You are on page 1of 13

This article was downloaded by: [North Carolina State University]

On: 09 March 2015, At: 19:42


Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954 Registered
office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK

International Geology Review


Publication details, including instructions for authors and
subscription information:
http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tigr20

Provenance of Mexican Terranes:


Isotopic Constraints
a a
J. Duncan Keppie & E. Ortega-Gutierrez
a
Institute de Geología , Universidad National Autónoma de México,
Ciudad Universitaria , Delegatión Coyoacán, México D. F., 04510,
México
Published online: 06 Jul 2010.

To cite this article: J. Duncan Keppie & E. Ortega-Gutierrez (1995) Provenance of Mexican Terranes:
Isotopic Constraints, International Geology Review, 37:9, 813-824, DOI: 10.1080/00206819509465428

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00206819509465428

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information (the
“Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor & Francis,
our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties whatsoever as to
the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the Content. Any opinions
and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and views of the authors,
and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The accuracy of the Content
should not be relied upon and should be independently verified with primary sources
of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable for any losses, actions, claims,
proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages, and other liabilities whatsoever or
howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with, in relation to or arising
out of the use of the Content.

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any
substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing,
systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. Terms &
Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-
and-conditions
International Geology Review, Vol. 37, 1995, p. 813-824.
Copyright © 1995 by V. H. Winston & Son, Inc. All rights reserved.

Provenance of Mexican Terranes: Isotopic Constraints


J. DUNCAN KEPPIE AND E ORTEGA-GUTIÉRREZ
Institute de Geología, Universidad National Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria,
Delegatión Coyoacán, 04510 México D.F., México

Abstract
Pb isotopes in Mesozoic and Cenozoic lavas and mineral deposits of eastern Mexico (Oaxaquia
and Maya terranes) are highly radiogenic, in contrast to signatures from areas underlain by
Laurentian Grenville basement. The sharp boundary between these Pb-isotope domains and its
NE trend nearly perpendicular to the Laramide suture and the Cenozoic trench suggest that the
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

main source of radiogenic Pb lies in the continental basement. Similar Pb-isotope signatures in
the lavas and mineral deposits in the western Mexican (Pacific) oceanic-arc terranes suggest a
source in sediments derived from eastern Mexico. The ca. 0.55 to 3.1 Ga Nd model ages of lower-
crustal granulite-facies xenoliths in Cenozoic lavas is consistent with the hypothesis that much
of eastern Mexico may be underlain by rocks of the ca. 1 Ga Oaxacan Complex of southern
Mexico or Late Proterozoic-Cambrian rocks in the basement of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Comparison of the Mexican Pb- and Nd-isotopic signatures with Laurentian and Gondwanan
data indicates that they are generally distinct from Laurentian Grenvillian basement, but are
similar to those in the Arequipa-Antofalla terrane (in Peru, western Bolivia, and northern
Chile), the southwestern Amazonian craton in Brazil, and the Appalachian-Ouachita terranes
derived from Gondwana. This suggests that a possible provenance of the Mexican Proterozoic
basement lies in northwestern South America, which is consistent with the Late Cambrian-
Early Ordovician faunal similarities between Oaxaca (Mexico) and Bolivia. Interaction between
eastern Laurentia and western South America during the Ordovician appears to be absent in
Oaxaquia, the earliest deformation being Devonian. A provenance for Oaxaquia off Colombia,
outside the sphere of such Ordovician interactions, is supported by lithological comparisons.

Introduction which was exotic with respect to adjacent cra-


tonic North America and may have been derived
PROTEROZOIC BASEMENT IN MEXICO is largely
from northwestern South America.
covered by younger rocks, mainly of Mesozoic
and Cenozoic age, which include subduction-
related lavas and mineral deposits. Isotopes of
Geological Setting
Pb, Nd, and Sr from igneous rocks (especially
felsic varieties) and associated mineral deposits Mexico has been subdivided into several tec-
have been used widely to identify the magmatic tonostratigraphic terranes that vary in terms of
number and location, depending upon indi­
source and the nature of the basement (e.g.,
vidual authors (e.g., Campa-Uranga and Coney,
DePaolo, 1988; James and Henry, 1993a).
1983; Ramirez-Espinosa et al., 1991; Talavera-
Supra-subduction zone magma sources include
Mendoza, 1993; Sedlock et al., 1993). Although
subducted sediment, the mantle wedge, and
differing in detail, the terranes may be grouped
continental basement. In general, Pb isotopes according to their time of accretion to Lauren­
inherit more crustal component than Nd iso­ tia: (1) Late Paleozoic; and (2) Mesozoic to
topes, and thus have been used to map conti­ early Cenozoic. Much of eastern Mexico (Maya
nental basement domains. Despite the wealth of terrane, Oaxaquia, and the Inner Ouachita
recent isotopic data in Mexico, their tectonic Zone) was amalgamated during the Devonian
significance has not been assessed on a regional and further telescoped during collision
basis. This analysis suggests that most of Mex­ between southern Laurentia and northern
ico is underlain by a Proterozoic basement and/ South America in the Permo-Carboniferous.
or sediments derived from such a basement, Most of the terranes in southwestern Mexico

0020-6814/95/146/813-12 $10.00 813


814 KEPPIE AND ORTEGA-GUTIÉRREZ
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

FIG. 1. Map showing the distribution of the main tectonic features of Mexico and southern United States
(modified from Stewart et al., 1993; Ortega-Gutiérrez et al., 1995). A slight modification involves placing a jog in the
boundary in northern Mexico to include Pb-isotope data within the Ouachita Inner Zone, as indicated by the
affinity of the Pb isotopes. Abbreviations: LO = La Olivina; LP = El Potrillo.

