by Brönnimann and Rigassi
(1963).
Near Matanzas, where this formation is well devel-
oped, the vitrocrystalloclastic and medium-grained
lithocrystalloclastic tuffs with lapillis predominate.
They sometimes form massive, well-bedded sequences;
dark-brown or green color predominates. They are
interbedded with tuffs, limestones, cherts, andesite,
and basalts. The limestones have light colors, gray to
pinkish cream, fine to medium grained, well bedded
to laminated, and associated with beds or nodules of
green, violet, white, or black chert. The andesites and
basalts commonly have pillows.
Radiolaria are abundant, but other fossils are very
rare. In a sandstone interbedded with this sequence,
the following microfossils were found: Hedbergella sp.,
Pithonella trejoi, Pithonella ovalis, and Stomiosphaera
sphaerica, indicating an Albian–Cenomanian age. The
contacts with other units are tectonic, but the general
impression is that the Chirino Formation overlies the
gabbros of the Domingo* sequence and underlies the

La Trampa Group, which has been dated as probable
Cenomanian–Turonian.
La Trampa Group.— This unit consists of more
than 1000 ft (300 m) of medium-bedded tuffaceous,
gravel-size conglomerates, with components of coarse-
grained marbles, andesites, diorites, and porphyries.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 241
FIGURE 133. Stratigraphic sec-
tion: Domingo-Cabaiguan*
sequences northern Cuba, sur-
face sections.
The matrix consists of coarse-grained tuffaceous sand-
stone, and the cement can be calcareous. These con-
glomerates are interbedded with tuffaceous shales,
containing radiolaria, and coarse-grained, dark-purple,
graywacke sandstones, also with calcareous cement.
Interbeds of whitish chloritized andesite-dacite lavas
242 / Pardo
and coarse-grained, chloritized, lithoclastic tuffs are
also present. In the graywacke are some quartz and
serpentinite grains. This name was used by Kozary
(1955a, b) to describe a massive trachiandesite por-
phyry. The name was extended to associated sediments
by Albear Franquiz and Iturralde-Vinent (1985a). It was
formerly related to the Chirino and, therefore, includ-
ed in the Habana Formation. It is unknown why it is
called a group because it is not subdivided.
A fauna of Pithonella sp., Calcisphaerula spp., Stio-
mosphaera spherica, Ticinella sp., Rotalipora sp., Clavi-
hedbergella subdigitata, Globigerinelloides cf. escheri,
Heterohelix cf. globulosa, Schackoina cf. cenomana, Glo-
botruncana sp., mollusks, and radiolaria indicates a
Cenomanian–Turonian age.
The Trampa Group is unconformably overlain by
the Via Blanca Formation, as indicated by the pres-
ence of distinctive Trampa fragments in the Via Blanca
conglomerates. It should be noted that it is the oldest
formation in Cuba to contain serpentinite detritus.
Via Blanca Formation. —It consists of an un-
known thickness, but probably several hundred me-
ters, of reddish green and pink shale, siltstones, and
sandstones of graywacke composition, interbedded
with thin beds of white marl. Brönnimann and Rigassi
(1963) named this unit. It was formerly known as
part of Palmer’s Habana Formation. It is a complex
unit needing more detailed studies. Several informal-
ly designated levels of conglomerate, flysch, and one
olistostrome are present. Only the formal Bacuranao
Member has been established. Structural complexities
make it difficult to unravel the stratigraphic relation-
ships between the different lithologies.
Bacuranao Member.— This consists of some 65 ft
(20 m) of yellowish to whitish gray calcareous silt-
stones, containing grains of igneous rocks, grading up-
ward into calcareous marls and clays. Albear Franquiz
and Iturralde-Vinent (1985a) formalized the name. It
was previously named the ‘‘Bacuranao limestones’’
by Brönnimann and Rigassi (1963). It contains abun-
dant Campanian nannofossils and foraminifera. This
unit is extensive east of Habana.
Bahia Conglomerate. — The Bahia conglomerate
forms a local basal conglomerate, containing clasts
of limestone, graywacke sandstones and siltstones,
radiolarites, peridotite and serpentinized gabbro, an-
desite porphyry, agglomerates, tuffs, etc. The clasts
are normally 1.5 – 2.5 in. (4 – 6 cm) but can reach 3 ft
(1 m). The matrix consists of coarse-grained graywacke
sandstone. Some of the components have a Campa-
nian fauna. The conglomerates are associated with
thin beds of purplish red bentonitic shales and white
tuffs. This conglomerate unconformably overlies the
La Trampa Formation.
Via Túnel Conglomerate.—Most of the components
consist of rudist casts and fragmental limestones; the
igneous components are rare. The matrix consists of
pink clay, pink graywacke sandstones, and siltstones
with graded bedding and detrital limestones. The age
is considered lower Maastrichtian.
Casa-Escuela Conglomerate. — This unit contains
clasts of limestones, graywacke, marls, and andesites.
In some strata, the igneous components dominate,
whereas in others, limestones dominate. The matrix
consists of pinkish clay and graywacke sandstones. The
youngest fragments and the matrix are Maastrichtian.
Rio Piedras Conglomerate. — Contains fragments of
Cenomanian–Turonian limestones, graywacke, Cam-
panian limestones, and igneous rocks in a graywacke
matrix containing Campanian faunas.
Los Mangos Flysch.—This consists of an up to 330-ft
(100-m)-thick, yellowish pink graywacke sandstone
to clay bed with graded bedding showing coarse grains
with large foraminifera at the base, and fine grains with
planktonic forms at the top.
Jibacoa Olistostrome.—The Jibacoa olistostrome con-
sists of up to 330 ft (100 m) of a poorly bedded, dark-red,
argillaceous siltstone matrix in which blocks ranging
from a few centimeters to hundreds of meters in size
are embedded. The matrix contains micas, plagioclase,
magnetite, and other dark minerals as well as plank-
tonic foraminifera that indicate a Maastrichtian age.
The smaller blocks, up to 15 ft (5 m) in diameter, con-
sist of a very weathered diorite and strongly folded Los
Mangos flysch. In places, this olistostrome is found
interbedded with the Los Mangos flysch.
Brönnimann and Rigassi (1963) include tuffs and
andesites in the Via Blanca Formation. Albear Franquiz
and Iturralde-Vinent (1985a, b), who are convinced
that all volcanic activity of the Cretaceous arc ceased
before the Maastrichtian (see the above discussion in
this chapter on central Cuba), question this assign-
ment. I do not see why volcanic activity should cease
before gravitational tectonic movement occurs; both
are certainly happening simultaneously today in many
places in the world (Lesser Antilles, Java-Sumatra, Ja-
pan Trench, etc.), and in eastern Cuba, the serpentine
was thrusted over the volcanics in the Maastrichtian,
before the intense Paleocene–middle Eocene volcanic
activity represented by the Cobre Formation.
In some wells, as much as 3950 ft (1200 m) of the
Via Blanca Formation have been penetrated; how-
ever, this does not consider the possible structural
complications and repeats.

The indigenous microfauna contains Pithonella
ovalis, Calcisphaerula innominata, Globotruncana fornicata,
Globotruncana stuarti, Globotruncana linneiana, Globotrun-
cana lapparenti, Globotruncana mariel, Globotruncana tri-
carinata, Globotruncana arca, Globotruncana gansseri,
Rugoglobigerina rugosa, Pseudotextularia elegans, Pseu-
doguembelina excolata, Pseudoguembelina striaca, Pla-
noglobulina glabrata, Gublerina ornatissima, Gublerina
arcuta robusta, Heterohelix pulchra, Heterohelix globulosa,
Heterohelix carinata, and Orbitocyclina minima. The age
is considered Campanian–late Maastrichtian.
The Via Blanca Formation was deposited in waters
deeper than 2000 ft (300 m), surrounding a vol-
canic terrane with abundant shallow-water reefs and
banks. The sedimentation was dominantly turbid-
itic with collapses and slides. The Los Mangos flysch
forms most of the sediment fill of the basin, and the
sedimentation is believed to have been from south
to north. The Peñalver Formation unconformably
covers it.
Bacunayagua Formation. — At the type locality,
the unit (named by Ducloz, 1960) consists of 260 ft
(80 m) of poorly bedded and poorly sorted gray ar-
kosic sandstones and gravels. The size of the com-
ponents ranges from a few millimeters up to 4 in.
(10 cm); the larger ones are well rounded. In the
clasts, light-colored minerals dominate, and marble,
diorites, plagioclase, biotite, granite, quartzite, fine-
grained quartzose sandstones, cherts, etc., are com-
mon. This is considered a good lithologic marker in
the subsurface where it is named Arena A.
This generally poorly fossiliferous unit had been
considered Lower Cretaceous to lower Eocene by var-
ious authors.
Presently, based on the presence of Globotruncana
cf. linneiana, Pseudorbitoides sp., Sulcoperculina sp.,
Ophtalmidium sp., and Stomiosphaera sphaerica, it is
considered Campanian – Maastrichtian (Pushchar-
ovsky et al., 1988).
The rounding of the coarser components indicates
that they were subject to active abrasion by streams
before being dumped into deep waters without much
wave erosion or chemical weathering. This is sup-
ported by the scarcity of benthonic faunas. The source
of arkosic clastics has disappeared since.
Peñalver Formation. — The unit consists of a 65 –
500 ft (20– 150 m) bed of limestone, bluish gray
when fresh, whitish when weathered, dominantly
detrital, and showing graded bedding. The lower
part is coarse (rudite up to 5 cm [2 in.]) and massive,
whereas the upper part is very fine (siltite) and bedded.
Most of the components are made of biogenic lime-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 243
stones, but some minor amount of igneous grains is
present. Brönnimann and Rigassi (1963) named this
unit, although the name had previously been used by
Kozary (1955a, b) to designate some volcanic outcrops
in north central Habana.
A fauna, considered indigenous, is characterized by
Globotruncana stuarti, Globotruncana linneiana, Globo-
truncana lapparenti, Globotruncana arca, Globotruncana
contusa, Pseudotextularia elegans, Omphalocyclus macro-
porus, Vaughanina cubana, Asterorbis macei, Asterorbis
cubensis, and Kathia jamaicensis and indicates an upper
Maastrichtian age. This formation, which is lithologi-
cally similar to the Cacarajı́cara and Amaro* forma-
tions, would be coeval with them and be part of an
extensive deep-water turbidite deposit originating
from the slumping of shallow-water carbonate banks
possibly to the north and south of the basin.
It is unconformably overlain by the Apolo Forma-
tion and is believed to underlie the Mercedes Forma-
tion; however, this last contact has not been observed.
It is believed to represent the K/T boundary.
Vibora Group.— It consists of ±1000 ft (±300 m) of
sandstones, conglomerates, shales, marls, and limestones
of Paleocene age. This group comprises the Mercedes,
Apolo, Alkazar, Via Crucis, Madruga, and Bacu-
nayagua formations.
Mercedes Formation.—The unit (named by Furrazola-
Bermudez et al., 1976, from the well Shell Mercedes-2
in Matanzas Province) consists of ±330 ft (±100 m) of
interbedded light-colored limestones, sandy lime-
stones, marly limestones, calcarenites, marls, greenish
gray shales, and conglomerates. The conglomerates
contain clasts of limestone, sandstones, and volcanics.
This unit was first described in the subsurface and
later found in outcrops. Its foraminiferal fauna is char-
acterized by Globorotalia cf. varianta, Globorotalia cf.
perclara, Globorotalia pseudobulloides, Globorotalia com-
pressa, Globorotalia trinidadensis, Globigerina triloculi-
noides, Globorotalia cf. imitata, and Globoconusa cf.
daubjergensis. Ostracods and radiolaria are also pres-
ent. The sandstones contain reworked specimens of
Vaughanina cubensis, Pseudorbitoides rutteni, and Lepi-
dorbitoides cf. floridensis, as well as benthonic forami-
nifera, mollusks, and algal fragments. It is considered
lower Paleocene (Danian). As already mentioned under
the above section on central Cuba, note that very few
well-established identifications of lower Paleocene
strata exist in Cuba.
This unit is a flysch deposited in moderately deep
waters, and it is well developed in the Jibacoa and
Mariel areas. An equivalent can be recognized in the
Batabano area.
244 / Pardo
Apolo Formation. — The unit (named by Brönni-
mann and Rigassi, 1963) consists of up to 330 ft (100 m)
of an interbedding of deep-purple to red clay shale and
siltstones, purple to greenish gray graywacke sand-
stones, and yellowish white to ocher calcarenites and
nodular marls. This formation unconformably over-
lies the Peñalver and other older formations. It is
conformably under the Alkazar Formation.
The fauna is characterized by Amphistegina lopez-
trigoi, Discocyclina anconensis, Discocyclina barkeri,
Globigerina primitiva, Globigerina pseudobulloides, Glo-
bigerina soldadoensis, Subbotina triloculinoides, Globor-
otalia aequa, Globorotalia pseudobulloides, Globorotalia
uncinata, and Morozovella angulata, indicating an
middle Paleocene age.
The Apolo Formation is considered to be a flysch
deposited in deep water and is found only in the Jiba-
coa Area.
Alkazar Formation. — The unit (named by Brönni-
mann and Rigassi, 1963) consists of 30 – 160 ft (10 –
50 m) of interbedded greenish marls and light-colored
and well-cemented, occasionally silicified, detrital
limestones. It is transitional with and partially equiv-
alent to the overlying Capdevila Formation.
The fauna is very rich and characterized by Am-
phistegina lopeztrigoi, Discocyclina barkeri, Eoconuloides
wellsi, Globigerina primitiva, Globigerina soldadoensis,
Subbotina triloculinoides, Globorotalia velascoensis, Glo-
borotalia albeari, and Globorotalia elongata, indicating
an upper Paleocene age. It should be noted that the
benthonic fauna is found at the base of the graded beds,
and the planktonics are found in the upper fine frac-
tion. The possibility that the entire assemblage is re-
worked and that the Alkazar Formation is younger
than upper Paleocene exists.
This unit is a flysch deposited by turbidites in
deep water and outcrops in the Mariel and Jibacoa
areas.
Via Crucis Formation. —The Via Crucis Formation
(named by Albear Franquiz and Iturralde-Vinent,
1985a) consists of up to 650 ft (200 m) of interbedded
light-purple, yellowish, whitish, greenish gray, and
brown siltstones, shaly siltstones, polymict sandstones,
and rare conglomerates. The sequence shows rhythmic
and graded bedding varying from laminae to layers a
few millimeters thick.
A great number of reworked fossils exist including
rudists; however, planktonic foraminifera such as
Subbotina triloculinoides, Globoconusa cf. daubjergen-
sis, Globorotalia aequa, Globorotalia angulata, Globor-
otalia compressa, and Globorotalia cf. pseudomenardii
are present, indicating an upper Paleocene age.
This formation is commonly found lying uncon-
formably over the Cretaceous and under the Uni-
versidad Formation. It is considered to be a flysch
deposit in deep waters and is found in the Jibacoa
area only.
Madruga Formation. — The unit (named by Lewis,
1932, who considered it Cretaceous; Bermudez,
1950, properly assigned it to the Paleogene) consists
of an estimated less than 300 ft (100 m) of purple to
reddish brown graywacke sandstones, siltstones, and
shales interbedded with a few polymict conglomer-
ates. The clasts in the conglomerates range from 1 to
6 ft (0.3 to 2 m) of Cretaceous sedimentary and vol-
canic rocks.
In the indigenous fauna, Globanomalina cf. wilcox-
ensis, Subbotina triloculinoides, Globigerina velascoensis,
Globorotalia albeari, Globorotalia pseudomenardii, Globo-
rotalia velascoensis, and Globorotalia wilcoxensis acuta
have been identified, suggesting an upper Paleocene
age. It is equivalent to the Apolo and Alkazar forma-
tions and is unconformably overlain by the Universi-
dad Formation.
It is also considered to be a flysch deposited in deep
waters and is present in the Jibacoa area. Equivalent
units can be recognized in the Mariel and Batabano
areas.
Capdevila Formation. — The unit (named by
Palmer, 1934) consists of an estimated 1000–1300 ft
(300–400 m) of the following lithologies:
1) Light-yellow to pink, well-bedded shales, marls,
graywacke sandstone, and siltstones with graded
bedding. Interbeds of radiolarites with coccoliths
are present.
2) Pinkish yellow to orange, graywacke sandstones
and siltstones. The shales have rhythmic and
graded bedding. Some microconglomerates are
present.
3) Pink to pinkish orange, graywacke sandstones
and conglomerates with rhythmic and graded
bedding.
4) White, yellow, to pinkish-orange chalky marls
and claystones. They show rhythmic and graded
bedding.
Occasionally, blocks of Peñalver, Alcazar, etc., forma-
tions are embedded in the Capdevila Formation. They
could either be olistoliths or structural imbrications.
An abundant radiolaria and foraminiferal fauna
contain, among others, Globorotalia rex, Globorotalia
formosa, Globorotalia wilcoxensis, Globorotalia quetra,
Globorotalia brodermani, Globorotalia pseudoscitula,

Globorotalia aragonensis, Eoconuloides wellsi, Dictyoco-
nus cookei, and Eofabiana cushmani. These indicate a
lower Eocene age (Bermudez, 1950; Brönnimann and
Rigassi, 1963). However, recently, the species Globor-
otalia velascoensis, Subbotina triloculinoides, Globorotalia
pseudomenardii, Globorotalia margidentata, and Globor-
otalia angulata have been found, suggesting that the
formation extends down into the upper Paleocene
(Albear Franquiz and Iturralde-Vinent, 1985a).
This unit represents flysch sedimentation in a deep-
water environment. It is equivalent to the Vega* For-
mation of central Cuba and the Manacas (Pica Pica)
Formation of western Cuba.
Universidad Formation. — This unit consists of
more than 160 ft (50 m) of dominantly carbonate
rocks that have been subdivided into two mappable
members by Brönnimann and Rigassi (1963).
Principe member.—It consists of white to yellowish,
massive marls that range from argillaceous limestones
to calcareous clays. Some calcareous olistoliths are
present at the base.
Toledo member. — It consists of white to greenish
or grayish, more or less laminated, argillaceous lime-
stones or chalky limestones interbedded with layers
containing chert nodules. In addition, silicified white
to yellowish limestones are present. Altered volcanic
glass is also present. Radiolaria are abundant. This
member is dominant.
It contains a rich foraminiferal fauna with Dis-
cocyclina cf. cubensis, Eoconuloides wellsi, Globigerina
cf. mckannai, Globorotalia aragonensis, Globorotalia cf.
crassata densa, and Globorotalia cf. aequa. The age is
considered lower and middle Eocene.
The Universidad Formation was deposited in open
deep waters, and it consists almost entirely of cal-
careous nannoplankton with foraminifera and radi-
olaria and some contribution of volcanic ash. It is
present in the Mariel and Jibacoa areas, where it is
unconformably overlain by the middle – upper Eo-
cene Punta Brava Formation and Urria beds. It is a
partial equivalent to the Nazareno Group in the Ba-
tabano area and correlates with and is similar to the
Rubio* Formation of central Cuba (Fomento-Taguasco
area).
Urria Beds. —This name has been given to some
small channel fills, 20 ft (6 m) wide by 6–10 ft (2–3 m)
deep, in the Universidad, Apolo, and Alkazar forma-
tions. They consist of white and yellowish, thin- and
well-bedded, hard, microcrystalline, sometimes dolo-
mitized limestones.
The fauna consists of Globonomalina micra, Globo-
nomalina wilcoxensis, Acerinina densa, Globigerapsis
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 245
kugleri, and Globigerina sp., indicating a middle Eo-
cene age.
These channels are the result of an intra –middle
Eocene unconformity and are believed to belong to
the postorogenic cycle.
In western Cuba, the Universidad Formation is con-
sidered to be the uppermost unit below the major up-
per Eocene unconformity that indicates the end of the
orogeny; however, in northern Cuba, two lithologic
units are present that seem to extend uninterruptedly
from the middle into the upper Eocene. These are the
Nazareno Group that overlies the Capdevila and is in
part equivalent to the Universidad Formation, and
the Punta Brava Formation, also overlying the Cap-
devila, and originally thought to be restricted to the
upper Eocene. These two units are described below.
Nazareno group. — This consists of an estimated
±2300 ft (±700 m) of an interbedding of gray argilla-
ceous marls, fine-grained argillaceous limestones, a
few pink to reddish brown, laminated siltstones to
fine-grained sandstones, and gray shales. Quartz, pla-
gioclase, mica, and dark minerals are the dominant
components of the siltstones and sandstones. The per-
centage of the components varies from section to sec-
tion, but the limestones and the limestone-siltstone-
shale sequences dominate. This unit was named by Albear
Franquiz and Iturralde-Vinent (1985a), who called it a
group because of its lithologic diversity and who be-
lieved that it could be broken into formations. This
unit is intensely folded and faulted, so the true thick-
ness is difficult to estimate; some wells have pene-
trated up to 3300 ft (1000 m) of similar Eocene sediments.
Paleontologically, this formation can be subdivided
into two parts, although the division is not always
consistent:
1) a lower –middle Eocene part characterized by
Globigerina turgida, Globigerina senni, Globigerina
linaperta, Globigerina soldadoensis, Globorotalia ara-
gonensis, Globorotalia formosa gracilis, Globigerina
densa, Globigerina palmarea, Globigerina equa, Glo-
borotalia quetra, Globigerina pseudopilensis, Globo-
nomalina micra, Eoconuloides wellsi, Nummulites
floridensis, Dictyoconus sp., Pseudophragmina sp.,
Distychoplax biserialis, Kainoconus ovalis, Discoaster
lodoensis, Discoaster barbadensis, and radiolaria
2) an upper Eocene part containing Globigerina rohri,
Globigerina linaparta, Globigerina venezuelana, Globi-
gerina pseudoampliapertura, Globigerina trilocularia,
Catapsydrax dissimilis, Globigerinatheka barri, Globi-
gerapsis semiinvoluta, Globorotalia centralis, Kainoco-
nus ovalis, ostracods, radiolaria, and nannoplankton
246 / Pardo
This unit constitutes a flysch containing igneous
detritus, deposited in deep water, and is in part equiv-
alent to the dominantly calcareous Universidad For-
mation. It overlies unconformably the Capdevila For-
mation and is restricted to the southern Batabano
area. The Oligocene Tinguaro Formation unconform-
ably covers it.
Punta Brava Formation. — The unit (named by
Brönnimann and Rigassi, 1963) consists of an esti-
mated maximum of ±650 ft (±200 m) of well-bedded,
yellowish cream to whitish, chalky limestones and
gray to orange fine, argillaceous calcarenites with
graded bedding and containing dark igneous grains.
Some limestone breccias are present.
Paleontologically, this formation can be subdi-
vided into two parts:
1) a lower–middle Eocene part containing Globiger-
apsis kugleri, Globigerinatheka barri, Truncatulinoides
cf. rhori, Acarinina pseudotopilensis, Globorotalia ara-
gonensis, Globorotalia lehneri, Globorotalia cf. spinu-
losa, and Globorotalia cf. bullbrooki
2) an upper Eocene part with Hantkenina alabamen-
sis, Hantkenina thalmanni, Hantkenina brevispira,
Globorotalia centralis, Globorotalia cerroazulensis,
Globorotalia altispiroides, Globigerapsis index, Globi-
gerapsis semiinvoluta, Chiloguembelina cubensis, Glo-
bigerina ampliapertura, Globigerina pseudoamplia-
pertura, Globigerina turritilina, Globigerina tripartia,
Globigerina linaperta, Globigerina rohri, Globigerina
venezuelana, Catapsydrax dissimilis, Globanomalina
mitra, Cribohantkenina inflata, Globigerinita pera,
Globigerinita cf. africana, Discoaster aster, Bavar-
udosphaera bigelowi, Bavarudosphaera discula, Tre-
malithus eopelagicus, and Thoracosphaera spp.
This unit is in part equivalent to and has similarities
with the Nazareno Group, although it contains less
igneous-derived material. However, the possibility of
reworking of lower–middle Eocene faunas into the
upper Eocene should not be completely discarded. The
Punta Brava Formation was also deposited in deep
waters and is present in the Mariel area, where it un-
conformably overlies the Capdevila Formation.
Drilling. — Many hundreds of wells have been
drilled in northern Cuba from Mariel to Cardenas Bay.
It is has been and is the area of greatest oil exploration
and development activity and, therefore, deserves a
special section. Very little has been published about
the drilling results, and what has been published is,
unfortunately, not very informative, especially regard-
ing the stratigraphy of the Domingo* and Cabaiguan*
sequences. One of the most recent articles on the
subject, Kuznetsov et al. (1985), provides much of the
following information.
As mentioned before, the EPEP geologists seldom
refer to the accepted stratigraphic nomenclature and
identify part of this section as ‘‘Upper Cretaceous
Campanian – Maastrichtian allochthonous eugeo-
syncline’’ or other similar interpretive terms; how-
ever, comments and details permit some fairly safe
guesses as to the relationship with the more formal,
accepted nomenclature. As already mentioned, several
of the deep wells along the north coast drilled through
some part of the Domingo*–Cabaiguan* sequence
and bottomed in the structurally underlying Martin
Mesa, Las Villas*, or Cifuentes* belts, whereas the ones
drilled farther south such as Shell Ariguanabo-2 and
EPEP Vegas-1 never get out of the basic igneous and
volcanics, even at 16,500 ft (5000 m). Some of the
typical drilling results are listed below (see Figure 132
for locations).
Bacuranao-Cruz Verde Oil Field. — This was drilled
into and produces from fractured serpentine (Domingo*
sequence). The deepest well was drilled to 7665 ft
(2336 m) and encountered conglomerates and sand-
stones below the serpentine (Manacas Formation?).
Santa Maria del Mar Oil Field. —This well produces
from fractured serpentine (Domingo* sequence) and
vugular dolomite (ophicalcite?) at 2200 ft (670 m).
The serpentine is overlain by 1065 ft (325 m) of Maa-
strichtian volcanics and clastics possibly belonging
to the Via Blanca and older formations (Cabaiguan*
sequence). These, in turn, are overlain by 350 ft (105 m)
of lower–middle Eocene and younger Tertiary.
Shell Ariguanabo-2. — It was drilled 31 km (19 mi)
south-southwest of La Habana by the Compania
Petrolera la Estrella de Cuba (Shell) in the 1950s. It
is reported to have penetrated the Campanian –
Maastrichtian Via Blanca at ±2475 ft (±760 m) and the
Cretaceous volcanics at ±3775 ft (±1150 m) to the to-
tal depth of 10,030 ft (3058 m).
EPEP Vegas-1. —It was drilled 28 km (17 mi) south-
southeast of Jaruco by EPEP. It is reported to have
spudded in the Miocene Guines Formation, imme-
diately penetrated into the middle Eocene Nazareno
Group (Cabaiguan belt), reached the Campanian –
Maastrichtian Via Blanca Formation at ±8036 ft
(±2450 m), and the Cretaceous volcanics at ±9840 ft
(±3000 m) to the total depth of 16,498 ft (5030 m).
Domingo*–Cabaiguan* Sequence Discussion
Northern Cuba, as in western Cuba, does not pro-
vide much information on the Domingo* and the

older Cabaiguan* sequence rocks, but is quite infor-
mative on the uppermost Cretaceous and lower Pa-
leogene (Figure 133).
Here, as elsewhere in Cuba, the serpentines appear
to be overlain by gabbroic rocks, and these, in turn,
are overlain by volcanics. In view of the extreme struc-
tural complications, it is not certain if Lower Creta-
ceous volcanics are present. Perhaps these are repre-
sented by parts of the Chirino Formation in which
both andesites and basalts are present. However, the
presence of limestones and cherts, as well as the few
fossils, suggests that parts of the Chirino are proba-
bly Albian or younger. It is possible that the Chirino
limestones are in part equivalent to those of the Qui-
ñones Formation in the southern tectonic unit of the
Bahia Honda area of western Cuba. They could also be
equivalent to those of the Gomez* Formation in cen-
tral Cuba. The La Trampa Group is a dominantly coarse
clastic unit, also of Cenomanian–Turonian age, and is
associated with andesites and tuffs. It is therefore im-
possible to establish if in northern Cuba there was a
break in volcanism as in central Cuba, with a change
from basic to more acid volcanics.
1) Campanian – lower Maastrichtian. The major
break appears to be at the base of the Via Blanca
Formation, and Brönnimann and Rigassi (1963)
recognized it. This formation consists mostly
of conglomerates, olistostromes, and flysch (Los
Mangos) and appears to have been deposited in
deep waters surrounded by a complex topogra-
phy with abundant shallow-water reefs. It repre-
sents a tectonically active period. The source of
sediments seems to have been to the south. Some
tuffaceous beds could be present.
2) Upper Maastrichtian. The upper Maastrichtian is
characterized by the Peñalver Formation, con-
sisting of a massive carbonate turbidite with sub-
ordinate igneous detritus. Most of the components
originate from carbonate banks and reefs. A strong
unconformity exists at the base. If it is Maastrich-
tian, it would be a Cabaiguan* sequence unit sim-
ilar and equivalent to the Cacarajı́cara and Amaro*
formations of the carbonate belts and equivalent
to the Isabel* Jiquimas* or Jimaguayu formations
of central Cuba, although these last three have a
more reefoidal character.
3) Lower Paleocene (Danian). This interval of time
has been definitely recognized recently (1972 –
1973) only in northern Cuba, where it is repre-
sented by the relatively thin calcareous and clas-
tic Mercedes Formation. The recognition of lower
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 247
Paleocene faunas in this formation indicates that
this interval of time is generally poorly recorded
in the sediments and, much like the Coniacian –
Santonian, represents a hiatus over most of Cuba.
The general absence of lower Paleocene is real and
not a paleontological artifact, as has been suggested.
4) Upper Paleocene –middle Eocene. This interval of
time is characterized by continuous basic igneous-
and volcanic-derived flysch deposition in deep
waters, in what appears to be several relatively in-
dependent depocenters, as one would expect on
a complex submarine topography. This is indi-
cated by the variations between units that make
up the Vibora Group and Capdevila Formation.
The Bacunayagua Formation is considered quite
significant because of its arkosic composition,
similarity to the Taguasco* Formation and some
arkosic sediments in the Palacios Basin of western
Cuba, and its possible northern source of detritus.
Most of the other flysch units seem to have been
derived from the south.
5) Middle – upper Eocene. Much of the sedimentation
during this period of time consisted of accumulation
of foraminifera and radiolaria with a relatively small
contribution of terrigenous material and volcanic
ash. In many places, a marked unconformity exists
between the middle and upper Eocene. In others,
there appears to be continuous deposition into
the upper Eocene, as indicated by the Nazareno
Group and the Punta Brava Formation. Continuous
sedimentation seems characteristic of the back of
the basin and the tendency toward the develop-
ment of pelagic carbonates in the middle Eocene,
accompanied by a decrease in the amplitude of
the pre –upper Eocene unconformity, as was also
observed in the Fomento-Taguasco area of central
Cuba (Rubio* Formation).
Eastern Cuba
Eastern Cuba comprises most of the old province
of Oriente, and for the purpose of this description,
the pre – upper Eocene has been subdivided into the
major northern Oriente, southeastern Oriente, and
southwestern Oriente regions.
It is worth noting that much of the early activity
by geologists in Oriente was related to metallic min-
eral exploration (manganese and chrome). Most of
the outcrops consist of volcanic and basic to ultra-
basic igneous rocks, with only small and restricted
outcrops of the carbonate sedimentary belts that are
exposed in many other places of the island. In ad-
dition, unquestionable petroleum indications are
248 / Pardo
FIGURE 134. Eastern Cuba: basic igneous-volcanic terrane generalized geologic map.
rare. For this reason, and except for a few recon-
naissance trips, oil company geologists stayed away
from Oriente.
Among some of the early workers, Taber (1934),
Woodring and Daviess (1944), and Lewis (1932) should
be mentioned. In the mid-1940s, Hermes (1945) and
De Vletter (1946), from the University of Utrech, did
reconnaissance in Oriente as part of Rutten’s Cuba
project. Gulf Oil did not do any work in Oriente. In
the early 1950s, Myron Kozary, a Columbia University
graduate student with funding from the National Sci-
ence Foundation and an informal arrangement with
Gulf Oil, studied and mapped a large part of northern
Oriente in the vicinity of Gibara as a subject for his
ph.D. thesis (Kozary, 1968). In the late 1950s, some oil
exploration activity occurred, including drilling, in
the Tertiary of the Cauto Basin and the Gulf of Gua-
nacayabo, with negative results.
After the 1959 revolution, a Cuban-Hungarian bri-
gade was organized by the Institute of Geology and
Paleontology of the Cuban Academy of Sciences to
prepare the 1:250,000 map of Oriente, and the results
of the survey are summarized in the book Contribution
to the Geology of Eastern Cuba by Nagy et al. (1983).
This section will rely heavily on this publication.
Nagy (1983) subdivided eastern Cuba into sev-
eral facies-structural zones; they appear to be most-
ly physiographic in nature, corresponding well to the
above-mentioned regions, and do not necessarily fit
the definition of belts. They are as follows:
Remedios and Auras zone: northern Oriente region
Sierras de Nipe – Cristal –Baracoa zone: south-
eastern Oriente region
Caiman zone: southwestern Oriente region
The already described carbonate platform province
is named Remedios and occurs only in the northern
Oriente region. Nagy names a Tunas zone, which cor-
responds to the eastern end in the Oriente province
of the already described Cabaiguan* and Manicaragua
sections, central Camaguey area of central Cuba; it
will therefore not be discussed in this chapter. The
metamorphic province consists of the Sierra del Pu-
rial and a relatively small area called the Asuncion
area that are included in the Sierras de Nipe–Cristal–
Baracoa zone. The other zone names will be men-
tioned when pertinent, but for the sake of uniformity,
the names of belts, as used in the rest of the study, will
be used (see Figure 134).
Figure 135 shows a correlation chart for Oriente.
In view of the markedly different geologic charac-
ter of the eastern Cuba areas, these will be described
separately.

FIGURE 135. Correlation chart, basic igneous-volcanic terrane, eastern Cuba.
Northern Oriente
The basic igneous-volcanic province rocks partial-
ly wrap around the carbonate platform. To the west,
the strike is northwest –southeast turning northeast –
southwest and pointing out to sea toward the Baha-
mas. This province consists of alternating bands of
ultrabasics and volcanics with inclusions of carbonates.
The dips are very steep, nearly vertical, and generally
southward. The appearance is that of a compressed
stack of northward-directed, thin thrust sheets of basic
igneous and volcanic rocks with intervening outcrops
of lower–middle Eocene flysch and chaotic rocks.
Northern Oriente contrasts strongly with south-
eastern Oriente (that shows relatively flat-lying sheets
of ultrabasic rocks over volcanics) and southwestern
Oriente (where most of the section is made of Paleo-
cene to middle Eocene volcanics).
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 249
The basic igneous-volcanic province is so struc-
turally complex that estimates of section thickness
and relationships are practically impossible. It is es-
sentially a melange with nonmetamorphosed rocks,
which, therefore, were not buried at a great depth.
Kozary (1968) called this area the collapsed ‘‘Auras
Trench.’’ Of interest is the absence of the Manicar-
agua* belt granodiorite and associated metamorphism.
Another interesting characteristic is the inclusion of
large blocks of unmetamorphosed Upper Cretaceous
fossiliferous limestones into the ultrabasics with no
other associated sediments; this occurrence has not
been observed in any other areas.
This province extends for 110 km (68 mi) from
Vásquez, through Holguin, to Punta Caleta Honda (see
Figure 134). Approximately half of its surface is cov-
ered by outcrops of the Domingo* sequence ultrabasics.
250 / Pardo

FIGURE 136. Stratigraphic sec-

tion: Domingo*-Cabaiguan*
sequences, eastern Cuba, north-
ern Oriente.

In view of the structural complications, these cannot
be areally separated from the Cabaiguan* section.
Domingo* Sequence
This section will be described separately from the
Cabaiguan* sequence. It is represented by a large num-
ber of south-dipping slices of ultrabasics separated
from each other by slices or blocks of Cabaiguan*
sequence lithologies. Thicknesses are impossible to
measure, and those shown in Figure 136 are only for
illustrative purposes.
Peridotite, harzburgite (serpentine).—Most of the
ultrabasics consist of slightly serpentinized peridotite

and harzburgite, with small amounts of anorthosite.
The minerals are coarse grained with some amphi-
bole crystals reaching 3 in. (7 cm) in diameter. Every
grade of serpentinization can be recognized, particu-
larly along internally sheared areas. Bands of coherent
lithology, 100–150 ft (30–50 m) wide, can be observed
aligned along the main structural trend that appear to
form a stack of separate bodies. The degree of serpen-
tinization is inversely proportional to the size of the
ultramafic bodies. The ultramafic bodies dip steeply
to the south, and serpentinization is most intense in
the bottom part of the section. The ultrabasics appear
to grade transitionally into gabbros at the top of the
section.
Metamorphic exotics are present within the ultra-
basics. An 800-ft (250-m)-long block of metagrano-
dioritic orthogneiss has been dated by the K-Ar meth-
od; a concentrate of muscovite gave 196 Ma, and one of
feldspars gave 91 Ma. A biotite concentrate from an-
other orthogneiss gave 447 Ma. Other exotics such as a
carbonate graphitic phyllite and a white marble are
present that Kozary (1968) considered as possible pre-
Cretaceous age.
Gabbros.— Hard, unweathered gabbro is consis-
tently associated with the ultrabasics and appears to
be a product of differentiation. When internal line-
ation is observed, the gabbros and ultrabasics are al-
ways conformable. In the larger ultramafic bodies,
the gabbros are present at the top of the south-dipping
section.
Cumbre*(?) Formation.— Several beds of serpen-
tine have been identified that show faint traces of
pillowlike structures with variolitic cavities, suggest-
ing highly basic submarine lava flows. This type of
feature is similar to some of the lithologies encoun-
tered in the Cumbre* Formation of central Cuba.
Kozary (1968) called these beds ‘‘magmatic extrusive
serpentine.’’
Sheeted dikes. —Along the southern margin of
the Domingo* sequence, the 1988 geologic map
(Pushcharovsky et al., 1988) shows a complex of
sheeted dikes.
Cabaiguan* Sequence
The lithologies of this section are present in gen-
erally vertical to steeply south-dipping slices, alter-
nating with or included in the Domingo* sequence
rocks. Not only are the thicknesses impossible to
measure (the given numbers are only guesses), but the
stratigraphic relationships between units are seldom
visible; some of Cabaiguan* sequence outcrops are en-
tirely surrounded by Domingo* sequence ultrabasics.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 251
The section is graphically shown in Figure 136, where
the thicknesses are for illustration purposes only.
Iberia Formation.—This unit, for the reasons men-
tioned above, is in itself essentially a wastebasket, in-
cluding much of the Cabaiguan* sequence rocks. It
consists of a large variety of rock types ranging from
the Albian to the Maastrichtian. Pyroclastic rocks form
80% of the formation; lavas and dikes form 15%; and
the sediments, including conglomerates, and sand-
stones and limestones form only 5%. Kozary (1968)
named equivalent volcanics in the Silla Gibara the
Lima (flows) and Colorado (tuffs) formations. Four
members are recognized, but the relationships between
each other and the rest of the section are obscured by
tectonism. The main lithologies are as follows:
1) The pyroclastics consist of
a. Basic tuffs and agglomerates. They are thick
bedded, and the color is dark gray, with a green-
ish matrix. The size ranges from fine to 8 in.
(20 cm) in the agglomerate blocks. The fragments
commonly consist of basalt or basalt-andesite,
occasionally amygdaloid, and the cement is
pumiceous.
b. Intermediate tuffs and agglomerates. Their col-
or is greenish gray to grayish with a violet ma-
trix. The fragments consist of andesites and
andesite porphyries with recrystallized volca-
nic glass and opaque sericitized fragments. Oc-
casionally, amygdules are present and are filled
with zeolites and carbonates.
2) The lavas consist of
a. Augitic andesite
b. Amygdaloidal andesite
c. Basaltic andesite lava-breccia
d. Pyroxene diabase
e. Amphibolitized diabase
The above lavas occur in lenticular bodies between
10 and 140 ft (3 and 40 m) thick of augitic andes-
ite, amygdaloidal andesite, basaltic andesite lava-
breccia, pyroxene diabase, and amphibolitized di-
abase. The dikes consist of diabase and basalts.
3) The sediments consist of
a. Polymict conglomerates of gray to greenish gray
color containing fragments of tuffs, tuffaceous
sandstones, limestones, andesites, basalts, and
fossil fragments (rudists). The fragments vary
from angular to rounded, with a diameter up to
3 in. (7 cm). The cement is calcareous.
b. Well-bedded, greenish, brownish gray to yel-
lowish brown, medium- to coarse-grained tuff-
aceous sandstones.
252 / Pardo
c. Fine-grained clastics interbedded with cherts.
d. Lenticular intercalations of light-gray to pur-
plish, dense, porcelaneous, tuffaceous lime-
stones. Their fauna consists of Ticinella sp.,
Stomiosphaera sphaerica, Hedbergella sp., Glo-
botruncana sp., Globigerinelloides sp., rudist
fragments, and radiolaria, suggesting an Albian–
Turonian age. These limestones are associated
with cherts.
The thickness of the above-described volcanic-
sedimentary part of the Iberia Formation is estimated
at 3330–4000 ft (1000–1200 m). Kozák (1996, p. 212)
estimates ‘‘500 to 2000, perhaps 4000 m.’’
The formal members are La Morena, Tinajita, Lin-
dero, and La Jiquima. In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988),
the last three units are given the rank of formation. La
Morena is not shown and is probably included in the
Iberia Formation.
La Morena Member. —This unit consists of ±100 ft
(±30 m) of well-bedded alternation of white, com-
pact limestone and friable, creamy white marl. It ap-
pears to be the only member belonging or related to
the Iberia Formation. The fauna consists of Hetero-
helicidae, Calcisphaerula innominata, Stiomosphaera
sphaerica, Praeglobotruncana sp., Globotruncana cf. for-
nicata, Globotruncana linneiana tricarinata, Globiger-
inelloides sp., and radiolaria, indicating a probable
Albian – Turonian age.
Tinajita Member.— This unit was named by Kozary
(1968) who considered it part of a Maastrichtian
forereef.
It consists of massive, dense, beige, light-gray, and
yellowish white, oolitic, organoclastic limestones with
undefined thick bedding. Among the fossils, Globo-
truncana lapparenti bulloides, Globotruncana linneiana,
Globotruncana calciformis, Globotruncana fornicata, Glo-
botruncana stuarti, Globotruncana contusa, Globotruncana
conica, Torreina torrei, Solenopore piai, Pseudorbitoides
israelskyi, Sulcoperculina globosa, Sulcoperculina dicker-
soni, Sulcoperculina diazi, Sulcorbitoides pardoi, Actinorbi-
toides browni, Vaughanina cubensis, Vaughanina barkeri,
and Orbitoides tissoti have been identified, indicating
a probable Santonian–Campanian or Campanian age.
Lindero Member.— The unit consists of up to dozens
of meters of medium, well-bedded, light-gray, greenish,
or pink, commonly silicified, dense, and porcellaneous
limestones. Among the fossils Globotruncana cf. lappar-
enti, Globotruncana cf. linneiana, Hedbergella sp., Rugo-
globigerina sp., Pseudotextularia elegans, Heterohelix sp.,
and radiolaria have been identified, indicating a prob-
able Campanian–Maastrichtian age.
La Jiquima Member. —The unit is made of at least
1000 ft (300 m) of fine- to medium-bedded, well-sorted,
fine- to medium-grained, brownish gray to creamy
brown sandstones. Carbonized plant fragments are
common. Sulcoperculina sp., Globotruncana sp., and
Gyroidina sp. have been identified, suggesting a
Campanian–Maastrichtian age. Although no direct
evidence exists, it is believed that the Tinajita and
Lindero members are interbedded with the Jiquima
Member, and that all three lie unconformably over
the Iberia Formation.
The stratigraphic subdivision of the above section
is not entirely clear. From the above descriptions,
it appears that the Iberia Formation, including the
La Morena Member, forms a lower unit of Albian –
Turonian age, which is unconformably overlain by
another unit that includes the Tinajita, Lindero, and
La Jiquima members of Campanian – Maastrichtian
age; the section is shown in this way in Pushcharovsky
et al. (1988).
Kozák (1996) named the Loma Blanca Formation
and separated it from the Iberia Formation, which con-
sists of more acidic and mature calc-alkaline flows, as-
sociated tuffs, and some sediments. Age dating by the
K-Ar method has given ages of 81 ± 3 and 86 ± 5 Ma, or
Santonian.
Haticos Formation. — This unit consists of ±650
to ±3300 ft (±200 to ±1000 m) of a coarse conglom-
erate (wildflysch) interbedded with pumiceous tuffs.
The components of the conglomerate are poorly sorted
and angular to rounded and consist of serpentine,
gabbro, microgabbro, diabase, granodiorite, and the
volcanics and volcaniclastics of the Cabaiguan* se-
quence. The matrix is a volcanic-derived sandstone,
siltstone, and white, yellow, or gray marls and tuffs.
Interbeds of brown and yellowish brown, well-sorted,
thinly bedded, fine- to coarse-grained sandstones are
present. The components are plagioclase, quartz, pyro-
xene, and olivine. Named by Kozary (1955a, b; 1968).
P. Jakus describes another formation, the Yaguajay
Formation (no relation to Gulf’s Yaguajay*) that, like
the Vega Alta, represents a structural mixture of rocks
belonging to different tectonic-stratigraphic belts or
zones. It is not considered a legitimate formation and,
therefore, will not be included in this publication. The
Yaguajay Formation is shown in Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988).
Fossils are rare, but Globorotalia velascoensis, Glo-
borotalia aequa, Milliolina sp., radiolaria, and echi-
noids have been found. Jakus (1983) considers this
unit of late Paleocene age. This unit was deposited in
deep waters, and the presence of tuffs (if not entirely

