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Cenozoic mineral deposits and subduction-related magmatic arcs

in Mexico

K E N N E T H F. C L A R K Department of Geological Sciences, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas 79968

C. T H O M A S F O S T E R Department of Geology, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242
P A U L E. D A M O N Laboratory of Isotope Geochemistry, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721

ABSTRACT stillstand a b o v e the deepest s u b d u c t i o n region u n d e r study. Nevertheless, o u r d a t a

S p a t i a l d i s t r i b u t i o n of isotopic ages of
igneous rocks in n o r t h e r n Mexico shows
that a m a g m a t i c arc c o m m e n c e d at 140 m.y.
B.P. near a paleotrench, progressed 1,000
k m eastward by 40 m.y. B.P., and then re-
gressed t o within 200 k m of the continental
margin by 18 m.y. B.P. D u r i n g progression,
a calcic and calc-alkaline continental-margin
volcano-plutonic regime developed, but f a r -
ther east, high-K calc-alkaline and alkaline
facies f o r m e d in n o r t h e a s t e r n Mexico a n d
west T e x a s . Following regression, calc-
alkaline volcanism was renewed on the
Pacific m a r g i n at ~ 1 8 m.y. B.P. a n d c o n -
tinued until cessation of s u b d u c t i o n by
initiation of t r a n s f o r m m o v e m e n t s between
Pacific a n d A m e r i c a n plates. Benioff zone
d e p t h estimates f r o m K57 5 relationships
suggest decreasing dip d u r i n g progression
a n d a variable-dip, variable-depth regime
f r o m 140 to 16 m.y. B.P. Both the d i p - a n g l e -
convergence-rate relationship a n d indepen-
dent convergence rates require increasing
convergence b u t decreasing sinking rates of
s u b d u c t e d oceanic slab f r o m 80 to 42 m.y.
B.P., followed by decreasing convergence
a n d sinking rates f r o m 42 to 16 m.y. B.P.
Changes in s u b d u c t i o n dynamics are attrib-
uted to plate reorganization at 44 m.y. B.P.
and the a p p r o a c h of the East Pacific Rise.
Differing h y d r o t h e r m a l ore assemblages in
zones subparallel to the paleotrench are
c o n s t r a i n e d by m a g m a d i s t r i b u t i o n in space
and time C u - ( M o - W ) ores (106 to 40 m.y.
old) in calc-alkaline m a g m a s f o r m e d d u r i n g
progression, whereas M o and CaF2 deposits
coincide with the alkaline belt d u r i n g a r c
depths, and P b - Z n - A g deposits (49-26 m.y.
B.P.) were f o r m e d during late arc progres-
sion a n d early regression. These geody-
n a m i c variations, plus Sr, Rb, a n d S
isotopic characteristics of the a r c terrane,
suggest that processes associated with sub-
d u c t i o n a n d some crustal c o n t a m i n a t i o n ,
rather t h a n local compositional anomalies
in crust or mantle, account for different
m a g m a and mineral-deposit suites. S o u t h -
ern Mexico exhibits Fe and C u zones, where-
as the overlapping calc-alkaline trans-
M e x i c a n - C h i a p a n e c a n a r c of late Miocene
to H o l o c e n e age contains several base- and
precious-metal deposits.
INTRODUCTION
While the geographic distribution of
m i n e r a l d e p o s i t s in s u b d u c t i o n - r e l a t e d
m a g m a t i c arcs has received considerable
a t t e n t i o n d u r i n g the past decade, the critical
link between identifiable variations in s u b -
ducted plates and their relationship, if any,
to predictable variations in p r o d u c t s has
remained elusive. The present study, al-
t h o u g h lacking in many details required to
satisfactorily answer this f u n d a m e n t a l ques-
tion, does d r a w together presently available
evidence in Mexico and presents a n inte-
grated s u m m a r y and model. T h e final solu-
tion of this p r o b l e m awaits a m o r e t h o r o u g h
comprehension of magmatic processes a l o n g
a converging oceanic plate and continental
margin. T o some extent, these processes can
be fully tested only if the input a n d p r o d u c t
characteristics have been sufficiently well
d o c u m e n t e d , a troublesome issue in the
synthesis does answer the question in part
a n d provides a v a n t a g e point for the f u t u r e .
R E G I O N A L GEOLOGIC SETTING
As previously noted by G u n n and M o o s e r
(1970), t w o m a j o r m a g m a t i c arcs fringe the
Pacific margin of Mexico. In mainland
n o r t h w e s t e r n Mexico and Baja California,
the Sierra M a d r e Occidental province con-
stitutes a distinct zone in the Earth's crust
that parallels the northwestern coastline.
This province is ~ 1,200 k m in length a n d ,
on the south, it is locally obscured by over-
lying lavas of the T r a n s - M e x i c a n Volcanic
Belt (Fig. 1). S o u t h of the T r a n s - M e x i c a n
Volcanic Belt, Cretaceous t o late Oligocene
intrusive a n d volcanic rocks persist, as will
be discussed later. T h e Sierra M a d r e Occi-
dental is a partially dissected volcanic plateau
with m a x i m u m elevations in excess of 3,000
m a b o v e sea level. T h e axial p a r t is 200 to
300 km wide, a l t h o u g h flanking m a g m a t i c
products occupy a much wider region. Strat-
igraphically, a Lower Volcanic Series, Late
C r e t a c e o u s to Eocene in age, 1.0 to 1.5 k m
thick, and consisting mostly of andesites, is
overlain by a 1.0-km-thick Upper Volcanic
Series that is d o m i n a t e d by Oligocene
ash-flow tuffs of rhyodacitic composition.
F r o m late Miocene time o n w a r d , relatively
thin coverings of basalts were extruded. T h e
c o m m o n plutonic phases a r e batholithic
terranes in Baja California and mainland
n o r t h w e s t e r n Mexico, a l t h o u g h neither
these n o r the andesites a r e exposed in
northeastern Mexico. Mineralization is c o n -
fined mainly to the underlying andesite and

This article is included in a set of papers presented at a symposium on "Subduction of oceanic plates," held in November 1979.

Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 93, p. 533-544, 7 figs., 1 table, June 1982.

533
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534 CLARK AND OTHERS

M o n t e s i n o s , 1978, Fig. 1). Additionally,

D a m o n a n d M o n t e s i n o s recognize a g a p
between the m o d e r n C h i a p a n e c a n a n d the
p r e - l a t e Miocene a r c t h a t parallels the
Pacific coast a n d Middle A m e r i c a T r e n c h
n o r t h w e s t w a r d t o O a x a c a a n d possibly
t h r o u g h G u e r r e r o , M i c h o a c a n a n d into
Jalisco. T h i s region is geographically coin-
cident with t h e p r o b a b l e s o u t h e r n extension
of Sierra M a d r e Occidental province re-
ferred t o previously.

