EAGE

Basin Research (2011) 23, 377402, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2117.2010.00493.x

Evaluating foreland basin partitioning in the northern

Andes using Cenozoic fill of the Floresta basin,
Eastern Cordillera, Colombia
Joel E. Saylor, n Brian K. Horton, n, w Junsheng Nie, n Jaime Corredor,z and Andres Moraz
n
Department of Geological Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin,TX, USA
wInstitute for Geophysics, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin,TX, USA
zEcopetrol, Instituto Colombiano del Petroleo, Bucaramanga, Colombia

Ab st ra c t
This paper addresses foreland basin fragmentation through integrated detrital zircon U^Pb
geochronology, sandstone petrography, facies analysis and palaeocurrent measurements from a
Mesozoic^Cenozoic clastic succession preserved in the northern Andean retroarc fold-thrust belt.
Situated along the axis of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, the Floresta basin rst received
sediment from the eastern craton (Guyana shield) in the Cretaceous^ early Palaeocene and then from
the western magmatic arc (Central Cordillera) starting in the mid-Palaeocene.The upper-crustal
magmatic arc was replaced by a metamorphic basement source in the middle Eocene.This, in turn,
was replaced by an upper-crustal fold-thrust belt source in the late Eocene which persisted until
Oligocene truncation of the Cenozoic section by the eastward advancing thrust front. Sedimentary
facies analysis indicates minimal changes in depositional environments from shallow marine to low-
gradient uvial and estuarine deposits.These same environments are recorded in coeval strata across
the Eastern Cordillera.Throughout the Palaeogene, palaeocurrent and sediment provenance data
point to a uniform western or southwestern sediment source.These data show that the Floresta basin
existed as part of a laterally extensive, unbroken foreland basin connected with the proximal western
(MagdalenaValley) basin from mid-Paleocene to late Eocene time when it was isolated by uplift of the
western ank of the Eastern Cordillera.The Floresta basin was also connected with the distal eastern
(Llanos) basin from the Cretaceous until its late Oligocene truncation by the advancing thrust front.

INTRODUCTION In broken forelands, where crustal- scale reverse faults

partition basin ll, the predictive nature of conventional
Foreland basins are elongate exural troughs produced by foreland basin models may break down (Jordan, 1995). Nu-
orogenic loading of continental lithosphere (Price, 1973;
merous studies have indicated that (a) pre- existing struc-
Dickinson, 1974). Most models for the evolution of fore-
tural anisotropies, (b) inherited stratigraphic frameworks
land basin systems focus on thin- skinned fold-thrust
and (c) subducted slab congurations can inuence the
belts with ramp- at structural geometries and kinematic
style of contractional deformation by incorporating large,
histories involving a systematic cratonward progression of
competent basement blocks into the deforming belt along
deformation. These models envision foreland basins as
high-angle reverse faults in ways not envisioned by critical
stratigraphic wedges propagating with, and incorporated
wedge theory (e.g. Bird, 1984; Boyer, 1995; Marshak et al.,
into, linearly extensive thrust belts which generally behave 2000; Mazzoli et al., 2000; Mora et al., 2008, 2009). These
as critical wedges (Beaumont, 1981; Jordan, 1981; Flemings
variables control the locus of deformation and sedimenta-
& Jordan, 1989; DeCelles & Giles, 1996). The success of
tion by facilitating non- systematic advances of the defor-
these foreland basin models at explaining stratal geome-
mation front (Lacombe & Mouthereau, 2002; Barbeau,
tries, facies distributions, sedimentary stacking patterns
2003; Scisciani & Montefalcone, 2006; Mortimer et al.,
and subsidence histories (Heller et al., 1988; Crampton &
2007; Carrapa et al., 2008).
Allen, 1995; Burbank et al., 1996; Sinclair, 1997; DeCelles &
In terms of basin evolution, a key dierence between
Horton, 2003) has ensured their continued usage.
conventional and broken foreland basins is whether the
foreland is laterally continuous or internally dissected by
local uplifts (Jordan & Allmendinger, 1986; Dickinson et
Correspondence: Joel E. Saylor, Department of Geological
Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas at al., 1988; Bayona et al., 2008; Smith et al., 2008). Therefore,
Austin, Austin,TX 78712, USA. E-mail: jsaylor@mail.utexas.edu determining whether conventional foreland basin models

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Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists 377
J. E. Saylor et al.
are applicable to a specic orogen is important for deter-
mining the kinematic history of the fold-thrust belt and
the style of deformation in the hinterland.This is particu-
larly true for orogens with multi-phase histories in which a
younger, non- conventional deformation stage overprints
an older conventional stage (e.g. Jordan et al., 2001; Carrapa
et al., 2008).
In few places are the eects of inherited structural and
stratigraphic geometries more evident than the Eastern
Cordillera of Colombia, an isolated 200-km-wide range
composing the frontal zone of the northern Andean oro -
genic belt (Fig. 1). Here, Nazca-South America conver-
gence has driven Cenozoic shortening which overprinted
Mesozoic extension (Etayo -Serna et al., 1983; Dengo &
Covey, 1993; Cooper et al., 1995; Kammer & Sanchez,
2006; Mora et al., 2006, 2008; Sarmiento -Rojas et al.,
2006), resulting in fault and basin histories that may de-
part from typical models of thin- skinned structures and
exural basins (Bayona et al., 2008; Parra et al., 2009a).
Tectonic reconstructions for the Eastern Cordillera dif-
fer on whether the present Magdalena Valley and Llanos
basins (Fig. 1a) were once contiguous and on the timing of
potential structural partitioning. Bayona et al. (2008) pro -
pose that the initial Andean foreland basin was disrupted
by multiple localized uplifts throughout the Eastern Cor-
dillera starting in the Maastrichtian^ early Palaeocene. In
this scenario, multiple intermontane basins (Marocco et
al., 1995; Horton, 2005) evolve independently, separated
by 1^3 km topographic barriers. In contrast, others such
as Gomez et al. (2005a) and Parra et al. (2009a) envision dis-
ruption of an initially contiguous Andean foreland in the
middle^late Eocene and complete segmentation of the
western (Magdalena Valley) and eastern (Llanos) basins in
the early Oligocene.Yet another model (Villamil, 1999) ad-
vocates initial disruption of the foreland in the late Oligo -
cene and complete segmentation in the middle Miocene.
This paper presents integrated detrital zircon U^Pb
geochronology, sandstone petrography, facies analysis and
palaeocurrent measurements from the Cretaceous^Oli-
gocene Floresta basin. These data allow us to evaluate
whether the early Andean basin of Colombia was a broken
foreland or more conventional contiguous foreland basin
by addressing the sedimentary record of basin partition-
ing in the axial Eastern Cordillera (Fig. 1).
GEOLOGICAL SETTING
Colombia is marked by four physiographic and tectonic pro-
vinces (Fig.1a).The Western Cordillera is composed primar-
ily of mac igneous and pelagic sedimentary rocks and is
separated from the Central Cordillera by the Romeral suture
(McCourt etal.,1984; Aspden etal.,1987).The Central Cordil-
lera is dominated by Mesozoic^Cenozoic plutons intruded
into Proterozoic-lower Palaeozoic basement and Phanero-
zoic sedimentary rocks (Alvarez, 1983; Etayo-Serna et al.,
1983; Aspden & McCourt, 1986; Vinasco et al., 2006; Villago -
mez, 2010). The Central Cordillera is separated from the
378 Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
Eastern Cordillera by the intermontane Magdalena Valley, a
modern hinterland basin (Horton, in press). East of the East-
ern Cordillera, the Llanos foreland basin overlies Precam-
brian cratonic rocks of the Guyana shield.
The Eastern Cordillera consists of Phanerozoic strata,
with local exposures of Proterozoic-lower Palaeozoic base-
ment (Cardona et al., 2010) (Fig. 1), and has undergone
multiple episodes of orogenesis. It is currently expressed
as an asymmetric, bivergent orogen with Mesozoic exten-
sional structures overprinted by thin- and thick- skinned
Cenozoic contractional structures aecting basement and
overlying sedimentary cover (Colletta et al., 1990; Dengo &
Covey,1993; Cooper etal.,1995; Mora etal., 2006, 2008). It is
also the locus of Mesozoic extension-related and Cenozoic
shortening-related sedimentation (Kammer & Sanchez,
2006; Bayona et al., 2008; Mora et al., 2009). Estimates for
the onset of shortening in the Eastern Cordillera range
from mid-Cretaceous to Oligocene time (Dengo & Covey,
1993; Cooper et al., 1995; Wijninga, 1996a, b; Villamil, 1999;
Gregory-Wodzicki, 2000; Cediel et al., 2003; Corredor,
2003; Gomez et al., 2003, 2005a; Bayona et al., 2008; Parra
et al., 2009a; Horton et al., 2010a, b; Nie et al., 2010).
SEDIMENTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY
Methods
In contrast to conventional foreland basins, facies patterns
in broken foreland basins exhibit (1) rapid lateral changes
(Jordan et al., 2001; Barbeau, 2003) and (2) abrupt intro -
duction of new, often proximal, sources (Davila & Astini,
2007; Carrapa et al., 2008). Depositional environments
within subbasins of broken forelands are controlled by lo -
cal tectonics and climate resulting in lithofacies and litho -
facies stacking patterns that cannot be correlated between
subbasins (Dickinson et al., 1988; Strecker et al., 2007). Fi-
nally, broken foreland basins tend to have more rapid and
spatially variable subsidence rates because they lack the
long-wavelength exural support provided by unbroken
lithosphere and are aected by multiple nonuniform
thrust loads (Dickinson et al., 1988; Jordan, 1995; Jordan
et al., 2001). To evaluate the degree of facies variability,
enable comparison of depositional environments between
possible subbasins and determine the long-term sedimen-
tation rate, we measured four sections totalling 4.5 km
in thickness through the Late Cretaceous^Oligocene suc-
cession (Fig. 2). Sections were measured at 10- cm- scale
using a Jacob sta and measuring tape. Correlations and
formation identications are based on map- scale litholo -
gic changes.
Results
Five Cenozoic formations measured and described in the
Floresta basin (Figs 1b and 2) include, from oldest to
youngest, the Guaduas, Socha Sandstone, Socha Mud-
stone, Picacho and Concentracion formations (Rodriguez
& Solano, 2000; Ulloa et al., 2001b; Pardo -Tujillo, 2004).To
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 Cenozoic partitioning of the Floresta basin, Colombia

(a) (b)

