Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199

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Lithos

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Late Mesoproterozoic to Early Paleozoic history of metamorphic

basement from the southeastern Chiapas Massif Complex, Mexico,
and implications for the evolution of NW Gondwana
Bodo Weber a,⁎, Reneé González-Guzmán a, Román Manjarrez-Juárez a, Alejandro Cisneros de León b,c,
Uwe Martens d, Luigi Solari d, Lutz Hecht e, Victor Valencia f
a
Departamento de Geología, Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE), Carr. Ensenada-Tijuana 3918, 22860 Ensenada, B.C., Mexico
b
Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria, 04510 Coyoacán, DF, Mexico
c
Institut für Geowissenschaften, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 236, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
d
Centro de Geociencias, Campus UNAM 3001, 76230 Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
e
Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany
f
Department of the Environment, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: In this paper, U-Pb zircon geochronology, Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotope systematics, geochemistry and
Received 4 September 2017 geothermobarometry of metaigneous basement rocks exposed in the southeastern Chiapas Massif Complex are pre-
Accepted 7 December 2017 sented. Geologic mapping of the newly defined “El Triunfo Complex” located at the southeastern edge of the Chiapas
Available online 13 December 2017
Massif reveals (1) partial melting of a metamorphic basement mainly constituted by mafic metaigneous rocks
(Candelaria unit), (2) an Ediacaran metasedimentary sequence (Jocote unit), and (3) occurrence of massif-type an-
Keywords:
Geochronology
orthosite. All these units are intruded by undeformed Ordovician plutonic rocks of the Motozintla suite. Pressure and
Isotope systematics temperature estimates using Ca-amphiboles, plagioclase and phengite revealed prograde metamorphism that
Geothermobarometry reached peak conditions at ~650 °C and ~6 kbar, sufficient for partial melting under water saturated conditions. Rel-
Rodinia breakup ict rutile in titanite and clinopyroxene in amphibolite further indicate a previous metamorphic event at higher P-T
Famatinian orogeny conditions. U-Pb zircon ages from felsic orthogneiss boudins hosted in deformed amphibolite and migmatite yield
Chiapas Massif Complex crystallization ages of ~1.0 Ga, indicating that dry granitic protoliths represent remnants of Rodinia-type basement.
Additionally, a mid-Tonian (~920 Ma) metamorphic overprint is suggested by recrystallized zircon from a banded
gneiss. Zircon from folded amphibolite samples yield mainly Ordovician ages ranging from ~457 to ~444 Ma that are
indistinguishable from the age of the undeformed Motozintla plutonic suite. Similar ages between igneous- and
metamorphic- zircon suggest a coeval formation during a high-grade metamorphic event, in which textural discrep-
ancies are explained in terms of differing zircon formation mechanisms such as sub-solidus recrystallization and
precipitation from anatectic melts. In addition, some amphibolite samples contain inherited zircon yielding
Stenian-Tonian ages around 1.0 Ga. Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotopes and geochemical data indicate that the protoliths
of the amphibolite have E-MORB characteristics and were derived from a depleted mantle source younger than
the Rodinia-type basement. Inasmuch as similar amphibolites also occur in the Ediacaran metasedimentary rocks
as dykes or lenses, Late Neoproterozoic magmatism in a rift setting is suggested. Hence, the geologic record of the
El Triunfo Complex includes evidences for Rodinia assemblage, Tonian circum-Rodinia subduction, and breakup
during the Late Neoproterozoic. Metamorphism, and partial melting are interpreted in terms of a convergent margin
setting during the Ordovician. The results place the southern Chiapas Massif along with Oaxaquia and similar North-
ern Andes terranes on the NW margin of Gondwana interpreted as the extension of the Famatinian orogen that
evolved during the closure of the Iapetus Ocean.
© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction 1983). Whereas some Mexican terranes are the product of Mesozoic
Cordilleran tectonics, there is a belt spanning the basement of Tamauli-
The geology of Mexico and Central America is characterized by a pas, southeastern Mexico, and Central America north of the Nicaragua-
series of distinct tectonostratigraphic terranes (e.g., Campa and Coney, Honduras border that is composed of pre-Mesozoic terranes whose
Gondwanan affinity is well established by paleontologic,
⁎ Corresponding author. geochronologic, and provenance constraints (e.g., Centeno-García and
E-mail address: bweber@cicese.mx (B. Weber). Keppie, 1999; Keppie, 2004; Keppie and Ortega-Gutierrez, 1999; Keppie

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2017.12.009
0024-4937/© 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
178 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199

and Ramos, 1999; Landing et al., 2007). In the Late Neoproterozoic
and Early Paleozoic, these terranes occupied positions proximal to
Amazonia or West Africa, along with other peri-Gondwanan terranes
now located in eastern North America and the Variscan belt of Europe
(e.g., Murphy et al., 2004; Nance et al., 2008).
The backbone of central, eastern, and southern Mexico is the
Oaxaquia microcontinent (Ortega-Gutierrez et al., 1995), characterized
by ~ 0.99 Ga granulites with Late Mesoproterozoic (~ 1.25–1.0 Ga)
protoliths, including ca. 1.01 Ga massif-type anorthosite and
anorthosite-mangerite-charnockite (AMC) series rocks (Keppie et al.,
2003; Solari et al., 2004; Keppie and Ortega-Gutiérrez, 2010; Weber
et al., 2010). In the Phanerozoic, crustal reworking substantially modi-
fied vast areas of Oaxaquia, obscuring any evidence of its Precambrian
geologic evolution. This feature is well exemplified by the Maya block
(Dengo, 1969; Fig. 1), where Precambrian granulites are only exposed
along the terrane's westernmost margin (Guichicovi Complex, Fig. 1,
Ruiz et al., 1999; Weber and Hecht, 2003; Weber and Köhler, 1999). In
contrast, the largest basement exposure of the Maya block, the Chiapas
Massif (Fig. 1), is dominated by Late Permian batholithic plutons and
local Paleozoic metamorphic host rocks (Damon et al., 1981; Schaaf
et al., 2002). So far, evidence for reworked Stenian-Tonian basement
in the Chiapas Massif has been indirect, such as the abundant ~1.0 Ga
zircon cores in the Permian granites and gneisses (Weber et al., 2005)
and amphibolites yielding depleted mantle Nd model ages of ~1.4 Ga
(Schaaf et al., 2002).
In the southern part of the Chiapas Massif, the Permian plutons are
minor relative to Ordovician igneous rocks (Estrada-Carmona et al.,
2012; Weber et al., 2008) that intruded metasedimentary and
metaigneous host rocks henceforth referred to as the “El Triunfo
Complex”. A correlative rock association in Central Guatemala was
possibly displaced from southern Chiapas by the Cenozoic, left lateral
Polochic Fault (Fig. 1; Ortega-Obregón et al., 2008; Solari et al., 2009,
2010a, 2013). Similar pluton-host rock relations are also present in
the Maya Mountains of Belize, where Silurian to earliest Devonian gran-
ites intrude metasedimentary units (Martens et al., 2010; Steiner and
Walker, 1996; Weber et al., 2012).
Host rocks such as those described above have been the focus of recent
geochronologic and geochemical work because they offer a unique
glimpse into the pre-Early Paleozoic geologic evolution of the
Maya block and allow assessing its relations to Amazonia, Oaxaquia and
other peri-Gondwanan terranes. For instance, detrital zircon geochronol-
ogy and isotopic signatures of metasedimentary units in Belize allowed
constraining the time of deposition as latest Neoproterozoic or Cambrian,
and imply provenance from Late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic
(1.2–0.9 Ga) and minor Early Mesoproterozoic (1.6–1.4 Ga) sources
(Martens et al., 2010; Solari et al., 2009; Weber et al., 2008, 2012). Fur-
thermore, a depositional age of ca. 600–580 Ma was obtained by
chemostratigraphy for metasedimentary host rocks of the El Triunfo Com-
plex, suggesting an origin in a basin created by Rodinia breakup and the
opening of the Iapetus Ocean (González-Guzmán et al., 2016a).