M A G M A T I C ACTIVITY IN
NORTHERN MEXICO

Distribution in Space and Time

A synthesis of M e x i c a n volcanism in
relation to g e o d y n a m i c evolution in post-
C r e t a c e o u s time was m a d e by D e m a n t a n d
R o b i n (1975). T h e y noted a series of differ-
e n t m a g m a t i c events of varying chemical
c o m p o s i t i o n t h a t began in Baja California
P r o v i n c e a n d was later displayed in Sierra
Figure 1. Distribution of the Occidental and Trans-Mexican-Modern Chiapenecan arcs M a d r e Occidental, Eastern Mexico, a n d
in M e x i c o . Note also the position of the Peninsula province, Eastern Alkaline province, finally, f r o m Miocene time o n w a r d , in the
Tuxtla area, and abandoned Chiapas belt. (Modified from Gunn and Mooser, 1970; De- T r a n s - M e x i c a n Volcanic Belt, T h e y sub-
mant and Robin, 1975; and D a m o n and Montesinos, 1978.) scribed to a n island-arc e n v i r o n m e n t in
m a i n l a n d n o r t h w e s t e r n Mexico, with calc-
p l u t o n i c host r o c k s ( C l a r k , 1976), a l t h o u g h are most c o m m o n (Gunn and Mooser, alkalic lavas (ignimbrites) in Sierra Madre
s o m e iron, tin, a n d m e r c u r y deposits are 1970). This 1,000-km-long belt (Fig. 1) is Occidental, alkali m a g m a t i s m in the East-
located in later m a g m a t i c units. characterized by stratovolcanoes as m u c h as ern Province, and calc-alkaline volcanism in
T h e second m a g m a t i c arc, t h e T r a n s - 5,400 m a b o v e sea level. At its eastern e n d , the Eje Neovolcanico.
M e x i c a n Volcanic Belt (Eje Neovolcanico the volcanic chain n a y be c o n t i n u o u s with
A l t h o u g h a n e a s t w a r d m a g m a shift had
Trans-Mexicano) is d o m i n a t e d by late M i o - the S a n A n d r e s T u x t l a center a n d the m o d -
been recognized in n o r t h e r n S o n o r a ( A n d -
cene t o H o l o c e n e volcanic p r o d u c t s , of ern C h i a p a n e c a n volcanic a r c (see M o o s e r
e r s o n a n d Silver, 1974) a n d in s o u t h e r n
which andesitic a n d dacitic c o m p o s i t i o n s a n d M a l d o n a d o , 1967, Fig. 3; D a m o n a n d
S i n a l o a ( H e n r y , 1975), the distinctive evolu-
1801 tionary p a t t e r n of m i g r a t i o n a n d regression
of m a g m a t i s m in the southwestern United
H 160 States was d e m o n s t r a t e d by C o n e y a n d
Z
in R e y n o l d s (1977). A similar p a t t e r n was rec-
ÜJ
rr 140 ognized by D a m o n (1978) a n d C l a r k a n d
a.
UJ
Sierra Madre Occidental Arc o t h e r s (1978) t h r o u g h o u t a d j a c e n t n o r t h e r n
tr 120 Mexico, in which m a g m a t i s m migrated
o
u.
Cale-Alkalic f r o m t h e Pacific margin f o r 1,000 k m east-
m 100
w a r d a n d subsequently regressed westward
w>
or Calc-Alkalic t o the c o n t i n e n t a l margin (crustal dilation
<
IH 8 0 High-K Facies exaggerates t h e width).
V
Ll_ Alkalic In general, three m a g m a t i c regimes a r e
O 60
tn recognizable since 180 m.y. B.P. (Fig. 2).
T The first event, J u r a s s i c a n d Triassic m a g -
o 40
j P
in iu> m a t i s m , need n o t be discussed here. T h e
_i
5 20 second m a g m a t i c event defines t h e shift of
m a g m a t i s m f r o m 140 to 16 m.y. B.P. as it
0 progressed eastward f r o m the old Pacific
l a
IOO 200
300 400 500 600 700 800 9 0 0 1,000 E " - m a r g i n to west Texas, remained s t a t i o n a r y
KILOMETERS FROM TRENCH f o r a short time, a n d then quickly regressed
Figure 2. M a g m a distribution in space and time in northern Mexico (from Clark and to t h e c o n t i n e n t a l m a r g i n by early Miocene
others, 1979b). time. T h e intervening interval defines a
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MINERAL DEPOSITS AND SUBDUCTION-RELATED MAGMATIC ARCS 535

180

I-
Z
160 §2
tr 3
Lü I - "3
CO
LU
tr 140
CL \
Symbols for K 5 7 5 depth estimates: 146 good
£T 120 >
<r
O (110) fair ' <
La. t-
Lü [168] poor z
o (E
CD 100 CO
UJ
1-
CD to
Lü UJ
er
< a: V-
<
o
Lü 80 o
> tr
CL to
O
o 60 UJ
o<
CO t-
_i Q LÜ
O (£
40 O
OT 05

20
CO
CO UJ < IU
LU h h ü )
oc < a: iu
0 o —I UJ CC
i - a.
100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000
KILOMETERS FROM TRENCH
Figure 3. Calculated depths to Benioff zone for 15 magmatic suites in northern Mexico.

a.
m o g m o t j c activity
m a g m a g a p that closes at a b o u t 350 k m
6 0 m.y.b.p. Ve/\4 increases
f r o m the trench.
A n island-arc regime is reflected in t h e with time 140
interbedded andesites a n d sediments in t h e to 4 2 m.y.b.p.
Alisitos F o r m a t i o n of Baja C a l i f o r n i a (Sil- K575
ver and others, 1963; Gastil and others, estimates
1975) and also in A p t i a n - A l b i a n limestones m a g m a t i c activity
in S o n o r a a n d Sinaloa ( B o n n e a u , 1970). -7-
3 0 m.y.b.p. Ve/Vz is constant
T h e age of batholithic terranes of Baja Cali-
f o r n i a have been d o c u m e n t e d by Silver and 4 2 to 2 8 m.y.b.p.
others (1969) a n d Gastil a n d others (1976).
In S o n o r a a n d Sinaloa, similar terranes
were dated by A n d e r s o n and Silver (1974)
a n d Henry (1975), respectively. East of the
S i e r r a M a d r e Occidental, t h e m a g m a t i c magmatic c.
record is primarily characterized by ash- e . V e /V z decreases
2 0 m.yb.p.
flow tuffs and others extrusions as f a r east
as west Texas. Significantly, f r o m 40 to 31 with time 28
m.y. B.P., volcanism and plutonism peaked to 16m.y.b.p.
in t h e T r a n s - P e c o s field ( M c D o w e l l , 1978).
i 1
T h e active a r c width at 30 m.y. B.P. is larger
2 0 0 km
t h a n that in the a d j a c e n t United States but
is consistent with plate g e o m e t r y at t h a t Figure 4. Calculated depths to Benioff zone for IS magmatic suites listed in Table 1,
period (Figs. 3, 4). In Mexico, recent s u m - using the Dickinson (1975) K57.5-I1 relationship. Magma envelope from Figure 2 shows
maries of the "ignimbrite f l a r e - u p " include times of the three cross sections shown in Figure 4.
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536 CLARK AND OTHERS