detrital) indicates the influence of some volcanic
activity.
The Haticos Formation unconformably overlies
the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequence rocks in north-
ern Oriente and is transgressively overlain by the Vigia
Formation. Except for the presence of tuffs, the Haticos
shows great similarity with the lower – middle Eo-
cene Vega* and Rosas* formations of central Cuba
and the Pica Pica and Vieja members of the Manacas
Formation of western Cuba. It also shows great affin-
ity with the earlier Paleocene Taguasco* Formation
of central Cuba.
Vigia (Vigia Oriental) Formation. — This Eocene
unit is unconformably above the Domingo* and Ca-
baiguan* sequence rocks. According to Jakus (1983)
and Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), this unit overlies
both the Embarcadero Formation in the Gibara area
and the Haticos Formation in the Domingo*–Cabai-
guan* sequence. It is definitely a deep-water deposit,
and its lower part suggests the Vega* flysch of central
Cuba; however, unlike the Vega* Formation, it repre-
sents the transition to molasse deposition over the arc,
followed by a renewal of volcanic activity. Here, the
Charco Redondo Formation covers it unconformably.
Charco Redondo Formation. — The unit (named
by Woodring and Davies, 1944) consists of 150–650 ft
(50–200 m) of compact, varicolored (white, beige, yel-
lowish brown, pinkish yellow, and yellowish red), bio-
clastic limestones. Intraformational limestone brec-
cias and thickly bedded white limestones characterize
its lower part. In the upper part, the brownish colors
predominate, the bedding is thinner, and the bioclas-
tic texture is dominant; some horizons consist entirely
of large-foraminifera coquinas.
The following foraminiferal fauna has been iden-
tified: Amphistegina lopeztrigoi, Amphistegina cubensis,
Amphistegina parvula, Asterocyclina monticellensis,
Asterocyclina habanensis, Dictyoconus americanus, Dis-
cocyclina marginata, Distychoplax biserialis, Eoconu-
loides wellsi, Fabiania cubensis, Globorotalia densa,
Globorotalia aragonensis, Globorotalia apanthesma,
Globorotalia mckannai, Globigerina soldadoensis, Heli-
costegina gyralis, Helicostegina dimorpha, Pseudoprag-
mina habanensis, Pseudopragmina psila, Pseudoprag-
mina convexicamerata, Nummulites bermudezi, and
Nummulites floridensis. The age is considered middle
Eocene.
This unit is poorly represented in northern Ori-
ente, where it unconformably overlies the Vigia For-
mation. This is the youngest pre – upper Eocene unit.
It is also present in southeastern and southwestern
Oriente.
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 253
Domingo*–Cabaiguan* Sequences Discussion.—
Structural complications conceal the nature of the gen-
eral succession in the basic igneous-volcanic prov-
ince. It should be noted that Kozary (1968) attempted
to reconstruct a trench (the Auras Trench) based on
the type of sediments included in the many imbrica-
tions of the Silla Gibara.
The Domingo* sequence is extremely disturbed,
but most of its components can be recognized, in-
cluding the gabbros, the metamorphic exotics, and
the sheeted dikes complex. Serpentinization is not as
intense as in other parts of Cuba; however, a peculiar
situation in this area is that there is a variety of lime-
stone blocks, up to 1 km (0.6 mi) in length and most-
ly of Late Cretaceous age, embedded in the ultraba-
sics. Even more peculiar is the fact that Cabaiguan*
sequence volcanics form tectonic wedges between
wedges of ultrabasics, but are not directly associated
with the limestones also embedded in the ultrabasics.
This situation is unique in Cuba because elsewhere,
unmetamorphosed limestone exotics in ultrabasics
are extremely rare.
This situation is what led Kozary, in his work for
his Ph.D. thesis, to postulate Upper Cretaceous, dom-
inantly carbonate sediments filling the Auras Trench,
which was then destroyed by the collapse of its ultra-
basics south wall into the trench in the Eocene, thus
incorporating the carbonate sediments within the
ultrabasics. The Cabaiguan* sequence wedges were
considered by him as part of an arc, over the ultra-
basics and immediately south of and parallel to the
Auras Trench. This interpretation has much merit ex-
cept that the limestones embedded into the ultrabasics
are different from those of the Las Villas*, Placetas*, and
Cifuentes* belts; no Upper Jurassic or typical Lower
Cretaceous nannoplankton limestones and cherts have
been recognized. Jakus (1983) does not provide any
further information because he lumps most of these
lithologies in the Yaguajay Formation ‘‘melange’’ and
assigns the larger outcrops to units such as the Tina-
jita Member of the Iberia Formation.
In 1968, Kozary postulated that tension was respon-
sible for the Auras Trench, and that it was located at
the contact between the granitic crust under the car-
bonate platform to the north and the oceanic base-
ment under the basic igneous-volcanic province to
the south. If such a trench existed, and this is quite
possible, it would not have been directly related to the
platform to deep-water province discussed under cen-
tral and western Cuba, but could have been located
south of it, separating it from the basic igneous-
volcanic province. Considering that the Auras Trench
254 / Pardo
is postulated to have originated in the Lower Creta-
ceous, it could be partially superimposed on the plat-
form to deep-water province. It is believed that Kozary,
in his work for this Ph.D. thesis, was the first geologist
to propose a period of rifting to explain the Cuban
ultrabasics prior to the advent of an orogenic arc.
It should be remembered that the Jurassic –
Cretaceous sedimentary basin does not outcrop in
Oriente, has very few outcrops in Camaguey, outcrops
continuously in Las Villas, and is extensively exposed
in Pinar del Rio. The structural complications and tec-
tonic shortening appear to be inversely related to the
area of surface exposures of these sedimentary facies.
This suggests that the platform to deep-water province
was either wider in the west and narrowed eastward or
was tectonically more compressed and overridden to-
ward Oriente.
The lower part of the Cabaiguan* sequence (the
Iberia Formation) is of Albian –Turonian age. Most of
the deposits consist of basic to intermediate tuffs,
and the subordinate flows and dikes consist of basalts
and andesites. The position of the limestones within
the section is unknown, but they are equivalent in
age to the Cristobal*, Gomez*, and Camujiro of cen-
tral Cuba as well as to the Encrucijada Formation of
the Bahia Honda area of Pinar del Rio. Unfortunately, it
is impossible to reconstruct the history of volcanism.
No paleontological record of the Coniacian and
Santonian exists; Santonian rocks have been dated,
however, by radiometric methods.
The Campanian – Maastrichtian is represented by
the clastics of the La Jiquima Member, believed to be
associated with the carbonates of the Tinajita and
Lindero members and to lie unconformably over the
Iberia Formation. There is the problem of the car-
bonates, such as the Tinajita Member, tectonically
mixed with the ultrabasics; perhaps these were de-
posited directly over an ultramafic basement after
erosion (or perhaps nondeposition) of older post-
Turonian – Cretaceous volcanics.
The only indications of Manicaragua-type intru-
sives are outcrops under the city of Holguin covering
some 5 km2 (2 mi2). They consist of quartz diorite
porphyry dated at 77 ± 10 m.y. by the K-Ar method.
The Paleocene is represented by a megabreccia,
derived from the erosion of the Domingo* and Ca-
baiguan* sequence rocks, interbedded with sand-
stones and tuffs, indicating some volcanic activity in
the region. This wildflysch corresponds to the Ta-
guasco* Formation of central Cuba; although grano-
diorite is mentioned as a component, there is no
mention of an arkosic character.
The upper Paleocene to middle Eocene is repre-
sented first by what appears to be flysch deposition
in deep waters, but is followed by fine clastics and
volcanics, suggesting a molasse cycle and, of great im-
portance, volcanic activity that is coeval with, or even
might follow, the maximum tectonic activity. The
Vigia Formation is present north and south of the fault
separating the carbonates from the Gibara area from
the Domingo*–Cabaiguan* sequences. It grades from
coarse to fine upward, indicating that it was deposited
after the maximum displacement on this fault.
Southeastern Oriente
This region extends from the south of Nipe Bay to
the southeastern tip of Cuba, south of Baracoa. It is
in large part formed by the Sierra de Cristal.
The structural style is quite different from that of
northern and central Cuba and from northern Ori-
ente; it is reminiscent of the Sierra de Guaniguanico
in western Cuba. The structures consist of large, rela-
tively undisturbed, horizontal thrust sheets of ultra-
basics and volcanics cut by numerous high-angle faults.
Although evidence for large horizontal displacements
exists, the high degree of compression and shortening
present along the axial Cuban disturbed belt is lacking.
Only the basic igneous-volcanic and metamorphic
provinces are represented. The Domingo* sequence
rocks cover more than 50% of the region, the Ca-
baiguan* sequence covers approximately 30%, and
variously metamorphosed sediments and volcanics
represent less than 20% of the area in the massif of the
Sierra del Purial and the small Asuncion area.
The basic igneous-volcanic province forms a nearly
continuous band of outcrops of 180  25 km (111 
15 mi), extending from the south of the Bay of Nipe
to the south of Baracoa. Two other, small, isolated
outcrops are present, one south of San German and
the other near San Antonio near the southern coast.
In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), the middle Eocene
Gran Tierra, Miranda, Castillo de los Indios, Puerto
Boniato, and Charco Redondo formations are included
in the Bayamo–San Luis Basin, although they pertain
to the pre–upper Eocene late orogenic cycle. This ba-
sin is located between southeastern and southwestern
Oriente. In this study, these formations will be dis-
cussed under southeastern and southwestern Oriente.
Domingo* Sequence
Rocks of this belt cover a large percentage of the
area of this province. They are distributed in two large
tabular bodies, which have been called the Mayari and

Baracoa massifs (see Figure 134). The section is dia-
grammatically shown in Figure 137. It consists of the
following.
Corea Formation.—This consists of a large block,
some 10 km (6 mi) long of albite-amphibole-epidote
schist. It has much muscovite and some chlorite. It is
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 255
FIGURE 137. Stratigraphic sec-
tion: Domingo*-Cabaiguan*
sequences, eastern Cuba,
southeastern Oriente.
believed to have originated from volcanic rocks of
basic to intermediate composition under conditions
of high pressure and intermediate temperature. This
block is an exotic in the ultrabasics and is similar to
some of those occurring in the Santa Clara area in
central Cuba. I am not sure that a formation name is
256 / Pardo
justified. Age determinations by Rb/Sr have given 79 ±
32 m.y. for the whole rock and 72 ± 28 m.y. for the
muscovite. One pegmatite dike cutting the schist was
dated at 119 ±12 m.y. by K-Ar. This suggests a date of
Upper Cretaceous for the metamorphism but Lower
Cretaceous for the intrusion.
Ultrabasic Complex. —It consists of layered peri-
dotites, harzburgites, lherzholites, dunites, etc., in var-
ious degrees of serpentinization. In composition, it
is similar to the other Cuban ultrabasic complexes.
Structurally, this complex is part of a large, nearly hor-
izontal, ±2600-ft (800-m)-thick slab resting in fault con-
tact over rocks of the unmetamorphosed Cabaiguan*
sequence, as well as those of the Purial metamorphic
complex. The roots of this thrust sheet can be seen in
discontinuous outcrops south of the Sierra del Purial
massif. The base is characterized by an ultrabasic brec-
cia in a serpentine matrix.
Gabbros. — Toward the east, southwest of Baracoa,
are outcrops of gabbros, most of them in fault contact
with the ultrabasics.
Sheeted dikes. — These have been identified in
several localities.
Note that no report exists of rocks older than Maas-
trichtian resting in sedimentary contact over the ultra-
basic complex. These may never have been deposited
or were eroded prior to the Maastrichtian. This could
be an undisturbed equivalent of the sedimentary exot-
ics in the disturbed ultrabasics of northern Oriente.
Cabaiguan* Sequence
Most of the outcrops of the Cabaiguan* sequence
are found structurally under the ultrabasics of the
Domingo* sequence (see Figure 134). The section is
also shown in Figure 137.
Bucuey (Santo Domingo, Teneme) Formation.—
The unit consists of 6900 ft (2100 m) of tuffs, lavas, and
subordinate amounts of agglomerates. Small bodies of
dioritic porphyries, andesites, and diabases are also
present, as well as thin horizons of limestone and rare
small lenses of conglomerate. This unit was named by
Coutı́n and Brito (1975). Part of this formation was
named Santo Domingo by Iturralde-Vinent (1975a, b).
It is shown as Santo Domingo (Bucuey) and Teneme
(Bucuey) in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988). The major
lithologic types are as follows:
1) Tuffs. They make up more than 50% of the forma-
tion and dominate in the upper part of the unit.
They are greenish gray, bluish gray, and light
green when fresh, weathering to brownish and
chocolate grayish brown. They are well bedded
with thin to medium beds and are fine to medium
grained. Crystalline, vitric-clastic types dominate.
The lithic crystalloclastic types are secondary.
2) Lavas. They consist of small bodies of massive,
greenish gray, medium- to coarse-grained diorite
porphyries, brownish fine- to medium-grained dia-
base, and very rare, black, coarse-grained andesites.
3) Agglomerates. They are commonly associated
with the lavas and have an andesite to dacite
composition.
According to Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), the Bucuey
Formation is divided into the Teneme Formation,
limited to the north and western part of the Cabai-
guan* sequence outcrops and consisting of basalts
and andesite-basalts, tuffs, and breccias; and the Santo
Domingo Formation, outcropping to the southwest
of the Cabaiguan* sequence and consisting mostly
of tuffs, andesites, agglomerates, conglomerates, and
limestones.
The position of the limestones is not well defined,
and for this reason, they have been assigned to a sep-
arate member within the Bucuey (Santo Domingo,
Teneme) Formation.
Barraderas Member.—It consists of 130–160-ft (40–
50-m)-thick lenses of well-bedded, micritic, sometimes
brecciated, white to creamy white or gray limestones.
In Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), it is shown as part of
the Teneme (Bucuey) Formation. The limestones are
commonly strongly folded and slaty and occur in
several different localities. Based on the presence of
Preaglobotruncana helvetica and Ticinella (Hedbergella?)
sp., they have been given an Aptian – Turonian age.
It must be stressed that the age of the Bucuey For-
mation is entirely based on the age assignment of
these limestones. This formation is therefore equiv-
alent to the Iberia Formation in northern Oriente,
and the Barraderas Member is a possible correlative to
the La Morena Member. It must be emphasized that,
in contrast with the Iberia Formation and with the
exception of the proximity of faults, the dips are gen-
erally low, 15–308. The base of the Bucuey Formation
has never been observed, but Jakus (1983) considers
this section autochthonous and probably equivalent
to the greenschists of the La Farola Formation.
Yaguaneque Formation. — This unit consists of
more than 35 ft (10 m) of white, cream, or gray and
sometimes brown, massive limestone. It is commonly
criss-crossed by small, white calcite veins. It is known
only as two small separated patches in the north
coast. The fauna consists of Pseudorbitoides cf. israelskyi,
Vaughanina sp., Sulcoperculina cf. globosa, Orbitoides

sp., Omphalocyclus sp., Globotruncana cf. stuarti, Globo-
truncana cf. fornicata, Globotruncana linneiana, Globo-
truncana contusa, Sulcorbitoides sp., Globigerinelloides
sp., rudistids, and rare radiolaria. The age is considered
Campanian–Maastrichtian. This unit is believed to
unconformably overlie the La Farola Formation.
Picota Formation. —It consists of up to 3300 ft
(1000 m) of interbedded conglomerates, sandstones,
and siltstones. The dominantly sandy and silty
section has been named the Mı́cara Member. The
Picota Formation is mostly a polymict, poorly sorted,
reddish, mottled conglomerate and breccia with boul-
ders up to 10 in. (25 cm) in diameter. The components
consist of lavas, tuffs, diorites, gabbros, serpentine,
and, in lesser quantity, limestones. The composition of
the detritus varies from place to place from dominantly
ultrabasic to dominantly volcanic. The textural appear-
ance also changes from detrital sediment to an angu-
lar tectonic breccia without bedding or orientation.
Colbiella (1974) named it the Sabanilla Formation
and divided it into the La Picota and Mı́cara members.
The conglomerates are very poor in fossils, but a lime-
stone lens between the sandstones and conglomerate
has given Sulcoperculina globosa, Vaughanina cubensis,
Vaughanina cubensis globosa, and bryozoans, indicating
a Maastrichtian age. The conglomerates interfinger
with the finer clastics of the Mı́cara Member.
Mı́cara Member. — The unit consists of dark-
gray, greenish gray, and dark-green, well- and fine- to
medium-bedded sandstones and siltstones, with inter-
beds of conglomerates and dolomitized limestones.
Graded bedding and crossbedding are common. The
sandstones are fine to coarse grained, and the compo-
nents consist of subrounded rock fragments, plagio-
clase, quartz, chalcedony, calcite, and ultrabasics. The
matrix is calcareous. The siltstones are of gray color,
and the components consist of rock fragments, plagio-
clase, quartz, and calcite in a fine matrix. The contact
between the sandstones and siltstones is commonly
sharp, erosional, and wavy. The clasts of the conglom-
erates are rounded to subangular, up to 8 in. (20 cm)
in diameter, and consist of Bucuey Formation vol-
canics, gabbros, diorite porphyry, limestone, and oc-
casionally, serpentine. The matrix is sandy.
A rich nannoplankton assemblage (coccoliths, zygo-
discs, etc.) has been identified, as well as Pseudorbitoides
cf. israelskyi, Sulcoperculina globosa, Asterorbis sp., Hedber-
gella planispira, Preaglobotruncana sp. (reworked), Gyroi-
dina sp., and Inoceramus sp., suggesting a Campanian–
Maastrichtian age.
The Picota Formation and Mı́cara Member appear
to have been deposited as flysch in open water as the
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 257
result of the erosion of an advancing thrust front.
Jakus (1983) considers it in part fluviatile-deltaic as
indicated by the localized presence of lignites. Both
units are found under the major ultrabasic thrust
sheet that covers a large part of the southeastern Ori-
ente region. They unconformably overlie the Bucuey
Formation and, in places, the ultrabasics; they are also
found folded into the ultrabasics. They are conformably
overlain by the Gran Tierra Formation and unconform-
ably overlain by the Castillo de los Indios Formation.
Gran Tierra Formation. — The unit (named by
Iturralde-Vinent, 1975a, b) consists of small irregular
patches, 500 – 650 ft (150 – 200 m) thick of conglom-
erates and breccias with calcareous cement and marls
grading upward into white limestone breccias. The
clasts are fresh and rounded consisting mostly of the
volcanics of the Bucuey Formation and minor amounts
of gabbros, serpentine, sandstones, etc. The marls are
creamy yellow.
The fossils Globorotalia pseudobulloides, Globorota-
lia trinidadensis, Globorotalia imitata, and Globigerina
triloculinoides have been identified, suggesting a lower
Paleocene age.
It conformably overlies the Picota Formation
(Mı́cara Member) and is found unconformably over
the ultrabasics, the Cabaiguan* sequence Bucuey For-
mation, and the greenschists of the metamorphic prov-
ince La Farola Formation. It is commonly overlain
by the acid tuffs of the Miranda Formation. This unit
is considered equivalent to the Haticos and Embarca-
dero formations of northern Oriente.
Miranda Formation. — The Miranda Formation
consists of generally 1000 – 1150 ft (300 – 350 m),
occasionally reaching 3000 ft (900 m), of thin- to
medium-bedded, porous, vitroclastic, lithovitroclastic,
and crystallovitroclastic tuffs with smaller amounts
of conglomerates, breccias, marls, and limestones.
Small bodies of andesites, andesitic basalts, and da-
citic andesites are also present. The colors range from
greenish, greenish yellow, yellowish white, and gray
to white. Depending on the area, the alteration is
dominantly zeolitic or bentonitic, although the tuffs
are also silicified and chloritized. In places, a poorly
sorted conglomeratic breccia (lenses?) is present, up
to 800 ft (250 m) in thickness, with clasts up to 5 in.
(12 cm), of andesitic volcanics and aphanitic, white
limestone containing upper Paleocene–lower Eocene
faunas. The matrix is dominantly a slightly argilla-
ceous vitroclastic tuff.
In addition to the presence of nannoplankton in
the Miranda Formation, the following fossils have been
identified: Globorotalia velascoensis, Globorotalia aequa,
258 / Pardo
Globorotalia pseudomenardii, Globorotalia occlusa, Glo-
borotalia spinulosa, Globorotalia rex, Globorotalia for-
mosa, Globorotalia crassata, Globorotalia pseudobul-
loides, Globorotalia compressa, Globorotalia elongata,
Globorotalia cf. wilcoxensis, Globorotalia cf. aragonensis,
Globigerina cf. mckannai-soldadoensis, Globigerina lina-
perta, Globigerina velascoensis, Globigerina triloculinoides,
Pseudophragmina sp., Discocyclina cf. cristensis, Discocy-
clina marginata, Discocyclina cf. cubensis, Amphistegina
cf. lopeztrigoi, and Asterocyclina cf. habanensis. The
age is considered upper Paleocene to middle Eocene.
The Miranda Formation rests unconformably on
the Picota and Gran Tierra formations, as well as
on the Cretaceous volcanics, the ultrabasics, and
the metamorphics of the Sierra del Purial. It is un-
conformably overlain and overlapped by the upper
Eocene. It is equivalent to the Cobre and Vigia forma-
tions of southwestern Oriente. Its upper part might
be correlative to the lower part of the Castillo de los
Indios Formation.
Castillo de los Indios Formation. — The unit
consists of a maximum of 800 ft (250 m), but 230 ft
(70 m) on average, of thin- to medium-bedded litho-
clastic and lithovitroclastic tuffs. The fragments in the
vitroclastic tuffs consist of somewhat altered volcanic
glass of fine to medium size, but occasionally up to
3 in. (8 cm) in diameter. Also well distributed in this
formation are limestones, marls, and light-gray to yel-
lowish white thin-bedded siltstones. In some areas,
the limestones dominate.
The fauna consists of nannoplankton (cocolitho-
phoridae and discoasteridae) and foraminifera, includ-
ing Truncorotaloides rohri, Truncorotaloides topilensis,
Hantkenina alabamensis, Globorotalia cf. convexa, Glo-
borotalia densa, Globorotalia centralis, Amphistegina cf.
cubensis, Amphistegina lopeztrigoi, Distychoplax biserialis,
Fabiania cubensis, Globanomalina cf. wilcoxensis, and
Globigerina senni, indicating a lower–middle Eocene
age perhaps extending into the upper Eocene.
This formation lies conformably over the Gran
Tierra Formation and unconformably over the ultra-
basics. The Puerto Boniato Formation overlies it with
a slight unconformity. It is equivalent to the upper
part of the Vigia Formation in northern Oriente.
Puerto Boniato Formation. —This unit consists
of up to 160 ft (50 m) of thin-bedded, cream to whit-
ish cream, dense, sometime bioclastic limestones
interbedded with brownish black chert and light-
gray marls.
The foraminiferal fauna consists of Discocyclina
marginata, Discocyclina cubensis, Amphistegina lopez-
trigoi, Asterocyclina habanensis, Asterocyclina monticel-
lensis, Eoconuloides wellsi, Globorotalia cf. wilcoxensis,
Globorotalia cf. elongata, Globorotalia cf. convexa, Glo-
borotalia cf. pseudomenardii, Globigerina cf. mckannai,
Globigerina cf. soldadoensis, Trancorotaloides topilensis,
Lepidocyclina ariana, Lepidocyclina macdonaldi, Pseu-
dophragmina habanensis, and Pseudopragmina teres.
The age is considered middle Eocene.
It lies conformably on the Miranda and uncon-
formably on the Castillo de los Indios Formation.
Charco Redondo Formation. — It is well repre-
sented in southeastern Oriente, where it lies uncon-
formably over the ultrabasics and the Bucuey, Picota,
Miranda, and Vigia formations. It is the youngest pre–
upper Eocene unit.
Domingo*–Cabaiguan* Sequences Discussion.—
This province in southeastern Cuba is characterized
by relatively low dips and a major, nearly horizontal
overthrust of the Domingo* over the Cretaceous part
of the Cabaiguan* sequence, as well as over the meta-
morphics of the Purial massif. The general structural
style is reminiscent of that found in the Sierra de
Guaniguanico in Pinar del Rio, except that it involves
the basic igneous-volcanic province instead of the clas-
tic and platform to deep-water province.
The Aptian–Turonian volcanics of the Bucuey For-
mation are overlain by the flysch deposits of the Picota
Formation, which is synchronous with the thrusting
of the Domingo* sequence sheet in the Maastrichtian;
the Picota contains abundant ultrabasic fragments,
occurs under the ultrabasics, and is also infolded into,
and lies above them. The base of the Cabaiguan* se-
quence volcanics is unknown; in contrast to central
Cuba, where many thousands of feet of Cretaceous
volcanics are seen resting on the ultrabasics, here, no
volcanics of Cretaceous age exist over them. The Gran
Tierra Formation of lower Paleocene age is the oldest
unit that appears to transgress both the ultrabasics
and the Picota and the Bucuey formations. Here, as in
northern Oriente, there was a renewal of volcanic ac-
tivity during the late Paleocene and the middle Eo-
cene that correlates with that of the Cobre Forma-
tion in southwestern Oriente. As in central Cuba, the
flysch grades into a molasse as the tectonic activity
decreases in intensity.
Southeastern Oriente can be used as a model to in-
terpret the structural and stratigraphic relationships
in northern Oriente. If the Domingo* and Cabaiguan*
sequence rocks here were to be strongly imbricated
and compressed, they would show major imbrica-
tions of the Cretaceous Cabaiguan* sequence and the
Domingo* sequence, but only Paleocene to middle
Eocene sediments would be found as exotics in the

ultrabasics. The situation is similar to northern Ori-
ente, with the exception that the exotics in the ultra-
basics consist only of Maastrichtian and younger sed-
iments. This indicates that, in northern Oriente, the
thrusting and erosion of the Domingo*–Cabaiguan*
thrust sheet occurred at an earlier period in Campanian–
Maastrichtian.
A very high 180 mg Bouguer gravity value over the
ultrabasics and metamorphics is probably not caused
by the near-surface rocks, but suggests a shallow oce-
anic basement under the thrust sheets. For instance,
the Domingo* sequence in northern Oriente, which
is along the main Cuban deformation zone, shows
values of 10 mg or less, although the ultrabasic out-
crops are nearly as extensive. It is possible that what
appears to be a thrust sheet represents a cold extru-
sion and gravity flow of serpentinized ultrabasics from
several feeders.
It should be noted that no direct evidence for the
direction of thrusting of the ultrabasics has been re-
ported; however, this thrust sheet is believed by Co-
biella et al. (1984) to form a major anticline with its
roots southward, toward the Cayman Trench. The Ca-
baiguan* sequence is considered to be autochthonous.
The original width of the exposed Domingo* and
Cabaiguan* sequences must have been a minimum
of 85 km (52 mi) before thrusting. However, if the
serpentine originated from local feeders and spread
as submarine flows, this width might not be more
than 45 km (28 mi).
Southwestern Oriente
This region extends for 250 km (155 mi) west of
Guantanamo Bay along the southern coast of Cuba. It
reaches north as far as Tiguani. As shown in Figure 134,
it is a large uplift, the Sierra Madre, north of the Cay-
man Trench, and it is a continuation of the Cayman
Ridge. Here, the basic igneous province is represented
only by rocks of the Cabaiguan* sequence. With the
exception of small Cretaceous volcanic outcrops, the
Paleogene dominates the region.
Cabaiguan* Sequence
Two small Cretaceous outcrops, the Tejas and Bruja
Oriental formations, probably form the basement
under a thick Paleogene volcanic section, which is
characteristic of this region. Paleogene volcanics have
been previously described in other regions of eastern
Cuba and also as tuffs included in the sediments of
northern and central Cuba. Here, however, the Paleo-
gene volcanic section is well developed and appears
continuous, as shown in Figure 138. However, there is
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 259
a question whether Cretaceous sediments have been
legitimately included in the Cobre Group.
Bruja Oriental Formation. —Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988) show near the southern coast of Oriente, some
outcrops of this Campanian – Maastrichtian unit in
fault contact with the Cobre Group. They are described
as sandstone, tuffaceous siltstone, sandy limestone,
and conglomerate. Despite the name, this unit does
not seem to have any relationship with the Bruja For-
mation of central Cuba, and the origin of this name
and the basis for the dating is unknown.
Cobre group. — The Cobre Group consists of
16,500–20,000 ft (5000–6000 m) of a complex, dom-
inantly andesitic, effusive, and volcanoclastic section
including lavas, agglomerates, lithocrystalloclastic,
and vitroclastic tuffs, calcareous tuffs, and lenses and
beds of bioclastic and tuffaceous limestones. The
different lithologic types grade into each other lat-
erally and vertically, which makes it extremely
difficult to subdivide this unit. Numerous dioritic
intrusive bodies cut the Cobre Group, causing much
contact metamorphism of the intruded rocks. The
various components are as follows:
1) Andesites. This is the most common effusive type
present as lava flows, sills, dikes, and related tuffs
and agglomerates. The color is commonly gray,
with hues that can be green, violet, brown, and
sometimes almost black. The texture is common-
ly porphyritic with an ophitic matrix. The compo-
sition is very uniform; the phenocrysts commonly
consist of andesine and sometimes augite. The
matrix is mostly made up of plagioclase accom-
panied by grains of pyroxenes, metallic miner-
als, and glass.
2) Dacites and andesitodacites. This type is fairly com-
mon. The color is commonly gray, with hues that
can be violet, brown, and sometimes green. They
are finely porphyritic, with a glassy or holocrystal-
line (recrystallized) matrix. The phenocrysts are
commonly acid feldspars (from oligoclase to al-
bite), quartz, and metallic minerals. The andes-
itodacites contain less quartz in the phenocrysts.
3) Rhyolites and rhyodacites. These are the least abun-
dant effusives. They also have a porphyritic tex-
ture; the phenocrysts consist of quartz, acid pla-
gioclase, and mafic minerals in minor quantities.
The matrix contains plagioclase, biotite, and grains
of metallic minerals.
4) Pyroclastics. The kind of pyroclastics are present
in the same proportions as the above correspond-
ing effusive rocks.
260 / Pardo

FIGURE 138. Stratigraphic

section: Cabaiguan sequence,
eastern Cuba, southwestern
Oriente.

5) Tephras and agglomerates. They show a variation
from acid to basic.
6) Tuffs. They are commonly well bedded, fine to
very fine grained, and present a large range of light
to dark colors. They commonly represent the up-
per part of the various volcanic cycles and are com-
monly associated with tuffaceous limestones.
7) Graywackes. They are abundant only in the western
part of the Sierra Maestra. They are commonly well
bedded and well sorted with subangular grains.

These sediments and volcanics were deposited in
an open-marine environment with variable depth.
Among the characteristic fossils, the following spe-
cies have been recognized: Globigerina spiralis, Globi-
gerina aquiensis, Globigerina mckannai, Globigerina
primitiva, Globorotalia acuta, Globorotalia aequa, Glo-
borotalia convexa, Globorotalia crassata, Globorotalia
pseudoscitula, Globorotalia pseudopilensis, Globorotalia
brodermani, Globorotalia (Morozovella) aragonensis, Glo-
borotalia (Acarinina) densa, Hantkenina bumblei, Catap-
sydrax echinatus, Discocyclina barkeri, Discocyclina
mestieri, Discocyclina marginata, Discocyclina cubensis,
Pseudophragmina (Proporocyclina) cedarkeyensis, Pseudo-
phragmina (Proporocyclina) habanensis, Pseudophrag-
mina (Proporocyclina) psila, Amphistegina lopeztrigoi,
Amphistegina cubensis, Asterocyclina habanensis, Num-
mulites bermudezi, Cymbalopora cushmani, Eoconuloides
wellsi, Boreloides cubensis, Helicostegina gyralis, and Fa-
biana cubensis. This assemblage indicates the lower–
middle Eocene. However, some limestones of the
Palma Mocha Formation contain Sulcoperculina dick-
ersoni and Pithonella sp., suggesting an Upper Creta-
ceous age.
Within the Cobre Group, several formations have
been defined: Hongolosongo, Cuabitas, Pı́lon, and
Palma Mocha. They do not constitute a complete
subdivision of the group, but instead, they represent
some characteristic lithologic associations that can
be locally mapped. They do not constitute a strati-
graphic succession.
Hongolosongo Formation. — This unit (named
by Yikdov et al., 1971, and shown as a formation in
Pushcharovsky et al., 1988) consists of a variable thick-
ness, up to a maximum of 10,000 ft (3000 m), of yellow-
ish gray, poorly bedded acid tuffs (dacites, riodacites,
rhyolites) interbedded with frequent agglomerates,
lapillis, and ignimbrites. Lavas of the same composi-
tion and dikes of diorite and basalt porphyries are also
present. The fauna is poor, but Distychoplax sp., Bore-
loides cubensis, and Eoconuloides wellsi have been iden-
tified. This member is under the limestones of the
Cuabitas Formation that contain a rich lower–middle
Eocene fauna.
Cuabitas Formation.— This unit consists of up
to 200 ft (60 m) of limestone lenses, occasionally re-
efoidal, that appear to have grown on volcanic islands.
The following species have been identified: Globigerina
spiralis (or aquiensis), Globigerina mckannai, Globorotalia
cf. pseudopilensis, Globorotalia (Morozovella) aragonensis,
Globorotalia (Acarinina) cf. densa, Discocyclina barkeri,
Discocyclina marginata, Discocyclina cubensis, Pseudo-
phragmina (Proporocyclina) cedarkeyensis, Amphistegina
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 261
lopeztrigoi, Asterocyclina habanensis, Eoconuloides wellsi,
Boreloides cubensis, Helicostegina cf. gyralis, Distychoplax
sp., Lithothamnium sp., and Lithophyllum sp., suggesting
a lower–middle Eocene age.
Pilón Formation. — The Pilón Formation (shown
as a formation in Pushcharovsky et al., 1988) consists
of more than 6500 ft (2000 m) of banded calcareous
tuffs in the lower part, followed by graywacke and
medium-grained detritus composed of volcanic frag-
ments and, finally, massive limestones with volcanic
fragments in the upper part. The following fauna has
been recognized: Globigerina mckannai, Globigerina
primitiva, Globorotalia cf. acuta, Globorotalia cf. aequa,
Globorotalia crassata, Globorotalia pseudopilensis, Glo-
borotalia (Morozovella) aragonensis, Globorotalia (Acar-
rinina) densa, Catapsydrax echinatus, Discocyclina bar-
keri, Discocyclina cf. mestieri, Discocyclina marginata,
Pseudophragmina (Proporocyclina) cedarkeyensis, Pseu-
dophragmina (Proporocyclina) habanensis, Pseudophrag-
mina (Proporocyclina) cf. psila, Amphistegina cf. lopez-
trigoi, Asterocyclina habanensis, Nummulites bermudezi,
Eoconuloides wellsi, and Fabiania cubensis. This assem-
blage is lower–middle Eocene; however, this forma-
tion is believed by Jakus (1983) to extend into the
Upper Cretaceous. It is reported to contain abundant
Cenomanian –Turonian reworked fragments.
Palma Mocha Formation.— This unit consists of
±650 ft (200 m) of thin to medium, well-bedded,
black to dark-gray limestones, with occasional inter-
beds of lithocrystalline tuffs, containing Sulcoperculina
dickersoni, Pithonella sp., and radiolaria. It was named
Palma Mocha Group by Furrazola-Bermudez et al.
(1976). In the 1988 geologic map (Pushcharovsky
et al., 1988), near the type locality of the Palma Mocha
Member, a Cretaceous undifferentiated Turquino For-
mation was described as consisting of clastics and
volcanics but shown with limestones in the colum-
nar section. The age is considered Upper Cretaceous
(Cenomanian – Turonian). Because this formation
shows a certain similarity to the Gomez* Formation
of central Cuba, it probably does not belong to the
Cobre Group.
The Cobre Group lies unconformably under the
Charco Redondo and Barrancas formations. Although
it is commonly concordant and transitional with the
Puerto Boniato Formation, they can be occasionally
separated by an unconformity.
The Cobre Group is a mixture of a large number
of lithologic units with an age possibly ranging from
the Cenomanian to the middle Eocene. From the pub-
lished descriptions, volcanic activity seems to have
been continuous through the Campanian – middle
262 / Pardo
Eocene. Much more work is needed to clarify this
point.
Caney Formation.—The Caney Formation consists
of ±3300 ft (±1000 m) of well- and generally thin-
bedded tuffaceous rocks with various light colors. The
acid varieties dominate, and thin zeolitized horizons
are common. Many manganese deposits are associated
with this formation. It is shown as a formation in the
1988 geologic map (Pushcharovsky et al., 1988). The
fauna contains Globigerina mckannai, Globorotalia
aequa, Globorotalia cf. pseudoscitula, Globorotalia cf.
brodermani, Globorotalia cf. convexa, Globorotalia (Mo-
rozovella) aragonensis, Globorotalia (Acarinina) densa,
Discocyclina barkeri, Pseudophragmina (Proporocyclina)
cedarkeyensis, Pseudophragmina (Proporocyclina) haba-
nensis, Pseudophragmina (Proporocyclina) psila, Amphis-
tegina cubensis, Eoconuloides wellsi, and Helicostegina cf.
gyralis. The age is considered middle Eocene with
some reworked faunas from the Paleocene and lower
Eocene.
Puerto Boniato Formation.—This unit is also well
developed in this region, where in most instances, it
transitionally overlies the Cobre Formation. Locally,
it unconformably overlies the Caney Formation.
Charco Redondo Formation. —It was described
under northern Oriente and is well developed in
this region where its type locality is located.
Farallon Grande Formation. —The unit (named
by Taber, 1934) consists of 165 –4100 ft (50 –1250 m)
of a polymict conglomeratic breccia with angular to
subangular clasts from 1 to 4 in. (2 to 10 cm) in diam-
eter. The sorting is poor at the base and improves
upward where rhythmic bedding can be observed. In-
terbeds of coarse-grained sandstones and well-sorted
conglomerates are present. Most of the clasts are de-
rived from the Cobre Formation along with limestone
clasts from the Charco Redondo Formation. The matrix
consists of sand and reworked tuff or can be totally
absent. The cement is calcareous.
Discocyclina cubensis and Fabiania cubensis have
been identified in a limestone lens. The clasts con-
tain typical middle Eocene faunas, and the overlying
San Luis has a late middle –upper Eocene assemblage,
indicating a middle Eocene age for the Farallon Grande
Formation.
The Farallon Grande unconformably overlies the
Pilón Member and the Charco Redondo Formation.
It grades upward into the upper Eocene San Luis For-
mation and is unconformably covered by the
Neogene Limones and Manzanillo formations. This
unit represents the end of the flysch and beginning
of the molasse deposition.
Barrancas Formation.—The Barrancas Formation
consists of 200–330 ft (60–100 m) of crystallovitro-
clastic and vitroclastic, rhyolithorhyodacitic tuffs with
coarse, gray glass fragments. White marls, cream, well-
sorted, tuffaceous, and calcareous sandstones, white
bioclastic limestones, and calcilutites are also present.
It unconformably overlies the Caney Member of the
Cobre Formation. This unit contains abundant dia-
toms and silicoflagellates in addition to foraminifera.
The following foraminifera have been identified:
Catapsydrax dissimilis, Discocyclina cubensis, Fissurina
margarita, Globigerapsis kugleri, Globigerina mckannai,
Globigerina trilocularis, Globorotalia aequa, Globorotalia
centralis, Globorotalia cerroazulensis, Globorotalia (Aca-
rinina) densa, Globorotaloides suteri, and Truncorotaloides
topilensis, suggesting middle Eocene to the lower part
of the upper Eocene. This unit correlates with the Cas-
tillo de los Indios and Miranda formations of south-
eastern Oriente and the upper part of the Vigı́a For-
mation of northern Oriente.
Cabaiguan* sequence intrusives.—Along the axis
of the Sierra Maestra, parallel to the Cayman Trench,
are several intrusive bodies in the Cobre Formation.
The following types have been recognized: aplites
and micropegmatites, granodiorites and granodio-
ritic porphyry, plagiogranite and granite porphyry,
quartz-diorite and quartz-diorite porphyry, diorite
and diorite porphyry, and miscellaneous dikes (spes-
sartite, andesite, andesite-basalt, basalt, andesite-
dacite, dacite, and rhyodacite). Three samples of
granitoids have been dated by K-Ar method on whole
rock giving 46 ± 6, 49 ± 6, and 58 ± 8 m.y. or upper
Paleocene to middle Eocene.
Drilling. —Stanolind drilled several wells, two of
them offshore, in the Guanacayabos-Nipe Basin in
the late 1950s. More recently, EPEP drilled Granma-1
near Bayamo.
Stanolind Rabihorcado-1. Drilled through youn-
ger Tertiary to ±3280 ft (±1000 m), where it pen-
etrated the Cobre Formation to the total depth of
4266 ft (1205 m).
Stanolind Lavanderas-1. Drilled through younger
Tertiary to ±3280 ft (±1300 m), where it pen-
etrated the Cobre Formation to the total depth of
5535 ft (1688 m).
EPEP Granma-1. Drilled through younger Tertiary
to ±8364 ft (±2550 m), where it penetrated the
Cobre Formation to the total depth of 9898 ft
(3017 m).
Cabaiguan* sequence discussion. — Only the
Cabaiguan* sequence is present in this province. Un-

fortunately, because of complex structures and stra-
tigraphy, this volcanic section is poorly understood.
The pre-Paleogene section occurs either as small,
scattered outcrops (Tejas, Bruja Oriental formations)
or is included as possible Cenomanian – Turonian
(Palma Mocha limestone member) in the Cobre For-
mation. This member is probably equivalent to sim-
ilar limestones (Gomez*, Cristobal* Camujiro, Qui-
ñones, etc.) of the same age elsewhere in Cuba. These
scattered outcrops definitely indicate the presence of
an Upper Cretaceous arc.
No report exists of the commonly richly fossilif-
erous Campanian –Maastrichtian, which is always
present in southeastern and northern Oriente, as well
as elsewhere in Cuba. It is not known if its absence is
caused by erosion, nondeposition, or just unfavor-
able conditions for fossil accumulation and preserva-
tion. There are reports of numerous clasts containing
Campanian – Maastrichtian faunas in conglomer-
ates of the Cobre Formation, specifically the Pilón
Member. In view of the fact that, in other areas, the
Campanian–Maastrichtian consists of shallow-water
detritus deposited in shallow to deep waters, it is
very likely that during that time, this region was up-
lifted and, therefore, the site of nondeposition and/
or erosion.
During the Paleogene, volcanic products were con-
tinuously present and dominated until the middle
Eocene, when the volcanism ceased during the time
of the Charco Redondo and Puerto Boniato Forma-
tion deposition. The volcanism was mainly acid, from
andesitic to rhyolitic, along with the accompanying
ejecta. Numerous intrusives of this age are present.
Note that in the postorogenic Guacanayabo-Nipe
Basin, the middle Eocene can grade into the overly-
ing upper Eocene sediments.
Although northward-directed thrusts of Cobre
Formation have been observed, most of the dips in
this belt are moderate (30 –508), and most faults are
high angle. The present width of 45 km (27 mi) of the
belt is not believed to have been much more than
70 km (43 mi) predeformation.
Metamorphosed Basic Igneous-Volcanics
(Purial Massif)
This province occurs in the southeastern part of
the southeastern Oriente region and is named the
Purial massif. It has not been as well surveyed as the
Escambray massif. However, like the other metamor-
phic provinces in Cuba, Millán and Somin (1981,
1985a, b) and Millan-Trujillo (1996) studied it. In gen-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 263
eral, the metamorphism is low grade and involves vol-
canic rocks. The Purial massif is in part reminiscent of
the Manicaragua zone of central Cuba, including am-
phibolites and metamorphosed volcanics (greens-
chists), and represents most of the metamorphic out-
crops. Their distribution is shown in Figure 134, and
the units will be described generally from east to west
and shown in Figure 139 (no thicknesses have been
measured, and the ones given on the figure are for
graphic purpose only).
Güira de Jauco Formation. —The Güira de Jauco
Formation consists of a schistose, sometimes banded,
amphibolite of hornblende-andesine composition com-
monly containing garnet and quartz. Isolated interca-
lations of quartz-garnet cherts and garnet-hornblende-
andesine-quartz, fine-grained plagiogneiss are also
present. Some of the amphibolites have been defin-
itively derived from gabbros, which show pseudo-
bands caused by the orientation of the components
that preserve relicts of the primary clinopyroxenes
and basic plagioclases. In places, clinozoisite-epidote is
abundant. The chemical composition corresponds to
that of tholeiites.
This formation contains pegmatite veins and
small intrusive bodies of diorite and quartz-diorite.
In the amphibolites are many lenses of serpentinite,
and large blocks, up to 650 ft (200 m), of amphibolite
are entirely encased in serpentine.
The schistosity and banding trends north-north-
east – south-southwest parallel to the general trend
and schistosity of the other metamorphic rocks in
the area. It forms the easternmost outcrops of the basic
igneous-volcanic massif of the Sierra del Purial and is
in fault contact with the metasediments of the Sierra
Verde Formation to the east in the Asuncion area.
The age of the Güira de Jauco Formation is un-
known. A K-Ar age determination has given 72–75 Ma,
or Campanian–Maastrichtian, which could be the age
of the metamorphism. However, zircon from a sample
of gabbro-amphibolite has given 100 ± 50 m.y., sug-
gesting that the original rock could be much older.
La Farola Formation. — This name is another
wastebasket unit that includes all the metavolcanics
of the Sierra del Purial. It is synonymous with the
Purial complex of Millán and Somin (1985a, b) and
Millan-Trujillo (1996), who divided it into five se-
quences, which are, from east to northwest, Rio Ba-
racoa, Jojo, Quivican, Via Mulata, and Mal Nombre.
Although Millán and Somin consider this term invalid
because it includes a number of disparate lithologies,
it is used in this book as a group since it is shown on
the 1988 geologic map (Pushcharovsky et al., 1988).
264 / Pardo

FIGURE 139. Stratigraphic

section: Purial massif meta-
morphics, eastern Cuba,
southeastern Oriente.

