Fig. 18. Summary of the three main Cenozoic basin phases along the northern margin of Puerto Rico based on data presented in this paper. (C) Shows present-day bathymetry of north¯south profile at longitude 67°W. (A) Tectonic phase 1: Cretaceous to Eocene formation and infilling of an east ¯west trending forearc basin with large normal faults along the southern edge of the basin and onlap of the forearc basin sediments onto the outer ridge. (B) Tectonic phase 2: Oligocene to Pliocene period of tectonic quiescence and lack of large-scale folding or faulting of the 70-km wide extinct arc upon which the PRVI platform has been formed. (C) Tectonic phase 3: Pliocene to Holocene northward tilting of the platform along the northern margin of Puerto Rico, which has resulted in drowning of the platform to a depth of 4 km to the north and subaerial exposure of the platform to an elevation of about 100¯200 m in the north coast area of Puerto Rico.

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