M c D o w e l l a n d C l a b a u g h (1979) a n d C a m -
e r o n a n d o t h e r s (1980), mostly f o r D u r a n g o
a n d C h i h u a h u a . F a r t h e r s o u t h , late Oligo-
cene andesites have been m a p p e d by Geyne
(1956) at P a c h u c a ; in t h e T e x c o c o N o . 1
well a d j a c e n t to M e x i c o City (Schlaepfer,
1968), andesites a n d trachyandesites have
been d a t e d at 25.5 a n d 13.4 m.y. B.P.
Alkaline Oligocene m a g m a s were d o c u -
m e n t e d by Bloomfield a n d C e p e d a (1973) in
T a m a u l i p a s a n d by B a r k e r a n d o t h e r s
(1977) in west T e x a s . In west Texas, a f t e r 31
m.y. B. P. in t h e n o r t h a n d later t h a n 26 m.y.
B . P . in t h e s o u t h , basaltic r o c k s a r e c o m -
m o n to 16 m.y. B.P. a n d fall outside t h e
e n v e l o p e s h o w n in Figure 2. F a u l t i n g
between 23 a n d 18 m.y. B . P . m a y be similar
t o t h a t in a n o r t h - s o u t h distensive zone in
eastern Mexico, where t h e alkaline province
was f o r m e d 30 t o 15 m.y. B . P . a n d a p p a r -
ently b e c o m e s y o u n g e r s o u t h w a r d ( C a n t e -
grel a n d R o b i n , 1979).
T h e third m a g m a t i c event m a r k s d i l a t i o n
in t h e Gulf of C a l i f o r n i a . S u b d u c t i o n -
related m a g m a t i s m ceased shortly a f t e r the
inception of t r a n s c u r r e n t f a u l t i n g in this
region, a l t h o u g h b i m o d a l m a g m a t i s m c o n -
tinued.
Benioff Zone Geometry and M a g m a
Generation
M i g r a t i o n of s u b d u c t i o n - r e l a t e d m a g -
m a t i c activity with time in t h e s o u t h w e s t e r n
United States has been interpreted as a
response t o c h a n g e s in t h e dip of the Benioff
z o n e caused by v a r i a t i o n in the convergence
rate of the N o r t h A m e r i c a n a n d F a r a l l o n
plates (Coney a n d Reynolds, 1977). Keith
(1978) has s h o w n thcit m a n y of the c o m m o n
variations in chemical a n d mineralogical
p a r a m e t e r s also systematically migrate a n d
c h a n g e with time in the s a m e region. These
t r e n d s a r e consistent with s u b d u c t i o n
in which b o t h the angle of dip of t h e
Benioff zone a n d the d e p t h of melting
c h a n g e s with time ( v a r i a b l e - d i p - v a r i a b l e -
d e p t h subduction).
T o test the validity of v a r i a b l e - d i p -
variable-depth s u b d u c t i o n f o r late M e s o -
zoic t o m i d d l e C e n c z o i c igneous activity in
n o r t h e r n M e x i c o , the d e p t h t o t h e Benioff
zone f o r 15 m a g m a t i c suites was e s t i m a t e d ,
using the p o t a s h - d e p t h relationship of Dick-
inson (1975). T h e p o t a s s i u m value of t h e
suite at 57.5% S i O j was obtained by plot-
ting the d a t a f r o m the localities listed in
T a b l e 1 on K 2 O / S i 0 2 - v a r i a t i o n d i a g r a m s
a n d visually estimating a "best fit" line
t h r o u g h the points. T h e quality of d a t a
given in T a b l e 1 was r a n k e d as g o o d , fair,
or p o o r , using criteria such as the n u m b e r of
analyses, range of silica c o n t e n t of t h e suite,
a n d t h e scatter of points a r o u n d t h e trend.
O t h e r suites t h a t did n o t s h o w g o o d t r e n d s
or required e x t r a p o l a t i o n of the observed
trend over a range of silica larger t h a n 3% to
reach 57.5% were n o t used. D e p t h s were
estimated using the K57 5 values f o r each
suite in a n e q u a t i o n obtained by a least-
s q u a r e s fit t h r o u g h the " m a i n l a n d volca-
n o e s " in Figure 2 of D i c k i n s o n (1975).
Results of this calculation a r e given in T a b l e
1 a n d plotted o n an a g e / d i s t a n c e curve in
Figure 3.
A l t h o u g h d e p t h estimates a r e limited in
n u m b e r , they a r e consistent with a variable-
d i p - v a r i a b l e - d e p t h s u b d u c t i o n model sim-
ilar t o t h a t p r o p o s e d by Keith (1978). T o
illustrate this model, we have constructed
three cross sections (Fig. 4a, 4b, 4c) which
represent t h r e e f u n d a m e n t a l l y different
types of s u b d u c t i o n d u r i n g the period 140 t o
20 m.y. B.P. in n o r t h e r n M e x i c o .
F i g u r e 4a is a cross section of t h e sub-
d u c t i o n z o n e at a b o u t 60 m.y. B.P., near the
end of a period, characterized by decreasing
Benioff zone dips but increasing d e p t h ,
which caused m a g m a t i c activity t o migrate
eastward with time. T h e three points used t o
c o n s t r a i n the position of the t o p of the sub-
ducted slab are the trench (zero d e p t h , zero
distance), the 146-km d e p t h estimate f r o m a
suite located 370 k m i n b o a r d of the trench
( N e m e t h , 1976), a n d t h e 168-km d e p t h
e s t i m a t e f r o m a suite located 490 k m
i n b o a r d f r o m t h e t r e n c h (Bagby, 1979). A n
a r b i t r a r y e r r o r estimate of ± 50 k m was
assigned t o d e p t h s obtained f r o m the K57 5
values, because this is t h e a m o u n t of scatter
which D i c k i n s o n ' s (1975) c o n t i n e n t a l - m a r -
gin arcs have a b o u t t h e regression line used
to calculate d e p t h s given in T a b l e 1. A
slightly c o n v e x - u p w a r d line was d r a w n
f r o m the trench t h r o u g h the e r r o r bars o n
the d e p t h estimates to represent t h e t o p of
t h e inclined seismic zone. Using this orien-
t a t i o n of t h e seismic z o n e a n d t h e observed
d i s t r i b u t i o n of 60-m.y.-old rocks, the d e p t h
t o t h e seismic zone b e n e a t h the igneous
activity nearest the trench a n d f a r t h e s t f r o m
the t r e n c h can be calculated. Active volca-
noes nearest t h e t r e n c h lay 75 k m a b o v e t h e
seismic z o n e at 60 m.y. B.P., while t h o s e

TABLE 1. ROCK SUITES USED FOR DEPTH TO BENIOFF ZONE CALCULATION IN NORTHERN MEXICO

Locality Average Distance to k;57 5 Depth (km) Data quality* Reference

age (m.y.) trench (km)

Baja Calif. Plutons 75 125 1.2 110 Fair Gastil and others (1975)
Batopilas LVSt, Chihuahua 60 490 2.0 168 Poor Bagby (1979)
Tayoltita, Sinaloa 55 370 1.7 146 Good Nemeth (1976)
Batopilas Plutons, Chihuahua 50 490 1.3 117 Good Bagby (1979)
El Sueco, Chihuahua 40 845 2.6 212 Good Bockhoven (1976)
Paisano Volcano, Texas 35 1015 3.3 264 Poor Parker(1978)
Trans-Pecos, Texas 34 1005 3.8 300 Fair Barker(1977)
Chinati Mountains, Texas 32 950 3.7 293 Good Cepeda (1978)
Saucillo, Chihuahua 32 730 :>.8 227 Fair Cameron and others (1980)
Sierra el Virulento, Chihuahua 30 865 4.2 330 Good Moll (1979)
La Perla, Chihuahua 30 800 3.6 286 Fair Van Allen (1978)
Batopilas UVSJ, Chihuahua 30 490 0.75 77 Good Bagby (1979)
Yoquivo, Chihuahua 28 505 0.7 73 Good Cameron and others (1980)
Guachochic, Chihuahua 24 505 1.2 110 Fair Cameron and others (1980)
Baja California Andesites 20 200 :>.o 168 Fair Gastil and others (1979)