(Pacific terranes—Guerrero, Yuma, Zihuata- rocks in northwestern Sonora; 1700 to 1650 Ma


nejo, Xolapa, etc.), on the other hand, were greenschist-facies cratonic rocks in north­
accreted to the Pacific margin of Mexico either eastern Sonora; and 1400 to 1000 Ma unmeta-
during the latest Triassic and Jurassic (Sedlock morphosed to amphibolite-facies rocks of the
et al., 1993) or during the Late Cretaceous Grenville Orogen in northern and eastern Chi­
to Eocene Laramide Orogeny (Coney, 1983; huahua. They are intruded by ca. 1460 to 1410
Ramirez-Espinosa et al., 1991; Tardy et al., Ma and ca. 1300 to 1000 Ma plutons in Sonora
1991; Lapierre et al., 1992). and Chihuahua, respectively (U-Pb zircon ages
Proterozoic crystalline rocks in Mexico from Anderson and Silver, 1977a, 1977b;
occur in widely scattered outcrops, in wells, and Anderson et al., 1979; Rodriguez-Castafieda,
as xenoliths in Cenozoic volcanic rocks. They 1988; Blount, 1993; Rudnick and Cameron,
may be subdivided into an area adjacent to the 1991; Anderson and Silver, unpubl. data
United States that represents the southwestern reported in Sedlock et al., 1993).
continuation of cratonic North America and Proterozoic rocks of uncertain affinity may be
the Ouachita Orogen, and areas of uncertain subdivided into two main units (Fig. 1): (1)
affinity that have been variously interpreted as miogeoclinal or continental rift deposits and
southern extensions of cratonic North America plutonic rocks that were deformed under gran-
or exotic terranes (Fig. 1) (e.g., Shurbet and ulite-facies metamorphic conditions during the
Cebull, 1987; Stewart, 1988; Hoffman, 1989). interval from 1100 to 1000 Ma (Oaxacan Com­
Undisputed cratonic North American Pro­ plex) ; and (2) Late Proterozoic (544 ± 5 Ma)
terozoic rocks fall into three main units: 1800 rocks beneath the Yucatan Peninsula (Maya
to 1700 Ma amphibolite-facies eugeoclinal Terrane) (U-Pb zircon ages from McBirney and
PROVENANCE OF MEXICAN TERRANES 815
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

FIG. 2. Compilation of Mesozoic (A) and Cenozoic (B) Pb-isotopic data from Mexico and adjacent Texas plotted on
the 207Pb/204Pb versus 206Pb/204Pb diagram (data from de Cserna et al., 1978; Cumming et al., 1979; Barreiro et al.,
1984; Ortigoza-Cruz, 1988; Rubalcaba-Ruiz and Thompson, 1988; Heatherington, 1988; Lucio, 1990; Mango et al.,
1991; Yta, 1992; James and Henry, 1993a, 1993b; Verma and Luhr, 1993; Miranda-Gasca, 1995; Nelson et al., 1995).
Upper crust and Orogene curves are from Zartman and Doe (1981), and the Northern Hemisphere reference line for
mid-oceanic ridge basalts is from Hart (1984).

Bass, 1969; Anderson and Silver, 1971; Ortega- of about 1,000,000 sq. km (Oaxaquia) that
Gutiérrez et al., 1977; Robinson et al., 1989; extends southeastward from the Ouachita
Robinson, 1991; Yañez et al., 1991; Krogh et Orogen through much of eastern and southern
al., 1993; Herrmann et al., 1994; Murillo- Mexico (Fig. 1). Furthermore, on the basis of
Muñetón, 1994; Silver et al., 1994). Using lithological similarities and paleomagnetic data
these data, along with structural trends, from the ca. 1 Ga Oaxacan Complex (Ballard
exposures of undated but lithologically similar et al., 1989), Ortega-Gutiérrez et al. (1995)
high-grade banded gneiss, and occurrences of inferred that the microcontinent originated
granulite-facies xenoliths, Ortega-Gutierrez et adjacent to eastern Laurentia in the vicinity of
al. (1995) proposed that rocks similar to the the Adirondacks and Ontario. However, the
ca. 1 Ga Oaxacan Complex underlie an area paleomagnetic data also are satisfied by a prove-
816 KEPPIE AND ORTEGA-GUTIERREZ

nance along the northwestern Gondwana mar­ ary is sharply defined and is generally NE-
gin (Ballard et al., 1989); in latest Cambrian to trending (except in NW Mexico). This trend
earliest Ordovician times, faunal provinciality is roughly perpendicular to the late Meso-
indicates Gondwanan affinities for Oaxaquia zoic-early Cenozoic Laramide suture and
(Robison and Pantoja-Alor, 1968). Ca. 1 Ga Cenozoic trench, suggesting that continental
rocks in northwestern Gondwana have been basement composition east of the Laramide
recorded in the Sunsas Orogen, which runs suture is the main source of radiogenic Pb.
along the southwestern side of the Amazonian James and Henry (1993b) have shown that local
craton (Litherland et al., 1986; Teixeira et al., sedimentary rocks or basinal fluids also have
1989) and also in the Arequipa massif in Peru contributed radiogenic Pb to sediment-hosted
(Wasteneys et al., 1995), suggesting that a deposits. The overlap in Pb signatures of Oaxa­
Gondwanan origin is equally compatible with
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

