loumul of South Ameriaun Earth Scirnces, Vol. Y. Nos l/2. pp. 7Y-YO.

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Petrology and chemistry of late Cretaceous volcanic rocks from the

southernmost segment of the Western Cordillera of Colombia
(South America)

P. SPADEA and 2A. ESPINOSA

Department Georisorse Territorio, University of Udine, Via Cotonificio 114, 33100 Udine, Italy -
Fax n. 39-432-558700 - E-mail: piera.spadea@uniud.it
21NGEOMINAS, Regional Pacifico, Apartado ACreo 9724, Cali, Colombia
Absshact- This paper presentsnew data on the petrology and chemistry of the igneous rocks composing the Mesozoic base-
ment of southernmostWestern Cordillera of Colombia along the Ricaurte-Altaquer section. The studied sequenceincludes vari-
ably metamorphosedsubmarine lavas, breccias. tuffs and dykes of basalt to andesite composition, and minor, shallow quartz
microdiorite intrusives. A Campanian age is recorded by radiolarian faunas from chert strata capping the lavas. Two different
tholeiitic suites and a younger cam-alkaline suite, representedby hornblende andesite, are distinguished.One tholeiitic suite,
representedby plagioclase and pyroxene phyric lavas. evolves from basalt to basaltic andesite. It is characterized by the occur-
rence of diopsidic pyroxene as early crystallising phase, by depletion in high-field strength elements, particularly Nb and by
relative enrichment in light RBE and Th. The second tholeiitic suite, which includes aphyric or poorly phyric lavas of basalt to
dacite composition, differs from the first group in having moderately low FeO,,,/MgO ratio and lower PzO, content for a given
SiO,. and higher TiiZr and YlZr ratios. The pyroxene chemistry of the two suites also differs.

The primary geochemical characteristicsof the two suites suggesta similarity with tholeiitic suitesgenerated in island-arc envi-
ronment. The hornblende andesite has mineralogical and chemical characteristicsof talc-alkaline lavas erupted in an oceanic
setting in an evolved island-arc. Petrologic and geochemical evidence suggeststhat the volcanic rocks from the Ricaurte-
Ahraquer section are similar to the island-arc tholeiite volcanics from the upper Macuchi Formation of northern Ecuador and
can be correlated partly with this unit. Conversely. they are petrochemicaily dissimilar from the typical Diabase Group volcanic
rocks, characterized by transitional MORB lavas, extensively presentto the north in the Western Cordillera of Colombia. Copy-
right 0 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd & Earth Sciences & ResourcesInstitute

INTRODUCTION was possible from radiolarian chert capping the volcanics

which yielded a Campanian age. In this paper petrologic,
The Pacific margin of Central and South America includes mineralogical and geochemical data on this volcanic
a series of oceanic sequences extending from Costa Rica sequence are presented that indicate the presence of two
(Nicoya complex: Kuijpers 1980; Wildberg 1984) through suites generated at primitive- to mature- stage of island-
Colombia to northern Ecuador (Basic Igneous Complex: arc evolution. Inferences on the geological evolution of
Goossens and Rose 1973, Pichler et al., 1974) which were the Colombian Western Cordillera are discussed.
accreted onto the continental margin of South America dur-
ing Cretaceous and Tertiary times (Megard 1987; Howell
et al., 1985). These sequences have been generically
referred to as ophiolites (Burgois et al., 1987).
The stratigraphy and structural relations of the oceanic
sequences occurring in the Western and Central Cordillera
of Colombia are debated. They have been considered to
represent the products of a single volcano-tectonic cycle
(Barrero 1979, Millward et al., 1984), or to record two
distinct cycles which occurred in the late Jurassic-early
Cretaceous and in the late Cretaceous, respectively
(McCourt et al., 1984, Aspden and McCourt 1984). In
terms of origin and geodynamic setting, they have been
considered as products of an intraoceanic island-arc (Bar-
rero 1979), or a marginal basin (McCourt et al., 1984), or
an oceanic plateau (Storey et al., 1991), based on their
geochemical characteristics,
The geodynamic environment of the Mesozoic volcan- Fig. 1. Geological sketch map of the study area. Legend. 1.
ism from the Western Cordillera has been investigated on Quaternary-Neogene volcanics and sedimentary rocks; 2. Ceno-
the sequence exposed along the Piedrancha-Altaquer sec- zoic intrusives; 3. volcanic (A) and volcanic-sedimentary (B)
tion, located in southernmost segment of the Colombian sequences from Western Cordillera (Mesozoic); 4. metamorphic
Western Cordillera (Figure 1). Dating of this sequence and plutonic sequences from Central Cordillera (Paleozoic).