»See text for explanation. jLower Volcanic Series. JUpper Volcanic Series (see Clark, 1976).
Regression equation: h = 73.4 K57 5 + 21.5 r2 = 0.81 [from Dickenson's (1975) mainland volcanoes].
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MINERAL DEPOSITS AND SUBDUCTION-RELATED MAGMATIC ARCS 537

farthest from the trench erupted 230 km
above the seismic zone. The 75-km value is
in good agreement with the minimum depth
given by Keith (1978) for Benioff zones
beneath calcic suites, while the 230-km
estimate is close to the depth of Benioff
zones beneath regions where moderate-K
calc-alkaline magmas change to the high-K
calc-alkaline facies, although no high-K
calc-alkaline facies occur this far west.
However, slightly younger rocks of this type
are present 130 km to the east, suggesting
that the maximum depth of magma genera-
tion increased with time and that the east-
ernmost calc-alkaline magmas were close to
the moderate-K to high-K transition at 60
m.y. B.P. Overall, decreasing dip (Fig. 5a)
and increasing depth of the Benioff zone
from 120 to 42 m.y. B.P. indicate a variable-
dip-variable-depth regime.
The eastward progression of magmatic
activity from 120 to 42 m.y. B.P. was domi-
nated by andesitic magmas with smaller
volumes of mafic and felsic rocks. Predom-
inance of intermediate silicic magmas sug-
gests that much of the magma generated
during this time was derived by partial melt-
ing of the subducted slab or overlying man-
tle (Ringwood, 1977) and passed through
the crust with little contamination. This
interpretation is consistent with trace-ele-
ment and Sr isotopic data reported by
Bagby (1979) for 85-28-m.y.-old plutonic
rocks at Batopilas, and with Sr isotopic data
for granodiorites in Sinaloa (Henry, 1975).
Figure 4b shows subduction-zone geom-
etry at 30 m.y. B.P., near the end of a
period when igneous activity did not
migrate. Again, an arbitrary error of ± 50
km was assigned to depth estimates of
magmatic suites ~ 30 m.y. old, and a straight
line was drawn through the data points.
The period between 42 and 28 m.y. B.P.
represents a distinct change from the pre-
ceding 80 m.y. in several ways: (1) boundar-
ies of magmatism stop migrating eastward
about 42 m.y. B.P. and remain fixed for 14
m.y., (2) the dominant magma type for the
clac-alkaline suites changes from andesitic
to rhyolitic, and (3) rocks representing
igneous activity over the deepest parts of
subduction become more alkaline at arc
stillstand.
The change from migrating magmatism
to that with little or no migration represents
a transition from a variable-dip subduction
regime, where the dip decreased with time,
to a temporary constant-dip regime, where
subducted-slab dip remained the same for
about 14 m.y. A straight line in Figure
4b represents stillstand during this inter-
val. Apparent lack of migration of high-K
calc-alkaline and alkaline magmas at this
time indicates constant-dip-constant-depth
subduction.
The change to dominantly silicic magmas
in the main part of the arc after stillstand
began suggests that the change from a vari-
able- to a constant-dip regime had a pro-
found effect on mechanisms that produce
subduction-related magmas. Major- and
trace-element patterns, plus strontium-iso-
tope ratios, in rhyolites erupted during this
time are compatible with an origin from
either fractional crystallization of mantle-
derived andesites or anatexis of crust with
low 8 7 Sr/ 8 6 Sr (Moll, 1979; Bagby, 1979).
Because of the large volume of rhyolite and
dacite and the small volumes of andesite
and basaltic andesite erupted during this
time, the model that we prefer produced
substantial amounts of silicic magmas from
crustal sources underplated with andesitic
and basaltic-andesite magmas, some of
which reach the surface from a source at or
near the inclined seismic zone. Among oth-
ers, Ringwood (1977) noted increasing evi-
dence that rhyodacites were produced in
this way. The change from a variable-dip
subduction regime to one of constant dip
should increase temperatures in the crust as
magma conduits from the subduction zone
become well established and do not migrate.
The rise in temperature will increase the
portion of magmas being derived from crus-
tal sources due to anatexis. Because heating
is most intense near magma conduits, this
mechanism produces anatexis near pre-
heated conduits, providing the contami-
nated magmas with easy access to the
surface.
The increase in alkalinity in the eastern
part of the arc between 45 and 35 m.y. B.P.
may also be related to the change from a
variable-dip to a constant-dip regime. Alka-
line igneous activity indicates that melting
began to occur over the deeper parts of the
subduction zone. It may represent melts
derived from mantle being invaded by vola-
tiles from the deeper, dewatered portions of
the subducted plate (Barker, 1979). This
would allow an increase in CO2/ H2O ratios
in the mantle, which favors production of
more-alkalic magmas (Barker, 1979; Mysen
and Boetcher, 1975; and Wyllie, 1979). The
F/ H2O ratio may also be an important fac-
tor in production of alkalic magmas (S. B.
Keith, 1980, personal commun.). Keslerand
others (1975) noted that the fluorine content
of leucocratic alkalic igneous rocks (>2%
K2O) is nearly double that of low-potassium
(<2% K2O) varieties. Fluorine acts as a
depolymerization agent and lowers the
melting point. Another aspect of the Texas
alkaline magmas is that they became more
mafic and were still active after the mag-
matic arc had swept back toward the coast.
This may be an indication that subduction-
induced convection and upwelling of the
mantle, possibly due to incipient back-arc
activity, permitted alkaline magmatism to
continue after that produced by devolatiliza-
tion of the subducted slab had ceased
(Barker, 1979).
Figure 4c shows the Benioff zone geome-

a. b.
Dip Angle(O) Convergence Rate (Ve)

Figure 5. (a) Dip-angle variation of the shallow 5 IO 15 20 25 3 0 cm/yr

part of the subducted slab as a function of time. Note
similarity to Coney and Reynolds' 1977 curve, (b) convergence
Convergence-rate (VQ) variation with time, contoured velocity from
in sinking rate ( V z ) in cm/yr, showing combinations ' Coney (1978)
which satisfy 6 given in Figure Sa. Dashed line shows
function of (Ve) and V z ) which satisfies convergence
rates calculated by Coney (1978) with change in
d V z / d t at 42 m.y. B.P.

