Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371

www.elsevier.com/locate/jsames

Geochronological, isotopic, and geochemical data from

Permo-Triassic granitic gneisses and granitoids
of the Colombian Central Andes
a,*
C.J. Vinasco , U.G. Cordani b, H. González c, M. Weber a, C. Pelaez d

a
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Calle 65 No. 78-28, Facultad de Minas, M1-324, Medellı́n, Colombia
b
Institute of Geosciences, University of São Paulo – Rua do Lago, 562, Cidade Universitária, CEP 05508-080 São Paulo, Brazil
c
Ingeominas, Calle 75 No. 75A-51, Medellı́n, Colombia
d
Universidad EAFIT, Cra 40 No. 10A-29, Medellı́n, Colombia

Received 1 October 2004; accepted 1 February 2006

Abstract

New U–Pb SHRIMP ages in zircon, Ar–Ar ages in micas and amphiboles, Nd–Sr isotopes, and major and REE geochemical analyses
in granitic gneisses and granitic stocks of the Central Cordillera of Colombia indicate the presence of a collisional orogeny in Permo-
Triassic times in the Northern Andes related to the construction of the Pangea supercontinent. The collision is recorded by metamorphic
U–Pb SHRIMP ages in inherited zircons around 280 Ma and magmatic U–Pb SHRIMP ages in neoformed zircons around 250 Ma with-
in syntectonic crustal granitic gneisses. Magmatic U–Pb SHRIMP and Ar–Ar Triassic ages around 228 Ma in granitic stocks indicate the
presence of late tectonic magmatism related to orogenic collapse and the beginning of the breakup of the supercontinent. During this
period, the Central Cordillera of Colombia would have been located between the southern United States and northern Venezuela, in
the leading edge of the Gondwana supercontinent.
Ó 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Keywords: Colombia; Central Cordillera; Northern Andes; Permo-Triassic; Crustal magmatism; Collision; Isotope geology; Pangea

Resumen

Nuevas edades U–Pb SHRIMP en circón, Ar–Ar en micas y anfiboles, resultados de isótopos de Nd–Sr y geoquı́mica convencional de
elementos mayores y elementos de las tierras raras en granitos neisicos y stocks granı́ticos de la Cordillera Central de Colombia, sugieren
la presencia de un evento orogénico de carácter colisional permo-triásico en los Andes del Norte relacionado con la formación del super-
continente Pangea. La colisión estarı́a registrada por edades de metamorfismo U–Pb SHRIMP en circones heredados alrededor de
280 Ma y edades de magmatismo U–Pb SHRIMP en circones neo-formados alrededor de 250 Ma en granitos neisicos sintectónicos
de origen predominantemente cortical. Edades de magmatismo U–Pb SHRIMP y Ar–Ar triásicas alrededor de 228 Ma en stocks gran-
ı́ticos muestran la presencia de um magmatismo tarditectónico cortical con algún aporte juvenil en la Cordillera Central de Colombia,
relacionado al colapso orogénico e inicio de la distensión del supercontinente. En este perı́odo de tiempo, la Cordillera Central de Colom-
bia estarı́a localizada en la parte frontal del supercontinente Gondwana en una paleolatitud entre el sur de los Estados Unidos y norte de
Venezuela.
Ó 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Palabras clave: Colombia; Cordillera Central; Andes del Norte; Permo-triásico; Magmatismo cortical; Colisión; Geologı́a isotópica; Pangea

*
Corresponding author. Fax: +57 4 4255103.
E-mail addresses: cvinasco@unal.edu.co (C.J. Vinasco), ucordani@usp.br (U.G. Cordani), hgonzale@ingeomin.gov.co (H. González).

0895-9811/$ - see front matter Ó 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.

doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2006.07.007
356 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371
1. Introduction
Late Paleozoic and Early Mesozoic periods are charac-
terized by the amalgamation of North America and
Gondwana, completing the final assembly of Pangea during
the Alleghenian or Ouachita orogenies (Pindell and Dewey,
1982; Pindell, 1985). In this geodynamic context, the
Permo-Triassic magmatic rocks in the Central Cordillera
of Colombia track the regional orogenetic process. The
Permian collision is believed to be recorded in the northern
part of the Central Cordillera of Colombia by geochrono-
logical data obtained through this work and those previous-
ly reported by Restrepo et al. (1978, 1991) and González
(2001). However, younger age data indicate widespread
magmatism and thermal resetting in Triassic times, proba-
bly related to the final processes of the orogeny.
In this work, new 40Ar/39Ar step-heating analyses,
which indicate the regional thermal history of the Central
Cordillera of Colombia mainly during the Permo-Triassic,
and U–Pb SHRIMP determinations on zircons, which pro-
vide information about the crystallization, precrystalliza-
Fig. 1. Simplified geological map of the Colombian Andes. The lower inset shows a detailed geological map of the study area in Antioquia and Caldas
states. Modified from González et al. (1988).
tion, and metamorphic ages of the granitic gneisses and
granitoids, are presented. Moreover, geochemical analyses
and Nd–Sr isotopic analyses for granitic gneisses and gra-
nitic rocks, which offer information about crustal process-
es, are reported. Combining this information with
previously available geochronological data, we suggest a
preliminary model for the geodynamical setting of the gra-
nitic gneisses and granitic stocks of the northern part of the
Central Cordillera of Colombia.
2. Geological setting and previous geochronological
constraints
The Colombian Western, Central, and Eastern cordill-
eras constitute three independent mountain ranges in the
Northern Andes (Fig. 1). The Western Cordillera compris-
es allochtonous oceanic sequences of basic volcanic rocks
and marine sediments of Upper Cretaceous and Cenozoic
age, intruded and covered by Cenozoic igneous rocks and
volcanic sequences (González et al., 1988; Aspden et al.,
1987). The Eastern Cordillera consists of polydeformed
 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371
continental Precambrian and Paleozoic metamorphic and
igneous rocks overlain by Paleozoic to Mesozoic sedimen-
tary sequences (González et al., 1988). The Central Cordil-
lera, in contrast, comprises a pre-Mesozoic–Mesozoic
polymetamorphic core complex (Restrepo and Toussaint,
1982) (Fig. 1). Its basement is mainly composed of the
low- to medium-grade metamorphic rocks of the Cajamar-
ca Complex (Maya and González, 1995) and high-grade
rocks of El Retiro Group and Las Palmas gneiss (Gon-
zález, 2001). Metamorphosed dykes of basaltic composi-
tion intruding the basement also have been reported
(González, 2001; Correa and Martens, 2000). The Caja-
marca Complex includes pelitic schists, quartzites, marbles,
and amphibolites, while El Retiro Group includes migma-
tites, local basic and felsic granulites, amphibolites, gneis-
ses, schists, and deformed granitoids (Ardila, 1986;
González, 2001; Ordoñez, 1997). The basement is intruded
by Meso–Cenozoic batholiths and overlain by late Eocene
continental arc volcanic rocks (González et al., 1988; Rest-
repo and Toussaint, 1982).
The northern part of the Central Cordillera has been
described as a suspect terrane affected by several tectono-
metamorphic episodes (Restrepo and Toussaint, 1982;
Toussaint, 1993). The most important events generally
have been interpreted as related to the Hercynian orogeny
in Permo-Triassic times, a Devonian–Carboniferous tec-
tonometamorphic event, or the beginning of the Andean
cycle in the Cretaceous (Restrepo et al., 1991; Toussaint,
1993). A possible Lower Paleozoic or even Precambrian
age for the basement has also been proposed (Hall
et al., 1972; González, 1980; Restrepo and Toussaint,
1984).
The age of the older polymetamorphic sequence is con-
strained by the La Miel orthogneiss, which intrudes mica
schists and amphibolites of the Cajamarca Complex (Sep-
úlveda and Saldarriaga, 1980). Samples of La Miel gneiss
yielded U–Pb SHRIMP ages of 380 ± 8.4 Ma and
410 ± 9.6 Ma, and Restrepo et al. (1991) report a Rb–Sr
whole-rock isochron of 388 ± 12 Ma, placing the meta-
morphism of the Cajamarca Complex in the pre-Devoni-
an. However, a younger Ar–Ar age of approximately
345 Ma and a K–Ar age of approximately 346 Ma
(Restrepo et al., 1991) were also obtained for these
rocks.
A later regional metamorphism in Permian times is con-
strained by U–Pb SHRIMP ages of newly formed and
inherited zircon crystals of the Abejorral gneiss and Rio
Verde granitic gneiss. This event is further constrained by
U–Pb SHRIMP ages of inherited zircon from Las Palmas
leucogranite (Ordoñez, 2001), as well as by the whole-rock
Rb–Sr isochron and K–Ar ages of the Puquı́ gneiss in the
northern part of the cordillera (Ordoñez and Pimentel,
2002; Restrepo et al., 1991; Toussaint et al., 1978). Other
K–Ar ages recorded in the low-grade metamorphic rocks,
amphibolites, and gneisses of the polymetamorphic com-
plex (Restrepo et al., 1991) relate to the Permian regional
metamorphism.
357
3. Sample descriptions
The studied rocks correspond to granitic gneisses and
granitic stocks. Granitic gneisses include the Rio Verde
and Samaná rocks on the eastern flank of the Central Cor-
dillera, as well as the Manizales, Abejorral, Palmitas, and
Horizontes rocks on the western flank (González, 1980,
2001; Restrepo et al., 1991; Toussaint, 1993). The granitic
stocks, located in the western flank, include the La Honda,
El Buey, and Amagá stocks, which comprise nondeformed
rocks that yield Triassic radiometric ages (Table 1 and
Fig. 6). The La Honda granitic stock intrudes the Abejorral
granitic gneiss, and El Buey granitic stock intrudes the
Cajamarca Complex. The Amagá stock intrudes low-grade
metamorphic rocks (González, 2001) not clearly related to
the Cajamarca Complex. González (1980) and Alvarez
(1983) consider all these stocks late tectonic.
3.1. Granitic gneisses
A general description of the main petrographical fea-
tures is as follows: All granitic gneisses comprise plagio-
clase, K-feldspar, quartz, biotite, and muscovite.
Accessory minerals are zircon, apatite, sphene, opaques,
and occasional tourmaline. Textures range from medium
to coarse grained, anhedral granular to porphyritic. Plagio-
clase is generally the coarsest mineral, varying from 69% in
the Horizontes granitic gneiss to 6% in the Abejorral gra-
nitic gneiss. K-feldspar is not present in all rocks but reach-
es up to 24% in the Samaná granitic gneiss. Quartz varies
from 56% in the Abejorral granitic gneiss to 20% in the
Horizontes granitic gneiss. Biotite varies from 23% in the
Palmitas granitic gneiss to 8% in the Horizontes granitic
gneiss. It is the predominant mafic mineral and typically
reddish-brown in color. Muscovite is present in all rocks,
but two generations are commonly identified. The first gen-
eration is coarse grained, oriented along the foliation of the
rocks, and the latter is a secondary, fine-grained phase,
replacing cordierite and feldspar. The Rio Verde and Abe-
jorral granitic gneisses both contain cordierite, and the
Abejorral granitic gneiss also contains sillimanite. Other
secondary minerals include chlorite and muscovite, and
plagioclase breakdown to saussurite is common.
Solid state deformation is common in most of these
rocks, though variable in degree. Textures include grain-
size reduction and anastomosed, deformed micas, micro-
cline twinning, myrmekites, and flame perthites. Textures
in the Palmitas, Rio Verde, and Abejorral orthogneisses
indicate high-temperature recrystallization. Moreover, in
the Abejorral granitic gneiss, textural studies suggest the
following reaction: cordierite + muscovite (breakdown) =
sillimanite + biotite + quartz. Finally, in the Rio Verde
granitic gneiss, the formation of muscovite + opaques +
biotite within porphyroclasts of cordierite and K-feldspar
is apparent.
Xenoliths have been described in the Samaná and Abejor-
ral granitic gneisses (González, 1980; Cossio and Viana,
358 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371