79
80 P. SPADEA and A. ESPINOSA
GEOLOGICAL SETTING
In Colombia, the Mesozoic oceanic sequences include
the Serrania de Baudo along the Pacific coastal range
(Goossens and Rose 1973), Gorgona island offshore the
Pacific coast (Echeverria 1980) and the huge Western
Cordillera (McCourt et al., 1984; Millward et al., 1984).
To the east the oceanic sequences are bounded by the
NNE trending Romeral fault system extending from the
Cauca-Patia graben to the western flank of the Central
Cordillera (Figure 1). Along the Romeral Zone, fragments
of mahc-ultramafic cumulates, massive plutonics and
mafic extrusives (Barrero 1979, Espinosa 1980, Aspden
and McCourt 1986, Spadea et al., 1987) and high-
pressure metabasic rocks (Orrego et al., 1980) are
exposed.
The Romeral Zone ophiolites and related volcanic
sequences from the Central Cordillera are interpreted as
an oceanic terrane accreted onto the continental margin
before approximately 120 Ma (Aspden and McCourt
1984) while the Western Cordillera volcanic sequences
are interpreted as an allochtonous terrane accreted onto
the continental edge about 65-60 Ma ago (McCourt et al.,
1984).
According to Bourgois et al. (1985), who propose a
nappe model for the Mesozoic sequences of the Colom-
bian Andes, the evolution of the Colombian margin
included two abduction phases which occurred in the late
Jurassic-early Cretaceous, before 110 Ma, and in the late
Senonian, between 80 and 75 Ma, respectively.
The stratigraphy and structural relations of the oceanic
sequences from Western Cordillera are known discontinu-
ously. The best known area is the classic Buga-
Buenaventura section at about 3 N latitude described by
many authors, in particular Barrero (1979) and Bourgois
ef al. (1982, 1987). This area is included in the geologi-
cal map of the Department of Valle (scale of 1: 100.000)
published in 1984-85 by the Colombian Ministry of
Industry and Mines. In the Buga-Buenaventura section, a
metamorphic sequence consisting of metabasalt, radiolar-
ian metachert and phyllite (Dagua Group of probable
Aptian age), and sequences affected by low-grade oceanic
metamorphism consisting of basaltic lavas, chert, gray-
wacke and pelite (Diabase Group and associated flysch
sequence of early Senonian age) are distinguished.
According to Bourgois et al. (1987) the Dagua Group and
the Diabase Group compose a nappe pile having the
Dagua sequence as the lowermost unit. It is worth noting
that the Diabase Group includes small shallow intrusions
of ferrogabbro, plagiogranite and felsite (Aspden, per-
sonal communication; Spadea, unpublished data).
From the Buga-Buenaventura section to the Ecuador
border (at about 1 N latitude), the volcanic sequences of
the Western Cordillera have been referred to generically
as Diabase Group. In Ecuador, where the continuation of
the lithostratigraphic units and structures of the Colom-
bian Andes can be recognised, the Western Cordillera
includes mostly by oceanic crust and island-arc sequences
of Cretaceous to Eocene age (Henderson 1979, Aspden
and Litherland 1992, and references therein). These oce-
anic sequences extend southward to about 3 S latitude
where the oceanic sequences of the Western Cordillera
disappear.
FIELD RELATIONS
The studied volcanic sections belong to the Mesozoic
sequence of the Western Cordillera and are intruded by
the Piedrancha talc-alkaline pluton and covered by Qua-
ternary volcanic deposits. The Piedrancha pluton mostly
consists of tonalite and is Pliocene in age (M. Delaloye,
unpublished radiometric WAr data); the young volcanics
include lavas, agglomerates and lahars, the more recent
related to the active Cumbal volcano.
The studied section is exposed in the Rio Gujza valley,
a minor valley crossing the Western Cordillera along the
divide between the Rio Patia basin to the north and the
Rio Mira to the south. Exposures are limited and the
rocks are largely weathered. Good exposures can be seen
in riverbeds, or in roadcuts and small quarries along the
road connecting Tuquerres (40 km to the SW of Pasto) to
Tumaco, located on the Pacific Ocean coast. Along this
road the volcanic rocks are exposed discontinuously
between the villages of Piedrancha and Altaquer, about 40
km apart, and comprise lavas, dyke rocks, volcaniclastic
and siliciclastic sediments that are affected by isoclinal
folding and later shearing and faulting. Strikes are mostly
N-S and NE-SW and dips are moderate to steep toward
the NE. At the Ensalado locality (see below) transcurrent
sinistral faults striking NNW-SSE cut the sequence of
lavas and capping sediments.
The following units and lithologies have been recog-
nized:
a) Biogenic and siliciclastic sediments composed of
radiolarian chert, cherty shale, shale. Chert may con-
tain manganese oxide; near Piedrancha a manganese
mineralisation consisting of Mn oxide and metaso-
matic rhodonite occurs in chert;
Volcanigenic sedimentary rocks including mostly
greywacke and volcanic siltstone; the detritus con-
sists of basalt and basaltic andesite (lithologic group
1: see section on petrography);
c> Hyaloclastic tuff, moderately altered;
4 Pillow lavas with pillows 0.5-l m in diameter, con-
sisting of basalt to andesite (lithologic group 2);
e) Monogenic volcanic breccias with even structure
(agglomerate and pillow breccia); the fragments are
mostly basalt and basaltic andesite (lithologic group
1);
Massive lavas, interlayered with the pillow lavas in
sheets of metric size, consisting of basaltic andesite
to dacite (lithologic group 1) ;
g) Hornblende andesite dykes, intruding the pillow
lavas and the monogenic volcanic breccias (lithologic
group 3).
h) Fine-grained dykes affected by low-grade metamor-
phism (lithologic group 2);
 Petrology and chemistry of late Cretaceous volcanic rocks
i) Microdiorite showing a magmatic layering marked
by variations in grain size, affected by low-grade
metamorphism (lithologic group 4).
Outcrops of extrusive rocks with well preserved struc-
tures occur 1 km to the west of Ricaurte (pillow lavas),
about 12 km west of Ricaurte (pillow lavas intruded by
dykes), and 0.5 km south of Altaquer (agglomerate cut by
dykes). A dyke swarm was observed in a single outcrop
located between Altaquer and Ricaurte, about 14 km west
of Ricaurte. The dykes are 20-30 cm thick, dip 45 NW
and have asymmetric chilled margins.
At Ensalado, located between Ricaurte and Piedrancha
a sequence of lavas and covering sediments with a well
exposed and undisturbed contact, about 20 m thick, has
been studied in detail. The stratigraphic column is shown
in Fig. 2 and consists upward of:
1) a few meters of aphyric and amygdaloidal andesite,
mostly weathered overlain by hyaloclastite;
2) 10 cm of red splinter shale;
3) 90 cm of red cherty shale, rich in Mn oxide;
4) 30 cm of green radiolarian chert;
5) 30 cm red cherty shale;
6) about 12 m of interlayered green and grey radiolarian
chert in upward thickening beds (7-20 cm to 20-30
cm). In the upper part, the grey chert is dominant and
pale-coloured, and contains shale interlayers. Finely
graded structures suggest a turbiditic origin of the
uppermost beds.
Ensalado section
W Cordillera
Radiokuian chert
Santonian-Campanim
Cherty shale
Radiolarian chert
Cherty shale
splinter shale cnmpanian
Hyaloclastite
Massive andesite
Fig. 2. Synthetic column of the volcanic and sedimentary
sequence from En Salado. Levels with dated radiolarian faunas
are marked.
81
Well-preserved radiolarians are common in the chert-
rich lithotypes: radiolarian assemblages of Santonian-
Campanian (interval 2) and Campanian age (base of
interval 6) have been determined by Peter Baumgarten
(personal communication).
ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES
Major and trace elements were determined by X-ray
fluorescence (XRF) at the University of Udine. XRF
analyses were made for major elements, Cr, and SC on
lithium borate glass disks (flux to sample ratio 1O:l to
overcome matrix effects) and for trace elements (V, Ni,
Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, and Nb) on powder pellets (Compton scat-
tering technique adopted for matrix absorption correc-
tions).
Rare-earth elements (REE) and Y were determined at
the Centre de Recherches PCtrographiques et GCo-
chimiques (C.R.P.G.) of Nancy, France and at the Univer-
sity of Udine by inductively coupled plasma (ICP)
emission spectrometry.
Mineral compositions were determined at the Univer-
sity of Milano, Department of Earth Sciences, using an
ARL-SEMQ equipment operating at an accelerating volt-
age of 15 kV, specimen current of 5 nA, beam diameter
of 2 to 3 nm and counting time of 20 s. The data have
been corrected using the MAGIC IV program (Colby,
1971).
PETROGRAPHY
The rocks are classified on the base of the primary rel-
ict features, disregarding the metamorphic mineral assem-
blages which in some samples have completely replaced
the magmatic ones. For classification purpose, the SiO,
content (on anhydrous basis) is used to separate basalts
(SiOZ c53%), basaltic andesites (SiO, 53-56%), andesites
(SiO, >56-63%) and dacite (SiO, >63%).
Three main primary lithologic groups are distinguished
among the volcanic rocks, that are: (1) plagioclase-
clinopyroxene phyric basalt-basaltic andesite; (2) aphyric
and oligophyric basalt-andesite-dacite; (3) plagioclase-
hornblende phyric andesite. A last group, including the
fine-grained intrusives characterized by layered structure,
is classified as (4) quartz microdiorite.
The essential petrography is summarized in Table 1.
Chemical data on pyroxene and primary amphibole are
reported in Tables 2 and 3.
Plagioclase-Clinopyroxene Phyric Basalt and Basaltic
Andesite
The phenocrysts consist mostly of plagioclase and col-
ourless clinopyroxene (Fig. 3a) which are rather uniform
in mineralogical features in the basalts and basaltic andes-
ites. In the basalts, sparse olivine pseudomorphs also
occur. Phenocrysts of plagioclase (less than 4 mm) and
82 P. SPADEA and A. ESPINOSA