(a)
(b)

Fig. 1. (a) Plate tectonic overview of Central America, showing Oaxaquia, Maya, and Chortis blocks as well as the Acatlán Complex and major Proterozoic basement exposures of the Northern
Andes. (b) Geologic map showing pre-Mesozoic rocks exposed in southern Mexico and Central America (modified after Martens et al., 2012; Ortega-Gutierrez et al., 1992, 2007; French
and Schenk, 1997). Abbreviations: ACu = Altos Cuchumatanes, BVFZ = Baja Verapaz Fault Zone, CMC = Chiapas Massif Complex, CUI = Cuicateco Terrane, CHA = Chatino Terrane,
JCFZ = Jocotlán-Chamaleón Fault Zone, M = Mixteca Terrane, MFZ = Motagua Fault Zone, MM = Maya Mountains, PFZ = Polochic Fault zone, Z = Zapoteco Terrane.
 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199 179

In contrast, the geologic evolution of the metaigneous host rocks of
the El Triunfo Complex is mostly unconstrained. González-Guzmán
et al. (2016a) hypothesized that these metaigneous rocks may have
represented the crystalline basement flooring the basin where
Neoproterozoic sedimentary protoliths of the El Triunfo Complex were
deposited. The evaluation of this idea is critical because it suggests pre-
viously unknown pre-Late Neoproterozoic components in the southern
Chiapas Massif. Hence, in this study, which presents U-Pb zircon geo-
chronology, geochemistry, and isotopic (Lu-Hf, Sm-Nd) characteriza-
tion of the metaigneous rocks of the El Triunfo Complex, we show that
the southern Chiapas Massif indeed contains relict Stenian-Tonian,
Rodinian-type basement that was intruded by mafic dike swarms in
the Neoproterozoic. Furthermore we constrain P, T conditions of the
intense Ordovician metamorphism and anatexis that reworked the El
Triunfo Complex, and present plausible paleotectonic scenarios for the
Maya block in relation to Rodinia and Gondwana.
2. Geologic setting
2.1. The Maya block
The Maya block (Dengo, 1969) is the southeasternmost of the
Mexican terranes and originally includes the Yucatan peninsula and
southeastern Mexico from the Tehuantepec isthmus to Guatemala
(Fig. 1). Pre-Mesozoic rocks are exposed only in the southern part of
the Maya block, namely in the La Mixtequita (Guichicovi Complex),
the Chiapas Massif, Central Guatemala, and the Maya Mountains of
Belize (Fig. 1).
The southern boundary of the Maya block is defined by the roughly
E-W trending Polochic-, Motagua, and Jocotlán-Chamaleón fault
systems, which separate the North American from the Caribbean plate
(Chortís block; Fig. 1). These Fault zones are complex composite
structural boundaries on which left lateral displacement is accommo-
dated along several subordinate faults (Authemayou et al., 2011;
Guzmán-Speziale and Meneses-Rocha, 2000; Ratschbacher et al.,
2009). To the west, in Chiapas, these individual faults splay into diffuse
structural lineaments (Burkart and Self, 1985; Muehlberger and Ritchie,
1975) turning into the NW-SE trending Tonalá shear zone that runs
parallel to the Pacific coast along which syntectonic granitoids intruded
in the middle Miocene (Fig. 2, Molina-Garza et al., 2015). These left
lateral fault systems reflect the relative eastward movement of the
Chortís block of Central America (e.g., Ratschbacher et al., 2009). Recent
seismo-tectonic studies at the Polochic-fault revealed that present-day
left lateral movement is about 4.8 mm/yr (Authemayou et al., 2011).
By that rate and by assuming a constant velocity, a time span of
~ 50 Ma is necessary to accommodate ~ 135 km offset as proposed by
Burkart (1983). This calculation implies that since the intrusion of
plutons during the middle Miocene, left lateral movement along the
Polochic Fault probably did not exceed ~25 km.
The Guatemala Suture Complex contains high-pressure (HP) meta-
morphic belts and serpentinite mélange complexes, which are
interpreted to be the result of the Late Cretaceous collision of the
North American Plate with Greater Antilles Arc (Martens et al., 2012;
Pindell and Kennan, 2009) predating the Tertiary lateral movements.
The Chuacús complex, between the Baja Verapáz shear zone and the
Motagua fault system (Fig. 1) that contains also HP rocks, is a piece of
continental crust from the southern Maya block that was first subducted
beneath the Greater Antilles Arc and then back-thrusted over the
southern Maya block (Martens et al., 2012; Ortega-Gutierrez et al.,
2007; Ortega-Obregón et al., 2008). North of the Baja Verapáz shear
zone the Paleozoic basement of the Maya block is also affected by the
Late Cretaceous HP metamorphic event to certain extent (Solari et al.,
2013).
Ordovician to Early Devonian igneous rocks occur along an ENE-
WSW trending belt along the southern border of the Maya block
(Fig. 1, Estrada-Carmona et al., 2012). In the Maya Mountains of Belize
Late Silurian to Early Devonian (~420–400 Ma) granites and granodio-
rites intrude sedimentary rocks of the Baldy unit, covered by a contem-
porary conglomerate with rhyolitic tuff of the Bladen Formation
(Martens et al., 2010; Steiner and Walker, 1996; Weber et al., 2012).
In central Guatemala north to the Baja Verapáz shear zone the Early Or-
dovician (471+3 / −5 Ma, Solari et al., 2013) Rabinal granite intruded
metasedimentary rocks of the San Gabriel sequence and the Barillas
complex (Ortega-Gutierrez et al., 2007; Ortega-Obregón et al., 2008).

Cenozoic cover
16.5°N

Cretaceous Limestone
(Sierra Madre Fm.)
0 20 40Km Jurassic-Triassic red beds
(Todos Santos Fm.)
La Permian Lime- and Silstone
An (Paso Hondo Fm.)
go Carboniferous
Arriaga Villa Flores stu
ra (Santa Rosa Fm.)
Da Paleozoic (meta)sedimentary
m
16.0°

Tonala rocks (not differentiated)

CHIAPAS MASSIF (CRYSTALLINE) COMPLEX

Miocene igneous rock

Permo-Triassic igneous and medium-
to high-grade metamorphic rocks
Igneous and metamorphic
rocks (not differentiated)
Pijijiapan
Pa Sepultura Unit - meta sedimentary,
Carboniferous protoliths
cif
15.5°

ic Custepec Unit - garnet amphibolite

O gneiss and marble
ce Mapastepec Motozintla Metamorphic rocks (not differentiated)
an
El Triunfo
EL TRIUNFO COMPLEX
N
Gu Mé

Late Ordovician metamorphic rocks

including Ordovician granitoids
at xic
em o

area of
Fig. 3 Jocote unit metasedimentary
ala

Ediacarian protolith
15.0°

Candelaria unit and anorthosite suite

Meso- to Neoproterozoic protoliths
-93.5° 93.0° -92.5° W

Fig. 2. Simplified geologic map of southern Chiapas, modified from Servicio Geológico Mexicano geologic maps 1:250,000, Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Martínez-Amador et al., 2005) and Huixtla
(Jiménez-Hernández et al., 2005).
180 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199