Table 1
U–Pb SHRIMP results
206
U Th Th/U Pba 207
Pb/206Pb % err 207
Pb/235U % err 206
Pb/238U % err err 206
Pb/238U Age 1r
(ppm) (ppm) (ppm) corr err
Abejorral G.G. 1 234 9 0.04 22.9 0.06160 2 0.96311 3 0.11340 2 0.657 692 12
2 68 27 0.41 9.2 0.06749 4 1.46403 5 0.15733 2 0.425 942 17
3 332 100 0.31 23.0 0.05514 2 0.61264 2 0.08058 2 0.749 500 8
4 278 104 0.39 11.5 0.05573 3 0.36892 3 0.04801 2 0.512 302 5
5 106 104 1.02 16.8 0.07682 2 1.95990 3 0.18503 2 0.678 1094 18
6 155 95 0.63 6.3 0.05323 5 0.34478 5 0.04697 2 0.358 296 6
7 74 35 0.48 9.9 0.06487 5 1.37275 5 0.15348 2 0.381 920 17
8 164 100 0.63 6.0 0.04798 6 0.27919 6 0.04220 2 0.308 266 5
9 182 158 0.90 6.9 0.04492 9 0.27180 9 0.04388 2 0.213 277 5
10 157 124 0.82 5.4 0.04955 5 0.27062 5 0.03961 2 0.375 250 5
11 324 229 0.73 12.4 0.05248 3 0.32179 3 0.04447 2 0.548 280 5
12 174 140 0.83 6.5 0.05583 3 0.33463 3 0.04347 2 0.560 274 5
Palmitas G.G. 1 476 45 0.10 29.4 0.05965 2 0.59081 2 0.07184 1 0.479 447 4
2 403 75 0.19 14.3 0.04857 5 0.27558 5 0.04115 1 0.136 260 2
3 196 47 0.25 6.4 0.04976 7 0.26049 8 0.03797 1 0.129 240 2
4 912 67 0.08 47.2 0.05545 1 0.45988 1 0.06015 0 0.334 377 1
5 326 118 0.37 22.9 0.05613 2 0.63346 3 0.08186 1 0.455 507 6
6 399 168 0.43 65.5 0.08494 1 2.23383 1 0.19074 1 0.720 1125 10
7 634 57 0.09 21.5 0.05283 4 0.28826 4 0.03957 1 0.135 250 1
8 397 50 0.13 13.3 0.04586 5 0.24423 5 0.03863 1 0.124 244 1
9 102 46 0.46 11.1 0.06529 2 1.13690 3 0.12629 1 0.340 767 7
10 965 108 0.12 33.9 0.05028 2 0.28304 2 0.04083 0 0.220 258 1
11 844 555 0.68 28.0 0.05120 2 0.27218 2 0.03856 1 0.381 244 2
12 54 42 0.81 14.2 0.11452 1 4.86667 2 0.30822 1 0.583 1732 15
R. Verde G.G. 1 30 13 0.43 4 0.05131 22 0.97410 23 0.13768 5 0.028 832 35
2 44 16 0.37 6 0.06738 3 1.26049 8 0.13568 6 0.090 820 49
3 33 14 0.42 4 0.06671 12 1.13441 13 0.12334 4 0.033 750 28
4 208 125 0.60 45 0.08050 2 2.21155 4 0.19924 3 0.068 1171 32
5 187 145 0.77 10 0.05016 6 0.31907 8 0.04613 4 0.070 291 11
6 244 13 0.05 11 0.04893 6 0.32385 7 0.04800 1 0.026 302 3
Amaga G.S. 1 660 191 0.42 4.5 0.04107 15 0.20861 15 0.03684 2 0.164 233 6
2 139 57 0.30 93.5 0.07401 1 1.68213 2 0.16484 2 0.913 984 15
3 546 16 0.42 12.5 0.06866 8 0.99542 14 0.10514 11 0.798 644 68
4 193 130 0.03 39.1 0.05788 1 0.66410 4 0.08321 3 0.937 515 17
5 115 28 0.70 46.9 0.09575 1 3.73173 2 0.28268 2 0.880 1605 25
6 51 34 0.25 8.6 0.05630 5 0.67393 5 0.08681 2 0.379 537 10
7 304 103 0.68 7.2 0.06544 5 1.46162 6 0.16200 2 0.428 968 21
8 90 125 0.35 9.4 0.04464 7 0.22027 7 0.03579 2 0.260 227 4
9 221 53 1.44 7.4 0.05242 7 0.69002 8 0.09548 2 0.257 588 11
10 659 121 0.25 6.6 0.04646 7 0.22264 7 0.03475 2 0.298 220 5
11 28 109 0.19 20.7 0.04841 2 0.24366 3 0.03650 2 0.699 231 4
12 28 109 4.05 2.2 0.03574 36 0.43057 36 0.08738 3 0.080 540 15
La Miel G.G. 1 662 197 0.30 40 0.05536 1 0.46380 3 0.06076 2 0.110 380 8.35
2 169 115 0.68 38 0.07710 2 2.17651 3 0.20475 3 0.076 1201 27.6
1 690 184 0.27 44 0.05347 2 0.48442 3 0.06571 2 0.096 410 9.63
3 137 40 0.30 34 0.08990 2 3.05727 5 0.24664 5 0.070 1421 58.64
4 95 32 0.34 14 0.07154 4 1.44314 7 0.14630 5 0.076 880 41.57
Note: 1-sigma error.
a
204 common Pb corrected.