Table 1. Essential petrography of the studied samples from the Ricaurte-Altaquer section.

Lithologic group Occurrence Phenocryst Chemical Metamorphism,

assemblage characteristics metamorphic facies

l.Plagioclasc and clino- pillow lava, 5-25%plagioclase Si02 50-54 wt% low-grade, weak
pyroxene phyric breccias, 2- 15% diopside TiO2 0.5-0.9 Wl% prehnite-pumpeilyite
basalt-basaltic dykes O-2% magnetite 15.4-18.7 wt%
A1203
andesite Zr 35-91 ppm
2. Aphyric and massive lavas, O-3% plagioclase SiO2 48-63 wt% low-grade, moderate to
oligophyric basalt- dyke swarm, O-2% augite Ti02 0.9-I .o wt% pervasive
andesite-dacite dykes A1203 18.1-14.3 wt% zeolite;
Zr 64-107 ppm prehnite-pumpellyite;
pumpellyite-actinolite;
greenschist
3. Hornblende- dykes l-20% plagioclase SiO2 56-60% low-grade, moderate to
plagioclase phyric 5- 10% hornblende Ti02 0.5-0.6% weak
andesite 0- 1% magnetite At203 18.1-18.7% pumpellyite-actinolite
Zr 33-40 ppm
4. Quartz microdiorite ?layered SiO2 54-59 wt% low-grade, moderate
intrusion Ti02 1.0-1.1 wt% greenschist

At203 14.9-15.4 wt%

Zr 67-74 ppm

clinopyroxene (less than 3 mm) and glomerocrysts of pla- reported in Table 2 show that the porphyritic pyroxene is
gioclase and clinopyroxene, sometimes intergrown, make diopside with mg moderately variable (maximum range
up 15-30% of the rock. The groundmass consists of pla- between 0.86 and 0.73 in sample COL 222) and similar
gioclase, clinopyroxene, Fe-Ti oxides and abundant mes- in basalts and basaltic andesites.
ostasis of altered glass. Vesicles are common (about 10%)
and typically include two generations represented by Aphyric and Oligophyric Basalt-Andesite-Dacite
coarse, lobate or pipe-shaped (l-3 mm), and small, round
These rocks are rather variable in texture and second-
vesicles (less than 1 mm), respectively. They are lined or
ary transformations. Some of them have been partly
filled with secondary minerals (chlorite, calcite, quartz,
altered at low-temperature and still contain some mag-
pumpellyite, prehnite).
matic plagioclase and clinopyroxene (Fig. 3b), while
The plagioclase phenocrysts are moderately altered to some have been pervasively affected by low-grade meta-
mica, epidote, prehnite and chlorite. The pyroxene phen- morphism. The magmatic textures range from intergranu-
ocrysts are fresh, and some contain inclusions of altered lar to intersertal. Sparse pseudomorphs of plagioclase and
glass or have corroded outlines. The microprobe analyses /or pyroxene phenocrysts are present in a few samples. In

Table 2. Representalive microprobe analyses of pyraxene.