North of the Polochic Fault zone another Ordovician granite (461+ 6 southern CMC and from Belize (González-Guzmán et al., 2016a; Weber
/ −3 Ma, Solari et al., 2010a) intruded medium- to high-grade gneiss et al., 2008).
in the Altos Cuchumatanes of Guatemala (Fig. 1). The same area is Unlike the northwestern and central CMC, in the southern CMC the
also intruded by Pennsylvanian granite (317–312 Ma, Solari et al., Permian metamorphic overprint reached greenschist facies conditions
2010a). West of the Mexican-Guatemalan border, in southern only. This interpretation is based on 40Ar-39Ar and Rb-Sr dates of
Chiapas, metasedimentary rocks are intruded by early Ordovician white mica and amphibole yielding Ordovician-Devonian ages
(~ 482–470 Ma) S-type granite dikes and a Late Ordovician (449 ± 7 (Estrada-Carmona et al., 2012; Pompa-Mera, 2009).This implies that
to 446 ± 6 Ma) granitic to granodioritic pluton (Estrada-Carmona the isotope systems of these minerals did not re-equilibrate during the
et al., 2012). Permian event, suggesting peak temperatures below 500 °C. The general
configuration of the basement, however, is further complicated by
Neogene deformation and syntectonic magmatism, which led to local
2.2. The Chiapas Massif Complex (CMC) hydrothermal alteration and mineralization, namely in the Tolimán
Cu-Au mining district.
The CMC, which covers an area of N 20,000 km2 parallel to the Pacific
coast in southeastern Mexico, is the most voluminous Permian batho-
3. The El Triunfo Complex
lithic complex in Mexico. It forms most of the crystalline basement of
the southwestern Maya block (Fig. 1) and is dominated by weakly to
The studied region extends from the Mexican-Guatemalan border
strongly deformed granitoids ranging in composition from granite to
about 40 km westward to the village of El Triunfo (Fig. 3). Due to strong
minor gabbro intruding orthogneiss, anatectite, amphibolite, and
topography ranging from a few hundred meters to over 3000 m above
metasedimentary rocks (Schaaf et al., 2002; Weber et al., 2007). The
sea level and dense tropical vegetation, fieldwork is mostly restricted
main tectonothermal event that led to the formation of the igneous
to riverbeds and valleys that are somehow related to the splaying
Massif started with the intrusion of orthogneiss protoliths in the late
Polochic Fault zone. In the studied area, however, no major displace-
Early Permian (~ 272 Ma) and culminated with medium- to high-
ment is observed on each side of these east-west trending valleys. To-
grade metamorphism, anatexis, and intrusion of the major magmatic
wards the south, the El Triunfo Complex is intruded by a Miocene
masses in the Late Permian (~ 254–250 Ma, Weber et al., 2007).
granodiorite that is deformed and mylonitized along the ESE-WNW
Batholithic rocks that intruded metasedimentary sequences of the
oriented Tonalá shear zone (Fig. 3, Molina-Garza et al., 2015). Towards
Sepultura Unit dominate the northwestern part of the Chiapas Massif
the north, the crystalline basement is covered by Jurassic redbeds of
(Fig. 2). The Sepultura unit, a likely metamorphic equivalent of the
the Todos Santos Formation or it is overthrusted by Cretaceous
Carboniferous Santa Rosa Formation (Fig. 2), is composed of meta-
limestones. Weakly metamorphosed sedimentary rocks (phyllite and
greywacke, quartzite, metapelite, and calcsilicate rocks that reached
calcsilicate rocks) probably correspond to the Carboniferous Santa
peak metamorphic conditions during the Late Permian of 730–780 °C
Rosa Formation. Permian granitoids of the Chiapas Batholith (mainly
and ~5.8 kbar (Hiller et al., 2004; Weber et al., 2007). Further southeast
tonalite, granodiorite, and diorite) form the high mountain ranges to
in the central CMC peak metamorphic conditions during the Late
the NW and they occur also in the SE, south of the Polochic Fault.
Permian reached N 800 °C and 9 kbar in the Custepec unit that is mainly
composed of garnet-amphibolite with minor calcsilicate and metapelite
(Fig. 2, Estrada-Carmona et al., 2009). The U-Pb ages obtained from 3.1. The Candelaria unit
zircon cores of garnet-amphibolite from the Custepec unit suggest
that the precursors are of sedimentary origin, having 1.2–1.0 Ga, and Estrada-Carmona et al. (2012) defined the Candelaria unit as
~ 1.5 Ga detrital sources, similar to metasedimentary rocks from the comprised by banded and folded amphibolite interbedded with calc-

Longitude
552000 558000 564000 570000 576000 582000 588000 594000
1702000

1205-2
R0302 ault
hic F
CAL-03
R0202 Poloc 1202-3
1205-1
R0103 RE1101
Motozintla
R0206 1203-2
R0301
CH-02
Latitude

TR02 CH-03
1696000

El Triunfo
PAN-14
Tona
R0401 la Fau
?
la

lt
Gu exico

9511-9
ma
ate

N
M

Belisario
1690000

0 5Km Dominguez

Alluvion The El Triunfo Complex: Foliation

Miocene igneous rocks
Limestone Ordovician Motozintla plutonic suite Strike-slip fault
Jurassic redbeds (Todos Santos Fm.) Jocote unit (metasedimentary) Thrust fault
Permian granitoid Candelaria unit (metaigneous)
Anorthosite and associated rocks R0206 Sampling site
Carboniferous(?) phyllite (Santa Rosa Fm.)