Fig. 1. (a) Generalized tectonic map of northwestern South America (modied from Horton et al., 2010b) showing the location of the
Floresta basin (red rectangle) relative to basement exposures in the northern Andes. Exposed basement massifs (light red shading)
contrast with now-buried basement (light yellow shading) of the MagdalenaValley (Gomez etal., 2005b). (b) Geologic map of the Floresta
basin showing the location of measured sections (Fig. 2) and principle structures identied in our eld mapping. CC, Central
Cordillera; EC, Eastern Cordillera; LL, Llanos basin; WC,Western Cordillera.

compare provenance data from pre- orogenic strata to syn-
orogenic strata, we also measured and described the upper
Guadalupe Group (Late Cretaceous) and described theTi-
basosa Formation (Early Cretaceous) in the hanging wall
of Soapaga thrust (Fig. 1b).
Denitions of13 lithofacies associations and three deposi-
tional environments are based on lithology, texture, grain
size, bedding geometry and thickness, stacking patterns and
sedimentary structures (Figs 3^5). Lithofacies codes modi-
ed from Miall (1978) and DeCelles et al. (1991) are described
in Table 1. Unless otherwise indicated, all deposits are later-
ally continuous for hundreds of m to several km.
Fluvial facies associations
sandstone to granule conglomerate beds (Fig. 3a and c).
Bedsets include both lenticular and tabular geometries.
Where lenticular, bedsets are tens of m thick, more than
500 m wide and are surrounded by ne-grained deposits
(lithofacies associations F2 or F3).Tabular bedsets are tens
of m thick and can be traced laterally for multiple km. Len-
ticular sandstone beds are 0.2^1m thick 1^5 m wide with
erosive bases and tops typically truncated by the overlying
unit. These beds are either ungraded or upward coarsen-
ing.Tabular sandstone beds are 0.5^1m thick. Conglomer-
ates are clast supported, typically 0.05^0.1m thick, o10 m
wide and upward ning. Lateral accretion beds 0.5^1m
thick are present, though rare. Sedimentary structures in-
clude trough and planar cross- stratication.

Description
F2: Sr, St, Sh, Socr, Ml. Association F2 consists of upward
F1: Sr, St, Sh, Sm, Gcm, Gcmi. Lithofacies association F1 coarsening and thickening sequences composed internally
consists of bedsets of amalgamated medium-grained of upward ning beds or bedsets (Fig. 3b). Beds are tabular

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Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists 379
J. E. Saylor et al.

Fig. 2. Measured stratigraphic sections of Late Cretaceous^Oligocene basin ll depicting sedimentary lithofacies, palaeocurrent data,
sample stratigraphic levels for sandstone point counts and detrital zircon U^Pb analyses and interpreted depositional environments.
Grain sizes: C, clay; S, silt; SS, sandstone (very ne to very coarse); Cgm, conglomerate (granule to boulder).

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380 Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
 Cenozoic partitioning of the Floresta basin, Colombia

(a)
F1

(b)
F2 (d)
F3

(c)
F1
~2 m

Fig. 3. Photographs of uvial lithofacies associations F1^F3. (a) Amalgamated channelized sandstones and conglomerates (F1) of the
Picacho Formation. Resistant subhorizontal strata dene four stratigraphic packages composing the main cli face ( 80 m high). (b)
Upward coarsening and thickening sets of upward ning beds (F2) in steeply dipping strata of the lower Picacho Formation. Arrow
shows the direction of stratigraphic younging. Long inverted triangle shows upward coarsening bedsets and short upright triangles
indicate upward ning beds. (c) Large scale trough cross- stratied granule conglomerate (F1) in the upper Picacho Formation. Person
for scale. d) Massive, mottled siltstone and claystone (F3) in steeply dipping strata of the uppermost Socha Group.

with sharp or erosive bases. Grain size varies from ne
sand to silt. Sedimentary lithofacies within each upward
ning bedset (0.2^1m thick) are, from base to top, climb-
ing ripple-, horizontal-, planar- and symmetrical ripple
cross- stratied sandstones and laminated mudstones.
Stacked deposits are up to 7 m thick. Thinner sandstone
beds (o0.1m) featuring planar cross- stratication are ar-
ranged in intervals to 4 m thick.
F3: SMx
This lithofacies association consists of laterally extensive
massive sandstone and mudstone (Fig. 3d). Deposits are
mottled, with colours ranging from green^grey to mar-
oon, and a common vertical fabric. Blocks with1^5 cm pla-
nar faces displaying slickenlines and aligned clay minerals
are present in some proles. Bioturbation and mottling
often extend into underlying beds.
Interpretation
Lithofacies associations F1, F2 and F3 are identied as
having a uvial origin based on the evidence of subaerial
deposition (e.g. soil development), multistory channel
forms lled with cross-bedded sandstone and a lack of
marine trace fossils.

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J. E. Saylor et al.
Lenticular sandstone beds of F1 represent deposits of
migrating or avulsing channels. Tabular sandstone beds
or thin, laterally discontinuous conglomerate lenses are
interpreted as products of migrating bedload sheets or
bars (Lunt et al., 2004). Where large- scale lenticular bed-
sets are encased in ner grained deposits (F2, F3), we in-
terpret F1 to be channel lls (Mohrig et al., 2000; Jones &
Hajek, 2007) within an anastomosing river system (e.g.
Smith & Smith, 1980; Smith, 1986). Although we are un-
able to demonstrate multiple concurrently active channels
(Makaske, 2001), an anastomosing uvial setting is
suggested by a low ratio of channel- ll to overbank
deposits, abundant crevasse splay and levee deposits and
an absence of lateral accretion surfaces in channel- ll
deposits (Kraus & Gwinn, 1997). Within this setting,
pedogenesis of overbank deposits (F2 and F3, see below)
attests to long periods of channel stability. In contrast,
where F1 occurs as laterally extensive tabular bedsets of
amalgamated channel deposits, we interpret it to repre-
sent a low-gradient braided river system (Cant & Walker,
1978; Bristow & Best, 1993). High lateral channel mobility
is indicated by lateral accretion surfaces and the lack of
overbank deposits.
Association F2 is attributed to proximal overbank de-
position (e.g. Johnson & Pierce, 1990). Upward coarsen-
ing and thickening sequences composed of medium-
thick (40.2 m), upward ning beds are interpreted as
proximal crevasse splay deposits (Collinson, 1996; Kraus
& Wells, 1999). The consistent stacking pattern of sedi-
mentary structures within upward ning beds repre-
sents the result of waning ow with initial rapid
suspension fallout followed by upper- and then lower-
ow regime conditions and nally standing water condi-
tions. Thinner (o0.1 m) beds with planar cross- strati -
cation are interpreted as either distal crevasse splay or
levee deposits (Collinson, 1996; Kraus & Wells, 1999;
Bridge, 2003).
F3 is interpreted as oodplain palaeosol (gleyed verti-
sol or oxisol of Mack et al., 1993). Clay-lined blocks are in-
terpreted as argillaceous peds. Vertical mottling is
interpreted as anomalous redox conditions surrounding
roots or burrows. Its association with F1 and F2 supports
the interpretation of an anastomosing river setting.
Channels were stable enough to allow palaeosol develop -
ment in adjacent oodplains before avulsion (Kraus,
1999; Makaske, 2001).
Deltaic facies associations
Description
D1: Socr, Sr, Shb, Si, Scr, Ml. Lithofacies association D1
consists of 0.01^0.1m beds stacked into 50^150 m thick,
upward coarsening sequences (Fig. 4a and b). Individual
beds are laterally continuous on an outcrop scale and up-
ward coarsening sequences can be traced laterally for sev-
eral km. Beds are largely tabular and composed of
sandstone with secondary mudstone. Rare channels with
382 Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
large width/height ratios (440) are also present. Sedi-
mentary structures include symmetrical ripple-, planar-
and bidirectional (herringbone) cross- stratication and
aser bedding. Plant fragments are common on bedding
planes.Where present, mudstones are typically laminated.
Bioturbation is rare, and laterally continuous oyster beds
are present, although rare. Soft sediment deformation, in-
cluding load casts and slump folding, is present in the
middle to upper portions of these sequences.
D2: Mm, Mh, Ml, Socr, Sr. Lithofacies association D2 is
composed of tabular, mm to cm thick beds of laminated
mudstone stacked in 25^100 m sequences (Fig. 4c). Subor-
dinate massive mudstone and thin sandstone lenses and
layers are present. Sequences are either upward coarsen-
ing or show no grain size trends. Sedimentary structures
include symmetrical ripple- and planar cross- stratica-
tion. Plant fragments on bedding planes are common.
Bioturbation is rare and limited to horizontal burrows of
the Cruziana ichnofacies.
D3: Ml, Mh. This lithofacies association is marked by 25^
50 m stacks of mm to cm thick tabular laminated mudstone
beds. Unlike lithofacies association D2, sandstone layers,
sedimentary structures and ichnofossils are rare.
D4: Sm, Sh, St, Ml, Mh. D4 is distinguished by 10^50 m
thick, upward thickening and coarsening sequences
composed of 0.05^2 m tabular beds (Fig. 4c). Beds coarsen
and thicken upward from laminated mudstone to symme-
trical ripple cross- stratied and nally to horizontally
laminated sandstones. The upper levels of the sequences
have extensive Cruziana ichnofacies bioturbation and shell
fragments.
Interpretation
Marine trace fossils and bidirectional cross- stratication
indicate marine conditions for the deltaic lithofacies asso -
ciations. The 50^150 m upward thickening and coarsening
sequences featuring traction- current sedimentary struc-
tures within tabular beds suggests a deltaic environment.
Lithofacies association D1represents deposits of prograd-
ing distal to medial delta mouthbars and channels. Her-
ringbone cross- stratication and aser bedding coupled
with planar, climbing-ripple and symmetrical ripple
cross- stratication indicates deposition above fair-weath-
er wave base on a mixed uvial- and tide-dominated delta
front (Coleman & Wright, 1975; Bhattacharya & Walker,
1992; Boyd et al., 1992; Orton & Reading, 1993; Reading &
Collinson, 1996).
Association D2 represents the prodelta deposits (Cole-
man & Wright, 1975; Bhattacharya & Walker, 1992; Orton &
Reading, 1993; Reading & Collinson, 1996; Mutti et al.,
2003). The presence of rare and thin symmetrical- and
asymmetrical ripple cross- stratied sandstones indicates
weak currents and a location below fairweather wave base.
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 Cenozoic partitioning of the Floresta basin, Colombia

(a)
D1

(b) (c)

D1 D4
Oolitic Ironstone

D2

Fig. 4. Photographs of deltaic lithofacies associations D1. (a) Tabular interbedded sandstone and mudstone beds (D1) of the middle
Guaduas Formation. (b) Herringbone and climbing ripple cross- stratication (D1) in the middle Guaduas Formation. (c) Stratigraphic
transition from D2 to D4 lithofacies association in the lower Concentracion Formation. Cli face is 30 m high and capping oolitic
ironstone is 3 m thick.