Lilh. I. Plagioclase-clinopyroxene phyric basalt-basaltic an&site 2. Aphyric b;lsall-andesitc-dacIle

grow
Sample COL221 COL246 COL222 COL243 COL220 COL206 COL2 I5 COL205
Rock type pl-cpx B pl-cpx B pl-cpx B pl-spx B plxpx B pl-cpr BA uph 0A aph A
OccucT. ph 8dm ph gdm pb gdm 8dm pb 8dm mph pb 8dm pb mph phirim 8dm mph gdm

SiO2 53.19 $2.29 52 88 50 43 52 31 52.14 50.26 52 30 52.60 53 28 52 48 52 14 51 85 53 22 51.90 51 17 52 00 50.24

TiOZ 0 16 0.33 0.23 0.53 021 0.29 0 71 0.31 0.30 0 25 0.26 0.36 041 0 33 0.31 0.55 0.41 0 30
Al203 2.19 3.13 2 34 4.65 3 44 3.63 5.72 2 72 2.28 2 10 4 00 3 32 3.59 2.02 4.47 2 61 I Y3 4 74
Cr203 0.09 0.05 0 22 0.12 0 21 0.00 001 0.06 0 03 0 13 0 22 0 45 0.00 0 I6 0.15 0.06 0 04 0 I3
F~Qot 6.01 8 I 6.00 IO 43 4 76 6 SO 8.65 7.14 9 92 6 25 5.17 1.71 IO.43 851 12.84 Il.)8 13 33 i5.48
MnO 0.13 0 1Y 0 20 0 21 0.12 O.IY 0 19 0 24 41 0 17 0 14 0.18 0.29 0 22 0 31 0.34 0 53 0.64
16.23 15.57 16.95 14.19 15.69 IS.,, 13.39 16.44 17 05 16.71 17.49 16.50 15.04 17.55 13 04 14 9 16 02 I5 Y3
CA0 22.23 20.33 21.33 19 52 23.01 22.13 21.21 20.61 11 85 20 96 iY.12 18.65 Il.58 1808 16.lb 17.81 ISYY I2 62
Na20 0 II 0.23 0.00 0 00 0.12 0.16 0.19 0.00 0.00 0.23 0.37 0 34 0.7) 0.20 1.16 0.8) 0.0 0 00
TOM 100 34 100.13 100.15 lOO.IJ 99.81 100 I5 100.33 99 82 100.44 100 08 99.85 YY.7, Y9Y8 100 2) 100.36 100.2 I I0 25 IO008
WO 45 14 42.31 43.22 41 34 47.51 45.98 45.55 42.20 36 45 42 83 40 07 39 23 38 56 36 90 36.60 31 30 33 0.l 21 Y
Eli 45.83 45.07 4117 41.79 45.05 43.66 39.99 46.82 48.42 47 50 50 99 48 21 45.89 49 81 4 I .02 43 41 46 04 41.55
FS 9.03 I2 62 9.01 16.81 7.44 10.36 1446 10.98 15.13 9.67 8.94 12.50 15.55 13.29 22.38 19.2) 20 Y2 25.36
mg # 83.54 18.12 84.12 71.24 85.82 80.82 73 45 81 I 76 19 83.08 85.09 79.44 74 68 78 94 64 70 69.23 68.75 65 22

Abbrevinrtons: ph=phenocryrt, tnph=micco=phcnocrysr, gdm=groundmasr

 Petrology and chemistry of late Cretaceous volcanic rocks 83

Table 3. Representative microprobe analyses of primary The groundmass consists of plagioclase microlites and
amphibole from hornblende-plagioclase phyric acicular hornblende, with interstitial quartz, chlorite and
andesites (lithologic group 3). Fe-Ti oxides.
The porphyritic plagioclase is labradorite (An84-86,
Sample COL223 COL244 as determined by microprobe analysis), partly altered to
white mica, epidote, prehnite and chlorite. The ground-
Occurrence ph core ph core ph ph rim mass plagioclase is extensively altered.
wt%
The porphyritic amphibole is yellow-green
Si02 47.97 47.75 49.60 49.19
Mg-hornblende (mg between 80 and 83: Table 3) incipi-
TiO2 1.21 0.67 0.99 1.18
ently altered to acicular actinolite (extensively in sample
A1203 7.33 8.14 6.75 7.17 COL216). Groundmass hornblende is partially replaced
FeOtot 13.07 13.61 13.73 13.90 by actinolite and chlorite. Actinolite occurs also in late
MnO 0.37 0.51 0.50 0.29 veins together with prehnite and epidote.
MgO 16.18 16.24 16.11 16.14
CaO 11.72 11.58 11.54 11.56
Na20 1.15 1.24 0.71 0.52
@artzMicrodiorite
K20 0.09 0.18 0.11 0.02 This rock type has been identified as plutonic in origin
Total 99.09 99.92 100.03 99.97 mostly on the base of layering observable at a mesoscopic
and microscopic scale and relatively coarse-grained tex-
cations ture. Its primary mineral assemblage consists of plagi-
Si 6.802 6.700 6.937 6.874 oclase and clinopyroxene, with small amounts of Fe-Ti
1.198 1.300 1.063 1.126
oxides and quartz in addition. Texture is subophitic and
AP
the crystal size is in the range 1 mm-O.2 mm for feld-
Aim 0.027 0.047 0.050 0.055
spar and 0.3 mm-O.1 mm for pyroxene. The plagioclase
Ti 0.129 0.071 0.104 0.124
is moderately altered to mica and epidote, while the
Fe3+ 0.682 0.917 0.780 0.820
clinopyroxene is incipiently altered to actinolite. Chlo-
Mg 3.419 3.396 3.358 3.361 rite, epidote and hematite occur both sparsely and in
Fe2+ 0.868 0.680 0.826 0.804 veins.
Mn 0.044 0.061 0.059 0.034
Ca 1.781 1.741 1.729 1.731
NaM4 0.050 0.088 0.094 0.070
CHEMISTRY
Na-A 0.266 0.250 0.099 0.070 18 selected samples were analysed for major elements
K 0.016 0.032 0.020 0.004 and some trace elements detectable with XRF. Rare earth
Total FM 13.169 13.171 13.177 13.199 elements were determined on five samples chosen as rep-
Total A 0.282 0.282 0.119 0.074 resentative of the major lithologies. Table 4 reports
100 mg# 79.75 83.32 80.26 80.70 chemical data on major and trace elements, and Table 5
those on REE.