Fig. 3. Geologic map of the study area from the Mexican-Guatemalan border to El Triunfo. (Note: Background elevation model is based on NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission - SRTM).
 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199
silicate rocks, impure marble, quartzite, and minor biotite gneiss.
Indeed, most of the Candelaria unit is formed by folded hornblende
gneiss but there are some important new findings: (1) some outcrops
show felsic orthogneisses contained or interbedded with the folded
hornblende and biotite gneiss, often as meter-scale boudins or pinch-
and-swell structures (Fig. 4a, c) (2) Partial melting of the Candelaria
unit is observed in most outcrops at different scale leading to leucosome
veins or layers that are deformed and folded (Fig. 4). Some areas are
dominated by migmatite with neosome forming several meter thick
felsic dikes. (3) A second generation of mafic rocks (hornblende gabbro)
intruded the folded basement and (4) marbles intercalated with am-
phibolites are now defined to be part of the metasedimentary Jocote
unit (González-Guzmán et al., 2016a).
Therefore, the Candelaria unit is here redefined as a sequence of
banded orthogneiss mainly constituted of amphibolite (hornblende
gneiss) and hornblende-biotite gneiss with variable grade of
migmatization, as well as quartz-feldspar orthogneiss. Leucocratic
layers in amphibolite are often folded into tight to isoclinal folds
(Fig. 4b), mostly subparallel to the foliation planes. Major leucosome
accumulations in strongly migmatized areas of the Candelaria unit are
parallel to the penetrative foliation (Fig. 4c) or the leucosome forms
crosscutting dikes. In the western part of the study area, penetrative
(a) leucosome
amphibolite
orthogneiss
boudin
(c)
leucosome
orthogneiss
boudins
10 cm
(d)
Fig. 4. Field photographs from outcrops of the Candelaria unit: (a, c) felsic orthogneiss boudins in mafic hornblende-biotite migmatic gneiss (outcrop 1205-1); (b) isoclinal folds of
leucosome in amphibolite (outcrop 1203-2); (d) banded and isoclonally folded “Chipilín” gneiss (outcrop of samples CH-02, mafic, CH-03 felsic bands; (e) leucosome veinlets and
patches in amphibolite (outcrop 1203-2).
181
foliation of the Candelaria unit dips moderately or steeply into SW to
SE directions, preferentially to the south (Fig. 3). The variations in the
directions of the foliation planes throughout the western study area fur-
ther suggest a second (D2) open folding of the sequence with a calculat-
ed fold axis (π) plunging to the SE (130°/30°). In the eastern part, SE of
Motozintla (Fig. 3) the orthogneiss is strongly deformed with sheath-
and chevron-folds having interlimb angles b 30°, ptygmatic folds and
subvertical foliation planes trending E-W to NE-SW (Fig. 4d). Due to
its deformation style and field relations with the nearby anorthosite
this gneiss differs from the typical Candelaria unit gneiss and is hence-
forth referred to as the “Chipilín” gneiss (Cisneros de León et al.,
2017). However, in the geologic map presented here, the “Chipilín”
gneiss is included into the Candelaria unit, because no mappable limit
defines it as a distinguishable unit.
3.2. The Jocote unit
Metasedimentary rocks of the Jocote unit (Estrada-Carmona et al.,
2012; González-Guzmán et al., 2016a; Weber et al., 2008) include
pelitic and psammitic sillimanite-rich schist, minor quartzite, calc-
silicate rocks and marbles, locally intercalated with metabasite. Al-
though the Jocote unit seems to be structurally above the Candelaria
(b)
(e)
182 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199
unit, it shares similar metamorphic and deformation histories, and sim-
ilar mafic magmas intruded both Candelaria and Jocote units prior to de-
formation and metamorphism. Peak metamorphic conditions of the
Jocote unit have been estimated at ~6 kbar and ~650 °C and the timing
of metamorphism at 438+23−12 (González-Guzmán et al., 2016a). The
depositional age of the Jocote unit was estimated in calcite marble
bands by chemostratigraphy (Sr and C isotopes) between 600 and
580 Ma. Chemical and isotopic evidence further indicate a pelagic
zircon-depleted environment for sedimentation (González-Guzmán
et al., 2016a). The results were interpreted in terms of deposition during
the opening of the Eastern Iapetus Ocean in the Ediacaran Period
evidencing for the first time Rodinia breakup in southern Mexico.
3.3. Massif-type anorthosite
Massif-type anorthosites, as they are constituted by almost pure pla-
gioclase, suffer extreme weathering in tropical regions. Occasionally,
weathered outcrops contain relics of fresh anorthosite that can be con-
fused with xenoliths. The Fe-Ti oxide content of the anorthosite that also
forms centimeter-decimeter thick ilmenitite lenses is a good feature
that helps identifying it in the field. In the study area anorthosite oc-
curs south of the Polochic Fault from SW of Motozintla eastward
across the Guatemalan border and north of the Tonalá shear zone
in the west of the study area (Cisneros de León et al., 2017). The gen-
eral characteristics of the massif-type anorthosites in the El Triunfo
Complex are: (1) they are associated with meter to tens of meters
thick rutile-bearing ilmenitites that are mined for titanium;
(2) near the villages of El Triunfo and Motozintla, anorthosite is in
contact with migmatized orthogneiss of the Candelaria unit suggest-
ing a genetic relationship with this basement unit; (3) intrusive con-
tacts with Permian plutonic rocks are typically observed along its
horizontal extension and (4) penetrative alteration of the rheologi-
cally weak anorthosite is mainly controlled by Miocene to Recent
shear zones.
4. Analytical methods
4.1. Mineral chemistry
Mineral analyses were performed on three typical amphibolite
(R0301, R0202 and R0206) and one othogneiss boudin (1203-2a)
samples using a Jeol JXA-8500F electron microprobe, at Museum
für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institut für Evolutions- und
Biodiversitätsforschung, Berlin, Germany. Operating conditions were
15 kV accelerating voltage, 15 nA beam current, and beam diameter of
1–2 μm for most minerals. Counting times were 20 s on peak and 10 s
on background. The reproducibility of test measurements on a standard
was generally much better than 3% (1σ), except for values close to the
detection limit, where the reproducibility may be reduced to about
10%. Analyses were calibrated using Smithsonian international mineral
standards. Representative analyses data are given in Table 1.
4.2. U-Pb geochronology
Sample preparation and zircon separation was performed at
Departamento de Geología, CICESE, Ensenada, Mexico. Zircon was con-
centrated first by using a Wilfley® table, Frantz® isodynamic magnetic
separator, followed by density separation using Diiodmethane. Zircon
grains were mounted in epoxy resin and polished to half of the smallest
crystal thickness. Cathodoluminescence (CL) imaging of the zircon
mounts was performed with a JEOL JSM-35c electron microscope with
an attached CL detector at CICESE.
For most samples the U-Pb geochronology of zircon by laser ablation
multicollector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-MC-
ICPMS) was conducted on a Nu-Plasma instrument at the Arizona
LaserChron Center at Tucson, Arizona, following the procedures given
by Gehrels et al. (2008) and Johnston et al. (2009). Ablation was
performed with a Photon Machines Analyte G2 Excimer laser using
spot diameters of 30, 25, or 10 μm, a fluence of ~4 J/cm2 and a repetition
rate of 8 Hz (Gehrels et al., 2008). All measurements were made in
static mode. For 30 and 25 μm spot analyses, Faraday detectors
with 3 × 1011 ohm resistors were used for 238U, 232Th, 208Pb-206Pb,
and discrete-dynode ion counters for 204Pb and 202Hg. Using a spot
diameter of 10 μm Faraday detectors were used for 238U, 232Th, and
discrete-dynode ion counters for 208-204Pb. 204Hg interference with
204
Pb is accounted for by measurement of 202Hg during laser ablation
and subtraction of 204Hg according to the natural 202 Hg/ 204 Hg of
4.35. Common Pb correction is accomplished by using the measured
204
Pb and assuming an initial Pb composition from Stacey and
Kramers (1975) with uncertainties of 1.0 for 206 Pb/204Pb and 0.3
for 207Pb/204Pb. As a primary standard an in-house Sri Lanka zircon
was used with an ID-TIMS age of 563.5 ± 3.2 Ma (2σ, Gehrels et al.,
2008). During the analytical sessions the secondary reference zircon
R33 (419.3 ± 0.4 Ma, Black et al., 2004) was measured, yielding a
Concordia age of 421.4 ± 4.3 Ma (2σ, n = 10, MSWD = 0.63).
Zircons from sample 9511-9 were analyzed at Centro de
Geociencias, UNAM, Juriquilla, Mexico, using a Resolution M-050
193 nm excimer laser coupled to a Thermo X-ii quadrupole ICPMS. Pri-
mary standard was reference zircon 91500 (1065 ± 5 Ma, Wiedenbeck
et al., 1995) and Pleŝovice zircon (336.7 ± 0.65 Ma, Sláma et al., 2008)
was used as a secondary standard yielding a Concordia age of
334.8 ± 1.4 Ma (2σ, n = 9, MSWD = 0.12) during the analytical ses-
sion. For details on the analytical procedure and data reduction see
Solari et al. (2010b) and Solari and Tanner (2011).
Zircons from samples CH-02 and CH-03 were analyzed using a New
Wave Nd-YAG UV 213 nm laser coupled to a Thermo Element 2 single
collector, double-focusing, magnetic sector ICPMS at Radiogenic Isotope
and Geochronology Lab (RIGL) at Washington State University, Pullman
WA, following the procedures and parameters similar to Chang et al.
(2006). At this facility Pleŝovice zircon was used as primary standard
and FC-1 (1099 ± 2 Ma, Paces and Miller, 1993) as secondary standard
yielding a Concordia age of 1096.9 ± 6.4 (2σ, n = 45, MSWD = 0.77).
The results are given in Figs. 9 and 10, and the full dataset can be
found in Appendix A (supplementary data). The data were plotted
using ISOPLOT 3.75 (Ludwig, 2012), using error ellipses in Concordia
diagrams of 1σ.
4.3. Sm-Nd and Lu-Hf isotopes by isotope dilution analyses
Chemical preparation and element separation for Sm-Nd and Lu-Hf
isotope analysis were performed in PicoTrace® cleanlab facilities at
Departamento de Geología, CICESE, following the procedure based on
Sprung et al. (2010) with some modifications (González-Guzmán
et al., 2016b). Between 80 and 150 mg of whole rock powder was
weighed into a digestion vessel and spiked with mixed 149Sm-145Nd
and 180Hf-176Lu spikes. After dissolution with conc. HF, HNO3, and
HClO4 either in a PicoTrace® pressure digestion system (DAS®, mafic
rocks and anorthosites) or in a Parr® acid digestion vessel (felsic gneiss
samples), evaporation, and sample-spike equilibration, the sample was
loaded with 3 N HCl on Teflon® columns filled with ~2 mL of Eichrom
Ln-Spec® resin. Most of the matrix elements including Light Rare
Earth Elements (LREE) for further element purification for Sm-Nd
were eluted sequentially with 2–3 M and 3 M HCl. The HREE fraction
was eluted with 6 M HCl and evaporated to dryness. After the HREE
cut the column was rinsed with 6 M HCl. Subsequently, Ti was eluted
using a mixture of 0.45 M HNO3, 0.09 M citric acid (HCit), and 1 vol%
of H2O2. Prior to Hf collection Zr was extracted from the column with
a mixture of 6 M HCl and 0.06 M HF. Finally, Hf was collected with
12 mL of 2 M HF and gently evaporated to dryness. A second cleanup
was performed for both the HREE- and the Hf-cuts to improve Lu/Yb
on the HREE- and to eliminate the Lu-tail on the Hf-cut. Separation of
Sm and Nd was performed using standard procedure (e.g., Weber
Table 1
Representative mineral chemistry composition (oxide [wt%]; cation [p.f.u.]) of amphibolites (R0301, R0206, R0202) and gneiss (1203-2a).