The lack of hummocky cross- stratication and presence
of Cruziana ichnofacies are consistent with a low- energy
environment.
D3 is closely associated with D2 but the lack of a sandy
component or traction- current structures indicates low-
energy, low-accumulation rate processes below fair-
weather wave base. We therefore interpret D3 as oshore,
deepwater shelf deposits.
The thick, massive, tabular, sandstones of lithofacies
association D4 indicate unconned deposition. D4 may
represent either lower^middle shoreface or proximal
mouthbar deposits on the basis of their tabular bedding
geometries, upward coarsening grain size trends and pre-
sence of horizontal burrows (Bhattacharya & Walker,1992).
We favour interpretation of D4 as proximal mouthbar de-
posits due to the lack of storm deposits characteristic of
non-deltaic coasts (Bhattacharya & Walker, 1992). The ex-
tensive bioturbation at the top of the 10^50 m upward
thickening sequences indicates delta mouthbar abandon-
ment due to delta lobe avulsion or marine transgression
(Reading & Collinson, 1996).
Coastal facies associations
Description
C1: Gmm, Sh, Sr, Socr, St, Ml. Lithofacies association
C1 is composed of 0.2^1m sandstone beds interbedded
with 0.05^0.1m thick beds (Fig. 5a). Beds are laterally
continuous for 100 s of metres. This lithofacies associa-
tion lacks any clear grain- size trends although sandstones
become thicker and mudstones thinner upsection.
Sedimentary structures include trough, planar and
symmetrical ripple cross- stratication, horizontal
laminations and vertical burrows of the Skolithos ichnofa-
cies. Floating granules are common in the sandstone
beds.
C2: Gct, St, Sh, Sr. C2 channels 4^5 m thick have width/
length ratios of 20^40 and are found at the top of upward
coarsening sequences, surrounded by clay/siltstone de-
posits. Basal surfaces are erosional. Rare internal struc-
tures include lateral accretion surfaces dened by
interbedded sandstone and mudstone.

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J. E. Saylor et al.

(a)
C1 (b)
C3

(c)
C4 (d)
C5

(e)
C4
C5
C6

Fig. 5. Photographs of coastal lithofacies associations C1^C6. (a) Meter-scale horizontally bedded sandstones interbedded with 10^
30 cm thick laminated siltstone (C1) which mark the transition between the Picacho and Concentracion formations. (b) Large- scale
foresets in gently dipping, planar cross- stratied sandstone (C3) of the upper Concentracion Formation. (c) Laminated mudstones (C4)
showing the lateral continuity of even, thinly laminated beds of the middle Concentracion Formation. Quaternary alluvium caps the
5 m cli face. (d) Laterally continuous sandstone beds in the upper Concentracion Formation featuring horizontally laminated and
ripple cross- stratied beds (C5) interpreted as sand at or tidal bar deposits. (e) Stratigraphic transition from C6 to overlying C4 and C5
lithofacies association of the upper Concentracion Formation.

C3: Sh, Sf. Association C3 consists of 1^20 m stacks of
horizontally bedded ne-grained sandstones interbedded
with 1^2 m thick sandstones featuring large- scale planar
cross- stratication (Fig. 5b). C3 occasionally shows an up-
ward coarsening trend.
C4: Ml, Mh. C4 is characterized by 5^10 m laminated mud-
stone beds typically capped by C6 beds. Iron nodules (1^10 cm
diameter) and plant fragments are common along bedding
planes in both the Ml and Mh (Fig. 5c and e). Local accumu-
lations of oolitic ironstone are up to 3 m thick (Fig. 4c).
C5: Sh, Sr, Sm. C5 includes interbedded1^3 m tabular sand-
stones and secondary (o50 cm) laminated tabular mudstones
and caps lithofacies association C4 (Fig. 5d and e). Basal sur-
faces are either gradational or abrupt and top surfaces are
marked by an abrupt decrease in grain size and increase in or-
ganic content. Sedimentary structures include horizontal la-

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384 Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
 Cenozoic partitioning of the Floresta basin, Colombia

Table1. Lithofacies codes, descriptions, and interpretations

Lithofacies Description Interpretation

Ml Laminated mudstone Suspension settling in shallow standing water. Plant material

commonly denes laminations
Mh Horizontally bedded mudstone Suspension settling in relatively deep water
Mm Massive mudstone Mud deposit disrupted by post-depositional bioturbation
SMx Highly weathered massive sandstone or Sand or mud deposit aected by pedogenic alteration (palaeosol)
mudstone
Si Interbedded sand ripples and mud laminae Deposition by intermittent ripple migration and suspension settling
Sf Sandstone with large planar foreset Deposition on the foresets of migrating subaerial dunes
stratication
Sr Asymmetrical 2D cross- stratied sandstone Deposition of 2D dunes by unidirectional ow
Socr Symmetrical 2D cross- stratied sandstone Deposition of 2D dunes by oscillatory ow
Shb Herringbone cross- stratied sandstone Deposition of ripples by alternating ow
St Trough cross- stratied sandstone Deposition by migrating subaqueous 3D dunes
Scr Climbing ripple cross- stratied sandstone Rapid deposition of sand ripples
Sm Massive sandstone Rapid deposition of sand without stable bedform development.
Alternatively, post-depositional bioturbation of sand deposit
Sh Horizontally laminated sandstone Deposition during upper ow regime plane-bed conditions
Gmm Massive, matrix- supported conglomerate Deposition within a buoyancy-modied, cohesive, sand-matrix
sheet
Gct Trough cross- stratied, clast supported Deposition by traction currents in migrating subaqueous 3D dunes
conglomerate
Gcm Massive, clast- supported conglomerate Deposition by traction currents in a buoyancy- or dispersive-
pressure-modied sheet
Gcmi Massive, clast- supported, imbricated Deposition by traction currents in migrating subaqueous bar
conglomerate

minations and rare planar cross-stratication. Bioturbated
and massive sandstone beds are common.
C6: Sr, St, Ml, Mm. This lithofacies association consists of
upward coarsening 1^3 m mudstone bodies capped by
upward coarsening and thickening 1^3 m sandstone
bodies (Fig. 5e). Mudstone bodies are tabular. Sandstone
bodies are tabular to broadly lenticular. Plant fragments
are common on bedding planes of both. Sandstone
bodies often contain oating granule grains and lenses.
Sedimentary structures include planar, climbing-ripple
and trough cross- stratication. Rare weakly developed
palaeosols are present in massive, siltstone intervals up to
3 m thick.
Interpretation
Lithofacies association C1exhibits sedimentary structures
consistent with a high- energy wave-dominated regime.
We infer upper shoreface deposition (Reineck et al., 1970;
Howard & Reineck, 1981; Reading & Collinson, 1996). The
broadly channelized geometry, close association with
coastal facies, lateral accretion surfaces and repetitive oc-
currence of mud^ sand couplets in C2 indicate deposition
either within a tidal inlet channel or distributary channel
(Hoyt & Henry, 1967; Dalrymple et al., 1992; Reinson, 1992;
Ehlers & Chan, 1999; Carr et al., 2003).We favour a tidal in-
let channel due to (1) the presence of sandstone and mud-
stone couplets in lateral accretion surfaces and (2) the
absence of closely associated subaerial deposits. C3 sand-
stones featuring horizontal bedding and large- scale planar
cross-bedding are interpreted as swash zone and eolian
back-beach dune deposits, respectively (Reading & Collin-
son, 1996). C4 laminated clay/siltstones are coupled with
plant fragments and rare oolitic ironstones, suggestive of
quietwater setting with occasional wave agitation in close
proximity to nonmarine plant material (Kimberley, 1980;
Carr et al., 2003). Close association of C4 with other coastal
lithofacies suggests deposition in a lagoon or partially
closed estuarine setting (Dalrymple et al., 1992; Reinson,
1992; Reading & Collinson, 1996; Dalrymple & Choi,
2007).Within this context, C5 sandstone bodies are inter-
preted as deposits of upper ow regime sand ats or mi-
grating tidal bars; in contrast, C5 mudstone bodies
represent deposition within the low- energy centre of the
estuary, removed from high- energy uvial or shoreface
environments (Dalrymple et al., 1992; Ehlers & Chan,
1999; Dalrymple & Choi, 2007). The coarser grain size
and abundance of traction- current sedimentary struc-
tures of C6 are indicative of relatively strong unidirectional
currents. Coupled with strong evidence of nonmarine
processes, the upward coarsening trend is attributed to
uvially inuenced deposition within a bayhead delta
(Carr et al., 2003; Ascho, 2008). Within this context,
the upward coarsening trends are interpreted as prog-
rading channel mouthbars over the bay or lagoon oor
and broadly lenticular sand bodies are interpreted as
distributary channels. The presence of weakly developed