less altered samples, relict magmatic clinopyroxene
occurring in phenocrysts and microlites is augite (Table 2,
clearly distinct in chemistry from the pyroxene from the
previous rock group (Fig. 4).
The secondary mineral assemblages recognized at out-
crop and hand specimen scale include: a) laumontite-
smectite-albite; b) prehnite-pumpellyite-albite-chlorite-
epidote; c) pumpellyite-actinolite-chlorite-albite-epidote;
d) actinolite-albite-chlorite-epidote-titanite, indicating
that metamorphism can be bracketed in the zeolite- to
pumpellyite-actinolite facies sequence and in the green-
schist facies of oceanic metamorphism.
Plagioclase-Hornblende Phyric Andesite
This rock type typically contains magmatic hornblende
a.s phenocrysts (about 5%) and groundmass microlites
(Fig. 3~). Among the phenocrysts plagioclase is dominant
(25-1045) and magnetite occurs in addition (about 1%).
Evaluution of Chemical Changes Due to Alteration
As the volcanic rocks from the Ricaurte-Altaquer sec-
tion exhibit variable effects of low-grade metamorphism,
changes of chemical composition due to the circulation of
fluids must be expected, particularly for low ionic-
potential elements.
To qualitatively assess chemical mobilisation, variations
of major and trace elements can be compared with the
immobile element Zr used as an index of fractionation. For
each petrologic group, NazO and KzO show a large scatter
over restricted ranges in Zr (Fig. 6), and similarly Rb and
Ba are scattered in excess of the analytical error. Con-
versely, a more regular trend of decreasing MgO and CaO
with increasing Zr is seen. The relative wide scattering of
values for Sr (Fig. 7) may reflect plagioclase phenocrysts
variations as well as secondary mobilisation. The hom-
blende andesite group plots separately from the other pet-
rologic groups in these diagrams because of the low Zr
content, but shows comparable scattering of values for the
84 P. SPADEA and A. ESPINOSA

Fig. 3. Petrographic features of typical volcanic rocks from the Ricaurte-Altaquer section (microphotographs with crossed polars;
width of field 3.5 mm). a. Px-plag phyric basalt (sample COL220): phenocrysts of diopside (CPX) and labradorite-bytownite (PL),
intersertal groundmass made of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, altered olivine and opaques with chlorite mesostasis. b. Aphyric andesite
(COL 205) consisting of plagioclase and pyroxene microlites, interstitial quartz, opaques and chlorite mesostasis. c. Hornblende-
plagioclase phyric andesite (COL223). Phenocrysts of hornblende (HBL); microphenocrysts of plagioclase and magnetite; ground-
mass made of plagioclase, hornblende, quartz and opaques with interstitial chlorite; mica, epidote and prehnite after plagioclase
common.

Fig. 3b.

more mobile elements. It is concluded that abundances of
some low ionic potential elements, notably Mg, Ca, and
possibly Sr, were largely preserved and can therefore be
used to infer magmatic affinities and petrogenetic charac-
teristics. The high field-strength elements Ti, P, and Y show
coherent trends with respect to Zr (Fig. 7) so confirming
their relative stability during secondary processes.
Major and lhce Elements
The analysed volcanic rocks range from evolved basalt
(mg < 0.65) to andesite, but chemical variations appear
different for the three petrologic groups. There are small,
but significant differences between the plag-px phyric
basalt-basaltic andesite and the aphyric and oligophyric
basalt-andesite-dacite groups. The hbl-phyric andesite
group is clearly distinct from the other two, with lower Fe
and Ti and higher Al contents,
In the FeO,,JMgO vs SiOz diagram (Fig. 5), the phy-
ric basalt-basaltic andesite and the aphyric basalt-
andesite-dacite groups plot in the tholeiitic field, while
the hbl-phyric andesite group plot in the talc-alkaline
field consistent with the petrographic data and hence very
likely reflecting real primary features. Conversely, other
 Petrology and chemis+q of late Cretaceous volcanic rocks 85

Fig. 3c.

