Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T18:04:29.302Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Submarine volcanic activity and giant amygdale formation along the Panama island arc as a precursor to 6000-year-old agate exploitation on Pedro González Island

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 December 2021

Stewart D Redwood Open the ORCID record for Stewart D Redwood [Opens in a new window] ,
David M Buchs  and
David Edward Cavell
Stewart D Redwood*
Affiliation:
Consulting Geologist, P.O. Box 0832-0757, Panama, Republic of Panama
David M Buchs
Affiliation:
School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, Cardiff University, CardiffCF10 3AT, UK Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, P.O. Box 0843-03092, Panama, Republic of Panama
David Edward Cavell
Affiliation:
School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, BirminghamB15 2TT, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Stewart D Redwood, Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

An extensive deposit of agate occurs in Pedro González Island in the Gulf of Panama. Previous archaeological research showed that the agate was exploited between 6200 and 5600 cal BP to make stone tools found at the oldest known Preceramic human settlement in the Pearl Island archipelago. We constrain here the origin and geological context of the agate through a geological and geochemical study of the island. We show that it includes primary volcanic breccias, lavas, and tuffaceous marine deposits with sedimentary conglomerates and debris flow deposits, which we define as the Pedro González Formation. This formation records submarine to subaerial volcanic activity along an island arc during the Oligo-Miocene, confirming previous regional models that favour progressive emergence of the isthmus in the early Miocene. The igneous rocks have an extreme tholeiitic character that is interpreted to reflect magmatic cessation in eastern Panama during the early Miocene. The agate is hosted in andesitic lavas in unusually large amygdales up to 20–40 cm in diameter, as well as small amygdales (0.1–1.0 cm) in a bimodal distribution, and in veins. The large size of the agates made them suitable for tool manufacture. Field evidence suggests that the formation of large amygdales resulted from subaqueous lava–sediment interaction, in which water released from unconsolidated tuffaceous deposits at the base of lava flows rose through the lavas, coalesced, and accumulated below the chilled lava top, with subsequent hydrothermal mineralization. These amygdales could therefore be regarded as an unusual result of combined peperitic and hydrothermal processes.