Sample R0301 (amphibolite) R0206 (amphibolite) R0202 (amphibolite) 1203-2a (gneiss)

ID
Amp Pl Pair Amp Pl Pair Amp Pl Fsp

Bulk Rim An(43–77) An(32–42) Amp Pl Inner Outer Rim An(19–27) An(46–54) Amp Pl Inner Outer Rim An(19–27) An(46–54) Bt Bt Ms Pl K-rich Na-rich
core core core core

(n = (n = (n = 8) (n = 8) (46–50) (53–55) (n = (n = (n = (n = 6) (n = 10) (28–31) (32−33) (n = (n = (n = (n = 10) (n = 14) (n = 3) (n = (n = (n = (n = (n =

48) 4) 8) 22) 8) 14) 20) 4) 12) 14) 4) 10) 12)

SiO2 (%) 47.33 43.08 53.47 59.88 46.45 57.09 54.38 44.08 41.75 55.83 62.97 49.53 59.54 50.80 47.27 43.70 57.16 63.57 37.38 36.56 47.66 61.79 64.33 68.49
TiO2 1.09 0.52 0.01 0.01 0.78 0.01 0.12 0.84 0.46 0.04 0.04 0.37 0.01 0.30 0.67 0.76 0.01 0.01 1.83 2.18 0.30 0.01 0.01 0.01
Al2O3 8.73 13.74 29.42 25.15 11.74 27.01 2.12 10.33 13.33 27.60 22.96 6.56 25.32 6.05 9.25 13.17 26.85 22.69 16.57 15.58 30.75 23.89 18.55 20.91

B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199

Cr2O3 0.12 0.06 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.00 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.01
Fe2O3 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00
FeO 16.55 17.87 0.07 0.17 17.16 0.16 14.32 19.97 21.46 0.34 0.33 16.66 0.42 14.67 16.28 18.49 0.07 0.26 19.31 22.78 5.91 0.07 0.03 0.09
MnO 0.27 0.23 0.00 0.02 0.26 0.00 0.28 0.28 0.28 0.03 0.02 0.29 0.02 0.30 0.31 0.27 0.00 0.04 0.13 0.25 0.03 0.01 0.01 0.01
MgO 11.30 9.41 0.00 0.02 9.86 0.01 14.82 8.85 6.99 0.00 0.01 11.89 0.00 13.59 11.43 8.17 0.01 0.01 10.39 8.94 1.69 0.00 0.00 0.01
CaO 11.60 11.01 12.38 7.26 11.69 9.51 12.23 11.58 11.52 10.31 4.87 12.00 7.46 11.45 11.15 11.46 7.47 5.31 0.17 0.03 0.04 5.62 0.03 0.75
Na2O 1.07 1.24 4.55 7.66 1.24 6.33 0.33 1.46 1.79 5.73 9.08 0.92 7.61 0.66 1.11 1.24 6.40 7.97 0.26 0.09 0.29 8.46 0.60 11.08
K2O 0.28 0.39 0.04 0.05 0.37 0.06 0.04 0.45 0.52 0.04 0.06 0.25 0.05 0.15 0.33 0.53 0.05 0.68 8.64 9.22 10.18 0.25 14.76 0.32
Total 98.34 97.55 99.95 100.21 98.28 100.17 98.67 98.56 98.44 99.91 100.34 98.48 100.43 97.98 97.81 97.79 98.85 99.79 94.68 95.64 96.84 100.10 98.33 101.67
Si (p.f.u.) 6.879 6.321 6.205 5.304 6.836 5.697 7.350 6.966 6.238 5.820 4.842 7.184 5.341 7.345 6.796 6.479 5.481 5.075 5.691 5.643 6.377 10.970 12.004 11.800
Ti 0.119 0.058 – – 0.114 – 0.038 0.034 0.062 – – 0.041 – 0.025 0.075 0.085 – – 0.209 0.253 0.031 – – –
Alt 1.495 2.377 – – 1.563 – 0.859 1.429 2.450 – – 1.143 – 0.907 1.680 2.302 – – – 2.357 4.847 – – –
Cr 0.014 0.006 – – 0.013 – 0.001 0.000 0.001 – – 0.001 – 0.001 0.001 0.002 – – – 0.001 0.001 – – –
Fe3+ 0.531 0.891 – – 0.558 – 0.415 0.475 0.607 – – 0.358 – 0.637 0.714 0.472 – – 2.458 2.940 – – – –
Fe2+ 1.480 1.301 – – 1.466 – 1.582 1.787 2.117 – – 1.675 – 1.065 1.298 1.823 – – – – 0.661 – – –
Mn 0.033 0.029 – – 0.033 – 0.034 0.034 0.035 – – 0.036 – 0.036 0.037 0.033 – – 0.017 0.032 0.003 – – –
Mg 2.450 2.056 – – 2.419 – 2.720 2.274 1.490 – – 2.561 – 2.985 2.398 1.805 – – 2.358 2.057 0.337 – – –
Ca 1.806 1.732 2.374 1.391 1.801 1.822 1.853 1.858 1.848 1.976 0.933 1.869 1.430 1.767 1.735 1.820 1.573 1.017 0.028 0.005 0.005 1.069 0.006 0.138
Na 0.302 0.354 1.579 2.657 0.306 2.194 0.208 0.316 0.531 1.988 3.152 0.264 2.640 0.161 0.328 0.356 2.441 2.766 0.076 0.028 0.075 2.912 0.216 3.701
K 0.051 0.073 0.067 0.051 0.053 0.060 0.033 0.063 0.115 0.054 0.026 0.047 0.055 0.021 0.065 0.100 0.028 0.134 1.679 1.816 1.737 0.056 3.513 0.071
IV
Al 1.121 1.679 – – 1.164 – 0.650 1.034 1.762 – – 0.816 – 0.655 1.204 1.521 – – 2.309 2.357 1.623 – – –
VI
Al 0.374 0.698 – – 0.399 – 0.209 0.395 0.688 – – 0.327 – 0.252 0.476 0.782 – – 0.665 0.477 3.225 – – –
Fe* 0.585 0.491 – – 0.578 – 0.709 0.616 0.468 – – 0.607 – 0.714 0.593 0.368 – – – – – – – –
Mg# 0.623 0.515 – – 0.617 – 0.626 0.542 0.413 – – 0.594 – 0.737 0.650 0.497 – – – – – – – –
T 542 617 – – 548 – 464 523 642 – – 491 – 460 551 600 – – – – – – – –
P1 3.84 5.50 – – 3.97 – 2.61 3.71 5.71 – – 3.12 – 2.74 4.24 5.29 – – – – – – – –
P2 4.54 6.73 – – 4.71 – 2.97 4.42 7.00 – – 3.64 – 3.23 5.15 6.53 – – – – – – – –

Fe* = Fe3+ / (Fe3+ + VIAl). Mg# = Mg + Fe2+). O basis: amphiboles (Amp) = 23 oxygens (Leake et al., 1997); plagioclase (Pl) = 8 oxygens; micas, biotite (Bt) and muscovite (Ms) = 22 oxygens. Pressure (P, kbar) and Temperature (T, °C) estimates
are based on the empirical Ca-amphibole geothermobarometry after (1) Gerya et al. (1997) and (2) Zenk and Schulz (2004). Error ranges: T (±50 °C); P (±1.2 kb).