quia and the Ouachita Inner Zone suggests that


the geochronological data. Another hypothesis some of the radiogenic Pb may have come from
suggests that the ca. 1 Ga Oaxaca basement
Oaxaquia basement or from sediments derived
represents a subsurface extension of the Lau-
from Oaxaquia. However, the wider range of
rentian Grenville Orogen (de Cserna, 1971; 206
Pb/ 2 0 4 Pb values in the Ouachita Inner Zone
Shurbet and Cebull, 1987). Isotopic data from
suggests that the sediments were derived from a
igneous rocks and mineral deposits may be used
more varied source than Oaxaquia alone.
to evaluate the extent, age, and nature of conti­
nental basement beneath Mexico and their Prior to accretion, the Pacific terranes con­
comparison with potential provenance regions. sisted of arc complexes built upon continen-
tally derived sediments (up to 15 km thick)
lying on top of oceanic lithosphere (Centeno-
Isotopic Data García, 1994). Nevertheless, the Mesozoic Pb-
isotope signatures of the Pacific terranes lie
Mexican Pb-isotopic data were derived from
analyses of sulfide and oxide ore minerals in between the Orogene and Upper Crust curves,
Mesozoic massive sulfide and sedimentary indicating little mantle contribution (Fig. 2).
exhalative deposits and in Cenozoic lavas and Furthermore, the Pb-isotopic signatures of
volcanogenic epithermal-mesothermal deposits these Pacific terranes are similar to those of
(Fig. 2). In general, all of the lavas and deposits Oaxaquia and the Ouachita Inner Zone, sug­
are highly radiogenic, with 2 0 6 Pb/ 2 0 4 Pb of ca. gesting that the latter represents the source of
18.3 to 19.4, 2 0 7 pb/ 2 0 4 pb of ca. 15.4 to 15.9, and the sediments in the terranes. Following accre­
208
pb/ 2 0 4 pb of ca. 38.1 to 39.5. The Pb-isotopic tion, the Pacific terranes were thrust an
signature of Oaxaquia, the Ouachita Inner unknown distance over Oaxaquia. Where Oaxa­
Zone, and the Pacific terranes display a large quia is thrust beneath the Pacific terranes, it
degree of overlap, suggesting that radiogenic Pb probably contributed to their Pb-isotopic signa­
was derived from a similar source. Although ture, but the similarity of their Pb-isotopic
Cumming et al. (1979) interpreted the increase signatures eliminates this means of distinguish­
in radiogenic Pb from SW to NE in terms of a ing the relative contributions.
thickening continental crust, such trends are
Unfortunately, Pb-isotope data for the ca. 1
not readily apparent in the more comprehensive
Ga Oaxacan Complex still are not available to
data base now available. On the 2 0 7 Pb/ 2 0 6 Pb
versus 2 0 6 Pb/ 2 0 4 Pb diagram (Fig. 2), most of the evaluate it as a potential source. Furthermore,
data fall between the Orogene and Upper Crust Pb-isotopic data are missing for another poten­
curves of Zartman and Doe (1981), suggesting tial basement unit, the Late Proterozoic Maya
that the main source lies either in the continen­ Terrane (Fig. 1). Nd model ages for Oaxaquia
tal basement or in basement-derived sediments lower-crustal xenoliths in Cenozoic lavas range
with minor mantle input. The Pb signatures between ca. 3090 and 550 Ma (Ruiz et al., 1988;
south of the late Paleozoic Ouachita suture Schaaf et al., 1994), which is consistent with
contrast with those encountered in Cenozoic the hypothesis that rocks of both the Oaxaquia
lavas overlying cratonic North America (Fig. 3) and Maya terranes are potential sources of the
(James and Henry, 1993a, 1993b). This bound­ radiogenic Pb isotopes.
PROVENANCE OF MEXICAN TERRANES 817
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

FIG. 3. 207Pb/204Pb versus 206Pb/204Pb isotope signatures of Mexico (Oaxaquia and Pacific terranes) compared
with those of other locations. A. Grenvillian Cratonic North American bordering and within the Ouachita Orogen,
SW United States (in Cenozoic volcanic rocks and contained xenoliths overlying ca. 1.4 to 1.0 Ga Grenvillian
basement, after James and Henry, 1993a, 1993b; Kuentz et al., 1991; Ward and Walker, 1991); in the southern
Appalachians (ca. 1 Ga basement, after Sinha et al., 1996); in the Adirondacks (ca. 1 Ga basement, after Zartman,
1969); in the Humber Zone of the northern Appalachians (Paleozoic igneous rocks above Grenvillian basement,
after Ayuso and Bevier, 1991); and in the Precordillera of western Argentina (ca. 1 Ga xenoliths in Cenozoic lavas
and ca. 1 Ga Pie de Palo basement, after Kay et al., 1996). B. Gondwanan Basement in the Ouachita Inner Zone in
Cenozoic volcanic rocks and contained metasedimentary and lower crustal xenoliths at La Olivina (after James and
Henry, 1993a; Cameron et al., 1992); in the Piedmont and Goochland terranes of the southern Appalachians (ca. 1
Ga basement, after Sinha et al., 1996); in the Avalon Composite Terrane in the northern Appalachians (Precambrian
and Paleozoic igneous rocks, after Ayuso and Bevier, 1991); in the Arequipa-Antofalla terrane of southern Peru/
Bolivia and northern Chile (ca. 2 Ga and 1 Ga basement and ca. 1 Ga xenoliths in Cenozoic lavas, after Barreiro and
Clark, 1984; Tosdal et al., 1994; Aitcheson et al., 1995); and in the southwestern Amazon craton (in the Early and
Middle Proterozoic basement, after Tassinari, 1984; Tosdal et al., 1994).
818 KEPPIE AND ORTEGA-GUTIERREZ
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

FIG. 4. Initial єNd versus crustal residence age data from Mexico compared with those from the Avalon Composite
Terrene in the northern Appalachians, from cratonic North American Grenvillian basement in United States and
adjacent Canada, and from the Tocantins province in the Amazon craton of Brazil. Upper limits generally are
omitted because they extend to the depleted mantle curve for lavas derived from such a mantle. Data from Patchett
and Ruiz (1987), Ruiz et al. (1988), Yañez et al. (1991), Pimental and Fuck (1992), Schaaf et al. (1994), and Keppie
et al. (in press). Depleted mantle evolution line assumes єNd = +9.3 and 1 4 7 Sm/ 1 4 4 Nd = 0.212 (average of DePaolo,
1988).