Rio Baracoa sequence. — The unit (named by Millán
and Somin, 1985a) outcrops in the easternmost part of
the Purial massif and consists of a mostly sedimentary
section. It is a dominantly basic pyroclastic section,
sometimes effusive but with common polymict sand-
stones, quartz feldspar sandstones, and limestones.
The primary composition of the pyroclastics is
effusive with abundant tuffs showing graded bed-
ding. The recrystallization is uneven, and the highest
grades show albite, chlorite, epidote prehnite, and
actinolite and, more rarely, lawsonite, glaucophane,
and pumpellyite.

The polymict metasandstones are dark gray and
poorly bedded, and the clasts are deformed. They
contain abundant fragments of intermediate to basic
feldspars, clinopyroxenes, and clasts of basalt and
andesitic basalt. Frequent fragments of a fine-grained
aggregate of sericite, quartz, and albite might have
originated from a dacitic effusive rock. Abundant grains
of hornblende, quartz, epidote, and oxides, with the
plagioclase, might have originated from the erosion
of a diorite or quartz-diorite. The common metamor-
phic minerals are chlorite, actinolite, epidote, sericite,
albite, and rarely, glaucophane.
In places, groups of beds of quartz-plagioclase
metasandstones contain fractured clasts of quartz
and acid plagioclase that appear to have been derived
from granitoids. The common metamorphic miner-
als are chlorite, epidote, sericite, lawsonite, and rare-
ly, glaucophane.
Limestones occur quite frequently and form beds
from 2 in. (5 cm) to ±6 ft (±2 m). They are crystalline,
light colored, well bedded, and seldom massive. They
are interbedded with the metasandstones and meta-
tuffs. The following fossils have been found: Sulco-
perculina globosa*, Sulcoperculina diazi*, Lepidorbitoides
sp.*, Pseudorbitoides sp., Orbitoides cf. tissoti*, Globo-
truncana cf. elevata, Globotruncana linneana, Globo-
truncana arca, Globotruncana lapparenti, Globotruncana
cf. calcarata, Globigerinelloides sp., and Hedbergella sp.
(the asterisk indicates that the fossils were found in a
float believed to belong to the Rio Baracoa sequence),
suggesting a late Santonian–Campanian age.
This sequence is unconformably overlain by the
massive, barely recrystallized limestones of the Cañas
Formation (named by Colbiella et al., 1984) containing
Orbitoides apiculata, Pseudorbitoides rutteni, Lepidorbi-
toides sp., and Sulcoperculina globosa. This fauna is in-
terpreted as Maastrichtian. The Cañas Formation is not
shown in Pushcharovsky et al. (1988), and it is believed
to be a postmetamorphic and postultrabasic thrust
plate overlap; the field relationships are not clear. It
should be noted that the age difference between the
limestones attributed to the Rio Baracoa sequence
and the Cañas Formation is not obvious from the
fossil list alone.
Jojo sequence.—The Jojo sequence (named by Millán
and Somin, 1985a) outcrops on the south-central
slopes of the Purial massif and is characterized by
pyroclastic rocks of a basaltic composition. Pyroclas-
tics and effusive rocks of andesitic and rhyolithoda-
citic composition are also present.
Polymict medium-grained metasandstones with
volcanic fragments and quartz are observed, possibly
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 265
derived from the erosion of granitoids. In addition,
some isolated groups of beds of fine-grained actinolite
schists, in places rich in graphite, containing albite,
quartz, chlorite, and glaucophane.
This sequence shows similarity to some of the li-
thologies of the unmetamorphosed Bucuey (Santo
Domingo) Formation of the Cabaiguan* sequence.
Loma quivican sequence. —The Loma Quivican se-
quence (named by Millán and Somin, 1985a) outcrops
in the north-central part of the Sierra del Purial and
consists of nonmetamorphic to slightly metamor-
phosed volcanics. The metamorphism is so low that
the volcanic glass is unaltered. The major lithologic
type consists of psammitic tuffs and poorly bedded
tuff breccias made of fragments of plagioclase basalt,
amygdular porphyritic andesite basalts, fragments of
clinopyroxene crystals, and magmatic plagioclase.
Between these tuffs are intercalations of very fine-
grained, commonly schistose tuffs with bands of vari-
ous colors.
The effusive rocks constitute 25% of the total and
are represented by porphyritic basalts with low TiO2
and K2O and high alumina that is characteristic of
tholeiites.
Via Mulata sequence.—The Via Mulata sequence
(named by Millan-Trujillo, 1996) outcrops in the
northwestern part of the Sierra del Purial complex
and consists of a sequence of well-bedded metatuffs
showing rhythmic sedimentation. Medium- to fine-
grained tuffs can be recognized, and the color varies
from green to lilac with a slaty luster. Occasionally,
light-colored slaty limestones occur. This sequence
could represent a lateral equivalent of the Loma
Quivican.
Mal Nombre sequence. —The Mal Nombre sequence
outcrops in the extreme northwest of the Sierra del
Purial complex and consists of homogeneous, mas-
sive to poorly bedded, polymict metasandstones. In
general, they are poorly sorted, angular, and coarse
grained up to brecciated metaconglomerates. The
clasts vary much in size and, in general, are flattened
and elongated. Occasionally, very fine-grained layers
are present. This sequence is similar to some of the
clastics of the Rio Baracoa and could be a metamor-
phic equivalent of the Mı́cara Formation as well as La
Picota Member of the Cabaiguan* sequence.
This complex is very likely the metamorphosed
equivalent of the Cretaceous volcanic arc sequence
and its ultrabasic basement that characterizes the
Cuban basic igneous-volcanic province. It is the only
place in Cuba where this section is metamorphosed.
The metamorphism, characterized by glaucophane,
266 / Pardo
is of the high-pressure–low-temperature type and de-
creases from southeast to northwest. This complex is
highly deformed. Based on a window near La Tinta,
it is believed by Cobiella et al. (1984) to form a rela-
tively thin thrust sheet overriding its unmetamor-
phosed equivalent, the Bucuey (Santo Domingo) For-
mation. For this reason, the thicknesses cannot be
estimated, and a section is impossible to reconstruct.
However, it is quite probable that the Güira de Jauco
Formation was the oceanic basement under the vol-
canic section, and the Mal Nombre sequence might
have been the highest volcanic unit over or partly
equivalent to the Rio Baracoa sequence. By similar-
ity with other volcanic section, the La Farola For-
mation may extend from the Aptian(?) through the
Maastrichtian.
Granitoids.— Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show a
body of Upper Cretaceous quartz diorite in fault con-
tact with the Rio Baracoa and/or the Jojo sequences.
Note. —An assemblage of serpentinites, leucocratic
gabbros, and diabases altered with a fine aggregate of
epidote, chlorite, albite, prehnite, and actinolite is in
fault contact with the encasing rocks (Güira de Jauco
to the east and La Farola to the west) and has a general
north-northeast–south-southwest trend. To the north
of this belt of outcrops are large blocks of serpentine
and gabbros: the serpentinites contain inclusions of
high-pressure metamorphics.
To the southwest of the ultrabasics, infaulted in
the Rio Baracoa sequence, are conglomerate-breccias
containing rounded blocks of serpentinite and dia-
base in a disintegrated serpentine matrix. They appear
to be allochthonous, and although no other mate-
rial was found, they are similar to the Maastrichtian
Picota conglomerates to the north and west.
Consequently, these ultrabasics do not belong to
the metamorphic province, but are part of the overly-
ing Maastrichtian–Paleocene ultrabasic Mayari-Baracoa
thrust sheet.
In southwestern Oriente are some poor outcrops
of metamorphosed volcanics underlying the Cobre
Formation.
Tejas Formation. — The Tejas Formation consists
of poor outcrops, near Santa Rita, of light-gray, tuffa-
ceous, micaceous schists. It consists of quartz, sericite-
illite, and pyrite. Several andesite dikes belonging to
Cobre Formation cut this formation. The original rock
is believed to have been a tuff. No fossils have been
found, and the Tejas Formation is believed to be un-
conformably under the Cobre Formation. It is prob-
ably equivalent to part of La Farola Formation of the
Purial massif.
Purial Massif Metamorphics Discussion. — The
Purial massif sequence represents a metamorphosed
Domingo*–Cabaiguan* sequence section with some
affinity to the Manicaragua belt (Mabujina am-
phibolite), but with a greater development of vol-
canics. According to Millan-Trujillo (1996), it shows
low-grade high-pressure – low-temperature regional
metamorphism.
The contact between the metamorphics and the
main body of ultrabasics to the north and south is
by faults, with the ultrabasics riding as a sheet over
the Purial massif anticlinorium. The ultrabasics are
not metamorphosed and could have been thrusted
from south to north. The La Farola Formation meta-
morphics are also considered by Cobiella et al. (1984)
to be a thrust sheet riding over the equivalent un-
metamorphosed Bucuey (Santa Domingo) Forma-
tion, although they admit the possibility that the
window of Bucuey Formation could be an olistolith,
or a tectonic scale, under the ultrabasics.
The relation between the metavolcanics of the
Purial and the Asuncion metamorphics is tectonic
and further confused by the presence of ultrabasics.
However, the band of ultrabasics separating the meta-
morphosed Cabaiguan* sequence from the Güira de
Jauco amphibolites is believed to be part of the major
ultrabasic Mayari-Baracoa thrust sheet that formerly
covered the Purial massif and was wedged along the
faults that separate the Purial from the Asuncion area.
It is no coincidence that in central and western Cuba,
amphibolites (Mabujina, Daguilla) are also found in
contact with metamorphosed sediments, suggesting
that the Asuncion area was originally part of a win-
dow of metamorphosed sediments showing through
the thrust sheet of amphibolite basement under the
Purial metavolcanics.
The original prethrusting width (if such thrusting
occurred) represented by Domingo* belt and the Purial
metamorphics must have been at least 100 km (62 mi).
Eastern Cuba: Basic Igneous-Volcanic
Terrane Discussion
Oriente, like the other Cuban regions, does not show
a complete stratigraphic sequence of any particular
province, but presents a different look at a particular
phase of the geological development of the island. On-
ly three provinces are exposed: (1) the carbonate plat-
form, (2) the basic igneous-volcanic, and (3) the meta-
morphic. The platform to deep basin province is not
exposed, which does not mean that it is not present at
depth.

The basic igneous-volcanic province can be seen,
from north to south, in four different structural
situations:
1) Tightly compressed against the carbonate platform,
where the ultrabasics form the basement under
the Albian–Turonian volcanics and were thrusted
over them in the Campanian–Maastrichtian.
2) Relatively undeformed, where the ultrabasics,
covered with Maastrichtian and Paleogene sedi-
ments and volcanics, form the nearly horizontal
Mayari-Baracoa thrust sheet over the unmetamor-
phosed Albian–Turonian volcanics (considered
autochthonous).
3) Relatively undeformed and unmetamorphosed
ultrabasics of the Mayari-Baracoa thrust sheet cov-
ering highly deformed and slightly metamor-
phosed greenschist formed from the Upper Cre-
taceous volcanics, possibly, according to Cobiella
et al. (1984), the same thrust sheet that overlies
the equivalent unmetamorphosed section.
4) Moderately deformed, very thick section of Pa-
leocene to middle Eocene volcanics, possibly over-
lying unmetamorphosed and metamorphosed
Upper Cretaceous (pre-Campanian to Maastrich-
tian?) volcanics.
In all situations, there is indication of volcanism
in the lower – middle Eocene.
Very little can be said about the stratigraphy and
basement of the Cretaceous Cabaiguan* sequence
except that the section is mostly post-Albian to pre-
Campanian and tends to be basic to intermediate in
composition. Based on other Cuban regions, the base-
ment is assumed to have been the basic to ultrabasic
complex.
During the Campanian in northern Oriente and
Maastrichtian in southeastern Oriente, the volcanics
were covered with a thrust sheet, or cold extrusion
and flow, of the ultrabasic complex. After the em-
placement of the thrust sheet, the overlying Creta-
ceous volcanics, if present, were eroded, and sedi-
ments were deposited over both the ultrabasic thrust
sheet and/or the underlying Cretaceous volcanics.
This occurred in the Campanian to middle Eocene in
northern Oriente and Maastrichtian to middle Eo-
cene in southeastern Oriente. There is no indication
of ultrabasics in southwestern Oriente.
The direction of thrusting is problematic; in north-
ern Oriente, it was very probably directed northward,
but in eastern Oriente, it could have been directed
either north or south. The northwest – southeast-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 267
trending 180-milligal Bouguer gravity anomaly (the
largest in Cuba, which otherwise is characterized by
relatively low gravity values) located under the Mayari-
Baracoa massif and coinciding with the Moho high
(diapir?) indicated by the crustal measurements (see
Chapter 5, this publication) suggests a shallow oce-
anic basement. Possibly under tension, the serpenti-
nized ultrabasics might have moved upward and flowed
horizontally over the unmetamorphosed, as well as al-
ready metamorphosed, volcanics. This sheet, or flow,
could have moved southward, although Cobiella et al.
(1984) consider the movement to have been north-
ward. A second strong and parallel gravity high, reach-
ing 140 milligal, coincides with the eastern end of the
regional southwestern Oriente high and the Bayamo–
San Luis depression. The outcrops show no obvious
reason for this feature, which is a good evidence for a
deep-seated origin.
A marked increase in the amount of volcanics and
volcaniclastics from north to south during the Paleo-
cene to middle Eocene is observed. Lower–middle Eo-
cene ashes are reported from northern and western
Cuba, but in small quantities. These volcanics are the
result of the large lower–middle Eocene intermediate
to acid, volcanic center in the southwestern part of
eastern Cuba characterized by the Cobre Formation
and related units. This center could have been related
to the Jardines de la Reina archipelago’s northeast-
dipping subduction zone. At any rate, this is proof that
in Oriente volcanism continued after the obduction of
ultrabasics and, simultaneously, with the violent de-
formation that was occurring along the Cuban axial
thrust zone to the north and west.
The relationships between the La Farola volcanics,
the Güira de Jauco amphibolites, and the Asuncion
complex are obscured by high-angle faults. However,
like the Mabujina amphibolite in the Escambray mas-
sif, the Güira de Jauco is believed to be the basement
over which the La Farola metamorphosed volcanics
were deposited. In addition, as in the Escambray massif,
both overrode the nonvolcanic sediments, in this case,
the Asuncion metamorphics. Note the following:
1) The dating of the amphibolite metamorphism is
Campanian–Maastrichtian, whereas the amphib-
olite itself could be Lower Cretaceous or older.
2) The overlying metamorphosed Rio Baracoa
sequence is Campanian.
3) This metamorphic sequence is under the un-
metamorphosed Mayari-Baracoa ultrabasic thrust
sheet that is, in its turn, covered by unmetamor-
phosed Maastrichtian sediments.
268 / Pardo
Apparently, the metamorphism preceded the thrust-
ing of the ultrabasics that occurred in the Maastrich-
tian. However, because the Asuncion complex is meta-
morphosed, the thrusting of the amphibolites over
it must have preceded or been simultaneous with
the metamorphism, meaning Campanian at the lat-
est. In this area, along the coast, evidence exists for
northward-directed thrusts of the serpentine and
lower – middle Eocene Cobre Formation over the
late middle Eocene to lower Oligocene San Luis For-
mation; they appear to originate in the Cayman trough.
These movements could be related to the early de-
velopment of the Cayman rift; this will be described
in Chapter 3 of this publication.
These conclusions about timing and mechanism
of the orogenic process fit well and complement the
conclusions derived from other areas:
1) They agree with the Upper Cretaceous metamor-
phism and simultaneous deformation of the en-
tire Cuban arc.
2) They support the timing of the original deforma-
tion of the ultrabasics; the first ultrabasic detritus
is found in the Maastrichtian of the miogeosyn-
cline Amaro* and Cacarajı́cara formations.
3) They support the evidence indicating that the ul-
trabasic basement was of a rifted nature, and al-
though it served as basement for a volcanic se-
quence, much of it was never subducted under a
continental margin.
4) The age of the first appearance of igneous detritus
in sediments supports the evidence that the de-
formation of the ultrabasics and volcanics proceeded
at different times in different areas of the Cuban
geosyncline as indicated by the following ages,
progressing from earliest in the south to latest in
the north:
Campanian: Moreno (northern Rosario)
Maastrichtian: Cacarajicara (southern Rosario),
Amaro*, (Cifuentes*)
Paleocene: Ancón (Sierra de los Organos)
early –middle Eocene: San Martin* (Las Villas*
and Yaguajay*), Embarcadero (Yaguajay*)
5. The possible obduction of ultrabasics and vol-
canics over the nonvolcanic sediments was not
responsible for the metamorphism of the south-
western terrane.
6. Eastern Cuba, like western Cuba, confirms the
presence of a strongly compressed and deformed
axial zone between the carbonate platform to
the north and an area to the south characterized
by skin tectonics with large nappes, thrusts, or
slides, which adjoins the Cretaceous arc farther
to the south.
Not much information exists to determine the
distribution of facies within each province of east-
ern Cuba; however, what there is provides informa-
tion about their relationships.
As in the other regions, two possible alternatives
exist: (1) the basic igneous-volcanic province was
originally south of the Sierra del Purial and Asuncion
metamorphics and (2) the basic igneous-volcanic
province was originally north of the Sierra del Purial
and Asuncion metamorphics. The first alternative is
the more likely. This reconstruction is supported by
the similarity between the Asuncion complex and
the carbonate platform to deep-water province sed-
iments. However, the presence of the nearly hori-
zontal ultrabasic thrust sheet above the relatively
undeformed volcanic arc as well as above the meta-
morphosed volcanics is difficult to explain with this
interpretation. If the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* se-
quences, which are highly deformed in northern
Oriente but nearly horizontal in southeastern Ori-
ente, are part of the same thrust over the metamor-
phics, then the thrusting alone cannot explain the
northern Oriente deformation. The metamorphosed
La Farola, which shows a northward decrease in
metamorphism, is possibly thrusted over and is the
equivalent to the Bucuey (Santo Domingo, Teneme)
volcanics. Therefore, two sources of regional meta-
morphism, one for the Purial complex and another
one for the Asuncion complex, are required to explain
this reconstruction.
The northern part of the southwestern Oriente Pa-
leogene volcanic complex overlies metamorphosed
volcanics, possibly equivalent to La Farola Formation.
To the south, however, along the south flank of the
Sierra Madre, unmetamorphosed Cretaceous volca-
nics are present. In view of the fact that this lower–
middle Eocene volcanic activity occurred after the
deformation and thrusting of the basic igneous-
volcanic province and synchronously with the par-
oxysm of deformation along the main Cuban thrust
belt, it is believed to be nearly autochthonous (over
the already thrusted Domingo* and Cabaiguan* se-
quences), although together with serpentines, it has
been found thrusted over the middle–upper Eocene
San Luis Formation south of the Sierra del Purial. The
effect of this volcanism was felt over most of eastern
Cuba, as indicated by the tuffs in the Paleogene of
northern and southeastern Oriente.

FIGURE 140. Restored stratigraphic section, central Cuba, north-central terrane (through Gulf Blanquizal III-1).
DISCUSSION OF THE PRE–UPPER EOCENE
STRATIGRAPHY OF CUBA
In this section, an attempt will be made to piece
together some of the most significant, previously de-
scribed stratigraphic components. This will have to
be done for each area and assembled for the entire
island.
Because the stratigraphic details for each compo-
nent have been discussed earlier in this chapter, this
section will concentrate on how the different com-
ponents can be pieced together, in essentially a
two-dimensional model, based only on central Cuba
stratigraphic evidence. The possible model will be
geographically expanded later as other areas are
described. In all the restored stratigraphic sections,
the top of the Cretaceous will be used as datum. The
datum will be shown at the estimated subsea depth
for that time, the rock thicknesses (measured or
estimated) will be shown below the datum, and the
distances will be palynspastically restored according
to the already given estimates of shortening. For the
sake of graphic clarity, it will be assumed that major
shortening had not occurred until the end of the
Cretaceous, which, of course, is not entirely correct.
For the same reason, the lithologic symbols will be
simplified. Although the models are two-dimensional,
the four segments of each section were not neces-
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 269
sarily located along what was then a continuous
profile; there may have been considerable transcurrent
displacement between them as well as rotation of
some of them.
North-Central Terranes: Carbonate Platform to
Deep Basin Section
Although there has been some shortening, this is
the most autochthonous of the three subbasins. Two
possible lines of section exist from the Bahamas plat-
form to the deep-water basin: (1) Cay Sal-1, Blanquizal-1,
Yaguajay* belt, Sagua la Chica* belt, and Las Villas*
belt; and (2) Cay Sal-1, Cayo Coco-2, Yaguajay* belt,
Jatibonico* belt, and Las Villas* belt (see Figures 140,
141, respectively). These sections show the distribution
of lithologic types at the end of the Cretaceous. There
were some local reef developments at the edge of the
Jurassic–Cretaceous bank, but typical reef rocks have
not been observed in place in central Cuba, although
reef debris is very common in the Las Villas* belt
carbonate clastics. The Maastrichtian Mayajigua* For-
mation conglomerate consists almost entirely of reef
fragments. The reefs may be present at depth and not
exposed because of the geometry of the south-dipping
Yaguajay* belt fault block, which shows only the bank
(backreef) facies. It should also be noted that most of
the exposed Jurassic represents bank conditions; only
270 / Pardo
FIGURE 141. Restored stratigraphic section, central Cuba, north-central terrane (through Shell Cayo Coco-2).
the Tithonian Caguaguas* Formation in the Las Villas*
belt shows a deepening of the waters with an influx of
pelagic organisms. From the late Early Cretaceous on,
there appears to have been carbonate banks separated
from the main Bahamas Bank by deep, open-water
tongues. The sections through the Cayo Coco –Punta
Alegre areas show this. The southeastern part of the
Yaguajay* belt appears to have been one of these iso-
lated banks. This is further supported by the presence
of Casablanca Group outcrops north of the Upper Cre-
taceous Remedios Formation in the Sierra de Cubitas;
this situation could have extended much farther west.
Also of interest is the evidence for a separated Early
Cretaceous basement high, named Rana, south of the
main Bahamas Bank.
Southwestern Terranes: Carbonate Platform
to Deep Basin Section
The main difference between western Cuba and
central Cuba is the lack of a well-established, and in-
controvertible, Cretaceous and later continental mar-
gin such as the Bahamas Bank and the development
of a thick Jurassic sand-shale section. The other major
difference is that, generally speaking, the belts of cen-
tral Cuba are dipping to the south, toward the Seibabo
syncline with a southward progression from shallow-
water to deep-water sediments and, finally, volcanics,
whereas in western Cuba, the situation is reversed.
The dips are generally northward, and the shallower
water sediments to volcanic succession of belts is from
south to north toward the Mariel-Matanzas syncli-
norium. Amazingly, to this date, no published direct
evidence of the direction of thrusting exists, so there
have been arguments for either direction of motion.
For any number of regional considerations, it is very
difficult to visualize a north-to-south direction of
thrusting in western Cuba.
If one assumes that the basic igneous-volcanic
complex constitutes the highest of the thrust sheets
and originated from the south, then the sequence of
belts becomes (from north to south) Mogotes, south-
ern Rosario (east), northern Rosario, and Guajaibon –
Sierra Azul belts (see Figure 142). It is postulated that
the Guajaibon-Cierra Azul bank carbonates were de-
posited over a western continuation of the Rana high,
south of the northern Rosario deep-water sediments.
This paleohigh could have been responsible for the
Cretaceous section being sandier westward. This is
shown in a second profile, Figure 143 that, from north
to south, displays the Mogotes, southern Rosario–
Alturas de las Pizarras del Sur area, Cangre, and La
Esperanza belts. This succession will be used herein
as the most logical, but not necessarily the only alter-
native. It must be noted that the metamorphism of the
Cangre belt can be definitely dated as early Tertiary.
 Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 271

FIGURE 142. Restored stratigraphic section, western Cuba, southwestern terrane, eastern section. Upper portion shows
Guajaibon to the north; lower section shows Guajaibon to the south.

Metamorphic Province: Escambray canic sequence. However, some late metamorphism,

Two possible ways of restoring the stratigraphy
across the massif exist, depending on the direction of
internal thrusting. Figure 144 will show the section
assuming that the thrusting is from south to north. If
the thrusting were from north to south, it would be
the mirror image of the first case.
The fact that three distinct metamorphic grades
corresponding to groups of thrust sheets can be dis-
tinguished indicates that the thrusting occurred most-
ly after the metamorphism. Furthermore, the meta-
morphism of the southwestern terrane is not directly
related to the Manicaragua granodioritic intrusion
(median age of 78 m.y.), which is limited to the vol-
like in the Cangre belt, might be the result of the ob-
duction of the Domingo sequence. This is supported
by the distribution of radiometric age of metamor-
phism with a peak in the Upper Cretaceous and a
median of 66 m.y.
The shown thicknesses are only for the purpose of
illustrating the facies relationships; only vague es-
timates are available.
Metamorphic Province: Isla De La Juventud
It is impossible to deduce any sedimentary trend
from the published data on the outcrops of the Isle
272 / Pardo

FIGURE 143. Restored stratigraphic section, western Cuba, southwestern terrane, western section.

FIGURE 144. Restored stratigraphic section, central Cuba, southwestern terrane, Escambray Massif.

FIGURE 145. Restored stratigraphic section, central Cuba, basic igneous-volcanic terrane.
of Pines. Presently, the northern half of the meta-
morphic massif has higher metamorphic grades than
the southern one. As previously discussed, whatever
is the reason for the reverse metamorphism, the higher
metamorphic grades only indicate closer proximity
to the obducted crust.
Basic Igneous-Volcanic Terrane Sections
North-Central Cuba
This section is a composite of Las Villas (north
flank) and Camaguey (south flank) provinces that
represents a cross section of the terranes. It is shown
in Figure 145. In relation to these sections, it should
be remembered that the thicknesses in the Dom-
ingo* sequence are estimated.
Southwestern Cuba
Rocks from this province are not well represented
in this part of Cuba, so the restored cross section will
be based, from north to south, in only three sections;
Bahia Honda area; southern tectonic unit, Bahia Honda
area; and northern tectonic unit and Los Palacios Basin.
The width will be arbitrarily set at 250 km (155 mi) (see
Figure 146).
Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 273
Northern Cuba
In northern Cuba, it is not possible to develop a
stratigraphic model because of the limited informa-
tion provided by outcrops or drilling. However, the
following points can be definitely established:
1) Four groups of stratigraphic units have been
identified: Las Villas* and Cifuentes* belts, and
Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences.
2) From the northeast to southwest or from the well
bottom up, the groups of units occur in the above-
described succession, proving the validity of the
concept that northern Cuba, as well as central
Cuba, is made up of a stack of thrust sheets each
representing a characteristic section of a major
geosynclinal basin. However, as indicated by the
well EPEP Vegas-1, the regional slope of the base
of the Domingo*–Cabaiguan* thrust sheet is at
least 1 in 8 km (5 mi) to the south.
3) No well in northern Cuba has penetrated rocks
of the Yaguajay* belt, although penetration as
deep as 16,500 ft (5000 m) is common. This sug-
gests that onshore, the Bahamas-type carbonate
bank does not extend farther west than Cardenas
Bay (more exactly, between Gulf Hicacos-1 and Gulf
274 / Pardo
FIGURE 146. Restored stratigraphic section, western Cuba, basic igneous-volcanic terrane.
Blanquizal III-1) and then crosses the present-day
Florida Strait to the edge of the west Florida shelf.
4) The outcrops of Domingo* and Cabaiguan* se-
quence rocks are continuous through northern
Cuba, indicating that these belts in western Cuba
belong to the same basic igneous-volcanic prov-
ince as those of central Cuba.
5) Although volcanic ejecta are found in strata as
young as the lower – middle Eocene, no major
volcanic deposits exist above the base of the
Campanian–lower Maastrichtian Via Blanca For-
mation. After the accumulation of most of the vol-
canics, the pre–Via Blanca volcanics were subject
to strong deformation, erosion, and redeposition
in what appears to have been submarine topog-
raphy with great relief. This period represents the
beginning of the destruction of the Cretaceous
volcanic arc, and according to some sedimentary
patterns, the source of sediments was to the south.
Possibly, it was the time of the initial northward
thrusting of the basic igneous-volcanic province.
6) The final emplacement of the basic igneous-
volcanic thrust sheet, as well as the stacking of the
carbonate thrust sheets occurred, as in the rest of
Cuba, during the early–middle Eocene. In many
places, a marked unconformity exists between the
middle and upper Eocene; however, in some areas,
a perfectly conformable transition is present.
Eastern Cuba
In eastern Cuba, the information available about
each province provides only a stratigraphic section
with no lateral variation. Furthermore, no reliable
reported thicknesses occur. The angularity between
the regional Cuban trends and the Cayman trough
makes simple north – south reconstructions unrealis-
tic. Lateral motions and rotations are certainly in-
volved. Although the model used for other parts of
Cuba probably generally applies, no restored cross
section will be attempted for eastern Cuba.
Restored Cuba Cross-Sections
Restored cross sections can be put together for cen-
tral and western Cuba to give a general idea of the pre–
upper Eocene facies distribution (see Figure 147). It
must be noted that the original width represented
by the present outcrops could approximate 1000 km
(621 mi).
 Pre – Upper Eocene Stratigraphy / 275

FIGURE 147. Restored stratigraphic section, central and western Cuba.

3
Pardo, G., 2009, Post – middle Eocene stratigraphy, in G. Pardo, The geology
of Cuba: AAPG Studies in Geology Series, no. 58, p. 277 – 293.
Post–middle Eocene Stratigraphy
At the close of the middle Eocene, most of the strong
orogenic deformation in Cuba had occurred, and the
general distribution of the pre–upper Eocene structures
and stratigraphic units was essentially as it is now. The
younger Tertiary sediments began to accumulate over
the now-essentially inactive, largely peneplained, sub-
marine mountain chain, reflecting some large-scale
deformation that included folding and faulting.
The overall movements during the remainder of the
Tertiary have been of a slow, continuous uplift, with
much of Cuba emerging by the Miocene. The younger
Tertiary sedimentation consisted mostly of the filling
of topographic depressions, although erosion of uplifts
and filling of subsiding areas also occurred.
It should be noted that Gulf Oil, with the excep-
tion of a few areas in central Cuba, did little work on
the younger Tertiary; therefore, much of the follow-
ing is derived from published information, namely,
Iturralde-Vinent (1977, 1988), Jakus (1983), and Fer-
nandez et al. (1987).
As shown in Figure 148, the post –middle Eocene
will be described according to the following areas:
Northern coast = Havana to Oriente Provinces
Southwestern basin = Los Palacios Basin, Habana-
Matanzas, and western Las Villas
South-central basin = Central Depression (Gulf of
Ana Maria)
Southeastern basins = Guanacayabo-Nipe Basin,
central syncline, Guantanamo depression, and
southern coast (only the stratigraphic unit of the
Oriente southern coast will be listed).
A characteristic of most upper Eocene and later sed-
iments is their richness in fossils, mostly large and
small foraminifera. They are a paleontologist’s para-
dise. Consequently, for the sake of brevity in this
report, only characteristic species will be mentioned.
Copyright n2009 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
DOI:10.1306/13141062St583328
277
An important difference exists between the upper
Eocene (and later) sediments along the north-central
coast of Cuba and those found along the southern
part of the island, mostly covering the Cabaiguan*
sequence. Along the north-central part of the island,
the upper Eocene, and later, sediments are in marked
unconformable contact with the older rocks, whereas
along the southern half of Cuba, they overlie the Ca-
baiguan* sequence and show a transition with no
definite break between the middle and the upper Eo-
cene. A correlation chart of the post–middle Eocene is
shown in Figure 149.
Many of the post– upper Eocene lithologic units
are local with restricted geographic distributions; a
graphic columnar section has been prepared only when
a thick continuous section is known to exist such as
the Los Palacios and Guanacayabo-Nipe basins.
In view of the fact that Cuba was almost com-
pletely emergent by the end of the Miocene, only the
upper Eocene to lower Pliocene formations will be
described; the Pliocene and Pleistocene stratigraphic
units are local, thin, and discontinuous and, there-
fore, irrelevant for the purpose of this report.
NORTHERN COAST
This region extends along the north coast of Cuba
from Matanzas to Oriente and includes the outcrops
of rocks of upper Eocene age associated with the
Coastal*, Yaguajay*, Las Villas*, and other sedimen-
tary belts to the north of the Domingo*-Cabaiguan*
sequence front. No complete section in wells or out-
crops exists.
Piedras* Formation
The Piedras* Formation consists of 440 ft (134 m)
of white to light-gray, dense foraminiferal coquina.
278 / Pardo
FIGURE 148. Cuba post – middle Eocene basins.
The limestone is fairly clean, with only occasional
marly and slightly sandy beds. Discocyclinas, aster-
ocyclinas, and lepidocyclinas characterize the fauna.
The age is considered upper Eocene. It lies uncon-
formably over the Vega Formation and older rocks
of the Yaguajay* belt.
Rancho Bravo Formation
The Rancho Bravo Formation consists of 200 ft
(60 m) of polymictic hard, dark green, calcareous con-
glomerates with well-rounded clasts of ultrabasics,
making up to 60% of the total rock. This conglomer-
ate is poorly sorted, with pebbles up to 4 in. (20 cm)
in diameter. Clasts of limestones from the Gibara area
also exist. Above the conglomerates are beds of fine-
grained, gray, argillaceous sandstones and hard beige
mudstones. A fauna of nannoplankton indicates mid-
dle to upper Eocene age. Reworked middle Eocene
and Upper Cretaceous foraminifera exist. This for-
mation, present in northern Oriente, is equivalent in
age to the San Luis Formation and lies unconform-
ably over the Vigı́a Formation.
Chambas* Formation
The Chambas* Formation consists of 2700 ft (820 m)
of yellow-brown, calcareous sandstones and conglom-
erates with abundant beds of sandy limestone, cavern-
ous organic limestone, marls, and clays. The con-
glomerates contain abundant igneous fragments. The
formation is medium bedded.
The Chambas* Formation contains abundant mol-
lusks and is characterized by large lepidocyclinas (in
part stellate forms with spatulate equatorial cham-
bers). The age is considered lower–middle Oligocene.
Some middle Eocene faunas, found in the lower part,
are probably reworked.
In outcrop, this unit has been recognized only in
the eastern rim of the Jatibonico Mountains, where it
seems to unconformably overlap with the upper Eo-
cene Piedras* Formation and the lower–middle Eo-
cene Vega* Formation. It has been identified in Punta
Alegre-2, where it is 636 ft (194 m) thick, and overlies
the Turiguano* Formation.
Güines Formation
The Güines Formation consists of an unknown
thickness, but is probably quite thin, of locally dolo-
mitized, cavernous, organic, reefoidal limestones. It
also contains some dirty marls and sandstones. It was
named by Alexander Von Humboldt in 1826, thus
being one of the oldest formation names in the Ca-
ribbean. The fauna is characterized by very abundant
mollusks, corals, and algae. Amphisorus sp. and Am-
phistegina sp. are the characteristic foraminifera. It is
of Miocene age. In most places, it is fairly flat lying or
tilted with gentle dips. It occurs along the flanks of
major structures and makes up the greatest part of the
 Post – middle Eocene Stratigraphy / 279
FIGURE 149. Correlation chart, upper Eocene – upper Miocene.
280 / Pardo
surface of the coastal belt. This formation is exten-
sively developed from northern to eastern Cuba and
is unconformable on all older units of the Yaguajay*,
Las Villas*, Placetas*, and Cifuentes* belts.
Vasquez Formation
The Vasquez Formation (named by P. Jakus in 1974)
consists of more than 650 ft (200 m) of well-bedded,
cream to green-gray limestones, marls, and clay. The
limestones are commonly bioclastic. The clays are
bentonitic and are locally interbedded, with layers of
lignite and gypsum, indicating a restricted lagoonal
environment. The fossils include mollusks, foraminif-
era, and ostracods. Among the foraminifera, Ammonia
beccarii, Amphisorus hemphrichi, Amphisorus matleyi, Am-
phistegina angulata, Archaias angulatus, Asterigerina
subacata, Clavulina tricarinata, Discorbis cercandensis,
Discorbis subaraucana, Elphidium chipolensis, Elphidium
poeyanum, Elphidium rutteni, Elphidium sagrai, Eponides
byramensis, and Quinqueloculina byramensis have been
identified, indicating a middle Miocene age. It lies
unconformably over all the older formations of north-
ern Oriente.
Unnamed Upper Eocene
In the well Kewanee Collazo-1, 2220 ft (677 m) of an
unnamed upper Eocene section has been penetrated.
It consists of soft to hard, dense to coarsely detrital, in
part bituminous, limestones and marls showing in-
cipient dolomitization. The section is porous and very
fossiliferous.
Unnamed Oligocene
In the well Kewanee Collazo-1, 365 ft (111 m) of an
unnamed Oligocene section has been penetrated. It
consists of two intervals of red silt, bedded or nodular
anhydrite, and some inclusions of dolomite separated
by a white, dense to fine-grained, soft to hard, fossil-
iferous marly, Lepidocyclina spp.–bearing limestone.
The anhydrite does not resemble anhydrite found high-
er in the well or in the Punta Alegre outcrops. Spores
and pollen analyses have given a lower Oligocene age
for the silts. The limestone has also been dated Oligo-
cene on the basis of microfossils. It should be noted
that on the Loma Cunagua, outcrops of pure white
gypsum are interbedded with marls and limestones
that yielded a Miocene fauna.
It therefore appears that in the Punta Alegre–Loma
Cunagua area, a little known Oligocene–Miocene ba-
sin contains evaporites. Whether it is a true evaporite
basin or the evaporites were derived from the nearby
diapirs is unknown.
Drilling
Of the wells drilled along the north coast, the fol-
lowing have penetrated an appreciable section of up-
per Eocene and younger sediments:
ICRM Colorado-1: Drilled ±2360 ft (±720 m) of
Neogene limestones
Gulf Hicacos-1: Drilled 2290 ft (698 m) of upper
Eocene limestones and Cojimar(?) Formation
ICRM Cayo Fragoso-1: Drilled ±2300 ft (±700 m)
of Oligocene and Neogene limestones
ICRM Cayo Frances-5: Drilled ±2790 ft (±850 m) of
upper Eocene, Oligocene, and Neogene limestones
Kewanee Collazo-1: Drilled through 2331 ft (711 m)
of upper Eocene and Oligocene limestones, marls,
siltstones, and gypsum (see above)
Shell Punta Alegre-2: Drilled 3548 ft (1082 m) of
Chambas* Formation and Neogene
EPEP Moron Norte-1: Drilled ±2790 ft (±850 m) of
upper Eocene, Oligocene, and Neogene clastics.
SOUTHWESTERN BASINS
These basins are part of a late to postorogenic basin
that started to develop while the thrusting was in its
final phase. In places, the sediments filled depressions
on the surface of the basic igneous-volcanic province,
where the sedimentation continued uninterruptedly
from middle Eocene into the upper Eocene. In other
areas, topographic highs were actively eroded, and
marked unconformities developed. These basins are
the Los Palacios Basin south of the Pinar fault, the
Habana-Matanzas Basin, and the western Las Villas Ba-
sin. All three were probably part of one single basin.
LOS PALACIOS BASIN
The extent of this basin is not well known, at least
from the published data. Its northern rim is well
defined by the Pinar fault; however, its southern rim
is unknown. The rocks forming the bottom of the
basin are questionable; the deepest penetration, Los
Palacios-1, bottomed in Upper Cretaceous Cabaiguan*
sequence sediments. A feature on the southern coast,
called the La Coloma high, shows as a positive gravity
and magnetic anomaly and is believed to be a basic ig-
neous or volcanic high based on data from the drilling
of ESSO Guanal-1A (or ESSO Guanal-2).
Several wells have been drilled along what is be-
lieved to be the axis of the basin, and the most com-
plete section of post – middle Eocene sediments has