1986). They are fragments of mica schists and quartzites and
therefore have been regarded as evidence of the intrusion of
the granitoid rocks into previously metamorphosed rocks
(González, 1980; Cossio and Viana, 1986; Toussaint, 1996).
3.2. Granitic stocks
La Honda and Amagá stocks are petrographically
classified as granodiorites. One of the specimens from La
Honda stock contains sillimanite and cordierite. It is main-
ly composed of quartz, K-feldspar, and plagioclase, with
typical equigranular granitic textures, though some defor-
mational textures may also be observed. Plagioclase, mainly
oligoclase and andesine, averages 20–60%; K-feldspar,
mainly microcline, 2–35%; quartz 30%; and biotite 1–20%.
Interstitial sillimanite and cordierite are also present. Acces-
sory minerals are allanite, zircon, apatite, sphene, and
epidote. Small degrees of deformation are evident by
 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371
undulose extinction of quartz and a weak foliation defined
by biotite. The Amagá granitic stock shows granitic to por-
phyritic texture. Quartz varies from 22% to 30%, K-feldspar
10–47%, oligoclase 20–45%, and biotite 8–12%. Some horn-
blende is observed, and accessory minerals are sphene, apa-
tite, zircon, and rutile. El Buey stock is practically identical
in composition to La Honda granitic stock.
4. Radiometric methods
4.1. U–Pb SHRIMP determinations on zircon
U–Pb dating was carried out on single zircon crystals
from five samples, employing the sensitive high resolution
ion microprobe (SHRIMP II) of the Chinese Academy of
Geological Sciences and the Australian National University
(ANU). Zircons were hand picked and mounted on epoxy
resin for isotopic measurements. Details of the analytical
procedures, including calibration methods, are presented
by Williams (1998). 206Pb/238U ratios have an error compo-
nent (typically 1.5–2.0%) from calibrating the measure-
ments using standard zircons. U abundance and U/Pb
ratios were calibrated against the standard Sri Lankan
zircon SL13 (206Pb/238U = 0.0928; 572 Ma). Pooled dates
calculated herein are weighted mean 206Pb/238U dates
(two sigma level, rounded to the nearest million year), fol-
lowing correction for common Pb based on measured 204Pb.
4.2. Sm–Nd whole-rock analyses
Fifteen Sm–Nd analyses were obtained at the Center of
Geochronological Research of the University of São Paulo
(CPGeo-USP) according to the procedures described by
Sato et al. (1995). The experimental procedures include
acid digestion and addition of a combined Sm–Nd spike,
separation of Sm and Nd with a small ion exchange col-
umn, and isotope ratio measurements in a thermal ioniza-
tion mass spectrometer with a multiple collector system.
Sm–Nd TDM model ages were calculated following
DePaolo et al. (1991).
4.3. Rb–Sr whole-rock analyses
Fifteen determinations of 87Sr/86Sr ratios were made at
CPGeo-USP in a VG-Sector mass spectrometer and cor-
rected for isotopic fractionation during thermal ionization
using 86Sr/88Sr = 0.1194. Procedures follow Kawashita
(1972) and subsequent modifications.
4.4. Ar–Ar laser step-heating analyses
Micas and amphiboles were separated for eight samples,
and 10–15 single crystals were placed in small wells in
Al-irradiation disks. They were irradiated together with
Fish Canyon sanidine fluence monitors in the IEA-R1
nuclear reactor at the Nuclear Energy Research Institute,
São Paulo, Brazil. Later, two crystals of each sample were
359
analyzed by the laser incremental heating 40Ar/39Ar
method at CPGeo-USP. Irradiation, analysis, and interpre-
tation procedures follow the methodology presented by
Vasconcelos et al. (2002).
For all radiometric data, the decay constants employed
are from Steiger and Jager (1977). U–Pb diagrams were cal-
culated using the Isoplot 3.0 program of Ludwig (2003).
5. Geochemical methods
5.1. XRF analyses
Major and trace elements were determined by the X-ray
fluorescence (XRF) method at the Mineralogy and Petrol-
ogy Department of the Institute of Geosciences of the Uni-
versity of São Paulo (IGc-USP). The preparation of
samples included microreduction to obtain pressed powder
pellets, followed by fusion to obtain fused glass discs for
major and trace element determination. The samples were
analyzed in a wavelength dispersive Philips PW 2400
XRF spectrometer with detection limits generally on the
order of 1–10 ppm for trace elements. Procedures follow
the methodology described by Mori et al. (1999).
5.2. ICP-OES analyses
Rare earth elements (REE) were determined with ICP-
OES in the Mineralogy and Petrology Department of
IGc-USP. Powdered samples were fused with lithium
borate and then dissolved in hydrochloric acid. The REE
separation was performed in cationic exchange columns,
using hydrochloric and nitric acids. Subsequent analysis
was performed using inductively coupled plasma atomic
emission spectrometry by means of an ICP-OES sequential
spectrometer, model ARL 3410, with minitorch arrange-
ment equipped with an ultrasonic CETAC Inc. nebulizer,
model U-5000AT. Procedures follow the methodology pre-
sented in Navarro et al. (2002).
6. Geochemical results and discussion
Sixteen samples were analyzed for major and trace ele-
ments and fourteen for REE; their distribution and average
composition of each of the granitic gneisses and stocks
appear in Table 2.
According to CIPW normative values, the eastern flank
granitic gneisses data plot toward the monzogranite field in
the QAP diagram, and the western flank data plot in the
granodiorite field, with great overlapping (Fig. 2). The
Amagá and La Honda granitic stocks also plot in the
granodiorite field. The major element distribution indicates
a similar composition for these rocks, though some chem-
ical variations are evident in the Harker diagrams (Fig. 3).
The data define rough compositional trends, with the
granitic stocks plotting at the extremes. La Miel granitic
gneiss tends to group away from the other granitic gneisses.
Lower Na2O and higher CaO, MgO, TiO2, and Cr contents
 360
Table 2
Geochemical analyses of the granitic gneisses and granitic stocks of the Central Cordillera of Colombia
Western Flank Eastern Flank
Palmitas Horizontes Abejorral Manizales La Miel Samaná Samaná Rio Verde Rio Verde Rio Verde Amagá Amagá La Honda La Honda