Keywords

Gulf of Panamavolcanic islandsvesiclespeperitic processesPreceramic archaeological site
Type
Original Article
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 159 , Issue 5 , May 2022 , pp. 673 - 688
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Arculus, RJ (2003) Use and abuse of the terms calcalkaline and calcalkalic. Journal of Petrology 44, 929–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baker, MJ, Hollings, P, Thompson, JA, Thompson, JM and Burge, C (2016) Age and geochemistry of host rocks of the Cobre Panama porphyry Cu-Au deposit, central Panama: Implications for Paleogene evolution of the Panamanian magmatic arc. Lithos 248–251, 40–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barat, F, Mercier de Lépinay, B, Sosson, M, Müller, C, Baumgartner, PO and Baumgartner-Mora, C (2014) Transition from the Farallon plate subduction to the collision between South and Central America: geological evolution of the Panama Isthmus. Tectonophysics 622, 145–67.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barreto, CJS, de Lima, EF and Goldberg, K (2017) Primary vesicles, vesicle-rich segregation structures and recognition of primary and secondary porosities in lava flows from the Paraná igneous province, southern Brazil. Bulletin of Volcanology 79, 1–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Breitkreuz, C, Götze, J and Weißmantel, A (2021) Mineralogical and geochemical investigation of megaspherulites from Argentina, Germany, and the USA. Bulletin of Volcanology 83. doi:10.1007/s00445-021-01434-7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buchs, DM, Baumgartner, PO, Baumgartner-Mora, C, Flores, K and Bandini, AN (2011) Upper Cretaceous to Miocene tectonostratigraphy of the Azuero area (Panama) and the discontinuous accretion and subduction erosion along the Middle American margin. Tectonophysics 512, 31–46.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buchs, DM, Coombs, H, Irving, D, Wang, J, Koppers, A, Miranda, R, Coronado, M, Tapia, A and Pitchford, S (2019a) Volcanic shutdown of the Panama Canal area following breakup of the Farallon plate. Lithos 334–335, 190–204.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buchs, DM, Irving, D, Coombs, H, Miranda, R, Wang, J, Coronado, M, Arrocha, R, Lacerda, M, Goff, C, Almengor, E, Portugal, E, Franceschi, P, Chichaco, E and Redwood, SD (2019b) Volcanic contribution to emergence of Central Panama in the Early Miocene. Scientific Reports 9, 1417. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-37790-2.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Butler, BS and Burbank, WS (1929) The copper deposits of Michigan. United States Geological Survey Professional Paper 144, 238 pp.Google Scholar
Cady, SL, Wenk, HR and Sintubin, M (1998) Microfibrous quartz varieties: characterization by quantitative X-ray texture analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 130, 320–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cashman, KV and Kauahikaua, JP (1997) Reevaluation of vesicle distributions in basalt lava flows. Geology 25, 419–42.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coates, AG, Collins, LS, Aubry, M-P and Berggren, WA (2004) The geology of the Darien, Panama, and the late Miocene-Pliocene collision of the Panama arc with northwestern South America. Geological Society of America Bulletin 116, 1327–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cooke, RG, Wake, TA, Martínez-Polanco, MF, Jiménez-Acosta, M, Bustamante, F, Holst, I, Lara-Kraudy, A, Martín, JG and Redwood, S (2016) Exploitation of dolphins (Cetacea: Delphinidae) at a 6000 Yr old Preceramic site in the Pearl Island archipelago, Panama. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 6, 733–56.Google Scholar
Derksen, SJ, Coon, HL and Shannon, PJ (2003) Eastern Gulf of Panama exploration potential. American Association of Petroleum Geologists International Conference, Barcelona, Spain, 21–24 September 2003, abstracts, 90017.Google Scholar
Ernst, RE and Jowitt, SM (2013) Large igneous provinces (LIP) and metallogeny. Society of Economic Geologists Special Publication 17, 17–51.Google Scholar
Fallick, AE, Jocelyn, J, Donnelly, T, Guy, M and Behan, C (1985) Origin of agates in volcanic rocks from Scotland. Nature 313, 672–4.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Farris, DW, Cardona, A, Montes, C, Foster, D and Jaramillo, C (2017) Magmatic evolution of Panama Canal volcanic rocks: a record of arc processes and tectonic change. PLOS ONE 12, e0176010. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0176010.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Farris, DW, Jaramillo, C, Bayona, G, Restrepo-Moreno, SA, Montes, C, Cardona, A, Mora, A, Speakman, RJ, Glascock, MD and Valencia, V (2011) Fracturing of the Panamanian Isthmus during initial collision with South America. Geology 39, 1007–10.Google Scholar
Flörke, OW, Flörke, U and Giese, U (1984) Moganite, a new microcrystalline silica-mineral. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Abhandlungen 149, 325–36.Google Scholar
Flörke, OW, Graetsch, H, Martin, B, Röller, K and Wirth, R (1991) Nomenclature of micro- and non-crystalline silica minerals based on structure and microstructure. Neues Jahrbuch der Mineralogie Abhandlungen 163, 19–42.Google Scholar