183
184 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199
et al., 2012) first with quartz-glass columns filled with DOWEX AG
50W-X8 resin to separate REE and then Ln-Spec® resin to separate
Sm and Nd.
Individual zircon grains, previously measured with LA-ICPMS, were
picked from the mount and dissolved in small Teflon capsules at 190
°C for one week in Parr® bombs. Lu and Hf separation was performed
following the procedure described by Weber et al. (2012) that is
based on the method by Nebel-Jacobsen et al. (2005).
Lutetium and hafnium isotope ratios of solutions were measured on
a Thermo Neptune Plus® MC-ICP-MS installed at LEI, UNAM, in static
mode on Faraday cups. The sample solutes were introduced to the
plasma via an Aridus® desolvating sample introduction system using
an Ar carrier gas and a blended Ar + N2 sweep gas. Samarium and
neodymium isotope ratios were measured on a Thermo-Scientific®
TRITON® TIMS at LUGIS, UNAM.
Isotope dilution analysis was performed on the same solution as for
isotope composition, following the approach of Boelrijk (1968) and Chu
et al. (2011). Besides that, the mass bias for spiked Lu was corrected by
adding Re to every sample and by normalizing to external Lu + Re stan-
dard solutions with known isotopic composition (González-Guzmán
et al., 2016b; Scherer et al., 1999). Correction for mass bias for Sm, Nd,
and Hf was achieved by normalizing to 152Sm/147Sm = 1.7845352,
Nd: 146Nd/144Nd = 0.7219, and Hf: 179Hf/177Hf = 0.7325, respectively.
The data reduction was performed offline using IsotopeHf® and
IsotopeNd® programs (González-Guzmán et al., 2016b) written in R, a
free software environment for statistical computing and graphics. The
results are listed in Table 2. Over the course of this work the JMC-475
Hf standard gave a mean 176Hf/177Hf of 0.282150 ± 0.000007 (n =
41) and the La Jolla Nd isotope standard yielded a mean 143Nd/144Nd
of 0.511846 ± 0.000003 (n = 3). The reported 176Hf/177Hf and
143
Nd/144Nd values in Table 2 were normalized to the well-accepted
176
Hf/177Hf for the JMC-475 of 0.282160 and 143Nd/144Nd for the La
Jolla standard of 0.511860, respectively. On the basis of duplicate sam-
ple dissolution and repeated analyses of reference rock standards,
total uncertainties are estimated around 0.003% for both 176Hf/177Hf
and 143Nd/144Nd, 0.5% for parent/daughter ratios (176Lu/177Hf and
147
Sm/144Nd), and 2% for element concentrations by ID analyses.
4.4. Lu-Hf analyses of zircon by laser ablation MC-ICPMS
In-situ Lu-Hf isotope composition of zircon crystals was determined
at the Radiogenic Isotope and Geochronology Lab (RIGL) at Washington
State University. Analyses were conducted using ThermoFinnigan
Neptune® mass spectrometer coupled to a New Wave 213 nm
Nd:YAG laser, using a spot size of 40 μm, a laser fluence of ~ 7 J/cm2,
and repetition rate of 10 Hz. This study used the same instrument con-
figuration, operating parameters, and data reduction methods outlined
by Fisher et al. (2014a), with the exception that U-Pb ages were not si-
multaneously determined. The output from the ablation cell was mixed
with N2 gas and delivered directly to the Neptune MC-ICPMS. To reduce
inter-laboratory bias, the Plešovice zircon standard (176Hf/177Hf =
0.282482 ± 13, Sláma et al., 2008) was regularly analyzed between
sample blocks and used to correct the measured 176Hf/177Hf of un-
knowns. Given the potentially large range of (Lu + Yb)/Hf in zircon
samples, accurate correction for the isobaric interference of 176Yb and
176
Lu on 176Hf is imperative, and should be assessed using quality con-
trol zircons interspersed with samples (Fisher et al., 2014b). The stan-
dard zircon analyses gave 176Hf/177Hf of 0.282440 ± 0.000037 (1σ, n
= 21) for Pleŝovice, 0.282156 ± 0.000022 (1σ, n = 8) for FC-1 and
0.282105 ± 0.000022 (1σ, n = 11) for synthetic zircon, respectively.
Analyses of these quality control zircons agree well with published
S-MC-ICPMS isotope compositions of purified Hf from these zircons,
attesting to the accuracy of the interference correction methods
employed. Internal 2σ precision was typically ~ 1.2 εHf. The results
are included in Table 2.
5. Petrology of the Candelaria unit
5.1. Petrographic features
The typical Candelaria unit (amphibolite and gneiss) is banded and
contains hornblende-rich and biotite-rich layers both defining the pen-
etrative foliation. The hornblende-rich layers are mainly composed of
brown-green hornblende that is zoned from brownish-green or
greenish-brown in the core to dark green at the rim, often containing
exsolutions of opaque (ilmenite or rutile) needles in the core or along
grain boundaries (Hbl1, Fig. 5a, b). Subhedral plagioclase fill spaces be-
tween hornblende crystals together with quartz, mostly anhedral
brown biotite, ilmenite, and apatite. Biotite-rich layers often contain
abundant plagioclase and quartz and only minor brownish-green horn-
blende. These layers typically contain relatively large anhedral poikilitic
amphiboles with colorless to pale green cores of actinolite or actinolitic
hornblende having numerous quartz inclusion, sometimes symplectitic
textures, and green to bluish-green rims (Hbl2, Fig. 5b). Brownish-green
hornblende (Hbl1) was probably a Ti-rich high-temperature
hornblende present in the protolith that lost part of its Ti by exsolution
of ilmenite or rutile during metamorphism. The pale green poikilitic
actinolite, instead (Hbl2), appears to form by pseudomorphic replace-
ment of pyroxene followed by continued prograde reaction forming
bluish-green hornblende (Thomson et al., 1985). This hypothesis is
further supported by the presence of (relict?) clinopyroxene rarely ob-
served in hornblende gneiss samples (Fig. 5f). Abundant opaque min-
erals are mostly ilmenite typically surrounded by anhedral titanite
(Fig. 5a). Occasionally, and mostly restricted to particular layers in the
rock, hornblende is partially replaced by epidote (and/or clinozoisite)
forming symplectitic intergrowth with quartz (Fig. 5d). Epidote is a
common secondary phase, whereas green chlorite replacing biotite is
less abundant.
Partial melting is observed at most outcrops as neosome veinlets and
dikes from millimeter to meter scale. The neosome is composed mainly
of plagioclase and quartz, minor K-feldspar, sometimes with abundant
either reddish (Fig. 5a) or brownish biotite, green hornblende, euhedral
titanite, accessory apatite, and zircon as well as secondary actinolite
needles and epidote.
The felsic gneiss boudins consist of quartz (with dynamic recrystal-
lization), plagioclase, and perthitic K-feldspar, the latter partially
replaced by muscovite (Fig. 5c). Large (up to 0.5 mm) apatite, brown
biotite, and zircon are primary accessory phases. Quartz contains small
rutile needles suggesting exsolution of TiO2 from high temperature
quartz and relict rutile is present as inclusions in titanite (Fig. 5e).
5.2. Mineral chemistry and geothermobarometry
According to the classification after Leake et al. (1997), the amphib-
olites contain calcic amphiboles with actinolithic cores or patches
(Figs. 6a, d and 7a, b) that display high Si and Mg# (Mg / (Mg
+ Fe2+)) and low AlTOT contents. The main amphibole crystals are ei-
ther magnesio-hornblende (R0301 and R0202) or ferro-edenite
(R0206). Towards the rims they display significantly higher Al (2.0–
2.6 AlTOT p.f.u. out of 13 cations) with lower Si and Mg#, respectively
(Table 1), reaching ferro-tschermakitic (R0301, R0202) and ferro-
pargasitic compositions (R0206). The compositional zoning and their
chemical features suggest that amphibole crystals are metamorphic
(not igneous) and they reflect changing metamorphic conditions
along a prograde metamorphic path (e.g., Ernst and Liu, 1998; Raase
et al., 1986; Spear, 1981; Zenk and Schulz, 2004).
Plagioclase compositions are variable, in particular in sample R0301
where core plagioclase goes from bytownite over labradorite to
andesine (Fig. 7c, An77 to An42). The zoned An-rich plagioclase is
probably magmatic, whereas a rim with An34 is supposed to be
metamorphic. Core plagioclase from other two samples is mainly
andesine (~ An45, sample R0202) or andesine to labradorite (sample
Table 2
Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd data for whole rocks and Lu-Hf data on zircon.

Sample ID Rock type Lu (ppm) Hf (ppm) Lu-Hf isotope ratios Age correcteda Model age Sm (ppm) Nd (ppm) Sm-Nd isotope ratios Age correcteda Model age
176 176 176 b 147 143 143
Lu Hf ±s.e. ε Hf t (Ma) Hf ε Hf (t) (Ma) Sm Nd ±s.e. ε Nd Nd ε Nd(t) (Ma)c
177 177 177 144 144 144
Hf Hf 0 Hf(t) Nd Nd 0 Nd(t)