C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371
FRX
SiO2 73.68 66.08 69.90 69.40 72.99 71.50 73.50 70.06 64.18 68.25 69.95 77.76 74.74 74.59
Al2O3 12.65 15.00 13.59 14.38 13.79 13.62 13.41 14.86 16.35 15.62 13.58 10.55 15.43 13.75
MnO 0.048 0.068 0.050 0.066 0.030 0.055 0.054 0.053 0.038 0.061 0.080 0.043 0.035 0.039
MgO 1.02 2.37 1.83 1.56 0.83 0.95 1.17 1.48 2.36 1.51 1.00 0.56 0.82 0.35
Fe2O3(T) 3.19 5.10 4.70 3.95 1.59 2.71 3.21 3.74 5.99 4.92 3.18 1.34 2.49 1.14
CaO 1.93 2.82 1.15 1.70 0.23 1.71 0.47 1.51 2.56 1.18 0.99 0.86 1.36 1.40
Na2O 2.72 2.73 2.01 2.93 2.57 2.50 2.16 2.46 1.87 1.84 3.13 3.32 2.20 4.65
K2O 2.16 2.63 3.60 2.68 5.36 4.49 3.23 3.60 3.69 3.28 3.91 3.71 1.30 1.80
TiO2 0.520 0.931 0.715 0.534 0.239 0.522 0.606 0.586 0.780 0.675 0.494 0.223 0.293 0.128
P2O5 0.137 0.111 0.226 0.142 0.183 0.154 0.093 0.197 0.228 0.161 0.153 0.064 0.127 0.106
Loi 0.99 1.40 1.54 1.71 1.42 0.99 1.85 1.36 2.75 2.22 1.13 1.31 0.75 1.00
Total 99.05 99.24 99.31 99.05 99.23 99.20 99.75 99.91 100.80 99.72 97.76 99.74 99.55 98.95
Mg# 38.78 47.93 43.54 43.89 50.83 40.98 41.93 43.94 43.83 37.81 38.38 45.29 39.48 37.82
A/CNK 1.23 1.21 1.46 1.33 1.31 1.13 1.69 1.39 1.40 1.79 1.21 0.95 2.05 1.13
FeO(T) 2.87 4.59 4.23 3.55 1.43 2.44 2.89 3.37 5.39 4.43 2.86 1.21 2.24 1.03
Ba 657 722 856 656 553 1099 768 690 1210 859 769 336 274 239
Ce 57 53 54 55 48 73 57 64 81 58 44 43 34 35
Cl bdl bdl bdl 135 bdl bdl bdl 141 42 183 bdl bdl 96 32
Co 23 31 29 27 21 2 5 3 9 bdl 5 bdl 4 bdl
Cr 33 59 54 43 8 18 47 39 120 64 21 6 25 4
Cu 24 35 48 22 10 17 32 21 38 40 15 9 6 5
F 587 878 527 546 412 389 358 611 856 100 363 223 342 bdl
Ga 14 19 16 16 15 16 17 19 21 25 19 13 20 17
La 25 29 17 24 25 40 17 36 37 25 21 29 18 19
Nb 10 11 11 11 13 7 11 11 11 10 8 4 6 7
Nd bdl bdl bdl bdl 26 24 bdl bdl 26 bdl 31 bdl bdl bdl
Ni 10 27 20 16 4 10 20 16 37 39 10 5 15 3
Pb 19 6 21 30 21 28 21 29 17 27 20 22 27 27
Rb 74 117 118 113 160 132 134 137 161 119 161 141 79 72
S 42 968 bdl 966 bdl bdl 143 533 2217 480 bdl 166 bdl bdl
Sc 6 14 6 8 bdl 7 5 8 12 9 5 bdl 5 bdl
Sr 189 232 193 174 68 174 108 159 147 176 141 57 159 97
Th 15 14 8 8 6 8 5 7 9 5 3 10 bdl bdl
U bdl bdl bdl bdl bdl bdl 3 bdl bdl bdl bdl 6 bdl bdl
V 54 87 88 71 18 43 80 69 185 106 45 13 45 8
Y 25 139 31 21 26 22 25 26 34 34 32 40 15 13
Zn 40 92 81 67 47 49 66 67 125 134 58 37 49 43
Zr 147 268 303 178 121 211 227 208 190 193 175 102 102 65
 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371 361

Notes: Standard is GS-N from the NCRS-IWG granite (France). Standards values for major elements used for JB-1A and JG-1A (basalt and granite) recommended by the Geological Survey of Japan.
1.38

8.78
1.46
0.43
2.15
2.25

1.20
0.17
<0.82
12.0
25.1
2.16

3.65
1.09
3.59
2.90
1.60
1.56
0.24
19.3
44.5
18.5
2.27

5.13
0.38
5.93
7.23
4.26
4.25
0.58
21.2
50.4
21.9
3.97

5.40
0.86
5.45
6.36
3.30
3.35
0.48
22.2
51.7
23.5
4.68

5.88
1.78
5.61
9.84
4.01
3.87
0.56
32.6
65.9
27.9

Fig. 2. QAP classification diagram. Circles are data from the western
4.96

7.28
1.59
6.63
6.72
3.58
3.69
0.54

flank, upright triangles are data from the eastern flank of the Central
41.7
77.8
35.5

Cordillera granitic gneisses, diamonds are data for La Miel orthogneiss,

and squares from the post-tectonic granitic stocks.

for all granitic gneisses contrast with the values observed

4.74

6.56
1.30
5.96
5.76
2.75
2.67
0.38
33.6
67.3
28.7

for the granitic stock samples, implying different genetic

processes, as we discuss subsequently. The magnesium
number shows similar values, around 43, for the eastern
5.03

4.81
0.85
4.27
5.06
2.66
3.13
0.47

and western granitic gneisses, whereas La Miel orthogneiss

25.1
53.0
21.2

exhibits a slightly higher value of 50 (Table 2). The samples

of the Amagá granitic stock show appreciable variability in
the magnesium number, with values up to 57, whereas val-
5.30

7.09
1.49
6.04
5.31
2.47
2.12
0.29
34.6
72.0
32.1

ues obtained for La Honda granitic gneiss are around 38

(Table 2).
In the K2O–SiO2 diagram of Rickwood (1989) (not
shown), the granitic gneisses from the eastern flank of the
2.99

5.42
0.81
5.21
5.92
2.65
2.48
0.34
22.7
48.2
21.7

Central Cordillera tend to plot in the field of high-K

calc-alkaline series, whereas the granitic gneisses from the
western flank tend to plot toward the medium-K calc-alka-
line series field, with considerable overlap. The late tectonic
3.80

5.01
1.07
4.33
3.21
1.93
2.09
0.30
25.4
50.7
21.3

granitic stocks plot over a wide range, mainly in the field of

the medium-K calc-alkaline series, with higher silica values.
The aluminum saturation index [ASI = Al/
(Na + K + Ca), Zen (1986)] of almost all data exceeds
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

1.1 (Table 2), classifying the samples as strongly peralumi-

nous granites. Average values for ASI for the analyzed
rocks are generally higher than the values reported for S-
type granitoids of the Lachlan fold belt in Australia, with
5.73

8.23
1.41

2.22
32.1
67.0
30.4

11.7
17.8
17.7
15.1

its mean values of 1.18 (Chappell and White, 1992). Mean

ASI values are 1.46 for the eastern granitic gneisses, 1.30
for the western granitic gneisses, and 1.34 for the latetec-
3.73

6.04
1.03
5.62
4.77
2.48
2.38
0.34

tonic granitic stocks. In addition, all samples exhibit S-type

30.8
61.5
26.1

granitoid characteristics, showing >1% normative corun-

dum and plotting in the S-type field of the CaO versus
ICP-OES

FeO(T) diagram of Chappell and White (2001).

The REE patterns are moderately fractionated and show
Nd
Sm

Gd
Dy

Yb
Eu

Lu
La
Hf

Ce

Er

remarkable similarity (Fig. 4). There are no appreciable

362 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371

Al2O3

Na2O
MgO

CaO
TiO2
Cr

SiO2 SiO2

Fig. 3. Representative major and trace element versus SiO2 diagram for the Central Cordillera of Colombia granitic gneisses and granitic stocks
(anhydrous base). Symbols as in Fig. 2.

