MODELLO

This project enhanced communications among geoscientists interested in the geology of the Caribbean, and developed an international debate about the basic tenants of the plate tectonic models. The first aim is taken care of by an egroup and a web site (www.ig.utexas.edu/CaribPlate/CaribPlate.html).
After four years of debate we can not say that a general agreement, even in the more basic issues, has been obtained. The state of the debate can be summarized as follow:
1. Lack of agreement about the allochthonous vs. autochthonous origin of the Caribbean plate, although the allochthonous models have more advocates
2. The origin of the Caribbean Late Cretaceous plateau basalts is controversial, as it has been related both to the Galapagos hot spot, and to an independent mantle plume.
3. There is a strong disagreement concerning the historical orientation, polarity and amount of arc systems related to the leading edge of the Caribbean plate since the Early Cretaceous. The controversy stands between a single Great Arc vs. a multiarc hypothesis.
4. Research progress into the mafic-ultramafic bodies and the embedded metamorphic inclusions in the serpentinitic melange has demonstrated a strong complexity in the history of these bodies. We learn that the Mesozoic mafic-ultramafic bodies encompass plateau basalts, N-MORB basalts, and suprasubduction crustal sections --related to axial arc (basalts and boninites) and back arc complexes. High-pressure metamorphic inclusions in the serpentinitic melanges represent both exhumed subduction complexes and metamorphic soles.
5. Geochemical investigations of the arc's vulcano-plutonic complexes, which crops out as wide belts juxtaposed to the mafic-ultramafic bodies, demonstrate that they yield Lower Cretaceous and Paleocene - Middle Eocene IAT (primitive island arc) suites; mid to late Cretaceous, Paleocene - Middle Eocene and Middle Eocene to Recent calc-alkaline suites.
Generally can be concluded that our present understanding of the Caribbean is far from satisfactory. More structural, petrologic, geochemical and geochronology research is needed, before a consensus may be reached regarding the geological evolution of the area.