FIGURE 150. Stratigraphic section: post – Upper Eocene,
Los Palacios.
been reported from the EPEP Candelaria-1 well. The
section is shown in Figure 150.
Jabaco Formation
The Jabaco Formation, named by P. J. Bermudez in
1937 (1950), consists of 755 ft (230 m) of interbedded
polymictic conglomeratic gravels, sandstones, and fossil-
iferous argillaceous limestones. It has been subdivided
into an upper Globorotalia cerroazulensis and a lower
Globigerinatheka semiinvoluta zone. Larger foraminifera
also exist that are characteristic of the Asterocyclina
minima zone. The age is considered late upper Eocene.
Deposition occurred in waters not deeper than
100 m (330 ft). This unit outcrops along the Pinar fault
Post – middle Eocene Stratigraphy / 281
and is similar to the Jabaco Formation in the Bahia
Honda area.
Guanajay* Formation
The Guanajay* Formation (named by Truitt, 1956a)
consists of 1475 ft (450 m) of very argillaceous lime-
stones, fossiliferous marls, sandy and gravely lime-
stones, polymictic sandstones, marls interbedded with
organic sandy limestones, and conglomeratic gravels.
This formation has been paleontologically subdivided
into an upper Eocene interval characterized by the
Globigerina ciperoensis – Globorotalia opima biozone
and a lower Oligocene interval, of similar lithology,
characterized by the Globigerina sellii – Globigerina
ampliapertura biozone. Large foraminifera are charac-
terized by Lepidocyclina undosa biozone. The environ-
ment of disposition is similar to that of the Eocene.
Paso Real Formation
The Paso Real Formation consists of 1150 ft (350 m)
of argillaceous limestones and marls with terrige-
nous material increasing with depth. Abundant plank-
tonic foraminifera characterize the Globigerinoides
primordium – Globorotalia kugleri biozone. In the more
terrigenous part, abundant species of large forami-
nifera exist and Miogypsina sp. has been recognized.
It is considered lower to middle Miocene age. Some
nannoplankton are present in the lower part of the
section with an increase in pelagic foraminifera. This
unit outcrops along the Pinar fault.
Güines Formation
The Güines Formation consists of 3936 ft (1200 m)
of reefoidal organic and argillaceous limestones. Small
benthic foraminifera, algal fragments, echinoderms,
gastropods, and other mollusks characterize the fossils.
Miliolidae, Peneroplidae, and Soritidae indicate depo-
sition in shallow warm waters. The age is lower–middle
Miocene, perhaps extending into the upper Miocene.
Drilling
Many wells have been drilled in this basin, but not
much data are available.
EPEP Candelaria-1
This is the deepest well reported in the basin.
1640 –5575 ft (500 – 1700 m) — Guines Formation.
5575–6724 ft (1700–2050 m)— Paso Real Formation.
6724–8200 ft (2050–2500 m)— Guanajay Forma-
tion (Baños).
8200–8955 ft (2500–2730 m)— Jabaco Formation.
8955 –14,379 ft (2730 – 4384 m) — Cabaiguan belt.
282 / Pardo
ARCO Los Palacios-1A
0 to ±6560 ft (0 to ±2000 m)— Miocene and
Oligocene.
±6560–8000 ft (±2000–8000 m)— Cabaiguan belt.
Shell Ariguanabo-2
0 to ±1738 ft (0 to ±530 m) — Miocene and
Oligocene.
±1738 –10,030 ft (±530 –3058 m) — Cabaiguan*
sequence.
ESSO Guanal-1A
0 to ±2820 ft (0 to 860 m)— Miocene.
±2820–3314 ft (860–980 m)— Cabaiguan* sequence.
HABANA-MANTANZAS
This area is not a closed basin but a relatively thin
wedge of younger Tertiary sediments, increasing in
thickness southward.
Encanto Formation
The Encanto Formation (named by Ducloz, 1960)
consists of more than 130 ft (40 m) of marly lime-
stones and yellow-cream marls. The formation is not
well bedded, and the beds are medium in thickness.
The fauna consists of pelagic foraminifera, including
Globorotalia centralis, Globigerinatheka barri, Globiger-
ina linaperta, Globigerina rohri, Globigerinita dissimilis,
and Globorotaloides suteri. The age is considered upper
Eocene. It is found with marked unconformity over
the Universidad Formation.
Jabaco Formation
The Jabaco Formation consists of less than 165 ft
(50 m) of marls, irregularly stratified argillaceous
limestones with intercalations, lenses, and blocks of
foraminiferal, detrital, and conglomeratic limestones.
The marls have a yellow to gray color and contain an
abundant planktonic and benthic microfauna. The
limestones contain, almost exclusively, large forami-
nifera and algae. It was named by P. J. Bermudez in
1937. Some of the characteristic fauna are Globigeria
ampliapertura, Globigeria parva, Globorotalia cerroazu-
lensis, Globigerinatheka barri, Hantkenina alabamensis,
Hantkenina brevispira, Hantkenina mexicana, Hantkenina
suprasuturalis, Discocyclina crassa, Asterocyclina maria-
nensis, Asterocyclina georgiana, Coskinolina floridana,
and Dictyoconus americanus. The age is considered late
upper Eocene. It is equivalent to the Encanto Forma-
tion and to the upper part of the Nazareno Group.
Guanajay Formation
The Guanajay Formation consists of 1150 ft (350 m)
of an olistostrome where the matrix consists of gray
and white, massive fine-grained marls with rare beds of
medium-grained pink sandstones that contain clasts
of Cretaceous rocks as well as olistoliths (from one to
several meters in diameter) of gravels and conglom-
erates with calcareous cement and organic fragmental
limestones containing lepidocyclinas, mollusks, cor-
als, echinoids, etc. The sequence is broken by scales,
or slump masses, obviously formed during the pro-
cess of sedimentation. The fauna present in the marls
consists of Globigerina yeguaenis, Globigerina rohri, Glo-
bigerina ampliapertura, Globigerina parva, Globigerina
tripartita, Globigerina angulioficinalis, Globigerina vene-
zuelana, Globigerina prasaepis, Catapsydrax dissimilis,
Cassigerinella chipolenis, Globigerinita pera, Globorota-
loides suteri, Globorotalia nana, Globorotalia opima, os-
tracods, and nannofossils. The gravels and limestones
contain Heterostegina antillea, Nummulites sp., Gypsina
globulus, Lepidocyclina favosa, Lepidocyclina undosa,
Lepidocyclina duclozi, Amphistegina sp., and algae. The
age is considered Oligocene. The Guanajay Formation
was deposited in large part by gravitational slumping
at the base of a slope.
Tinguaro Formation
The Tinguaro Formation (named by Palmer, 1945)
consists of some ±1000 ft (±300 m) of cream-colored,
massive argillaceous marls. The fauna consists of Cas-
sigerinella regularis, Globigerina praebulloides, Globigerina
tinguarensis, Globigerina ciperoensis, Globigerina euaper-
tura, Globigerina tripartita, Globoquadrina larmeui, Cat-
apsydrax dissimilis, Globorotalia opima, and Globorota-
loides suteri. The age is Oligocene, and it is equivalent
to the Guanajay Formation. It lies unconformably
over the Punta Brava and Nazareno formations. It was
probably deposited in waters 500 m (1640 ft) deep.
Husillo Formation
The Husillo Formation (named by Brönnimann
and Rigassi, 1963) consists of 130 ft (40 m) or less of
bioclastic fine-grained limestones and subordinate ar-
gillaceous limestones. The beds are commonly massive
and well bedded. The fauna includes Lepidocyclina sp.,
Miogypsina spp., Nummulites sp., Heterostegina antillea,
Archaias cf. operculiniformis, Gypsina globulus, Acervulina
inhaerens, Globigerinatella insueta, Globigerinoides bi-
sphaericus, Globorotalia mayeri, Globoquadrina altispira,
Gypsina dehiscens, Gypsina venezuelana, Globorotalia ba-
risanensis, Aurila deformis, Lexoconcha cubensis, Quad-
racythere antillea, Jugoscocythereis cf. vicksburgensis, and

Perissocytheridea sp. The age is considered lower Mio-
cene. The Husillo Formation lies unconformably over
Eocene (and older) rocks; however, it is conformable
over the Guanajay and Tinguaro formations. It is
equivalent to the Jaruco Formation. This unit appears
to have been deposited in relatively shallow water as
indicated by the local biohermal and reefoidal blocks.
Jaruco Formation
The Jaruco Formation, named by P. J. Bermudez in
1960 (Bermudez, 1961) consists of approximately
330 ft (±100 m) of cream to white argillaceous lime-
stones. When fresh, the color is steel gray. They have
a granular, medium to fine texture, and in general
are massive to medium bedded. Sometimes, they are
interbedded with the limestones of the Husillo For-
mation. The fauna consists of Globoquadrina altispira,
Globoquadrina dehiscens, Globigerinoides trilobus, Catap-
sydrax sp., Orbulina(?) sp., Amphistegina sp., Globigerina-
tella insueta, Porticulasphaera transitoria, Globigeriroides
bisphaericus, Globigeriroides subquadratus, Globigerina ju-
venillis, Globigerina rohri, Globorotalia barisanensis, Glo-
borotalia mayeri, Tremalitus eopelagicus, Discoaster aster,
Discoaster barbadiensis, Discoaster deflandrei, Discoaster
woodringi, Braarudosphaera bigelowi, and Thoracosphaera
spp. The age is considered lower Miocene. It is equiv-
alent to the Husillo Formation and conformably over-
lies Tinguaro and Guanajay formations.
Cojimar Formation
The Cojimar Formation (named by Palmer, 1934)
consists of up to 1280 ft (390 m), but generally less than
260 ft (80 m) of calcareous and argillaceous marls and
gray chalks. They weather to a dark yellowish cream
to whitish yellow. The texture is commonly coarse and
granular with fine sand present. These marls are inter-
bedded with almost pure to argillaceous bioclastic lime-
stones. Fossils are common. The fauna is very rich,
including Orbulina universa, Orbulina saturalis, Globi-
gerinoides inmaturus, Globigerinoides secculifer, Globigeri-
noides trilobus, Globigerinoides ruber, Globigerinoides
quadrilobatus, Globoquadrina altispira, Globoquadrina de-
hiscens, Sphaeroidinella grimsdali, Sphaeroidinella dehiscens,
Globorotalia praemenardii, Globorotalia archeomenardii,
Globorotalia fohsi praefohsi, Globorotalia fohsi peripher-
oacuta, Globorotalia fohsi lobata, Globorotalia peripher-
oronda, Globorotalia obesa, Globigerinella aequilateralis,
and Nummulites cojimarensis. On the basis of this fauna,
the age has been determined to be middle Miocene
and is a Globorotalia fohsi zone. The Cojimar Formation
lies transitionally over the Jaruco and Husillo forma-
tions. It is a partial lateral equivalent to the Guines
Post – middle Eocene Stratigraphy / 283
Formation. These rocks were deposited in bathyal to
neritic conditions in water less than 300 m (1000 ft)
deep. In some areas, submarine channels have been
observed.
Cangrejeras Formation
The Cangrejeras Formation (named by Brönnimann
and Rigassi, 1963) consists of ±560 ft (± 200 m) of a
well-bedded limestone sequence. The limestones are
bioclastic and fossiliferous with many well-preserved
megafossils. The following fossils have been reported:
Nummulites cojimarensis, Heterostegina antillea, Amphis-
tegina gibbosa, Amphistegina angulata, Globoquadrina al-
tispira, Orbulina universa, and Archeolithothamnium sp.,
indicating a late middle Miocene age. These limestones
were deposited in shallow water.
Güines Formation
The Güines Formation consists of up to 790 ft (240 m)
of massive biogenic limestones characterized by a
strong karstic topography. Among these limestones
are coral, bioclastic, recrystallized, dolomitized, and
argillaceous limestones. It is richly fossiliferous, con-
taining corals, echinoids, mollusks, fishes, bryozoa,
foraminifera, sponges, and even manatees. Some of the
identified foraminifera and other fossils are Archaias
angulatus, Peneroplis proteus, Peneroplis planatus, Cyclor-
biculina compress, Sorites marginalis, Gypsina globulus,
Amphistegina angulata, Amphistegina rotundata, Amphis-
tegina lessonii, Valvulammina affinis, Miogypsina antillea,
miliolids, globigerinids, algae, Lithophyllum sp., Archeo-
lithothamnium sp., Jania sp., and Amphiroa sp. This very
widespread formation ranges from lower to middle
Miocene possibly into the upper Miocene. It is a typ-
ical carbonate platform deposit.
Rosario Formation
The Rosario Formation was named by Brönnimann
and Rigassi (1963) and redescribed by Albear Franquiz
et al. (1985). It consists of 525 ft (160 m) of:
1) Green, gray, and red, sometimes mottled clays
with oysters, abundant megafossils, and common
clasts of Eocene limestones, porphyries, and tuffs.
2) Conglomerates with well-rounded limestone
clasts and rare volcanics that contain abundant
Teredo tubes.
3) Conglomeratic marls, with variable quantities of
limestones and other clasts.
The abundant fauna, which includes ostracods,
indicates a middle Miocene age. This unit appears to
284 / Pardo
have been deposited in a shallow littoral basin with
a strong land influence. It is, in part, equivalent to
the Guines, Cojimar, and Cangrejeras formations. It
lies unconformably over the Husillo Formation and
other older Eocene and Cretaceous rock.
Drilling
One deep well, EPEP Vegas-1, was drilled in southern
Matanzas. It was spudded into a thin cover of Güines
Formation and, in a few feet, reached the Cabaiguan*
sequence.
WESTERN LAS VILLAS
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show the Lower–Middle
Eocene rocks of western Las Villas Province (called the
Santo Domingo Basin) to be unconformably overlain
by the sections below.
Jicotea Formation
The Jicotea Formation consists of 920 ft (280 m) of
marls, siltstones, sandstones, and conglomerates of
upper Eocene age. Gulf divided this formation into
three units called Perdomo* (oldest), Manacal*, and
Mango* (youngest). These will be described as infor-
mal units as follows.
Perdomo*
The Perdomo* consists of ±40 ft (±12 m) of con-
glomerates with a marly matrix and components
consisting mainly of basic igneous and tuffs but also
of some limestone fragments. The fossils consist of
Discocyclina sp., Fabiania sp., Lepidocyclina pustulosa,
Lithothamnium sp., and Tremastegina sp., indicating
an upper Eocene age. This unit forms the basal con-
glomerate overlapping the Cifuentes*, Domingo*, and
Cabaiguan* sequences.
Manacal*
The Manacal* consists of an unknown thickness,
but not more than a few hundred feet, of conglomerate
with a marly matrix and components of Cifuentes* belt
lithologies interbedded with conglomeratic limestones
and unconsolidated chert conglomerates. The fauna is
similar to that of the Perdomo* Formation and is there-
fore considered to be upper Eocene. The Manacal* For-
mation conformably overlies the Perdomo* Formation.
Mango*
The Mango* consists of ±300 ft (±90 m) of yellow
organic limestones interbedded with marls and con-
glomeratic limestones. The fossils consist of Archeo-
lithothamnium sp., Dictyoconus sp., Fabiania sp.,
Lepidocyclina pustulosa, Lithothamnium sp., miliolids,
Operculinoides sp., Asterocyclina sp., and Globorotalia
sp. This unit is considered to be upper Eocene and
overlies the Manacal* Formation.
Jia Formation
The Jia Formation consists of 490 ft (150 m) of
limestones, bioclastic limestones, and breccia con-
glomerates of lower Oligocene age transitionally above
the Jicotea Formation.
Teguaro Formation
The Teguaro Formation consists of 330 ft (100 m)
of marls, shales, and siltstones.
Drilling
Two deep wells have been drilled by EPEP in the
western part of this area: Cochinos-1 and Mercedes-2.
The thicknesses of the penetrated younger Tertiary
section are as follows.
EPEP Cochinos-1
Drilled near the Bay of Pigs, 75 km (46 mi) south
of Cardenas, it drilled through ±3115 ft (±950 m) of
upper Eocene or younger limestones and then pen-
etrated the Cretaceous Cabaiguan* sequence volca-
nics to a total depth of 11,490 ft (3503 m).
EPEP Mercedes-2
Spudded 65 km (40 mi) south-southeast of Carde-
nas, it drilled through ±3300 ft (±1000 m) of upper
Eocene or younger limestones into the middle Eo-
cene Cabaiguan* sequence. At ±8860 ft (±2700 m), it
penetrated the Cretaceous volcanics to a total depth
of 12,120 ft (4000 m).
SOUTH-CENTRAL BASIN
This basin is an embayment, open to the south
toward the Bay of Santa Maria, overlying a shallow
depression over the postulated, deep-seated La Tro-
cha fault.
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) describe the Tertiary
section of this area as consisting of the upper Eocene
Ferrer Formation overlain by the Oligocene Blanco
and Vigia formations and La Gunatas and the Mio-
cene Arroyo Palma Formation.
Gulf did some detailed stratigraphic work in this
area, breaking the section into several mappable units;
therefore, Gulf’s nomenclature will be used in this re-

port. It is noteworthy that Gulf described the Llo-
rente*, Zaza*, Suceso*, Cepeda*, Ferrer*, and Rollete*
formations that appear to be subdivisions of the Ferrer
Formation of Pushcharovsky et al. (1988). In the follow-
ing, the Ferrer Formation will be described as an in-
formal group.
Ferrer Group
The Ferrer Group contains the following formations.
Llorente* Formation
The Llorente* Formation consists of 400 ft (120 m)
of thin-bedded, earthy white limestones and marls
colored in part with yellow-brown iron stains. It con-
tains a rich fauna with Hantkenina dumblei, Globorotalia
cf. lehneri, Globorotalia spp., and Globigerina spp., sug-
gesting a middle Eocene age. The Llorente Forma-
tion overlies unconformably the Siguaney*, Bijabo*,
and Lana* formations of the Cabaiguan* sequence.
Zaza* Formation
The Zaza* Formation consists of 500–1000 ft (150–
300 m) of massive, bluish white, very sticky, calcareous
clay. The fauna is poor and contains radiolaria of Ter-
tiary aspect, Globigerina sp., Amphistegina sp., Globor-
otalia centralis, Truncorotalia spp., Globigerina cf.
apertura, Globigerina spp., and orbitoidal foraminifera,
indicating an upper Eocene or slightly older age. The
stratigraphic relationships are not clear, but it appears
to overlie the Llorente* Formation and definitely is
part of the Tertiary overlap.
Suceso* Formation
The Suceso* Formation consists of 300–800 ft (90–
240 m) of blue, calcareous, sticky clay interbedded with
blue clayey, micaceous sandstone and some conglom-
erate beds. The fauna is poor and undiagnostic; how-
ever, the unit definitely belongs to the Tertiary over-
lap and appears to overlie the Llorente* Formation. It
is believed to be equivalent and similar to the Zaza*
Formation.
Cepeda* Formation
The Cepeda* Formation consists of 200–400 ft (60–
120 m) of orange yellow, fragmental, fossiliferous lime-
stones and marls. The fauna consists of Fabiania sp.,
Asterocyclina spp., Discocyclina spp., Nummulites sp.,
Lepidocyclina sp. (of Lepidocyclina pustulosa group),
Globorotalia spp., and Globigerina spp., indicating an
upper Eocene age. The lower boundary is unknown.
Post – middle Eocene Stratigraphy / 285
Ferrer* Formation
The Ferrer* Formation consists of 500 ft (150 m)
of medium-bedded, loosely consolidated conglom-
erates, sandstones, and marls. The conglomerate is
mostly made up of limestone, but some quartz and
schist cobbles and boulders are also present. The fauna
consists of Discocyclina spp., Asterocyclina sp., Fabiania
sp., Lepidocyclina sp. (of Lepidocyclina pustulosa group),
Amphistegina cubensis, and nondescript rotaloids. The
age is upper Eocene, possibly extending into the lower
Oligocene. The Ferrer* Formation conformably over-
lies the Cepeda* Formation.
Rollete* Formation
The Rollete* Formation consists of more than 300 ft
(90 m) of marls and conglomerates having soft lime-
stone boulders in a marly matrix. Some conglomerates
with igneous fragments are also present. The algal or-
bitoidal limestone fragments contain Lepidocyclina sp.,
Lepidocyclina pustulosa, Fabiania sp., Dictyoconus cookei,
Reussella sp., Operculinoides sp., Discocyclina sp., Astero-
cyclina sp., and Globigerina sp., indicating an upper Eo-
cene to lower Oligocene age. The Rollete* Formation
appears to be equivalent to the Ferrer* and Cepeda* for-
mations, but the stratigraphic relationships are not clear.
Perazo* Formation
The Perazo* Formation consists of 200 ft (60 m) of
white, soft limestone and orbitoid coquina. The fauna
contains Rotalia mexicana var. mecatepecensis, Elphidium
sp., Nonion sp., Gypsina globulus, Lepidocyclina spp., and
bryozoans, indicating an Oligocene ( probably lower
Oligocene) age.
Blanco* Formation
The Blanco* Formation consists of 500 ft (150 m)
of massive, dense, yellowish limestone, coralline in
part, interbedded with marls containing large orbi-
toids. The fauna consists of Lepidocyclina spp. (with
spatulate equatorial chambers), Amphistegina sp., Oper-
culinoides spp., Planorbulina sp., bryozoans, small
nondescript rotalids, and algae, indicating a lower
to middle Oligocene age. This formation is in contact
with the Perazo* Formation, but the nature of the
contact is not clear.
Varga* Formation
The Varga* Formation consists of more than 300 ft
(90 m) of light-gray, sticky marl with small irregular
limestone nodules. It contains a heterogeneous fauna
suggesting an Oligocene or younger age. Contacts are
unclear.
286 / Pardo
Jatibonico* Formation
The Jatibonico* Formation consists of 500 ft (150 m)
of yellow marls and marly silts with large orbitoids,
stringers of gray orbitoidal limestone, and coralline lime-
stones. The fauna is poor, but suggests an Oligocene age.
Charcas* Formation
The Charcas* Formation consists of less than 200 ft
(60 m) of marls and sandy marls with stringers of thin
orbitoidal beds. The lower part of this formation is an
unconsolidated orbitoid coquina with the same li-
thology as the Perazo* Formation. The fauna indicates
a lower to middle Oligocene age. This formation ap-
pears to overlie the Jatibonico* Formation, but the con-
tacts are not clear.
Tomas* Formation
The Tomas* Formation consists of an unknown
thickness of marls, containing irregular limestone
nodules, interbedded with fossiliferous yellow-cream,
dense limestone with vuggy porosity in the outcrop.
It is believed to be middle to upper Oligocene in age
and appears to overlie the Charcas* Formation.
Vigia* Formation
The Vigia* Formation (which has no relation to
the Vigia Formation of Central Camaguey or the Vigia
[Oriental] of eastern Cuba) consists of ±200 ft (60 m) of
conglomerate with a sandy, marly matrix, and boulders
up to 2 ft (0.6 m) in diameter of sandy, fragmental
limestone similar in lithology to the Bijabo* Forma-
tion. This unit, which occurs in the Fomento-Taguasco
area of central Cuba, contains abundant lower to mid-
dle Eocene faunas; however, from the field evidence,
it appears to be Oligocene and mainly derived from
the erosion of the Bijabo* Formation.
Playuela* Formation
The Playuela* Formation consists of 300 ft (90 m)
of white chalky marl, white sandy marl, and pebble
conglomerates with a marly matrix. The fauna indi-
cates an upper Eocene or younger age, but the field
evidence indicates that it is very probably of Oligocene
age. The Playuela* Formation is believed to overlie
conformably the Vigia* Formation.
Ana* Formation
The Ana* Formation consists of 500 ft (150 m) of
marl, marl with limestone nodules, and sandy to con-
glomeratic marl. Some thin oyster beds exist. It con-
tains a heterogeneous assemblage with reworked fauna
indicating a Miocene age.
Lara* Formation
The Lara* Formation consists of more than 200 ft
(60 m) of marls, loosely consolidated sandstones, and
pebble conglomerates with stringers of oyster shells.
The fauna consists of an inconclusive assemblage of
shallow-water Rotalia beccarii; however, it is similar to
and belongs to the same outcrop pattern as the Ana*
Formation.
Yayabo* Formation
The Yayabo* Formation consists of 200–500 ft (60–
150 m) of hard silty marl with a pinkish cast, weath-
ering to a cobbly surface. The fauna is inconclusive,
but the formation is believed to belong to the Mio-
cene. It is similar to the Lara* and Ana* formations.
Drilling
A large number of wells have been drilled in this
depression, but little information is in the public do-
main. In general, however, the upper Eocene and
younger Tertiary are thin (supporting the deep-seated
origin of the strong gravity low).
Trans-Cuba Jucaro-1
The Jucaro-1 was spudded by Trans-Cuba SA in
1954, 21 km (13 mi) south-southwest of Ciego de
Avila. It drilled through the Neogene to ±820 ft
(±250 m), where it encountered Cretaceous volca-
nics to a total depth of 3083 ft (940 m).
Trans-Cuba Sancti Spiritus-1
The Sancti Spiritus-1 was spudded by Trans-Cuba
SA in 1955, 19 km (11 mi) southeast of Sancti Spiritus.
It was reported in lower–middle Eocene at the total
depth of 10,118 ft (3084 m). The depth to the base of
the upper Eocene cover is unknown.
Stanolina Tortuga Shoals-1
The Tortuga Shoals-1 was spudded by Cuba Stano-
lind Oil Co. in 1957, offshore 73 km (45 mi) south of
Sancti Spiritus. It drilled through the Neogene and
the upper Eocene to ±5050 ft (±1540 m), where it
encountered middle Eocene to Upper Cretaceous rocks
of the Cabaiguan* sequence to a total depth of 9703 ft
(2957 m).
SOUTHEASTERN BASINS
All of these basins are in the Oriente Province. The
Guanacayabo-Nipe Basin (used to be called the Cauto
Basin) extends across the island from the scarp south-
west of the Jardines de la Reina archipelago east to the
 Post – middle Eocene Stratigraphy / 287

Bay of Nipe. The Guantanamo Basin separates the Si-

erra del Purial from the Sierra Madre in southwestern
Oriente, and the central syncline consists of a saddle
connecting the two basins.

GUANACAYABO-NIPE BASIN

According to drilling information, the Paleocene

to middle Eocene Cauto Formation underlies this ba-
sin, and it appears to have its deepest part near the
town of Bayamo; the upper Eocene and younger sec-
tion is shown in Figure 151.

Monte Alto Formation

The Monte Alto Formation (named by E. Nagy and
G. Radócz in 1976 and published in Nagy et al., 1983)
consists of a few tens of meters of detrital and bio-
clastic marls with a light- to dark-gray color. The upper
part of the section is reddish brown, and the bedding is
irregular and undefined. A few fossils have been found:
Cidaridae, Ostreidae, and Crinoidea. In addition, some
orbitoids are present. The age is generally considered
upper Eocene.

Sevilla Formation
The Sevilla Formation consists of up to 1909 ft
(580 m) of hard, brownish-gray detrital limestones with
many molds of mollusks, brachiopods, and tubular
structures, as well as large lepidocyclinas. In addition,
it contains fragments of tuffs, volcaniclastics, and Pa-
leogene limestones. Toward the center of the Guaca-
nayabo Basin, in the subsurface, it consists of an inter-
bedding of limestones and calcareous shales with marls,
siltstones, and reworked volcaniclastics. The character-
istic fossils are Lepidocyclina sp., Amphistegina angulata, FIGURE 151. Stratigraphic section, Guanacayabo-Nipe
Lepidocyclina gigas, Lepidocyclina dilatata, Lepidocyclina Basin.
chaperi, Miogypsina sp., and Globigerina ciperoensis. Re-
worked Eocene foraminifera also exist. The age is con-
sidered lower Miocene. It lies with marked unconfor-
mity over the Cobre Formation. Manzanillo Formation
The Manzanillo Formation (named by Taber, 1934)
Limones Formation consists of up to 3625 ft (800 m) of hard, massive,
The Limones Formation consists of more than 1000 ft cavernous, white to brownish yellow, bioclastic lime-
(300 m) of brownish-red, coarse-grained, porous calcar- stones. These limestones are commonly fossiliferous
enites. They exhibit lenticular and cross-bedding and and marly. They are interbedded with marls, shales,
occasionally contain pebbles of older formations. The calcarenites, sandy marls, and cream, white, and gray
calcarenites are bioclastic. The fauna consists of Sorites medium-hard, calcareous shales. Some beds of pseudo-
marginalis, Sorites cf. magna, Archaias compressus, Num- conglomeratic limestones exist. In general, the bed-
mulites dia, Amphistegina angulata, Amphistegina cf. ding is irregular. The massive horizons are dominant.
gibbosa, and calcareous algae are abundant. In addition, It has a rich mollusk fauna as well as echinoids and
there are reworked Eocene fossils. The age is considered corals. The foraminiferal fauna is rich and dominated
middle Miocene. by shallow-water benthic forms such as Amphistegina,
288 / Pardo
Archais, Elphidium, and Quinqueloculina. The age is con-
sidered middle Miocene to Pliocene. It lies uncon-
formably over the San Luis Formation as well as the
Cobre and Farallon Grande Formation.
Cabo Cruz Formation
The Cabo Cruz Formation (named by M. Kozary in
1956) consists of up to 660 ft (200 m) of hard, massive
vugular white to yellowish brown or pink bioclastic
limestones. Commonly, they are interbedded with red
friable, fossiliferous sandy marls and fine- to medium-
grained yellow and red calcarenite. Some beds of well-
cemented calcareous conglomerates with clasts of lime-
stone up to 2 in. (5 cm) in diameter exist. This formation
is thick bedded. It is richly fossiliferous, containing
mollusks, echinoids, and shallow-water foraminifera
where species of Amphistegina and Quinqueloculina are
dominant. The age is considered middle to upper Mio-
cene, possibly reaching the Pliocene. It lies uncon-
formably over the Limones, the Cobre, and the Cha-
farina formations.
Pedernales Formation
The Pedernales Formation consists of 500 ft (150 m)
of unconsolidated polymictic conglomerates with a
silty and sandy matrix. The color is mottled, predomi-
nantly brownish green to brownish blue. The clasts,
which can reach 6 in. (15 cm) in diameter, are com-
monly well rounded, and they consist of basic and
ultrabasic igneous rocks, tuffs, and Cretaceous and
Paleogene limestones. Cross-bedding can be observed
locally. The matrix contains Miogypsina cf. antillea,
Amphistegina angulata, Lepidocyclina cf. gigas, Litho-
phyllus sp., Mesophyllum sp., Nummulites sp., and Cre-
pitacella sp. The age is considered lower Miocene. It lies
unconformably over the Vigia, Haticos, and Buena-
ventura formations, as well as above the rocks of the
ultrabasic complex.
Bitirı́ Formation
The Bitirı́ Formation (named by Iturralde-Vinent,
1972) consists of more than 1650 ft (500 m) of white,
cream, yellow, and brown dense, brecciated, fine- to
very fine-grained bioclastic limestones that exhibit
an alternation of medium and thick beds and are
interbedded with cream-colored marls containing
limestone fragments. The fauna contains abundant
pelagic foraminifera as well as abundant nannoplank-
ton, indicating deposition in relatively deep and
open water. The age is considered upper Oligocene–
lower Miocene. It lies unconformably over the San
Luis Formation.
Camazán Formation
The Camazán Formation consists of 230 – 1440 ft
(70– 440 m) of yellow, bioclastic limestones inter-
bedded with well-bedded, yellowish marls with abun-
dant lepidocyclinas. Beds of fine- to medium-grained,
well-cemented calcarenites as well as pinkish yellow
recrystallized sandy limestones exist. A few beds of
greenish gray clays containing gypsum are observed.
This formation contains a rich fauna of mollusks,
echinoids, corals, benthic foraminifera, and nan-
noplankton. It was named by M. Kozary, and the age
is considered upper Oligocene–lower Miocene. It lies
conformably over, and also interfingers with, the Pe-
dernales Formation and lies unconformably over older
formations.
Jagüeyes Formation
The Jagüeyes Formation consists of 130 –330 ft
(40– 100 m) of interbedded marls, siltstones, calcar-
eous gravels, medium- to coarse-grained calcarenites
and coarse-grained bioclastic limestones. The sec-
tion is medium to thin bedded and has a yellowish
brown color. Some beds of green shale exist. It has a
rich fauna of mollusks, corals, foraminifera, and nan-
noplankton. It is considered middle Miocene and
lies unconformably over the Camazán, Bitirı́, and
Vigı́a formations.
Yayal Formation
The Yayal Formation was named by M. Kozary and
consists of more than 660 ft (200 m) of hard, cream to
white calcareous shales, cream to white, cavernous,
bioclastic limestones, nodular grayish-green marls,
and white to creamy green, cavernous, argillaceous
dolomites. It contains mollusks and shallow-water
benthic foraminifera. The age is considered middle
Miocene. It lies unconformably over older rocks and
is conformable over the Camazán and the Jagüeyes
Formation.
Júcaro Formation
The Júcaro Formation consists of tens of meters of
brown, marly fossiliferous limestones alternating with
white and cream, friable, sandy marls. Interbeds of gray
to brown, medium-grained, moderately consolidated
biocalcarenites with a silty matrix are observed. The
bedding varies from thin to massive. It was named by
M. Kozary and contains a very rich fauna of mollusks,
echinoids, calcareous algae, foraminifera, and nanno-
plankton. It is considered upper Miocene and possibly
Pliocene. It appears to lie conformably over the Jagüeyes
Formation.

Bayamo Formation
The Bayamo Formation was named by P. Jakus and
consists of up to 330 ft (100 m) of brown to mottled,
sandy plastic clays, greenish gray to brown, fine- to
medium-grained argillaceous sandstones with occa-
sional gravels, grayish green and brown bentonitic
clays, and whitish yellow and brown, fine- to medium-
grained friable sandstones. The formation is com-
monly medium to well bedded. The following forami-
nifera have been identified: Globgerininita cf. incrusta,
Globigerina bulloides, and Globorotalia crassaformis. The
age is considered upper Miocene–Pliocene. It lies con-
formably over the Yayal Formation and unconformably
over the Charco Redondo and Camazán formations.
Drilling
Stanolind explored this basin for hydrocarbons in
the late 1950s. Several wells, two of them offshore,
were drilled without success. Unfortunately, the sec-
tion penetrated by the wells is reported in the 1985
geologic map (Cuba, 1985a) in ages and not in strat-
igraphic terms.
Stanolind Rabihorcado-1
The Rabihorcado-1 was drilled through the Neo-
gene and upper Eocene to ±3280 ft (±1000 m), where
it penetrated the Cobre Formation to the total depth
of 4266 ft (1205 m).
Stanolind Lavanderas-1
The Lavanderas-1 was drilled through the Neo-
gene and the upper Eocene to ±3280 ft (±1000 m),
where it penetrated the Cobre Formation to the total
depth of 5535 ft (1688 m).
Later, after the 1960 revolution, EPEP drilled a deep
well on land near Bayamo, possibly near the center of
the basin.
EPEP Granma-1
The Granma-1 was drilled through Neogene and
Oligocene limestones and clastics to 5970 ft (±1820 m),
where it penetrated the upper Eocene. At ±6690 ft
(±2040 m), the well encountered the middle Eocene
to ±8364 ft (±2550 m), where it penetrated the Cobre
Formation to the total depth of 9898 ft (3017 m).
CENTRAL SYNCLINE
This saddle separating the Guanacayabo-Nipe Ba-
sin from the Guantanamo Basin is underlain by the
volcanics of the Cabaiguan* sequence to the north
and the Cobre Formation to the south.
Post – middle Eocene Stratigraphy / 289
San Luis Formation
The San Luis Formation (named by Taber, 1934)
consists of 2296 ft (700 m) of a great variety of clastic
and carbonate rocks. Ninety percent of the formation
consists of gray, brownish gray, and brown well-bedded,
fine- to medium-grained sandstones. The bedding is
thin to medium, and most of the fragments are de-
rived from the Cobre Formation. The conglomerates
are poorly sorted, polymictic, with a green to greenish
gray or brown color, and consist mostly of volcanic
fragments and various kinds of limestones. The clasts
are derived from the Cobre, Charco Redondo, and
Puerto Boniato formations. The siltstones are shaley
and calcareous and sometimes sandy, and the color is
gray when fresh and beige to brown when weathered.
Occasional carbonized plant fragments exist. The lime-
stones of the San Louis Formation are found on several
levels. They are laminated, marly, of a white color, and
are generally at the base of the formation. Sandy and
bioclastic sandy limestones of cream color also exist.
The fauna is very rich and is characterized by abun-
dant planktonic foraminifera and nannoplankton,
although a few benthic foraminifera such as Amphis-
tegina lopeztrigoi, Eoconuloides wellsi, Dictyoconus amer-
icanus, Lepidocyclina antillea, and Lepidocyclina pustulosa
are present. The age is considered upper– middle Eo-
cene to upper Eocene. The San Louis Formation lies
unconformably over the older La Farola, Cobre, Mi-
randa, and Charco Redondo formations. It conform-
ably overlies the Farallon Grande and Puerto Boniato
formations.
Camarones Formation
The Camarones Formation consists of 1650 ft
(500 m) of poorly sorted, poorly stratified, massive,
green, greenish gray, and brown polymictic conglom-
erates and coarse-grained associated sandstones. The
clasts consist of lavas and pyroclastic rocks, common-
ly silicified, and different kinds of limestones. The
volcanics predominate, and 20% of the clasts are of
acid composition. The conglomerates are common-
ly well cemented by calcium carbonate; the size of
the components is about 4 in. (10 cm) in diameter, but
can reach up to 24 in. (60 cm). They are rounded to
subrounded. The fossils are characterized by the fora-
minifera Fabiana cubensis, Globigerina sp., Amphiste-
gina lopeztrigoi, Nummulites trinitatensis, Nummulites
cf. nassauensis, Heterostegina ocalana, Discocyclina mar-
ginata, Asterocyclina monticellensis, Pseudophragmina cf.
cedarkeysensis, Pseudophragmina cf. psila, Eoconuloides
wellsi, Lepidocyclina chaperi, Lepidocyclina macdonaldi,
Lepidocyclina antillea, and Lepidocyclina cf. ariana
290 / Pardo
and nannoplankton. The age is considered upper Eo-
cene. Toward the north, this formation interfingers
with the San Luis Formation; however, in most of the
syncline, it overlies the San Luis Formation with an
unconformity.
Sagua de Tanamo Formation
The Sagua de Tanamo Formation (named by E. Nagy
in 1976) consists of 395 ft (120 m) of white, whitish
gray, thin- to medium-bedded marls interbedded with
fine-grained, beige, hard limestones. The fauna con-
sists of Discocyclina marginata, Discocyclina cubensis,
Catapsydrax dissimilis, Lepidocyclina macdonaldi, Glo-
borotalia centralis, Globorotalia densa, Globigerina senni,
Globigerapsis kugleri, Hantkenina sp., and Nummulites
floridensis. The age is considered upper Eocene. This
formation lies comformably over the Puerto Boniato,
Charco Redondo, and La Picota formations.
GUANTANAMO BASIN
This epiorogenic basin separates the Purial massif
metamorphics from the Cauto Formation outcrops
of southwestern Oriente.
San Ignacio Formation
The San Ignacio Formation (named by Boiteau and
Campos, 1974) consists of 660–2300 ft (200–700 m)
of a monomictic breccia in which components con-
sist of greenschists and phyllite. In the upper part of
the formation is a serpentine breccia. The fragments
are commonly from 1 to 15 in. (2 to 40 cm), but some
blocks can reach 13 ft (4 m) in diameter. Most of the
blocks are angular, and the matrix consists of sand
and silt of greenschist composition. This formation is
barren of organisms, but in its upper part, a middle
Eocene fauna has been found in some fragments. It is
therefore considered late middle Eocene. This forma-
tion lies unconformably over the metamorphics and
is equivalent to the Farallon Grande Formation.
Boquerón Formation
The Boquerón Formation (named by Darton, 1926)
consists of an unknown thickness of thick-bedded,
poorly sorted conglomerates, with clasts from 2 to
8 in. (5 to 20 cm) in diameter. The matrix is made
of brownish gray sandstone, and the clasts consist
mostly of subangular, slightly metamorphosed sand-
stones. This unit appears to be related to the San Luis
Formation and is considered upper Eocene, although
no fossils have been found in the matrix.
Cilindro Formation
The Cilindro Formation consists of up to 165 ft
(50 m) of polymictic conglomerates with Lepidocy-
clina and corals. The clasts are subangular to rounded
and poorly sorted, commonly near 2 in. (4 cm) in di-
ameter, and consist of ultrabasics (up to 80%). It is
interbedded with polymict sandstones and layers of
lignite with impressions of plants. The fossils consist of
Lepidocyclina cf. undosa, Lepidocyclina formosa, Lepido-
cyclina fragilis, Lepidocyclina fragilis cubensis, Lepidocy-
clina morganopsis, Lepidocyclina parvula, Lepidocyclina
yurnagunensis, and nannoplankton. The age is consid-
ered lower Miocene. This formation unconformably
overlies the San Luis, Miranda, and San Ignacio for-
mations, as well as the Purial metamorphic complex.
Maquey Formation
The Maquey Formation (named by Darton, 1926)
consists of more than 1650 ft (500 m) of polymictic,
argillaceous, friable, fine- to medium-grained sand-
stones and siltstones with calcareous cement. The
bedding is well defined and thin to medium, and the
colors are gray to brown. It has interbeds of yellow and
brown sandy limestones and yellow-beige, medium-
to coarse-grained bioclastic limestones. Thin beds of
lignites with plant impressions are present. A rich fauna
of mollusks, echinoids, ostracods, benthic foraminif-
era, and nannoplankton is present. Lepidocyclinas
are abundant and varied. The age is considered upper
Oligocene–lower Miocene. It lies conformably over
the San Luis and the Cilindro formations. It is uncon-
formable over the Miranda and San Ignacio formations.
Yateras Formation
The Yateras Formation was named by M. Kozary
and consists of some 130 ft (40 m) of hard porcel-
laneous, pinkish white, brown or cream, fossiliferous
biogenic limestones. Fossils include the characteristic
foraminifera Amphistegina angulata, Lepidocyclina cf.
undosa, Lepidocyclina formosa, Lepidocyclina yurnagu-
nensis, and Miogypsina sp. and nannoplankton, calcar-
eous algae, and corals. The age is considered middle
Miocene. This unit is conformable over the Maquey
Formation and lies unconformably over the Cilindro
and San Luis formations. It also lies unconformably
over the Bucuey, Sagua de Tanamo, Castillo de los
Indios, and San Ignacio formations.
SOUTHERN COAST
Along the southern coast of Cuba are several strat-
igraphic units that were deposited on the north flank

FIGURE 152. Upper Eocene paleogeography. Modified from Iturralde-Vinent (1977).
of the Cayman trough. Because these are not relevant
for the purpose of this publication, they will only be
listed: (1) Capiro Formation (upper Eocene siltstones);
(2) Cabacú Formation (upper Oligocene conglomer-
ates); and (3) La Cruz Formation (upper Miocene silt-
stones, calcarenites, and limestones).
DISCUSSION OF THE POST–MIDDLE EOCENE
STRATIGRAPHY OF CUBA
In summary, during the late Eocene and later Ter-
tiary, Cuba slowly emerged from the sea while de-
pressions filled with sediment. In the late Eocene,
very few areas of Cuba were above sea level; most of
the orogenic process had occurred under deep water.
This period of time also coincided with the strike-
slip opening of the Cayman trough. This is a peculiar
left-lateral feature where new crust was being gener-
ated in an east–west direction, with north– south-
trending magnetic anomalies. The Cayman trough is
bounded to the north by the Cayman Ridge, the west-
ward continuation of the Sierra Madre Oriental.
The history of Cuba from the late Eocene to the late
Miocene (which has been very well summarized by
Iturralde-Vinent, 1977) is shown in Figures 152–155.
Late Eocene. During the late Eocene, Cuba consisted
of an archipelago of relatively small islands. As shown
Post – middle Eocene Stratigraphy / 291
in Figure 152, only the Guaniguanico Mountains, parts
of the coast in northern and central Cuba, the Escam-
bray Mountains, the Isle of Pines, and the northern
coastal area in southeastern Oriente were emergent.
Consequently, no abundant source of terrigenous ma-
terial exists, and most of the sediments were derived
from extensive platform carbonates or were of pelagic
origin.
Middle – late Oligocene. During the middle to late
Oligocene, much of the island was emergent. The Los
Palacios Basin, the southern part of Habana and Ma-
tanzas provinces, the Central Depression, and the
Guanacayabo-Nipe and Guantanamo basins in Ori-
ente remained under water. As shown in Figure 153,
most of the sediments remained carbonates from plat-
forms in shallow waters and pelagic-argillaceous de-
posits in the deeper parts of the basins.
Early Miocene. During the early Miocene, a slight
transgression expanded (Figure 154) the Oligocene
areas of sedimentation and terrigenous deposits accu-
mulated in the Central Depression and eastern Cuba.
Middle Miocene. The waters all over Cuba shallowed,
and most of the island was under platform carbonate
conditions, as shown in Figure 155. Coarser clastics
were very restricted.
Late Miocene. The entire island was emergent, with
only part of the Zapata swamps and small areas in
Oriente under water. Cuba has remained essentially
292 / Pardo

FIGURE 153. Middle – upper Oligocene paleogeography. Modified from Iturralde-Vinent (1977).

the same ever since, with some subsidence along the warm, which was combined with a lack of terrigenous
coasts during the Pliocene and the Quaternary. detritus. Consequently, most of the deposits consist
It should be emphasized that the water tempera- of bioclastic limestones, chalks, and other sediments
tures during the late Eocene and Neogene were very with a high fossil content.