contours of constant
sinking r a t e (V z )
 Downloaded from gsabulletin.gsapubs.org on February 18, 2015
538
try at 20 m.y. B.P., j u s t b e f o r e regression of
the m a g m a t i c a r c was c o m p l e t e and before
t e r m i n a t i o n of subduction-related igneous
activity in n o r t h e r n M e x i c o d u e to the r i s e -
t r e n c h e n c o u n t e r , between 20 a n d 10 m.y.
B.P. ( D i c k i n s o n a n d S n y d e r , 1979). T h e
p r i m a r y c o n s t r a i n t o n d i p of t h e slab near
the t r e n c h is the K57.5 d e p t h estimate of
18-m.y. B.P. andesites located 200 k m f r o m
t h e trench (Gastil a n d others, 1979). T h e
resulting Benioff zone g e o m e t r y , repre-
sented by a c o n c a v e - u p w a r d curve, reflects a
d e p t h of 90 k m f o r t h e inclined seismic zone
b e n e a t h volcanics nearest t h e trench, which
is in g o o d a g r e e m e n t with values given by
Keith (1978) f o r s h a l l o w - s u b d u c t i o n m a g -
mas. T h e d i p calculated f r o m 18-m.y. B.P.
andesites was used f o r the p o r t i o n of the
slab which lies within 300 k m of t h e trench,
because this p o r t i o n was s u b d u c t e d a f t e r
m i g r a t i o n of t h e a r c b a c k to the trench had
begun. A shallow d i p f o r t h e deeper p a r t of
t h e slab is required because of t h e wide
e x p a n s e of m a g m a t i s m a n d rapid m i g r a t i o n
of t h e eastern b o u n d a r y of a r c m a g m a t i s m
d u r i n g regression. A g e o m e t r y which w o u l d
p r o d u c e this effect involves a steepening of
t h e s u b d u c t i o n angle of new slab near t h e
t r e n c h , with t h e older slab m a i n t a i n i n g its
o r i e n t a t i o n a n d c o n t i n u i n g t o sink w i t h o u t
d e t a c h m e n t . This p r o d u c e s rapid extinction
in m a g m a t i c activity, b e g i n n i n g at t h e east
a n d t e r m i n a t i n g in t h e west as t h e shallowly
inclined p a r t of the slab passes t h r o u g h
m a x i m u m d e p t h of m a g m a g e n e r a t i o n .
Increasing d i p of t h e slab at its western
e n d plus t h e r e n e w a l of calc-alkaline
m a g m a t i s m indicates r e s u m p t i o n of vari-
able-dip-variable-depth subduction during
regression.
Subduction Rate
F o l l o w i n g C o n e y a n d Reynolds (1977),
we used a m o d e l p r o p o s e d by L u y e n d y k
(1970) t o relate inferred c h a n g e s in Benioff
z o n e d i p t o rates of s u b d u c t i o n a n d sinking.
In this m o d e l , t h e d i p angle ( 0 ) of the s u b -
d u c t e d slab is related t o convergence rate
( V e ) a n d sinking rate ( V z ) by sin 0 =
V Z / V 0 . If convergence a n d sinking rates are
nearly equal, the s u b d u c t e d slab dips steep-
ly. If t h e c o n v e r g e n c e rate is m u c h larger
t h a n the sinking rate, t h e slab has a shallow
dip. If this m o d e l is correct, V z / V 0 must
have decreased a t a fairly c o n s t a n t rate f r o m
120 t o 42 m.y. B.P., causing the s u b d u c t i o n -
z o n e d i p t o g r a d u a l l y decrease. T h e n , d u r -
ing t h e period 42 t o 28 m.y. B.P., V z / V 0
m u s t have r e m a i n e d c o n s t a n t , as c o n s t a n t -
d i p s u b d u c t i o n t o o k place. This was fol-
CLARK AND OTHERS
lowed by a decrease in V z / V 0 a r o u n d 28
m.y. B.P. to produce the regressive sweep.
C o n e y a n d R e n o l d s (1977) noted t h a t
the end of the decreasing-dip s u b d u c t i o n
regime in the southwestern United States is
t h e s a m e age as the bend in t h e H a w a i i -
E m p e r o r S e a m o u n t C h a i n . T h e s a m e rela-
t i o n s h i p (Fig. 5a) occurs in n o r t h e r n
M e x i c o , a n d it is t e m p t i n g t o relate c h a n g e
in s u b d u c t i o n style to f u n d a m e n t a l r e o r g a n -
ization of plate m o t i o n s which occurred at
44 m.y. B.P. (Coney. 1978). T o e x a m i n e the
possible effects of a decrease in plate veloc-
ity at 44 m.y. B.P. on the d y n a m i c s of s u b -
d u c t i o n b e n e a t h n o r t h e r n Mexico, Luyen-
dyk's (1970) model was used to calculate
possible convergence a n d sinking rates
which would give the required dip angle f o r
t h e s u b d u c t i o n zone at a p a r t i c u l a r time.
T h e d i p angle as a f u n c t i o n of time, given in
Figure 5a, was calculated using t h e f o r m u l a
t a n 0 = h / Y, where h is t h e d e p t h t o t h e t o p
of t h e slab b e n e a t h the western m a r g i n of
the m a g m a t i c a r c (left side of curve, Fig. 3)
a n d Y is the horizontal distance to the
trench. Because K57.5 d e p t h estimates a r e
n o t available f o r m o r e t h a n a few time peri-
ods, the d e p t h of the Benioff zone b e n e a t h
the western margin of t h e a r c was a s s u m e d
t o b e ~ 8 0 k m . This d e p t h was c h o s e n
because it is consistent with available K.57.5
d e p t h estimates f o r n o r t h e r n M e x i c o (Figs.
3, 4) and because it is the shallowest d e p t h
f o r Benioff zones u n d e r m a g m a t i c arcs
(Keith, 1978). Convergence a n d sinking
rates which would p r o d u c e t h e d i p angles in
Figure 5a were calculated using the rela-
tionship Vz = V@ sin 0 ; they a r e displayed
on a convergence-raite-age g r a p h which has
been c o n t o u r e d in sinking rates (Fig. 5b).
H o r i z o n t a l lines on this g r a p h represent
c o m b i n a t i o n s of convergence rates a n d sink-
ing rates which give t h e Benioff z o n e
d i p angle s h o w n in Figure 5a f o r t h a t time.
A n y line or curve d r a w n f r o m older t o
y o u n g e r ages o n the g r a p h will give c o m b i -
n a t i o n s of a n d Vz which give t h e
required d i p of the Benioff zone as a f u n c -
tion of time. There a r e m a n y possible c o m -
b i n a t i o n s which can be chosen, all of which
p r o d u c e t h e necessary d i p angles as a f u n c -
tion of time. T o restrict the n u m b e r of pos-
sible choices, we used the convergence rates
between the F a r a l l o n a n d N o r t h A m e r i c a n
plates given by C o n e y (1978). T h e velocities
he published a r e average velocities f o r t h e
time spans 155 to 80 m.y. B. P., 80 t o 40 m.y.
B.P., a n d 40 to 20 m.y. B.P. T o use these
values in F i g u r e 5b, it is necessary t o c o n -
vert t h e m to i n s t a n t a n e o u s velocities. This
was accomplished by m a k i n g t h e a s s u m p -
t i o n t h a t t h e average velocity f o r a given
time period is a g o o d estimate of t h e instan-
t a n e o u s velocity at t h e m i d p o i n t of t h e time
interval involved. Use of this a s s u m p t i o n
gives c o n v e r g e n c e velocity estimates of 8
c m / y r at 117 m.y., 14 c m / y r a t 60 m.y., a n d
8 c m / y r a t 30 m.y. Even with these t h r e e
points k n o w n , there a r e n u m e r o u s ways t o
d r a w a curved line to represent VQ a n d Vz
as a f u n c t i o n of time. This is especially true
f r o m 40 to 20 m.y. B.P., when the subduction-
z o n e c o n f i g u r a t i o n c h a n g e d drastically.
T h e r e f o r e , these a d d i t i o n a l a s s u m p t i o n s
were m a d e : t h e rate of c h a n g e in t h e sinking
velocity was c o n s t a n t d u r i n g t h e period 117
t o 42 m.y. B.P., t h e rate c h a n g e d at 42 m.y.
B.P., a n d it was c o n s t a n t a f t e r 42 m.y. B.P.
T h e d a s h e d line o n Figure 5b gives t h e
values of Vz a n d V e which satisfy t h e c o n -
straints provided by t h e convergence esti-
mates, sinking rate a s s u m p t i o n s , a n d t h e
clip of t h e Benioff z o n e as a f u n c t i o n of time
given by Figure 5a. If this m o d e l is correct,
it m e a n s t h a t t h e e a s t w a r d sweep of t h e
m a g m a t i c a r c f r o m 80 t o 42 m.y. B.P. was
caused by a g r a d u a l increase in convergence
velocity, coupled with g r a d u a l decrease in
the sinking velocity of the subducted plate.
At 42 m.y. B.P., t h e convergence rate begins
t o steadily decrease. At the s a m e time, t h e
sinking rate continues t o decrease, b u t a t a
f a s t e r pace. T h e period of m a g m a t i s m with
little arc m i g r a t i o n , followed by rapid west-
ward regression, is caused by decrease of t h e
convergence a n d sinking rates t h a t occurred
a b o u t 42 m.y. B.P.
C o n v e r g e n c e rates a n d d i p relations re-
quire large decreases in sinking velocity of
the slab f r o m 80 t o 15 m.y. B.P., when sub-
d u c t i o n ceased. This p h e n o m e n o n m a y be
due to t h e a p p r o a c h of the East Pacific
Rise. As t h e rise m o v e s closer t o t h e t r e n c h ,
the lithosphere has less time t o cool; conse-
quently, the s u b d u c t e d slab should b e c o m e
w a r m e r a n d m o r e b u o y a n t with time, caus-
ing t h e sinking rate t o decrease. A n a d d i -
tional f a c t o r , which would have caused the
sinking t o decrease a t a n even faster pace, is
the decrease in t h e convergence rates at 42
m.y. B . P . A s t h e F a r a l l o n plate was u n d e r -
t h r u s t a t a slower rate, it should have
w a r m e d m o r e quickly t h a n b e f o r e , causing
t h e rate of sinking t o decrease m o r e rapidly.
M I N E R A L D E P O S I T S IN
NORTHERN MEXICO
Once the migratory p a t t e r n of m a g m a t i s m
h a d been recognized, those mineral deposits
t h a t h a d been f o r m e d by m a g m a t i c - h y d r o -
t h e r m a l processes of c o n c e n t r a t i o n were
 Downloaded from gsabulletin.gsapubs.org on February 18, 2015

