The NW-Amazonian Craton in Colombia: A Paleo-Mesoproterozoic review

Abstract

The geological evolution of the NW-Amazonian Craton in Colombia has been the subject of diverse interpretations over the past decades. In this study, we systematically compare and critically evaluate these contrasting models by integrating published and new field observations and petrographic, geochemical, structural, and geochronological data. The use of advanced digital tools has facilitated the spatial analysis of thousands of datasets—including U-Pb zircon, apatite and monazite, Rb-Sr, K-Ar, and Ar-Ar geochronology of mica and whole-rock samples—enabling a more comprehensive regional perspective. Additionally, recent geophysical studies, including gravimetric and magnetic data interpretations, enriched the discussion and contextualized the results. This study prioritizes a lithological classification of basement units, complemented by geochronological constraints to refine their tectonic evolution and regional correlations. This multidisciplinary approach provides a balanced synthesis of existing viewpoints, highlighting areas of consensus, ongoing debates, and key gaps in our current understanding of the Paleo-to Mesoproterozoic evolution of the NW Amazonian Craton. Eastern and western boundaries of the Rio Negro–Juruena Geochronological Province were also refined, offering new insights and guidelines for future nomenclatural and geological mapping campaigns.