Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.

Stratigraphic Assessment of the Arcelia-Teloloapan area, Southern

Mexico: Implications for Southern Mexico’s Post-Neocomian Tectonic

Evolution.

Enrique Cabral-Cano 1 , Harold R. Lang 2

and Christopher G. A. Harrison3

1 Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, México,

D.F., México.

2 Jet Propulsion Laboratory/ California Institute of Technology, 4800 Oak Grove Dr., Pasadena , CA, USA.

3 University of Miami, RSMAS-MGG. 4600 Rickenbacker Cswy. Miami, FL 3319, USA.

ABSTRACT

Stratigraphic assessment of the “Tierra Caliente Metamorphic Complex” (TCMC) between

Arcelia and Teloloapan in Southern Mexico, based on photo interpretation of Landsat Thematic

Mapper images and field mapping at 1:100,000 scale tests different tectonic evolution scenarios

that bear directly on the evolution of the southern North American plate margin. Areal geology,

emphasizing the stratigraphy of a portion of the TCMC within the area between Arcelia and

Teloloapan is presented. Stratigraphic relationships with units in adjacent areas are also

described. The base of the stratigraphic section is a chlorite grade metamorphic sequence that

includes the Taxco Schist, the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo and the Almoloya Phyllite formations.

These metamorphic units, as thick as 2.7 km, are covered disconformably by a sedimentary

sequence, 2.9 km thick, composed of the Cretaceous marine Pochote, Morelos, Mexcala

formations, and undifferentiated Tertiary continental red beds and volcanic rocks. The geology

may be explained as the evolution of Mesozoic volcanic and sedimentary environments

developed upon attenuated continental crust. Our results do not support accretion of the Guerrero
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
2

terrane during Laramide (Late Cretaceous-Paleogene) time.

Purpose and Relevance of the Study Area

The location of the study area between two extensive carbonate platforms (Huetamo area and

the Guerrero-Morelos platform located between Mexico City and Chilpancingo; figure 1) of similar

mid-Cretaceous age and depositional environment has resulted in the formulation of contrasting

evolutionary schemes for southern Mexico. Some interpretations explain the non-continuity of the

two carbonate platforms as the result of deposition controlled by topography (e.g. de Cserna et

al. 1978). Others assert that the metamorphic rocks of the Tierra Caliente Metamorphic Complex

upon which the carbonates sit are allochthonous resulting from the tectonic accretion of an island

arc (e.g. Campa and Ramirez 1979; Tardy et al. 1991) with consequent dissimilar stratigraphic

record and geologic evolution from the rest of cratonic Mexico. These contrasting tectonic

scenarios can only be tested if a tectonostratigraphic analysis is carried out in the surroundings of

the proposed tectonostratigraphic terrane boundary.

Ortega (1981, p. 194) considered the Tierra Caliente Metamorphic Complex in southern

Mexico to be a provisional designation, “until better geochronology and mapping establish their

true geological relationships”. A compilation and comparison of published maps (Cabral-Cano

1995) reveals contradictory stratigraphic affinity. This is a direct consequence of the diverse

criteria used to define mapping units and lack of clear contact definitions and lithologic

characterizations.

A tectonostratigraphic assessment on the metamorphic rocks of the Tierra Caliente complex, in the

vicinity of the alleged terrane boundary was precluded by the absence of a reliable cartographic

base. Thus, new mapping and stratigraphic analysis serves as the basis to test opposing

tectonic scenarios and derive important constraints on the tectonic evolution of the southern North
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
3

American plate margin.

Approach

The approach used for this study was that described by Lang et al. (1987) and Lang and Paylor

(1994) where geologic mapping and structural/stratigraphic analysis using photogeology and

spectral interpretations of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images are guided by published

mapping and field work. This approach made field work more efficient by remotely identifying

localities where key stratigraphic and structural relationships are well exposed and are most

accessible. Three digital TM scenes acquired in the winter of 1985-1986 under essentially cloud

free conditions provided our image base maps. Color composites using different band

combinations, principal component, decorrelation stretch and edge enhanced images (Moik 1980;

Gillespie et al. 1986) were registered to Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) geographical

coordinates and photographically enlarged to 1:250,000; 1:100,000 and 1:50,000 scales. Figure 2

is an example of the images that we used.

Results

Overview.

The study area, in Guerrero State, Mexico (figure 1), encompasses approximately 1,600 km2 of

greenschist facies metamorphic rocks known as the “Tierra Caliente Metamorphic Complex”

(TCMC). In 1981 Ortega-Gutierrez defined the TCMC as a complex of low grade metamorphic

rocks, including calc-alkaline andesites, ignimbrites, tuffaceous shales, sandstones, and

limestones exposed “mainly in the southern slopes of the Balsas River Basin and beyond the

southern limits of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt” (1981, p. 194) (figure 1). The earliest formal
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
4

lithostratigraphic description in the study area was that of Fries (1960), with complementary work

by de Cserna (1965). In a later stratigraphic review, Ontiveros-Tarango (1973) reported a thrust

of Roca Verde Taxco Viejo greenstone over mid-Cretaceous Morelos limestone west of

Teloloapan. This fault was later interpreted by Campa and Coney (1983) and Centeno Garcia et

al. (1993) as a tectonostratigraphic terrane boundary. Mapping of this area has also been

published by Campa et al., (1974), de Cserna (1978), Campa and Ramirez (1979), and Inegi

(1983 a, b)

Lithostratigraphic units used here are summarized in the composite column (figure 4). The

metamorphic sequence in the Teloloapan-Arcelia area contains three pre-Aptian low grade, green

schist facies metamorphosed units that occasionally retain primary structure and texture. The

disconformable sedimentary cover comprises four units that span from Aptian through early

Tertiary times. The western limit of these metamorphic rocks is defined by the Arcelia fault zone, a

NW trending system of high-angle faults that juxtapose Tierra Caliente metamorphic rocks on the

east against Tertiary volcanic and clastic rocks on the west. The eastern limit is the Teloloapan

thrust fault that carried the metamorphic rocks onto Cretaceous limestones.

Metamorphic Rocks.

Taxco Schist Formation

The Taxco Schist Formation is composed primarily of fine- and coarse-grained mica and/or chlorite

pelitic schists and phyllites (Fries 1960). Outcrops are restricted to the lowermost topographic

areas, in the north-central portion of the study area (figure 3). The schists have a well developed

cleavage, which is folded to centimeter scale chevron folds, and crenulation cleavage in the case

of the fine grained rocks.