MINERAL DEPOSITS AND SUBDUCTION-RELATED MAGMATIC ARCS 539

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100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000 ec \— CL

KILOMETERS FROM TRENCH

Figure 6. Metallic assemblages within the northern magmatic arc (from Clark and others, 1979b).

included in the m a g m a d i s t r i b u t i o n enve-
lope (Fig. 6). This was first d o n e (Clark,
1978) in relation to m o l y b d e n u m - b e a r i n g
p o r p h y r y - c o p p e r deposits and stockwork
deposits in t h e southwestern United States
using the C o n e y a n d Reynolds curve a n d in
the following year (Clark and others, 1979b)
f o r n o r t h e r n Mexico.
Distribution of Mineral-Deposit Zones
P o r p h y r y C u - M o deposits define a west-
ern zone varying f r o m 180 to 570 k m
i n b o a r d a n d f r o m 106 to 40 m.y. B.P. Bis-
bee, near the i n t e r n a t i o n a l line (Fig. 7),
relates to the Jurassic arc. P o r p h y r y d e p o s -
its a r e spatially overlapped by contact de-
posits containing Cu-Pb-Zn-(Ag), located as
m u c h as 855 k m f r o m the trench and d a t e d
f r o m 80 to 40 m.y. B.P., and also by
tungsten deposits in S o n o r a , Sinaloa, Chi-
h u a h u a , a n d D u r a n g o . C o n t a c t deposits d o
n o t f o r m a belt of their o w n b u t tend to be
located in zones c o n t a i n i n g o t h e r classes of
deposits with similar assemblages at the
same erosion level.
Fissure-vein deposits in Sierra M a d r e
Occidental (Clark a n d others, 1979a) exhibit
t w o assemblages, Ag-Au and P b - Z n - A g -
Au. They occur on the western a n d eastern
flanks, respectively, varying in age f r o m 49
to 28 m.y. and located as m u c h as 650 k m
f r o m the trench, although P b - Z n assem-
blages with smaller a m o u n t s of silver are
m o r e widespread, being f o u n d also in parts
of eastern C h i h u a h u a , San Luis Potosi,
G u a n a j u a t o , and Hidalgo States (Fig. 7).
M a n t o (Pb-Zn-Ag) deposits (for example,
Naica) are well displayed in p a r t s of Chi-
h u a h u a , D u r a n g o , and Zacatecas and vary
in age f r o m 46 t o 27 m.y., as m u c h as 950
km i n b o a r d . O u r synthesis of the later, wide-
spread P b - Z n - A g assemblage shows that the
mineralizing epoch is Eocene-Oligocene and
n o t Mesozoic, as suggested by C u m m i n g
a n d others (1979), except for the massive
sulfides in southern Mexico. In C h i h u a h u a ,
neither the P l o m o s a s nor Tascatito deposits
a r e predicted to be older t h a n 50 m.y. B.P.
(Fig. 6). In fact, Reid (1972) infers a n Oligo-
cene age at Plomosas. All of the n o r t h e r n
M e x i c o deposits f o r which ages are avail-
able vary f r o m 59 to 26 m.y. (Cosalà-
Naica), with a m e d i a n age of 32 m.y.
Volcanogenic u r a n i u m deposits are best
developed in rhyolitic, less so in trachytic,
extrusions in Sierra Pena Blanca, near Chi-
h u a h u a (Alba and Chavez, 1974), in rocks
that vary f r o m 54 to 37 m.y.
Iron deposits, located at intrusive c o n -
tacts and in volcanogenic deposits, a r e
located in eastern C h i h u a h u a and a d j a c e n t
Coahuila, and also in easter Zacatecas (with
copper). T h e iron belt is s o m e 750 k m or
m o r e f r o m the trench, whereas at D u r a n g o ,
the volcanogenic C e r r o de M e r c a d o deposit
(Lyons, 1975) is in a n isolated position 455
k m f r o m the trench; several smaller deposits
in Sinaloa a r e only 340 km i n b o a r d . T h e
ages of all of these deposits lie between 32
a n d 25 m.y.
Coincident with the eastern fringe of
m a g m a t i s m , parts of n o r t h e r n New Mexico,
west Texas, a n d a d j a c e n t parts of Mexico
are m a r k e d by fluorite deposits, as is a
smaller belt in p a r t s of southeastern Chi-
huahua, D u r a n g o , and Zacatecas. The north-
ern C o a h u i l a deposits (Kesler, 1977) a r e
located at the contacts of Lower Cretaceous
limestones spatially associated with mid-
Tertiary(?) rhyolites a n d / o r trachytes. Other
fluorite deposits f o r m a belt s o u t h w a r d t o
S a n Luis P o t o s i (Fig. 7). A d j a c e n t to the
fluorite belt, there are several occurrences of
 MINERAL ASSEMBLAGE ZONES