Franklin, JM, Gibson, HL, Jonasson, IR and Galley, AG (2005) Volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits. In Economic Geology: One Hundredth Anniversary Volume: 1905–2005 (eds Hedenquist, JW, Thompson, J, Goldfarb, R and Richards, JP), pp. 523–60. Littleton, Colorado: Society of Economic Geologists.Google Scholar
Gale, A, Dalton, CA, Langmuir, CH, Su, Y and Shilling, J-G (2013) The mean composition of ocean ridge basalts. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 14, 489–518.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Götze, J, Möckel, R and Pan, Y (2020) Mineralogy, geochemistry and genesis of agate – a review. Minerals 10, 1037. doi: 10.3390/min10111037.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harder, H (1993) Agates – formation as a multicomponent colloid chemical precipitation at low temperatures. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie 1, 31–48.Google Scholar
Harris, C (1989) Oxygen-isotope zonation of agates from Karoo volcanics of the Skeleton Coast, Namibia. American Mineralogist 74, 476–81.Google Scholar
Hartmann, LA, da Cunha Duarte, L, Massonne, H-J, Michelin, C, Rosenstengel, LM, Bergmann, M, Theye, T, Pertille, J, Arena, KR, Duarte, SK, Pinto, VM, Barboza, EG, Rosa, MLCC and Wildner, W (2012) Sequential opening and filling of cavities forming vesicles, amygdales and giant amethyst geodes in lavas from the southern Paraná volcanic province, Brazil and Uruguay. International Geology Review 54, 1–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartmann, LA and Duarte, SK (2020) Novo Hamburgo Complex formed by hydrothermal, explosive injection of Botucatu erg sand into extensive tracts of Paraná Volcanic Province. Journal of Sedimentary Environments 5, 187–98CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heaney, PJ (1993) A proposed mechanism for the growth of chalcedony. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 115, 66–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heaney, PJ and Post, JE (1992) The widespread distribution of a novel silica polymorph in microcrystalline quartz varieties. Science 255, 441–3.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hopkinson, L, Roberts, S, Herrington, R and Wilkinson, J (1998) Self-organization of submarine hydrothermal siliceous deposits: evidence from the TAG hydrothermal mound, 26°N Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Geology 26, 347–50.2.3.CO;2>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hopkinson, L, Roberts, S, Herrington, R and Wilkinson, J (1999) The nature of crystalline silica from the TAG submarine hydrothermal mound, 26°N Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 137, 342–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kirby, MX, Jones, DS and MacFadden, BJ (2008) Lower Miocene stratigraphy along the Panama Canal and its bearing on the Central American peninsula. PLoS ONE 3, e2791. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.Google ScholarPubMed
Kolarsky, RA, Mann, P, Monechi, S, Meyerhoff, HD and Pessagno, EA (1995) Stratigraphic development of southwestern Panama as determined from integration of marine seismic data and onshore geology. In Geologic and Tectonic Development of the Caribbean Plate Boundary in Southern Central America (ed. Mann, P), pp. 159–200. Geological Society of America, Special Paper no. 295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Krawinkel, H, Wozazek, S, Krawinkel, J and Hellmann, W (1999) Heavy-mineral analysis and clinopyroxene geochemistry applied to provenance analysis of lithic sandstones from the Azuero-Sona Complex (NW Panama). Sedimentary Geology 124, 149–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lissinna, B (2005) A profile through the Central American landbridge in western Panama: 115 Ma interplay between the Galápagos hotspot and the Central American subduction zone. PhD thesis, Christian-Albrechts-Universität, Kiel, Germany. Published thesis.Google Scholar
MacFadden, BJ, Bloch, JI, Evans, H, Foster, DA, Morgan, GS, Rincon, A and Wood, AR (2014) Temporal calibration and biochronology of the Centenario fauna, Early Miocene of Panama. The Journal of Geology 122, 113–35.Google Scholar
Mann, P and Kolarsky, RA (1995) East Panama deformed belt: structure, age, and neotectonic significance. In Geologic and Tectonic Development of the Caribbean Plate Boundary in Southern Central America (ed. Mann, P), pp. 111–30. Geological Society of America, Special Paper no. 295.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Martín, JG, Cooke, RG, Bustamante, F, Holst, I, Lara, A and Redwood, S (2016) Ocupaciones prehispánicas en Isla Pedro González, Archipiélago de las Perlas, Panamá: aproximación a una cronología con comentarios sobre las conexiones externas. Latin American Antiquity 27, 378–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Michel-Lévy, A and Munier-Chalmas, CPE (1892) Mémoire sur diverses formes affectées par le réseau élémentaire du quartz. Bulletin de la Société Française de Minéralogie 15, 159–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montes, C, Bayona, G, Cardona, A, Buchs, DM, Silva, CA, Morón, S, Hoyos, N, Ramírez, DA, Jaramillo, CA and Valencia, V (2012a) Arc-continent collision and orocline formation: closing of the Central American seaway. Journal of Geophysical Research 117, B04105. doi:10.1029/2011JB008959.