The base of the Taxco Schist is not exposed in the study area, but near Zacazonapan
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
5

(90 km northwest of the study area) it rests in a fault contact with Permian-Early Triassic mylonitic

granite of continental affinity (Elias-Herrera and Sanchez-Zavala 1990). The upper contact with

the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo is poorly exposed near La Parota Lidice (figure 3). All outcrops of the

Taxco Schist we visited are deeply weathered and thus inappropiate for radiometric dating. The

age can only be constrained as pre-Aptian-Albian; that is, older than the base of the overlying

Roca Verde Taxco Viejo (94.4-82.8 m.y. ; figure 5) and Morelos Formations.

The Roca Verde Taxco Viejo and the Taxco Schist formations are composed of distinct

lithostratigraphic units (figure 3). Besides their lithological differences, the Taxco Schist presents

high drainage density and a low resistance to erosion, in contrast with the more resistant

geomorphic expression of the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo. Within the study area the Taxco Schist

outcrops are consistently topographically below outcrops of the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo,

suggesting a lower stratigraphic position for the former. The minimum exposed thickness of the

Taxco Schist in the study area is approximately 900 m. This was calculated in the vicinity of La

Parota Lidice by measuring the relief between the lowest part of the schist exposure along the

Sultepec river and the highest point of the upper contact with the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo. This

estimate is crude, because it is likely that this sequence is duplicated by small thrust faults which

are difficult to detect at the 1:50,000 scale mapping.

We correlate rocks that we map as the Taxco Schist with rocks mapped by Fries (1960)

in the Taxco type area, 33 km northeast of the study area, and with the metamorphic sequence

mapped by Elias-Herrera and Sanchez-Zavala (1990) in the Tejupilco area, 68 km northeast of

the study area. These correlations are based on the similarities in lithologies, stratigraphic

position, the lateral continuity of exposures that can be mapped on the TM images, and mapping

by de Cserna and Fries (1981) and Elias-Herrera (1993).

The micaceous, pelitic composition of the Taxco Schist, implies a pelitic protolith of

probable continental margin origin. Lithologies reported in adjacent areas by Elias-Herrera and
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
6

Sanchez-Zavala (1990) include fine and medium grained sericite and quartz schist, as well as

chlorite schist, graphite schist, quartzite and black slate.

Roca Verde Taxco Viejo Formation.

Fries (1960) assigned foliated, low-grade metamorphosed andesitic tuffs, breccias, lavas and

associated sandstones west of Taxco Viejo to the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo Formation. Probable

equivalents in the study area are porphyritic andesite metalavas, phyllitic andesitic metatuffs

showing cleavage, and monomictic metaconglomerates with andesite clasts. Metaconglomerates

locally grade into metasandstones. All of these rocks show greenschist facies chloritization of the

matrix. Epidote, sericite, biotite, plagioclase and quartz are common. In the vicinity of Agua

Colorada (figure 3) sparse marble beds (3-6 m thick) occur in the metatuff sequence.

The Roca Verde Taxco Viejo is exposed in two major areas, between Acapetlahuaya and

the Vicente Guerrero reservoir, and between Villa de Ayala and Teloloapan (figure 3). The base

is only exposed (poorly) in the north-central portion of the area (figure 3). The upper contact with

the Almoloya phyllite is exposed along Highway 51 east of Las Ceibitas where meta-andesite

intervals (3-5 m thick) interfinger with the base of the Almoloya Phyllite. This contact indicates

volcanic activity during the deposition of basal Almoloya beds. The margins of these thin flows

appear chilled, based on the presence of 1-3 cm thick dark cryptocrystalline bands. In the eastern

portion of the area, the upper contact of the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo is discordant with the

overlying Morelos Formation and equivalent Pochote strata as exposed on the road from Pochote

to La Yerbabuena, and southeast of Acatlan de la Cruz. The metavolcanic member of the Roca

Verde Taxco Viejo is approximately 620 m thick near the Neblinas Radio Station. The 1330 m

thickness for metatuff and metaconglomerate members,was measured near Agua Colorada.
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
7

Almoloya phyllite.

The Almoloya phyllite is an informal lithostratigraphic unit that consists of monotonous well-

foliated, black phyllite that weathers light brown. This unit also includes intervals of black chert

nodules and irregular beds 3 to 4 m thick. The best exposures of the Almoloya phyllite are along

Highway 51, near the village of Almoloya, south of the Vicente Guerrero Reservoir, and along the

Copaltepec-Tejupilco road, near the 29 km marker. Along the western margin of the study area,

the Arcelia fault (figure 3) juxtaposes the Almoloya phyllite against undifferentiated Tertiary red

beds, volcanic and intrusive rocks (Jansma et al. 1991, and Jansma and Lang 1996).

West of Las Ceibas , the basal contact with the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo is a concordant

depositional surface. In other areas, such as in the vicinity of Almoloya, this relationship is not so

clearly exposed because an undetermined amount of slip has occurred along this surface. The

upper contact was not clearly observed in the field but is inferred to be disconformable with

overlying Cretaceous sediments of the Pochote Formation. Alternatively, the lack of a clear

exposure of this contact may be evidence that the Almoloya phyllite is a lateral equivalent of the

laminated mudstones of the Pochote Formation. If this is the case, then the Almoloya phyllite

represents a deeper, hemipelagic facies of the Pochote.

Almoloya phyllite is not exposed east of Tehuixtla (figure 3). There the Roca Verde is

found in contact with either the Morelos or Pochote formations. This suggests a disconformable

upper contact. The extent of the Almoloya phyllite exposures may have been controlled either

by: 1) relief on the Roca Verde and/or 2) uplift and subsequent erosion of the Almoloya Phyllite

prior to deposition of the Morelos Formation.

The absence of the Almoloya phyllite west of Zacatlancillo-Tehuixtla (figure 3) and the

presence of a conglomeratic member in the uppermost part of the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo

suggests that both the phyllite and part of the Roca Verde may have been removed by erosion.
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
8

The presence of the phyllites may indicate substantial relief during or after deposition of the Roca

Verde Taxco Viejo if the phyllites are distal turbidites derived from the volcanic centers of the Roca

Verde Taxco Viejo metavolcanic rocks. We measured a thickness of 800 m for the Almoloya

phyllite east of Arcelia.