discriminations based on mobile elements, for instance and La,/Yb, ratios (7.7 and 5.5) within the range of the
K,O, provide unrealistic low- to high-K serial characters aphyric rocks. The hbl andesite shows low REE propor-
for a single petrologic group. tions and a significantly lower enrichment in LREE (La,/
Yb, = 2.5).
Compared to the phyric basal&basaltic andesites, the
aphyric basalt-andesite-dacite group shows a wider com- Spiderdiagrams
positional range toward more evolved lavas and relatively
Representative MORB-normalised spiderdiagrams
higher contents of TiO, relative to mg (Fig. 6) and higher
(Pearce 1982) are presented in Figure 9. All the samples
Ti and Y relative to Zr (Fig. 7). The observed differences
are enriched in low-field strength elements and Th, and
appear to reflect partly the relative proportions of phenoc-
have a strong negative anomaly in Nb and variable deple-
rysts, acting as diluent for the abundance of the most
tion of other high-field strength elements. Wereas the
incompatible elements. However, the trends cannot be
enrichments in alkalis and alkaline earths may possibly
simply explained with the phenocryst abundance and pro-
result from alteration, the high Th should reflect a mag-
vide evidence that two similar, but variably enriched
matic character. Similarly the depletion of Nb and high
sequences exist.
field-strength elements can be considered a primary fea-
ture.
Rare Earth Elements
Representative chondrite-normalised REE patterns are
shown in Figure 8. Strong LREE enrichments and marked
negative Eu anomalies are displayed by all samples. The
aphyric basalt-andesite samples have variable REE con-
centrations and ratios (La,Nb, = 8.6-3.1). The two phy-
ric basalt-basaltic andesite samples have REE proportions

Di Hd

45 50 55 60 65

I
En Fs
Fig. 4. Plot in the pyroxene quadrilateral for the analysed
pyroxenes from the phyric basalt-basaltic andesite (tholeiitic
suite 1) and aphyric basalt-dacite (tholeiitic suite 2) lithologic
groups from the Ricaurte-Altaquer section.
wt% SiO z
Fig. 5. FeO,,,/MgO vs SiOz diagram for the analysed samples
from the Ricaurte-Altaquer section showing the tholeiitic char-
acter (TH) of the clinopyroxene-plagioclase phyric basalt-
basaltic andesite (px-pl phyr B-BA) and aphyric basalt-andesite-
dacite (aphyric BA-D), and the talc-alkaline affinity (CA) of the
hornblende andesites (hbl-pl A). Boundary between the TH and
CA fields (solid line) after Miyashiro (1974).
86 P. SPADEA and A. ESPINOSA

Table 4. Major and trace-element XRF analyses. Tolal Fe as Fe203

Lith. I. PIPgioelase-clinopyrolene 2. Aphyric and oligophyric 3. Hornblende-plagioclasc 4 Quanz-dioritc

group phyric basalt-basaltic andesitc basalkwulcsi~c- dacire phyric and&k

Sample COL22i CPL260 COLZW COL261 COL247 COL251 COL249 COL219 COL250 COL248 COL215 CDL205 COL216 COl.244 1W.221 COl.253 COL254
pl-cpx pl-cpx pl-cpx pl-cpx aph aph sph aph aph aph sph aph pi-hbl pl-hbl pl-hbl
B BA BA BA B BA BA DA BA BA 0A D A A A
W%
SiO2 50. II 52.95 53.15 53.69 47.93 52.50 54.18 54.65 54.65 54.90 55.20 63. IO 56.30 59.45 59.85 54.30 59.15
T@ 0.47 0.9 I 0.91 0.88 1.08 0.83 0.99 1.03 1.04 I .03 0.98 0.88 0.56 0.51 0 51 O.Y6 1.05
A1203 18.69 15.40 16.22 IS.66 18.11 I5 66 16.97 15.74 15.90 15.30 16.08 14.36 18.66 18.10 I8 IO 14.YO 15.40
Fe203 9.19 12.50 12.12 12.27 I I.80 10.97 11.81 11.24 11.26 12.23 10.60 9.00 8.33 7.47 7.55 13.10 IO 65
ME5 0.10 0.18 0.17 0.19 0.16 0.19 0.18 0.18 0.18 0.16 0.14 0.13 0 13 0.16 0 15 I) 22 0.18
MgO 7.58 5.27 4.13 4.87 7.90 6.58 5.52 4.50 4 45 5.35 4.30 3.72 4 28 3.42 3 40 4.13 2 2)
Cao 10.96 6.20 8.10 6.97 9.44 8.00 3.20 6.25 5 45 7.55 6.75 3 15 8.55 7.00 7 15 6 30 4 Y5
NW 2.18 4.63 3.45 3.59 2.66 4.20 6.25 5.92 5 42 2.32 5.32 4.42 1.98 3.28 2 90 5 50 5.17
K20 0.15 1.06 1.65 I.57 0.30 0.25 0.47 0.31 I 32 0.61 0.55 I .42 0.30 0.63 0.66 0 46 I IO
P205 0.10 0.28 0.27 0.26 0.20 0.13 0.15 0.20 0.23 0.16 0.16 0 23 0.06 0.08 0 08 0 17 0.1)
Toral 99.53 99.38 100.17 99.95 99.58 99.3 I 99.72 100.02 99.90 99.61 100.08 100.41 9Y.15 100.10 100 35 100 04 100.13
Lol 2.71 2.32 2.70 2.18 2.72 0.90 2.82 1.74 1.59 2 92 I 63 2.26 1.41 2.31 2 55 I 96 461
IOOmg X 64.96 48.66 43.37 47.15 60.08 57.41 I
5 .23 47.36 47 04 49.58 41.69 48 16 53.59 50.72 50 30 41 47 32.58
ppm
SC 39 35 36 36 36 43 34 36 36 39 37 29 37 30 34 42 38
V 215 382 384 354 387 283 341 323 350 387 328 325 270 181 188 345 344
Cr 45 25 16 28 24 170 I5 30 25 28 33 6 IO IO 5 IO 28
Ni 40 I9 20 I2 I8 43 I6 14 15 164 I8 5 2 <2 <2 5 7
ol 89 274 258 413 II2 78 I61 79 100 I4 75 I95 79 37 36 In x
Rb 5 13 17 I7 7 6 8 6 22 8 II I6 K IO 14 5 24
Sr 336 381 436 398 297 217 157 123 161 233 230 35s 234 262 164 I48 I04
Y 14 25 25 21 23 20 37 26 26 21 26 28 19 18 I) 24 23
zr 35 89 90 77 77 64 66 80 x7 68 84 107 33 40 3Y 67 74
Nb <2 <2 <2 <2 3 2 2 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2
Ba 63 184 209 344 II5 114 86 I20 312 114 92 276 126 IY4 156 II8 360
Tll 3 5 4 3 n.d. 4 n.d. I 1 5 4 4 3 3 3 4 3

mg W=mol MgUMgOtFcO); Fe0 calculated for Fe203/FeO rado=0.15.