Isotope dilution analyses

1205-1b Orthogneiss (boudin) 0.59 28.72 0.00293 0.282251 4 −18.9 1005 0.282196 1.7 1451 13.9 75.1 0.1116 0.512096 4 −10.6 0.511352 0.5 1402
1203-2a Orthogneiss (boudin) 0.59 25.64 0.00328 0.282230 4 −19.6 1016 0.282167 0.9 1497 21.9 138.3 0.0958 0.512073 4 −11.0 0.511441 2.0 1246
1203-2a-b Zircon (orthogneiss) 0.00069 0.282213 3 −20.2 1016 0.282200 2.1 1560
1203-2a-a Zircon (orthogneiss) 0.00063 0.282154 2 −22.3 1016 0.282142 0.0 1669
CH-02 Gneiss (Chipilin) (mafic) 0.29 2.32 0.01804 0.282691 4 −3.3 919 0.282373 6.2 1387 6.1 33.5 0.1105 0.512286 35 −6.9 0.511608 3.5 1113
CH-03 Gneiss (Chipilin) (felsic) 0.37 3.99 0.01331 0.282468 4 −11.2 919 0.282234 1.2 1593 12.4 70.6 0.1066 0.511921 29 −14.0 0.511267 −3.2 1584
TR-02 Anorthosite 0.10 0.94 0.01508 0.282592 3 −6.8 1000 0.282308 5.5 1435 0.4 2.3 0.1101 0.512240 3 −7.8 0.511518 3.3 1174
PAN-14 Anorthosite 0.3 1.8 0.0951 0.512108 31 −10.3 0.511484 2.7 1195
1202-3 Anorthosite 0.03 0.51 0.00733 0.282328 6 −16.2 1000 0.282190 1.4 1525 1.1 6.9 0.1001 0.512075 6 −11.0 0.511418 1.4 1291
NF-01 Anorthosite 0.16 8.87 0.00257 0.282281 4 −17.8 1000 0.282232 2.9 1393 1.2 7.1 0.0984 0.512124 4 −10.0 0.511479 2.6 1208
CH-01 Anorthosite 0.03 0.32 0.01325 0.282511 4 −9.7 1000 0.282261 3.9 1499 1.1 6.0 0.1118 0.512156 4 −9.4 0.511423 1.5 1317
1203-2b Amphibolite (E-MORB) 0.34 1.97 0.02447 0.282899 4 4.0 600 0.282623 7.7 1239 3.2 10.9 0.1794 0.512853 6 4.2 0.512148 5.5 −
1203-2c Amphibolite (E-MORB) 0.36 1.92 0.02681 0.282895 4 3.9 600 0.282593 6.6 1504 3.8 11.8 0.1952 0.512855 4 4.2 0.512088 4.4 −
1203-2c-2 Zircon (amphibolite) 0.00037 0.282702 6 −2.9 445 0.282699 6.9 831

B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199

1203-2c-5 Zircon (amphibolite) 0.00108 0.282251 7 −18.9 996 0.282230 2.7 1510
1203-2c-6 Zircon (amphibolite) 0.00028 0.282245 3 −19.1 464 0.282243 −8.6 1674
1205-1a Amphibolite (E-MORB) 0.57 3.35 0.02423 0.282889 6 3.7 600 0.282616 7.4 1255
1205-2a Amphibolite (E-MORB) 0.45 2.90 0.02193 0.282988 3 7.2 600 0.282741 11.8 764 3.9 16.0 0.1467 0.512850 3 4.1 0.512273 8.0 465
1205-3 Amphibolite (E-MORB) 0.46 2.91 0.02267 0.282915 3 4.6 600 0.282660 9.0 1044 5.1 17.9 0.1718 0.512754 4 2.3 0.512078 4.2 1044
R0103 Amphibolite (E-MORB) 0.25 1.67 0.02114 0.282865 3 2.8 600 0.282627 7.8 1105 4.7 15.8 0.1794 0.512774 30 2.7 0.512069 4.0 –
R0202 Amphibolite (E-MORB) 0.52 2.86 0.02593 0.282907 3 4.3 600 0.282615 7.4 1349 3.6 12.4 0.1748 0.512759 3 2.4 0.512072 4.0 1100
R0206 Amphibolite (E-MORB) 0.36 2.33 0.02226 0.282870 3 3.0 600 0.282619 7.5 1165 6.6 23.9 0.1674 0.512702 3 1.2 0.512044 3.5 1112
R0302 Amphibolite (E-MORB) 0.43 3.18 0.01918 0.282885 3 3.5 600 0.282669 9.3 938 5.6 19.8 0.1692 0.512772 4 2.6 0.512107 4.7 927
RE1101 Amphibolite (E-MORB) 0.41 2.72 0.02162 0.282884 3 3.5 600 0.282640 8.3 1077 4.3 13.7 0.1902 0.512852 6 4.2 0.512104 4.7 –
CAL-03 Amphibolite (E-MORB) 0.33 2.11 0.02234 0.282870 3 3.0 600 0.282618 7.5 1171 5.1 16.3 0.1878 0.512838 10 3.9 0.512100 4.6 –

Laser ablation MC-ICPMS

CH02_1 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00085 0.281978 29 −28.6 990 0.281962 −7.0 2012
CH02_2 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00068 0.282020 33 −27.1 845 0.282009 −8.6 1976
CH02_3 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00065 0.282043 31 −26.3 913 0.282031 −6.2 1910
CH02_4 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00093 0.282015 27 −27.2 926 0.281998 −7.1 1967
CH02_5 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00075 0.282025 33 −26.9 814 0.282013 −9.1 1979
CH02_6 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00065 0.281964 36 −29.0 911 0.281952 −9.1 2058
CH02_7 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00091 0.282078 32 −25.0 868 0.282063 −6.1 1868
CH02_8 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00010 0.281892 25 −31.6 901 0.281890 −11.5 2177
CH02_9 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00059 0.282078 43 −25.0 990 0.282067 −3.2 1818
CH02_10 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00072 0.281964 31 −29.0 845 0.281952 −10.6 2081
CH03_1 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00062 0.282051 37 −26.0 885 0.282040 −6.6 1904
CH03_2 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00067 0.282065 26 −25.5 943 0.282053 −4.8 1861
CH03_3 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00072 0.282059 36 −25.7 902 0.282046 −6.0 1887
CH03_4 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00053 0.282037 21 −26.5 918 0.282028 −6.3 1916
CH03_5 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00046 0.282031 25 −26.7 952 0.282022 −5.7 1914
CH03_6 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00063 0.282000 24 −27.8 938 0.281988 −7.2 1981
CH03_7 Zircon (Chipilin gneiss) 0.00056 0.281933 34 −30.1 902 0.281923 −10.3 2115
a
Initial (t) isotope ratios and ε-values are recalculated for measured 207Pb/206Pb age from laser ablation ICPMS for zircon (see Supplementary data Appendix A), the Concordia intercept age (U-Pb zircon) if available for whole rock data (and zircon
from sample 1203-2a) and to either 1000 (gneiss and anorthosite) or 600 Ma (E-MORB) estimated ages.
b
Lu-Hf depleted mantle model ages are calculated using present day depleted mantle model 176Hf/177Hf = 0.283224 (Vervoort et al., 2000) and 176Lu/177Hf = 0.03836 (calculated for εHf = 0 at 4500 Ma by using λ = 1.867 × 10-11a-1, Scherer
et al., 2001; Söderlund et al., 2004); for zircon the model ages are calculated in two-steps: 1st step 176Lu/177Hf of sample to 207Pb/206Pb age, 2nd step before zircon crystallization assuming 176Lu/177Hf of 0.01 for an average felsic crust.
c
Sm-Nd depleted mantle model ages are calculated after DePaolo (1981). Average measured 176Hf/177Hf of the JMC-745 standard solution at Juriquilla (UNAM) was 0.282149 ± 0.000007 (n = 41). Average measured 143Nd/144Nd of the La Jolla
standard at LUGIS (UNAM) was 0.511846 ± 0.000003 (n = 3); Standard zircon analyses with LA-MC-ICPMS at WSU, Pullman, gave 176Hf/177Hf of 0.282440 ± 0.000037 (n = 21) for Pleŝovice, 0.282156 ± 0.000022 (n = 8) for FC-1 and 0.282105 ±
0.000022 (n = 11) for synthetic zircon, respectively.

185
186 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

(e) (f)

Fig. 5. Microphotographs of (a) biotite-bearing amphibolite with zoned brownish-green hornblende (Hbl1), biotite (Bt1), and ilmenite surrounded by titanite; neosome veinlet composed
of quartz, plagioclase, and reddish-brown biotite (Bt2); (b) hornblende-biotite gneiss with small dark-green hornblende (Hbl1) and large poikilitic hornblende (Hbl2) with pale actinolitic
cores and green rims or patches suggesting metamorphic growth after pyroxene; (c) quartz-feldspar gneiss with K-feldspar partially reacted to muscovite (crossed Nicols);
(d) amphibolite with symplectitic textures of epidote + quartz (crossed Nicols); (e) hornblende gneiss from banded “Chipilín” gneiss showing titanite accumulation with rutile
inclusion (f) hornblende gneiss with Hbl1 and clinopyroxene.