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montes, C, Cardona, A, Jaramillo, C, Pardo, A, Silva, JC, Valencia, V, Ayala, C, Pérez-Angel, LC, Rodriguez-Parra, LA, Ramirez, V and Niño, H (2015) Middle Miocene closure of the Central American Seaway. Science 348, 226–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Montes, C, Cardona, A, McFadden, R, Morón, SE, Silva, CA, Restrepo-Moreno, S, Ramírez, DA, Hoyos, N, Wilson, J, Farris, D, Bayona, GA, Jaramillo, CA, Valencia, V, Bryan, J and Flores, JA (2012b) Evidence for middle Eocene and younger land emergence in central Panama: implications for Isthmus closure. Geological Society of America Bulletin 124, 780–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Moxon, T and Palyanova, G (2020) Agate genesis: a continuing enigma. Minerals 10, 953. doi: 10.3390/min10110953.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nicholson, SW, Cannon, WF and Schulz, KJ (1992) Metallogeny of the Midcontinent rift system of North America. Precambrian Research 58, 355–86.Google Scholar
Pearce, JA (2008) Geochemical fingerprinting of oceanic basalts with applications to ophiolite classification and the search for Archean oceanic crust. Lithos 100, 14–48.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pearson, GA, Martín, JG, Castro, SA, Acosta, MA and Cooke, RG (2021) The mid Holocene occupation of the Pearl Islands: a case of unusual insular adaptations on the Pacific coast of Panama. Quaternary International 578, 155–69.Google Scholar
Pompeani, DP, Steinman, BA, Abbott, MB, Pompeani, KM, Reardon, W, DePasqual, S and Mueller, RH (2021) On the timing of the Old Copper Complex in North America: a comparison of radiocarbon dates from different archaeological contexts. Radiocarbon 63, 513–31. doi:10.1017/RDC.2021.7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Quirós Ponce, JL (1975) Las exploraciones petroleras en Panamá. In Apuntes sobre recursos minerales en Panamá (ed. Quirós Ponce, JL), pp. 29–35. Panama: Dirección General de Recursos Minerales.Google Scholar
Retallack, GJ and Kirby, MX (2007) Middle Miocene global change and paleogeography of Panama. PALAIOS 22, 667–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rooney, T, Franceschi, P and Hall, C (2011) Water-saturated magmas in the Panama Canal region: a precursor to adakite-like magma generation? Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 161, 373–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Saunders, JA (1990) Oxygen-isotope zonation of agates from Karoo volcanics of the Skeleton Coast, Namibia: discussion. American Mineralogist 75, 1205–6.Google Scholar
Schmidt, MW and Jagoutz, O (2017) The global systematics of primitive arc melts. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 18, 2817–54.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Self, S, Keszthelyi, L and Thordarson, T (1998) The importance of pahoehoe. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences 26, 81–100.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Self, S, Thordarson, T and Keszthelyi, L (1997) Emplacement of continental flood basalt lava flows. In Large Igneous Provinces: Continental, Oceanic, and Planetary Flood Volcanism (eds Mahoney, JJ and Coffin, M), pp. 381–410. Washington, DC: American Geophysical Union, Geophysical Monograph no. 100.Google Scholar
Self, S, Thordarson, T, Keszthelyi, L, Walker, GPL, Hon, K, Murphy, MT, Long, P and Finnemore, S (1996) A new model for the emplacement of Columbia River Basalts as large inflated pahoehoe lava flow fields. Geophysical Research Letters 23, 2689–92.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shipboard Scientific Party (2000) Site 1139. In Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, Initial Reports, vol. 183 (eds Coffin, MF, Frey, FA, Wallace, PJ et al.), pp. 1–213. College Station, Texas.Google Scholar
Simmons, S, White, NC and John, DA (2005) Geological characteristics of epithermal precious and base metal deposits. In Economic Geology One Hundredth Anniversary Volume: 1905–2005 (eds Hedenquist, JW, Thompson, J, Goldfarb, R and Richards, JP), pp. 485–522. Littleton, Colorado: Society of Economic Geologists.Google Scholar
Skilling, IP, White, JDL and McPhie, J (2002) Peperite: a review of magma–sediment mingling. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 114, 1–17.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thordarson, T (2000) Physical volcanology of lava flows on Surtsey, Iceland: a preliminary report. Surtsey Research 11, 109–26.Google Scholar
Wang, Y and Merino, E (1990) Self organization origin of agates: banding, fibre twisting, composition and dynamic crystallization model. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 54, 1627–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wegner, W, Wörner, G, Harmon, RS and Jicha, BR (2011) Magmatic history and evolution of the Central American Land Bridge in Panama since Cretaceous times. Geological Society of America Bulletin 123, 703–724.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whattam, SA, Montes, C, McFadden, RR, Cardona, A, Ramirez, D and Valencia, V (2012) Age and origin of earliest adakitic-like magmatism in Panama: implications for the tectonic evolution of the Panamanian magmatic arc system. Lithos 142–143, 226–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, ML and Dyl, SJ II (1992) The Michigan Copper Country. The Mineralogical Record 23, 1–72.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Redwood et al. supplementary material

Redwood et al. supplementary material

Download Redwood et al. supplementary material(File)
File 21.7 KB