The only reported fossils from the rocks that we map as the Almoloya phyllite are

radiolaria (Davila-Alcocer and Guerrero-Suastegui 1990) in the vicinity of Arcelia. Davila-Alcocer

and Guerrero-Suastegui (1990) suggest that the fossil assemblage is Albian-Cenomanian age,

possibly Cenomanian. However, based on ranges of the genera, as reported by Moore (1954)

and the zonation scheme of Sanfilippo and Riedel, (1985), the co-occurence of Podobursa sp.,

Acanthocircus sp., and Archaeodictyomitra sp. suggest a Valanginian-Aptian age. Alternatively,

using the zonation of Pessagno (1971), an assemblage consisting of Crucella messinae

Pessagno, Podobursa sp., Acanthocircus sp., Paronaella sp., Praeconocaryomma sp., and

Archaeodictyomitra sp. is Tithonian-Cenomanian. This is based on Pessagno’s (1971) original

description of Crucella messinae from the Great Valley Sequence of the California Coast Ranges,

where the base of the range is not defined. Therefore, fauna in the Almoloya phyllite record a

latest Jurassic to early Late Cretaceous age.

Pochote Formation.

The Pochote formation is an informal lithostratigraphic unit. This name was informally used by

Baro-Santos (1959) and PEMEX (1979) for a sequence of laminated mudstone and shale near

Campo Morado (Burckhardt, 1930) and El Pochote (Campa 1978).

In the study area, the Pochote formation consists of dark gray to black, thinly bedded, (>1

cm) and/or laminated (< 1 cm) lime mudstone, interbedded with dark gray shale in centimeter-thick

beds. The unit locally shows intense penetrative deformation evidenced by axial plane foliation
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
9

and boudinage. The best exposures are between Villa de Ayala and Las Ceibitas, as well as

near El Pochote and north of La Yerbabuena (figure 3).

The Pochote-Roca Verde Taxco Viejo contact is discordant, based on exposures along

the road from El Pochote to La Yerbabuena, and southeast of Acatlan de la Cruz (figure 3). In

these exposures the contact is a sharp depositional interface. PEMEX (1979) reports the

existence of conglomerate beds at the base of the Pochote where it sits disconformably on meta-

andesites and meta-tuffs of the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo Formation in the vicinity of El Pochote.

Exposures of the contact of the Pochote with the Almoloya Phyllite were not found, due to deep

weathering. The Pochote and Morelos formations, locally with basal conglomerate, rest

disconformably on Roca Verde Taxco Viejo, Taxco Schist and Almoloya phyllite.

The upper contact of the Pochote Formation with the Mexcala Formation was mapped

north of Los Aguajes. The Morelos-Pochote formational contact was not found exposed. The

gradual thickening of limestone beds and decrease in shale intercalations near La Yerbabuena

suggest that Morelos and Pochote strata may be a facies change. The compositional variation

may be responsible for its differential response to Late Cretaceous- Eartly Tertiary deformation.

The total Pochote thickness could not be measured, because no locality was found where

both upper and lower contacts are exposed. Minimum thickness is 420 m in the El Pochote area.

This estimate is tentative, because thrust faults probably exist that are too small to be recognized

at the 1:50,000 mapping scale. Reported thicknesses of similar lithologies measured near Ixtapan

del Oro (Parga 1976) and Ixcatepec (Gutierrez 1975) are 2,000 m and 1,600 m, respectively. It is

likely that these reported thicknesses also include fault duplications.

Biostratigraphic data for the Pochote are better than underlying units. Burckhardt (1930)

found Dufrenoya aff. furcata Sow. near Campo Morado. This fossil indicates a Late Aptian age

(Moore 1957). Campa (1978) and Campa and Ramirez (1979) report Parahoplites sp., Hamites
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
10

sp., Calcisphaerula innomiata and Stomiosphaera sphaerica in the vicinity of El Pochote and Los

Aguajes. These fossils also indicate Late Aptian age. PEMEX (1979) reported the presence of

Hamites sp. at the base of the unit which dates it as Late Aptian-Turonian, according to Moore

(1957), although PEMEX (1979) assigned an Aptian age because higher strata contain

unidentified Albian-Cenomanian microfaunas. De Cserna and Fries (1981) noted the presence of

poorly preserved and unidentified calpionelids and globigerinids that they claim suggest an

Albian-Cenomanian age for beds of the Pochote Formation. The even laminations observed in

dark, carbonaceous Pochote limestones, indicate that they were deposited below wave base, in

stagnant waters with low oxygen content, that contained few bioturbating organisms.

Morelos Formation.

The Morelos Formation, defined by Fries (1960), includes miliolid-rich, Albian limestones and

dolostones. Similar strata of the same age crop out extensively in Morelos, northern Guerrero and

eastern Michoacan states. The original definition included an evaporitic member which has not

been encountered in the study area. The rocks that are mapped as Morelos include reefal facies

which crop out east of the study area (de Cserna and Fries 1981; Gonzalez-Pacheco 1991).

Strata that we assign to the Morelos Formation include massive wackestone, packestone and

grainstone that contain miliolids, bioclasts, intraclasts, as well as rudist banks, occasionally with

chert. Strata are commonly dolomitized. Based on Wilson (1975), this suite of rocks indicates

deposition in environments that span from toe of the slope to open platform facies. Limestones of

the Morelos Formation have been traditionally assigned an Albian-Cenomanian age (Fries 1960;

Bonet 1971, Ontiveros-Tarango 1973). Equivalent age carbonates exist elsewhere in Mexico,

such as those of the El Abra Formation in northeastern Mexico (Wilson and Ward, 1993;

Basañez-Loyola et al. 1993), and throughout the Cretaceous Tethys domain (Simo et al. 1993).

The Morelos Formation is best exposed near the eastern margin of the area, around Teloloapan
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
11

and Acatempan (figure 3), and in thin faulted slices near Simatel and Tenanguillo. It also defines

most of the north-trending Chilacachapa range. In the vicinity of La Yerbabuena, small remnants

of thin laminated algal boundstone and calcareous conglomerate beds outcrop at the base of the

unit, resting discordantly on Roca Verde metapyroclastics.

The Morelos Formation rests disconformably on the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo Formation.

For example, in the vicinity of Pipicantla (figure 3) the Teloloapan thrust fault exposes imbricate

fault slices which include the Roca Verde-Morelos contact. There, a conglomerate at the base of

the Morelos Formation contains Roca Verde Taxco Viejo clasts. The upper contact of the Morelos

with clastic beds of the Mexcala Formation is sharp, but apparently conformable. The Morelos

Formation shows a marked increase in thickness between its westernmost exposures at

Acatempan, where we determined a 380m thickness and its eastern exposures near

Chilacachapa, where Gonzalez-Pacheco (1991) calculated a 1000 m thickness. Variable

thickness of the Morelos Formation is partly the result of post-depositional erosion, as in the

Teloloapan area, as well as original depositional variations resulting from the existence of a reefal

facies along the western margin of the Chilacachapa range (Cserna et al. 1978).