Cu-Fe

Figure 7. Distribution of mineral-deposit assemblage zones throughout Mexico and adjacent areas of the southwestern United States, as
related to the Occidental and Trans-Mexican-Modern Chiapanecan arcs. (Modified from Clark and others, 1979b.)
 Downloaded from gsabulletin.gsapubs.org on February 18, 2015
MINERAL DEPOSITS AND SUBDUCTION-RELATED MAGMATIC ARCS
m o l y b d e n u m in west T e x a s ( M c A n u l t y ,
1976; S h a r p , 1979); f a r t h e r s o u t h in the
C a t o r c e District, S a n Luis Potosi m o l y b d e -
nite is also noted ( M c G i b b o n , 1977).
Tin deposits a r e confined mostly t o rhyo-
lites in a belt that f l a n k s the eastern margin
of Sierra M a d r e Occidental, stretching f r o m
D u r a n g o t o G u a n a j u a t o ( F o s h a g a n d Fries,
1942), whereas the principal occurrences of
mercury occur immediately to the east
(Salas, 1976), succeeded in t u r n by a m a n -
ganese belt, best developed in C h i h u a h u a
and Hidalgo.
Metal Sources
T h e metal deposits are distributed in
long belts subparallel to the paleotrench.
This suggests that the c o n c e n t r a t i n g mech-
anism f o r a particular metal is controlled
by processes related to m a g m a generation in
s u b d u c t i o n zones, r a t h e r t h a n local c o m -
positional variations in the subducted ocean-
ic crust or overriding continental crust.
S u b d u c t i o n - i n d u c e d m a g m a t i s m in n o r t h -
ern M e x i c o was related to variations in the
convergence- and sinking-velocity r a t i o
(Clark and Foster, 1979) t h a t in t u r n
affected the t h e r m a l regime in the three
potential m a g m a and metal source regions,
subducted oceanic crust, mantle, a n d c o n -
tinental crust. T h u s , the question of genesis
is reduced to the search f o r criteria t h a t dis-
tinguish between these sources of the m a g -
m a s and metals.
Figure 6 shows t h a t , as igneous activity
spread eastward f r o m 106 to 40 m.y. B.P.,
subduction-related m a g m a t i s m was asso-
ciated with processes t h a t led to c o n c e n t r a -
tion of c o p p e r a n d , to a lesser extent,
tungsten a n d m o l y b d e n u m . This assemb-
lage is located primarily in the mainland
(less so in t h e P e n i n s u l a ) o c c i d e n t a l
v o l c a n o - p l u t o n i c arc. This region is one of
calcic a n d m o d e r a t e - K calc-alkalic m a g m a -
tism, which a p p a r e n t l y was induced by geo-
d y n a m i c processes t h a t included a relatively
high convergence rate a n d decreasing dip of
t h e s u b d u c t e d slab as the source of the
magmatism gradually deepened (Figs. 3, 5a).
Variations in initial strontium-isotope ratios
(0.7047 to 0.7054) in Late C r e t a c e o u s - m i d -
Oligocene p l u t o n s at Batopilas (Bagby,
1979) and f r o m granodiorites of similar age
in Sinaloa (0.7043 to 0.7063) calculated by
Henry (1975), plus trace-element d a t a a n d
the p r e d o m i n a n t l y andesitic character of the
m a g m a s associated with the c o p p e r depos-
its, suggest t h a t these suites were derived
f r o m the s u b d u c t e d slab or the overlying
m a n t l e a n d passed t h r o u g h the crust with
little c o n t a m i n a t i o n . If so, t h e c o p p e r asso-
ciated with these rocks must have also c o m e
f r o m the subducted slab or mantle.
At 42 m.y. B.P., the f o r m a t i o n of c o p p e r
began to die out a n d was replaced by a dis-
tinct g r o u p of P b - Z n - A g deposits with
lesser a m o u n t s of copper and gold. As a n as-
semblage, they f o r m e d as the convergence
rate was decreasing, d u r i n g the interval
of little arc migration and also d u r i n g a sig-
nificant p a r t of the regression to the west
coast. T h e a p p e a r a n c e of these deposits
correlates with the change f r o m a d o m i -
nantly andesitic m a g m a t i c regime to one
d o m i n a t e d by rhyolitic m a g m a s . This
change in m a g m a type is believed to be
caused by an increase in t h e volume of silicic
c o m p o n e n t being acquired in the continen-
tal crust. If so, the Pb, Z n , a n d Ag asso-
ciated with the felsic m a g m a s may also have
a crustal contribution. Initial s t r o n t i u m -
isotope ratios at one locality in southeastern
C h i h u a h u a (Moll, 1979) for mid-Oligocene
a s h - f l o w tuffs (0.7043 to 0.7065) are a little
higher t h a n those f o r rocks of similar age at
Batopilas (0.7046 to 0.7049) (see Bagby,
1979). However, these values fall in the
range 0.7033 to 0.7062 obtained by Mc-
Dowell and others (1978) f o r other localities
in n o r t h e r n Mexico where little radiogenic
crust was involved in p r o d u c i n g the rhy-
olitic m a g m a s . Nevertheless, s u p p o r t for a
significant crustal c o m p o n e n t in these
m a g m a s comes f r o m lead isotopes f r o m ore
deposits over m u c h of n o r t h e r n Mexico
( C u m m i n g and others, 1979) a n d f r o m sul-
f u r isotopes at G u a n a j u a t o (Gross, 1975).
Fluorite deposits in west T e x a s a n d New
Mexico (Kottlowski, 1966) are middle to
late Tertiary in age a n d , with deposits in
nearby northeastern Mexico ( M c A n u l t y
a n d others, 1963), are a d j a c e n t to alkali
m a g m a s emplaced over the deepest p a r t of
the s u b d u c t i o n zone. The positive correla-
tion of m o l y b d e n u m with potassium has
been noted by O y a r z u n (1978), and at sev-
eral localities a l o n g the eastern fringe of
subduction-induced m a g m a t i s m , c o m m e r -
cially i m p o r t a n t stockwork m o l y b d e n u m
deposits were f o r m e d in Oligocene time
(Clark, 1972, 1978). In particular, the Cave
P e a k ( S h a r p , 1979) and Chinati M o u n t a i n s
deposits (McDowell, 1978) are contained in
the envelope of Figure 6, between 36 and 32
m.y. B.P., d u r i n g the period of arc stillstand
(42 to 28 m.y. B.P.).
P r o d u c t i o n of fluorine-rich deposits, as
541
p r o p o s e d by L a m a r r e a n d H o d d e r (1978),
suggests that large F and M o ions d o not
readily fit into silicate crystal lattices and
thus are likely to be concentrated eventually
in residual melts at intermediate depths
in the crust. A p p a r e n t l y , m o l y b d e n u m can
be t r a n s p o r t e d t o the surface in fluoride
complexes; this a c c o u n t s for the c o m m o n
occurrence of fluorite and / o r t o p a z in
m o l y b d e n u m deposits.
In the T r a n s Pecos m a g m a t i c province of
west T e x a s , Barker a n d others (1977) note
that initial strontium-isotope ratios are
0.703 to 0.712 in alkalic intrusions that
f o r m e d f r o m 36 to 32 m.y. B.P. This
strongly suggests crustal c o n t a m i n a t i o n ,
possibly f r o m u n d e r l y i n g P r e c a m b r i a n
rhyolite a n d other rocks k n o w n t o occur in
this area.
SOUTHERN MEXICO
Distribution of Magmatic Rocks and
Mineral Deposits
A C r e t a c e o u s - e a r l y Tertiary event is
evident in southern Mexico by virtue of
granite emplacement near Acapulco (Fries,
1962), a Late C r e t a c e o u s - P a l e o c e n e p l u t o n -
ic belt in western Jalisco (Gastil and others,
1978), and the early Oligocene age of La
H u a c a n a batholith in central M i c h o a c a n
( D a m o n a n d S h a f f i q u l l a h , u n p u b . data). In
C h i a p a s , older Miocene (22 to 10 m.y. B.P.)
siliceous intrusives, located a b o u t 200 km
f r o m the trench, are referred to by D a m o n
and M o n t e s i n o s (1978) as a n a b a n d o n e d
segment of the Miocene Central A m e r i c a n -
M e x i c a n volcanic arc. Younger plutons,
associated with andesite to dacite stratovol-
c a n o e s ( < 3 m.y. B.P.) occur f a r t h e r in-
b o a r d in the M o d e r n C h i a p a n e c a n A r c
(Fig. 1). A l t h o u g h discontinuous, this arc
m a y be represented to the n o r t h by rocks of
similar age in the T u x t l a area ( M o o s e r a n d
M a l d o n a d o , 1967; T h o r p e , 1977) and the
1,000-km east-west t r a n s - M e x i c a n Volcanic