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J. E. Saylor et al.
palaeosols indicates intermittent subaerial exposure and
pedogenesis.
Lithostratigraphy
To assess depositional variability and correlate deposi-
tional systems in the Floresta basin with those in other
subbasins, we summarize the observations above into
chronological, formation- scale interpretations of deposi-
tional environments. Where described in its type locality
near the town of Tibasosa (5.751N, 73.01W) the Lower Cre-
taceous (Hauterivian^Aptian) Tibasosa Formation is re-
ported to be 350^574 m thick (Ayala-Calvo & Delgado -
Rozo, 2004). Near the town of Beteitiva (5.91N, 72.81W) it
is 600 m thick. However, it is in thrust contact at both
its base and top, precluding a denitive thickness assess-
ment. Contrary to previous reports and mapping, we con-
clude that the moderately dipping beds (35^401) of the
Tibasosa Formation are upright based on observed cross-
stratication and scour marks. The formation coarsens
and thickens upward from ssile grey slate with pencil
cleavage and nodular iron-rich horizons (D2 and D3) to
granule conglomerate (C1) in beds up to 8 m thick. It is
capped by a thick fossiliferous wackestone (sensu Dunham,
1962) featuring largeTrigonia shells.The Upper Cretaceous
Guadalupe Group includes the Labor, Pinos and Tierna
Sandstone formations (Ulloa et al., 2001a). These forma-
tions total 100 m thick and compose an upward coarsen-
ing and thickening sequence of D3, D2 and D4. We
conclude that both the Tibasosa Formation and upper
Guadalupe Group represent progradational shallow-mar-
ine sequences (Fig. 2).
The Guaduas Formation is 400 m thick and straddles
the Maastrichtian- early Palaeocene boundary (Pardo -Tu-
jillo, 2004). It is composed of mm to cm scale beds stacked
into 75^200 m upward coarsening sequences (Fig. 2). The
formation is composed primarily of organic-rich ssile
shales and coal with secondary sandstone. Plant fragments
are common on bedding planes. Bioturbation is rare at the
base of the upward coarsening sequences, but becomes
more prevalent in upper levels. Beds are largely tabular,
although rare channels with large width/height ratios
(440) are also present. Sedimentary structures include
symmetrical ripple-, planar- and herringbone cross- stra-
tication and aser bedding. Evidence of soft sediment de-
formation, including load casts and slump folding, is
present in the mid to upper portions of upward coarsening
sequences. The uppermost Guaduas Formation includes
organic-rich, laminated mudstone, palaeosols and chan-
nelized uvial sandstones. These observations are consis-
tent with lithofacies associations D1, D2, D3, F1, F2 and
F3 and we interpret the Guaduas Formation as the result
of progradational sedimentation within a mixed uvial-
and tide-dominated delta (Coleman & Wright, 1975; Bhat-
tacharya & Walker, 1992; Orton & Reading, 1993; Reading &
Collinson, 1996). The uppermost Guaduas Formation was
deposited in a delta top environment. The Guaduas For-
mation is intensely deformed by internal folding on cm to
386 Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
dm scale, which, combined with the poor outcrop expres-
sion due to high mud content, precludes a denitive thick-
ness estimate.
The Socha Sandstone is 100 m thick and composed
of amalgamated lenticular and tabular uvial deposits of
medium-grained sandstone to granule conglomerate (F1,
Fig. 2). The base of the formation is extremely lithic rich
(up to 50% of total framework sand grains are unstable
lithic grains); however, upsection it quickly changes to a
largely quartzose composition.The overlying Socha Mud-
stone ( 150 m thick) is a oodplain succession including
palaeosols (F3), levee and crevasse splay deposits (F2).
There are also 10^20 m thick, broadly lenticular bodies of
coarse, amalgamated uvial deposits (F1). The formation
is capped by a well-developed palaeosol horizon at least
30^50 m thick. The introduction of signicant levee and
crevasse splay deposits in the Socha Mudstone suggests a
change upsection from a braided to anastamosing uvial
deposition from the Socha Sandstone to the Socha Mud-
stone. Extensive and pervasive pedogenesis of overbank
deposits also attests to extended channel stability followed
by rapid avulsion in the Socha Mudstone. The increase in
mud content and isolation of channel deposits between
the Socha Sandstone and Socha Mudstone may be indica-
tive of increased accommodation (Bristow & Best, 1993;
Miall, 1996; Currie, 1997). However, any trend of increas-
ing accommodation is abruptly reversed at the top of the
section where the thick palaeosol horizon attests to low ac-
cumulation rates and extended exposure and weathering.
Based on palynology, the Socha Sandstone ranges in age
from early to late Palaeocene (Pardo -Tujillo, 2004),
although an entirely late Palaeocene age for the base of
the formation has also been proposed (Guerrero & Sar-
miento, 1996). The age of the Socha Mudstone is late Pa-
laeocene and may extend into the early Eocene (Ypresian)
(Guerrero & Sarmiento, 1996; Pardo -Tujillo, 2004).
The contact between the Socha Mudstone and the over-
lying middle Eocene Picacho Formation (Pardo -Tujillo,
2004; Pulido et al., 2006) is erosional, although the time re-
presented by the unconformity is unclear (Fig. 2). The Pi-
cacho Formation is 200 m thick. It is composed almost
entirely of amalgamated F1 uvial sandstones and granule
conglomerates, with subordinate ner grained oodplain
mudstone and crevasse splay deposits. Like the Socha
Sandstone, the depositional environment is inferred to be
a large braided river system.
The contact between the Picacho and overlying Con-
centracion Formation is conformable and transitional
(Fig. 2). Toward the top of the Picacho Formation, the u-
vial sandstones become less amalgamated and are sepa-
rated by intercalated mudstones. We place the contact
between the formations at the top of the highest thick u-
vial sandstone body in this transitional zone.The Concen-
tracion Formation is 1km thick and spans the middle
Eocene (Bartonian) to late Oligocene (early Chattian) (Par-
do -Tujillo, 2004; Gomez et al., 2005a; Pulido et al., 2006).
The top of the Concentracion Formation is in fault contact
with the Cretaceous Tibasosa or Jurassic Giron forma-
r 2010 The Authors

tions. No younger units are exposed in the Floresta basin.
The Concentracion Formation is composed primarily of
upward coarsening C4 and C5 sequences. Sequence bases
are composed of laminated silt/claystones which coarsen
upward into massive or cross- stratied sandstones. The
tops of some sequences locally have granule conglomer-
ates. There is a slight upward coarsening trend in the for-
mation. The Concentracion Formation is inferred to have
been deposited in a lagoonal or partially closed estuarine
environment (Kimberley, 1980; Cazier et al., 1997; Villamil,
1999; Santos et al., 2008).
Summary
The sedimentological descriptions highlight several rele-
vant observations. (1) The Palaeocene^upper Oligocene
strata exposed in the Floresta basin are typically composed
of siltstone to ne-grained sandstone. Granule conglom-
erates are rare and pebble-boulder conglomerates are
absent. (2) The uvial systems that deposited the Socha
Group and Picacho Formation are inferred to be low-gra-
dient rivers close to (local) base level based on the sedi-
mentological evidence of anastomosing uvial deposition
and absence of coarse-grained material (Makaske, 2001).
Hence the basin shows a minimal shift in depositional en-
vironments from marginal marine to low-gradient uvial
settings. (3) The Palaeocene (middle Guaduas Formation)
to late Oligocene (Concentracion Formation) succession is
2 km thick. Given the lack of major unconformities, this
succession represents a remarkably slow, 50 m Myr  1
long-term average rate of undecompacted sediment accu-
mulation. The results of the lithofacies analysis and in-
ferred depositional processes indicate no rapid or
dramatic changes in depositional environment.Therefore,
the sedimentological evidence does not support an intro -
duction of proximal source areas during basin evolution.
PROVENANCE
Broken forelands are typied by multiple sediment
sources and complex dispersal patterns (Dickinson et al.,
1988; Davila & Astini, 2007; Carrapa et al., 2008; Smith et
al., 2008). In contrast, unbroken foreland basins display
simple, transverse or longitudinal sediment dispersal pat-
terns and provenance primarily from the orogenic hinter-
land. To identify source areas for the Floresta basin, we
measured palaeocurrents throughout the basin and con-
ducted petrographic modal composition analysis and U^
Pb geochronology of detrital zircons.
PALAEOCURRENTS
Methods
Sedimentary structures and outcrops suitable for measur-
ing palaeocurrents are rare in the Palaeogene section of the
Floresta basin primarily due to poor exposure and the
r 2010 The Authors
Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
Cenozoic partitioning of the Floresta basin, Colombia
ne-grained nature of the sediments. Palaeocurrent data
consist of measurements of 241limbs of trough cross- stra-
ta (method I of DeCelles et al., 1983) at 14 sites and mea-
surements of the rake of the axis of 48 trough cross- strata
at four sites.
Results and interpretation
Palaeocurrents were measured in the Socha Sandstone,
Socha Mudstone, Picacho and Concentracion formations.
Socha Group palaeocurrents are variable with both north-
ward and eastward components (Fig. 6a). However, there is
no systematic stratigraphic trend (Fig. 2) and we attribute
these results to a single uvial system with an average
northeastward trend (Fig. 6a). This dispersal pattern
changes abruptly in the Picacho Formation to a highly uni-
form northward orientation (Fig. 6b). Finally, in the Con-
centracion Formation there is a return to a generally
eastward palaeoow (Fig. 6c). However, we note that the
Concentracion is a marginal marine unit subject to nonu-
niform ow conditions and a high degree of variability, and
that measured palaeocurrent indicators may not be repre-
sentative of the larger depositional system.
SANDSTONE PETROGRAPHY
Methods
Modal sandstone composition data were collected from 47
standard petrographic thin sections. Thin sections were
stained for potassium and calcium feldspar and point
counted (450 counts per slide of grains larger than silt)
using the Gazzi^Dickinson method (Ingersoll et al., 1984).
Petrographic counting parameters are listed inTable 2, and
recalculated modal data in Table S1.
Results
Quartz is present as monocrystalline, polycrystalline and
foliated polycrystalline grains, with monocrystalline
grains also present within grains of sandstone or quartzite.
Lithic grains are primarily chert with minor mudstone.
Volcanic grains are present primarily as vitric or lath-work
grains containing plagioclase crystals.Volcaniclastic grains
featuring angular rock or mineral fragments within a vitric
or lath-work matrix are also present. Accessory minerals
include muscovite, zircon and hornblende. Clay is the
most abundant cement and often includes recognizable
sub- silt sized quartz grains.
Cretaceous (Tibasosa Formation and Guadalupe
Group) sandstones consist of variably sorted, tightly
packed quartz arenites (495% quartz; Folk, 1980) (Figs
7c and S1c). Monocrystalline quartz is the dominant con-
stituent with lesser polycrystalline quartz. Metamorphic
grains are limited to polycrystalline quartz. No unstable
metamorphic grains, volcanic or sedimentary grains (in-
cluding chert) are present. Unstable lithic fragments and
feldspars compose o3% of samples from these units.
387
J. E. Saylor et al.