Mexcala Formation.

The Mexcala Formation which was defined by Fries (1960) in the Balsas river region, north of the

study area consists of a basal member of thinly bedded limestones or limey siltstones that grades

upwards into an upper member composed of a sequence of shale and sandstone, and minor

conglomeratic beds. In the eastern part of the study area, on both flanks of the Chilacachapa

range it consists of black shale and wackestone or packestone and intercalated within otherwise

monotonous dark gray shale with minor fine sandstone beds. Shale beds may be thin (<2-3 cm)

or thick (up to 60 cm). Axial plane cleavage is conspicuous in thicker bedded intervals.
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
12

In the Pachivia region, the Mexcala Formation is exposed in an elongate, north-trending,

asymmetric, easterly verging synclinorium (figure 3; A-A’ and C-C’). On the eastern synclinorium

flank the Mexcala is in sharp depositional contact with Morelos limestone. The western limb, in the

vicinity of Pipicantla and Tenanguillo, is cut by a west-dipping thrust fault involving older Morelos

strata as an imbricate, as well as thin slices of Roca Verde Taxco Viejo. De Cserna (1978)

mapped exposures in the Pachivia area as the Xochipala Formation, based on the apparent

absence of sandstone beds and the occurrence of thin limestone beds and volcanic flows. We

found no volcanic flows in the Mexcala Formation in the Pachivia area, although we did find

probable Tertiary volcanic rocks near Chapa which are flat lying, probably of subaereal origin,

and discordantly above the steeply dipping Mexcala beds. East of the Chilacachapa range, the

Mexcala Formation is in thrust contact with overlying Morelos strata, which forms most of the

range.

The minimum thickness of the Mexcala Formation in the Pachivia area is 2000 m. However,

many small thrust faults and folds have probably increased the apparent thickness of this unit.

Thickness estimates elsewhere are 1300 m near Iguala (Gonzalez-Pacheco, 1991) and

approximately 2,500 m near Mitepec, 100 km east of the study area (Lang et al. 1996).

PEMEX (1979) reported that foraminifera found in the Mexcala include: Marginotruncana

sp., Globotruncana rioensis, Praeglobotruncana rioensis, Globotruncana rosseta, Globotruncana

sp., Rotalipora sp., Quinqueloculina sp, Pyrgo sp., c.f.; and ammonites include Peroniceras a.f.

tricarinatum, Peroniceras c.f.P. subtricarinatun sturn, Peroniceras c.f.P. subtricarinatum Drescher,

Peroniceras sp., Barroisiceras c.f.P. alstadenense and Barroisiceras sp. According to PEMEX

these faunas indicate a Turonian-Senonian, possibly Maastrichtian age for the Mexcala

Formation. However, according to Moore (1957), the ammonite fauna is Coniacian. The ages of

the reported foraminifera do not overlap; therefore we assume that the sampling represents the

entire Mexcala section. The presence of Marginotruncana sp., Globotruncana sp. and Rotalipora

sp. suggest an Albian to Maastrichtian age (Caron 1985).

Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
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Discussion

Age of the Metamorphic Rocks.

Sparse radiometric dating (figure 5) and limited biostratigraphic evidence have allowed a wide

range of interpretations regarding the age of the Taxco Schist and Roca Verde Taxco Viejo in the

study area and vicinity. De Cserna et al. (1974) published a Grenvillian Pb-α age (1020 +/- 110

Ma) for the Taxco Schist near Taxco. This date was challenged by Campa and Ramirez (1979),

who asserted that zircons dated by de Cserna et al. (1974) were not authigenic and that the

sample was not from the Taxco Schist, but rather from the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo. Thus, this

date may show that during Roca Verde time there was a Grenvillian age sedimentary source

terrain. Urrutia-Fucugauchi and Valencio (1986) reported 108 +/-5, and 125 +/-5 Ma

(Barremian-Albian) whole rock, K/Ar ages from schist and metaandesite, collected near Ixtapan de

la Sal. These ages were attributed to the regional tectonic event that metamorphosed the rocks.

We correlate these rocks with the Taxco Schist and Roca Verde Taxco Viejo, repectively, based

on the similar lithologies, stratigraphic position and the lateral continuity of the Taxco Schist from

our study area to Ixtapan de la Sal (de Cserna and Fries 1981; de Cserna 1982).

Pb ages from Tizapa massive sulphide deposits, near Zacazonapan, 15 km north of

Tejupilco (figure 2) show single stage model ages of 156.3 Ma (Oxfordian), 128.7 Ma

(Barremian), and 103.4 Ma (Albian) (JICA-MMAJ, 1991, in Sanchez-Zavala, 1993).

Sanchez-Zavala (1993) recalculated these dates using a two stage model which yielded ages of

227.5 Ma (Carnian), 188.3 Ma (Pliensbachian), and 156.3 Ma (Oxfordian), respectively. Based

on the concordant relationships of these massive sulphides with the Taxco Schist, it appears that
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
14

these ages are equivalent to that of the Taxco Schist protolith.

Elias-Herrera and Sanchez-Zavala (1990) report 40Ar/39Ar dates of 101 +/-1 (Albian) and

93.4 +/- 0.4 Ma (Cenomanian) from rocks equivalent to the Roca Verde near Tejupilco (figure 5).

The San Pedro Limon batholith rocks (Delgado-Argote et al., 1990) located northwest of Arcelia,

have been dated by 40Ar/39Ar, as 105 Ma (Albian). In the same area, Ortiz and Lapierre (1991)

report Albian (108 Ma K/Ar on amphibole) tholeiitic dikes near Palmar Grande, and that

Campanian age dikes (79 Ma, K/Ar bulk rock) intrude pillow basalts in the Arcelia area. All of these

samples are from intrusions and mafic segregations that are younger than the metamorphic rocks

that we mapped as the Taxco Schist and Roca Verde Taxco Viejo.

Radiometric dates obtained from the metavolcanic rocks of the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo, in

the vicinity of Teloloapan and Taxco, are incompatible with stratigraphic relationships.
Talavera-Mendoza et al. (1993) report K/Ar dates on amphiboles that indicate a 99 to 105 Ma age

(Albian) for metavolcanic rocks from the Teloloapan area. Whole rock K/Ar ages of 6 samples that

we collected from the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo and Taxco Schist in the Taxco and Teloloapan

areas show ages that span from Cenomanian to Campanian time (figure 5). We interpret that

these dates record the cooling age of a thermal event that could not be responsible for the original

metamorphism of rocks in the Teloloapan-Arcelia region. This must be the case because these

radiometric ages are all younger than the biostratigraphic ages for the overlying Morelos Formation

which contains Roca Verde Taxco Viejo clasts in a basal conglomerate. The radiometric ages

match very well the biostratigraphic ages reported for the Mexcala Formation which overlies the

Morelos. Therefore, this Cenomanian-Campanian thermal event may date tectonic uplift of the

region; probably corresponding to the initial stages of the Laramide orogeny in this part of Mexico.