Abbrevialionr: sph=aphyric. ph=phyric. sph=sparsely phyric. kbasalt, BA=bnsaltic andesiie. A=andes~tr. D=dacltc. n d.= not dcwnuned

Chemistty of Quartz Microdiorites in the Western Cordillera of Colombia and to the south
in the Western Cordillera of Ecuador. The stratigraphi-
Although data on the quartz microdiorites are scant,
cal data are too fragmentary for a detailed discussion,
the chemical data on major, trace elements and REE sug-
however it is worth stressing that the studied sequence
gest a link with the evolved lavas from the aphyric basalt-
has provided a single, but reliable Campanian-
andesite-dacite group.
Santonian date for recorded by radiolarians found in
chert, and that this is important age information
DISCUSSION because dating of the Western Cordillera volcanic units,
both using fossils or radiometric measurements, are
The following discussion considers possible eruptive
made difficult or ambiguous by widespread metamor-
settings and the relations of the Ricaurte-Altaquer
phism.
sequence with the volcanic units occurring to the north

Table 5. ICP rare earth element data (ppm element)

Lith.
group 1 2 2 2 2 3 4

Sample COL221 COL206 COL219 COL250 COL205 COL223 COL254

pl-cpx B pl-cpx BA aph BA aph BA aph D pl-hbl A qz-diorite

La 9.96 24.57 8.77 10.92 34.24 6.52 9.68

Ce 16.04 44.61 22.58 22.91 52.91 9.38 17.78
Nd 7.21 20.93 13.69 15.02 27.43 4.98 11.46
Sm 3.09 6.18 5 5.19 7.69 2.84 4.46
& 0.44 1.12 0.87 1.03 0.93 0.46 0.88
Gd 1.99 4.54 4.04 4.17 6.25 2.26 3.67
DY 2.38 4.31 4.61 4.69 5.47 2.97 4.10
Er 1.47 2.46 2.63 2.65 3.07 1.85 2.40
Yb 1.22 2.13 2.26 2.36 2.65 1.74 2.18
 Petrology and chemistry of late Cretaceous volcanic rocks 87

a b
2 I I I I

wt% TiO 2 Q- wt% MgO

0 ,

L
n
6-
n I
- 0 pp n
A 0m4 .
3- A
AA 0

0 I I n 9 9
40 50 mg# 6o 70 20 60 100
zr PPm
25 , I I 12 7 I I
I
0
*o3
20 -
wt% Al
I a-
A
5
l
wt% CaO

0
_

A Om
AA m o
. .O
15 - Oe* 8
4-
l n 8

10 I I 0 I I
40 50 6o 70 20 60 100
mg#
a mm

wt% Na 2O
6-
6- n

nm

I Q n
C
3- 0 0
3- t B
n
P

0 I I
50 20 60 100
mg# 6o
zr PPm

2 - wt% K,O

0 o n
m
1 - 0

h m
.
A l =
0 0 I I
20 O 100
5o mg# O Zrppm

Fig. 6. Variationsof selected major elements against mg (a) and Zr (b) Symbols as in,Fig. 4. The two petrologic groups with
tholeiitic character show clearly distinct plots in the TiO, vs mg diagram (a). Conversely, the hornblende andesite group
is clearly distinct from the two tholeiitic suites in all plots. Diagrams b show significant correlations of MgO and CaO
with Zr, whereas Na,O and K,O are dispersed as consequence of mobilisation during secondary processes.

Primary Petrologic Characteristics and Possible
Eruptive Setting
The Ricaurte-Altaquer sequence consists of two, dif-
ferently fractionated tboleiitic suites and a hornblende
andesite suite with a talc-alkaline character.
One tholeiitic suite, represented by the plagioclase and
pyroxene phyric lavas, goes from evolved basalt to basal-
tic andesite, has diopsidic pyroxene as early crystallising
phase, generalised depletion in HFSE, particularly Nb,
and relative enrichment in light REE and Th.
The second tholeiitic suite constists of aphyric rocks
and differs from the former one in having moderately
88 P. SPADEA and A. ESPINOSA

600 , I I 1
Sr PPm _

400
O 0
0
n
m
Ah mm n
200
n m
m

0' 1 1 I
100 20 60 100
O Zrppm
Wvm
0,4 1 I I I I
I I 1
Bappm
400

1
n
0
n

200
8
:
A mm mm
n l
0 !
01
20 60 100
appm
30 1 I

WJP

n
20 -

O" m
A
0
n
10 - A
A I
n D
0

I *
0
20 60 100
~PIJ~

Fig. 7. Variations of selected minor and trace elements against Zr (symbols as in Fig. 4). All diagrams clearly discriminate the CA
hornblende andesites. The two petrologic groups with tholeiitic character show evidence of distinct trends in the Ti-Zr, P,O,-Zr, and
Y- Zr diagrams.

lower FeO,,,/MgO ratio and lower P,O, content for a

given SiO,, and higher Ti/Zr and Y/Zr ratios, Moreover
the pyroxene chemistry is different. The primary geo-
chemical characteristics of the two suites suggest a simi-
larity with tholeiitic suites generated in island arcs.