FIGURE 154. Lower Miocene paleogeography. Modified from Iturralde-Vinent (1977).

 Post – middle Eocene Stratigraphy / 293

FIGURE 155. Middle Miocene paleogeography. Modified from Iturralde-Vinent (1977).

The position and depth of the post–middle Eocene zoic sedimentary cover’’ (unfortunately, their defini-
basins are shown schematically in Figure 156. The tion of the ‘‘base of the Cenozoic sedimentary cover’’
1989 Tectonic Map of Cuba (Pushcharovsky et al., is not clear; at any rate the map probably represents
1989) also shows the depth to the ‘‘base of the Ceno- the basins fairly well).

FIGURE 156. Cuba post – middle Eocene basin thickness. Modified from Iturralde-Vinent (1977).
4
Pardo, G., 2009, Geophysical characteristics, in G. Pardo, The geology of
Cuba: AAPG Studies in Geology Series, no. 58, p. 295 – 309.
Geophysical Characteristics
GRAVITY
History
The earliest gravity survey in Cuba was conducted
mostly in Matanzas and Las Villas provinces in 1932–
1935 by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Between 1935 and 1958, international oil compa-
nies conducted surveys in several local areas. Among
these were the southern Pinar del Rio and the north-
ern Isle of Pines; the coastal areas of northern Habana,
Matanzas, Las Villas, and Camaguey; parts of south-
ern Camaguey and southwestern Las Villas; and west-
ern Oriente. These surveys were of high precision but
were not connected to each other.
In 1958, the U.S. Government (Coast and Geodetic
Survey) began to establish gravity base stations in Cuba
tied to Panama, which is part of the global gravity net-
work with its origin in Potsdam. Four base stations
were established: San Julian, Habana, Santa Clara, and
Siguanea. After 1959, the Cuban Institute of Geogra-
phy and Geodesy continued this work, and by 1962,
the following bases had been established; 7 first class,
13 second class, and 2500 fill-in. In 1962, in coopera-
tion with the Institute of Earth Physics from the former
Soviet Union’s Academy of Science, the Cuban Insti-
tute of Geography and Geodesy established a new
base network of 62 stations. From then on, all the sur-
veys were tied to the base station network. As of 1971,
some 60% of the island had been surveyed at scales
of 1:50,000 and 1:100,000. In 1971, Ipatenko and Sa-
shina published a 1:3,000,000 gravity map of Cuba.
The most recently published regional gravity maps
were done as an insert in the 1985 Geologic Map (Cuba,
1985a; scale 1:500,000 and contoured at 10-milligal
intervals), based on the published work of Ipatenko
and Sashina, and in the 1988 New Atlas of the Republic
of Cuba (Sanchez Herrero, 1988; scale 1:1,000,000).
The gravity map compiled by Westbrook and pub-
Copyright n2009 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
DOI:10.1306/13141063St583328
295
lished in Dengo and Case (1990), is unfortunately at a
1:5,000,000 scale (contoured at 25 milligals) and, there-
fore, too generalized to be related to details of the
Cuban geology. This map is the base for the Carib-
bean part of the 1987 Gravity Anomaly Map of North
America (Tanner et al., 1987; scale 1:5,000,000). This
map is contoured at 10 milligals intervals. It is, how-
ever, very useful from a broad regional standpoint. It
should be pointed out that the given gravity values
are Bouguer on land and Free Air at sea. It is not known
where the boundary between the two is in shallow
waters, although it is presumed that in these areas,
Bouguer and Free Air values are close to each other.
Description of the Gravity Anomalies
In general, the gravity field over the island of Cuba
is between 30 and +100 milligals. This is in the
general range of continental values. In eastern Cuba,
in the Sierra del Purial area, the values climb to more
than 160 milligals (see Figure 157). The most obvious
features of the gravity field are:
1) A marked gravity low exists, from +70 to
+10 milligals southward across the Pinar Fault.
This low reflects the presence of the thick, low-
density, Tertiary clastics of the San Diego de los
Baños Basin.
2) A gravity minimum with values ranging from
0 to 30 milligals extends from Cardenas Bay
through the town of Camaguey as far as the town
of Gibara; this coincides with the northern con-
tact between the carbonates to the north and the
basic igneous-volcanic province to the south. It
reflects a major fault. Note that the carbonates
outcropping over the gravity low are common-
ly high density, without much associated low-
density material, and therefore, the surface ex-
pression of the fault alone cannot explain the
296 / Pardo
FIGURE 157. Cuba gravity anomaly map (mGal = milligal).
gravity minimum; deeper crustal material must
be involved.
3) An east-northeast-trending gravity low, with val-
ues reaching 30 milligals, in western Camaguey
coincides with the Central Depression or the
Trocha fault zone. The reason for this anomaly is
not entirely clear; although a shallow basin ex-
ists, the density contrast of the near-surface sedi-
ments is not believed large enough to produce
an anomaly of such magnitude, therefore it must
originate at basement level.
4) The outcrops of metasediments of the Isle of Pines
and the Escambray Massif have relatively low val-
ues in the order of +25 milligals. The gravity ap-
pears to indicate a connection between the two.
5) Everywhere in Cuba, the outcropping volcanics
show positive values of up to +70 milligals. They
also show characteristic high-frequency anomalies.
6) The large positive anomaly in Oriente, reaching
more than +150 milligals, coincides with exten-
sive ultrabasic outcrops. As will be seen in the
next section, it coincides with a shallow (16-km;
10-mi) Moho discontinuity.
7) The generally high gravity values along the south
coast of Oriente are over outcrops of lower–middle
Eocene volcanics of the Cobre Group, extending
westward along the Cayman Ridge, and might
reflect a high crustal block adjacent to the Cayman
trough. The Cayman trough shows a prominent
gravity low with values less than 150 milligals.
8) As will be seen later, the Free Air gravity low that
reaches 60 milligals and extends from south of
the Isle of Pines to the south of the Jardines de la
Reina Cays might be in part the expression of a
presently inactive subduction zone. It might also
be an expression of the change in submarine
topography.
9) As will also be seen later, the Free Air gravity low
that reaches 80 milligals and extends from north
of Pinar del Rio to Cardenas Bay could be the
expression of an important thrust zone, bring-
ing the island of Cuba over the southern Gulf of
Mexico. It is the continuation of the thrust front
mentioned above, although it could be an ex-
pression of the change in submarine topography.
10) There are several long, linear gravity lows and
highs, paralleling the coast between Cardenas
Bay and Cayo Coco. They must reflect structures
(possibly fault blocks) or sediment changes within
the coastal area.
The significance of the Cuban gravitational features
will be discussed in more detail in Chapter 6 of this
publication.

MAGNETICS
History
Reasons exist to believe that the earliest aeromag-
netic surveys on the island of Cuba were run for Gulf
Oil in 1948. Later, in 1959, an aeromagnetic survey of
the north shore of the island was flown for Gulf as
part of a larger regional survey of southern Florida
and the Bahamas. Aeroservice Corp. ran these surveys.
During the years 1956 –1957 and 1961– 1962, Aero-
service Corp. ran three surveys over western, central,
and eastern Cuba. These surveys had arbitrary origins
for the values of the magnetic field. From these data,
the Cuban Institute of Mineral Resources prepared three
maps: Pinar del Rio at 1:50,000 and with 10-gamma
contour intervals; northern Habana and Matanzas
at 1:40,000, also at 10-gamma intervals; and the rest
of the island at 1:192,000 with contour intervals of
25 gammas (5 gammas in magnetically quiet areas).
Based on these maps, a 1:250,000 map was compiled,
with contours at 25-gamma intervals. Unfortunately,
the problem of arbitrary origins remained.
In 1964, Soloviev et al. published a description of
the method used to prepare a regional, corrected mag-
netic map at 1:500,000 with 100-gamma contour in-
tervals in disturbed areas, and 50 gammas in quiet
ones. (The Cuban and Russian publications describe
the magnetic field in milliOersted [mOe], which is
a magnetic field strength unit [1 Oe = 79.577 Ampere/
meter]. The North American maps are in nannotesla
[nT] or gamma [G], which are magnetic flux density
units [1 nT = 1 G, and 1 T = 1 volt second/meter2]. The
Cuban and Russian maps show 1 mOe = 10 gammas,
which is an error because 1 mOe = 100 G although
the two units are not exactly comparable.) In the same
article, the authors published a 1:3,000,000 residual
magnetic anomaly map of the entire island with 1-mOe
(100-gamma) contour interval. Later, a magnetic anom-
alies map, based on Soloviev et al. publications, was
printed as an insert to the 1985 Geologic Map (Cuba,
1985a; scale, 1:2,500,000). The most recently published
magnetic map is in the 1988 New Atlas of the Republic
of Cuba (Sanchez Herrero, 1988; scale, 1:1,000,000).
Like the gravity map, the scale of the magnetic map
compiled by Hall and Westbrook and published with
the GSA DENAG Volume of the Caribbean Region
(Dengo and Case, 1990) is too small to permit com-
parison with geologic features. In addition, the large
number of high-frequency anomalies makes the map
very hard to read. This map is the base for the Caribbean
part of the Magnetic Anomaly Map of North America
(Tanner et al., 1987) at 1:5,000,000, where the data
Geophysical Characteristics / 297
have been smoothed, making the map more inter-
pretable from a regional standpoint. This map is con-
toured at 100-gamma (100-nT) intervals.
Description of the Magnetic Anomalies
The following features characterize the Cuban mag-
netic anomaly map (see Figure 158).
1) The north coastal region, from Cardenas Bay to
Gibara, shows a featureless magnetic field indicat-
ing a deep and/or featureless basement. Depth es-
timates on Gulf’s surveys indicate as much as
30,000 ft (9100 m) to the basement.
2) The northwestern coastal area of Pinar del Rio
also shows a featureless magnetic field, probably
indicating a deep basement.
3) A regional magnetic low, extending from Matan-
zas to Oriente near the north coast of the island,
and coinciding with the gravity minimum de-
scribed under feature 2 in the previous section
of this chapter on gravity. It reaches a minimum
of less than 200 gammas ( 200 nT).
4) In Pinar del Rio, there is also a median magnetic
low parallel and immediately south of the Pinar
fault. Like the corresponding gravity low, it ap-
pears related to the Tertiary fill of the San Diego
de los Baños Basin.
5) South of the province of Matanzas and extend-
ing along the southern half of Cuba all the way
to Nipe Bay, the magnetic field is characterized
by a very large number of high-frequency, mostly
positive anomalies. These reflect the presence of
the shallow igneous bodies of the basic igneous-
volcanic province. They appear to continue west-
ward under the Gulf of Batabano, north of the
Isle of Pines, and terminate abruptly in eastern
Pinar del Rio (Pinar fault).
6) The above trend of anomalies is interrupted by
an east-northeast-trending magnetic low that co-
incides with the Central Depression gravity mini-
mum (described under feature 3 of the previous
section of this chapter on gravity). This supports
the possibility that basement is responsible for
both the gravity and the magnetic anomalies.
7) To the southwest, coinciding with the Isle of Pines
and the Escambray metamorphic massifs are two
gravity minimums, the one in the Escambray being
less than 200 gammas. A suggestion that these
two massifs might be connected has been made.
The third metamorphic massif in Asuncion, at the
southeasternmost end of the Sierra del Purial, also
has a featureless magnetic expression.
298 / Pardo
FIGURE 158. Cuba magnetic anomaly map.
8) Habana, Matanzas, and southeastern Pinar del Rio
are characterized by a relatively featureless mag-
netic expression. In places there are sharp anoma-
lies, suggesting isolated igneous bodies within
the sedimentary section over a deep basement.
9) Along the southern coast of Oriente, in the south-
ern Sierra Maestra, is a sharp, east–west-trending,
high-low feature that is possibly associated with
the Cayman trough. A similar feature can be seen
200 km (124 mi) to the west along the south flank
of the Cayman Ridge.
The number of correlations between low-frequency
gravity and magnetic anomalies suggests that a deep-
seated basement determines both. However, a large
number of cases exist where strong, high-frequency,
magnetic anomalies are superimposed on gravity min-
imums, revealing the near-surface presence of igneous
material over a deep basement.
CRUSTAL MEASUREMENTS
From 1972–1975, the All-Union Scientific Research
Institute of Geophysics conducted a project aimed
at determining the deep crustal structure of Cuba.
The method used refraction shooting along long pro-
files parallel and perpendicular to the regional strike,
as well as the conversion of transmitted earthquake
waves.
Between 1978 and 1982, B. E. Scherbakova, V. G.
Bovenko, and H. Hernandez, among others, published
the results of this project.
Figure 159 shows the location of the refraction sec-
tions as well as the refraction shot lines. Figure 160
shows the location of the crustal columns as inferred
by the earthquake wave conversion method. It should
be noted that because of the small scale of the pub-
lished information, the location of the sections and
shot lines is approximate.
Figure 161 shows the crustal thicknesses and the
seismic velocity columns based on the refraction shoot-
ing; it also shows profiles I, IV, and VIII, which were
used for gravity modeling and seismic analysis. Figure
162 is a map of crustal thickness (depth to the Moho
discontinuity) after Scherbakova et al. (1978a, b) and
Bovenko et al. (1981, 1982).
The results of these studies are difficult to evaluate;
in their 1977 and 1988 articles, Scherbakova et al.,
conclude that the entire island of Cuba is underlain
by a sedimentary-volcanogenic cover with thickness
ranging from 2.0 to 12.5 km (1.2 to 7.7 mi), a granitic
layer with thickness from 5.5 to 12.0 km (3.4 to 7.4 mi),
and a basaltic layer 6.0–21.5 km (3.7–13.3 mi) thick.
 Geophysical Characteristics / 299

FIGURE 159. Crustal measurement locations.

FIGURE 160. Crustal measurement locations.

300 / Pardo

FIGURE 161. Refraction velocity sections.

The following velocities were used as criteria for dif- patible with the surface observations. It is consistent
ferentiating the layers: with Soviet-era interpretations elsewhere in the world,
so it may be a consequence of standard interpretation
Granitic layer Vp = 6.2 km/s Vp/Vs = 1.80 methods by Soviet-era or Soviet-era-trained researchers.
Basaltic layer Vp = 7.0 km/s Vp/Vs = 1.76
Upper mantle Vp = 8.1 km/s Vp/Vs = 1.80 Of great significance, however, is the identification
of a discontinuity dipping 45–708 to the south that
Furthermore, they state that the island is broken extends from south of La Habana to the Bay of Nipe.
into blocks by deep-seated, vertical to near-vertical The trace of this discontinuity, which is referred to as
faults, and that each block has its own layer thick- a suture, is parallel to the regional structural trend and
ness distribution and somewhat different physical occurs generally south of the main body of ultrabasics
characteristics. This high-angle, vertically faulted, lay- and north of the Upper Cretaceous intrusive grano-
er cake, basement tectonic model is certainly not com- diorites. It seems to follow the axis of the Cretaceous

FIGURE 162. Crustal thickness.


volcanic synclinorium. It is not clear whether this
suture continues west-northwest toward the Gulf of
Mexico or changes course southwestward and paral-
lels the Pinar fault in Pinar del Rio. Perhaps it branches.
At any rate, this suture is reflected in both the gravity
and magnetic maps.
Although Scherbakova et al. (1978a, b) point out
that the Moho is commonly difficult to identify,
Figure 163 shows crustal thinning (less than 24 km
[15 mi] from a more than 28-km [17-mi] general back-
ground) associated with the suture as well as a prom-
inent Moho high (12–16 km [7.4–10 mi] in depth) in
western and southern Oriente. Perhaps there, the su-
ture is not as closed as it is in central and western Cuba.
In a more recent article by Bush and Scherbakova
(1986), profiles I, IV, and VIII (from the previously
mentioned refraction study) were used to do gravity
modeling across the island. In this article, the authors
appear to have relied more on gravity and surface ge-
ology than on seismic refraction data to build their
model. The suture concept is maintained, but these
profiles, shown in Figure 163, show that the model
has been considerably changed:
1) The Moho is not shown but referred to as the top
of the asthenosphere, present in the 30–40-km
(18–25-mi) range only south of the suture.
2) What was previously the crust has been divided
in three layers, with the upper two only being
named upper and lower crust and the lower re-
maining unnamed.
3) What was formerly named the Moho north of the
suture, and in Profile 1, in Pinar Del Rio, is now
the new base of the crust, making the crust thick-
ness north of the suture considerably thicker than
to the south. In profile I, in Pinar del Rio, what was
the Moho is now the new base of the crust.
4) The suture zone has become a slab ±8 km (±5 mi)
thick with its own physical properties.
5) The previously reported internal velocity varia-
tions of the zones are ignored.
6) Finally, and most serious of all, profile I depicts
the Pinar fault as a feature similar to the ophiolite
front in central Cuba, which is not supported by
field observations. In profile IV, the outcropping
ophiolites are shown north of the gravity mini-
mum, when in reality, they either coincide with it
(or are south of it), and in profile VIII, the gravity
minimum does not appear to be properly located
in relation to the model. It should be noted that
the strike of profile VIII is at an angle of 40 – 508
to the trend of the gravity minimum and the re-
Geophysical Characteristics / 301
gional strike, which would have a profound ef-
fect in the computations if the model were not
three-dimensional.
According to this later article, some of the original
conclusions of B. E. Scherbakova must have been
changed. The simple, two-dimensional type of grav-
ity modeling (it appears to be a modification of M.
Talwani’s) that was used certainly does not provide
any new data but simply another interpretation of the
same data. A familiar problem with this kind of mod-
eling is that there is no unique answer.
Despite the above uncertainties, some interesting
interpretations have been made on the nature and
structure of the Cuban crust. Pushcharovsky et al.
(1988) present a classification of the types of crust and
their location. Pushcharovsky et al. (1989) show the
same scheme in a 1:2,500,000 insert in the 1989 Tec-
tonic Map of Cuba. According to these authors, the
crust consists of the following:
1) The continental North American crust in north
central Cuba, 22–30 km (13–18 mi) thick, consist-
ing of three layers; a 5–7-km (3.1–4.3-mi)-thick
sedimentary cover over a granitic-metamorphic
and a basaltic layer of equal thicknesses. The south-
ern part of this crust is overlain by the sedimen-
tary and ophiolite thrusts.
2) In Pinar del Rio, the crust consists of components
from both the North and South American con-
tinents. It is somewhat thicker, 24 – 30 km (15 –
18 mi), and the granitic-metamorphic layer is
10 km (6 mi) thick versus 15 km (9 mi) for the
basaltic layer, and the southern boundary is along
the Pinar fault.
3) Separated from the continental crust by the geo-
suture is a transitional crust (of possible late Cre-
taceous age), 28 –32 km (17 –20 mi) thick with a
basalt layer up to 20 km (12 mi) in thickness,
whereas the granitic-metamorphic layer is only
3.5 – 8 km (2.1 – 5 mi) thick and discontinuous.
This crust can be divided into two segments: the
one under the basic igneous-volcanic province
to the north, containing granitoids, and the
Escambray – Isla de Pinos to the south, which is
considered to contain South American crustal
components.
4) In central Oriente, there is a relatively shallow
dome of suboceanic ultramafic material, with a
greatly reduced crust, 14–18 km (8–11 mi) thick,
coinciding with the already mentioned strong
positive gravity anomaly.
302 / Pardo

FIGURE 163. Crustal profiles I, IV, and VIII.


5) In southern Oriente and along the Cayman Ridge
is another belt of transitional crust of Paleogene
age with well-defined granitic-metamorphic and
basaltic layers.
6) The Yucatan Basin and the southern Gulf of Mex-
ico are underlain by a suboceanic crust with thick-
nesses ranging from 8 to 20 km (5 to 12 mi).
7) The Cayman trough is underlain by oceanic crust.
The above blocks show many offsets by east-
northeast-trending left-lateral transcurrent faults.
Here again, it is difficult to evaluate the meaning
of these conclusions. They are obviously not entirely
derived from geophysical studies; the hypothesis of the
South American origin of some of the crustal blocks,
although possible, must be based on some geological
considerations because it cannot be derived from the
geophysical data alone. What is the relationship be-
tween the extensive ophiolites and basic volcanics
of the basic igneous-volcanic province and the in-
termediate crust underlying them? Are they part of
that crust (velocity inversions have been reported)?
Are the metamorphics of the Isla de la Juventud and
Escambray massif considered part of the granitic-
metamorphic layer of the South American crust, or
are they overlying that layer (the problem of reverse
metamorphism)?
In conclusion, it can be said that the problem in-
volving the geometry and nature of the crust under-
neath the island of Cuba is still not resolved. The
most significant observations are as follows:
1) The presence of a crustal suture (disturbed zone)
along the axis of the island and extending from
Habana to the Bay of Nipe (the crustal thinning
northward across the suture might be the result
of Moho miscorrelations)
2) The deep-seated nature of the Pinar fault
3) The presence of thin crust–shallow mantle in east-
ern and possibly southern Oriente
4) The general intermediate (noncontinental and
nonoceanic) nature and thickness of the crust
5) The general internal complexity of the crust sug-
gesting its involvement in compressional and
transcurrent tectonics
REFLECTION SEISMOGRAPHY
Seismic reflection surveys were conducted in sever-
al places for many years. Before 1960, the results were
disappointing as far as resolving pre-Tertiary structures.
Geophysical Characteristics / 303
Since the revolution, seismic parties (Soviet, Com-
pagnie Generale de Geophysique [CGG], and others)
have been continuously active. The results have not
been released. Echevarria-Rodriguez et al. (1991) stated
that more than 50,000 km (31,000 mi) of seismic lines
(most of them marine) were analyzed. They published
two profiles from the offshore north coast, a north–
south 18-km (11-mi) profile in 4000 ft (1200 m) of wa-
ter north of Cardenas Bay and a northeast–southwest
22-km (13-mi) profile in 1500 ft (450 m) of water some
20 km (12 mi) north of Cayo Coco. These profiles ap-
pear to be of recent vintage and must be some of the
best available (the article is in the Journal of Petroleum
Geology and is of a promotional nature). They do show
structures at what the authors call the Upper Cretaceous
level, but unfortunately, nothing can be resolved below
that point. The reflections identified as the Jurassic
are very probably multiples. In view that nothing is
known about the processing, it is not known whether
anything more can be obtained from this type of data
because the pre – lower Eocene structures can be ex-
tremely complex. However, the authors claim that sev-
eral north coast fields, including Varadero and Boca
de Jaruco, were discovered through seismic surveys.
Differing opinions exist that they were found through
random drilling (70 deep wells in the area as of 1974).
Hernandez Perez and Blickwede (2000) published five
short profiles regarding the deep water north of Cuba.
The article, in the Oil & Gas Journal, is also of a pro-
motional nature, and the prints are of poor quality.
The authors present, as line drawings, interpretations
of profiles A and B (see Figure 164). Profile A, north of
the Havana-Matanzas anticline, shows structurally
disturbed, pre-Tertiary sediments over its entire length
of approximately 31 km (19 mi), but the thrust front
appears to be some 12 km (7 mi) south of the north
end of the profile. Assuming an average velocity of
15,000 ft/s (4500 m/s), it also shows a possible décol-
lement surface at ±31,250 ft (±9500 m) below sea
level. Profile B, north of western Pinar del Rio (Martin
Mesa?), shows the thrust front approximately 10 km
(6 mi) north of the southern end of the profile. As-
suming the same average sediment velocity, at least
±32,725 ft (±9974 m) exist to a possible décollement,
and north of it, ±24,750 ft (±7543 m) of undisturbed
sediments below 6750 ft (2057 m) of water exist. These
numbers suggest basement or salt at ±32,000 ft
(±9753 m) below sea level.
The Institute for Geophysics of the University of
Texas ran an extensive multichannel survey in the
Yucatan Basin between 1975 and 1980. Although
this survey does not cover Cuban territory, it has
304 / Pardo
FIGURE 164. Cuba seismic profiles A and B. See Figure 168 for location. Author’s interpretation from sections published
by Hernandez Perez and Blickwede (2000).
bearing on the geology and geologic development
of the island. The data have been reported by Hol-
combe et al. (1990) and Rosencrantz (1990), and it
shows a trench and northeast-dipping subduction
under eastern and possibly central Cuba, south-
west of and paralleling the Jardines de la Reina Cays
(Figure 165).
TEMPERATURE AND HEAT FLOW
Cermak et al. (1984, 1991) published two articles
on temperature and heat flow in several localities
throughout the island.
The measurements were made in 36 boreholes
(Figure 166) that had not been disturbed for pe-
riods ranging from several months to several years
and were, therefore, in thermal equilibrium with
the surrounding rocks. The depth at which the mea-
surements were taken ranges from 295 to 4887 ft (90
to 1490 m).
Figure 167 shows a table summarizing the results
of the study. In general, Cuba is characterized by a low
geothermal gradient and a low to very low heat flow.
It is difficult to draw conclusions from these data ex-
cept that the mean of 45 mW/m2 (milliWatt per square
meter) is close to that of the Gulf of Mexico (<40 mW/
m2), the Florida-Bahamas Platform (±50 mW/m2),
and the Yucatan Basin (±58 mW/m2). It is in contrast
with the high geothermal activity of the Caribbean
(±88 mW m 2 in the Cayman trench). Interestingly, the
highest heat-flow values were obtained in the Central
Depression (63 mW/m2) and Jatibonico (50 mW/m2),
whereas, unexpectedly, the lowest heat-flow values
were obtained in southeastern Oriente at Puriales,

FIGURE 165. Yucatan Basin seismic profile C: Camaguey trench. See Figure 168 for location. Modified from Holcombe
et al., 1990.
(25 mW/m2), which is supposedly underlain by the
thinnest crust over a mantle dome.
It should be noted that rock samples for thermal
conductivity measurements were not available from
all the wells, in which case samples were taken from
nearby outcrops, therefore introducing a possible
source of error in heat-flow calculations.
The heat flow and geothermal gradient of north-
ern Cuba under the carbonates has probably been the
same or similar to the present heat flow for a long
period of time ( perhaps since the Jurassic), whereas
the heat flow of the southern volcanic, igneous, and
metamorphic provinces must be of much more re-
cent origin, possibly since the late Eocene. These con-
ditions have certainly had an important influence
on the kerogen maturation.
Another interesting feature of the Cuban geother-
mal gradient is an inversion that occurs between 330
and 650 ft (100 and 200 m). At that depth, the tem-
perature can be on the order of 5.58F (3.08K) lower
Geophysical Characteristics / 305
than the surface temperature. The undisturbed geo-
thermal gradient is commonly present below 650 –
820 ft (200 – 250 m). This anomaly is independent of
the surrounding rocks or the depth of the water table
and is present in most surveyed locations; it is be-
lieved to be the result of the global warming that
followed the last glaciation.
PALEOMAGNETISM
Several paleomagnetic studies have been made in
Cuba.
Renne et al. (1991) discusses southern Las Villas
Province on the south flank of the Seibabo syncline.
They report the results of the study of 42 specimens
in five out of seven localities. Three of the selected
localities are in Aptian–Albian volcaniclastics and two
are in overlying Cenomanian micritic limestones.
The data from the remaining two are unusable. Un-
fortunately, all the samples have a strong magnetic
306 / Pardo
FIGURE 166. Heat-flow measurements.
overprint of unknown origin that could not be re-
moved. However, they do show between 40 and 508 of
counterclockwise rotation. Whether this is indica-
tive of rotation of the entire volcanic belt or rotation
of individual blocks caused by the eastward displace-
ment of southern Cuba in relation to North America
is open to question. Although a northward displace-
ment is inferred, it is not supported by the data.
Chauvin et al. (1994, p. 1691) conclude that, ‘‘the
entire Cretaceous succession of the Zaza terrane was
remagnetized in the Campanian. The measured lati-
tude is lower by 158 ± 68 with respect to the North
American APWP indicating ca. 1600 ± 600 km north-
ward displacement of the Zaza terrane since the Cam-
panian. Also discordant is the measured declination
implying 378 ± 118 counterclockwise rotation of the
Zaza terrane.’’
Bazhenov et al. (1996, p. 65) reached the following
preliminary conclusions: ‘‘In contrast, well-defined
characteristic components were isolated from basalts
of the Aptian–Albian Encrucijada and the Late Creta-
ceous Orozco formations from the Bahia Honda zone
in the north of western Cuba; the remanence in the
Encrucijada Formation is shown to predate deforma-
tion. Mean inclinations in both formations match
those in Cretaceous volcanics from central Cuba, and
all the results show lower latitudes than expected
from the reference data for the North American Plate,
thus implying that volcanic domains of Cuba were
displaced northward by about 1000 km prior to the
middle Eocene. Cretaceous declinations in western
and central Cuba differ by about the same amount
as the major structural trends of these two areas sug-
gesting oroclinal bending of Cuba. At the same time,
both areas are rotated counterclockwise with respect
to North America, thus implying movements on a
broader scale.’’
Alva-Valdivia et al. (2001, p. 716) state that, ‘‘The
mean palaeodirection obtained in present study is
not significantly different from the expected Jurassic–
Cretaceous palaeodirections estimated from the North
American apparent polar wander path, at least from
140 to 60 Ma. This suggests that no major latitudinal
displacements and rotation have affected the Guani-
guanico Cordillera since the Jurassic period.’’
Fundora Granda et al. (2003) show the eastern Cuba
volcanics migrating from 108S in the Lower Creta-
ceous to 228N in the present and, surprisingly, also
making a 1808 clockwise rotation.
It therefore seems that, so far, the general consen-
sus is that the Guaniguanico sedimentary belts have
not moved much in relation to North America, where-
as the basic igneous-volcanic terranes have moved
more than 1000 km (600 mi) in a north-northeast di-
rection and show a counterclockwise rotation.
Much work along these lines remains to be done.
AGE DATING
Iturralde-Vinent et al. (1996) present the results
of a large number of K-Ar age determinations. They

are grouped according to broad areal distribution and
rock types (igneous, volcanics, metamorphics, Escam-
bray, Sierra Maestra, etc.), but unfortunately, there is
no precise location or stratigraphic identification.
Some of the results can be summarized as follows:
1) Cifuentes belt basement (Socorro complex): 139–
150 Ma, with marble dated at ±900 Ma
2) Escambray metamorphics: 55 – 85 Ma, with me-
dian at 66 Ma
3) Isla de la Juventud metamorphics: 49–78 Ma, with
median at 66 Ma
Geophysical Characteristics / 307
FIGURE 167. Heat-flow
measurements.
4) Cretaceous volcanics: 53 – 100 Ma, with median
at 77 Ma
5) Cretaceous plutons (Sancti Spiritu granodiorite):
50 –99 Ma, with median at 78 Ma
6) Paleogene volcanics (El Cobre): 39 –58 Ma, with
median at 47 Ma
7) Mafics of northern ophiolites (Domingo*): 52 –
160 Ma, with median at 105 Ma
8) Mabujina complex: 44 –89 Ma, with median at
81 Ma
9) Metamorphic inclusions in the ophiolites: 91 –
196 Ma, with median at 111 Ma
308 / Pardo
FIGURE 168. Summary of geophysical data. See Figure 164 for seismic profiles A and B; see Figure 165 for seismic profile C.
Without further stratigraphic details and more pre-
cise locations, it is impossible to attempt to explain
the broad scattering of age determinations. However,
the data support the theory that the Paleocene meta-
morphism of the sedimentary section (Escambray and
Isla de la Juventud) is younger than the Campanian
volcanic arc and could be related, at least partially, to
the obduction process.
GEOPHYSICAL DATA DISCUSSION
The geophysical information available to the au-
thor indicates several relationships concerning the
general structure of Cuba (see Figure 168).
1) A definite continuity exists between the basic
igneous-volcanic province of central Cuba and
northern Oriente and the Bahia Honda belt of
western Cuba. Assuming that the basic igneous-
volcanic province had roots between the north-
ern carbonate belts and the Escambray meta-
morphics, it must also have had roots north of
the Guaniguanico Mountains. However, if it orig-
inated south of Guaniguanico and was thrusted
northward, then it must have originated south
of Escambray and been also thrusted northward
over the metamorphics.
2) A regional gravity and magnetic low anomaly
extending from Cardenas Bay to Holguin exists.
This anomaly coincides approximately with the
boundary between the carbonate outcrops to the
north and the basic igneous rocks to the south. Its
south flank also coincides with what has been
interpreted as a crustal discontinuity based on re-
fraction seismography. It has been called a suture
by several authors.
3) A few reflection profiles, gravity anomalies, as
well as some drilling information suggest that
the Cuban structural front extends all along the
north coast of the island some tens of kilometers
offshore.

4) A seismic reflection profile south of the Jardines
de la Reina archipelago shows a buried trench over
a possible inactive northeast-dipping subduc-
tion. A high-low gravity anomaly, extending past
the Isla de la Juventud, suggests that this trench
might mark the boundary between Cuba and the
Yucatan Basin.
5) The Central Depression is characterized by marked
gravity and magnetic lows. They are the basis for
the Trocha fault.
6) The Isla de la Juventud and the Escambray mas-
sif are also characterized by gravity and magnet-
ic anomaly lows. There seem to be an east – west
connection between the two.
7) South of the main island of Cuba and north of
the Isla de la Juventud is a pronounced east–west
positive gravity and magnetic anomaly extend-
ing from La Coloma in southeastern Pinar del
Rio to Cienfuegos. The cause for this anomaly
is unknown, but together with the refraction seis-
mography, it suggests either a thinner crust or a
Geophysical Characteristics / 309
body of basic igneous material. It is not parallel
with the supposed axis of the Los Palacios Basin.
The wells Guanal-1 and Guanal-1A, drilled by Esso
on the western end of this feature, reached a total
depth of 854 and 980 m (2801 and 3215 ft), respec-
tively. Guanal-1A was reported to have bottomed
in ultrabasic igneous rocks. Some authors doubt
the validity of this report (Iturralde-Vinent, 1996),
however, the fact that ESSO stopped drilling both
wells at such a shallow depth would confirm the
presence of igneous.
8) A very strong positive gravity anomaly and the
shallowest Moho in the island characterize south-
eastern Oriente. However, no noticeable magnet-
ic expression exists.
9) With the exception of the Jatibonico area, the
geothermal gradient is low, on the order of ±18F/
100 ft (±28C/100 m). In the Jatibonico area (Cen-
tral Depression and Trocha fault), the geother-
mal gradient is on the order of ±28F/100 ft (±48C/
100 m).
5
Pardo, G., 2009, Structural geology, in G. Pardo, The geology of Cuba: AAPG
Studies in Geology Series, no. 58, p. 311 – 341.
Structural Geology
In this chapter, only the surface structures that char-
acterize the various tectonic styles will be described.
Examples of subsurface structures will be shown, al-
though very little has been published on this subject.
This chapter will describe the structures in the fol-
lowing order: central Cuba, western Cuba, northern
Cuba, and eastern Cuba.
There will be a strong emphasis on central Cuba
because of the availability of the 1:40,000 Gulf maps,
which are detailed enough to see individual structures
clearly. For the other regions, only the 1988 1:250,000
geologic map of Cuba (Pushcharovsky et al., 1988) is
available, so only the general structural style can be
recognized. For structural information outside of cen-
tral Cuba, the available material generally shows only
very small-scale drawings; generalized very small-scale
cross sections and maps are characteristic of Cuban
structural literature.
The Tectonic Map of Cuba 1:500,000 (Pushchar-
ovsky et al., 1989) is a good summary map. From an
interpretative point of view, it shows only the case in
which the basic igneous-volcanic province originated
between the metamorphic massifs and the North Amer-
ican continent. This map, as well as the older 1985 geo-
logic map (Cuba, 1985a), shows several large crustal
faults or deep fractures cutting across all structural
trends. The bases for postulating these discontinuities
are many: topography, gravity, magnetics, crustal seis-
mic, and surface geology. These deep fractures might
well exist, but most of them are very questionable.
They date from the 1960s when Soviet experts, who
did not believe in a thrusted orogenic belt origin for
the island, invoked classical Soviet-era block faulting
and in-situ magmatism (a la Beloussov [Khudoley,
1967; Khudoley and Meyerhoff, 1971]). Subsequently,
most of these crustal fractures have disappeared from
the literature, but some of them still remain on the
maps. Most such fractures probably do not exist or are
Copyright n2009 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
DOI:10.1306/13141064St583328
311
not applicable in unraveling the geologic history of
Cuba. The only unquestionable major high-angle faults
truncating the regional trends are the Pinar and the
Tuinicu fault system. The Trocha and the Cauto faults,
which are most commonly accepted by the geolog-
ical community, are postulated on the basis of surface
offsets, and perhaps geophysics, but they have never
been directly observed. They may be lateral ramps or
transforms joining thrust-fault segments.
CENTRAL CUBA
The tectonics of central Cuba are extremely com-
plex; most known types of structural features are pres-
ent. Each of the previously described belts has its
characteristic tectonic style. Figure 169 shows the lo-
cation of larger scale, but generalized, maps illustrating
this chapter.
Coastal Region
A relatively low structural relief appears to charac-
terize this zone. The structures cannot be well observed
on the surface because of an extensive Neogene to
Holocene cover (see Figure 170).
Various scattered exposures show gentle folds with
dips not exceeding 308. These low-relief folds, expos-
ing only the Caibarien* and Frio* formations in the
core, are present in the Caibarien and Sagua la Chica
areas. Similar folds, exposing the Casablanca Group,
are present in the area north of the Cubitas Range in
the Camaguey Province.
Toward the south, close to the Yaguajay* belt, the
folding becomes steeper, and faulting increases. This
is unquestionably caused by the proximity of the
Yaguajay and Las Villas faults. The folds become very
steep; the flanks of the anticlines and synclines are
commonly overturned to the north and to the south,
and faulting becomes very common.
312 / Pardo
FIGURE 169. Central Cuba: location of individual maps.
However, three remarkable exceptions to the rela-
tively quiet low structural relief exist. The Punta Alegre,
Turiguano, and Cunagua structures bring the Juras-
sic evaporites of the Punta Alegre* Formation and the
Cunagua salt to, or near, the surface. This indicates a
structural relief of at least 10,000 ft (3000 m).
These three structures are en echelon folds in line
along the regional strike, that is, N658W, but each
having its axis approximately east–west. The structures
are associated with faulting and seem to have been
active for a long time, possibly since the Maastrich-
tian through most of the Tertiary. Although very little
is known about the Turiguano structure, each one ap-
pears to have a somewhat different character.
The Punta Alegre structure is a gentle south-dipping
monocline, exposing the Punta Alegre* Formation,
underlain by a large south-dipping thrust that brings
the Punta Alegre* Formation and Cunagua salt over
Oligocene sediments. The Cunagua structure is simi-
lar, except that it has more of a diapiric aspect involv-
ing only the Cunagua salt; it appears to be rooted at the
contact between the coastal belt and the Domingo*–
Cabaiguan* sequences. The Turiguano structure has
an irregular dumbbell shape, suggesting a dome. These
structures, which have been called diapirs, are as yet
poorly understood; they could be either part of a deep-
seated ridge (possibly salt) associated with thrust faults
or related to the postulated La Trocha fault. It should
be noted that post–upper Eocene deposits in the Cen-
tral Depression show appreciable folding. Diapiric
structures have been reported in deep water offshore.
The well Shell Manuy-1, drilled 11 km (7 mi) east of
and on strike with the Punta Alegre structure, crossed
at least three thrust faults that repeated the Eocene to
Cretaceous section.
In this general area, the Empressa de Perforacion
y Extraccion de Petroleo (EPEP) drilled EPEP Moron
Norte-1 some 8 km (5 mi) due west of Loma Cunagua.
It is reported to have drilled through the following
section:
0 to ±2690 ft (0 to ±820 m): Neogene clastics
±2690 to ±6165 ft (±820 to ±1880 m): lower –
middle Eocene clastics, including conglomerates
(Vega*?)
±6165 to ±9185 ft (±1880 to ±2800 m): Campa-
nian to Albian volcanics and volcaniclastics of
the Cabaiguan* sequence to where it crossed a

FIGURE 170. Central Cuba, coastal area structures.
major fault into ±260 ft (±80 m) of Paleocene
coarse clastics (Vega*?)
±9185 ft (±2800 m) to total depth at 16,416 ft
(5005 m): Neocomian dolomites that suggest
either the Guani* Formation of the Yaguajay* belt
or the upper Cayo Coco* Formation of the coastal
region.
Little is known about the structures along the
coast. Unfortunately, the pre-1960 seismic technolo-
gy was unable to resolve the structures at depth. Some
of the wells (Gulf Hicacos-1, Gulf Blanquizal III-1)
were located on long, linear gravity anomalies of un-
known origin. Others (Shell Cayo Coco-1 and Shell
Cayo Coco-2, Shell Punta Alegre-1 and Shell Punta
Alegre-2, and Shell Manuy-1) were drilled on a com-
bination of gravity and seismic reflection, with lim-
ited penetration and resolution (see Figure 171).
Of the deep wells drilled along the Cays, Gulf
Blanquizal III-1 had average dips of 258 and was prob-
ably cut by a thrust fault at 7650 ft (2332 m), repeating
±3000 ft (±900 m) of section. ICRM Cayo Frances-5
is reported to have crossed a thrust at ±11,510 ft
(±3510 m), with a possible ±6000-ft (±1830-m) repeat,
and ICRM Cayo Romano-1 is also reported to have
crossed a thrust at 8397 ft (2560 m), with a possible
±10,220 ft (±3115 m) of repeat. In Shell Cayo Coco-2,
Structural Geology / 313
the dips average 308, and there is a possible thrust at
8349 ft (2545 m), repeating 650 ft (198 m) of section. It
is obvious that these wells show structural complica-
tions and were not drilled on structure to total depth.
It is possible that all the above wells crossed the same
fault system that defines Cuba’s north coast.
Furthermore, seismic profiles shot in deep water
offshore the north coast of Cuba between Cay Sal and
Cayo Coco were published by Ball et al. (1981, 1985)
and Echevarria-Rodriguez et al. (1991). They show
old highs, possibly bounded by reverse faults, under
a younger cover. Therefore, probably, the structures
under the coastal region consist of ridges, diapirs, or
elongated fault blocks, bounded by south-dipping
high-angle thrusts.
Yaguajay* Belt
This belt is a large monocline characterized by fair-
ly uniform south dips, ranging from 30 to 608, and
by a uniform N50–708W strike. More than 12,000 ft
(3600 m) of section is continuously exposed. This belt
is cut by a large number of normal high-angle faults
striking approximately N708E.
The Yaguajay* belt is limited to the north by the
Yaguajay fault zone, which strikes N578W and con-
sists of a set of en echelon faults. South of any one of
314 / Pardo
FIGURE 171. Central Cuba, coastal area faulting.
the individual faults, the dip is to the south, and north
of the faults, it changes abruptly to the north. Within
the fault zone itself is a continuous line of north-
ward tilted blocks showing relatively little displace-
ment in relation to the coastal region, but a much
larger displacement in relation to the main part of
the Yaguajay* belt. The displacement between the up-
thrown southern part of the Yaguajay fault zone and
the coastal region is more than 10,000 ft (3000 m).
The dip of the fault is unknown, but is believed to be
high. The en echelon arrangement of the individual
faults, the strong uptilting of a narrow belt of highly
competent sediments, and the linear trend of the fault
zone suggest that the Yaguajay fault has a strong lat-
eral component, with the Yaguajay* belt displaced east-
ward in relation to the coastal region.
The Yaguajay* belt is limited to the south by the
Las Villas fault.
Jatibonico* Belt
The Jatibonico* belt consists mainly of a south-
dipping monocline whose strike is parallel to the
regional strike; it is a continuation of the Yaguajay*
belt, but slightly offset to the southeast. The dips range
from vertical to 508S. Some sharp folding toward the
center of the belt exists.
The Jatibonico* belt is between the Jatibonico fault
to the north and the Las Villas fault to the south. The
Jatibonico* belt is separated from the Yaguajay* belt
by a thick section of San Martin* and Vega* forma-
tions; however, these deposits must hide a fault of
large horizontal displacement because the Jatibonico*
belt shows facies that are coeval with, but markedly
different from, those of the Yaguajay* belt.
The Jatibonico fault, which in the field shows as
a prominent scarp, is believed to be a high-angle
fault with a throw of some 5000 ft (1500 m), which
places the Jurassic to the south in contact with
the basic igneous of the Domingo* sequence to the
north.
South of the Jatibonico* and Yaguajay* belts, the
Las Villas fault dips to the south, and after passing
around the eastern end of the Jatibonico* belt, it
dips north toward the coastal belt. Furthermore, the
Domingo* sequence rides over the Las Villas* belt
thrust sheet, both south and north of the Jatibonico*
belt and the eastern end of the Yaguajay* belt. The
Jatibonico fault cuts both the Las Villas and the Do-
mingo faults (see Figures 172, 173).
The eastern end of the Yaguajay* belt is therefore
the eastward-plunging nose of a folded and faulted
stack of three thrust sheets; it is the only locality in
 Structural Geology / 315

FIGURE 172. Jatibonico structure. Modified from Pushcharovsky et al. (1988). See Figure 173 for cross section AA0.