In contrast to underlying Cretaceous units, sandstones
from the Guaduas Formation consist of both quartz are-
nites and sublitharenites (Figs 7c and S1c). Guaduas sand-
stones are tightly packed although they generally exhibit
better sorting than other Cretaceous samples. Monocrys-
talline quartz is the dominant component with subordi-
nate polycrystalline quartz.
Sandstones from the Socha Sandstone and Socha Mud-
stone continue the trend toward increasing lithic frag-
ments (Figs 7c and S1c). These samples straddle the
sublitharenite and litharenite elds of Folk (1980). Sand-
stones are moderately or poorly sorted and composed of
subrounded to angular grains. Monocrystalline quartz is
the major component, although present in proportions as
low as 47% (Figs 7b and S1b) of the total detrital grain
(b)
Concentracion Fm.
Mean = 124
Angular Deviation=37
n= 40
count. Polycrystalline quartz constitutes up to 21%. Other
major components that appear for the rst time in the So -
cha Group include foliated polycrystalline quartz (foliated
polycrystalline quartz), felsic volcanic lithic fragments (in-
cluding vitric and volcaniclastic grains), chert fragments
(up to 16%) and metamorphic lithic fragments (including
schist and phyllite fragments).
The Picacho Formation is composed of poorly to
moderately sorted, subrounded-rounded sublitharenites
and arenites (Figs 7c and S1c). Within the formation,
the composition shifts quickly upsection from monocrys-
talline quartz of 64% to 95% synchronous with increased
polycrystalline quartz (Figs 7a, b and S1a, S1b). Only
the lowest sample contains other components in signi -
cant quantity. These components include foliated poly-
crystalline quartz, felsic volcanic fragments and chert
fragments.
Sandstones of the Concentracion Formation likewise
are of sublitharenite to arenite composition (Figs 7c and
S1c). Sorting and rounding decrease upsection from well
sorted, sub-rounded to rounded at the base to poorly
sorted, angular grains at the top of the section. Polycrystal-
line quartz and volcanic lithic grains are present through-
out the section but show no upsection trend. However, the

Table 2. Modal petrographic point- count parameters

Symbol Description

Qm Monocrystalline quartz
Qp Polycrystalline quartz
Qpt Foliated polycrystalline quartz
(b) Qms Monocrystalline quartz grain within sandstone or
quartzite lithic grain
C Chert
Picacho Fm.
Mean = 340 S Siltstone
Angular Deviation=19 Qt Total quartz (Qm1Qp1Qpt1Qms1C1S)
n= 158 Q Total quartz (sensu Folk (1980):
Qm1Qp1Qpt1Qms)
K Potassium feldspar
P Plagioclase feldspar
F Total feldspar (P1K)
Lvm Mac volcanic grains
Lvf Felsic volcanic grains
Lvv Vitric volcanic grains
Lvl Lathwork volcanic grains
(a) Lv Total volcanic grains (Lvm1Lvf1Lvv1Lvl)
Lsh Mudstone/shale
Lc Carbonate
Socha Grp. Ls Total sedimentary lithic grains
Mean = 44 (Lsh1Lc1C1S1Qms)
Angular Deviation=98 Lph Phyllite
n= 98
Lsm Schist
Lg Gneissic/mylonitic grains
Lm Total metamorphic grains (Qpt1Lph1Lsm1Lg)
Lt Total lithic grains (Lv1Ls1Lm1Qp)
L Total non-quartzose lithic grains
(Lv1Lsh1Lc1Lph1Lsm1Lg)
Fig. 6. (a) Rose diagrams showing measured palaeocurrent Lf Total lithic grains (sensu Folk (1980): L1C1S)
orientations from (a) Socha Group, (b) Picacho Formation and (c)
Concentracion Formation. Accessory minerals include zircon, muscovite, biotite and hornblende.

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388 Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
 Cenozoic partitioning of the Floresta basin, Colombia

proportion of chert fragments increase upsection (Figs 7a
and S1a).
Interpretation
Owing to extremely high weathering rates associated with
Colombias tropical climate (Johnsson et al., 1991), unstable
lithic fragments and minerals have been highly degraded,
leaving sandstones enriched in stable grains, particularly
quartz.The result is that all samples are rather quartz-rich
(focused in upper apex of their respective ternary plots)
and tectonically driven variation is minimal.
Extremely monocrystalline quartz-rich lithologies of
the Lower CretaceousTibasosa Formation and Upper Cre-
taceous Guadalupe Group are consistent with derivation
from a cratonic source (Fig. 7) (Dickinson & Suczek, 1979;
Dickinson et al., 1983; Dickinson, 1985). Sandstones from
the Maastrichtian- early Palaeocene Guaduas Formation
similarly plot within the cratonic interior eld of the Qm^
F^Lt and Qt^F^L ternary plots (Fig. 7b). However, in the
Lm^Lv^Ls ternary diagram, Guaduas sandstones plot
within the recycled orogen eld (Fig. 7a) possibly suggest-
ing that orogenesis was ongoing with sediment derived
from a recycled orogenic hinterland. Previous thermochro-
nology suggests that exhumation of the Central Cordillera
was ongoing by the latest Cretaceous (Gomez et al., 2003;
Villagomez et al., 2008). The Guaduas Formation sand-
stones thus present an enigma because if the Central Cor-
dillera were a sediment source in the latest Cretaceous^
early Palaeocene, the sandstone composition should incor-
porate more volcanic components (i.e. trend toward the Lv
apex in the Lm^Lv^Ls diagram), which is not observed un-
til the upper Palaeocene Socha Sandstone (Fig. 7a).
Compositions of Socha Group and Picacho Formation
sandstones display a reversal in trend that requires expla-
nation. Socha sandstones have increasing amounts of vol-
canic lithic grains (trend toward the Lt and Lv apexes in
Fig. 7a and b), a potential result of exhumation of the Cen-
tral Cordillera and partial dissection of its volcanic cara-
pace. However, sandstones from the overlying Picacho

(a) (b)

(a) (d)

Fig. 7. Modal sandstone petrographic data plotted in ternary diagrams: (a) Lm^Lv^Ls, (b) Qm^F^Lt, (c) Q^F^Lf and (d) Qt^F^L. Black
arrows indicate upsection compositional trends. Large solid symbols depict formation averages. Shaded polygons represent 1s
uncertainty envelopes on formation averages. Fields for A, B and D from Dickinson et al., (1983) and Dickinson (1985). Fields for C from
Folk (1980).

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Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists 389
J. E. Saylor et al.
Formation contradict this trend, incorporating higher
percentages of monocrystalline quartz and metamorphic
lithic grains (closer to the Qm and Lm apexes in Fig. 7a
and b). Continued and deeper dissection of the Central
Cordilleran magmatic arc should result in compositions
increased in feldspar and volcanic lithic grains, which is
not observed. The observed compositional trend is inter-
preted as the result of eastward migration of the deforma-
tion front coupled with deep exhumation of metamorphic
basement. Finally, Concentracion Formation sandstones
have greater proportions of sedimentary lithic grains
(trend toward the Lt and Ls apexes in Fig. 7a and b), indi-
cating renewed introduction of upper crustal recycled se-
dimentary material likely as a result of a further eastward
advance of deformation and incorporation of foreland ba-
sin strata into the thrust belt.
DETRITAL ZIRCON U ^PB
GEOCHRONOLOGY
Methods
U^Pb geochronology was conducted on zircons separated
from 17 sandstone samples from the Floresta basin using
standard procedures described by Gehrels (2000) and
Gehrels et al. (2008). Analyses were conducted using laser-
ablation, multicollector, inductively coupled-plasma mass
spectrometry (LA-MC-ICPMS) at the University of Ari-
zona LaserChron Center. Approximately 100 individual
zircon grains were analysed from each sample.These were
selected randomly, although metamict grains or those with
obvious cracks or inclusions were avoided. In-run analysis
of fragments of a large Sri Lanka zircon crystal (generally
every fth measurement) with known age of 564  4 Ma
(2s) was used to correct for inter- and intra- element frac-
tionation (Gehrels et al., 2008). The uncertainty resulting
from the calibration correction is generally 1^2% (2s) for
both 206Pb/207Pb and 206Pb/238U ages. Common Pb was
corrected using the measured 204Pb and assuming an initi-
al Pb composition from Stacey & Kramers (1975) (with un-
certainties of 1.0 for 206Pb/204Pb and 0.3 for 207Pb/204Pb).
Analytical data are reported in Table S2. Details of operat-
ing conditions and analytical procedures are available in
Gehrels et al. (2008). For each analysis, errors in determin-
ing 206Pb/238U and 206Pb/204Pb result in a measurement er-
ror of 1^2% (2s) in the 206Pb/238U age. The errors in
measurement of 206Pb/207Pb and 206Pb/204Pb also result in
1^2% (2s) uncertainty in age for grains 41.0 Ga, but
are substantially larger for younger grains due to low in-
Fig. 8. U^Pb ages for detrital zircons from the Floresta basin, shown as age-probability density diagrams (black lines) and age
histograms (grey shading). Samples are plotted in stratigraphic order from bottom to top. Key changes in U^Pb age distributions include
the introduction of Central Cordilleran zircons in the Socha Sandstone (D) and Eastern Cordilleran zircons in the middle Picacho
Formation (I).The number scale on the right applies for age-histograms only (scale for B^Q is as A). Note that the age histogram for the
youngest peak for G is dened by 16 grains, exceeding the maximum vertical scale. Signicant age peaks are those dened by a
minimum of three grains. CC, Central Cordillera; EC, Eastern Cordillera.
390 Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
tensity of the 207Pb signal. For most analyses, the cross-
over in precision of 206Pb/238U and 206Pb/207Pb ages occurs
at 0.8^1.0 Ga. Hence, the cuto between 206Pb/238U-based
ages and 206Pb/207Pb-based ages is between 0.8 and 1 Ga
and was chosen to prevent articially separating zircon
populations. Analyses with 420% uncertainty, 430%
discordance (by comparison of 206Pb/238U and 206Pb/207Pb
ages) or 45% reverse discordance are omitted from
further consideration. Interpretations are based on age
peaks dened by 3 or more analyses (Dickinson & Gehrels,
2008). This criterion minimizes the likelihood of a false
positive based on ages aected by Pb loss in young grains,
inheritance, common Pb, or inaccurate ages for single
grains.
Results
A total of 1692 new zircon ages from 17 samples are re-
ported here (Table S2). The preferred ages are shown on
age histograms and relative age-probability diagrams
(from Ludwig, 2003). The age-probability diagrams show
each age and its uncertainty (for measurement error only)
as a normal distribution, and sum all ages from a sample
into a single curve (Fig. 8).
Interpretation
Interpretations of detrital zircon U^Pb age spectra
are based on previously reported isotopic ages for the
Eastern, Central and Western Cordilleras and the South
American craton. Sources are based both on K^Ar
and Rb^Sr methods (Goldsmith et al., 1971; Aspden
et al., 1987) as well as 40Ar/39Ar and zircon U^Pb dating
(Dorr et al., 1995; Restrepo -Pace et al., 1997; Molina et al.,
2006; Vinasco et al., 2006; Chew et al., 2008; Horton et al.,
2010a, b; Nie et al., 2010). Based on these studies, we
identify several age groups unique to each of the
Cordilleras and craton. Igneous activity in the Western
Cordillera was most intense in the late Cenozoic (25^
10 Ma) (McCourt et al., 1984; Aspden et al., 1987). Middle
Jurrasic^Palaeogene igneous ages ( 170 to 40 Ma) are ty-
pical of the Central Cordillera (Aspden et al., 1987; Restre-
po -Pace, 1992; Villagomez, 2010). Only the Central
Cordillera and Santander Massif include prominent Per-
mo -Triassic ages (Vinasco et al., 2006; Horton et al., 2010b;
Nie etal., 2010).The Eastern Cordillera includes Grenville-
aged basement with secondary Cambro -Ordovician in-
trusive activity (Dorr et al., 1995; Restrepo -Pace et al., 1997;
Cordani et al., 2005; Cardona et al., 2010; Horton et al.,
2010bl; Nie et al., 2010). Neoproterozoic zircons are pre-
sent in the Eastern Cordillera in Palaeozoic strata, possibly
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 Cenozoic partitioning of the Floresta basin, Colombia

derived from a Neoproterozoic magmatic arc (Chew et al., craton is marked by several northwest-trending provinces
2008; Horton etal., 2010b), and Lower Cretaceous strata re- with crystallization ages ranging from 42300 to 1000 Ma
cycled from Palaeozoic units (Horton et al., 2010b). The (Teixeira et al., 1989; Tassinari & Macambira, 1999; Chew et