differences between eastern and western granitic gneisses,
even considering La Miel orthogneiss. The REE fractionat-
ing patterns are similar to those of syn- and postcollisional
granitoids and different than volcanic arc granites (Harris
et al., 1986). A slight Eu-negative anomaly indicates that
plagioclase was probably a residual phase involved in the
formation of the rocks. These residual phases could reflect
a graywacke-like crustal parental source for the magmas,
as suggested by the high CaO/Na2O content.
Enrichment of incompatible and LREE elements
(Fig. 4), slight depletion of HFSE elements, MORB-nor-
malized Nb negative anomaly (not shown), and the peralu-
minous character and magnesium number values strongly
suggest a predominant crustal source for the parental mag-
mas of the studied rocks (Inger and Harris, 1993; Harris
et al., 1986).
7. Geochronology
To interpret the evolution of the Permo-Triassic granit-
oid rocks of the northern part of the Central Cordillera of
Colombia, we dated eight samples by the Ar–Ar method
and five by the U–Pb SHRIMP method on single zircon
crystals. The U–Pb analytical data appear in Table 1. Pre-
viously available regional geochronological data, including
Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isochrons, as well as U–Pb and K–Ar
 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371
Fig. 4. Chondrite-normalized patterns for the REE contents of the
Colombian granitic gneisses and granitic stocks. Upper: Western and
Eastern Central Cordillera granitic gneisses. Lower: La Miel and post-
tectonic granitic stocks. Symbols as in Fig. 2.
determinations, are provided by Restrepo et al. (1991);
Ordoñez (1997); González (1980) and Toussaint et al.
(1978).
For the Abejorral granitic gneiss from the western
flank, the main U–Pb SHRIMP zircon ages range from
250 to 300 Ma (Fig. 5a). A group of four ages yields a
weighted average of 274 ± 9.6 Ma (MSWD of 1.4 and a
probability of fit of 0.23), that we interpret as the prob-
able age of regional metamorphism. The youngest U–Pb
age obtained, around 250 Ma, may represent the age of
magmatism. Older relic age indicating inheritance
between 500 and 1100 Ma are also recorded (Fig. 5a).
A younger Ar–Ar biotite age for this rock, around
230 Ma (Fig. 6a), as well as the previously available
K–Ar biotite age of 207 ± 5 Ma (González, 1980), are
considered minimum reset ages, and reflecting the ther-
mal influence of the Upper Triassic, late tectonic granit-
ic intrusions. Ar–Ar ages in amphiboles, clustered
363
around 230 Ma, were obtained for amphibolites from
El Retiro Group (Fig. 6b) and Manizales granitic gneiss
(Fig. 6c); younger Ar–Ar muscovite plateau ages
around 211 Ma for the Horizontes granitic gneiss
(Fig. 6d) also are found. A K–Ar biotite age of
96 ± 5 Ma for the Abejorral granitic gneiss (Restrepo
et al., 1991) probably represents a Cretaceous reheating
event, which could agree with the observed recrystalliza-
tion textures of the granitoid, reheated by the Creta-
ceous intrusions.
The U–Pb SHRIMP zircon data for the Palmitas gra-
nitic gneiss on the western flank cluster around 250 Ma
(Fig. 5b), which we interpret as the age of crystallization.
Relic ages between 376 and 1731 Ma are also identified
(Table 1), indicating assimilation of ancient crustal mate-
rial. Ordoñez (2001) obtained several SHRIMP U–Pb
zircon ages for a leucosome related to the Palmas granitic
gneiss with ages of approximately 223 Ma that could be
interpreted as reflecting the regional migmatization event.
Other zircon grains yield ages varying from 237 to
380 Ma, and still others record older inherited sources.
For the Rio Verde granitic gneiss, the older apparent
age is recorded at 1171 ± 32 Ma (Fig. 5c). Other ages
are found at 700–900 Ma. Younger ages of
290 ± 10 Ma and 302 ± 4 Ma are considered maximum
ages for the formation of the protolith of this rock
and could represent the main age of the metamorphic
basement in the eastern part of the Central Cordillera.
The Ar–Ar ages in the Padua amphibolite, a closely
related rock of the granitic gneisses in the eastern flank
(INGEOMINAS, 1988) are 246 ± 6 Ma and 243 ± 4 Ma
(Fig. 6e), similar to the already available ages found for
amphibolitic rocks in the western flank of the cordillera
(Vinasco et al., 2001).
U–Pb SHRIMP zircon ages from the Amagá granitic
stock yield a weighted average age of 227.6 ± 4.5 Ma for
four points (MSWD of 1.4 and a probability of fit of
0.24) (Fig. 5d), considered the crystallization age. K–Ar
mica ages of 232 ± 12 Ma (Restrepo et al., 1991) and
221 ± 7 Ma (Pérez, 1967) were previously reported for this
granitic stock. Slightly younger Ar–Ar muscovite and bio-
tite ages for El Buey and La Honda granitic stocks around
218 Ma were obtained (Figs. 6f and g) and interpreted as
regional cooling ages. Similarly, the Norcasia–San Diego
granitic gneiss yields a K–Ar biotite age of 209 ± 7 Ma
(Vesga and Barrero, 1978), interpreted as a reset age asso-
ciated with the upper Triassic intrusion of the granitic
stocks.
Finally, from La Miel granitic gneiss on the western
flank, five zircon crystals were analyzed by U–Pb
SHRIMP (Fig. 5e); the older apparent age obtained is
recorded at 1421 Ma, and the other ages occur at
1200, 880, 410 ± 10, and 380 ± 8 Ma. The latter are
interpreted as the rough age of crystallization of this
rock. The Ar–Ar results in muscovite show the forma-
tion of a pseudoplateau at approximately 345 Ma
(Fig. 6h), which confirms, with the U–Pb results, a
364 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371

a
206Pb/238U

206Pb/238U
207Pb/235U 207Pb/235U

b
206Pb/238U

207Pb/235U

c
206Pb/238U

207Pb/235U

Fig. 5. Concordia diagrams of SHRIMP-II zircon U–Pb isotopic results for four granitic gneisses (a, b, c, and e) and one granitic stock (d). (f)
Distribution probability plot for all U–Pb ages obtained, between 210 and 340 Ma.
 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371 365

d
206Pb/238U

206Pb/238U
207Pb/235U 207Pb/235U

e
206Pb/238U

207Pb/235U

Fig. 5 (continued )

Paleozoic age, quite different from the ages of other gra- Palmas gneiss and Palmitas granitic gneiss yield values
nitic gneisses of the Central Cordillera. Furthermore, spanning the Devonian–Carboniferous, suggesting a
U–Pb SHRIMP inherited ages on zircon from Las magmatic–metamorphic mid-Paleozoic event.
366 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371

8. Isotope geochemistry the Permo-Triassic granitic gneisses and the late tectonic
granitic stocks. Table 3 shows the results, including Sm–
Nd and Sr isotopic compositions were measured for Nd model ages, eNd(0,T), eSr(0,T), and initial 87Sr/86Sr
15 samples of the Central Colombian Andes, for both ratios.

a d

b e

Ca/K

c f

Fig. 6. Single crystal duplicate analysis by laser incremental heating 40Ar/39Ar method at CPGeo-USP for four granitic gneisses (a, c, d, and h), two
amphibolites (b and e), and two post-tectonic granitic stocks (f and g) from the Central Cordillera of Colombia.
 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371
g h
Fig. 6 (continued )
The initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios for all analyzed rocks are
high, averaging 0.710 for the Permian granitic gneisses
(250 Ma) of the western flank, 0.7121 for the Upper
Triassic granitoids (230 Ma) of the same area, and
0.7136 for the Permian granitic gneisses (250 Ma) from
the eastern flank (Table 3). Individual values, however,
vary considerably from 0.708 to 0.714, showing a relative
heterogeneity in the initial 87Sr/86Sr values that reflects
the complex nature of the protoliths. These differences
may result from an incomplete isotopic homogenization
of the crustal sources or contamination by the country
rocks. The eSr(T) values for the Permo-Triassic granitic
gneisses and granitic stocks of the Central Cordillera of
Colombia are similar to those reported by Harris et al.
(1986) for type II and III collisional and post-collisional
granitoids.
The eNd(250) for the western Permo-Triassic granitic
gneisses vary from 4.6 to 7, from 1.1 to 4.6 for the
Triassic granitic stocks, and from 3.1 to 8.8 for the
eastern Permo-Triassic granitic gneisses (Table 3). The
eNd(0)–eSr(0) diagram for the granitic gneisses and granitic
stocks of the Central Cordillera shows samples plotting
in the IV quadrant (Fig. 7), which implies that the material
was generated mainly by crustal sources. In addition, the
trend of the sample array is that roughly expected from
mixing juvenile mantle-derived magma with an unknown
crustal-derived rock (represented in the figure by the
Colorado Front Range) (DePaolo and Wasserburg, 1979).
Rocks from the granitic gneisses of the eastern flank show
a wider distribution in the eNd(0)–eSr(0) diagram with
extreme values for eNd and eSr, which suggests more diverse
sources compared with the western granitic gneisses. In
contrast, the Upper Triassic granitic stocks are strongly
shifted away from the mixing curve, exhibiting high
eSr(0) values at similar eNd(0) values and forming an inde-
pendent path, which implies the possible involvement of
enriched Sr fluids from the wall rocks.
367
Ca/K
Sm–Nd model ages for crustal-derived rocks, which nor-
mally represent mixed age values, vary from 1.4 to 1.58 Ga
for the western Permo-Triassic granitic gneisess, from 1.13
to 1.4 Ga for the Upper Triassic granitic stocks, and from
1.29 to 1.71 Ga for the eastern granitoids (Table 3). The
granitic stocks show less negative eNd(T) compared with
the granitic gneisses. At the other extreme, La Miel granitic
gneiss shows the contribution of older sources, as implied
by the more negative eNd(T) values and resultant older Nd
model ages. The Nd–Sr isotopic results clearly suggest a
predominantly crustal derivation for the granitic gneisses
and granitic stocks of the Central Cordillera of Colombia.
Mantle input is difficult to evaluate, but the eNd(T) values
suggest an important contribution, especially for those
rocks with less negative eNd(T) values.
9. Discussion
Geochemical and isotopic constraints indicate that the
Permian and Upper Triassic strongly peraluminous granit-
ic gneisses and granitic stocks of the northern part of the
Central Cordillera of Colombia formed by crustal rework-
ing processes, with some variable contribution of juvenile
mantle material. The granitic gneisses are intimately associ-
ated in time with regional metamorphic processes and the
formation of migmatitic paragneisses and metasedimentary
rocks. They may have formed during regional metamor-
phism by anatectic processes, whereas the late tectonic gra-
nitic stocks, which include a larger proportion of mantle
material, probably mobilized and intruded into higher lev-
els of the crust in a predominantly extensional tectonic
environment.
The Colombian granitic gneisses are similar to the S-
type granitoids of Chappell and White (2001), character-
ized by the presence of muscovite or cordierite, more than
1% of normative corundum, high and restricted range in
SiO2 content, peraluminous character, and high to very
 368 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371