FIGURE 173. Jatibonico structure cross section. See Figure 172 for definition of symbols.
316 / Pardo
central Cuba where this structural relationship can
be unequivocally demonstrated.
Sagua La Chica* Belt
As already mentioned, the existence of a Sagua la
Chica* belt was suspected only late in Gulf’s field-
work, and consequently, the structural relationships
were not studied in detail. No additional work on this
belt has been reported. The type area where this belt
is present is known as the Meneses anticlinorium; it is
between the towns of Encrucijada (Sagua la Chica and
Camajuani River sections) and Menesses and between
the Las Villas and the Unidad faults. Along this belt,
the exposures consist almost exclusively of the steeply
faulted and tightly folded Sagua* Formation, showing
many section repeats. This belt is probably an imbri-
cation of, and structurally closely associated to, the
Las Villas* belt. In that sense, it could be a subbelt of
the Las Villas* belt. The structure will be further dis-
cussed under the Las Villas* belt section of this chapter.
Las Villas* Belt
The Las Villas* belt (which included the Sagua la
Chica* belt in its original definition) is bounded to
the north by the Las Villas fault of still unknown hori-
zontal displacement and dip.
Las Villas Fault
The Las Villas fault is the most prominent feature
of the Las Villas* belt and can be observed from west
of Jumagua to the eastern end of the Jatibonico Moun-
tains. The trace of the fault is linear, but locally it has
many irregularities.
The stratigraphic displacement of the fault is be-
lieved to be not very large at the fault front because
it places the Sagua* conglomerate of the Las Villas*
belt on Vega* Formation of the Yaguajay* belt. How-
ever, the horizontal displacement is believed to be
large (as much as 30 km [18 mi]) because of the strik-
ing difference between the facies north and south of
the fault. The Vega Formation is found all along the
fault front, as if this formation had acted as the in-
competent material on which the displacement oc-
curred. In the Jatibonico area, the Las Villas* belt has
a low north dip, cuts above relatively undisturbed
Vega* Formation, and wraps around a core of both
Yaguajay* and Jatibonico* belt lithologies. This is
believed to be a proof for the initial low angle of the
Las Villas thrust, and it is proof for later folding and
faulting of this fault’s fault plane.
The lower dips found on the Vega* Formation un-
derlying the fault, the similarity between the Sagua*
found north and south of the fault, and the great dif-
ferences of facies between the older formations in-
dicate that although the fault was still active in the
middle Eocene, the greatest displacement probably
occurred in pre-Sagua* time (toward the beginning
of the Tertiary). However, in view of the fact that the
Sagua* conglomerate was, in large part, a talus depos-
ited in deep water at the base of a carbonate scarp, the
horizontal displacement of the fault during the Eo-
cene might not be larger than a few kilometers.
The folding and regional tilting of the thrust fault
and of the whole Las Villas plate could explain the
difference in surface expression between the eastern
and western parts of the Las Villas* belt. Toward the
east, the high angle of the fault would show only a
steep-dipping cross section of the plate, whereas to-
ward the west, the dip of the fault as it became closer
to horizontal would show a tangential section of the
plate.
The Las Villas* belt can be subdivided into three
major areas: The western area, extending from Pan-
chita to Sitiecito; the central area, extending from
central Corazon de Jesus to Calabazar; and the east-
ern area, extending from north of Vega Alta to Flor-
encia. These three areas of the Las Villas* belt are broad
regional highs separated by northward encroachments
of southern belts.
Western Area
The western area extends from the Sagua la Grande
River to Rancho Veloz. It is characterized by one large
anticlinal structure.
Quemado de Guines Anticlinorium
The Quemado de Guines anticlinorium is a very
large structure (see Figures 174, 175). It lies south of
the Las Villas fault and is at least 37 km (23 mi) long
and could extend farther northwestward toward the
offshore. It is more than 8 km (5 mi) wide.
It consists of three major faulted anticlines expos-
ing Jagüita* and Trocha* formations in the core and
Sagua* Formation in the trough of the intervening
synclines. The south flank of the structure exposes
beds as young as the upper Vega*, whereas the north-
ern flank is cut by the Las Villas fault. In general, the
dips are on the order of 30 – 508. The faults separat-
ing the three folds are today high-angle thrusts be-
cause they place Jurassic beds to the south in contact
with Upper Cretaceous to middle Eocene beds to the
north. The horizontal displacement of these second-
ary faults must have been large enough so that the
facies of the Capitolio* Formation changes to that

FIGURE 174. Quemado de Guines, Guayabo anticlinoria. Modified from Pushcharovsky et al. (1988). See Figure 175 for
cross sections AA0 and BB0.
of the Sabanilla* Formation from one anticline to
the next.
In the Quemado de Guines structure, the total struc-
tural relief (less than 4000 ft [1200 m]) is relatively
low compared to the size of the feature. This is clearly
illustrated by the occurrence of thin units such as
Sagua* or Lutgarda* formations over large areas. It ap-
pears as if the structures are not deep seated, but are
only folds and imbrications within a relatively thin
thrust plate lying almost horizontally or dipping gent-
ly to the south. It should be noted that because of
the intense compression, the Jurassic and Lower Cre-
taceous limestones, which are competent, show gen-
tle dips, but are broken by a large number of faults.
However, the Upper Cretaceous part of the section,
which is much less competent, is very intensely and
sometimes isoclinally folded and shows evidence of
flowage and intrabed slippage.
Structural Geology / 317
Central Area
The central area extends from the Sagua la Grande
River to the town of Calabazar. It is characterized by
several complex but readily mappable structures (see
Figures 174, 175).
Guayabo Anticlinorium
The Guayabo anticlinorium consists of several an-
ticlines whose cores expose no rocks older than the
Capitolio* Formation; in the synclinal troughs, beds
as young as the San Martin* Formation crop out. The
faulting in this anticlinorium is relatively moderate
and is certainly much less intense than in the Que-
mado de Guines anticlinorium. The central anticline
of this structure, on which Texaco spudded the Texaco
Guayabo-1 well, is about 17 km (10 mi) long by more
than 2 km (1.2 mi) wide. Dips on the flanks are from
30 to 508, and here again, the younger beds show
318 / Pardo
FIGURE 175. Quemado de Guines, Guayabo anticlinoria sections. See Figure 174 for definition of symbols.
greater deformation than the older ones; the Sagua*
Formation shows intense wrinkling and fracturing. In
this case again, individual structures might not be
deep seated; however, they show less intense deforma-
tion than in the Quemado de Guines anticlinorium.
The Guayabo anticlinorium plunges steeply toward
the southeast. The Texaco Guayabo-1 well bottomed
at 10,010 ft (3052 m) in the Upper Jurassic, probably
the Hoyo Colorado* Formation. The Las Villas fault
was not reached.
Mata Anticlinorium
The Mata anticlinorium resembles the Quemado de
Guines anticlinorium in that it is quite compressed,
and the sharp folds expose the Jagüita* Formation in
their core. Undoubtedly, these structures are not deep
seated, but are part of a thrust plate. It appears to ride
over the Guayabo anticlinorium.
Eastern Area
The eastern area is subdivided lengthwise by the
Unidad thrust fault into the northern Meneses anti-
clinorium and the southern Zulueta anticlinorium
(see Figures 176, 177).
Meneses Anticlinorium
The Meneses anticlinorium is not well known at
present. It extends all the way from the Sagua la Chica
River to Florencia; over most of the area, most of the
outcrops are lower – middle Eocene (mostly Sagua*
Formation). Here, it probably represents the Sagua
la Chica* belt. The total length is more than 105 km
(65 mi). The folds within this anticlinorium are of
small amplitude. Toward the east, the whole belt is
tilted southward, such that, in the southern flank of
the Sierra de Meneses and Jatibonico, it becomes a
monocline showing first a succession of repeated sec-
tions and then, finally, only one section extending
from the Jurassic into the San Martin* Formation.
In the Sierra de Jatibonico, the southeastern end of
the Meneses anticlinorium rides over the Yaguajay*
and Jatibonico* belts. To the south of the Jatibonico
Mountains, the Las Villas* belt dips southward ap-
proximately 608, whereas to the north, north of the
Jatibonico fault, it dips gently northward, apparently
under Domingo* sequence lithologies. It can also be
seen wrapping around the southeastern end of the
Yaguajay* belt, separated from it by a rim of Vega*
Formation belonging to the Yaguajay* belt.

FIGURE 176. Santa Clara – Placetas area. Modified from Pushcharovsky et al. (1988). See Figure 177 for cross
sections AA0 and BB0.
A minimum northward displacement of 4 km
(2.5 mi) for the Las Villas* (Sagua la Chica*) belt is
required; however, the displacement was unques-
tionably greater.
Zulueta Anticlinorium
The Zulueta anticlinorium is similar in scale and
appearance to the Quemado de Guines anticlinorium,
with the exception that individual folds are much
narrower. It has been subdivided into the San Agustin
anticline to the north and the Zulueta anticline to
the south. The structure extends from the Camajuani
River to near Iguara, or a distance of 67 km (41 mi).
Sections from the Trocha* to the San Martin* forma-
tions are exposed on the flanks of the anticlines and
troughs of the corresponding synclines. The Zulueta
anticlinorium probably is, as is the Quemado de Guines
Structural Geology / 319
anticlinorium, an imbricated thrust sheet, but dip-
ping more steeply to the south. The original width of
the Las Villas* belt, prior to faulting and folding, is
difficult to establish.
Yabu Window
In addition to the main Las Villas* belt, typical Las
Villas* belt lithologies have been mapped in the Yabu
window showing through the Cifuentes* belt plate.
This window lies between the town of Amaro and
San Diego del Valle, some 8 km (5 mi) to the south-
west of the nearest exposures of Las Villas* belt (see
Figure 174).
Las Villas* Belt–Southern Facies
The Las Villas* belt–southern facies can be subdi-
vided into two areas of exposure (see Figures 178, 179).
320 / Pardo
FIGURE 177. Santa Clara – Placetas area sections. See Figure 176 for definition of symbols.
Northern Area
The northern area forms a very narrow linear belt
of exposure and extends from southwest of the town
of Camajuani to the town of Iguara. Core drilling has
revealed that this belt consists of a very tightly folded
and crushed syncline over most of its length, which
is separated from the Las Villas* belt either by a fault,
which is apparently fairly steep to the south, or by a
narrow zone of Rosas* Formation. This zone contains
slivers or imbrications of Las Villas* belt–southern fa-
cies lithologies. The strip of the Las Villas* belt to
the southern facies is separated from the Domingo*–
Cabaiguan* sequence to the south by a high-angle fault
dipping 70–808 to the south. This fault has a strong
horizontal component, as indicated by horizontal stri-
ations on slickensides associated with the fault. Fur-
ther evidence for transcurrent displacement is given
by some southwestward-pointing folds of the entire
belt; these folds indicate a southeastward displace-
ment (left lateral) of the Domingo*–Cabaiquan* se-
quence in relation to the Las Villas* belt. Although
this fault has been shown on the map as the Domingo
fault (as it marks the front of the Domingo* sequence),
it is not a thrust, and the Domingo*–Cabaiguan* se-
quence is downdropped in relation the Las Villas* belt–
southern facies. However, the tight syncline of the
Las Villas* belt– southern facies is interpreted as the
folded remnant of a low-angle thrust plate that placed
its lithologies over the Las Villas* belt. The Rosas* For-
mation served as lubricant.
Southern Area
The southern area shows as a window through
the Placetas* belt, 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of the Las
Villas* belt–southern facies, and is called the Fidencia
anticline.
Fidencia Anticline
The Fidencia anticline measures 6 km (3.7 mi) long
by 2 km (1.2 mi) wide, and its axis strikes N508W. It
is a very simple, regular dome; dips on the flanks do
not exceed 608. This strongly contrasts with the gen-
eral chaotic structures of the surrounding Placetas*
belt. The fault surrounding this structure is the Pla-
cetas thrust. It should be noted that no igneous or
Vega* Formation is associated with the thrust. In this
particular case, the Placetas thrust is folded conform-
ably with the structure.
Placetas* and Cifuentes* Belts
In describing the structures, it is impossible to sep-
arate the Placetas* from the Cifuentes* belt because

these are intimately associated. Several areas distin-
guishable by their characteristic tectonic style can be
differentiated. These areas are (1) the Cifuentes plate
proper, (2) the Loma Santa Fe–Placetas plate, (3) the
Jarahueca structure, (4) the Loma Bonachea win-
dow, (5) the La Rana klippe, and (6) the Sierra Morena
klippe.
Cifuentes Plate Proper
The Cifuentes plate proper is characterized by the
almost exclusive presence of Cifuentes* belt litholo-
gies. It consists of the superposition of three, and pos-
sibly four, individual thrust plates, which appear to
be gently folded. In detail, the structural conditions
are extremely complex because the rocks show intense
fracturing and minor folding; in many cases, several
units are mixed together in what appears to be a giant
breccia in which the components range in size, from
a few meters to a few hundred meters across. In Push-
charovsky et al. (1988), this area has been largely
mapped as the Paleocene – Eocene Vega Alta olistos-
trome complex.
From north to south, the Cifuentes plate shows the
following succession of lithologic groups: Placetas*
belt (restricted to the central Macagua area), central
Cifuentes* belt, southern Cifuentes* belt, central Ci-
fuentes* belt, northern Cifuentes* belt, Yabu window,
northern Cifuentes* belt, central Cifuentes* belt, and
southern Cifuentes* belt (see Figures 174, 175).
The above succession definitely indicates the pres-
ence of a syncline, the axis of which strikes N558W
and passes near the town of Cifuentes and also an
anticline of approximately parallel strike and whose
axis passes through the Yabu window. A large num-
ber of strike faults exist, possibly imbrications within
individual plates; however, these appear to be of rel-
atively minor importance. However, the main thrusts
separating the individual plates must have totaled a
minimum horizontal displacement of 24 km (15 mi).
The succession of the plates (that is, the southern Ci-
fuentes* plate lying in the trough of the syncline and
the northern Cifuentes* plate surrounding the Yabu
window) clearly indicates that the displacement
was from south to north. The fact that relatively thin
units cover such an extensive area is believed to be
evidence that, in general, the Cifuentes* plate proper
is very nearly horizontal, and that the folding is of
large amplitude. The area of typical Placetas* belt
lithologies, in the vicinity of central Macagua, might
be a direct continuation of the northern Cifuentes*
plate, in which case a fourth thrust plate would not
be necessary.
Structural Geology / 321
The Cifuentes thrust can be observed surrounding
the Yabu window. The trace of the Cifuentes thrust,
however, does not constitute the northern boundary
of the Cifuentes* belt. This boundary consists of an
area of varying width, but commonly very narrow
(on the order of a few hundred meters), where igneous
rocks of the Domingo* sequence, including grano-
diorite and some serpentine, are tectonically mixed
with the Vega* Formation belonging to the Las Villas*
belt. Core drilling has shown that the fault separat-
ing the Cifuentes* belt from the igneous rocks is com-
monly steep, more than 608S, but can be as low as 358S.
Along this fault zone, toward the Las Villas* belt, is
intense deformation, such as squeezing out of entire
formations and boudinage phenomena. Within the
fault zone are several high-angle faults, which seem to
be parallel to the strike of the fault zone itself. This
suggests that at present, the northern boundary of the
Cifuentes* belt is caused by late middle Eocene fault-
ing, which truncated the original trace of the Cifuentes
thrust. As will be seen later, the fragmentary outcrops
of the Domingo* sequence are believed to have been
faulted down from above and caught in the fault zone,
whereas the Cifuentes* belt was being upthrown after
the main thrusting was completed.
It should be mentioned that north of Sitiecito,
there is a klippe of Cifuentes* belt, 5 km (3.1 mi) long
by 1.5 km (1 mi) wide, which is separated from the
main Cifuentes* belt by 2 km (1.2 mi) of exposure of
Domingo* sequence lithology. The Domingo thrust
bounds this klippe to the south.
The displacement of the Cifuentes* belt proper
over the Las Villas* belt is difficult to estimate. How-
ever, considering the position of several thrust plates,
a minimum displacement of 40 km (25 mi) of the
southern Cifuentes* belt plate in relation to the Las
Villas* belt is necessary. This displacement is an ab-
solute minimum. Individual belts do not show any
appreciable facies change across their strike, whereas
marked facies differences are obvious from plate to
plate.
Loma Santa Fe–Placetas Plate
In this plate, which is a southeastward continuation
of the Cifuentes plate proper (see Figures 176, 177),
Placetas* and Cifuentes* belt lithologies occur to-
gether. In the Encrucijada area (see Figure 174), this
plate encroaches deeply over the Las Villas* belt. This
encroachment is parallel to a similar displacement of
the Domingo* sequence at Sitiecito (see Figure 178),
which suggests the presence of north–south faults
that are not clearly defined in the field because they
322 / Pardo
FIGURE 178. Camajuani-Tamarindo area. See Figure 179 for cross section AA0.
are probably wide zones of shearing. However, they
appear to have downdropped the Placetas* belt in
relation to the Las Villas* belt. The structure within
this part of the plate is poorly defined but seems to be
anticlinal with a general strike of N358W. Typical li-
thologies of the Cifuentes* and Placetas* belts occur
intermixed; however, typical Placetas* belt litholo-
gies are dominant. In this plate, the structural details
are again impossible to discern because of intense
crushing. In general, the structure is that of an anti-
cline, as shown by the Las Villas* and Placetas* belt
window of the Fidencia anticline, which lies more or
less in the center of the Loma Santa Fe – Placetas
plate. Southeast of Placetas, this plate shows a marked
Z-fold, which, although cut by several faults, is con-
sidered an expression of two eastward-plunging an-
ticlines overlain by Domingo* and Cabaiguan* se-
quence lithologies.

Cunagua?
FIGURE 179. Camajuani – Tamarindo area. See Figure 178 for definition of symbols.
The Jarahueca fault, a reverse fault dipping 50 –
758S, bounds the Loma Santa Fe – Placetas plate to
the north. The Jarahueca fault is definitely a late
fault, which truncated the original Placetas thrust,
upthrowing the Placetas* and Cifuentes* belts in re-
lation to the Domingo* sequence. The Jarahueca fault
is similar to the fault north of the Cifuentes plate
proper, except that there was less erosion of the stack
of plates, thus showing a much greater development
of the Domingo* sequence than in the Cifuentes area.
As will be seen later, there is little doubt that at one
time, the Domingo* sequence was thrusted over the
Placetas* and Cifuentes* belt plates (and possibly over
much of the Las Villas* belt), but has since been mostly
eroded. Therefore, generally speaking, the Loma Santa
Fe–Placetas plate can be considered a faulted anticline,
whereas the area between this plate and the Las Villas*
belt can be considered as a tectonic low. The true Pla-
cetas thrust is only visible surrounding the Fidencia
anticline; it might be the equivalent of the Cifuentes
thrust.
South of the Jarahueca fault are some elongated
bodies of Domingo* sequence lithologies running
parallel to the regional strike. Slivers of Placetas* belt
lithologies within the Domingo* sequence, imme-
diately north of the Jarahueca fault, also exist; these
are believed to be Jarahueca fault imbrications.
A possibility exists that the Loma Santa Fe–Placetas
plate is bounded to the south, in the vicinity of Pla-
cetas, by a high-angle transcurrent fault. This fault
can be seen to cut the Z-fold southeast of Placetas.
This suggests that the southern part of the Z, which
has approximately the same length as the northern
part, was displaced some 10 km (6 mi) to the southeast
(left lateral) in relation to the main Loma Santa Fe–
Placetas plate.
Structural Geology / 323
? ?
Jarahueca Structure
The Jarahueca structure is a feature 26 km (16 mi)
long by 3.5 km (2.1 mi) wide, striking N458E (see
Figure 179). It forms a crushed anticlinorium in which
the core consists of Placetas* belt lithologies, and the
flanks, generally speaking, are made of central Cifu-
entes and southern Cifuentes plate lithologies. Hatten
et al. (1958) called it the Jarahueca Fenster. Toward
the southeastern end of the Jarahueca structure, a
large outcrop of the Trés Guanos granodiorite exists.
It is considered part of the pre-Neocomian basement
of the southern Cifuentes plate. Therefore, here again,
as in the Cifuentes plate proper, there is a superpo-
sition of three thrust plates, the southern Cifuentes
plate being the uppermost. The structure of the anti-
clinorium is complex, imbricated with near-vertical
dips, and cut by several strike faults.
The Jarahueca structure is bounded to the south
by the same Jarahueca fault previously described,
which appears to die out toward the southeastern end
of the structure, and to the north by what is believed
to be a Placetas* belt imbrication. The dip of the Ja-
rahueca fault is unknown, but an angle of 608S at the
northwestern end of the structure was encountered.
Toward the southwest, the Jarahueca structure is sur-
rounded by lithologies of the Domingo* and Cabai-
guan* sequences. This is an additional proof of the
superposition of the igneous and volcanic belts over
the limestone belts.
Loma Bonachea Window
The Loma Bonachea window shows a very steep
half dome in which Cifuentes* belt lithologies sur-
round Placetas* belt lithologies (see Figure 176). This
window is surrounded on all sides by Domingo* se-
quence lithologies, consisting of brecciated Miguel*
324 / Pardo
Formation mixed with metamorphic blocks and ser-
pentine containing metamorphic exotics. The rocks
showing through the window are highly sheared,
showing evidence of flowage. The Loma Bonachea
window is a southeastward continuation of the Cifu-
entes plate proper and is part of what was called the
Cruz anticline.
La Rana Olistolith(?)
The La Rana olistolith(?) consists of a small area
of southern Cifuentes plate lithologies (including the
best documented pre-Neocomian granodioritic base-
ment outcrop in central Cuba) lying in the trough of a
syncline of the Cabaiguan* sequence (see Figure 179).
It is surrounded by the Maastrichtian Carlota* Forma-
tion, but is apparently overlain by the upper Maas-
trichtian Jiquimas* Formation and by the Paleocene
Taguasco* Formation. This feature is poorly under-
stood because it is surrounded by rocks of the Cabai-
guan* sequence. It appears to be of late Maastrichtian –
Paleocene age, whereas most of the other thrusts are
of Paleocene to lower– middle Eocene age. It could be
a slump block within the Taguasco* Formation derived
from the nearby Jarahueca structure.
Sierra Morena
The Sierra Morena (Socorro complex) consists of a
large area (12
4 km; 7
2.5 mi) of southern Ci-
fuentes* belt, including pre-Middle Jurassic granite
with Precambrian marble inclusions, overlain by Neo-
comian Jobosi* conglomerates and Ronda* Formation
(see Figure 178). Pszczólkowski (1983) mapped a stack
of low-angle thrust sheets, the highest (La Sierra) con-
sisting of Jobosi* (Constancia), Ronda* (Veloz), and
Santa Teresa* riding over a granite sheet (Socorro),
which, in turn, rides over another sheet of Ronda*. This
Cifuentes* belt complex rides over the Las Villas* belt to
the north. It is centered on a large gravity minimum.
In conclusion, the Cifuentes* and Placetas* belts
have a tectonic style characterized by a succession of
relatively flat-lying thrust plates, forming low-amplitude
folds of relatively large wavelength. In detail, the tec-
tonic pattern of this plate is very chaotic, but the large-
scale structural features are persistent over large dis-
tances. The Cifuentes*–Placetas* belt outcrops between
the Las Villas* (and Las Villas*– southern facies occa-
sionally) and the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences.
These three major belts were folded and faulted after
thrusting, producing windows and klippen.
The displacement of the plates was unquestion-
ably from south to north because southern facies
plates consistently overlie northern facies plates.
The magnitude of the displacement relative to
the Las Villas* belt must have been at least 40 km
(25 mi); however, allowing for facies changes from
one plate to the next, a displacement of 80 – 100 km
(49– 62 mi) is more likely.
Domingo* and Cabaiguan* Sequences
Tectonically, these sequences cannot be separated.
For clarity of the description, the Domingo* and Cabai-
guan* sequences will be subdivided into the follow-
ing areas: (1) the Mayajigua area, (2) the Camajuani-
Tamarindo area, (3) the Santa Clara – Placetas area,
(4) the Seibabo–Cabaiguan area, (5) central Camaguey
area, and (6) the northern Escambray area.
Mayajigua Area
Very little is known about the Mayajigua area (see
Figure 172). It is part of a klippe of Domingo* se-
quence lithologies, which lies on the coastal area
north of the Yaguajay* and Jatibonico* belts, north of
the Jatibonico Mountains. The previously mentioned
EPEP Moron Norte-1 well near the town of Moron,
30 km (18 mi) to the east, found Cabaiguan* sequence
volcanics over the coastal area sediments.
Camajuani–Tamarindo Area
This area consists of a mixture of Domingo* and
Cabaiguan* sequence lithologies. It is bounded to the
north by a fault that separates it from the Las Villas*
belt and Las Villas–southern facies (see Figure 179).
Toward the northwest, this fault has a high angle; how-
ever, toward the southeast, there are indications that
it dips southward at a lower angle.
To the south, Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences
are separated from the Placetas* belt by the Jarahueca
fault. This area of exposures of Cabaiguan* and Do-
mingo* sequence lithologies can be considered a
faulted synclinorium striking N358W and plunging
toward the southeast. The structural details are very
complex: there is evidence of high compression, and
strike faults are common. A narrow anticline runs
along the center of the synclinorium for practically
its whole length, passing through Andrés and south
of the towns of Jarahueca and Venega.
It should be emphasized that in this area, forma-
tions, which outcrop extensively south of the Cifuen-
tes* and Placetas* belts, have been definitely identified
(the fossiliferous Cenomanian Gomez* Formation
among them). These formations, belonging to the

volcanic section, are of the same age as formations of
the Placetas* and Cifuentes* belts. This shows that
the thrust plate, which displaced the volcanic facies,
moved a long distance northward over the limestone
facies. Considering the present-day exposures of the
Domingo*–Cabaiguan* sequence in relation to the
limestone belts, a minimum northward displacement
of 25 km (15 mi) is required; however, the true dis-
placement probably was much greater.
Toward the southeast, the area of Domingo* and
Cabaiguan* sequence exposures continues into the
Seibabo –Cabaiguan area through a well-developed
anticline, which is the continuation along the strike
of the Jarahueca structure. This anticline shows, to-
ward the northwest, the Placetas* and Cifuentes* belt
in the core of the Jarahueca structure and on the flanks,
successively, Domingo* sequence lithologies, Lower
Cretaceous(?) volcanics, and Maastrichtian volcanics.
This anticline is extremely broad and plunges to the
southeast. It is cut by numerous faults; the Domingo*
sequence lithologies, as well as the older volcanics,
show more intense deformation than the Maastrich-
tian rocks.
Santa Clara–Placetas Area
The Santa Clara–Placetas area, which has a roughly
triangular shape, is in the vicinity of Santa Clara and
Placetas and extends almost as far north as the cen-
tral Constancia. Here, rocks of the Domingo belt form
most of the outcrop. Several features are present:
(1) the Escambray anticline, (2) the Santa Clara syn-
cline, (3) the Cruz anticline, (4) the Manajanabo syn-
cline, and (5) the Falcon syncline (see Figures 176, 177).
The Escambray Anticline
The Escambray anticline (not to be confused with
the Escambray massif farther to the south near the
towns of Trinidad and Sancti Spiritus) is a large fea-
ture 28 km (17 mi) long by 12 km (7 mi) wide whose
axis strikes N558W and plunges to the northwest.
This anticline exposes mostly metamorphic rocks
and a mixture of serpentine and metamorphics. It is
bounded to the south by the Guaracabulla fault that
dips to the north, therefore upthrowing the Escam-
bray anticline in relation to the Cabaiguan* se-
quence. The anticline includes minor folds such as
the Espanto syncline and the Corojo anticline.
The Escambray anticline is believed to expose the
lowest level of the Domingo* sequence. Because of its
numerous oil and gas seeps, Gulf believed it offered
the best prospect in central Cuba for drilling to the
supposed underlying carbonate plates. In 1955, Gulf’s
Structural Geology / 325
Sullivan-8 core hole was drilled in serpentine to 2343 ft
(714 m) and had a large oil show near the surface. In
1956, a Consolidated Cuban Petroleum Corp. farm out
from Gulf, Escambray-1, was drilled nearby in ser-
pentine and metamorphics to 5053 ft (1540 m) where
it was abandoned for mechanical reasons. To my
knowledge, no deeper well has ever been drilled in this
location.
The Santa Clara Syncline
The Santa Clara syncline has an axis roughly par-
allel to the Escambray anticline (N708W) that plunges
to the northwest (Gulf sheet 11-D). The trough of this
feature is filled with Cabaiguan* sequence and lower
to middle Eocene sediments. The width of the Santa
Clara syncline north of the town of Santa Clara is
approximately 8 km (5 mi). The Santa Clara is parallel
to the Cruz anticline to the north.
The Cruz Anticline
The core of the Cruz anticline is the Loma Bo-
nachea window, which is surrounded by a zone of
brecciated Miguel* Formation mixed with metamor-
phic blocks. This anticline, which is on strike with
the Cifuentes plate proper, swings southward at Loma
Bonachea until the axis strikes N158W. Although
several faults are obvious, the base of the Domingo*
sequence is mostly represented by the Domingo thrust.
The Cruz anticline axis plunges southward. Toward
the west, the Manajanabo syncline follows the Cruz
anticline.
The Manajanabo Syncline
The Manajanabo syncline is more than 30 km
(18 mi) long by 23 km (12 mi) wide, strikes N158W,
and plunges toward the south. The trough of the syn-
cline is filled with Cabaiguan* sequence sediments.
This syncline is limited to the northeast by what is
believed to be the trace of the Domingo fault; how-
ever, here again, high-angle faulting and possibly
flowage phenomena in the serpentine have modified
the original nature of the thrust. This syncline is fol-
lowed to the south by the Falcon syncline.
The Falcon Syncline
The Falcon syncline is a very interesting feature,
formed by a thrust plate of Cabaiguan* and Domin-
go* sequences lithologies resting in the trough of the
Manajanabo syncline. The fault itself is clearly in-
dicated by a semicircular narrow strip of serpentine
around a normal sequence of Domingo* and Cabai-
guan* sequence lithologies. No rocks younger than
326 / Pardo
Maastrichtian are present under the serpentine rim,
indicating that the thrusting was late Maastrichtian,
certainly before the Paleocene. The Falcon syncline is
bounded to the south by the prolongation of the
Guaracabulla fault and has taken a somewhat bowl
shape, whose long axis strikes approximately east–west.
The Falcon syncline is cut by several minor faults.
In conclusion, the Santa Clara – Placetas area rep-
resents a regional high that was uplifted probably at
the same time that the Guaracabulla fault was active.
From west to east, the strike of the structures shifts
from N558W to N158W, and simultaneously, the axes
of the structures plunge in opposite directions: the
Escambray anticline and Santa Clara syncline plunge
to the northwest, and the Cruz anticline and Mana-
janabo syncline plunge to the south. This change in
direction was accomplished at the expense of great
fracturing and possibly flowage along the central part
of the area.
The Loma Bonachea window is clear evidence that
the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences were exten-
sively thrusted over the limestone belts, and this is an
indication that the whole Santa Clara–Placetas area
might be underlain, at not too great depths, by the
limestones of the northern belts. The Falcon syn-
cline indicates that low-angle thrusts were also pres-
ent within the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences.
Seibabo-Cabaiguan Area
This area contains most of the Cabaiguan* se-
quence proper.
Seibabo Syncline
The Seibabo syncline is a large syncline, west of
Cabaiguan, more than 40 km (25 mi) long by 14 km
(8.7 mi) wide (see Figures 180, 181). The steeply north-
dipping, reverse Guaracabulla fault separates it from
the Escambray anticline. The north flank of this syn-
cline dips steeply to the south and sometimes is over-
turned, whereas the south flank dips from 30 to 508
to the north. The axis of the syncline strikes N508W.
The center of the syncline is cut by a large number of
normal and thrust faults that divide the structure into
independent blocks. Some major faults are cutting
completely across the syncline, some of which show
as much as 2 km (1.2 mi) of lateral displacement. The
strike of the most important thrust fault is north-
northwest and dips northeast. It is an imbrication of
the Guaracabulla fault. Abundant evidence for intra-
bed slippage also exists. This syncline shows evidence
of southward pushing from the serpentine mass.
The axis of the Seibabo syncline plunges toward the
northwest.
La Rana Syncline
The La Rana syncline is located northeast of Ca-
baiguan and south of the Jarahueca structure (see
Figure 179). It is broken by numerous faults; its
north flank consists of Domingo* sequence lithol-
ogies, whereas its south flank is cut by poorly under-
stood faults. Paleocene to middle Eocene rocks are
preserved in the trough, and a fragmentary Cabai-
guan* sequence section is preserved on both flanks.
The strike of the syncline is N508W, and its axis
plunges toward the southeast. The northwestern
end of the syncline, northwest of Potrerillo, shows
Cabaiguan* sequence lithologies surrounded by Do-
mingo* sequence lithologies and, from northwest
to south, by the Placetas* belt. This particular area
where the Jarahueca fault truncates the syncline to
the north is another typical example of the superpo-
sition of thrust sheets.
Near Cabaiguan and toward the northwest, the
structure is uninterpreted because of the lack of
obvious markers; however, block faulting and large-
scale folding do occur. West and south of Cabai-
guan, starting near the town of Fomento, a syncline
is present; it appears to be a branch of the Seibabo
syncline.
Near the town of Cabaiguan and north of the town
of Jatibonico, the Cabaiguan* sequence forms a large
syncline containing intensely folded and faulted Ter-
tiary rocks.
Central Camaguey Area
In the central Camaguey area, the outcrops do
not show the large-scale structural diversity obvious
in Las Villas and western Camaguey provinces. The
Domingo* sequence is largely in contact with the
Yaguajay* belt to the north. As in western Camaguey,
the Domingo fault (Cubitas fault) appears to wrap
around the southeastern end of the Yaguajay* belt
(Cubitas Range).
Toward the northwestern end of the ultrabasics,
Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) show several linear expo-
sures of Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous limestone called
the Esmeralda complex. These were interpreted by
Gulf as being windows showing the Las Villas* belt
through the Domingo* sequence. Toward the south-
eastern end of the ultrabasic body is a large window,
called Loma Camajan, exposing the Las Villas* belt
to the north and Cifuentes* belt to the south.

FIGURE 180. Seibabo syncline. See Figure 181 for cross section AA0.
The Cubitas fault used to be considered a southward-
directed thrust (Flint et al., 1948), and Loma Camajan
was a klippe of Cubitas limestones over the ultrabasics.
South of the Domingo* sequence, the Cabaiguan*
sequence, mostly represented by Upper Cretaceous
volcanics, shows a nearly continuous band of grano-
diorite, whose outcrops run from Ciego de Avila to Las
Tunas in Oriente. This granodiorite intruded all the
pre-Maastrichtian rocks. The contact between the Do-
mingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences is not clear; with
the exception of some Campanian volcanics that ap-
pear to lie over the ultrabasics, these two belts appear
to be separated by a major fault.
Structural Geology / 327
Northern Escambray Area
The outcrops of the northern Escambray area, south
of the Cabaiguan* sequence and north of the Escam-
bray massif (see Figures 180, 181), consist mainly of a
large linear body of Upper Cretaceous Sancti Spiritus
granodiorite and the Mabujina amphibolite. The grano-
diorite has an intrusive relationship with the older
volcanics of the Cabaiguan* sequence as well as with
the Mabujina amphibolite. The granodiorite is also
in fault contact with the Upper Cretaceous and the
lower – middle Eocene of the Cabaiguan* sequence,
the Tuinicu fault. It is very important to remember
that along this fault, south of the town of Guayos,
328 / Pardo
FIGURE 181. Seibabo syncline. See Figure 180 for definition of symbols.
large outcrops of unmetamorphosed Ronda* and
Jagüita* formations from the Cifuentes* and Las
Villas* belts exist. Near the fault zone, Tertiary con-
glomerates contain fragments of these formations as
well as fragments of the Jobosi* Formation.
The Mabujina is believed to be equivalent to the
Domingo* sequence and to be the basement over
which the Cabaiguan* sequence was deposited. The
basic igneous-volcanic province is in fault contact
with the Escambray metamorphics that it overlies
on three sides. There is no question that this prov-
ince overrode the Escambray massif; however, there
is no direct field evidence whether it was from south
to north or north to south.
In conclusion, the Cabaiguan* and Domingo* se-
quences are structurally characterized by a high to-
ward the north, where Domingo* sequence lithologies
are brought near the surface and are structurally
mixed with the limestone belts. This area is, general-
ly speaking, the area of exposure of the trace of the
Domingo thrust fault. Toward the north, evidence
for northward thrusting is found. However, toward
the south, Domingo* sequence lithologies are deeply
buried under a large asymmetric syncline, which shows
evidences of southward thrusting. This peculiar tec-
tonic style of the Cabaiguan* sequence does not show
as much intense deformation as the Domingo* and
Cabaiguan* sequences show to the north. This south-
ward push could be related to later deformation of
the thrust plate if all the thrusting was directed to-
ward the north or be evidence that thrusting was also
directed southward. The Santa Clara – Placetas area
represents a regional structural high from which all
the structures plunge away. The southwestern limit
of the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences is char-
acterized by large N758E-striking faults passing in
the vicinity of Arroyo Blanco. These faults are pos-
sibly normal or transcurrent faults with a downthrown
south side.
It should again be emphasized that a minimum
northward thrusting of 25 km (15 mi) is necessary,
with the possible displacement of the Domingo* and
Cabaiguan* sequence thrust plate over the limestone
plates on the order of 50 km (31 mi) or more. Most
displacement during the orogeny probably occurred
along the Domingo thrust, and the distance between
the original position of the basic igneous-volcanic
province facies and the carbonate platform province
facies must have been shortened by a minimum of
150–200 km (93–124 mi). This shortening of the ba-
sin seems great, but if considered in relation to the
total length of the orogenic belt, which extends from
Central America to the Lesser Antilles, it does not ap-
pear so much out of proportion (Figure 182).
Escambray Metamorphics
As in Chapter 2 of this publication, the following
section is mostly based on the excellent work of Guil-
lermo Millán and Mark Somin conducted from 1977
to 1990. Pushcharovsky et al. (1988) is also based on
their work.
The Escambray massif is in large part made up of
generally low-grade metamorphics that have been
fairly well dated and correlated with the unmetamor-
phosed Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous section of
Pinar Del Rio. No similar rocks have been reported
elsewhere in the central Camaguey province.
The internal structure of these two domes is very
complex with steep radially directed dips. The Trini-
dad and the Sancti Spiritus domes have been sub-
divided into six structural units each, for a total of
eight units (four units are common to both domes)

(see Figures 106, 107). These units are interpreted as
folded and faulted superimposed thrust sheets.
Each dome has also been subdivided into three
metamorphic zones where, generally speaking, zone I,
the lowest grade, is in the center of the western domes
and zone III, the highest grade, is on the periphery of
both. From the center of the domes outward, the meta-
morphic grade of the structural units increase from
zone I to zone III, giving the impression of inverse
metamorphism, which was the original interpretation.
However, an exception is observed; the outermost
structural unit (unit 6) has a lower metamorphic grade.
The metamorphism is described as high pressure –
low temperature. The zones, which have been de-
scribed in Chapter 2 of this publication, are summa-
rized as follows:
Zone I: This zone, internal units 4– 6, shows little
recrystallization and much preservation of the
original texture. The shales show preservation of
the original sedimentary structures with little or
no schistosity.
Zone II: This shows complete recrystallization.
The sedimentary schists have white mica and oc-
casionally chlorite and sometime show remnants
of the original structures, exhibiting the same
minerals found in zone I, plus lawsonite.
Zone III: This zone, external unit 1, shows that in
the sedimentary schists, chlorite has disappeared,
and albite can be abundant. Quartz-albite-white
mica schists are common. Some crystalline schists
contain garnet, glaucophane, diopside, horn-
blende, clinozoisite, epidote, zoisite, and law-
sonite. In the metabasic rocks, hornblende is
present instead of actinolite and so are glauco-
phane, garnet, clinozoisite-epidote, white mica,
diopside, zoisite, and lawsonite. Quartzites can
have garnet, magnetite, glaucophane, riebeckite,
hornblende, zoisite, clinopyroxenes, and diopside.
White mica is always present. In marbles, zoisite
is occasionally present.
Figure 108 shows, from the center of the domes
(units 4–6) toward the rims, the order of the structural
units and, schematically, the lithologies of the orig-
inal sediments. In general, units 2, 3, and 4–6 are the
internal units, whereas units 1 and 2 are the external
ones. The degree of metamorphism decreases toward
the center. However, as of this date, no direct proof of
the direction of thrusting exists.
The age dates of the metamorphics range from 43
±5.0 to 85 ± 4.7 Ma, with a median of 68 Ma or upper
Structural Geology / 329
Maastrichtian–lower Paleocene, and there is evidence
that some deformation happened prior to the meta-
morphism, whereas most of it was simultaneous with
it or later. It was generally believed that the Sancti
Spiritus granodiorite, associated with the Upper Cre-
taceous volcanics of the Cabaiguan* sequence, was re-
lated to the process responsible for the metamorphism
of the Escambray massif. However, as already men-
tioned, the age of the granodiorite body has been de-
termined to have a median value of 84 Ma in Las
Villas, and 78 Ma in Camaguey, or upper Santonian
to lower Campanian. This, together with the low-
temperature type of metamorphism, definitely sug-
gests that the Escambray metamorphism was more
related to the overriding oceanic basement plate than
to the arc volcanism. Millan and Somin (1981) orig-
inally proposed this idea. The question of why the
Escambray sediments were metamorphosed, whereas
the Las Villas, Placetas, and Cifuentes that were also
overridden were not, remains. A possible explanation
might be that the oceanic plate had cooled by the
time it reached the edge of the basin.
CENTRAL CUBA DISCUSSION
Figure 183 shows a simplified, composite, north –
south cross section from Cayo Coco through the Es-
cambray massif, with a minimum of interpretation.
The most important structural elements are shown.
The Jurassic platform carbonates and the Cifuentes*
belt are shown under the Tuinicu fault only to explain
their presence as exotics along the fault plane.
Central Cuba therefore shows evidence of the pres-
ence of a deformed stack of thrust sheets underlying
the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequence.
It must be emphasized that the Yaguajay, Sagua
La Chica, Jatibonico, and Las Villas* belts form fairly
coherent structures. So do the Domingo and Cabai-
guan sequences south of Santa Clara. However, the
structures of the Placetas and Cifuentes belts, as well
as the intervening imbrications of the northern basic
igneous-volcanic province are extremely chaotic. Some
authors have called them olistostromes. These rela-
tively thin, deep-water sediments appear to have been
crushed under the slab of advancing oceanic base-
ment, a ‘‘traineau ecraseur’’ (crushing sled). Figure 184
illustrates a possible mechanism of structural develop-
ment assuming an overriding slab of oceanic crust.
Additionally, these thrust sheets seem to have been
considerably compressed, cut by high-angle and trans-
current faults. This zone of superimposed deformation
coincides with the suture and must have happened
330 / Pardo
FIGURE 182. Sierra Morena area.
during the final phase of tectonism in the middle Eo-
cene. It is not clear if this is caused by the Bahamas
Bank buttress or other plate motions. All the plat-
form to deep water province, as well as the northern
basic igneous-volcanic province, thrust sheets have
definitely been thrust northward, whereas the Do-
mingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences exposed in the Sei-
babo syncline show evidence of southward movement.
Whether the basic igneous-volcanic province was en-
tirely thrust northward or extruded north and south
from a nearly in-situ rift (Iturralde-Vinent, 1996) is still
debatable. Two conflicting pieces of evidence exist:

FIGURE 183. Central Cuba cross section. See Figure 169 for location of cross section.
(1) the Upper Jurassic Jagüita* detritus in the Ceno-
manian Cristobal* Formation of the Cabaiguan* se-
quence supporting an in-situ rift and (2) the outcrops
of unmetamorphosed Jagüita* and Ronda* forma-
tions along the Tuinicu fault supporting a southern
origin for all thrusting.
The Bouguer gravity (Figure 157) shows some in-
teresting features that are worth comparing with the
outcrops:
1) The Yaguajay and part of the coastal belts lie on
the south flank of a regional gravity high of which
the axis is approximately parallel to and near the
outer lines of keys. This gravity high might be
related to the fault zone along the north coast of
Cuba (high-angle reverse faults?).
2) Most of the low-angle thrust plates of the north-
ern belts coincide with a strong regional gravity
low (10 to 20 milligals). The coincidence be-
tween the gravity low and the area of carbonate
thrust plates indicates that basement must be at a
great depth, possibly more than 30,000 ft (9000 m),
and that under the relatively thin Cifuentes* and
Placetas* belt thrust plates, a full development of
Las Villas*, Jatibonico*, and Yaguajay* belts could
Structural Geology / 331
be present. The granodiorite near Sierra Morena,
which is considered a slice belonging to the south-
ern Cifuentes* belt plate and lies in the trough
of a syncline, coincides with the lowest value
(30 mG) of the regional gravity low.
3) The granodiorite near Sierra Morena, which is con-
sidered a slice belonging to the southern Cifuen-
tes* Belt Plate and lies surrounded by sediments.
It coincides with the lowest value (30 milligals)
of the regional gravity low. This suggests the pres-
ence of a thick stack of thrust plates.
4) In the Motembo area, the Domingo sequence co-
incides with a regional gravity high. This suggests
the presence of a considerable amount of ultra-
basic igneous in the subsurface.
5) A narrow strong linear gravity low exists (as low
as 30 mG), which extends from the south of
Sancti Spiritus to the north of Ciego de Avila. This
gravity low coincides with the Central Depres-
sion, and the lowest gravity values are where Ter-
tiary deposits are relatively thin. It is parallel to
the postulated La Trocha fault system, which, near
Arroyo Blanco, marks the southwestern termina-
tion of the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences
exposed in the Las Villas province. This gravity
332 / Pardo
FIGURE 184. Central Cuba, diagrammatic structural evolution.
low, believed to be related to the faulting, is pos-
sibly the reflection of a deep-seated graben.
6) Considering the trend of the granite outcrops,
which ends near Sancti Spiritus and reappears
again near Ciego de Avila and Florida and the
offset of the Yaguajay* belt, it would seem as
though the Trocha fault zone has several kilo-
meters of left-lateral displacement. However,
this fault zone has never been well defined in
the subsurface.