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Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists 391
J. E. Saylor et al.
al., 2008). Zircons of Grenville age have also been docu-
mented in basement exposures in the Eastern Cordillera
(Cordani et al., 2005), implying that Grenville-aged zircons
could come from either the craton to the southeast or from
Eastern Cordilleran basement. This scenario is compli-
cated by zircon recycling (e.g. Dickinson & Gehrels,
2008). Most notably, both the Central and Eastern Cordil-
lera were at least partially covered during the Mesozoic,
with craton-derived clastic sediment.
The Lower CretaceousTibasosa Formation (Fig. 8a) has
major peaks at 1000, 1200, 1500 and 1800 Ma. We inter-
pret this spectrum as indicating a distal cratonic source,
along with, possibly, local Eastern Cordilleran basement
exposed during a Mesozoic rifting event (Cooper et al.,
1995; Sarmiento -Rojas et al., 2006). Because the Gren-
ville-age zircons have multiple possible sources, we can-
not draw denitive conclusions based on their presence.
In the Upper Cretaceous Tierna Sandstone, the Grenville
peak is suppressed relative to the underlyingTibasosa For-
mation, but the 1300^1600 Ma peaks and the 1800 Ma peak
remain (Fig. 8b).We interpret this pattern as indicating al-
most complete burial of the previously exposed Eastern
Cordilleran basement or westernmost cratonic province
by sediments derived from the craton (Horton et al.,
2010b).
Whereas the modal petrography and detrital zircon
spectra for the Cretaceous samples point to a cratonic
source, the petrographic data for the uppermost Cretac-
eous^lower Palaeocene Guaduas Formation samples are
less clear. However, the Guaduas Formation detrital zircon
data are nearly identical to the underlying Cretaceous
samples and reect an eastern, cratonic source. Like un-
derlying formations, the Guaduas Formation (Fig. 8c) lacks
signicant peaks younger than 900 Ma. Hence, if exhuma-
tion of the Central Cordillera was ongoing by the latest
Cretaceous (Gomez et al., 2003; Villagomez et al., 2008),
there is no sedimentary record of it in the Eastern Cordil-
lera, the region presumed to represent the earliest foreland
basin.
The rst unambiguous indication of Central Cordiller-
an input is a 79 Ma peak for the Palaeocene Socha Sand-
stone (Fig. 8d). However, in addition to this Late
Cretaceous peak, the Socha Sandstone also has 1000,
1300, 1500 and 1800 Ma peaks. Because palaeocurrent di-
rections in the Socha Group are east directed we interpret
the Proterozoic ages as erosion of Central Cordilleran se-
dimentary cover or metamorphic units.This same pattern
continues upsection throughout the Socha Group to the
contact with the basal Picacho Formation (Fig. 8d^h).
Zircons from the middle Picacho Formation (Fig. 8i) re-
cord the introduction of a new source with igneous ages of
200^300 and 500^650 Ma. These suggest initial erosion of
sources with Eastern Cordilleran anities. Co - occurrence
of Late Cretaceous and Proterozoic peaks indicates con-
tinued Central Cordilleran input (either rst cycle or re-
cycled) and recycling of pre-Cenozoic sequences. Likely
sources for the 200^300 and 500^650 Ma zircons are Juras-
sic-Lower Cretaceous sediments or basement exposures
392 Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
of the Santander massif and western margin of the Eastern
Cordillera (Dorr et al., 1995; Horton et al., 2010b). Although
the 200^300 Ma zircons could also be derived from the
Central Cordillera, we consider this unlikely for two rea-
sons. First, the 200^300 Ma zircons did not rst appear
with Cretaceous-age zircons which were certainly derived
from the Central Cordilleran magmatic arc. Second, the
200^300 Ma zircons did appear along with 500^650 Ma
zircons which must derive ultimately from Eastern Cordil-
leran basement.
The remainder of the Picacho Formation and most of
the Concentracion Formation have similar zircon age dis-
tributions. These include o175, 200^300, 500^650 Ma
and Proterozoic peaks (Fig. 8i^ o).There is a divergence be-
tween stratigraphic age and the age of the youngest signif-
icant peaks at stratigraphically younger levels of the
Concentracion Formation, despite ongoing magmatism
in the Central Cordillera. As the strata become progres-
sively younger, the youngest zircon peaks remain Late Cre-
taceous to Palaeocene in age, but are systematically older
than the youngest peaks observed in the Socha Mudstone
and lower Picacho formations [for example, compare the
mean age of youngest peaks from the Palaeocene Socha
Group (61 Ma) and upper Eocene^Oligocene Concentra-
cion Formation (173 Ma)].We attribute this contrast to the
cessation of rst- cycle zircons derived from the Central
Cordillera and the recycling of zircons from Palaeocene
and Cretaceous units in the Eastern Cordillera.
BASIN SYNTHESIS
Combined sedimentary petrology, palaeocurrent and geo -
chronological provenance analysis of the Cretaceous^Oli-
gocene ll conrm that the Floresta basin was part of a
broad foreland basin by mid-Palaeocene time. For the
Maastrichtian-lower Palaeocene Guaduas Formation, Pa-
laeo - and Mesoproterozoic detrital zircon U^Pb ages sug-
gest derivation from the Guyana shield, similar to the
underlying Lower^Upper Cretaceous strata (Fig. 8a^ c).
The rst arrival of west-derived detritus occurs in the
mid-Palaeocene when Late Cretaceous zircons (Fig. 8d),
abundant volcanic lithic fragments (Fig. 7a), and north-
east-directed palaeocurrents (Fig. 6a) appear in the basal
Socha Group. Palaeocurrent and petrographic data indi-
cate a western source area dominated by volcanic rocks.
The youngest zircon U^Pb ages from the Socha Group
are within error of its late Palaeocene depositional age
(Fig. 8e), suggesting direct derivation from a coeval volca-
nic highland with minimal sediment storage. These data
indicate a reversal in sediment dispersal polarity (e.g. Con-
ey & Evenchick, 1994) between the early and late Palaeo -
cene and point to the emergence of the western magmatic
arc as a signicant sediment source by the late Palaeocene
(Nie et al., 2010). All of these data are consistent with a
mid-Palaeocene onset of large- scale exhumation of the
Central Cordillera and foreland basin sedimentation in
the Floresta basin.
r 2010 The Authors