high initial 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios. Large volumes of colli-

Inferred age

sional S-type granites, strongly peraluminous melts, are

believed to have formed by anatexis of crustal rocks, and
(Ma)

250
250
250
250
400
230
230
230
230

250
250
250
250
250
several models have been presented for such a process
(Patiño Douce, 1999; Sylvester, 1998). The Colombian data
Sr/86Sr

fall within the data field of peraluminous S-type granites

0.7131
0.7084
0.7089
0.7094
0.7359
0.7101
0.7113
0.7160
0.7110

0.7096
0.7153
0.7126
0.7025
0.7311
initial

PSGS of Patiño Douce (1999). Such granites are believed

87

to originate not as pure crustal melts or restite-rich

eSr(T)

magmas of pure crustal derivation but rather through

59
67
74

83

96

76

25
126

450

101
167

158
119

381
the interaction of basaltic magmas with Al-rich metasedi-
mentary rocks at relatively shallow levels (15–20 km)
Sr/86Sr

0.7170
0.7133
0.7149
0.7159
0.7610
0.7182
0.7175
0.7239
0.7351

0.7221
0.7201
0.7170
0.7130
0.7313
(Patiño Douce, 1999). Moreover, the Colombian granitic
gneisses tend to have low Al2O3/TiO2 in CaO/Na2O versus
87

Al2O3/TiO2 diagrams (Fig. 8), which indicates derivation

Rb/86Sr

from melting at relatively high temperatures, similar

1.110
1.384
1.671
1.828
7.066
2.489
1.883
2.429
7.364

3.825
1.458
1.346
3.235
0.068

to those of the Hercynides and Lachlan fold belts

87

(Sylvester, 1998).
We suggest that the formation of post-tectonic Upper
194.00
237.20
199.50
174.90

139.06
188.79
163.35

193.28
170.95
151.13
202.66
64.10

55.21

95.40
(ppm)

Triassic granitic rocks is a product of the regional mig-

Sr

matization processes in the Central Cordillera in a dom-

(ppm)

inantly post-tectonic extensional regime, triggered by

74.3

97.3
79.4
113.4
115.1
110.4
155.8
119.5
122.7
136.9
140.1

125.9

168.8
4.8
Rb

mantle input in the form of direct magmas ascending

through the crust. Such magmas may be represented by
TDM
(Ga)

1.53
1.40
1.54
1.58
1.74
1.32
1.40
1.28
1.13

1.67
1.51
1.51
1.29
1.71

the Triassic amphibolite dikes in the regional context.

In El Retiro, extremely rapid decompression (Bustaman-
eNd(T)

te, 2003) could have generated the necessary partial melt-

6.2
4.6
6.4
7.0
8.0
3.6
4.7
3.1
1.2

8.2
6.0
6.1
3.1
8.8

ing responsible for the formation of such magmatic

bodies. In addition, the presence of andalucite in the
fSm/144Nd

Ancon schists, part of the Cajamarca Complex, indicates

0.31
0.22
0.36
0.15
0.13
0.31
0.21
0.27
0.23

0.38
0.36
0.38
0.31
0.39

the intrusion of granitoids during exhumation, responsi-

ble for reheating in low-pressure conditions (Roldán,
Nd–Sr isotopic data for granitic gneisses and granitic stocks of Central Cordillera of Colombia

1993; Bustamante, 2003). The Upper Triassic K–Ar,

Nd/144Nd

Ar–Ar, and Rb–Sr ages reported previously probably

0.512218
0.512332
0.512193
0.512229
0.512173
0.512359
0.512337
0.512396
0.512508

0.512095
0.512215
0.512206
0.512378
0.512062

reflect the high thermal flux in the crust associated with

an important extensional period related to the collapse
143

of the orogen.
Sm/144Nd

Permo-Triassic radiometric ages have been interpret-

ed by Restrepo et al. (1991) to represent the cooling
0.1358
0.1534
0.1268
0.1663
0.1716
0.1359
0.1556
0.1429
0.1519

0.1218
0.1256
0.1220
0.1359
0.1193

ages of a Devonian or even Permian strong metamor-

Samples from Vanessa Rios, Universidad Nacional, Colombia.
147

phic episode. Other authors attribute this event to mag-

ma generation as a result of early Mesozoic strike-slip
8.867
26.895
30.342
31.861
22.634
22.672
16.899

22.878
21.753

29.168
32.792
41.224
18.845
25.960
(ppm)

faulting, related to the Pangea breakup (Aspden et al.,

Nd

1987). We suggest that, with the aid of precise U–Pb

Samples from Universidad Nacional, Colombia.
Sample from Andres Bustamante, USP-Brazil.
(ppm)

SHRIMP, Ar–Ar, and other geochronological results,

6.041
7.696
6.681
6.225
6.434
3.799
2.282
5.405
5.463

5.876
6.813
8.320
4.236
5.120
Sm

Samples from INGEOMINAS, Colombia.

it is possible to differentiate discrete geological events

in the Permo-Triassic as part of a continued evolution
VRE-17-MA
VRE-17-MB

IGM-80076

of collisional orogeny. At least three main peaks are

UN-4525*

INV-8640

INV-8381
INV-8134
INV-8133
VRE-6A

recorded in the distribution probability age diagram

number

col69
cjv01
cjv12
Field

of Fig. 5f. Some of the older Permo-Triassic U–Pb

col4
cj32

Collected by the authors.

SHRIMP inherited zircon ages from the Abejorral

granitic gneiss (270–300 Ma) could represent the age
Rio Verde orthogneisse

Samaná orthogneisse

of metamorphism recording the main collisional

Horizontes gneissa

Manizales gneissa
Abejorral gneissa

episode. U–Pb ages around 250 Ma, which correspond

Palmitas gneissa

La Miel gneissb

Amaga stockd
Amaga stockc
Honda stockc
Honda stockc
Western flank

Eastern flank

to the magmatism recorded by the Palmitas and

Abejorral granitic gneisses, likely represent syntectonic
Table 3

magmatism responsible for the generation of granitic

a
b
c
d
e

gneisses in the northern part of the Central Cordillera.

