The Protracted Evolution of a Plate Boundary: Eastern Cuba Block and Old Bahamas Channel

The Eastern Cuban block has experienced a complex tectonic history characterized by plate interactions, resulting in a diverse array of geological features observable in the offshore sedimentary record. We investigate the tectonic evolution of offshore Eastern Cuba, specifically in the Old Bahamas Channel and its surrounding areas, by integrating multi‐channel seismic (MCS) reflection and published geological data. Our analysis employs stratigraphic frameworks and MCS data to assess deformation and key geological events in the region. We highlight the complex tectonic history of the Eastern Cuban block, marked by significant geodynamic events, such as rifting, the subduction of the oceanic Proto‐Caribbean plate, and syn‐orogenic and post‐orogenic phases. The seismic units observed in the majority of the study area reveal the early evolution of the Northern Proto‐Caribbean margin, subsequently impacted by the Cuban orogeny and the reactivation of the Cuban Transform Fault zone corresponding to a former plate boundary. We propose estimated ages for the seismic sequences, correlating them with available well data from neighboring regions. This study offers valuable insights into the tectonic history and geological evolution of offshore Eastern Cuba, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the region's geodynamic development. Key Points The Old Bahamas Channel offers insights into the Caribbean's early tectonic history dating back to the Pangea breakup Bahamian carbonate banks formed as reefs on top of tilted blocks following the Pangea rift and were later affected by fault reactivation The Eocene northern Caribbean plate boundary aligns with the Cuban Transform Fault, reactivated in the Cuban orogenic and post‐orogenic phases