Relief associated with this event may be responsible for the demise of the carbonate deposits of

the Morelos Formation due to siliciclastic deposition of the Mexcala Formation.

Biostratigraphic evidence regarding the age of the metamorphic rocks is scarce and
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
15

inconclusive. As described above, radiolaria from cherts interbedded with the phyllites in the

Almoloya Phyllite, collected near Arcelia, indicate a Valanginian-Aptian age. Volcanic activity

northwest of Arcelia was responsible for the absence of carbonate deposition between the

Huetamo and Chilacachapa-Taxco platforms. This discontinuity misled Campa (1978) and

Campa and Ramirez (1979) to propose that metamorphic rocks in the region are allochthonous.

Instead, based on the stratigraphic and depositional evidence of the rocks in the studied area, we

interpret that the Late Cretaceous volcanic rocks nortwest of Arcelia are the remnants of a volcanic

field that was fringed by shallow carbonate deposits of Morelos Formation on the Huetamo

platform in the west and the Taxco-Chilacachapa-Teloloapan platform in the east (figure 6).

Siliciclastic deposits such as the Almoloya Phyllite in the study area and San Lucas Formation in

the Huetamo area, as well as basinal carbonates such as the Pochote Formation in the study

area, separated these platforms (figure 6). Predominance of either siliciclastic or carbonate

sediments was dependent on local conditions of sediment availability and transport. The wide

extent and uniformity of black shales that contain the Tithonian-Berriasian ammonite

Protancyloceras sp. in the Mastlacua and Los Amoles area (Ortiz and Lapierre 1991), and

Microcanthoceras sp. (Tithonian) and Wichmaniceras sp. (Valanginian) in the Ixtapan de la Sal

area (Campa et al. 1974) support the idea that uniform depositional conditions may have existed

in the region as early as Late Jurassic time.

Roca Verde Taxco Viejo metavolcanic rocks disconformably underlie unmetamorphosed

but locally highly tectonized and sheared strata of the Morelos and Pochote formations. Following

Elias-Herrera (1989) and Elias-Herrera and Sanchez-Zavala (1990) inference that Roca Verde

Taxco Viejo is equivalent to the Teloloapan-Tejupilco sequence this implies that the protolith age

for the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo in the Arcelia-Teloloapan area is Late Triassic through Early

Cretaceous.

Environments of Deposition.
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
16

The sedimentary sequence exposed in the study area can be explained as a carbonate reef-

platform, built on the surface of metamorphosed volcanic rocks of the Roca Verde Taxco Viejo

Formation. Morelos strata in the eastern part of the study area record basinal and platform facies

that range from intertidal to calcareous slope deposits (Gonzalez-Pacheco, 1991). The rocks

exposed elsewhere in the study area are predominantly foreslope to shelf facies mudstones with

rudist fragments, or intertidal or channel facies represented by algal mats and breccias (facies #4-

8 of Wilson 1975). Cessation of Aptian-Albian, carbonate deposition environments were

controlled by contemporary topography on the volcanic rock surface, where the carbonate

platform west of Teloloapan was fringed and possibly restricted by volcanic activity of the Roca

Verde Taxco Viejo Formation. This interpretation agrees with previously suggestion by Fries

(1960) and Ontiveros-Tarango (1973). De Cserna et al. (1978) believed that an Albian-

Cenomanian transgression was responsible for the development of rudist reefs fringing a shallow

platform located east of the study area. They recognized the lateral change of the Morelos reefal

and platform facies into the deeper basinal strata that we map as the Pochote Formation. Our

results show that rocks of the Mexcala Formation were probably deposited from turbidity currents

bordering a carbonate platform that underwent drastic changes in sedimentation conditions (hence

the sharp contact of the Morelos-Mexcala Formations).

Tectonic Interpretation

One of the most controversial aspects in southern Mexico’s geology is the nature and age of the

crystalline or high grade metamorphic rocks that constitute the substrate upon which Late

Mesozoic sediment accumulated. The reason for controversy is that there are few outcrops of this

basement (figure 1). According to Campa and Coney (1983), the metamorphic rocks in the study

area represent the basement of the Guerrero. They claim that the region is a tectonic entity

separate from similar lithologies exposed east of the study area and the alleged terrane boundary

of Laramide age in the vicinity of Teloloapan. This interpretation assumes that the exposed rocks
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
17

cannot be subdivided or tied lithostratigraphically with rocks in adjacent terranes. According to our

mapping and stratigraphic assessment (figure 3, and 4), units correlate across the terrane

boundary.

The nature of crystalline basement below the Taxco Schist, Roca Verde Taxco Viejo and

Almoloya Phyllite has only been inferred indirectly using sparse geochemical evidence. The

deepest reported stratigraphic exposure in the vicinity of the study area occurs near

Zacazonapan (Elias Herrera and Sanchez-Zavala, 1990). There, Permian granite is found below

a low grade metamorphic sequence. Granite clasts have been reported in an Aptian-Albian

conglomerate cropping out near Ixcateopan-Ixtapan de la Sal (figure 2) (Vidal-Serratos et al.

1991) and in the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous Angao and San Lucas formations cropping out

near Huetamo (figure 2) (Guerrero-Suastegui et al., 1992). Vidal-Serratos (1991a, 1991b; Vidal-

Serratos et al. 1991) and Elias-Herrera and Sanchez-Zavala (1990) found granitic metamorphic

rocks in the Zihuatanejo and the Ixcateopan areas (figure 2).

The presence of these granitic rocks does not support the interpretations of the geologic

evolution of southern Mexico as one or several volcanic arcs built upon oceanic crust as has

been suggested by Monod et al. (1990). According to Moran-Zenteno et al. (1991), Moran-

Zenteno et al. (1992) and Herrmann et al. (1994), there is geochemical evidence from the southern

Mexico Mesozoic arc that suggests the influence of an ancient continental margin. Therefore,

evidence exists supporting the idea that the protoliths of the metamorphic rocks exposed in the

study area and in much of Guerrero and Michoacan states outside the study area (figure 1) were

deposited upon continental basement. We do not reject the possibility that this basement could

have been previously stretched and attenuated. This would be expected if the continental margin

of southern Mexico was within a convergent margin back-arc basin during Triassic-Jurassic time

as it is today (Engebretson et al. 1985; Coney 1989).