Zircon U^Pb ages and sandstone petrographic analysis
indicate that by the middle levels of the Eocene Picacho
Formation, a new source area had been introduced in the
hinterland of the Floresta basin. This new source area is
characterized by zircons with 200^300 and 500^600 Ma
crystallization ages and a high percentage of metamorphic
lithic fragments (Figs 7a and 8i^q). One possible candi-
date, the Santander massif north of the study area, appears
to be excluded as a potential sediment source area by
north-directed palaeocurrents (Fig. 6b) and Mio -Pliocene
apatite ssion track ages from the Santander massif (Sha-
gam et al., 1984). Exposed basement rocks of the Quetame
and Garzon massifs to the south (Fig. 1a) are excluded by
zircon and apatite ssion track ages suggesting initial
basement exhumation in the early and late Miocene, re-
spectively (van der Wiel, 1991; Parra et al., 2009b). A possi-
ble source for this deeply exhumed metamorphic material
may be suggested by the regional middle Eocene uncon-
formity which truncates Mesozoic units and crystalline
basement in the Magdalena Valley (Buitrago, 1994; Gomez
et al., 2003). Although this hypothesis remains speculative,
it is favoured by the apparent lack of viable alternatives and
the evidence that Magdalena Valley basement was exposed
at the time.
Increased sedimentary lithic fragments in the upper
Eocene^Oligocene Concentracion Formation suggest in-
troduction of a new, upper- crustal source to the Floresta
basin. However, continued eastward palaeocurrents show
that this new source remained to the west of the basin. In
addition, zircon U^Pb ages display a general increase in
the age of the youngest peak from the Picacho to Concen-
tracion Formation (Fig. 8i^q) even though volcanism in
the Central Cordillera continued during this time (Aspden
et al., 1987; Restrepo -Pace, 1992). These two points suggest
the source for Concentracion detritus west of the Floresta
basin did not include a signicant rst- cycle volcanic
component. Nor, based on the lack of metamorphic lithic
sandstone fragments, did it include a signicant basement
component.These observations rule out both of the afore-
mentioned western sources^the Central Cordilleran mag-
matic arc and Magdalena Valley basement. Therefore, the
new upper- crustal source most likely represents an east-
ward step in the deformation front and recycling of fore-
land basin strata in the westernmost Eastern Cordillera.
The implication is that the Concentracion Formation was
sourced principally from recycled Mesozoic and Cenozoic
strata during initial exhumation of the western ank of the
Eastern Cordillera.
Following the mid-Palaeocene arrival of orogenic detri-
tus in the Floresta basin, there is clear eastward progression
in exhumation of successive source regions. Sequentially,
the Central Cordilleran arc, the MadgalenaValley basement
and nally the western ank of the Eastern Cordilleran
fold-thrust belt were exhumed as a result of systematic cra-
tonward advance of deformation. The evidence for defor-
mation advance from the magmatic arc toward the craton
is consistent with conventional foreland basin models but
contradicts broken foreland basin models.
r 2010 The Authors
Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
Cenozoic partitioning of the Floresta basin, Colombia
DISCUSSION
Laterally continuous foreland basin
Data presented here allow us to address whether the Co -
lombian foreland developed as a single, integrated, later-
ally contiguous basin (Cooper et al., 1995; Villamil, 1999;
Gomez et al., 2005a) or as multiple, isolated basins (Sar-
miento -Rojas, 2001; Sarmiento -Rojas et al., 2006; Bayona
et al., 2008). The tectonic history described above, com-
bined with additional published data (e.g. Horton et al.,
2010b; Nie et al., 2010), suggests the Palaeocene^late Eo -
cene Colombian foreland basin was a broad feature span-
ning from the Magdalena basin in the west to the Llanos
basin in the east (Fig. 9).
We nd no direct evidence for sediment derived from
Late Cretaceous uplift in the Central Cordillera, despite
widespread conclusions to the contrary. Cratonic zircons
occur in lower Palaeocene strata in both the Nuevo Mundo
syncline (eastern Middle Magdalena Valley; Fig. 1a) and
Floresta basin. This coeval deposition of eastern, craton-
derived detritus indicates that the basins topographic axis,
dened as the boundary between craton- and orogen-de-
rived depositional systems, was approximately in the Mag-
dalena Valley region during the early Palaeocene (Fig. 9a).
Lower Palaeocene strata from the Nuevo Mundo syncline
are composed of ne-grained distal facies. If there was
Late Cretaceous^ early Palaeocene uplift of the Central
Cordillera (Gomez et al., 2003; Villagomez et al., 2008),
there is no evidence of it in either the preserved sedimen-
tary facies or available provenance data (note widespread
distal depositional environments in Figs 9 and 10 of Coop-
er et al., 1995; Fig. 6 of Villamil, 1999; Fig. 2.16 of Sarmien-
to -Rojas, 2001; also Nie et al., 2010). Based on zircon U^Pb
ages on igneous rocks from the Central Cordillera, there
was certainly a major Late Cretaceous magmatic event at
100 to 71 Ma (Aspden & McCourt, 1986; Villagomez et
al., 2008; Restrepo -Moreno et al., 2009; Villagomez,
2010). Therefore, reported Late Cretaceous low-tempera-
ture thermochronological ages from the Central Cordil-
lera may be complicated by post-magmatic cooling and,
particularly for igneous rocks, may record magmatic
rather than exhumational cooling. However, a lack Central
Cordilleran uplift does not rule out eastward sediment
progradation from the Mesozoic volcanic edice to proxi-
mal locations (e.g. the Magdalena Valley basin, Gomez et
al., 2003).
A synchronous, mid-Palaeocene change from craton-
to Central Cordillera- sourced sediment is observed in
both the Nuevo Mundo syncline in the Middle Magdalena
Valley (Nie et al., 2010) and Floresta basin in the axial East-
ern Cordillera (this study). In the MagdalenaValley, the ob-
served change occurs between the lower and upper
Palaeocene Lisama Formation and involves a shift from
4500 Ma to Cretaceous-age zircons (Nie et al., 2010).
The combined data suggest a single integrated basin in
the Palaeocene encompassing the Floresta and Magdalena
basins. Sediment shed westward from the craton in the
393
J. E. Saylor et al.

early Palaeocene reached both the Floresta and Magdalena
basins. Similarly, sediment shed eastward from the Central
Cordillera in the late Palaeocene reached both basins. Ba-
sin subsidence histories for the Llanos basin and Magdale-
na Valley indicate an increase in subsidence rate in the
Palaeocene (Gomez et al., 2005a; Bayona et al., 2008). In
light of the combined sediment accumulation, provenance
and palaeocurrent data, we interpret the coeval arrival of
Central Cordilleran detritus in the Magdalena and Flores-
ta basins to be the result of the mid-Palaeocene onset of
uplift in the Central Cordillera (Fig. 9b) (Nie et al., 2010).
Synchronous late Palaeocene deposition of Central Cor-
dilleran detritus in the Floresta and Magdalena basins and
cratonic detritus in the eastern foothills of the Eastern
Cordillera (Cooper et al., 1995) indicates that the basin axis
had shifted 4200 km eastward from the Magdalena Valley
to the eastern foothills (Fig. 9b). Thick, well developed
palaeosols and an erosional unconformity at the top of
the Socha Mudstone are tentatively interpreted as devel-
opment and passage of a exural forebulge in the Floresta
basin area (DeCelles & Currie, 1996; DeCelles & Horton,
2003). If accurate, this would imply that the foreland basin
was overlled (i.e. sediment derived from the orogenic
hinterland reached the backbulge depozone) in the Palaeo -
cene (Fig. 9b).
The middle Eocene involved eastward migration of the
deformation front into the Middle Magdalena Valley, ex-
pansion of the region of uplift and deepening of the fore-

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Fig. 9. Schematic palaeogeographic reconstructions using a modern (non-restored) map base showing present 500 m topographic
contour [modied from Cooper et al. (1995),Villamil, (1999), Sarmiento -Rojas, 2001, Gomez et al., (2005a), and Bayona et al., (2008)]. Key
observations are listed as notes 1^14.

