ABSTRACT
Mafic and ultramafic igneous complexes, often referred to as “ophiolites” in the literature, crop out along much of the Pacific margin of Central America and occupy large parts of the Central American forearc (Fig. 20.1). The best studied of these complexes occur along the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and Panama, although there is some evidence that they may extend into the forearc of Nicaragua and Guatemala. The oceanic igneous complexes in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama are from NW to SE: (1) Motagua fault, (2) DSDP Leg 67 and 84 in the Guatemala forearc, (3) Nicaragua forearc, (4) Santa Elena, (5) Nicoya, (6) Tortugal, (7) Herradura, (8) Quepos, (9) Osa, (10) Golfito, (11) Burica, (12) Soná, (13) Azuero, and (14) Serranía del Sapo (Darién) (Figs. 20.1 and 20.2).
