Abstract Mudrocks are highly heterogeneous in a range of physical and chemical properties, including: porosity and permeability, fissility, colour, particle composition, size, orientation, carbon loading, degree of compaction, and diagenetic overprint. It is therefore important that the maximum information be extracted as efficiently and completely as possible. This can be accomplished through high-resolution analysis of polished thin sections by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with the collection of large-area images and X-ray elemental map montages, and the application of targeted particle analysis. A workflow model, based on these techniques, for the digitization of mudrocks is presented herein. A range of the data that can be collected and the variety of analyses that can be achieved are also illustrated. Data collection is discussed in terms of inherent problems with acquisition, storage, transfer and manipulation, which can be time-consuming and non-trivial. Similar information and resolutions can be achieved through other techniques, such as QEMSCAN and infra-red (IR)/Raman spectroscopic mapping. These can be seen as complementary to the workflow described herein.

Abstract We present the results of 59 new apatite fission tracks (AFT), 24 new vitrinite reflectance analysis, and 154 new He thermocronometric analysis from the eastern flank of the Colombian eastern Cordillera at lat7° N to constrain the roles of plate tectonics, tectonic inheritance, and surface processes in building the Cocuy syntaxis. The Cocuy syntaxis is the region with the highest structural and topographic relief in the eastern Cordillera. The primary factor controlling that is faster tectonism, apparently related to the most important Panama collision at 4 Ma. This push from behind is focused between two resistant plates and escapes toward a weak foreland plate, which is able to flex. However, we document new Pliocene and younger AFT ages in the eastern side of the eastern Cordillera, which are related with focused and faster exhumation in the eastern flank. We suggest that this episode is responsible for the limited advance of the deformation front as basement-involved blocks. In addition, faster denudation causes faster sedimentation rates in the weak foreland plate east of the Cocuy syntaxis. In this case, the thick pile of Neogene synkinematic sediments would have limited thin skin deformation migration.

Abstract The Magdalena Valley fold-and-thrust belt is a tectonic province associated with inverted rift zones. This belt displays a narrow and discontinuous deformation front indicating association with inversion tectonics. We show the differences with an analogue belt on the eastern side of the Eastern Cordillera (Llanos foothills). To do that we use structural data (seismic, wells and geological maps) which characterize different structural geometries as well as palaeocurrents, provenance and thermochronology to analyse the timing of deformation. The new datasets allowed us to detect that inversion is limited whenever the stresses are more orthogonal to the rift structures, whereas the mountain front is more segmented in comparison to the Eastern Foothills because of the absence of a continuous low basal friction detachment horizon and a pronounced eastwards basement dip. These two factors favoured fault hard linkage. It is remarkable that, in spite of the distinct segmentation, all the different segments in the Magdalena belt are coeval. Supplementary material: U–Pb Zircon data are available at: http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18630 .

Abstract A combination of new surface and subsurface structural data, new stratigraphic data on conventional provenance, facies and palaeocurrents, low-temperature thermochronology and detrital zircon U–Pb provenance data provides a comprehensive account of the timing of deformation in the intermountane Middle Magdalena basin of the Central Colombian Andes, and allows evaluation of the style of foreland basin deformation associated with tectonic inversion. This robust dataset enabled documentation of focused tectonic activity in two competing low-relief basement structures to the east and west of the present Middle Magdalena Valley during the Palaeogene, earlier than previously recognized. Cenozoic sediment accumulation of a sedimentary pile up to 7 km thick in the Middle Magdalena Basin created a large original taper angle in this part of the north Andes. At that time, when the detachment rocks were deeply buried, the original larger taper angle facilitated the forelandward advance of deformation instead of promoting its stagnation. Supplementary material: Raw data results from geochronometrial analyses are available at: http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18627