Laurentian-Gondwanan Affinities comparable with those Gondwanan terranes


The contrast in the Pb-isotopic signature that now reside in the eastern Appalachian
across the late Paleozoic Ouachita suture (Fig. Orogen and were accreted to eastern Laurentia
2) supports the hypothesis (Stewart, 1988) that during the Paleozoic (Piedmont-Goochland and
the region south of the suture is exotic with Avalon terranes in the southern and northern
respect to southern Laurentia (Chihuahua to Appalachians, respectively) (Fig. 3A) (James
Llano). A potential provenance off eastern Lau­ and Henry, 1993a; Keppie et al., 1996). The
rentia (Ballard et al., 1989; Ortega-Gutiérrez et Mexican Pb-isotopic signatures also overlap the
al., 1995) is not supported by the Pb-isotopic Gondwanan Pb signatures of the ca. 1 to 2 Ga
signature of Oaxaquia, which is distinct from Arequipa-Antofalla terrane in southern Peru/
Laurentian Grenville in the southern and Bolivia and northern Chile, and those from the
northern Appalachians and the Adirondacks southwestern Amazon craton, including the ca.
(Fig. 3B). However, the similarity of Pb-isotopic 1 Ga Sunsas Orogen and the Late Proterozoic
data from the Argentine Precordillera and the Brasiliano Orogen (Litherland et al., 1986).
Grenvillian basement of the southern United The Mexican terranes share common ages
States confirms correlations based on stratigra­ and expressions of tectonothermal events with
phy and fauna (Astini et al., 1995). Further­ various parts of the Gondwanan margin, sup­
more, the Mexican Pb-isotopic signatures are porting the linkage implied by the isotopic data.
PROVENANCE OF MEXICAN TERRANES 819
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

FIG. 5. Mid-Late Ordovician palinspastic reconstruction for Laurentia and Gondwana (after Keppie et al., 1996)
showing the preferred provenance of Oaxaquia of NW Colombia. Ca. 1 Ga orogens are shaded. Abbreviation: A =
Arequipa-Antofalla terrane.

In the Sunsas Orogen, ca. 1 Ga orogenesis 1 Ga basement that is lithologically similar to


involved mafic and granitoid plutonism, poly­ the Oaxacan Complex (including anorthosite)
phase deformation and greenschist/amphib- is present in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
olite-facies metamorphism of sediments, and and Garzon massifs in the eastern Cordillera of
an unconformably underlying older (ca. 1400 to Colombia and Venezuela (Priem et al., 1989).
1280 Ma) basement (Litherland et al., 1986). In These data suggest that Oaxaquia and the Maya
the Arequipa-Antofalla terrane, a ca. 1950 Ma terrane have Gondwanan affinities and may
basement was remobilized during ca. 1200 and have originated off northwestern South Amer­
970 Ma granulite-facies orogenic events that ica. Unfortunately, Pb-isotopic data presently
have been correlated with the Elzevirian and are not available from either of these massifs.
Grenvillian orogenies in eastern Laurentia Comparison of єNd data from intermediate
(Wasteneys et al., 1995). An older basement in orthogneisses in the Oaxacan Complex with
the Oaxacan Complex may be indicated by the fields defined for (1) the Laurentian Gren­
ca. 1.4 to 1.6 Ga єNd model ages on intermedi­ villian basement, (2) the Late Proterozoic
ate orthogneisses (Fig. 4). On the other hand, Tocantins Province in the Amazon craton, and
anorthosites that are common in the Oaxacan (3) the Gondwanan Avalon Composite Terrane
Complex and elsewhere in Oaxaquia are absent of the eastern Appalachians shows that the
in the Sunsas Orogen and Arequipa-Antofalla Oaxacan Complex generally lies within the field
terrane. The northern extension of the Sunsas of overlap between Grenville and Tocantins/
Orogen is truncated by the Andes. However, ca. Avalon (Fig. 4). Similarly, єNd values from
820 KEPPIE AND ORTEGA-GUTIERREZ

lower-crustal granulite-facies xenoliths in basement and/or sediments derived from such


Cenozoic lavas extruded onto Oaxaquia and La basement. The antiquity of this basement is
Olivina (in the Ouachita Inner Zone) extend reflected in the ca. 0.55 to 3.1 Ga Nd model ages
into this field of overlap. Thus, Mexican Nd- yielded by lower-crustal xenoliths. The isotopic
isotopic data cannot distinguish between Lau- contrast across the late Paleozoic Ouachita
rentia and Gondwana provenance. suture suggests that terranes south of this
A more precise definition of the provenance suture do not correlate with Grenvillian rocks
of Oaxaquia in northwestern Gondwana and its in the southern United States. Pb-isotope signa­
time of transfer from South to North America is tures of Oaxaquia and the Pacific terranes also
difficult to define. The Late Cambrian-Early contrast with Grenvillian rocks exposed along
Ordovician faunal affinites between Oaxaca and the eastern margin of Laurentia. They show
Bolivia might suggest a provenance of Oaxaquia affinities with Pb-isotope signatures from the
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

in the Arica embayment. However, an Ordovi­ SW Amazon craton, the Arequipa-Antofalla