7) The granodiorite and volcanic outcrops north-
west of Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila-Florida, and
south-central Camaguey coincide with a strong
regional gravity high. This, contrasting with the
gravity low under the granite outcrop of Sierra
Morena, would suggest that these granites and
volcanics are deep seated.
8) The Domingo* sequence in the central Camaguey
province again coincides with a pronounced grav-
ity low (30 milligals). This suggests an accumu-
lation of thrust plates involving material other
than basic igneous material.
9) The Escambray metamorphics are represented by
generally low Bouguer anomalies. This, perhaps,
reflects an accumulation of dominantly quartzosa
thrust sheets, over a deep granitic basement.
WESTERN CUBA
For structural purposes, western Cuba has been
subdivided into the Guaniguanico Mountains (in-
cluding the Bahia Honda area in western Habana),
the Los Palacios Basin, and the Isle of Pines.
Guaniguanico Mountains
The overall structure of the Guaniguanico Moun-
tains in western Cuba is characterized by a very broad
anticlinorium consisting of a stack of thrust sheets. The
stratigraphy of these individual thrust sheets (or tec-
tonic units) is described in Chapter 2 of this publica-
tion. Based on the stratigraphy, five major thrust plates
have been recognized; in ascending order, they are
1) the Sierra de los Organos belt (Mogotes area)
2) Sierra de los Organos belt (Pizarras del Sur area)
3) Cangre belt
4) southern Rosario belt
5) northern Rosario belt
6) La Esperanza belt (equivalent to northern Rosario
belt)
7) Guajaibon – Sierra Azul belt
8) Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences
These major thrust sheets have been subdivided
into smaller scales or tectonostratigraphic units with
a more restricted distribution. These scales are var-
iable in size and limited in geographic extent; they are
like large olistoliths and do not extend the whole
length of the belt; these, from lower to upper unit,
are summarized in the following sections. They are
shown in Figure 185.
Structural Geology / 333
Sierra de Los Organos Belt
Mogotes Area
The Sierra de los Organos belt, Mogotes area, has
been subdivided into nine superimposed thrust sheets
or scales:
1) Pinar-1 unit. It is the lowest unit and is only known
from the deep well EPEP Pinar-1. It has not been
formally named, and the name Pinar-1 is used
in this report. It underlies the Valle de Pons unit,
and its base is unknown. The dips are generally
low.
2) Valle de Pons unit. Its upper part is known from
outcrops in the Pons Valley, but the lower part is
only known from Pinar-1. Because of a repeat of
section in the well, Pszczólkowski (1999) con-
siders that two units are involved. This unit is
probably equivalent to the outcrops exposed in
the Los Portales window in the southwest of the
Mogotes belt. It underlies the Quemado, Infierno,
Viñales, and Pizarras del Norte units.
3) Quemado unit. It outcrops only south of the town
of Pons where it overlies the Valle de Pons unit. It
underlies the Infierno unit. It is probably equiv-
alent to the Paso Real unit in the southwestern
Mogotes belt that overlies the Los Portales out-
crops and is overlain by the Guane unit.
4) Infierno unit. It occurs mostly in the south-central
part of the Mogotes belt and overlies the Valle de
Pons and Quemado units. To the southwest, the
Guane unit is considered equivalent to the In-
fierno. A minor structural subunit is named the
Celadas unit.
5) Viñales unit. This is the most extensive of the car-
bonate units and overlies the Infierno and the
Valle de Pons units. It underlies the Ancón, Pico
Grande, and Pizarras del Norte units.
6) Sierra la Güira unit. It occurs in the northeast of
the Mogotes belt. It lies over the Viñales unit. It
underlies the Loma del Puerto, Los Bermejales,
and Pizarras del Sur units of the southern Rosario
belt. Toward the southwest, it overlies the Pizarras
del Sur that is believed to be a local structural
phenomenon.
7) Pico Grande. This unit occurs between the Viñales
and Ancón units. It is the lower part of the orig-
inal Rigassi-Studer (1963) Ancón unit. Toward
the east, it underlies the Loma del Puerto and La
Paloma units of the southern Rosario belt.
8) Ancón unit. It is the highest carbonate unit in
the Mogotes belt. It is developed mostly toward
334 / Pardo
FIGURE 185. Structural subdivisions of western Cuba.
the northeast, where it underlies the La Paloma
unit of the southern Rosario belt.
9) Limonar-Cayo las Damas window. This long and
narrow window through the Pizarras del Norte
subbelt extends from La Palma to south of Mantua.
It shows mostly the underlying Manacas For-
mation and other outcrops of unidentified lower
units.
Pizarras del Sur Area
The Pizarras del Sur area is the southern equivalent
of the Loma del Muerto and La Llave units (Pizarras del
Norte) of the southern Rosario belt. It consists of all
the unmetamorphosed San Cayetano outcrops south
of the Mogotes belt and north of the Pinar fault. The
thick, monotonous San Cayetano is intensely folded
and faulted.
Cangre Belt
The narrow Cangre belt is called the Cangre unit
in Pushcharovsky et al., 1988 (and other publications).
It is present along the northern upthrown side of the
Pinar fault and extends for some 72 km (44 mi). It
has been subdivided into two units:
1) Mestanza unit. It is a thin, south-dipping thrust
sliver wedged between the Pizarras del Sur belt
and the Pino Solo unit. It is characterized by a thin
Jurassic carbonate section and by some degree of
metamorphism.
2) Pino Solo unit. It extends for 70 km (43 mi) along
the Pinar fault and represents the uppermost and
most metamorphosed thrust sheet of the Pizarras
del Sur belt. North of it is a klippe of the same
subunit named the Cerro de las Cabras unit.
Northern Rosario Belt
The northern Rosario belt has been subdivided
into seven low-angle mostly north-dipping thrust
sheets or units:
1) Belen Vigoa unit. This is the lowest of the se-
quence and overlies the southern Rosario belt. It
is overlain in the east by the Naranjo and in the
west by the Cangre units.

2) Naranjo unit. It generally overlies the Belen Vigoa
unit and, to the east, the southern Rosario belt.
From east to west, it underlies the Dolores, La
Serafina, and Cangre units.
3) Dolores unit. It is limited to the eastern part of
the northern Rosario belt, where it overlies the
Naranjo unit, and is overlain by the La Serafina
unit.
4) La Serafina unit. It is also limited to the eastern
part of the Rosario belt and is mostly underlain by
the Dolores unit and overlain by the Cangre unit.
5) Cangre unit. The Cangre unit (the name Cangre
Belt has been used for the metamorphic equiva-
lent of the Pizarras del Sur belt.) is rather exten-
sive and covers two-thirds of the northern Rosario
belt. From east to west, it underlies La Serafina,
Naranjo, and Belen Vigoa units and the southern
Rosario belt. Between the Cangre and the Naranjo
units is a large elongated serpentine body. Every-
where, the Cangre unit underlies the Sierra Chi-
quita unit. The name Cangre belt has been used
for the metamorphic equivalent of the Pizarras
del sur belt.
6) Sierra Chiquita unit. Extending for the entire
length of the northern Rosario belt, it is under-
lain by the Cangre unit and the southern Ro-
sario belt to the west. It is mostly overlain by the
Quiñones unit and in the east by the Bahia Honda
area of the Cabaiguan* sequence.
7) Quiñones unit. It is the highest unit of the se-
quence. In this report, it differs from the Pszczólk-
owski’s (1978) Quiñones sequence in that it ex-
cludes the Guajaibón Formation (Viñas Group
and Camaco Formation). It extends for 45 km
(28 mi) east-northeast of San Juan de Sagua im-
mediately south of the Cacarajı́cara* belt.
La Esperanza Belt
The La Esperanza belt is considered the western
equivalent of the Pizarras del Norte belt. It extends
along the north coast of Pinar Del Rio from Manuel
Sanguily to Mantua. Along the fault that separates it
from the Pizarras del Norte subbelt, it is structurally
both under and over the Pizarras del Norte subbelt.
It should be noted that no Manacas Formation has
been reported, separating it from the Pizarras del
Norte belt. In the subsurface, it overlies the Vieja Mem-
ber of the Manacas Formation. The structural and strati-
graphic relationships with other belts are not entirely
clear. There may be a relationship with the Cabaiguan*
sequence.
Structural Geology / 335
Guajaibon–Sierra Azul Belt
The Guajaibon–Sierra Azul belt, although geograph-
ically restricted, deserves the rank of belt because of
its lithologic character. It consists of a sliver of plat-
form carbonates between the northern Rosario belt
and the Domingo* – Cabaiguan* sequence; it is the
highest sedimentary thrust sheet.
Domingo* and Cabaiguan* Sequences
Bahia Honda Area
The Bahia Honda area is present only in north-
eastern Pinar Del Rio and is the continuation of the
basic igneous-volcanic province of central Cuba.
The Bahia Honda area is found north of the Caca-
rajı́cara belt, east of the La Esperanza belt. After the
Pinar fault disappears, it merges with the eastern Los
Palacios Basin.
The Bahia Honda area is subdivided into two units:
1) Southern tectonic unit characterized by volca-
nics and volcaniclastics, with no ultrabasics, and
dipping steeply northward under the northern
tectonic unit.
2) Northern tectonic unit contains ultrabasics and
extends from the coast to the fault that defines
the southern limit of the ultrabasics.
The tectonic style of the northern tectonic unit re-
sembles that of the Habana and Matanzas provinces,
and in the northern Domingo* and Cabaiguan* se-
quences of central Cuba, more than is present in most
of Pinar Del Rio. Greater evidence of compression
exists as indicated by the very steeply dipping and
sheared Martin Mesa window of the northern Rosario
belt, surrounded by nearly vertical beds of the Do-
mingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences.
The presence of reverse metamorphism in the
Cangre belt is rather puzzling. It should indicate that
the metamorphism occurred before the thrusting, but
it has been dated as late as the Eocene, whereas the
thrusting must have occurred from the Maastrichtian
to the middle Eocene.
Los Palacios Basin
The Los Palacios Basin is a sharp and deep feature
probably underlain by the Cabaiguan* sequence. The
prominent Pinar fault forms its northern boundary.
Little is publicly known about the structures of this
basin. To the north, much of the Tertiary and Upper
Cretaceous section is exposed, with dips ranging from
30 to 708 south. The Pinar fault, which today is a very
336 / Pardo
prominent feature, originated in the Eocene because
the deposition of earlier beds (Ancón and earlier for-
mations) were apparently unaffected by the fault. Many
authors describe it as a transcurrent fault, although
the south side might be downthrown by more than
6000 ft (2000 m). This basin shows as a well-defined
Bouguer gravity low and is apparently bounded to the
south by a basic igneous-volcanic high, La Coloma, as
indicated by a gravity and magnetic high (that ter-
minates at the Pinar fault), and possibly the shallow
Guané wells.
Isla de la Juventud
Not much is known about the structures of the
metamorphics of this island except that they consist
of broad anticlines and synclines cut by faults. Al-
though inverse metamorphism has been reported,
there is no mention as to whether this phenomenon
is related to superimposed folded thrust sheets as in
Escambray.
Of great significance is the presence of unmeta-
morphosed Cabaiguan* sequence volcanics in the
northwest corner of the massif, as well as scattered
outcrops of amphibolite and granitoids over the meta-
morphics. This suggests that, as in Escambray, the
Cabaiguan* and Manicaragua-like sequences were
thrusted over the metamorphic massif.
In general, the metamorphism of the sediments is
less intense than in the Escambray. It is of moderate
pressure and high temperature.
Western Cuba Discussion
No good generalized structural cross section of these
units exists in the literature. Only Pszczólkowski (1994c)
has presented drawings showing the tectonic styles.
Some of these (sections A, D, E, and F) are shown in
Figures 186–189 of this publication. Unfortunately,
they are all in the eastern part of the Sierra de Guan-
guanico. No published map, at the proper scale, shows
this area in sufficient detail to corroborate such cross
sections. Although the details of structures can be ex-
tremely complex in thin-bedded formations such as
the San Cayetano and the Santa Teresa formations,
the overall structures are much broader and simpler
in nature than in central Cuba. Figure 190 shows
generalized and much simplified sections X and Y.
All evidence indicates that the major movements
were from south to north, with the upper thrust
sheets being the ones originating farther to the south.
The strongest evidence for such motion is, as in cen-
tral Cuba, the total absence of basic igneous and vol-
canic detritus in any of the sedimentary belts until
the Maastrichtian. As in central Cuba, all the defor-
mation seems to have occurred under water, initially
through large submarine slides, as indicated by the
very extensive development of the Vieja orogenic
conglomerate or wildflysch.
Unlike central Cuba, the deformation appears to
have started in the Campanian (Moreno Forma-
tion) by uplift and initial slide of the Domingo* and
Cabaiguan* sequences and culminated in the lower–
middle Eocene, with the stack of thrusts moving
northward. The epiorogenic Upper Cretaceous to mid-
dle Eocene basins (such as Los Palacios) were carried
northward over the thrusts.
From a structural point of view, the main differ-
ence between western Cuba and central Cuba is the
absence of the thick Bahamas platform (and even per-
haps the absence of a thick continental crust). As a
result, the gravity slides of western Cuba slowed down
through their own internal friction and eventually
stopped toward the Gulf of Mexico without creating
the intense compression and crush zone against the
Bahamas that is evident in the northern part of central
Cuba. Some of that deformation becomes visible to-
ward the northeast in the Martin Mesa area.
The Cangre belt is another example of reverse
metamorphism. Here, like in the Escambray massif,
the timing of the metamorphism suggests that it was
caused, at least in part, by the overriding plate of basic
igneous and volcanics.
In addition, a similarity of structural style exists
between western Cuba and the Escambray massif.
Both areas show a broad anticlinorium of a stack of
many thrust slices, contrasting with relatively nar-
row folds of only a few thrust sheets in central Cuba.
Many authors have pointed out the stratigraphic
similarity between the two areas, contrasting with the
northern central Cuba section. This difference might
be more apparent than real and might be caused by
postdepositional events. For instance, the Lower Cre-
taceous Sabanilla Formation indicates that an appre-
ciable Upper Jurassic shallow-water carbonate sec-
tion was present south of the Las Villas* belt and
eroded during the Lower Cretaceous. In addition, the
well EPEP Pinar-1 discovered a thick, Upper Jurassic,
shallow-water carbonate section very similar to the
La Trocha* Group of central Cuba.
NORTHERN CUBA
In northern Cuba, the exposures consist entirely of
imbrications of Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences,
and the surface structures are extremely complex; most

FIGURE 186. Western Cuba cross section A. Modified from Pszczólkowski (1994c). See Figure 185 for location of cross
section.
of the very numerous faults are nearly vertical and so
are the strata in the core of the Habana-Matanzas an-
ticline. Figure 132 shows the general structural style.
The work by Gulf in that area was never completed,
but Brönnimann and Rigassi (1963) published an ex-
cellent article on the area incorporating much of Gulf’s
work.
The recent drilling along the coast found super-
imposed thrust sheets, with the lower one invariably
consisting of the Las Villas* belt, the next one up-
ward of the Cifuentes* belt, and finally, the uppermost
sheet consisting of the Domingo* and Cabaiguan*
sequences. No report of any well penetrating the Ba-
hamas, Yaguajay, or Cayo Coco type of section exists.
The structures are broken by many faults, and there is
a definite break in strike between the rocks exposed
FIGURE 187. Western Cuba cross section D. Modified from Pszczólkowski (1994c). See Figure 185 for location of cross
section.
Structural Geology / 337
in the western Habana-Matanzas anticline (east –west
trend) and those in the eastern end (west-northwest–
east-southeast trend).
Figure 191 shows a structural interpretation by
Mossakovskiy and Albear (1978, 1979). This profile is
based on surface geology and wells, but unfortunate-
ly, no indication of well names or locations exists in
the article. The section shown is oriented north–south,
between Havana and Cardenas. The structural style is
definitely closer to that of central Cuba than to that
of Pinar de Rio, but the authors show the Cabaiguan
sequence under the Domingo sequence, suggesting
the Bahia Honda belt, where the Felicidades is under
the serpentine thrust.
One important fact is that the sections present in
northern Cuba prove the continuity of the Domingo
338 / Pardo

FIGURE 188. Western Cuba cross section E. Modified from Pszczólkowski (1994c). See Figure 185 for location of cross
section.

and Cabaiguan sequences from the Bahia Honda area
to the Santa Clara – Seibabo area. This gives strength
to the concept that the Domingo and Cabaiguan se-
quences were thrust from the south over the Escam-
bray massif.
EASTERN CUBA
sequences are extremely deformed and in fault con-
tact (Domingo fault) with the Gibara area carbonate-
platform sediments. Figure 192 is a generalized geo-
logic map, modified from Andó et al. (1996). It shows
the extreme shearing and fragmentation of the basic
igneous rocks with inclusions of exotic volcanic and
sedimentary blocks.

Eastern Cuba can be divided into three areas with
remarkably different structural styles.
Northern Oriente
As already mentioned, in northern Oriente, the Las
Villas* to Cifuentes* belts equivalents are not pres-
ent on the surface, and the Domingo* and Cabaiguan*
Southeastern Oriente
Southeastern Oriente shows much gentler struc-
tures, although the Mayari-Baracoa massif is an 800-m
(2600-ft)-thick flat-lying nappe of ultrabasics overriding
moderately deformed unmetamorphosed Cabaiguan*
sequence in the Mayari area and metamorphosed Ca-
baiguan* sequence in the Purial massif. Figure 193

FIGURE 189. Western Cuba cross section F. Modified from Pszczólkowski (1994c). See Figure 185 for location of cross
section.

FIGURE 190. Western Cuba cross sections X, Y. See Figure 185 for location of cross sections.
is an interpretation of the Mayari-Baracoa massif by
Iturralde-Vinent (1994, personal communication). The
reason for a sheet of unmetamorphosed ultrabasics
to override metamorphosed and unmetamorphosed
Cabaiguan* sequence volcanics is not entirely clear;
the time of the thrusting appears to be between the
late Maastrichtian and lower–middle Eocene. The
thrusts are considered to have originated in the south,
where the Cayman trough is now; however, the pres-
ence of very high Bouguer anomalies (+180 mG) under
the Mayari-Baracoa massif suggests that the mantle
is uncommonly high. This has been confirmed by
crustal studies, but surprisingly, the geothermal gra-
dient and the heat flow are very low (0.798F/100 ft,
39 mW/m2). The style of deformation is definitely more
related to Pinar Del Rio than it is to northern Oriente
Structural Geology / 339
or central Cuba; there is no evidence of tightly crushed
rocks.
It must be emphasized that this is the only area in
Cuba where the Cretaceous Cabaiguan sequence is
found metamorphosed and structurally underlying
the Domingo sequence. The metamorphism was high
pressure and low temperature.
Southwestern Oriente
Most of the outcrops in this area consist of the
uplifted and faulted El Cobre Formation. In one local-
ity south of the Sierra del Purial, near the coast, the El
Cobre Formation is thrusted over the middle to upper
Eocene San Luis and San Ignacio formations. Serpen-
tine is present between the El Cobre and the under-
lying autochthonous sediments, and the direction of
340 / Pardo

FIGURE 191. Northern Cuba cross section. Modified from Mossakovskiy and Albear (1978). See Figure 185 for location of
cross section.

thrusting is north-northwestward. The serpentine was
therefore involved in deformation as late as the upper
Eocene. Perhaps this was related to the opening stages
of the Cayman trough.
As already mentioned, a seismic profile shot by the
University of Texas across the Yucatan Basin conti-
nental slope, southwest of the Jardines de la Reina
archipelago (Rosencrantz, 1990) (Figure 165), shows
a trench with the Yucatan Basin being subducted
under the central Camaguey area and southwestern
Oriente. This feature, which extends for more than
600 km (372 mi) from the Isla de la Juventud to the
southwestern tip of Oriente, is very significant, but
seen at only one location; it could represent a seg-
ment, now inactive, of the subduction responsible
for the late Cuban volcanic arc. Pszczólkowski (2007,

FIGURE 192. Northern Oriente generalized geologic map. Modified from Andó et al. (1996).

FIGURE 193. Southern Cuba cross section: Mayari-Baracoa. See Figure 185 for location of cross section.
personal communication) queried a possible relation
to the Cayman rise.
STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY DISCUSSION
It is well established that the pre–upper Eocene struc-
tural style of Cuba consists of a stack of northward-
directed thrust sheets, nappes, or gravity slides, over-
lying a shallow-water Jurassic carbonate platform
and evaporites. The southward and westward extent
of the evaporites is unknown.
In north central Cuba, the Platform carbonates
have persisted until the present. The overlying sheets
have an increasingly pelagic deep-water character to-
ward the top. Toward the west, the entire section be-
comes clastic. Finally, above this stack is a massive
thrust sheet with basic igneous (oceanic-rift crust) at
the bottom, overlain by volcanics that show the in-
creasing influence of a volcanic arc. The horizontality
of the stack of thrusts is well preserved in eastern and
Structural Geology / 341
western Cuba, but in central Cuba, facing the Bahamas
buttress, it appears to have been intensely compressed;
there appears to be a zone of strong deformation sep-
arating the Bahamas-type platform carbonates to the
north from the basic igneous volcanics to the south.
In addition, this zone shows numerous vertical, pos-
sibly transcurrent, faults.
Furthermore, three windows in the basic igneous-
volcanic material show relatively low-grade metamor-
phics that are similar and equivalent in age to the
sediments observed in the unmetamorphosed thrust
plates. Geophysics suggests a connection between
the Escambray massif and the Isla de la Juventud.
There appears to be a segment of a northward-
directed subduction of the Yucatan Basin (or rise)
under the Jardines de la Reina archipelago. The enig-
matic La Trocha fault zone may be a deep-seated trans-
current fault or entirely restricted to the upper igneous-
volcanic sheet.
Figure 184 summarizes the above major tectonic
elements.
6
Pardo, G., 2009, Hydrocarbons, in G. Pardo, The geology of Cuba: AAPG
Studies in Geology Series, no. 58, p. 343 – 360.
Hydrocarbons
KNOWN DISTRIBUTION AND TYPES
OF HYDROCARBONS
Evidence for the presence of hydrocarbons in Cuba is
extremely widespread. Tar deposits, bituminous lime-
stones, gas and oil seeps, and small producing fields are
common throughout the island. Asphalt deposits were
commercially mined at the turn of the century. The es-
timated daily production of the island was 34,000 BOPD
for 1999 (Torres, 1999). However, to this date, despite
the efforts by major western oil companies prior to the
late 1950s (such as Chevron, Esso, Gulf, Shell, and Tex-
aco), and those of many independents, plus the Eastern
Block–Cuban cooperation since then, no major hydro-
carbon accumulation has been found.
The petroleum indications show a definite distri-
bution pattern. The past and presently producing
fields can be considered extensions of the seeps and
therefore will be described under the same headings.
For a general distribution of oil fields and petro-
leum indications, see Cuba, 1988. Known oil-field sta-
tistics are tabulated in Table 1.
Central Cuba
The occurrence of seeps will be described accord-
ing to the geologic province or belts in which they
are located. See Figure 194.
Yaguajay* and Coastal Area
With the exception of a few tar indications (tar balls
out of fractures in outcrops), no seeps are known
from the Yaguajay* belt and coastal area. However, in
Gulf Blanquizal-1, Shell Cayo Coco-2, Shell Manuy-1,
and Texaco Mayajigua-1, all drilled in the coastal re-
gion or in the Yaguajay* belt, small traces of hydrocar-
bons were reported. These commonly consisted of tar
in samples and small amounts of gas in drill-stem tests
Copyright n2009 by The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
DOI:10.1306/13141065St583328
343
(DSTs). Dry ammonia gas and minor amounts of meth-
ane were recovered in Shell Cayo Coco-2 DSTs. Nothing
is known about the deep wells drilled by ICRM.
Sagua La Chica* and Jatibonico* Belts
Only a few tar indications in fractures are present
in the Jatibonico* belt.
Las Villas* Belt
Surface Indications
Very few surface seeps are found in the outcrops
of Las Villas* belt lithologies. However, these lithol-
ogies are reported to be productive in northern Cuba.
Many fresh samples of these rocks collected from be-
low the surface (core drill, fresh road cuts) show com-
mon oil-filled fractures and vugs, suggesting that
the exposed limestones had contained oil at one time
and lost it through weathering.
Subsurface Indications
Two wells drilled in the Las Villas* belt had abundant
hydrocarbon indications; Gulf Hicacos-1 and Gulf
Guayabo-1. Hicacos-1 will be discussed under north-
ern Cuba.
Texaco Guayabo-1. It had common tar, heavy oil,
and occasional gas to total depth at 10,010 ft (3052 m).
The shows became more common below a thrust
fault at 2910 ft (887 m), with Jaguita* overriding the
Calabazar* Formation. The Calabazar* and Ramblazo*
formations had no porosity or oil shows. The Capitolio*
Formation had rare oil shows, and these were com-
monly associated with some dolomitization. The Up-
per Jurassic Caguaguas*, Jaguita*, and, possibly, Hoyo
Colorado* formations had common dolomitization
and abundant shows of 1–58 API tar. Some cores bled
gas for several days after having been cut. A fractured
limestone interval at 7628–7632 ft (2326–2327 m)
 344 / Pardo
Table 1. Oil fields. Modified from Echevarria-Rodriguez et al. (1991) and G. Pardo, 1992, The Geology of Cuba Petroconsultants report.

FIGURE 194. Central Cuba: petroleum seeps, oil fields, and significant wells.
oozed 58 API tar every time drilling was stopped. On
test, this interval produced 4 bbl of tar and a small
amount of gas.
Placetas* and Cifuentes* Belt, Domingo* Sequence
Most surface petroleum indications occur in the
general area between the southern boundary of the
Domingo* sequence and the southern boundary of
the Las Villas* belt. This relationship extends from
Habana to Oriente, although the complete succes-
sion of belts is present at the surface only in Las Villas
and northwestern Camaguey (Wassall, 1956). In the
subsurface, several accumulations occur in the up-
per part of the Cifuentes* and Placetas belts and be-
low or within the base of the Domingo* sequence.
Surface Indications
Within these belts, the seeps can be differentiated
into two groups according to their character:
1) The first group consists of a zone of asphalt oc-
currences, more or less parallel and close to the
Domingo* fault separating the Domingo* and
Cabaiguan* sequences from (a) the Las Villas*
belt to the southeast and (b) the Cifuentes* belt to
Hydrocarbons / 345
the northwest. The asphalt invariably fills frac-
tures in the Placetas*, Cifuentes*, and Domingo*
belt rocks or even occurs as dikes in basic igneous
rock. These dikes can be quite large; the Jatibo-
nico asphalt dike is several meters thick and more
than 1 km (0.6 mi) long.
Core drilling north of the town of Placetas (north
of the above-mentioned fault zone) found abun-
dant oil shows. In the neighborhood of the fault
plane, the oil had gravities ranging from 15 to
358 API. In some cases, these shows came from
boulders in Vega* or Rosas* Formation conglomer-
ates, which displayed pressure release when broken.
It therefore appears as if the original Domingo*
thrust fault (presently a high-angle fault, or cut by
a high-angle fault, with a left-lateral component)
was at some time responsible for the migration
and accumulation of hydrocarbons. The open,
asphalt-filled fractures in its vicinity, as well as the
vertical asphalt dike near Perea, are evidence that
this process occurred under geostatic pressure con-
ditions at great depth.
2) The second group of seeps is characterized by
heavy to medium-gravity oil and gas; these oc-
cur in abundance over most of the Domingo*
sequence, south of the Placetas* and Cifuentes*
346 / Pardo
belts. They are particularly well developed in a
large area of serpentine outcrops (commonly con-
taining abundant metamorphic exotics) near the
town of Santa Clara. Some of the seeps are quite
active and have been the basis for the develop-
ment of most of the Cuban oil fields. A gas seep
near Potrerillo produced an estimated 1440 ft3/day
(40.8 m3/day). In addition, many water wells and
core holes drilled in the area have had petroleum
indications. One core hole (Sullivan Core Hole-8)
was drilled by Gulf to 2343 ft (714 m) in 1955 in
the center of the above-mentioned serpentine area,
which was interpreted at the time to represent the
crest of a large, anticlinally folded thrust sheet of
ultrabasics. The hole was drilled for several rea-
sons, but one of them was to find out if the very
active seeps in the vicinity were an indication of a
larger accumulation and/or a proximity to a differ-
ent lithology at depth. A strong show of 398 API oil
was encountered at 278 ft (85 m), and several bar-
rels were produced. Unfortunately, no further
shows were encountered to total depth. Brown &
Root Laboratories, Inc. analyzed a sample of that
oil sent to Tenneco. Their report, dated October 17,
1985, showed that the sample exhibited no obvi-
ous indication of biodegradation and the saturate
fraction of the sample was very paraffinic. The per-
centage of naphtenes was not available but the
report related that a visual examination of the gas
chromatogram indicated the percentage was likely
to be very low, suggesting an origin from a terres-
trial or mixed terrestrial-marine source. Brown &
Root Laboratories reported that normal alkenes
were present in the sample out to approximately
C35+, which further suggested a terrestrial influ-
ence. Because of the terrestrial aspects of the sam-
ple, the report concluded that a clastic rather than
a carbonate source rock was favored.
This conclusion is supported by an older Gulf
Research & Development Co. analysis that reports
3.72% wax for the same oil. As will be seen later, this
conclusion presents serious interpretation problems
because the obvious source rocks are predominantly
marine carbonates.
Note that whereas the seeps in group 1 exhibit heavy
and relatively immobile oils, those in group 2 produce
much lighter petroleum and are quite active as though
they were generated at depth by a source that is active
today. In other words, the Domingo* sequence rocks
appear to behave as a leaky cap over some accumula-
tion (or hydrodynamic drive) at depth.
Oil Fields
Jarahueca field. — This field, discovered in 1943,
is located on the complexly faulted flank of the Jara-
hueca window and yielded 37 –408 API oil and some
gas from basic igneous rocks (mostly from serpentine)
and fractured limestone. However, the wells spudded
in basic igneous rock commonly produce an oil of
light-yellow color, in contrast to those spudded in
the carbonates of the Cifuentes* and Placetas* belts,
which produce a nearly black oil. No significant dif-
ference exists in API gravity. The meaning of this ob-
servation is not clear, but it seems to suggest that at
this locality, the outcropping carbonate-igneous fault
contact separates two types of oil in the subsurface.
The fault must therefore act as a seal.
The production behavior of the wells in this field
suggests accumulation in fractured, low-permeability
reservoirs; some wells have had initial production rates
on the order of several hundred barrels of oil per day,
dropping in a few days, and stabilizing for long pe-
riods of time at rates ranging from 1 to 20 BOPD. In
view of the fact that most of the wells drilled prior to
the late 1950s were shallow (less than 3500 ft [1100 m]),
whether they reached a common reservoir or instead
penetrated feeders to seeps is questionable. The field is
reported to have produced a maximum of 960 BOPD
in 1947. However, later, the production became very
irregular, dropping between 160 and 18 BOPD from
1949 to 1964. In 1964, the last reporting date, the pro-
duction was at 22 BOPD.
Motembo field. — This field was discovered in
1881, but did not commercially produce until 1890.
The maximum production was 465 BOPD in 1940
and has declined steadily since then. In 1964, the
production was 6 BOPD. The production is entirely
from serpentine and consists mostly of naphta (55–
658 API). Some gas as well as some heavier yellow and
black oil are observed. The field is located near the
contact between the Domingo* and Cifuentes* se-
quences, and the production characteristics are sim-
ilar to those of Jarahueca. A southern extension of the
field is called Vesubio.
Cabaiguan* Sequence
Surface Indications
This belt is impressively devoid of surface petro-
leum indications. Only a few petroleum occurrences
are reported: one near Ranchuelo, in the Paleogene
cover of the axis of the Seibabo syncline; and one in
Habana Province, invariably in proximity to the Do-
mingo* sequence rocks. This is somewhat of a puzzle

because the oil fields of the Central Depression are
underlain by the Cabaiguan* sequence, and the vol-
canic section, although of general low permeability,
is cut by many faults that should allow some seepage
such as in the Jatibonico and Catalina fields.
Oil Fields
Five fields exist, Catalina, Cristales, Jatibonico, Ma-
monal, and Reforma, which are known as the Central
Depression fields. They occur in or near the western
flank of the structural low believed to be associated
with the La Trocha fault zone. As already mentioned,
it is a thickening of the Paleocene to lower–middle
Eocene flysch overlying the Cabaiguan* sequence.
Upper Eocene and younger beds are not affected.
Jatibonico field. — The Jatibonico field is located
on the flank of the Central Depression and appears to
be associated with seeps coming up the Arroyo Blanco
group of faults. The oil seems to have migrated along
the faults, as in Jarahueca, and accumulated in the
volcanics under the Tertiary cover. The discovery well,
General Corporation Echevarria-1, drilled in 1954,
found 158 API oil at 1072 ft (327 m) in fractured volca-
nics of the Cabaiguan* belt under the Paleocene(?)–
Eocene unconformity. Echevarria-1 was drilled to
8375 ft (2553 m) and remained in Cabaiguan* sequence
volcanics to total depth and never encountered any
carbonates or ultrabasics. The gross pay thickness is
reported as 230 ft (70 m). EPEP Jatibonico-78, drilled
less than 2 km (1.2 mi) to the southwest, penetrated
the Cabaiguan* sequence at 1150 ft (350 m) and re-
mained in the volcanics until 13,775 ft (4200 m),
where it is reported to have penetrated pre-Jurassic(?)
metamorphics to a total depth of 15,553 ft (4437 m).
It is not known if these metamorphics are similar to
those of the Escambray massif or of the Manicaragua
belt. The maximum annualized production rate was
1230 BOPD in 1957. By 1963, the production had de-
clined to 170 BOPD, and secondary recovery projects
were initiated in 1964.
Catalina field. — The Catalina field is located
13 km (8 mi) southwest of Jatibonico. The discovery
well Drilling Catalina-1, drilled in 1956, found produc-
tion of 32–358 API below 7102 ft (2165 m) in limy,
fractured Catalina Shale. The total depth was 7157 ft
(2181 m). Although this shale has been reported to be
of Upper Cretaceous age, in this report, it is considered
equivalent to the Paleocene Taguasco* and Fomento*
formations. The situation appears to be similar to
that of Jatibonico, with oil migrating up faults and
accumulating at or near the Paleocene unconformity.
The gross pay is reported to be 18 ft (5 m), and the
Hydrocarbons / 347
maximum annualized production was 26 BOPD in
1957.
Cristales field. — Located some 25 km (15 mi) to
the east of Jatibonico, the Cristales field appears to
be of a similar in nature. The discovery well Cuban
American Cristales-1A, drilled in 1956, found a gas
accumulation below ±1800 ft (±550 m) in fractured
vugular reef limestones of the Jiquimas* Formation
(Cristales Limestone) of Maastrichtian age interbedded
with volcanics. The depth of the productive interval
averages 2600 ft (800 m). This section underlies the
Paleocene unconformity. Oil shows were also found
in the underlying volcanic sequence. This field was
considered the first commercial gas discovery in Cuba.
The initial tests gave 1 MMCFGD, and gas production
began in 1971 and reached 2 MMCFGD in 1974. Oil
was also being produced at the rate of 370 BOPD in
1964.
No published information exists on Mamonal and
Reforma fields, but they are believed to be of the same
size as the Catalina field.
It should be noted that oils from the Catalina and
Cristales fields (Gurko et al., 1982) show great similar-
ity to Jarahueca oils, including indication of meteoric
loss of higher fractions, low asphaltenes, and a paraf-
finic composition of 28–69% (as in Gulf Sullivan-8, a
suggestion of terrestrial influence).
Numerous wells (most of them shallow) were drilled
in the same La Trocha graben, farther southwest (in
the vicinity of Sancti Spiritus), with no reports of oil
indications.
Western Cuba: Pinar Del Rio
The Viñales Group of limestones has long been
known as a petroliferous section in the Rosario Moun-
tains and in the Martin Mesa window. The San Diego
de los Baños Basin, with its well-developed Tertiary
section, has also attracted much attention in the past.
Recently, the northwest coast of Pinar del Rio, in the
Esperanza belt, has been the subject of an unsuccessful
exploration and deep drilling program. See Figure 195.
Northern and Southern Rosario and
La Esperanza Belts
Surface Indications
Most of the oil indications in Pinar del Rio are re-
stricted to these belts. They consist mostly of heavy-
oil-filled fractures in the Jurassic and Lower Cre-
taceous carbonates. The Maastrichtian fragmental
limestones commonly bleed oil, and asphalt veins
348 / Pardo
FIGURE 195. Western Cuba: petroleum seeps, oil fields, and significant wells.
and deposits are common, especially when the Eo-
cene and Cabaiguan* sequence equivalent overlies this
belt like in Martin Mesa between the Rosario Moun-
tains and Guanajay. An oil seep exists along the coast
near Puerto la Esperanza.
Subsurface Indications
Several wells have been drilled in the Rosario belt
sediments, and most have had some shows and even
some limited production. In general, the oil indications
are similar to those found north of the Domingo* se-
quence and the Cifuentes* and Las Villas* belts of cen-
tral and northern Cuba. The well EPEP Martin Mesa-1
has been reported as a discovery. This well on the
north flank of the Martin Mesa window was drilled
to 10,663 ft (3251 m). No published details exist as to
the oil occurrence, but the well bottomed in the Neo-
comian, drilling through a thrust fault at ±5180 ft
(±1580 m) that repeated the Aptian through Maas-
trichtian sequence. The section is an equivalent of the
northern Rosario belt.
Sierra De Los Organos, Pizarras del Sur,
and Cangre Belts
Surface Indications
No seeps are known from these belts; most of the
outcrops consist of barren-looking San Cayetano For-
mation clastics, although some Jagua Formation and
Viñales Group carbonates show bituminous material.
Subsurface Indications
The well EPEP Pinar-1, drilled 4 km (2.4 mi) south of
the town of Pons in the central Organos belt, found oil
saturation in fractures associated with faulting, in the
lower autochthonous carbonate sequence. This sec-
tion, extending from 12,136 ft (3700 m) to a total
depth at 17,056 ft (5200 m), consists of Upper Jurassic
bank-type limestones.
Domingo* and Cabaiguan Sequences
The Bahia Honda* belt ultrabasics are not well de-
veloped and do not have obvious seeps or production