r 2010 The Authors

394 Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists

land basin (Gomez et al., 2003, 2005b) (Fig. 9c). Several
lines of evidence point to an underlled foreland basin at
this time. Average palaeocurrent orientations in the Flor-
esta basin shift from eastward (perpendicular to basin axis)
to northward (parallel to basin axis). Likewise palaeocur-
rent orientations in the eastern foothills change upsection
from westward to north or northeastward (Cooper et al.,
1995; Parra et al., 2009a). Synchronous deposition of west-
derived detritus in the Floresta basin and axial Eastern
Cordillera and craton-derived detritus in the easternmost
Eastern Cordillera indicates that sediment derived from
the orogenic hinterland was not reaching the eastern foot-
hills at this time.
Eastward migration of the forebulge is consistent with a
decrease in sedimentation rate in the eastern foothills in
the middle Eocene- early Oligocene (Bayona et al., 2008;
Parra et al., 2009a, 2010). A decrease in sedimentation rate
associated with a forebulge is also suggested by the pre-
sence of a sequence-bounding erosional unconformity
within the Eocene Mirador Formation (Villamil, 1999;
Warren & Pulham, 2002; Bayona et al., 2007, 2008) and
change from a quartz-rich, cratonic source to lithic-rich,
orogenic source across the unconformity (Bayona et al.,
2008; Bande, 2010).
Introduction of sediment recycled from the western
ank of the Eastern Cordillera in the Concentracion For-
mation does not necessitate a Laramide- style broken fore-
land as this could be the result of eastward propagation of
the deformation front and transition of the MagdalenaVal-
ley from a foredeep or wedge-top depozone (DeCelles &
Giles, 1996) to a hinterland basin (e.g. McQuarrie et al.,
2005; Horton, in press). Nor do palaeocurrent data pub-
lished herein point to a complex palaeoow system as is ty-
pical of broken foreland basins (Jordan, 1995; Gomez et al.,
2005a; Smith et al., 2008). It does, however, indicate that,
by the late Eocene, the Madgalena and Floresta basins
were evolving separately.
BROKEN FORELAND BASIN
Several studies suggest the Palaeocene^ early Eocene East-
ern Cordillera developed as a broken foreland (Sarmiento -
Rojas, 2001) with subbasins separated by 1^3 km topo -
graphic barriers (Fig. 12a^d of Bayona et al., 2008). In the
following paragraphs we compare the predictions of this
hypothesis to observations concerning (1) variability and
uniqueness of depositional environments in individual
subbasins, (2) rate and uniqueness of subsidence patterns
in potential subbasins, (3) coarse-grained, proximal sedi-
ments, (4) sediment composition, (5) sediment dispersal
patterns, (6) growth strata and (7) thermochronology.
(1) The Floresta basin recorded neither rapid nor dra-
matic shifts in depositional environment. Lithofacies ana-
lysis suggests marine to marginal marine (including low-
gradient uvial) as opposed to piedmont (alluvial fan or
high-gradient uvial) depositional conditions. The sedi-
mentology does not support introduction of proximal
r 2010 The Authors
Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
Cenozoic partitioning of the Floresta basin, Colombia
source areas during basin evolution. In addition, the de-
positional systems observed in the Floresta basin can be
correlated westward to the Magdalena Valley, southward
along the Eastern Cordillera axis and eastward to the east-
ern foothills and Llanos basin. Specically, both the Gua-
duas (Floresta basin) and Lisama (Magdalena Valley)
formations record the Maastrichtian- early Palaeocene
transition from marine to uvial deposition (Gomez et al.,
2005b; Moreno, 2010).The transition from sand- to mud-
dominated uvial deposits in the Socha Group has lateral
equivalents to the south (Cacho and Bogota Formations)
(Gomez et al., 2005a) and the east (Barco and Los Cuervos
Formations) (Cazier et al., 1995; Bayona et al., 2008). The
Eocene Picacho Formation (Floresta basin) has been cor-
related to the Mirador Formation (eastern foothills) (San-
tos et al., 2008; Bande, 2010) and the Regadera Formation
(south of Floresta basin) (Gomez et al., 2005a). Finally, both
the Concentracion (Floresta basin) and Carbonera (eastern
foothills) formations record the late Eocene^Oligocene
marine incursion (Cazier et al., 1995; Cooper et al., 1995;
Bayona et al., 2008; Santos et al., 2008). Signicantly, only
after the late Eocene^Oligocene uplift of the westernmost
Eastern Cordillera (Nie et al., 2010; this study) are devia-
tions detected in depositional environments and palaeo -
currents between the time- equivalent Concentracion
(Floresta basin) and Esmeraldas (MagdalenaValley) forma-
tions (Gomez et al., 2003; Moreno, 2010).
(2) The 2 km Cenozoic ll of the Floresta basin was
deposited over 40 Myr suggesting a remarkably slow un-
decompacted sedimentation rate of 50 m Myr  1, implying
an even lower tectonic subsidence rate (Van Hinte, 1978;
Dickinson et al., 1987; Allen & Allen, 2005). Low rates of
long-term tectonic subsidence across the Eastern Cordil-
lera of 12.5^25 m Myr  1 (Fabre, 1983; Bayona et al., 2008)
are similar to low rates for the eastern foothill and Llanos
basin (o12.5^23 m Myr  1) (Bayona et al., 2008; Parra et al.,
2009a). Palaeogene subsidence rates are uniformly low and
do not vary signicantly between the axial Eastern Cordil-
leran and eastern foothills or Llanos basin until the mid-
late Oligocene (Fabre, 1983; Bayona et al., 2008; Parra et al.,
2009a).
(3) No signicant occurrences of Palaeocene coarse-
grained proximal deposits are reported for the Eastern
Cordillera. Preserved Palaeocene facies represent distal en-
vironments and stratigraphic units can often be correlated
regionally across the Eastern Cordillera (e.g. Cooper et al.,
1995; Villamil, 1999; Sarmiento-Rojas, 2001; Gomez et al.,
2005a; Bayona et al., 2008). Although not impossible, it is
considered highly unlikely that all coarse-grained detritus
was selectively cannibalized during subsequent exhuma-
tion, preferentially preserving only ne-grained deposits.
Therefore, if localized uplifts were present, they must have
been too small to produce coarse-grained detritus.
(4) Proposed Palaeocene uplift of 1^3 km topographic
barriers (Bayona et al., 2008) in the Eastern Cordillera
would be associated with erosion of local, Mesozoic cover
and local basement. However, there is no compelling
provenance data requiring that the Santander massif or
395
J. E. Saylor et al.
Eastern Cordilleran basement was exhumed at this time
(see also evidence presented by Parra et al., 2009b).
Although Maastrichtian-lower Palaeocene strata are mar-
ginally more lithic rich than underlying Cretaceous strata
(Bayona et al., 2008; this study), detrital zircon U^Pb geo -
chronology indicates an eastern cratonic sediment source
in the early Palaeocene and a western, magmatic arc source
in the late Palaeocene. Detrital zircon U^Pb age spectra
from the Cretaceous^lower Eocene sequence lack signi -
cant peaks between 900 and 200 Ma (Fig. 8d^h) which
would be expected if the Santander massif or Eastern Cor-
dilleran basement were exposed (Horton et al., 2010b; Nie
et al., 2010).
(5) Broken foreland basins are typied by complex, often
reversing, sediment dispersal patterns (Davila & Astini,
2007; Carrapa et al., 2008; Smith et al., 2008). Our palaeo -
current data show a relatively uniform sediment dispersal
pattern, in contrast to a recent compilation which shows
signicant scatter (Bayona etal., 2008 and references there-
in).We favour a simple sediment dispersal pattern because
it provides the most straightforward explanation for com-
bined palaeocurrent and U^Pb provenance data. For ex-
ample, given the clear U^Pb signal of Central Cordilleran
provenance (this study), previous suggestions of west-di-
rected palaeocurrents in the Floresta basin area in the late
Palaeocene (Fig. 8b of Bayona et al., 2008) would only be
tenable if Central Cordilleran detritus was exhumed and
transported eastward, then re- eroded and transported
back to the west to a nal location in the Floresta basin.
Further, because zircon crystallization ages are indistin-
guishable from depositional age, this complex scenario
would have to take place in a narrow time interval. In sum-
mary, following the arrival of orogenic sediment in the
mid-Palaeocene, sediment sources for the Floresta basin
were located entirely to the west throughout the Palaeo -
gene^ early Oligocene (this study), suggesting a lack of sig-
nicant topography east of the Floresta basin until the late
Oligocene. At no point in the Palaeocene^Oligocene
development of the Floresta basin do we see evidence of
signicant (1^3 km) topographic barriers or multiple sedi-
ment sources as expected for a broken foreland setting (e.g.
Mortimer et al., 2007; Carrapa et al., 2008).
(6) A broken foreland with localized uplift would gener-
ate growth strata in coarse-grained, proximal deposits
within the Eastern Cordillera (e.g. Zapata & Allmendinger,
1996; Seager et al., 1997; Casas-Sainz et al., 2002; Lopez-
Blanco, 2002; Strecker et al., 2007). However, examination
of key examples of possible growth strata (Julivert, 1963,
1970) leads to the conclusion that the Palaeocene^lower
Eocene units in question (Guaduas, Cacho and Bogota
Formations) are concordant over a stratigraphic thickness
of 1000 m, with no clear evidence of internal unconfor-
mities before middle-late Eocene deposition (Usme For-
mation) (see Fig. 3b of Gomez et al., 2005a).
(7) Available thermochronological data do not support a
series of Cretaceous^Palaeocene uplifts within the Eastern
Cordillera (Parra et al., 2009b). Albian-Eocene zircon s-
sion track (ZFT) ages from the Santander massif (Shagam
396 Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
et al., 1984) raise the possibility of early Andean exhuma-
tion. However, the Santander massif was a palaeohigh dur-
ing Mesozoic rifting (Cooper et al., 1995; Kammer &
Sanchez, 2006) and it is unlikely that it was covered with
the 8 km of sediment needed to fully anneal ZFTs (240^
250 1C at cooling rates of 0.5^1km Myr  1 (Brandon et al.,
1998; Garver et al., 1999; Bernet et al., 2001; Tagami, 2005)).
In summary, although we cannot entirely rule out the
occurrence of small, localized uplifts in the Palaeogene,
the lateral continuity of depositional environments, slow
subsidence rates, absence of clear provenance data and
lack of coarse-grained proximal deposits, growth struc-
tures, and thermochronological data to support their exis-
tence is compelling. These observations and (a) the
similarity in provenance shifts in the MagdalenaValley ba-
sin and Floresta basin, (b) depositional and stratigraphic
continuity temporally within the Floresta succession and
laterally among Palaeogene exposures, (c) low sediment ac-
cumulation rates, (d) simple palaeocurrent patterns and (e)
systematic cratonward progression of exhumation are in-
consistent with a broken foreland setting (Jordan, 1995;
Jordan et al., 2001; Strecker et al., 2007) but consistent with
a conventional foreland basin setting, particularly a distal
foreland basin setting (Sinclair et al., 1991; Crampton & Al-
len, 1995; DeCelles & Currie, 1996; Horton et al., 2001; De-
Celles & Horton, 2003). If the Palaeogene evolution of the
Colombian foreland basin, and, by implication, orogenic
wedge, followed such a traditional model, then later Neo -
gene reactivation of Mesozoic extensional structures
(Kammer & Sanchez, 2006; Mora et al., 2006, 2009; Parra
et al., 2009b) suggests a major change in deformation style
during the mid-Cenozoic.
CONCLUSIONS
Upper Cretaceous^Oligocene strata in the Floresta basin
record a change from oshore marine to deltaic, then u-
vial and, nally, estuarine deposition. The 2 km thick
Cenozoic section accumulated over 40 Myr at an aver-
age long-term, undecompacted rate of 0.05 mm yr  1. No -
where in the Palaeogene section are coarse-grained
sediments observed. Detrital zircon age spectra and sand-
stone petrographic results indicate that sediment sources
for the Floresta basin changed during the Palaeocene (So -
cha Group) from an exclusively Palaeo - and Mesoprotero -
zoic, cratonic source to a lithic-rich source with Jurassic^
Cenozoic zircons. Because palaeocurrent orientations in
the Palaeocene are east-directed, this change is considered
to reect the rst unambiguous inux of Central Cordiller-
an detritus, most likely in response to the onset of shorten-
ing-related uplift.
A subsequent, middle Eocene provenance shift (Pica-
cho Formation) records the introduction of Triassic to
Neoproterozoic zircons and inux of more metamorphic
lithic grains. Northward palaeocurrent orientations for
these strata and previously published basement low-tem-
perature thermochronology appear to rule out all possible
r 2010 The Authors

sources of metamorphic basement except the Magdalena
Valley basement which was exposed during Eocene hinter-
land shortening. As middle Eocene sediments are inferred
to be sourced from the Magdalena Valley basement in the
west, we conclude that the western (Magdalena) basin was
united with basins to the east (Floresta and Llanos) until
the late Eocene.
Introduction of a new upper- crustal sediment source in
the late Eocene (Concentracion Formation) is linked to in-
itial uplift of the western ank of the Eastern Cordillera
and recycling of older foreland basin sediments.
Simple eastward or northeastward palaeocurrent orien-
tations western sediment sources and similarities in
depositional environments and subsidence rates suggest
that the Floresta basin was connected with the Llanos ba-
sin from the Late Cretaceous through late Oligocene.
In considering available thermochronology, sedimen-
tology and structural results, we nd no direct evidence
to support uplift of the Central Cordillera until the mid-
Palaeocene when a synchronous arrival of Central Cordil-
ler-derived sediments occurs in the easternmost Magda-
lena Valley (Nuevo Mundo syncline) and Eastern
Cordillera (Floresta basin). Likewise, the lack of growth
structures, coarse-grained deposits, clear provenance
data, or thermochronological data to support numerous
localized uplifts in the Eastern Cordillera is consistent
with a single integrated foreland basin during the Palaeo -
gene. Moreover, the progressive introduction of Central
Cordillera, Magdalena Valley and Eastern Cordillera sedi-
ment sources along with the lateral continuity of deposi-
tional environments are consistent with a systematic
eastward propagation of the deformation front into an un-
broken foreland basin throughout the Palaeogene.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We thank W. Cavazza, B. Carrapa and F. Roure for reviews
which helped to strengthen this paper. This research also
benetted from discussions with C. Olariu, C. J. Moreno,
A. Bande, G. Bayona and E. Gomez. Laboratory assistance
was provided by J. Knowles. Funding was provided by
Ecopetrol-Instituto Colombiano del Petroleo (ICP-Project
Cronologia de la deformacion en las Cuencas Subandi-
nas), and the Jackson School of Geosciences as part of a
collaborative research agreement between ICP and the
University of Texas at Austin. Many Colombian research-
ers from Ecopetrol shared valuable information and logis-
tical support during this research.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Additional Supporting Information may be found in the
online version of this article:
Figure S1. Modal sandstone petrographic data plotted
in ternary diagrams: a) Lm-Lv-Ls, b) Qm-F-Lt, c) Q-F-L,
r 2010 The Authors
Basin Research r 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers and International Association of Sedimentologists
Cenozoic partitioning of the Floresta basin, Colombia
and d) Qt-F-L. Black arrows indicate upsection composi-
tional trends. Colored small symbols are individual sam-
ples. Fields for a, b, and d from Dickinson (1983; 1985).
Fields for c from Folk (1980).
Table S1. Recalculated point counting data.
Table S2. U-Pb data.
Please note: Wiley-Blackwell is not responsible for the
content or functionality of any supporting materials sup-
plied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing ma-
terial) should be directed to the corresponding author for
the article.
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