cian reconstruction indicates that eastern Lau- terranes (Peru-Bolivia-Chile), and terranes of
rentia and western Gondwana were interacting, inferred Gondwanan affinity in the Appala­
either in continent-continent collision or in the chians (Avalon, Piedmont, and Goochland).
exchange of terranes (Fig. 5) (Dalla Salda et al., This linkage is consistent with the close affin­
1992; Keppie et al., 1996). This interaction ities of Late Cambrian-Early Ordovician tri-
generally is recorded by Ordovician deforma­ lobites in Oaxaquia (Mexico) and Bolivia
tion, but the oldest Paleozoic deformation in (Robison and Pantoja-Alor, 1968). However, the
Mexico involves thrusting of the Oaxacan Com­ Ordovician deformation so prevalent along
plex over the Acatlan Complex (Mixteco ter- western South America apparently is absent in
rane) in the Devonian (Ortega-Gutierrez et al., Oaxaquia. This deformation has been related to
1990; Yañez et al., 1991). An alternative prove-1 interactions between eastern Laurentia and
nance for Oaxaquia could lie off Colombia in western South America; its apparent absence in
the northerly along-strike continuation of the Oaxaquia suggests that this terrane originated
ca. 1 Ga Sunsas Orogen and the Arequipa massif outside the sphere of these Ordovician interac­
(Fig. 5) (Keppie et al., 1996). In such a location, tions, possibly off present-day Colombia. Tests
Oaxaquia would lie outside the apparent sphere of this hypothesis lie partly in further isotopic
of Ordovician terrane transfer, but within the and geochronological analyses of exposed base­
region that was involved in Devonian deforma­ ment in Mexico and Colombia, and in further
tion and metamorphism. However, a direct cor­ paleomagnetic studies on reliably dated
relation is complicated by the fact that U-Pb samples.
geochronology of the Garzon massif of the east­
ern Colombian Andes records a tectonothermal
event in the Ordovician, but not in the Devo­
Acknowledgments
nian (Ruiz et al., 1995). These apparent dif­
ferences in tectonic history between southern The authors are grateful to the Institute of
Mexico and Colombia may be an artifact of Geology, Universidad Autónoma de México, for
either insufficient geological studies or poor providing funds for the research involved in this
resolution of low-grade metamorphic events by paper, under a project entitled "Evolution Tec-
U-Pb geochronology. Stratigraphic constraints tonica Pre-Mesozoica de Centroamerica y su
in both areas commonly reveal one or more correlacion con los terrenos del sur de Mexico,"
hiatuses between the Early Ordovician and Mid­ and UNAM Project #IN101095 (Direction
dle Devonian, which allow time for Ordovician, General de Asuntos del Personal Academico).
Silurian, and Devonian tectonic events. We also would like to thank Drs. E. Centeno-
García, Z. de Cserna, P. Schaaf, J. B. Murphy,
and R. D. Nance for their reviews and many
helpful comments on the first draft of the paper,
Conclusions and Señor Luis Burgos for drafting the figures.
Pb-isotopic signatures in Mexican Mesozoic- This paper is a contribution to IGCP Project
Cenozoic lavas and mineral deposits are inferred #376, "Laurentian-Gondwanan Connections
to reflect their derivation from continental before Pangea."
PROVENANCE OF MEXICAN TERRANES 821

REFERENCES pre-Mesozoic and mid-Tertiary crustal evolution in


northern Mexico: Evidence from deep crustal
Aitcheson, S. J., Harmon, R. S., Moorbath, S., xenoliths from La Olivina: Jour. Geophys. Res., v.
Schneider, A., Soler, P., Soria-Escalante, E., Steele, 97, p. 17,353-17,376.
G., Swainbank, Y., and Wörner, G., 1995, Pb iso­ Campa-Uranga, M. F., and Coney, P. J., 1983, Tectono-
topes define basement domains of the Altiplano,
stratigraphic terranes and mineral resource distribu­
central Andes: Geology, v. 23, p. 555-558.
tions of Mexico: Can. Jour. Earth Sci., v. 20, p.
Anderson, T. H., and Silver, L. T., 1971, Age of granulite 1040-1051.
metamorphism during the Oaxacan orogeny, Mexico Centeno-García, E., 1994, Tectonic evolution of the
[abs.]: Geol. Soc. Amer., Abstracts with Programs, v. Guerrero Terrane, western Mexico: Unpubl. Ph.D.
3, p. 492. thesis, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 220 p.
, 1977a, Geochronometric and stratigraphic Coney, P.J., 1983, Un modelo tectónico de México y sus
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