FIGURE 196. Western Cuba: Isla de la Juventud gas seeps.
as in central and northern Cuba. However, there are
oil indications and asphalt deposits in the volcanics
of the Bahia Honda* belt between Cacarajicara and
Bahia Honda and between Mariel and Cayajabos, where
they are in proximity to or possibly overlie the Rosario
belt. At least nine asphalt mines have been exploited
there in the past. EPEP’s Mariel-1 and Mariel-2 were
drilled to 10,171 and 10,312 ft (3101 and 3144 m),
respectively, in Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequence
rocks (under the Miocene overlap) to a depth of
±7900 ft (±2400 m), where they encountered chaotic
lower–middle Eocene conglomerates (La Vieja wild-
flysch = Rosas* Formation) to total depth.
No seeps have been reported in the San Diego de
los Baños Basin. Several relatively deep tests (such as
ARCO Baños-1 and Baños-2, EPEP Candelaria-1, Ro-
sario Taco Taco-1, and Rosario Soroa-1) were drilled
south of the Pinar fault in its Cabaiguan*-like volcanics
and overlying thick Tertiary sediments. Although meth-
ane and oil shows have been reported, there has not
been a discovery in the basin.
Western Cuba: Isla De La Juventud
A report of hard asphalt outcrop on the Isla de la
Juventud proper, at Cerro Natividad, as well as on the
keys north of the island was written (DeGolyer, 1918);
this is difficult to believe and has not been subse-
quently confirmed. In addition, several gas seeps have
been reported along the keys that extend eastward
from the Isle of Pines from Punta del Este to Cayo Largo
(Butticaz, 1952) (see Figure 196). Two of the gases were
Hydrocarbons / 349
analyzed and show 71 and 74% nitrogen, 12 and
24% methane, 16 and 0% hydrogen sulfide, and 1 and
2% carbon dioxide, respectively. These gas seeps are
apparently quite active and build small underwater
sediment cones. The origin of these gases is somewhat
puzzling; the methane, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon
dioxide could be either of recent organic origin, asso-
ciated with hydrocarbon gases or of volcanic origin.
However, little is known about the origin of high per-
centages of nitrogen, assuming that the chemical anal-
yses are reliable. In other areas, it has been suggested
that the nitrogen is produced by the breakdown of
ammonia resulting from the decomposition of or-
ganic matter.
Northern Cuba
As previously mentioned, the outcrops on this part
of the island consist of a complex structural mixture
of Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences. However,
the Las Villas* and Cifuentes* belt lithologies have
been recognized at depth in many of the wells (see
Figure 197).
Surface Indications
As mentioned in the Introduction, the Spanish col-
onists in 1508 knew of the presence of tar in Habana
Bay. The petroleum seeps at the baths of Guanabacoa,
now an eastern suburb of Habana, were also well
known in colonial days. Seeps are common along
the north coast of the island and at the type locality of
the Universidad Formation, in the grounds of Habana
350 / Pardo
FIGURE 197. Northern Cuba: petroleum seeps, oil fields, and significant wells.
University; this unit is impregnated with heavy oil. In
Cardenas Bay, tar is coming to the surface of Holocene
sediments along what appear to be fractures and form-
ing underwater accumulations. These were mined at
several localities from 1875 to the early 1900s. It should
be mentioned that these tar seeps were reported as re-
plenishing themselves. Cardenas Bay lies mostly over
the northwest projection of the Cifuentes* belt and its
contact with the Domingo* sequence.
Subsurface Indications
Many water wells drilled in this general area have
had oil and gas indications. This is also true of the
many shallow holes drilled near seeps.
Gulf Hicacos-1 was drilled in northeastern Cardenas
Bay in 1949. It penetrated the Las Villas* belt at 2290 ft
(698 m) to total depth at 5045 ft (1538 m) below an
Eocene to Holocene cover and was cut by at least
one major fault at 4030 ft (1229 m) that brings lower–
middle Eocene under the Upper Jurassic Caguaguas*
Formation. The section immediately below the upper
Eocene marls consists of fractured Cretaceous lime-
stone, saturated with tar for 539 ft (164 m). The tar
sometimes forms a high percentage of the rock, strong-
ly suggesting an Eocene seep. The entire Jurassic –
Lower Cretaceous section contains numerous heavy-
oil indications.
Since 1960, there has been much drilling, with
some of the wells deeper than 12,000 ft (3700 m).
The detailed results are unknown, but led to the dis-
coveries of Varadero and Boca de Jaruco fields.
Oil Fields
Several oil fields are located between La Habana
and Cardenas Bay. They are named, from west to east,
Bacuranao-Cruz Verde, Santa Maria del Mar, Guanabo-
Brı́sas, Peñas Altas, Boca de Jaruco, and Via Blanca fields
in Habana Province, and Yumurı́, Camarioca, Cantel,
Varadero, Guasimas, Marbella, and Chapelin fields in
Matanzas Province. Many of these are old inactive

fields, but Boca de Jaruco and Varadero have been
recently developed and are reported to contribute the
great bulk of today’s Cuban production. From the sparse
literature, they appear to be similar in general character
and regional structural position to those of Jarahueca
and Motembo; they are located on or near the north-
ern outcrops of the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* se-
quences, in proximity to and/or over the Cifuentes*
and Las Villas* belt rocks.
Published information on these fields is somewhat
vague and very limited, with no maps (well location,
reservoirs, etc.) and no production statistics. The strat-
igraphic nomenclature does not follow the terminol-
ogy of the other Cuban publications. The sections are
invariably described as stacks of strongly folded para-
autochthonous, allochthonous miogeosynclinal to
allochthonous eugeosynclinal material separated by
south-dipping, low-angle thrust faults. However, as
described in Chapter 2 of this publication, it is possi-
ble to give a reliable limited translation of these terms
to the nomenclature followed in this report.
Bacuranao-Cruz Verde
This is the oldest of the northern Cuba fields. Bacu-
ranao was discovered in 1914. It produces 25–288 API
oil from fractured serpentine (Domingo* sequence)
from 200 to 800 ft (60 to 250 m). The gross pay is 300 ft
(90 m). The deepest well was drilled to 7665 ft (2336 m)
and encountered conglomerates and sandstones below
the serpentine. The field began production in 1916
and was abandoned in the 1940s. Cruz Verde started
producing in 1955, and Bacuranao went back on
stream in the early 1960s. The maximum production
was 146 BOPD in 1958 and was 74 BOPD in 1964.
Santa Maria Del Mar
The discovery well Ted Jone Jones Bess-1, drilled in
1955, is reported to have encountered 15–288 API oil at
2200 ft (670 m) in fractured serpentine (Domingo*
sequence) and vugular dolomite. The serpentine is
overlain by 1065 ft (325 m) of Maastrichtian volcanics
and clastics possibly belonging to the Via Blanca and
older formations (Cabaiguan* sequence). These, in
turn, are overlain by 350 ft (105 m) of lower–middle
Eocene and younger Tertiary. This field produced a
maximum of 78 BOPD in 1957 and was producing 14
BOPD in 1964.
Guanabo-Brisas
The discovery well Ted Jone Jones Juanita-1, com-
pleted in 1956, encountered 8–118 API oil in tuffa-
ceous sandstones and volcanic flow rocks at ±2200 ft
Hydrocarbons / 351
(±670 m). The accumulation is reported to be in highly
folded sediments under an unconformity. The maxi-
mum production was 98 BOPD in 1958, and in 1964, it
was producing 3 BOPD. A pilot steam injection pro-
gram was started in 1966, but there is no information
about the results.
Boca de Jaruco-Via Blanca
This field was discovered in 1969 and is drilled
largely offshore. The production consists of 178 API
oil with high sulfur content. The structure is very com-
plex and consists of a stack of two major thrust sheets.
In the south of the field, downdip from the crest of the
structure, the section has been described under Dril-
ling, Cifuentes Belt, Chapter 2 of this publication.
An autochthonous section has not been pene-
trated, and oil is being produced from fractures in
the sections under the two major thrusts. The top of
production for each zone is
1500 ft (
450 m) and

2700 ft (
825 m), respectively. The reported initial
recoverable reserves are given as 6 MMBO.
Varadero
It is the largest field discovered so far; it was dis-
covered in 1972. The production consists of 178 API
oil with high sulfur content. H2S has been reported.
The structure is complex and consists of a folded major
thrust sheet with at least one imbrication. The section
downdip from the crest of the structure has been de-
scribed under Drilling, Cifuentes Belt, Chapter 2 of
this publication.
The bulk of the production comes from the struc-
ture under the major thrust fault, which consists of
a fractured anticline in the Las Villas* belt section.
The top of the pay is at
2130 ft (
650 m), and the
oil – water contact is at
3400 ft (
1050 m).
An autochthonous section has not been pene-
trated, and the reported initial recoverable reserves
are given as 30 MMBO.
Not much published data exist on the Peñas Altas,
Camarioca, Cantel, Chapelin, Guasimas, Marbella, and
Yumuri fields. Some information indicates the follow-
ing: (1) The section and accumulation in Peñas Altas
are very similar to those of Boca de Jaruco; (2) Chapelin
and Marbella have a section similar to that of Vara-
dero and also produce from the Las Villas* belt rocks;
and (3) Camarioca, Cantel, Guasimas, and Yumuri also
consist of a stack of thrusts and produce from the
Cifuentes* and/or Domingo* – Cabaiguan* sequence
rocks. For a generalized cross section of the fields in
the Varadero vicinity, see profile II0 across area 3 in-
sert in Cuba, 1988.
352 / Pardo
Eastern Cuba
There are some confirmed oil indications in Ori-
ente. According to DeGolyer (1918), the Farola asphalt
seep, occurring in serpentine, was mined in the past.
This occurrence cannot be located, but Cuba (1988)
shows two seeps in serpentine south and near Puerto
Padre. However, over the years, several wells (such
as Transcub Embarcadero-1, Benedum Eugenia-23/1,
Transcub Manzanillo-1, and Transcub Rio Tana-1) have
been drilled in and on the flanks of the Cauto Basin
without any encouragement.
SOURCE ROCKS
In Cuba, abundant sediments would be consid-
ered classical petroleum sources. However, there is
no assurance that the oil presently found on or near
the surface originated entirely from these sources.
The maturation and migration history might not
have been favorable for the formation of petroleum
deposits at the proper time. It is unfortunate that
at the time of the original Gulf studies, hydrocarbon
analytical techniques and the present concepts of the
origin, maturation, and migration of oil were either
nonexistent or in their infancy. Today, much better
quantitative studies could be done along the lines
of source beds, maturation, correlation of potential
sources with produced petroleum, and between dif-
ferent petroleum types. Although many of the fun-
damental problems of the origin of oil remain to be
solved, the geological complexities of Cuba render
the task of understanding the relationships between
source and possible accumulation highly specula-
tive. A problem in assembling this study is the ab-
sence of published data based on modern geochem-
ical techniques.
It should be pointed out that the association of
oil and gas seeps with ultrabasic rocks is not unique
to Cuba. Almost every major Mesozoic to Tertiary
ophiolitic area in the world has petroleum indica-
tions: Greece, Turkey (both known since antiqui-
ty), the Zagros Mountains in Iran, New Zealand, and
the Franciscan complex in California are among
the better known ones. In every case, the explana-
tion given for the petroleum occurrence is that the
ophiolite was thrusted over, or intruded into, petro-
leum-generating sediments. Although this is a likely
explanation, one should keep an open mind to the
possibility of a yet-unknown process. Szatmari (1989)
proposes a Fisher-Tropsch oil-generation process (high-
temperature hydrogenation of carbon monoxide from
carbonates) during the obduction of serpentine over
carbonates.
As seen in the preceding section, there appear to be
two kinds of oil in Cuba. The oils associated with the
basic igneous and the volcanics are medium to high
gravity, low viscosity, paraffinic, and with low to no
sulfur content. The oils associated with the carbon-
ates are low gravity and high viscosity and have a
high sulfur content; hydrogen sulfide is occasionally
present.
Obvious Possible Sources
The following Upper Jurassic and Cretaceous units
appear to be good candidates for petroleum source
rocks:
Central Cuba
With some exceptions, central Cuba does not ex-
hibit sediments with an apparent high (present-day)
organic content in outcrop. The colors are generally
tan to gray, and as already mentioned, tar and oil in-
dications in outcrops here are not as spectacular as in
Pinar del Rio. However, this could be the result of a
deeper weathering of central Cuba, as well as less well-
developed Jurassic exposures.
Las Villas* Belt
The exposed Jurassic Hoyo Colorado*, Jaguita*,
and Caguaguas* formations consist of massive lime-
stones, laminated limestones with oolitic intervals,
and medium-grained dolomites. They indicate an al-
ternation of shallow-water carbonate bank deposits
with an oxidizing environment and deeper water pe-
lagic deposits. They correlate with and are similar to
the Pinar del Rio, San Vicente, and El Americano mem-
bers of the Guasasa Formation.
The Berriasian to Barremian Capitolio* Formation
is a gray, massive, biomicritic limestone, with thin
wavy laminations and numerous secondary chert nod-
ules. It consists entirely of nannoconids, calpionellids,
and radiolaria skeletons with common aptychi and
was deposited in deep waters. The gray color, the
preservation of the nannoplankton, and the lack of
bottom-dwelling organisms suggest anoxic condi-
tions. This unit is similar and equivalent to the Su-
midero Member of the Artemisa Formation.
The Aptian to Cenomanian is represented by the
Penton*, Calabazar*, and Mata* formations that con-
sist of alternations of thin-bedded, and at times lam-
inated, limestones and primary radiolarian cherts.
These units are essentially of pelagic origin. The only
exceptions are thin layers of bioclastic turbidites

originating from the shallow carbonate banks. The
Calabazar* Formation is characterized by black cherts
and limestones that are dark gray when fresh and
weather to chalky white, indicating abundant organ-
ic, bituminous matter. These units correlate in part
with the Pons Formation.
Placetas* and Cifuentes* Belt
The Berriasian to Barremian is represented by the
Ronda* Formation. This unit has similar textures and
compositions, and it is therefore similar, in environ-
ment of deposition, to the Capitolio* Formation of the
Las Villas* belt. The amount of argillaceous material
and organic content increases toward the southern-
most facies, as indicated by the change from brown to
black color.
The Aptian to Cenomanian is represented by sedi-
ments that range from the above described Calabazar*
and Mata* formations of the Las Villas* belt through
the Carmita* Formation assemblage of limestones,
cherts, thin-bedded shales, and fine-grained sand-
stones of the Placetas* belt to the Santa Teresa* For-
mation of the Cifuentes* belt, consisting entirely of
thin, even-bedded, varicolored cherts (radiolarian) and
shales. This entire group of formations is of pelagic
origin and may have had source potential not too
unlike the Monterrey of California. This, however, is
difficult to assess at present.
Cabaiguan* Sequence
The only unit that appears to have source poten-
tial is the Gomez* Formation, of Cenomanian age,
which, in the exposure of its best development on the
north flank of the Seibabo syncline, consists of thin-
bedded black and brown pelagic limestones inter-
bedded with dark-gray shales. Although the thick-
ness at this locality, 500 ft (150 m), is adequate to
generate hydrocarbons, the regional distribution of
this facies is not known.
Western Cuba
The rocks outcropping in this province display
some very spectacular examples of what today is con-
sidered a classical source rock. They are found mostly
in the Jagua Formation and the Viñales Group, partic-
ularly in the Rosario belt. Black bituminous pelagic
limestones, black shales containing ammonite-bearing
concretions that release oil when broken, as well as
limestones that give a strong sulfurous and bituminous
odor when freshly broken are present. The units that
are considered good candidates for a petroleum source
are as follows.
Hydrocarbons / 353
Sierra de los Organos Belt
The Jagua Vieja Member of the Jagua Formation,
of upper Oxfordian age, consists of black laminated
shales with ammonite-bearing limestone concre-
tions; the concretions contain oil (commonly inside
the ammonite chambers).
The Guasasa Formation, of Kimmeridgian to Ceno-
manian age, contains several black, micritic, pelagic,
limestone members: the San Vicente and El Ameri-
cano members.
The gray to black micritic limestones and cherts
of the Pons Formation, of Valanginian to Turonian
age, also have the classical characteristics of organic-
rich sediments deposited under fairly deep and anoxic
water conditions.
Northern and Southern Rosario Belts
The Francisco Formation is a correlative of and
lithologically similar to the laminated and petroli-
ferous Jagua Vieja Formation described above.
The Kimmeridgian to Valanginian Artemisa For-
mation, with its well-bedded micritic limestones and
cherts, is equivalent to the lower Guasasa and is an
even more favorable source. It appears to have been
deposited under even deeper, pelagic, and anoxic con-
ditions and is characterized by a strong petroliferous
odor and the presence of asphalt.
The Buenavista Group and the Santa Teresa, Pina-
lilla, and Moreno formations, of Barremian to Maas-
trichtian age, containing abundant radiolarian cherts
and, like the Las Villas Santa Teresa Formation, could
have contributed hydrocarbons.
Northern Cuba
Here, the Las Villas* and Placetas* or Cifuentes*
belt lithologies of central Cuba are present and are
associated with the current production. These rocks,
which act as reservoirs in several fields, are also be-
lieved to be the source of petroleum, particularly the
Upper Jurassic ones.
Oriente
With the exception of isolated blocks of pelagic
carbonates included in the ultrabasics of the Silla de
Gibara area, no outcrops of any of the type of rocks
described above exist.
Speculative Sources
In addition to the several potential petroleum source
rocks mentioned above, some other possible, although
speculative, sources should be discussed.
354 / Pardo
Central Cuba
Coastal Area: Jaguajay* and Jatibonico* Belts
The Jurassic and possibly older rocks underlying
the shallow-water bank carbonates exposed or drilled
in this area are essentially unknown. The deepest wells
in a normal stratigraphic section or the most complete
exposures of the Yaguajay* belt show less than 14,000 ft
(4300 m) of section that is less than half the estimated
depth to basement. The Gulf Blanquizal III-1, Texaco
Mayajigua-1, and Shell Punta Alegre-1A wells bot-
tomed in the Lower Cretaceous or questionable Upper
Jurassic. Only in Shell Cayo Coco-2, the Yaguajay*,
and the Jatibonico* belts was the Jurassic identified.
Some of the ICRM deep wells drilled along the coast
are reported to have penetrated the Jurassic, but no
detailed information on them exists.
However, the outcrops at Punta Alegre and the Ke-
wanee Tina-1, Kewanee Tina-2, and Kewanee Collazo-1
wells show a section dominated by Portlandian evap-
orites tectonically out of stratigraphic sequence. These,
as well as the section in Gulf-Chevron Cay Sal-1 and
Tenneco Doubloon Saxon-1, suggest a thick Lower
Cretaceous and Jurassic carbonate and evaporite sec-
tion. The question, of course, is whether the carbon-
ates associated with the evaporites could have been
good petroleum generators. No direct answer to this
question exists; the Sunniland production of southern
Florida, as well as the strong Sunniland oil shows in
some wells off Key West, must have originated from
limestones within this type of section.
Another problem is whether the San Cayetano
Formation clastics are present under and/or partially
equivalent to the Cayo Coco* Formation. The presence
of these two formations in close proximity is sup-
ported by the fact that the San Adrian gypsum diapirs,
in northern Matanzas, contain abundant exotics of
sandstones and shales identical with those that make
up the San Cayetano Formation in Pinar del Rio. The
San Cayetano Formation has not been traditionally
considered a favorable source, but this will be discussed
under the section on Western Cuba in this chapter.
The carbonate muds and bioclastic platform sedi-
ments of the Lower Cretaceous upper Cayo Coco* and
Guillermo* formations could conceivably have been
sources of petroleum under the proper temperature
conditions for the reasons given above, although they
are not prime candidates; this is where kerogen studies
of the available samples of some of the wells are needed.
The Aptian –Turonian is represented by the thin-
bedded limestones, shales, marls, and black cherts
with abundant pelagic organisms of the Guillermo*,
Romano*, and Contrabando* formations. These pe-
lagic units appear to be limited to the Cayo Coco –
Punta Alegre area. They could either represent deeper
water tongues separating shallow-water carbonate
banks (Upper Cretaceous Old Bahamas Channel) or
be limited by Upper Cretaceous structural conditions.
It should be noted that there is a regional discontinuity
between the Lower Cretaceous massive carbonates
and the Upper Cretaceous pelagic marls in parts of
the Bahamas and Florida. Their value as a source is
unknown, but it is not considered to be very high.
Las Villas* Belt
The base of the section is not exposed. The dolomitic
Hoyo Colorado* Formation, of Tithonian age, could be
underlain by a Cayo Coco* facies and even by the San
Cayetano Formation. This, as previously mentioned, is
definitely suggested by the exotics in the San Adrian
gypsum diapirs. If the evaporites and/or the shales
formed a décollement surface at the base of the Las
Villas* belt, it could be riding over the carbonate bank
facies and its speculative source rocks.
A major unknown, from a source standpoint, are the
once widespread and thick (over 3000 ft [900 m] ex-
posed in the Jatibonico area) flysch deposits of lower–
middle Eocene age of the Vega* and Rosas* formations.
These terrigenous deposits, with limited present-day
exposures, had a very active source of sediments from
the south. They were deposited in deep waters and were
rapidly buried under the advancing, thick, orogenic
front. They served as a gliding surface for the Domingo*
thrust and the Cifuentes*, Placetas*, and Las Villas*
belt imbrications. Organic matter is not obvious in out-
crops, where the Vega* Formation is invariably deeply
weathered because of its content of feldspars and maf-
ics. In cores, however, oil can be seen seeping out of
freshly cut boulders. If these sediments were a source,
it could explain the suggested terrestrial clastic ori-
gin of the oil sample from Gulf Sullivan-8. It could
also explain the abundance of oil indications in the
Domingo* sequence and along the fault separating
it from the Las Villas* belt where the Vega* Formation
is always found crushed along the fault plane. Most
importantly, it would explain the difference between
the oils of Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences and
those associated with the carbonates.
The Vega* Formation is also the only known syn-
orogenic sedimentary unit structurally below the Do-
mingo* sequence, with a large-enough thickness and
clay content and low-enough permeability to be able
to maintain geostatic pressures for some appreciable
period of time. This is considered essential to generate

the necessary hydrodynamic gradient for the migration
of hydrocarbons. It is possible that the serpentines
could have had a similar behavior. Geostatic pres-
sure is certainly indicated by the asphalt dikes in the
Domingo* sequence.
Domingo* Sequence
As previously mentioned, in the general Santa Clara
area, there are outcrops of Maastrichtian, noncalcar-
eous, shales of the Miguel* Formation that were de-
posited under pelagic conditions, which appear to
structurally underlie the Domingo* sequence. Noth-
ing is known about the original thickness and distri-
bution of these deposits, which could have generated
hydrocarbons under the right circumstances.
Escambray Massif
It should be mentioned that the low-grade meta-
morphics in the core of the mountains contain quartz-
ites interbedded with gray graphitic mica schists: the
Naranjo Group that ranges from the Lower Jurassic to
the Oxfordian. These are overlain by dark-gray to black
limestones with sulfurous odor: the Sauco and Mayari
formations that range from the lower Tithonian to
Lower Cretaceous. In the rim of the mountains, there
are some higher grade metamorphics consisting of black
marbles and schists with graphite of the Collantes For-
mation of equivalent age. These units, which are sim-
ilar to and correlate with parts of the Pinar del Rio sec-
tion, at some pre-Upper Cretaceous time, could have
contributed hydrocarbons prior to metamorphism.
Western Cuba
The San Cayetano Formation has not been tra-
ditionally considered a source rock. This is caused by
the abundance of coarser clastics, to some variable
degree of metamorphism, to its usual white to red-
dish color in the outcrops, and to the absence of seeps
or other oil indications. However, the formation is
very thick (estimates of up to 15,000 ft [4600 m] have
been made) and consists of a well-bedded alternation
of sandstones, siltstones, and shales, commonly bar-
ren of organisms; it is of black to dark-gray color when
fresh. Plant remains and carbonaceous material are
present. It appears to be a typical deltaic sequence,
and one could expect associated prodelta muds. This
entire section certainly shows many petroleum source
characteristics that would also be compatible with the
suggested origin of the oil in Gulf Sullivan-8.
The San Cayetano Formation equivalents certainly
covered a large area in addition to Pinar del Rio. They
outcrop as exotics in the San Adrian diapirs and, ex-
Hydrocarbons / 355
hibiting various degrees of metamorphism, in the Isla
de la Juventud (Cañada Formation) and in the Escam-
bray massif (Naranjo Formation) in Las Villas Province.
It would be of interest to ascertain if some of the exotic
metamorphic blocks found in the serpentine in the
vicinity of the town of Santa Clara could be related to
the San Cayetano.
In addition, near the top of the section and equiv-
alent to part of the Jagua Formation are beds of black
fossiliferous limestones, with a strong sulfurous odor
when broken, which appear to have been deposited
in an anoxic environment.
MATURATION
If one accepts all the units described in the previ-
ous section as potential sources, the best that can be
done at present is to try to make reasonable assump-
tions regarding the maturation and possible migra-
tion of hydrocarbons.
Temperature
The first point to consider is that, in the Escambray
massif, the age of the youngest metamorphosed sedi-
ments, the Loma Quivican Formation, is believed to
be pre-Campanian Upper Cretaceous. If the internal
thrusting of the massif is prior to the metamorphism
and the apparent inverse metamorphism is caused by
the overriding by the Domingo* –Cabaiguan* thrust
plate, as was initially proposed by Millán and Somin
(1981), the metamorphism must be Maastrichtian or
later. If the thrusting within the massif is postmeta-
morphism and the apparent inverse metamorphism
is caused by the stacking of several plates of increas-
ing metamorphic grade, then the metamorphism must
be related to the post-Cenomanian Upper Cretaceous
volcanic arc. Regardless of whether one considers that
the Domingo* and Cabaiguan* sequences rode north-
ward over the Escambray massif or that the Domingo*
and Cabaiguan* sequences were extruded by the closing
of the back-arc between the North American conti-
nental margin and the Escambray massif, the meta-
morphism should have occurred when the Escambray
rocks were much farther to the south or west of their
present position. Thus, in either case, the entire suc-
cession from Lower Jurassic through the Cretaceous
and from the southern coast of Cuba to the Bahamas
should have had a normal continental margin ther-
mal regime up until the early Eocene. It should be noted
that neither the carbonate belts nor the Cabaiguan* and
Domingo* sequences show any indication of thermal
metamorphism. The same is true in Pinar del Rio. The
356 / Pardo
metamorphism in the Cangre belt is interpreted as a
separate thrust sheet adjacent to the Pinar fault.
The information available on temperature comes
from three sources:
1) Kewanee Collazo-1 and Gulf Hicacos-1. In bottom-
hole temperature measurements, they show a
very low geothermal gradient of 0.458F/100 ft
(0.828C/100 m).
2) General Corporation Echevarria-1. A temperature
log from the uncased well in the Cabaiguan* belt
shows a somewhat higher, but still low, gradient
of 0.838F/100 ft (1.518C/100 m).
3) Published heat-flow measurements from 35 bore-
holes by Cermak et al. (1984, 1991) (see Chapter 5,
this publication). The given temperature gradients
are as follows:
Coastal area: Punta Alegre: 0.378F/100 ft (0.688C/
100 m)
Organos– Pinar del Rio: 0.758F/100 ft (1.378C/
100 m)
Domingo* or Cabaiguan* –north coast: 1.168F/
100 ft (2.118C/100 m)
Domingo* or Cabaiguan* – Cardenas Bay: 1.668F/
100 ft (3.038C/100 m)
Cabaiguan* – Jatibonico oil field: 2.148F/100 ft
(3.908C/100 m)
Cabaiguan*–Central Depression–western Cama-
guey: 1.348F/100 ft (2.438C/100 m)
Cabaiguan* – central Camaguey: 0.838F/100 ft
(1.518C/100 m)
Because the data from 1 and 2 are taken from logs
and are uncorrected, they probably tend to under-
estimate the true gradient. The data from 3 are be-
lieved to be much more representative because the
boreholes stabilized over a period of years before the
measurements were made. However, the measure-
ments taken in the continental margin show very
low values, 0.45–0.758F/100 ft, whereas those taken
in the Domingo* – Cabaiguan* sequence are appre-
ciably higher, 0.83 – 2.148F/100 ft.
A Model
A greatly oversimplified picture of the structural
evolution and distribution of lithologic units was
considered.
The model depicts the following conditions:
1) That the San Cayetano and equivalent Cayo Coco*
and Punta Alegre* formations, as well as older un-
known facies, represent the filling of a subsiding
rift, with sedimentation more or less keeping pace
with subsidence.
2) That there was a continuous regional subsidence
from Berriasian to the end of the Cretaceous with,
to the north, the Yaguajay* and Coastal Province
carbonate sedimentation keeping pace with the
subsidence, whereas the belts to the south did not
and received only pelagic sedimentation in wa-
ters on the order of some 13,000 ft (4000 m) deep.
3) That the thrusting started in early Tertiary, pro-
ducing deep-water flysch deposits, the Vega* For-
mation, which were overridden in middle Eocene
by the Domingo* –Cabaiguan* sequences thrust
sheet, the whole process terminating before the
upper Eocene.
4) That only relatively minor later activity occurred
because no upper Eocene and later detrital de-
posits are well developed in Cuba (they could be
present offshore). Consequently, the pre– upper
Eocene and later erosion in central Cuba and Pinar
del Rio were ignored.
Using surface temperatures of 258C at sea level
and 58C in deep water, paleodepth and paleotem-
perature diagrams for two hypothetical locations were
prepared: at a north location on the carbonate bank
and a south location inside the thrust belt. Two oil-
generation modeling techniques, the Lopatin and Ar-
rhenius methods of calculating the time-temperature
indices (TTI), were used for each location (Wapples,
1980; Wood, 1988). The Arrhenius technique gives
somewhat more optimistic results than the Lopatin.
The following results were obtained:
1) If the entire continental margin had a geother-
mal gradient of 18F/100 ft (1.8248C/100 m), then,
at the northern location, only the Jurassic and
the lowermost part of the Cretaceous would have
been subjected to a high-enough temperature dur-
ing a long-enough period of time to have gen-
erated petroleum; however, neither technique
indicates that Cretaceous rocks reached the peak
of oil generation. Moreover, the temperature at
the southern location would have been affected
by increased water depth and by the thrusting.
Only the Lower Jurassic (if it exists) would have
been under the right conditions until the lower
Eocene and the entire Jurassic, Lower Cretaceous,
and possibly the Upper Cretaceous, and the lower
part of the Eocene flysch might have generated
oil afterward. In other words, this suggests that oil

generation from the obvious sources might have
been the direct result of the overthrusting.
2) If the southern Bahamas–northeastern Cuba had
a gradient of 0.58F/100 ft (0.9128C/100 m), only
the Lower Jurassic (if it exists) would have been
under favorable conditions at the north location.
In conclusion, these calculations, obviously very
approximate, suggest that, unless (1) there is an un-
known source older than anything observed and
(2) the geothermal gradient was in the vicinity of
18F/100 ft (1.8248C/100 m), the Cuban carbonate plat-
form province had little chance to generate much oil.
Tenneco’s Doubloon Saxon-1, with a total depth at
21,740 ft (6628 m), should furnish critical informa-
tion when the data are released.
However, they also suggest that the oil observed
in Cuba at present is the result of the orogenic pro-
cess that provided the necessary overburden for the
maturation of the organic matter in the obvious pos-
sible and also speculative source sediments. It should
also be noted that because of the low geothermal
gradient (18F/100 ft; 1.8248C/100 m) the maximum
depth of wet-gas preservation could be on the order
of 23,000– 26,000 ft (7000 – 8000 m).
MIGRATION AND ACCUMULATION
This is unquestionably the aspect of Cuban petro-
leum geology that is most critical and most difficult
to resolve. In most geosynclinal petroliferous basins,
the deeper part of the basin, with a high percentage of
argillaceous material and a greater thickness of sed-
iments, is considered the source of petroleum as well
as the source of high fluid pressures that drives the
hydrocarbons toward the stable margins of the basin
where they accumulate in traps (hydrodynamic sinks).
Therefore, the possible sources of fluid, the poten-
tial aquifers or reservoirs, and finally, the seals will be
discussed.
Source of Fluids
All sediments are a potential source of fluids; quartz
sands and most carbonates have an original water con-
tent on the order of 45%, and the clays and pelagic
oozes on the order of 70%, which can be reduced to
a few percent by normal compaction. However, only
the clays will be able to generate overpressures be-
cause of their low permeability and swelling pressure;
all the other sediments will generate overpressure
only if they are enclosed within low-permeability sed-
iments such as clays or evaporites (this is a complex
Hydrocarbons / 357
and dynamic process). In Cuba, thick and extensive
argillaceous sediments are known only in the Jurassic
San Cayetano Formation (and related metamorphics),
the Cretaceous Cabaiguan* sequence volcanics, and
the lower–middle Eocene Vega* Formation flysch and
equivalents. The Cabaiguan* sequence volcanics con-
tain abundant argillaceous material, but are unlikely
to have been involved in the petroleum-generation
process; only the San Cayetano and the Vega* for-
mations could have been an important factor.
The San Cayetano Formation is the only unit sug-
gesting a deltaic sequence certainly capable of gener-
ating overpressures. One can safely assume that, at
least until the end of the Cretaceous, it had a fairly
normal compaction gradient, similar to that found in
many present-day deltas. Whether the San Cayetano
Formation and equivalents could have developed and
maintained overpressures for any length of time would
have entirely depended on the shale percentage
distribution, and no data on this subject are available.
Furthermore, if overpressures existed, the direction of
fluid flow during the Jurassic and Cretaceous would
have depended on the paleogeographic reconstruction
of the sand and shale facies.
Central and Northern Cuba
In the Escambray massif, where the metamor-
phosed equivalents of the San Cayetano are present,
if one assumes that the direction of internal thrusting
was from south to north, then the La Llamagua sands
were to the north, and the Herradura shales were to
the south prior to the thrusting. This indicates that
the direction of compaction fluid flow during the Ju-
rassic and Lower Cretaceous was from south to north.
During the orogeny in uppermost Cretaceous to
middle Eocene, the direction of fluid flow must have
been controlled by the advancing thrusts and, there-
fore, must have been from south to north over much
of central Cuba.
Farther to the north, in the Cayo Coco–Punta Alegre
area of the coastal province, the abundant evaporites
must have channeled the migration of fluids south-
ward toward the edge of the banks. The geometry of
the possible transition from the Punta Alegre* (and/
or lower Cayo Coco) Formation to the San Adrian
(and/or San Cayetano) Formation, and its effect on
fluid-flow patterns, is totally unknown.
However, no evaporites are present in the Yaguajay*
and Jatibonico* belts nor in the Gulf Blanquizal-1.
Collapse breccias in the dolomite are common in the
wells and outcrops, indicating the solution of Lower
Cretaceous and possibly older evaporites. However,
358 / Pardo
these two belts were near the bank edge, and few evap-
orites might have extended this far from the center of
the basin. This would suggest that along the bank edge,
there might have been a zone of cross-formational fluid
flow of unknown age, but possibly as old or older than
the early Tertiary. This zone might have prevented the
hydrocarbons, generated during and/or prior to the
orogeny, from reaching the carbonate platform prov-
ince and, therefore, the Bahamas foreland.
The noncalcareous shales of the Maastrichtian
Miguel* Formation could certainly have been a source
of fluid, but unfortunately, they are known only in a
few isolated outcrops.
The lower –middle Eocene Vega* Formation must
have been a source of fluids with near-geostatic pres-
sures acting, therefore, as an effective hydrodynamic
seal for fluid flow from older strata. This is caused
not only by its clay content and high shale percent-
age, but by its rapid deposition and burial under the
advancing Domingo* – Cabaiguan* sequence thrust
sheets. As mentioned previously, the presence of as-
phalt dikes or veins is a definite indication that geo-
static pressures existed at one time at the base of the
Domingo* sequence and in the underlying sedimen-
tary belts. It is unfortunate that, because of the struc-
tural complications, the outcrops of the Vega* For-
mation are so poor that it is impossible to map the
lithologies of this unit on a regional scale.
In northern Cuba, the carbonate bank facies has
not been recognized and probably did not extend west
of the Cardenas Bay, so the only movement of fluids
there must have been directed northward toward the
Gulf of Mexico.
Western Cuba
In Pinar del Rio, the San Cayetano facies distribu-
tion strongly suggests that during the Jurassic, and
possibly later, a south to southwestward direction of
compaction fluid flow existed.
The direction of fluid movement is more difficult
to estimate during the orogeny because both north-
ward and southward thrusting have been recognized.
Although chaotic, flysch and wildflysch, orogenic de-
tritus is widespread, no thick shales such as the Vega*
Formation have been recognized in Pinar del Rio.
AQUIFERS AND RESERVOIRS
Clastics
Generally, in Cuba, good reservoirs of this type
are very few.
Central and Northern Cuba
Here, the Jobosi* and Constancia* formations could
be considered potential reservoirs if well developed.
They seem to cover a large area. However, where they
have been observed, they are thin and have a dense
calcareous matrix, although they have been reported
as reservoirs in some north Cuba fields. It is not
known if production is from intergranular or fracture
porosity and permeability. Several volcanic-derived
sandstones in the Cabaiguan* belt sequence exist, but
they are quartz poor with a high percentage of feld-
spars and clays that reduce the permeability and ef-
fective porosity. The lower Eocene clastics of the Upper
Vega* and Rosas* formations are believed not to have
reservoir potential for the same reasons. Nothing is
known of the possibilities of a San Cayetano Forma-
tion equivalent in this area; if present, its porosity
might be greatly reduced by the additional overbur-
den of the thrust sheets that could be on the order of
more than 13,000 ft (4000 m).
Western Cuba
In Pinar del Rio, the San Cayetano Formation con-
sists of a thick section of quartz sandstone interbedded
with shales. The sandstone percentage can be very high,
but it is impossible, because of structural complica-
tions, to determine the possible location of favorable
sand/shale ratios. Although the sandstones in out-
crops appear porous, they are invariably hard and well
lithified when fresh. An additional problem is the vari-
able degree of metamorphism. La Esperanza Formation
also contains abundant sandstones, but very little is
publicly known about it. The Tertiary Diego Forma-
tion outcropping south of the Pinar fault has numer-
ous porous sands interbedded with shales that, under
the right circumstances, could be good reservoirs.
Carbonates
These form the reservoirs in the largest fields (Va-
radero and Boca de Jaruco) and are the most likely
potential reservoirs.
Central and Northern Cuba
In the Cayo Coco –Punta Alegre area and the Ya-
guajay* and Jatibonico* belts, the secondary dolo-
mites found throughout the Lower Cretaceous and
Upper Jurassic section are capable of being good res-
ervoirs with adequate intercrystalline porosity and
permeability. Platform limestones, if fractured near
fault zones or other structures, are also possible reser-
voir beds. Vugular porosity and solution cavities are

occasionally found but are difficult to predict. Reefs
are a definite possibility, but so far, they have not
been observed. In the Las Villas* and Placetas* belts,
the medium-grained dolomites of the Tithonian Hoyo
Colorado* Formation appear to have enough poros-
ity and permeability to be reservoirs. In addition, the
associated massive shallow-water limestones, as well
as those of the overlying Jaguita* Formation, could
form good reservoirs if fractured. The same is true of
the Lower Cretaceous pelagic limestones of the Ca-
pitolio* and Ronda* formations.
Western Cuba
In the Mogotes and Rosario belts, the massive lime-
stones and dolomites of the Guasasa and Artemisa for-
mations could be good reservoirs if fractured. Similar
potential reservoirs are the several orogenic carbonate
conglomerates found in every tectonic belt and the
Cretaceous massive miliolid limestones of the Gua-
jaibon Formation (Viñas* Group).
Other Rocks
Several other types of rocks form present-day res-
ervoirs, such as fractured serpentine, gabbros, volca-
nics, and conglomerates. Whether these can produce
sizable reservoirs with commercial flow rates is not
known but unlikely.
POTENTIAL SEALS
As previously mentioned, a characteristic of the sed-
iments exposed in Cuba is the lack of well-developed
shales or other potential seals. Evaporites are found
in the subsurface and outcrop only as diapirs; whether
they can form continuous seals remains to be seen.
In all areas, it should be emphasized that the thrust
faults themselves, with their Vega* (or similar) Forma-
tion material smeared along the fault plane, might
form the best seals available. All surface and drilling
evidence points to it. This type of seal apparently traps
much of the present production. In view of the com-
plexity of the fault geometry, whether it can be ade-
quate for major accumulations remains to be seen.
Evaporites
North and Central Cuba
The evaporites of the coastal province are capable
of being effective seals when present. They occur in
the Cayo Coco–Punta Alegre area and could be exten-
sive elsewhere in the northeastern coastal region.
They are present in the Bahamas’ Gulf-Chevron Cay
Hydrocarbons / 359
Sal-1 and Tenneco Doubloon Saxon-1 wells. The dense
limestones of this province are probably too fractured
to be a barrier to fluid motion. Farther south, in the
Yaguajay* to Cifuentes* belts, the known Jurassic and
Cretaceous section is devoid of evaporites; however,
there is the possibility that the autochthonous sec-
tion with evaporites extends farther south and west
under these belts as suggested by the presence of the
San Adrian diapirs. Jurassic evaporites could be the
décollement surface under the Yaguajay* and Las
Villas* belt. If this was the case, autochthonous res-
ervoirs could be sealed by the evaporites under the
allochthonous belts.
Western Cuba
No evaporite beds have been definitely reported
from Pinar del Rio. None of the logs of the Pinar del Rio
wells, published in the 1985 geologic map (Cuba,
1985a), show evaporites. However, dolomite and an-
hydrite are reported by Kuznetsov et al. (1985) in the
Puerto Esperanza wells, but not shown in the well logs.
In the EPEP Pinar-1 well, Lopez-Rivera et al. (1987) re-
port anhydrite, in nodules and fracture fillings, within
the shallow-water Jurassic carbonates. The amount of
anhydrite increases toward the total depth of the well
at 17,058 ft (5200 m).
Argillaceous Sediments
Central and Northern Cuba
Except for the highly deformed Santa Teresa* For-
mation, the carbonate belts are essentially devoid of
argillaceous material. The only known possibilities of
argillaceous seals would be the Upper Cretaceous non-
calcareous shales of the Miguel* Formation and the
shales of the lower–middle Eocene Vega* Formation.
Both units probably underlie the Domingo* thrust and
are caught in the fault planes of the many imbrications.
In the northern Cuban oil fields, the seals over the
existing production consist of Tertiary shales and
graywackes, ultrabasics, and volcanics (olistostromes)
caught along folded, faulted, and imbricated low-
angle faults. This indicates that the faults behave as
seals. However, it is the author’s opinion that the
complexity of the geometry of the observed faults has
prevented the discovery of major accumulations. Per-
haps there are some less complicated faults at depth
or in unexplored areas.
As mentioned before, the fact that most of the ac-
tive seeps are located in the ultrabasics of the Domingo*
sequence suggests that these rocks, because of the
fracturing, act more like a low-permeability reservoir
360 / Pardo
than a cap. However, the volcanics of the Cabaiguan*
sequence do seem to act as a definite seal but they
outcrop mostly in the trough of a large, faulted, sharp
syncline.
Western Cuba
Here, the exposed Jurassic and Cretaceous non-
volcanic section shows a higher argillaceous content
than that of central and northern Cuba. The San Ca-
yetano, Jagua, and parts of the Artemisa, Polier, and
Lucas formations have variable amounts of shale in-
terbeds. In addition, some uppermost Cretaceous and
Paleocene units like the Ancón, Buenavista, and Sierra
Azul formations have well-developed shale beds. Un-
fortunately, their reported stratigraphic position is
not too clear, and their relationship with older rocks,
as suggested by the presence of volcanic outcrops with-
in their described sections, could be of a structural
nature. In the Los Organos belt, a detrital section of
lower to middle Eocene age, the Pica Pica Formation,
contains shales. This unit is fairly thin but suggests
the Vega* Formation of central Cuba and could sim-
ilarly be much more extensive and involved in the
thrusting, making the thrusts themselves effective
seals. The volcanics of the San Diego de los Baños belt,
south of the Pinar fault, could provide some seals, but
so far, despite all the drilling, no shows have been
reported. In the same area, the Tertiary Diego Forma-
tion contains numerous shale beds.