Arc of late Miocene-Pleistocene age ( W a t -
kins and others, 1971; Gastil and others,
1978, 1979; Cantagrel and R o b i n , 1979;
D a m o n and others, 1979).
The spatial d i s t r i b u t i o n of 115 isotopic
ages in s o u t h e r n Mexico shows that the
Cretaceous-Paleocene event may diminish
in age eastward. Younger m a g m a s , located
f r o m 150 t o 500 k m f r o m the Middle A m e r -
ica T r e n c h , were emplaced continuously
 Downloaded from gsabulletin.gsapubs.org on February 18, 2015
542
since 43 m.y. B.P., again with the suggestion
of eastward m i g r a t i o n d u r i n g their f o r m a -
tion a n d distinguishable f r o m Cretaceous-
P a l e o c e n e activity by a n a p p a r e n t hiatus of
20 m.y.
P r e l i m i n a r y analysis of mineral-deposit
z o n a t i o n is based on t h e metallogenetic m a p
of M e x i c o by Salas (1976). T h e Pacific
m a r g i n c o n t a i n s m a n y s k a r n a n d / o r contact
deposits (for e x a m p l e , at Las T r u c h a s ,
M i c h o a c a n ) a n d f o r m s a f e r r u g e n o u s zone
t h a t varies f r o m 150 t o 200 k m f r o m the
t r e n c h . A c o p p e r - r i c h zone, on occasion
assoicated with lead, zinc, or m o l y b d e n u m ,
parallels t h e iron belt (Fig. 7). In f o u r
p o r p h y r y - c o p p e r deposits (including I n g u a -
ran) in M i c h o a c a n a n d G u e r r e r o , h y d r o -
t h e r m a l activity was located 180 t o 210 k m
f r o m the t r e n c h in early Paleocene t o early
Oligocene time. T h e s e c o p p e r deposits are
y o u n g e r t h a n those in S o n o r a (Clark and
others, 1979b), a n d t h e M i c h o a c a n d e p o s -
its a r e distinctly p o s t - L a r a m i d e . In t h e
n o r t h e r n p a r t of t h e c o p p e r zone, several
s t r a t a b o u n d , polymetallic ( Z n - C u - A g - A u ) ,
massive s u l f i d e d e p o s i t s f o r m e d in a
Jurassic-Cretaceous volcano-sedimentary
arc.
Z o n e s of fissure-vein A g - A u - P b - Z n a n d
H g - S b deposits t h a t traverse the T r a n s -
M e x i c a n Volcanic A r c a r e a p p a r e n t l y a
c o n t i n u a t i o n of similar belts f o u n d in
n o r t h e r n Mexico, b u t they overlap the
c o p p e r zone in O a x a c a a n d C h i a p a s . A b -
sence of the western A u - A g zone a n d the
P a c h u c a P b - Z n - A g belt in s o u t h e r n M e x i c o
m a y be d u e to a discontinuity or m a s k i n g of
older assemblages by y o u n g e r lavas. H g - S b -
b e a r i n g fissure veins located in a 250-km-
long zone in G u e r r e r o and P u e b l a (Fig. 7),
like the a d j a c e n t P b - Z n - A g deposits, m a y
be offset t o t h e west by ~ 200 k m in t h e
s a m e sense as a p p a r e n t right-lateral dis-
p l a c e m e n t o n t h e silver belt ( o u r P b - Z n - A g
zone) first n o t e d by Gastil a n d J e n s k y
(1973).
T h e S a n t a Fe deposit, located in the
M o d e r n C h i a p a n e c a n A r c includes dissem-
i n a t e d , c o n t a c t - m e t a m o r p h i c , a n d vein
deposits ( C u - Z n - P b - A g - A u ) associated with
a g r a n o d i o r i t e stock of late Pliocene (2.3
m.y. B.P.) age ( D a m o n a n d M o n t e s i n o s ,
1978). H o w e v e r , reliable d a t a f r o m the cen-
tral p a r t of t h e Eje Neovolcanico Transmex-
icano are scarce, a l t h o u g h C a m p a a n d
others (1977) c o n c l u d e that fissure-filling
m i n e r a l i z a t i o n occurred in several districts
CLARK AND OTHERS
in late Miocene time. Additionally, in
s o u t h e r n N a y a r i t and a d j a c e n t Jalisco,
D a m o n and others (1979) d o c u m e n t a min-
eralizing epoch f r o m 19 t o 11 m.y. B.P. At
La Yesca, N a y a r i t (Fig. 7), silver minerali-
zation is associated with andesitic basalt
dikes that cut older (19 m.y. B.P.) Sierra
M a d r e Occidental ash-flow tuffs.
Finally, we note the absence of the M o - F
a n d Sn zones. However, several Fe(Cu)
deposits in Hidalgo a n d t w o m o r e in
V e r a c r u z m a y be a n a l o g o u s t o the C h i -
h u a h u a - C o a h u i l a belt, but their precise ages
are not k n o w n .
CONCLUSIONS
T h e m i g r a t o r y n a t u r e of the s u b d u c t i o n -
induced Occidental m a g m a t i c a r c d u r i n g
140 to 16 m.y. B.P. has been established and
is similar to that of C o n e y a n d Reynolds
(1977). This event is succeeded by b i m o d a l
late T e r t i a r y - H o l o c e n e m a g m a t i s m a n d
preceded by J u r o - T r i a s s i c igneous activity.
As m i g r a t i o n evolved, c o m p o s i t i o n of the
v o l c a n o - p l u t o n i c regime varied f r o m calcic
a n d calc-alkaline near t h e t r e n c h t o high-K
calc-alkaline a n d alkaline facies as m u c h as
1,000 km f r o m the p a l e o t r e n c h . Calc-
alkaline activity was renewed d u r i n g regres-
sion. Benioff zone depth estimates obtained
f r o m K.57 5 relationships are consistent with
a n over-all variable-dip, variable-depth re-
gime similar to t h a t of Keith (1978),
although constant-dip constant-depth con-
ditions prevailed t e m p o r a r i l y f r o m 42 to 28
m.y. B.P., d u r i n g arc stillstand. D i p angles
derived f r o m the m a g m a d i s t r i b u t i o n and
used with the convergence-rate relation of
L u y e n d y k (1970) and i n d e p e n d e n t conver-
gence rates of C o n e y (1978) require increas-
ing convergence but decreasing sinking
rates f r o m 80 t o 42 m.y. B.P., but decreas-
ing c o n v e r g e n c e and sinking rates f r o m 42
to 16 m.y. B.P. C h a n g e s in s u b d u c t i o n
d y n a m i c s are attributed t o plate reorganiza-
tion at 44 m.y. B.P. a n d to t h e a p p r o a c h of
the East Pacific Rise. D i f f e r i n g h y d r o t h e r -
m a l mineral-deposit a s s e m b l a g e s o c c u r
in zones parallel to the p a l e o t r e n c h a n d
are predictably c o n s t r a i n t e d by m a g m a
d i s t r i b u t i o n in time a n d space. C o m p o s i -
tional variations in. mineral deposits and
associated m a g m a s a p p e a r t o be related to
processes associated with varying slab-
s u b d u c t i o n dynamics, followed by crustal
c o n t a m i n a t i o n , r a t h e r t h a n t o local c o m p o -
sitional anomalies in crust or mantle. C o n -
tinuity of several mineral zones t h r o u g h o u t
M e x i c o f u r t h e r attests t o spatial overlap of
the Occidental a r c by the calc-alkaline
t r a n s - M e x i c a n - C h i a p a n e c a n a r c of late
M i o c e n e t o H o l o c e n e age. T h e y o u n g e r a r c
c o r r e s p o n d i n g l y c o n t a i n s mineral deposits
that p o s t d a t e the older occidental event.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This p a p e r has developed f r o m n u m e r o u s
investigations m a d e in Mexico d u r i n g the
past decade. F i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t f o r these
p r o j e c t s was derived f r o m N a t i o n a l Science
F o u n d a t i o n G r a n t s I N T 73-07420-A02
( C l a r k ) a n d I N T 73-05592-A01 a n d E A R
78-1535 ( D a m o n ) . T h r o u g h o u t the period
of investigation, we have received g e n e r o u s
support and cooperation from Consejo de
Recursos Minerales, Ing. G u i l l e r m o P.
Salas, D i r e c t o r . We a r e g r a t e f u l t o W. R.
D i c k i n s o n , R. G. Gastil, S. B. Keith, a n d R.
Phillips f o r their reviews of the m a n u s c r i p t .
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M A N U S C R I P T R E C E I V E D BY T H E S O C I E T Y
JUNE 25, 1981
MANUSCRIPT ACCEPTED JUNE 25, 1981
Printed in U.S.A.
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Geological Society of America Bulletin

Cenozoic mineral deposits and subduction-related magmatic arcs in Mexico

KENNETH F. CLARK, C. THOMAS FOSTER and PAUL E. DAMON

Geological Society of America Bulletin 1982;93, no. 6;533-544

doi: 10.1130/0016-7606(1982)93<533:CMDASM>2.0.CO;2

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