Volcanic rocks along the Panama Canal present a world-class opportunity to examine the relationship between arc magmatism, tectonic forcing, wet and dry magmas, and volcanic structures. Major and trace element geochemistry of Canal volcanic rocks indicate a significant petrologic transition at 21-25 Ma. Oligocene Bas Obispo Fm. rocks have large negative Nb-Ta anomalies, low HREE, fluid mobile e...

Abstract The subduction of an active spreading center generates a clear signature in the temporal evolution zones. It disrupts typical arc‐type magmatism and intraplate seismicity, enhances emplacement backarc plateau lava profoundly change tectonics topographic relief. These distinct observations are commonly linked to slab window opening mantle upwelling. Chile Triple Junction provides ideal ...

Editor: T.M. Harrison Non-arc basalts of Archean and Proterozoic age have model primary magmas that exhibit mantle potential temperatures TP that increase from 1350 °C at the present to a maximum of ∼1500–1600 °C at 2.5–3.0 Ga. The overall trend of these temperatures converges smoothly to that of the present-day MORB source, supporting the interpretation that the non-arc basalts formed by the m...

The rise of the Isthmus of Panama, linked to a number of climatic, paleoceanographic, and biological events, has been studied mostly from indirect, often distal, geochemical and biotic evidence. We have upgraded existing geologic mapping in central Panama with more than 2000 fi eld stations, over 40 petrographic analyses, and more than 30 new geochronological and thermo chrono logical analy ses...