Although the exact location of a Jurassic-Cretaceous volcanic arc in southern Mexico is

Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
18

still not firmly established, Ramirez-Espinoza et al. (1991) show that at least one volcanic arc,

manifested by arc affinity intrusive and volcanic rocks, as well as Kuroko type massive sulphide

deposits such as those in the Tizapa are, north of the study area, existed between Teloloapan-

Tejupilco in the east and Zihuatanejo in the west.

A west dipping subduction zone in southern Mexico has been suggested by Urrutia-

Fucugauchi and Valencio (1986) and Tardy et al. (1991). Isotopic data from volcanic rocks

collected in southern Mexico (Lapierre et al. 1992; Ruiz et al. 1991; Centeno-Garcia et al. 1993;

Tardy et al. 1994, Talavera-Mendoza et al., 1995) apparently supports this interpretation. Other

evidence for a west dipping subduction zone are summarized by Tardy et al (1994; p. 69), and

include: 1) the apparent lack of Late-Jurassic-Early Cretaceous igneous arc rocks within the

Guerrero-Morelos carbonate platform of cratonic eastern Mexico, and 2) the apparent younger

Albian-Cenomanian age of the Arcelia volcaniclastic sequence (which apparently includes the

Almoloya Phyllite). These observations led Ortiz and Lapierre (1991) to conclude that 3) the

tholeiitic volcaniclastic strata of the Arcelia sequence are younger than the Teloloapan calc-alkaline

sequence. They assert a thrust contact between the Arcelia sequence and the Teloloapan

sequence, which in turn is thrust over the Guerrero-Morelos carbonate platform.

This assessment is flawed, because of the erroneous age assignment of the Arcelia tholeiitic

sequence. The ages are based on the use of poorly preserved, and questionable identified

radiolaria (see discussion of Davila-Alcocer and Guerrero-Suastegui 1990). That a lack of volcanic

rocks within the Late Cretaceous carbonate platform sequence proves that the volcaniclastic

sequences, such as that of Teloloapan-Arcelia must have been located far away from the North

American continental margin is also incorrect.

A tectonic model that includes a west-dipping subduction zone usually includes an accretionary

forearc prism with associated blueschist and related ophiolitic slivers east of the volcanic arc. This

is the case in the Vizcaino Peninsula arc of Baja California (Moore 1986). To our knowledge, no

such rocks have been mapped in southern Mexico. If the edge of a Late Jurassic-Early

Cretaceous arc were located somewhere within the Teloloapan-Arteaga Zihuatanejo region, then
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
19

one would expect to find ophiolites, blueschists, or accretionary complexes within the study area

or east of it. The only blueschists reported along the Pacific margin of Mexico are on the Santa

Margarita Island, San Benitos Islands (Cohen et al. 1963), Cedros Island (Klienast and Rangin

1982), and the Vizcaino Peninsula (Moore, 1986) on the west coast of Baja California. Although

low-temperature greenschist facies metamorphic rocks have been mapped over large areas of

southern Mexico (i.e. Arteaga, Placeres del Oro and our study area; figure 1), no belt of Mesozoic

high-pressure metamorphic rocks has been reported. We therefore interpret the study area to

have been located east of an east-dipping subduction zone and possibly within an intra-arc (or

back-arc) basin during Cretaceous time.

The lack of paired high-pressure/high-temperature metamorphic belts next to the volcanic

arc from which the polarity of subduction may be deduced precludes a definitive conclusion.

Evidence necessary to substantiate Tardy’s et al. (1994) geodynamic model showing westward

subduction polarity is circumstantial. We propose an alternative conceptual model for the tectonic

setting of southern Mexico (figure 6). East dipping subduction of an oceanic plate under

continental lithosphere occurred during Cretaceous time. The continental crust may have

undergone attenuation and plutonic activity during Early Cretaceous time. The existence of

nearby granitic outcrops that probably underlie rocks in the study area support this model.

Conclusions

The idea that Albian age carbonates exposed at Teloloapan and Chilacachapa are different

entities (Guerrero-Suastegui et al. 1991) without a common geographic or genetic link is a

necessary conclusion if the Teloloapan thrust is interpreted as the Guerrero terrane boundary (e.g

Campa and Coney 1983). However, the presence of rocks of similar lithology, stratigraphic

position, and age on both sides of the alleged western Guerrero terrane boundary does not

support this interpretation. The sedimentary rocks mapped in the Teloloapan and Chilacachapa
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
20

areas record compatible facies using a simple carbonate platform model. This platform was built

disconformably over metamorphic rocks; and the carbonates were deposited at depths controlled

by preexisting relief on the metamorphic surface and were fringed by contemporary volcanic

activity in a back-arc basin environment

Based on similarities of lithology, radiometric ages, protolith and metamorphic grade, we

correlate the metamorphic rocks that we mapped with the Taxco Schist and Roca Verde Taxco

Viejo exposed in the Taxco region (30 km east), and the Teloloapan-Tejupilco sequence as

described by Elias-Herrera and Sanchez-Zavala (1993).

Available evidence shows that the protolith age spans the Late Triassic to Early

Cretaceous. These correlations also suggests that carbonate deposits of the Pochote-Teloloapan

area and volcanics reported within the Arcelia-Otzoloapan volcanic sequence (Elias-Herrera and

Sanchez-Zavala; 1990; Delgado Argote et al. 1990; Ortiz and Lapierre 1991) are coeval.

We propose that the name “Tierra Caliente Metamorphic Complex” be abandoned,

because our mapping has established the geological relationships of units exposed in the

“complex”. The study region contains a sedimentary sequence which has undergone intense

strain in localized areas, such as within the Pochote Formation. However, It still retains much of its

primary sedimentary structure. Moreover, there is now stratigraphic evidence that shows lateral

continuity and age correlation of the metamorphic rocks in the Teloloapan-Arcelia region with rocks

exposed east in the Guerrero-Morelos platform.