 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371
Fig. 7. eNd(0)–eSr(0) diagram for the granitic gneisses and granitic stocks of the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Fields for the Colorado Front Range and
Mantle array are plotted for comparison. See text for discussion.
Fig. 8. CaO/Na2O versus Al2O3/TiO2 diagram for the Colombian granitic
gneisses and granitic stocks. Symbols as in Fig. 2. The square defines
postcollisional granite intrusions. After Sylvester (1998). See text for
discussion.
Finally, the U–Pb ages of around 230 Ma, as defined
by the Amagá granitic stock and several Ar–Ar deter-
minations, may represent late tectonic migmatization
and intrusions related to the final extensional episodes
of the orogen.
The wide and almost continuous distribution of U–Pb,
K–Ar, Rb–Sr, and Ar–Ar ages along the entire Permo-Tri-
assic period is interpreted as the result of a steady thermal
regime, from the metamorphic peak in Permian times to an
extensional tectonic regime linked with the initial breakup
of Pangea in Triassic times.
369
10. Regional considerations
The geodynamic environment for the development of
granitic gneisses in the Central Cordillera of Colombia is
dominated by the complete closure of the Proto-Atlantic
Ocean between North and South America (Pindell and
Dewey, 1982), which defines the Alleghenian orogeny in
eastern North America and the Ouachita orogeny in south-
ern North America and South America in middle Pennsyl-
vanian times. The Alleghenian orogeny outlines an
irregular belt that comprises a central metamorphic and
plutonic complex with collisional fold belts along each side
(Condie, 2000). We suggest that the main collisional event
in the northern Andes occurred at approximately 280 Ma
and the later breakup started in the Triassic (Condie, 2000).
The Central Cordillera of Colombia is probably of
Gondwanic affinity, given the inherited Neoproterozoic
U–Pb zircon ages recorded by the granitic gneisses. The
paleo-location of the terrane in Permian times would lie
to the south of the Alleghenian suture, along the southern
part of Florida and as part of the Yucatán block between
Venezuela and the U.S. Gulf Coast (Pindell, 1985). More-
over, the Upper Paleozoic ages between 270–325 Ma of the
Wiggins arch and Sabine basement high may indicate that
these blocks were part of Gondwana as well (Pindell, 1985).
Other Gondwanic blocks in Mexico, like the Oaxaca ter-
rane of Grenvillian basement (Yañez et al., 1991; Ruiz
et al., 1988), do not show a similar evolution compared
to the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Instead, these
Gondwanic blocks probably relate to the evolution of the
eastern Mesoproterozoic belts of Colombia, such as the
Garzón and Santa Marta massifs (Cardona, 2003). The
370 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371
Permo-Triassic granitic belt in eastern Mexico yields ages
of 287–232 Ma but shows geochemical evidence of mag-
matic arc affinity (Torres et al., 1999). In contrast, the
Colombian granitic gneisses are probably related to a col-
lisional orogeny during the Alleghenian Proto-Atlantic
collision.
Triassic ages have been reported farther south in Ecua-
dor, El Oro Province, and the Loja terrane of the Cordillera
Real, which is a direct extension of the Central Cordillera of
Colombia (Aspden et al., 1992; Litherland et al., 1994).
According to Aspden et al. (1992) and Noble et al. (1997),
the Triassic Tres Lagunas granite of Cordillera Real and
Moromoro granites in El Oro Province represent crustal
melts formed during a 220–200 Ma metamorphic event.
Such a Triassic event in Ecuador could be correlated in time
with Upper Triassic events recorded in the Central
Cordillera of Colombia, as represented by the late tectonic
granitic stocks. An older metamorphism in Ecuador has not
been recorded, but the main metamorphism in Ecuador
could be older than Triassic, as suggested by Vinasco
(2004) on the basis of U–Pb SHRIMP results. We suggest
that in the Cordillera Real, as well as in the Tahuin Group
of El Oro Province and the northern part of the Central
Cordillera of Colombia, the main regional metamorphism
occurred during the Permian.
11. Conclusions
The main conclusion of this preliminary work on the
complex evolution of the Central Cordillera of Colombia
is our suggestion of a Permian collisional event in the
northernmost Andes, related to the agglutination of the
Pangea supercontinent. During this collision, the proto-
Central Cordillera would be on the leading edge of Gondw-
ana, on its way to collide with Laurentia. Such a collision
seems to be recorded by a series of geochronological data
at around 280 Ma in metamorphic rocks and 250 Ma in
subsequent peraluminous syntectonic crustal intrusive gra-
nitic bodies. In the Central Cordillera, the initial dispersive
events that led to the breakdown of the supercontinent in
Triassic times are also recorded in the form of late tectonic,
undeformed granitic stocks intruded around 230 Ma that
formed from crustal sources, with some contributions of
juvenile mantle.
Acknowledgements
This investigation was funded mainly by FAPESP (pro-
cess 014/05304-0) and the PROSUL program from CNPQ
(2003), Brazil. Fieldwork was partially supported by
INGEOMINAS. Ion microprobe U–Pb isotopic analyses
of zircon crystals were performed with the SHRIMP II at
the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and The
Research school of Earth Sciences (RSES) at ANU,
Australia. Geochronological and isotopic analyses were
performed at the Centro de Pesquisas Geocronológicas
do Instituto de Geociências, University of São Paulo,
Brazil. The authors acknowledge with special thanks Juli-
ana Estrada for her collaboration during fieldwork and Va-
nessa Rı́os for samples. This paper benefited from
constructive comments and suggestions from Agustin Car-
dona. Finally, the authors thank the anonymous reviewers
for their suggestions to improve the manuscript.
References
Alvarez, J., 1983. Geologı́a de la Cordillera Central y el Occidente
Colombiano y petroquı́mica de los intrusivos granitóides meso-
cenozoicos. Boletı́n Geológico de Ingeominas 26 (2), 1–175.
Ardila, R., 1986. Petrografı́a de las rocas metamórficas de El Retiro,
Antioquia. Monograph. Facultad de Minas, Universidad Nacional de
Colombia, Medellı́n.
Aspden, J.A., Harrison, S., Rundle, C., 1992. New geochronological
control for the tectono-magmatic evolution of the metamorphic
basement, Cordillera Real and El Oro Province of Ecuador. Journal
of South American Earth Sciences 1–2, 77–96.
Aspden, J.A., McCourt, W., Brook, M., 1987. Geometrical control of
subduction related magmatism: the Mesozoic and Cenozoic plutonic
history of Western Colombia. Journal of the Geological Society 144,
893–905.
Bustamante, A., 2003. Definição das trajetórias P-T-t em rochas
metamórficas do flanco ocidental da Cordilheira Central da Colômbia
nas regiões de Caldas e El Retiro. Master dissertation, University of
São Paulo, Brazil.
Cardona, A., 2003. Correlações entre fragmentos do embasamento Pré-
Mesozóico da terminação setentrional dos Andes Colombianos, com
base em dados isotópicos e geocronológicos. Master dissertation,
University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Chappell, B., White, J., 1992. I and S type granites in the Lachlan fold
belt. Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Earth Sciences
83, 1–26.
Chappell, B., White, J., 2001. Two contrasting granite types: 25 years
later. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences 48, 489–499.
Condie, K., 2000. Plate tectonics and crustal evolution. Butterworth
Heinemann, Boston, 282 pp.
Correa, A., Martens, U., 2000. Caracterización geológica de las anfibolitas
de los alrededores de Medellı́n. Monograph. Universidad Nacional de
Colombia, Medellı́n.
Cossio, U., Viana, R., 1986. Geologı́a de la autopista Medellı́n-Bogotá
entre el rio Samaná Norte y Doradal. Monograph. Universidad
Nacional de Colombia, Facultad de Minas, Medellı́n.
DePaolo, D., Linn, A., Schubert, G., 1991. The continental crustal age
distribution: methods of determining mantle separation ages from Sm–
