Introduction to the special issue on the tectono-magmatic evolution of the northern Andes: processes, temporality and palaeogeographic implications

Phanerozoic magmatism in the northern Andes records a complex history of plate convergence, subduction dynamics and lithospheric inheritance along the northwestern margin of South America. This special issue synthesizes recent multidisciplinary advances that address the temporal, spatial and geodynamic evolution of Andean magmatism in Colombia and Ecuador, integrating petrographic, geochemical, geochronological, structural and geophysical perspectives. The contributions compiled herein provide new constraints on key stages of Andean development, including the construction and migration of Jurassic magmatic arcs, the formation and inversion of Cretaceous marginal and back-arc basins, and the Neogene reorganization of the convergent margin associated with changes in subduction geometry and slab segmentation. Several studies highlight the progressive transition from mantle-dominated to crustally influenced magmatic systems, the role of syn-tectonic pluton emplacement, and the links between deep crustal processes and surface magmatism. Other contributions emphasize the long-term influence of Precambrian lithospheric architecture on Phanerozoic crustal evolution, underscoring the importance of inherited structures in controlling Andean deformation and magmatic patterns. Collectively, the papers in this volume demonstrate that the tectono-magmatic evolution of the northern Andes is best explained by the interplay between variable subduction regimes, arc migration and segmentation, terrane accretion, and crust–mantle interactions through time. This synthesis provides a framework for improved palaeogeographic reconstructions of northwestern South America and highlights outstanding questions that will guide future research on Andean orogenic processes.