Except where canal possibilities and potential mineral deposits exist, accurate, detailed structural knowledge is scarce for Central America. Utilizing petrographic techniques on rock samples taken throughout the whole country, Volcanic History of Nicaragua makes a contribution to the general geologic history of the area by focusing on two primary problems: deciphering the relations and relative ages of the various volcanic units found within the country and determining the age and origin of the Nicaraguan Depression.
The general organization of the study is concerned with the four physiographic areas of Nicaragua: the Pacific coastal plain, the Nicaraguan Depression, the interior highlands, and the Atlantic coastal plain. Within this framework the types of rocks found and their attributes are listed. Also, descriptions of faults and volcanoes are recorded.
While the conclusions regarding the geologic history of the country are general, the complexity and importance of volcanic activity in Nicaragua are conveyed. Perhaps the most important aspect of this report is that it has developed the background necessary for a more detailed investigation.
