|
In February of
2007, I have conducted a first fieldwork in Cuba. My aim is to let this
fieldwork be the first in a long-lasting research effort into the
geodynamic
evolution of the northern Antilles arc and the Caribbean in general.
Particular
aim of this first trip was to reconstruct the structural geological
evolution of
the Bahamas platform in the foreland of the greater Antilles arc. To
this end,
three weeks of fieldwork were carried out in the Sierra de Cubitas,
north of
Camagüey, and in the various intensely folded blocks of the Placetas
belt,
notably in the Sierra de Camajan, incorporated in a serpentinite nappe
overlying
the Bahamas carbonates. The results will be submitted for publication
in the
summer of 2007.
The crew
Manuel Iturralde-Vinent.
Pim 'sorry sir, we don't have a pizza Hawaii...ow, then I would like a pizza with ham and pineapple' van Geffen
and me....
The Fieldwork
Texting home: yeah, really busy and hard work :)
Fold in the side of the 90 m deep Hoyo de Bonet doline, Sierra de Cubitas
Very pleasant exposure under a large mango tree in the Sierra de Camajan
Exposures are scarce...except for this quarry in the south of the Sierra de Cubitas...which exposes tilted, but undeformed, parallel bedded carbonates...that's not much of a help :(
Most exposures we analysed are 2D crossections in the road...here I'm cleaning the site so we can see the rocks. Imagine the faces of those who pass by...there's some weird foreigner with a small brush cleaning a dust road...
Pim measuring a large fold exposed in the road in the Sierra de Camajan. Manuel providing mental support.
Look at the beautiful exposure :)...in fact, this track shows intensely folded thin bedded carbonates
Pim, measuring in the tropical rainforest :)
And some more...biology trying to prevent us from seeing our rocks...
Some more...
...and some more...
Folded en echelon calcite veins crosscut by cleavage in the Esmeralda block of the Placetas belt
Fold...cigar for scale :)
\
Manuel, smoking our scalebar :(
Hills of the Sierra de Cubitas. The flat land in the foreground consists of a serpentinite melange derived from the proto-Caribbean oceanic lithosphere.
Tuabaquey hill, the highest peak of the Sierra de Cubitas, with an elevation of about 300 m.
Pim enjoying haematite concretion in Pliocene soils
Manuel, trying to connect with the Martians
Me, decending into the Hoyo de Bonet doline
$ Apart from geology...
Eehm...ok, point taken
Streets of Camagüey
Beautiful landscapes...
Tropical sunsets...
Me, roaming the streets of Camagüey
Greater Antilles...
Cuban farm
Little girl, polishing her toe nails in the streets of Camagüey :)
Took a wrong turn somewhere...:)
Rain in the forest...
Palm umbrellas :)
Rain in Minas :)
freshwater shrimp fishermen...
Common taxis: bike and horse-and-wagon
Wild life
Black widow...
Nice little scorpions :)
15 cm long millipods...
Roaches :)
Really nasty wasps of about 3 cm long...and believe me, they hurt :(
Nice friendly little snake (no more than 10 cm long :))
Ferocious snails
Coward spiders...
...and Cuba has many many beautiful birds....:)
...like parrots!
Woodpeckers
Turkey vultures
Hummingbirds
Forgot the name...I'll call him Harry
...and beautiful butterflies
Cars... I know, I know, it's a cliche, but they are pretty cool...if someone knows what the brand, type and year of these cars are, let me know, I'll add the info...
And finally...some semi-artistic stuff :)
...and I want to go back. |
Cuba
2007
