North Andes plate

Due to the subduction of the Coiba and Malpelo plates, this area is very prone to volcanic and seismic activity, with many historical earthquakes.

The first of these events, which took place ~90-65Ma, involved the subduction of an intra-oceanic arc beneath the South American/North Andes plate.

This event involved closing a ~1200 km-wide middle Eocene seaway and docking the Panama arc with South America.

Reconstruction studies of the area illustrate the complex dynamics of the tectonically active North Andes plate margin.

[16] Gómez Tapias, Jorge; Montes Ramírez, Nohora E.; Almanza Meléndez, María F.; Alcárcel Gutiérrez, Fernando A.; Madrid Montoya, César A.; Diederix, Hans (2015).

• Chibcha Terrane is enclosed by the Bucaramanga-Santa Marta Fault (BSF, orange), northernmost Oca Fault (Oca, white), Eastern Frontal Fault System (EFFS, yellow) and Romeral Fault System (RFS, violet)
• Tahamí Terrane is enclosed by BSF, OCA and RFS
• Anacona, Arqúia and Quebradagrande Terranes are emplaced by RFS
• La Guajira Terrane is enclosed by BSF and northernmost by Oca
• Caribe Terrane is enclosed by BSF, RFS and plate boundaries with Coiba (red) and Malpelo plates (purple)
Geological Terranes Map of Colombia
Geological Terranes Map of Colombia