Nd isotopic data and application to the southwestern United States.
Journal of Geophysical Research 96 (B2), 2071–2088.
DePaolo, D., Wasserburg, G., 1979. Petrogenetic mixing models and Nd–
Sr isotopic patterns. Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 43, 615–627.
González, H., 1980. Geologı́a de las Planchas 167 (Sonson) e 187
(Salamina). Boletı́n Geológico de Ingeominas, Informe 1760.
González, H., Nuñez, A., Paris, G., 1988. Mapa Geológico de Colombia.
Memoria explicativa. Ingeominas, Colombia.
González, H., 2001. Mapa Geológico del departamento de Antioquia.
Escala 1:400.000. Memoria explicativa. Ingeominas, Medellı́n.
Hall, R., Alvarez, J., Rico, H., 1972. Geologı́a de los departamentos de
Antioquia y Caldas (Subzona II-A). Boletı́n Geológico de Ingeominas
20 (1), 1–85.
Harris, N., Pearce, J., Tindle, A., 1986. Geochemical characteristics of
collision zone magmatism. In: Coward, M.P. Ries, A.C. (Eds.),
Collision Tectonics, vol. 19. Geological Society, Special Publications,
pp. 67–81.
Inger, S., Harris, N., 1993. Geochemical constraints on leucogranite
magmatism in the Langtang Valley, Nepal, Himalaya. Journal of
Petrology 34 (2), 345–368.
 C.J. Vinasco et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 21 (2006) 355–371
INGEOMINAS, 1988. Mapa Geológico de Colombia. Esc 1:1.500.000.
Kawashita, K., 1972. O método Rb–Sr em rochas sedimentares. Aplicação
para as bacias sedimentares do Paraná e Amazonas. Ph.D. thesis.
Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil.
Litherland, M., Aspden, J., Jemielita, R., 1994. The metamorphic belts of
Ecuador. British Geological Survey, 146 pp.
Ludwig, K., 2003. Isoplot 3.0. A Geochronological toolkit for Microsoft
Excel. Berkeley Geochronology Center, Special Publication No. 4.
Free software.
Maya, M., González, H., 1995. Unidades Litodémicas en la Cordillera
Central de Colombia. In: Informe Unidad Operativa Medellı́n,
Ingeominas, pp. 44–57.
Mori, P., Reeves, S., Teixeira, C., Haukka, M., 1999. Development of a
fused glass disc XRF facility and comparison with the pressed powder
pellet technique at Instituto de Geociências, São Paulo University.
Revista Brasileira de Geociências 29 (3), 441–446.
Navarro, M., Ulbrich, H., Andrade, S., Janasi, V., 2002. Adaptation of
ICP-OES routine determination techniques for the analysis of rare
earth elements by chromatographic separation in geologic materials:
test with reference materials and granitic rocks. Journal of Alloys and
Compounds 344, 40–45.
Noble, S., Aspden, J., Jemielita, R., 1997. Northern Andean crustal
evolution: new U–Pb geochronological constraints from Ecuador.
Geological Society of America Bulletin 109 (7), 789–798.
Ordoñez, O., 1997. O Precambriano na parte norte da Cordilheira Central
dos Andes Colombianos. Master dissertation, University of Brası́lia,
Brazil.
Ordoñez, O., 2001. Caracterização isotópica Rb–Sr e Sm–Nd dos
principais eventos magmáticos nos Andes Colombianos. Ph.D. Thesis,
University of Brasilia, Brası́lia.
Ordoñez, O., Pimentel, M., 2002. Rb–Sr and Sm–Nd isotopic study of the
Puqui complex, Colombian Andes. Journal of South American Earth
Sciences 15 (2), 173–182.
Patiño Douce, A., 1999. What do experiments tell us about the relative
contributions of crust and mantle to the origin of granitic magmas? In:
Castro, A., Fernandez, C., Vigneresse, J. (Eds.), Understanding
Granites: Integrating New and Classical Techniques, vol. 168, Geo-
logical Society, Special Publications, pp. 55–75.
Pérez, A., 1967. Determinación de la edad absoluta de algunas rocas de
Antioquia por métodos radioactivos. Universidad Nacional de
Colombia, Medellı́n, Dyna, 84, 27–31.
Pindell, J., 1985. Alleghenian reconstruction and subsequent evolution of
the gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, and Proto Caribbean. Tectonics 4 (1),
1–39.
Pindell, J., Dewey, J., 1982. Permo-Triassic reconstruction of Western
Pangea and the evolution of the gulf of Mexico/Caribbean region.
Tectonics 1, 179–211.
Restrepo, J., Toussaint, J., 1982. Metamorfismos superpuestos em la
Cordillera Central de Colombia. V Congreso Latino-Americano de
Geologia, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 505–512.
Restrepo, J., Toussaint, J., 1984. Unidades Litológicas de los alrededores
del Valle de Aburrá, Medellı́n. Sociedad Colombiana Geológica.
Memoria 1, 1–26.
Restrepo, J., Toussaint, J., González, H., Linares, E., 1978. Datación
de metasedimentos del grupo Ayurá-Montebello. Universidad
Nacional de Colombia, Medellı́n, Publicación Especial Geology,
10, 1–5.
Restrepo, J., Toussaint, J., González, H., Cordani, U., Kawashita, K.,
Linares, E., Parila, C., 1991. Precisiones geocronológicas sobre el
371
occidente colombiano. In: Simposio Sobre Magmatismo Andino y su
marco tectónico, Manizales, Colombia.
Rickwood, P., 1989. Boundary lines within petrologic diagrams which use
oxides of major and minor elements. Lithos 22, 247–263.
Roldán, J., 1993. Contribución al conocimiento tectónico de la Cordillera
Central de los Andes Colombianos. VI Congreso Colombiano de
Geologı́a, Medellı́n Colombia, 765–784.
Ruiz, J., Patchett, P., Ortega-Gutierrez, F., 1988. Proterozoic and
Phanerozoic basement terranes of Mexico from Nd isotopic studies.
Geological Society of America Bulletin 100 (2), 274–281.
Sato, K., Tassinari, C., Kawashita, K., Petronilho, L., 1995. O método
geocronológico Sm–Nd no IG-USP e suas aplicações. Anais Academia
Brasileira de Ciências 67 (3).
Sepúlveda, R., Saldarriaga, S., 1980. Metamorfismo de las rocas del
oriente del municipio de Caldas (Antioquia). Monograph. Universidad
Nacional de Colombia, Medellı́n.
Steiger, R., Jager, E., 1977. Subcommision on geochronology: Convention
on the use of decay constants in geo and cosmochronology. Earth and
Planetary Science Letters 36, 359–362.
Sylvester, P., 1998. Post-collisional strongly peraluminous granites. Lithos
45, 29–44.
Torres, R., Ruiz, J., Patchett, P., Grajales, J., 1999. Permo-Triassic
continental arc in eastern Mexico; tectonic implications for recon-
struction of Southern North America. In: Mesozoic Sedimentary and
Tectonic History of North Central Mexico, vol. 340, Geological
Society of America, Special Paper, pp. 191–196.
Toussaint, J., 1993. Evolución Geológica de Colombia. Precámbrico -
Paleozoico. Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellı́n.
Toussaint, J., González, H., Linares, E., 1978. Edad K–Ar de tres rocas
metamórficas del flanco noroccidental de la Cordillera Central.
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellı́n, Publicación Especial
Geológica 14, 7 pp.
Toussaint, J., 1996. Evolución Geológica de Colombia 3 Cretácico.
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Medellı́n, 276 pp.
Vasconcelos, P., Onoe, A., Kawashita, K., Soares, A., Teixeira, W., 2002.
40
Ar/39Ar Geochronology at the Instituto de Geociências, USP:
Instrumentation, Analytical procedures and Calibration. Anais da
Academia Brasileira de Ciências 74 (2), 297–342.
Vesga, C., Barrero, D., 1978. Edades K/Ar en rocas ı́gneas y metamórficas
de la Cordillera Central de Colombia y su implicación geológica. In: II
Congreso Colombiano de Geologı́a, Bogotá, Colombia, Abstract, pp.
21–31.
Vinasco, C., 2004. Evolução crustal e história tectônica dos granitóides
Permo-Triássicos dos Andes do Norte. Ph.D. Thesis, University of São
Paulo, Brazil.
Vinasco, C., Cordani, U., Vasconcelos, P., 2001. Ar–Ar dates in the
Central Cordillera of Colombia: Evidence for an upper Triassic
regional tectonomagmatic event. III SSAGI Pucón, Chile, Ext
abstracts, 638–641.
Williams, I., 1998. Society of Economic Geologist short course: applica-
tions of microanalytical techniques to understanding mineralizing
processes. U–Th–Pb geochronology by ion microprobe.
Yañez, P., Ruiz, J., Patchett, P., Ortega-Gutierrez, F., Gehrels, G., 1991.
Isotopic studies of the Acatlan Complex, southern Mexico: implica-
tions for Paleozoic North American tectonics. Geological Society of
America Bulletin 103, 817–828.
Zen, E., 1986. Aluminum enrichment in silicate melts by fractional
crystallization: some mineralogic and petrographic constraints. Jour-
nal of Petrology 27, 1117–1905.