outlines of the Precambrian rocks of northwestern relaciones con América del Norte, América del Sur y
Mexico [abs.]: Geol. Soc. Amer., Abstracts with el Caribe: Revista del Instituto Mexicano del
Programs, v. 9, p. 880. Petroleo, v. 15, p. 6-15.
, 1977b, U-Pb isotope ages of granitic rocks Cumming, G. L., Kesler, S. E., and Krstic, D., 1979,
near Cananea, Sonora: Econ. Geol., v. 72, p. Isotopic composition of lead in Mexican mineral
827-836. deposits: Econ. Geol., v. 74, p. 1395-1407.
Anderson, T. H., Eells, J. L. and Silver, L. T., 1979, Dalla Salda, L., Cingolani, C. A., and Varela, R., 1992,
Precambrian and Paleozoic rocks of the Caborca Early Paleozoic belt of the Andes and southwestern
region, Sonora, Mexico, in Anderson, T.H., and South America: Result of Laurentia-Gondwana col­
Roldan, J., eds., Geology of northern Sonora: Boul­ lision?: Geology, v. 20, p. 617-620.
der, CO, Geol. Soc. Amer. Field Guidebook, p. 1-22.
de Cserna, Z., 1971, Precambrian sedimentation, tec­
Astini, R. A., Benedetto, J. L., and Vaccari, N. E., 1995, tonics, and magmatism in Mexico: Geologische
The early Paleozoic evolution of the Argentine Pre- Rundschau, v. 60, p. 1488-1513.
cordillera as a Laurentian rifted, drifted, and col­
de Cserna, Z., Armstrong, R. L., Yañez, C., and Solorio-
lided terrane: A geodynamic model: Geol. Soc.
Munguía, J., 1978, Rocas metavolcánicas e intrusivos
Amer. Bull., v. 107, p. 253-273.
relacionades paleozoicos de la regíon de Petatlán,
Ayuso, R. A., and Bevier, M. L., 1991, Regional dif­
Edo. de Guerrero: Univ. Nat. Auton. de México, Inst.
ferences in Pb isotope compositions of feldspars in
de Geol. Revista, v. 2, p. 1-7.
plutonic rocks of the northeastern Appalachian
DePaolo, D. J., 1988, Neodymium isotope geochemistry:
Mountains, U.S.A., and Canada: A geochemical
An introduction. New York, Springer-Verlag.
method of terrane correlation: Tectonics, v. 10, p.
Hart, S. R., 1984, A large scale isotope anomaly in the
191-212.
Ballard, M. M., Van der Voo, R., and Urrutia- Southern Hemisphere mantle: Nature, v. 309, p.
Fucugauchi, J., 1989, Paleomagnetic results from 753-757.
Grenvillian-aged rocks from Oaxaca, Mexico: Evi­ Heatherington, A. L., 1988, Isotope systematics of vol-
dence for a displaced terrane: Precamb. Res., v. 42, p. canics from the south-central Rio Grande Rift and
343-352. the western Mexican Volcanic Belt: Implications for
Barreiro, B. A., and Clark, A. H., 1984, Lead isotopic magmatic and tectonic evolution of Cenozoic exten-
evidence for evolutionary changes in magma-crust sional regimes in western North America: Unpubl.
interaction, Central Andes, southern Peru: Earth Ph.D. dissertation, Washington University, St.
Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 69, p. 30-42. Louis, MO, 207 p.
Barreiro, B. A., Cameron, M., Cameron, K., and Herrmann, U. R., Nelson, B. K., and Ratsbacher, L.,
Grunder, A., 1984, A lead isotope study of silicic and 1994, The origin of a terrane: U-Pb zircon geo­
intermediate volcanic rocks from south-central chronology and tectonic evolution of the Xolapa
Chile and the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico. Complex (southern Mexico): Tectonics, v. 13, p.
Carnegie Institution Yearbook 81, p. 494-498. 455-474.
Blount, J. G., 1993, The geochemistry, petrogenesis, and Hoffman, P. F., 1989, Precambrian geology and tectonic
geochronology of the Precambrian metaigneous history of North America, in Bally, A.W., and Palmer,
rocks of Sierra del Cuervo and Cerro el Carrizalillo, A.R., eds., Decade of North American geology, v. A,
Chihuahua, Mexico: Unpubl. Ph.D. thesis, Univer­ p. 447-512.
sity of Texas at Austin, 242 p. James, E. W., and Henry, C. D., 1993a, Southeastern
Cameron, K. L., Robinson, J. V., Niemeyer, S., Nimz, extent of the North America craton in Texas and
G. J., Kuentz, D. C., Harmon, R. S., Bohlen, S. R., northern Chihuahua as revealed by Pb isotopes:
and Collerson, K. D., 1992, Contrasting styles of Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v. 105, p. 116-126.
822 KEPPIE AND ORTEGA -GUTIÉRREZ

_______, 1993b, Pb isotopes of ore deposits in Trans- Miranda-Gasca, M. A., 1995, The volcanogenic massive
Pecos Texas and northeastern Chihuahua, Mexico: sulfide and sedimentary exhalative deposits of the
Basement, igneous, and sedimentary sources of Guerrero Terrane, Mexico: Unpubl. Ph.D. thesis,
metals: Econ. Geol., v. 88, p. 934-947. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 294 p.
Kay, S. M., Orrell, S., and Abbruzzi, J. M., 1996, Zircon Murillo-Muñeton, G., 1994, Petrologic and geo-
and whole rock Nd-Pb isotopic evidence for a Gren- chronologic study of Grenvillian-aged granulites and
ville age and a Laurentian origin for the basement of post-granulitic plutons from La Mixtequita area,
the Precordilleran terrane in Argentina: Jour. Geol. State of Oaxaca in southern Mexico: Unpubl. M.Sc.
(in press). thesis, University of Southern California, Los
Keppie, J. D., Dostal, J., Murphy, J. B., and Cousens, Angeles, 163 p.
B. L., in press, Tectonic settings of Paleozoic vol­ Nelson, S. A., Gonzalez-Caver, E., and Kyster, T. K.,
canic rocks in Nova Scotia (Canada) reinterpreted: 1995, Constraints on the origin of alkaline and calc-
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