We therefore propose that the Teloloapan thrust is not a terrane boundary, based on: 1)

the lithological and radiometric similarities of the low-grade metamorphic rocks in the Taxco and

Teloloapan-Arcelia regions, 2) the disconformable nature of the contact between the metamorphic

rocks and overlying marine rocks, and 3) the absence of metamorphism of the Aptian-Albian

marine sedimentary cover in the Teloloapan area. Instead, the Teloloapan thrust is one of many
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
21

east verging thrust faults that have been mapped in the region (Lang et a.l 1996). Thrust faulting

probably resulted from deformation associated with the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene Laramide

orogeny.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This paper presents the results of research conducted as part of the National Aeronautics and

Space Administration (NASA) contracts granted to the University of Miami (NAGW1678 and

NAGW-2710) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology. EC-C also

received support for field work from the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies Student

Aid Program and the Geological Society of America Student Research Grant Program, as well as a

Ph.D. Fellowship and PAPIIT research grants IN105596 and IN105592 from UNAM. Comments

and discussions with Chris A. Johnson and Tony Barros geatly helped during the early stages of

the project. Help from Francisco Correa-Mora and Teodoro Hernandez is greatly acknowledged.

We thank referees Thomas H. Anderson, Gary Prost, Charles F. Kluth, Meghan Miller, Richard

Sedlock,Cynthia Dusel-Bacon, James Kellog and two anonymous reviewers. The reviewers’

comments improved the manuscript, although some of the reviewers do not agree with all of our

conclusions.
Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
22

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33

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1

FIGURE CAPTIONS

Figure 1. Location of the “Tierra Caliente Metamorphic Complex”, other metamorphic

complexes in southern Mexico and Cretaceous carbonate deposits. Study area is

boxed. Modified from Lopez-Ramos (1976) and Ortega-Gutierrez et al. (1992).

Figure 2. Location of Teloloapan-Arcelia study area in southern Mexico shown as a

boxed region. Major roads and towns in the region are shown for reference. TM

Satellite imagery was used for the photointerpretion of the area. The background is a

greyscale version of a principal component image (RGB=PC1, PC2 and PC3)

generated from a Landsat TM Image. This image shows an example of the digital

enhancement performed to the imagery to better discriminate lithologies due to

contrasting spectral characteristics of the different rock units, which are expressed as

different shadesof grey on this image. Compare to Figure 3 for a correspondance to

lithostratigraphic units.

Figure 3. Geologic map and cross sections of the Arcelia-Teloloapan area. Geology

east of Pachivia is modified after Barros (1996).

Figure 4. Composite stratigraphic column for the study area. The stratigraphic

location of the whole rock K/Ar dated samples (see also Figure 5) is shown as sample

numbers with ages in parentheses.

Cabral-Cano et al., 1999. Submitted to the Journal of South Amer. Earth Sci. Revised version September, 1999.
2

Figure 5. Reported radiometric dates for the study area and vicinity. Light shaded box

are previously reported ages (see text). Dark shaded boxes are new whole rock K/Ar

dated samples.

Figure 6. Pre-Neocomian to Early Tertiary simplified depositional and tectonic

conditions for the study area and vicinity (see text for detailed explanation).

Figure 7. Locally measured stratigraphic columns (see inset for location) and relative

distribution of mid Cretaceous sedimentary facies in the study area. Fill patterns are

the same used for the geologic map in Figure 3. See Figure 4 regarding ages for the

indivudual lithostratigraphic units.`

 102° 100° 98° 96°
L. Patzcuaro Gulf of
Mexico
City Mexico
19°

Huetamo
Taxco

Iguala Acatlan
Arcelia
Teloloapan 18°

Study
Area
Pacific
Chilpancingo
17°

LEGEND
Und. Cenozoic rocks
Mid K carbonates
Mid K Guerrro-Morelos
Carbonate Platform
Acatlan Met. Complex
Tierra Caliente Met. C.
Ocean
Xolapa Met. Complex
Arteaga Schist
Sierra Juarez schist
Oaxaca Met. Complex

Figure 1.
 Ixcateopan 18° 30' N
Kp J-Krv Kmex
J-Kts

Kpo La Parota Lidice

B'
Kpo Kp J-Krv Ixtepec J-Krv
Kmor
Tenanguillo
J-Kts Kpo Kmex
Kpo
A A'
Kpo
J-Krv
J-Krv Simatel
Pipicantla
J-Kts Agua Colorada La Yerbabuena
Tund Kpo
J-Krv
Presa J-Krv
Vicente Kpo Neblinas C'
Guerrero
Ranchos Nuevos El Pochote Tint
Acapetlahuaya Kmex
Zacatlancillo
Kp D Los Aguajes
J-Krv Pachivia
Las Ceibitas El Aguacate
Nuevo
Kpo Sayulapan
C Copaltepec
Kpo Villa de Ayala Acatlan de
la Cruz Kmex
Tund Las Ceibas Kpo B Kmor
Kmor
Cerro Alto
Kp Teloloapan
Almoloya Kp Kmor
Kmor Kmor

J-Krv
Kp

Kpo Chapa
Kpo
Tund Coatepec
Tehuixtla Kmex Costales Kmex
Kmor
Kpo Acatempan
Kpo
Kpo
Ahuehuetla
Arcelia Cruz Grande Kp
Kmor D'
Kpo

Ixcatepec El Calvario
Kmor
Kpo Kmor
Kmex
Totoltepec Kpo Chilacachapa
Kp
Kp
Los Sauces Kmor
18° 15' N
100° 20' W 99° 40' W
Kmex Kpo J-Krv Kmor Kmex Kmor 2 000 m
J-Krv Kpo
J-Kts Kpo
J-Krv J-Krv Kpo J-Krv J-Krv 2 000 m
J-Krv ? J-Kp
? J-Krv 0
J-Krv
Legend
J-Kts J-Kts
J-Kts J-Kts J-Kts
? 0

Tund Tertiary
undifferentiated
A A' B B'
Tint Tertiary
Hwy. 51 Hwy. 51 Hwy. 51 Kmor intrusives
J-Krv Kpo J-Krv Kmor 2 000 m
Kpo J-Krv Kpo J-Krv Kpo Kmex Kmor
J-Krv
Qal Presa V. Guerrero Kmex Mexcala Fm.
Kp Kpo Kp
J-Krv J-Krv
Kmor
0
Tund Kmor Morelos Fm.
J-Krv J-Kts J-Kts J-Kts J-Krv
? Normal fault

Kpo Pochote Fm. Thrust fault

C C'
Fault
Kp Almoloya Phyllite
Kpo Dike (?) or
Kp Kp Kmor Kmex Kmor Kmex
Kp
J-Krv 2 000 m joint set
Hwy. 51 Kpo
J-Krv J-Krv Roca Verde City, town
Kp J-Krv
Taxco Viejo
J-Krv ?
J-Krv ? 0 Taxco Schist
J-Kts 0 1 2 3 km
J-Kts J-Kts J-Kts