The hornblende andesite suite is younger than the

former ones, and has mineralogical and geochemical
characteristics of talc-alkaline island-arc volcanics (oce-
anic or continental).

Rehztions with Lute Cretaceous Volcanic Sequences

from the Western Colombian Andes

The volcanic units of ascertained late Cretaceous age

Fig. 8. Chondrite-normalised rare earth patterns for representa-
tive samples of lavas from the Ricaurte-Altaquer section. Nor-
malization constants from Nakamura (1974).
present along the Colombian Western Cordillera farther
north of the area of this study, known in the literature as
Diabase Group, are made mostly of tholeiitic basalts
similar to MORB. As shown by Millward et al. (1984),
Aguirre (1989) and Kerr et al. (this volume), these basalts
have distinctive geochemical features of transitional
 Petrology and chemistry of late Cretaceous volcanic rocks
OJ, I I , ( i
I
, , , , , ,
Sr K Rb Ba Th Nb Ce P Zr Sm Ti
Fig. 9. N-type MORB-normalized multi-element plots of repre-
sentative samples of lavas from the Ricaurte-Altaquer section.
Normalising values from Pearce (1982), except Ba taken from
Sun and McDonough (1989).
MORB which could support an original geotectonic set-
ting in an oceanic plateau (Storey et al., 1991). Altema-
tive interpretations of these units as low-K arc tholeiites
(Barrero, 1979, McCourt et al., 1984) appear unsup-
ported, particularly if the geochemical characteristics are
considered.
It appears clear that the Ricaurte-Altaquer sequence
does not belong to the Diabase Group described from
other areas of the Colombian Western Cordillera.
A possible correlation could eventually exist with
sequences of still ill-defined age which show some simi-
larities in petrology and geochemistry with the Ricaurte-
Altaquer one. For instance, some island-arc tholeiites
have been found in volcanic units of unknown age from
La Tetilla near Popayan (Spadea et al., 1986), and they
too are probably unrelated stratigraphically to the Diabase
Group. Also Grosser (1989) describes volcanic rocks with
different petrochemical characteristics from the Colom-
bian Western Cordillera.
These differences between the Ricaurte-Altaquer vol-
canics and the Diabase Group has obviously important
implications for geotectonic models of the Colombian
margin during the Cretaceous.
Relations with Volcanic Sequences from Northern
Ecuador
The Basic Igneous Complex from the Ecuadorian
Western Cordillera and Coastal Cordillera od Ecuador
includes several volcanic formations of Late Cretaceous
to Eocene age (Wallrabe-Adams, 1990; Litherland and
Aspden, 1992). The Macuchi Formation of Senonian to
Eocene age underlies extensively the Ecuadorian Western
Cordillera as far as the Colombia-Ecuador border (Hend-
erson, 1979; Feininger and Bristow, 1980). It includes a
89
tholeiitic basalt to dacite suite with volcanic arc affinity
(Lebras et al., 1987; Van Thoumout et al., 1992), as well
as basalts similar to the MORB-type lavas from the Dia-
base Group of Colombian Western Cordillera (Aguirre
and Atherton, 1987; Lebras et al., 1987). The geochemi-
cal patterns of incompatible elements and REE patterns of
IAT basalt and andesite reported by Lebras et al. (1987)
are close to those of the Ricaurte-Altaquer volcanics. A
correlation with the Macuchi Formation pro-purte is
therefore suggested as highly probable, although should
be verified with detailed stratigraphical data.
CONCLUSIONS
The volcanic rocks of the Ricaurte-Altaquer section,
,
southernmost Western Cordillera of Colombia, include
Y Yb two petrochemically distinct tholeiitic basalt to andesite
suites and hornblende andesites with talc-alkaline charac-
ter. The two tholeiitic suites are probably of the same age,
recorded by Campanian fossils, and display arc tholeiite
characteristics; the hornblende andesites are younger and
might mark a mature stage of arc evolution. An altema-
tive hypothesis of a continental margin setting should
imply emplacement after collision and involvement of the
continental crust in their genesis and cannot be explored
with the data of this study. An oceanic setting is however
preferred, considering their spatial association with oce-
anic terrains and metamorphic features, the latter compa-
rable to those of the tholeiitic volcanics. We suggest that
these lavas are similar to the IAT volcanic rocks from the
upper Macuchi Formation of northern Ecuador and can be
correlated partly with this unit. Conversely, they are pet-
rochemically dissimilar from Diabase Group volcanic
rocks to the north in the Colombian Western Cordillera.
The realisation that the Diabase Group includes units
distinct in age, structural relations, and tectonic setting
has implications for the possible scenario of the Colom-
bian margin during the late Cretaceous, particularly con-
cerning the efficacy oceanic plateau model (Storey et al.,
1991). The occurrence in the late Cretaceous of within-
plate, extension-related (T-MORB) and subduction-
related (IAT) volcanics cannot be reconciled unless they
belong to different accreted terranes, and possibly also
that they might have some difference in age, and reflect
distinct events in time and space.
Acknowlcdgemcnts - Discussions with John Aspden. Michel Delaloye
and Abigail Orrego at different stages of this study were very helpful.
The reviews by L. Aguirte and J. Tamey are gratefully acknowledged.
We thank Pietro Ciet for XRF and ICP analyses. This tesearch work is
part of the project Ophiolites and evolution of the oceanic lithosphere
suppotted by the Italian Ministry of University and Scientific and Tech-
nologic Research. The Italian National Research Council is acknowl-
edged for the use of the microprobe equipments in the universities of
Milan and Padua by P.S.
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