Nd isotopic constraints. alkaline magmas from the Tuxtla Volcanic Field,


Veracruz, Mexico: Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., v. 122,
Keppie, J. D., Dostal, J., Murphy, J. B., and Nance, R. D.,
p. 191-211.
1996, Terrane transfer between eastern Laurentia
Ortega-Gutiérrez, F., Anderson, T. H., and Silver, L. T.,
and western Gondwana in the Early Paleozoic: Con­
1977, Lithologies and geochronology of Pre­
straints on global reconstructions: Geol. Soc. Amer.
cambrian craton of southern Mexico [abs.]: Geol.
Spec. Paper 304 (in press).
Soc. Amer. Abstracts with Programs, v. 9, p.
Krogh, T. E., Kamo, S. L., and Bohor, B. F., 1993, 1121-1122.
Fingerprinting the K/T impact site and determining Ortega-Gutiérrez, F., Mitre-Salazar, L. M., Roldán-Quin-
the time of impact by U-Pb dating of single shocked tana, J., Sanchez-Rubio, G., and de la Fuente, M.,
zircons from distal ejecta: Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v. 1990, H-3: Middle America Trench-Oaxaca-Gulf of
119, p. 425-429. Mexico: Boulder, CO, Geol. Soc. Amer., Centennial
Kuentz, D. C., Cameron, K. L., Niemeyer, S., Nimz, Continent/Ocean Transect No. 14.
G. J., Collerson, K. D., and Ward, B., 1991, Mid- Ortega-Gutiérrez, F., Ruiz, J., and Centeno-García, E.,
Cenozoic basaltic rocks from West Texas: Geochemi- 1995, Oaxaquia—a Proterozoic microcontinent
cal evidence for mixing between orogenic and intra- accreted to North America during the late Paleozoic:
plate sources [abs.]: Geol. Soc. Amer. Abstracts with Geology, v. 23, p. 1127-1130.
Programs, v. 23, p. 39. Ortigoza-Cruz, F., 1988, The volcano-sedimentary
Lapierre, H., Tardy, M., Coulon, C., Ortiz, E., Bourdier, deposits of La Minita, Michoacan, Mexico: Unpubl.
J. L., Martinez, J., and Freydier, C., 1992, Charac­ M.Sc. thesis, University of Alberta, Edmonton,
terisation, genese, et evolution geodynamique du Alberta, Canada, 136 p.
terrain de Guerrero (Mexique occidental): Can. Patchett, J. P., and Ruiz, J., 1987, Nd isotopic ages of
Jour. Earth Sci., v. 29, p. 2478-2489. crust formation and metamorphism in the Pre­
cambrian of eastern and southern Mexico: Contrib.
Litherland, M., Annells, R. N., Appleton, J. D., Ber-
Mineral. Petrol., v. 96, p. 523-528.
range, J. P., Bloomfield, K., Burton, C. C. J., Dar-
Pimental, M. M., and Fuck, R. A., 1992, Neoproterozoic
byshire, D. P. F., Fletcher, C. J. N., Hawkins, M. P.,
crustal accretion in central Brasil: Geology, v. 20, p.
Klinck, B. A., Llamos, A., Mitchell, W. I., O'Connor, 375-379.
E. A., Pitfield, P. E. J., Power, G., and Webb, B. C , Priem, H. N. A., Kroonenberg, S. B., Beolrijk, N. A. I.
1986, The geology and mineral resources of the M., and Hebreda, E. H., 1989, Rb-Sr and K-Ar
Bolivian Precambrian shield: British Geological evidence of a 1.6 Ga basement underlying the 1.2 Ga
Survey, Overseas Memoir 9. Garzon-Santa Marta granulite belt in the Colombian
Lucio, J. A., 1990, A Pb and Sr isotope study of the Andes: Precamb. Res., v. 42, p. 315-324.
Fresnillo mining district, Zacatecas, Mexico: Ramirez-Espinosa, J., Campa-Uranga, M. F., Talavera-
Unpubl. M.Sc. thesis, Dartmouth College, Hanover, Mendoza, O., and Guerrero-Suastegui, M., 1991,
NH, 89 p. Caracterización de los arcos insulares de la Sierra
Mango, H., Zantop, H., and Oreskes, N., 1991, A fluid Madre del Sur y sus implicaciones tectónicas: Conv.
inclusion and isotope study of the Rayas Ag-Au-Cu- sobre la evolución geológica de México, y Primer
Pb-Zn mine, Guanajuato, Mexico: Econ. Geol., v. 86, Congr. Mexicano de Mineralogía Memoria, Pachuca,
p. 1554-1561. Hgo., p. 163-166.
McBirney, A. R., and Bass, M. N., 1969, Structural Robinson, K. L., 1991, U-Pb zircon geochronology of
relations of pre-Mesozoic rocks of northern Central basement terranes and the tectonic evolution of
America: Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol., Memoir 11, p. southwestern mainland Mexico: Unpubl. M.Sc.
269-280. thesis, San Diego State University, CA, 190 p.
PROVENANCE OF MEXICAN TERRANES 823

Robinson, K. L., Gastil, R. G., Campa-Uranga, M. F., and Stewart, J. H., 1988, Latest Proterozoic and Paleozoic
Ramirez-Espinosa, J., 1989, Geochronology of base­ southern margin of North America and the accretion
ment and metasedimentary rocks in southern Mex­ of Mexico: Geology, v. 16, p. 186-189.
ico and their relation to metasedimentary rocks in Stewart, J. H., Blodget, R. B., Boucot, A. J., and Carter,
J. L., 1993, Middle Paleozoic exotic terrane near
peninsular California [abs.]: Geol. Soc. Amer.,
Ciudad Victoria, northeastern Mexico, and the
Abstracts with Programs, v. 21, p. 135. southern margin of Paleozoic North America: 1st
Robison, R., and Pantoja-Alor, J., 1968, Tremadocian Circum-Pacific and Circum-Atlantic Terrane Con­
trilobites from Nochixtlan region, Oaxaca, Mexico: ference Proceedings, Universidad Nacional Autón­
Jour. Paleontol., v. 42, p. 767-800. oma de México, Instituto de Geología, p. 147-149.
Rodríguez-Castañeda, J.L., 1988, Estratigrafia de la
región de Taupe, Sonora: Universidad Nacional Talavera-Mendoza, 0., 1993, Les formations oroge-
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