D D'

Figure 3
 ✪Ixcateopan 18° 30' N
Kp J-Krv Kmex
J-Kts

Kpo B'
Kpo Kp J-Krv Ixtepec La Parota Lidice J-Krv
Kmor
✪ ✪ Tenanguillo
J-Kts Kpo Kmex
Kpo
A A'
Kpo
J-Krv
✪
J-Krv Simatel ✪Pipicantla
J-Kts
✪
Agua Colorada
✪La Yerbabuena
Tund Kpo
J-Krv
Presa J-Krv
Vicente Neblinas
Guerrero
Kpo
✪ C'
✪Acapetlahuaya Ranchos Nuevos El Pochote Tint
Zacatlancillo
✪ ✪ Kmex

Kp D Los Aguajes
✪
Pachivia
J-Krv
✪Las Ceibitas El Aguacate
✪✪ ✪
Nuevo Kpo
Copaltepec Sayulapan
C
✪ Kpo Villa de Ayala Acatlan de ✪
✪ la Cruz Kmex
Tund Las Ceibas Kpo B ✪Cerro Alto Kmor
Kmor

Kp ✪ Teloloapan
Almoloya Kp ✪ Kmor
Kmor Kmor

J-Krv
Kp

Kpo
✪
✪ Chapa
Tund
Kpo
✪ Coatepec
Kmex
Tehuixtla Kmex Costales

Kpo Kpo
Kmor
✪ ✪ Acatempan

✪
Kpo
✪
Arcelia ✪ Ahuehuetla
Kmor D'
Kpo Cruz Grande Kp

Ixcatepec El Calvario
Kmor
Kpo ✪ ✪ Kmor
Kmex
Totoltepec Kpo Chilacachapa
Kp
✪ Kp
✪
✪ Los Sauces Kmor

18° 15' N
100° 20' W 99° 40' W
Kmex Kpo J-Krv Kmor Kmex Kmor
Kpo 2 000 m
J-Kts J-Krv
Kpo
J-Krv J-Krv Kpo J-Krv J-Krv 2 000 m
J-Krv ? J-Kp
? J-Krv 0
J-Krv
Legend
J-Kts J-Kts
J-Kts J-Kts
? J-Kts 0

Tund Tertiary
undifferentiated
A A' B B'
Tint Tertiary
Hwy. 51
Hwy. 51 Hwy. 51 Kmor intrusives
J-Krv Kpo J-Krv
Kpo J-Krv Kpo J-Krv Kpo Kmor Kmex Kmor 2 000 m
J-Krv
Qal Presa V. Guerrero Kmex Mexcala Fm.
Kp Kpo Kp
J-Krv J-Krv
Kmor
0
Tund Kmor Morelos Fm.
J-Krv J-Kts J-Kts J-Kts ? J-Krv Normal fault

Kpo Pochote Fm. Thrust fault

C C'
Fault
Kp Almoloya Phyllite
Kpo
Kmor Kmex
Dike (?) or
Kp Kp J-Krv Kmor Kmex 2 000 m joint set
Kp Kpo
J-Krv
Hwy. 51
J-Krv
Roca Verde ✪ City, town
Kp
J-Krv
Taxco Viejo
J-Krv ?
J-Krv ? 0 Taxco Schist
J-Kts 0 1 2 3 km
J-Kts J-Kts J-Kts

D D'

Figure 3
[m] Conglomerates,
6500 Sandstones
and volcanic rocks: Conglomeratic red beds, rhyolitic to andesitic
volcanic and intrusive rocks

Shale / Sandstone: Intercalation of black shale and

wackestone-packestone or
dark gray shale with minor
sandstone beds.

4500

Limestone: Massive wackestone,

4120
packestone and grainstone,
with chert locally

3645

Limestone and Thinly bedded to laminar

shale: mudstone, interbedded
with dark gray shale

Phyllite: Uniform, well-foliated

black phyllite
Sample 24.11.93-4 (44.1 +/- 2 Ma)
2845

Metavolcanic rocks: Porphyric andesitic metalava

Sample 06.11.93-18 (89.6 +/-2 Ma)
Sample 24.01.91-2 (94.4 +/- 2 Ma)
Sample 06.05.92-2 (91.5 +/- 4 Ma)

Low-grade metamorphosed
Metaconglomerate: conglomerate with andesite
clasts and extensively chloritized
matrix
1840
Marble: Recristallized limestone

Metapyroclastics: Well-foliated, low-grade

1520 metamorphosed andesitic tuff
Metapillow Lavas
Sample 25.01.92-3 (83.2 +/- 2.2)
Sample 07.05.92-1 (91.9 +/- 2.4)

Metavolcanic rocks: Porphyritic andesite

900
metalavas

Schist: Fine- and coarse-grained mica

schist, chlorite schist

Figure 4
 Tenancingo
Paved road Tepoztlan
188.3 Luvianos 227.5 100° 00' 99° 30'
89 +/- 2.2 Previously reported • •Tejupilco • 125+/-5 108+/-5
Cuernavaca Yautepec
radiometric age 156.3
• Almoloya
93.4/-0.4 •Sultepec •
89 +/- 2.2
Whole rock K/Ar Ixtapan
de la Sal
site (this study) 101+/-1
Miacatlan
• Bejucos • • 18° 45'
18° 45' Pilcaya
0 30 km 105.0
•
Zacualpan

85.0+/-2.2 Pte. de L. Tequesquitengo

108.0
• Huetamo Ixtla • Jojutla

• • 89.6+/-3.7
P. Galeana Sn. Pedro Limon Taxco
Palmar Grande 91.5+/-2.4 1020+/-110
83.2+/-2.2 • •
94.4+/-2.4 Tilzapotla •
91.9+/-2.4
• Buenavista
Tlalchapa 82.8+/-2.2
•
P. La Calera Teloloapan Iguala
Cd. Altamirano Arcelia
Coyuca • 44.1+/-2. •Huitzuco
• 99-105 •Tepecoacuilco
18° 15' 18° 15'
• Placeres
78.0 Study Area
del Oro •Apipilulco
•Apaxtla •
Atenango
100.0 del Rio
100° 30' 100° 00' 99° 30'

Figure 5
SW NE

Phyllite-Roca Verde
(pre Aptian-Cenomanian)
Crust
Mantle

Pochote-Morelos
(Aptian-Cenomanian)
➪ Legend

Mexcala
➪ (Cenomanian-
Maastrichtian)

Balsas
(Early Tertiary)
➪

Figure 6