Autónoma de México, Instituto de Geología, Revista, niques Mesozoiques du Guerrero (Mexique meridio­
v. 7, p. 52-66. nal). Contribution a la connaissance de revolution
Rubalcaba-Ruiz, D. C., and Thompson, T. B., 1988, Ore geodynamique de cordilleres Mexicaines: These de
deposits at the Fresnillo Mine, Zacatecas: Econ. l'Universite Joseph Fourier-Grenoble, 304 p.
Geol., v. 83, p. 1583-1596. Tardy, M., Lapierre, H., Boudier, J. L., Yta, M., and
Rudnick, R. L., and Cameron, K. L., 1991, Age diversity Coulon, C., 1991, The Late Jurassic-Early Cre­
of the deep crust in northern Mexico: Geology, v. 19, taceous arc of western Mexico (Guerrero terrane),
p. 1197-1200. origin and geodynamic evolution: Conv. sobre la
Ruiz, J., Patchett, P. J., and Ortega-Gutiérrez, F., 1988, evolucion geológica de México, y Primer Congr.
Proterozoic and Phanerozoic basement terranes of Mexicano de Mineralogía, Memoria, Pachuca, Hgo.,
Mexico from Nd isotopic studies: Geol. Soc. Amer. p. 213-214.
Bull., v. 100, p. 274-281. Tassinari, C. C. G., 1984, A porcao ocidental do Craton
Ruiz, J., Restrepo, P., Gehrels, G., Cosca, M., and Amazonico: Evidencias isotopicas de acrecao conti­
Ortega-Gutierrez, 1995, Geochronology and Nd iso­ nental no Proterozoico Medio: Brasil: II Symposium
tope geochemistry of the Proterozoic and Paleozoic Amazonico, Anais, p. 439-446.
rocks of the Oaxaca and Acatlan Complexes, south­ Teixeira, W., Tassinari, C. C. G., Cordani, U. G., and
ern Mexico and the Santander Massif, Colombia Kawashita, K., 1989, A review of the geochronolgy of
[abs.]: Geol. Soc. Amer., Abstracts with Programs, v. the Amazonian craton: Tectonic implications: Pre-
27, no. 6, p. A-398. camb. Res., v. 42, p. 213-227.
Tosdal, R. M., Munizaga, F., Williams,W.C., and Betten-
Schaaf, P., Heinrich, W., and Besch, T., 1994, Composi­
court, J. S., 1994, Middle Proterozoic crystalline
tion and Sm-Nd isotopic data of the lower crust
basement in the central Andes, western Bolivia and
beneath San Luis Potosí, central Mexico: Evidence
northern Chile: A U-Pb and Pb isotope perspective:
from a granluite-facies xenolith suite: Chem. Geol.,
7 Congreso Geológico Chileno 1994, Universidad de
v. 118, p. 63-84.
Concepción, Actas v. II, p. 1464-1467.
Sedlock, R. L., Ortega-Gutiérrez, F., and Speed, R. C.,
Verma, S. P., and Luhr, J. F., 1993, Sr-Nd-Pb isotope and
1993, Tectonostratigraphic terranes and tectonic
trace element geochemistry of calc-alkaline
evolution of Mexico: Geol. Soc. Amer. Spec. Paper
andesites from Volcán Colima, Mexico: Geofísica
278, 153 p.
Internacional, v. 32, p. 617-631.
Shurbet, D. H., and Cebull, S. E., 1987, Tectonic inter­
Ward, R. L., and Walker, J. A., 1991, Davis Mountain
pretation of the westernmost part of the Ouachita-
volcanic field, west Texas: Pb-O isotopic constraints
Marathon (Hercynian) orogenic belt, west Texas-
for crustal contamination in the petrogenesis of
Mexico: Geology, v.15, p. 458-361.
voluminous silicic magmas: EOS (Trans. Amer.
Silver, L. T., Anderson, T. H., and Ortega-Gutierrez, F.,
Geophys. Union), v. 72, p. 524.
1994, The "thousand" year old orogeny of southern
Wasteneys, H. A., Clark, A. H., Farrar, E., and Lang-
and eastern Mexico [abs.]: Geol. Soc. America,
ridge, R. J., 1995, Grenvillian granulite-facies meta-
Abstracts with Programs, v. 26, p. A48.
morphism in the Arequipa Massif, Peru: A
Sinha, A. K., Hogan, J. P., and Parks, J., 1996, Lead
Laurentia-Gondwana link: Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.,
isotope mapping of crustal reservoirs within the
v. 132, p. 63-73.
Grenville superterrane: Central and southern
Yañez, P., Ruiz, J., Patchett, P. J., Ortega-Gutiérrez, F.,
Appalachians: Washington, DC, Amer. Geophys.
and Gehrels, G., 1991, Isotopic studies of the
Union Monograph (in press).
824 KEPPIE AND ORTEGA-GUTIÉRREZ

Acatlan Complex, southern Mexico: Implications for Zartman, R. E., 1969, Lead isotopes in igneous rocks of
Paleozoic North American tectonics: Geol. Soc. the Grenville province as a possible clue to the
Amer. Bull., v. 103, p. 817-828. presence of older crust: Geol. Assoc. Canada, Spec.
Yta, M., 1992, Etude geodynamique et metallogenique Paper 5, p. 193-205.
d'un secteur de la "Faja de Plata," Mexique: La zone Zartman, R. E., and Doe, B. R., 1981, Plumbotecton-
de Zacatecas-Francisco Y. Madero-Saucito: These ics—the model: Tectonophysics, v. 75, p. 135-162.
Docteur de l'Université d'Orleans, 266 p.
Downloaded by [North Carolina State University] at 19:42 09 March 2015

You might also like