R0206), whereas these plagioclase crystals have well-defined metamor-
phic rims of oligoclase (inset Figs. 6e and 7c) that is typical for metamor-
phic plagioclase at amphibolite facies conditions. Besides that, sample
R0202 has additional albite rims, probably grown during greenschist fa-
cies overprint together with chlorite (replacing biotite) and epidote
+ quartz symplectites (Figs. 6b, c and 7c).
Inasmuch as Al and Si contents with respect to Mg# for any Ca-
amphibole depend on metamorphic pressure and temperature,
this chemical relationship can be used to estimate P-T conditions for
any Ca-amphibole-bearing metamorphic assemblage that includes pla-
gioclase and quartz (Gerya et al., 1997; Zenk and Schulz, 2004). Fig. 7d
illustrates the results of P-T estimates for all individual points measured
on the Ca-amphiboles, indicating increasing P-T conditions from core to
rim reaching peak conditions at ca. 6 kbar and N 600 °C. Note that the
resulting pressure is generally 0.75 kbar higher using the approach
from Zenk and Schulz (2004) compared to those by Gerya et al.
(1997), however, the authors suggest an even larger error of
±1.2 kbar for the pressure estimates, thus the average of both values
is used and illustrated in Fig. 7d. Due to the large uncertainties in the
pressure calculation and another ca. ± 50 °C uncertainly in the
temperature estimates (see error bar in Fig. 7b) this is considered as a
qualitative approach only, used to show the prograde metamorphic
evolution of amphibole.
To further constrain the temperature estimates, the hornblende-
plagioclase geothermometer after Holland and Blundy (1994) was
applied, using the calibration based on the reaction edenite + 4
quartz = tremolite + albite that is recommended for quartz saturated
samples. The calculations were conducted in amphibole-plagioclase
pairs that are in contact for samples R0301 and R0206. Unfortunately,
no direct contact pair was available from sample R0202, therefore,
average compositions were used. The resulting peak temperatures
are within errors consistent for all three samples between 650 °C and
662 °C (±40 °C) at an estimated peak pressure of 6 kbar (Fig. 7d).
To further constrain the pressure estimates, the Si-in-phengite
barometer after Massonne and Schreyer (1987), which is based on the
pressure dependence of the Si excess from ideal muscovite in the
tetrahedral occupancy, was applied to white mica from an orthogneiss
boudin (sample 1203-2a). The Si-contents of measured white mica
crystals range from 3.12 to 3.24 p.f.u., suggesting pressures in the
range from 5.1 to 8.0 kbar at a supposed temperature of 650 °C
 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199 187

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

(e) (f)

Fig. 6. Backscattered electrons images of analyzed amphibolites (a–e) Notes: relict patchy actinolite cores in zoned hornblende (a, d) having Al-poor cores and Al-rich rims (magenta
colored numbers are measured AlTOT compositions); epidote + quartz symplectites (b, c); white numbers on zoned plagioclase are measured An contents (b, c, inset e);
(f) orthogneiss 1203-2a: perthitic K-feldspar partially replaced by fibrous phengite (Ms).

(Fig. 7d). Inasmuch as two generations of white mica are observed, the
phengite with higher Si-contents (N 3.2 p.f.u.) may be relict from a pre-
vious event at higher pressures.
6. U-Pb geochronology
6.1. Felsic and banded gneiss
Sample 1203-2a is a quartz-feldspar gneiss boudin from the
Candelaria unit type locality at the Candelaria River and 1205-1b is a
similar sample from another quartz-feldspar gneiss boudin from north
of the village of El Triunfo (Figs. 3, 4a, c). Cathodoluminescence (CL)
images show oscillatory zoning in the zircon cores, with resorbed em-
bayments filled with low luminescent zircon, and thin high luminescent
metamorphic overgrowth (Fig. 8a, b). Forty-two and 34 laser spots were
measured on zircons from these two samples. The resulting 207Pb/206Pb
apparent ages range from ~1096 to ~933 Ma. Both samples have similar
age distributions with concordant ages at 1016.9 ± 4.2 Ma (sample
1203-2a) and 1005.1 ± 7.5 Ma (sample 1205-1b) on one hand and
965 ± 7.5 Ma (sample 1203-2a) and 950 ± 8 Ma (sample 1205-1b)
on the other (Fig. 9a, c). As illustrated in age probability density and
histogram plots (Fig. 9b, d), the deconvolved ages applying the
“unmix” algorithm of Isoplot (Ludwig, 2012) suggest two populations
with relative maxima at ~1017 Ma and ~1005 Ma, reflecting the igneous
age of the protoliths, and a second one at ~970 and ~950 Ma, reflecting
ancient lead loss.
Another granitic gneiss sample is from NE of Belisario Domínguez
(9511-9, Fig. 3). Similar to the other felsic gneisses, most zircons display
low luminescent U-rich cores, partly with oscillatory zoning and high
luminescent U-poor rims (not shown). Forty-three laser spot analyses
were performed, 16 on cores, the rest on high-luminescent rims or
unzoned zircon. The zircon cores reflect mainly igneous crystallization
whereas the rims metamorphic growth. However, some cores were par-
tially reset during metamorphism or the zircons suffered recent lead
188 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199

Calcic amphiboles: CaB > 1.50; (Na+K)A < 0.50 Or

(a) 1.0
Tremolite
(c) 100

Magnesio-
0.8 Actinolite

20
hornblende
Tshermakite 80
Mg/(Mg+Fe)
0.6

40
60
0.4

Ferro- Ferro- Ferro-

60
0.2 tshermakite hornblende actinolite 40

0.0

80
5.5 6.0 6.5 Si 7.0 7.5 8.0 20
Calcic amphiboles: CaB > 1.50; (Na+K)A > 0.50
(b) 1.0
Oli And Lab By

0
10
Ab An

80

60

40

20
10
0.8

80
0
20
Pargasite Edenite
Mg/(Mg+Fe)

0.6
Oli And Lab By

0
10
Ab An

80

60

40

20
10
0.4

80
20
Ferro- Ferro-
0.2 pargasite edenite
Oli And Lab By

0
10
0.0
Ab An
80

60

40

20
10

5.5 6.0 6.5 7.0 7.5 8.0

Si
0

10
(d) R0206 R0301 Ca-amp core main rim
R0301
Ky
Sil R0202
3 .4 R0206
8
.) =
f.u
e (p. 650° 6 kb
in Ph 1203-2a
Si Si-in-Phe
6
P (kbar)

Jocote unit
3.3 G.G. 2016
”
ut
“o
4 Ep R0202
3.2 tz
Q
”

Hbl+Pl+
“out

+
p Ep Qtz+F
+E
Chl

hl z
3.1 C
t+ Qt
2 Ac Ab+ And
+ Granite
wet solidus

HB94a
0
300 400 500 600 700 800
T(°C)

Fig. 7. Mineral chemistry. (a, b) Classification diagrams for calcic-amphiboles measured in amphibolite samples; (c) ternary feldspar classification diagrams for measured plagioclase in
amphibolite samples (Ab = albite, An = anorthite, Or = orthoclase); (d) pressure-temperature diagram showing the results from geothermobarometric calculations of individual
measurements on zoned calcic amphiboles (average of calculations after Gerya et al. (1997), and Zenk and Schulz (2004), note: the error bar corresponds to these
calculations), hornblende-plagioclase geothermometer after Holland and Blundy (1994) (dashed and point-dashed black lines, HB94a: using calibration a, based on the
reaction edenite + 4 quartz = tremolite + albite), and phengite geobarometer after Massonne and Schreyer (1987) (grey dashed lines show isopleths for Si-contents in
phengite per formula unit; pressure estimates using average peak temperature of 650 °C.

loss. An upper Concordia intercept of 21 either concordant or normally
discordant analyses yielded an age of 1003 +23/−18 Ma (Fig. 9e), which
is interpreted to be the best estimate for igneous crystallization of the
rock. Another group of twelve analyses, mostly from high luminescent
rims, yield a Concordia age at 896 ± 7 Ma. On age probability density
and histogram plots (Fig. 9f), the “unmix” algorithm clearly separates
two populations one at 1004 ± 13 Ma and another at 907 ± 20 Ma.
Zircon data from two samples taken at the same outcrop of the
banded “Chipilin” gneiss (one felsic and one mafic portion, CH-03 and
CH-02) in the eastern part of the study area (Fig. 3) are presented to-
gether in Fig. 9g and h. Most of the zircon grains are rounded or short
prismatic bi-pyramidal with diffuse grayish luminescence or patchy
fields on CL images (Fig. 8c, d). They rarely display relics from oscillatory
zoning but they do contain inherited cores, some of which appear
 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199
Fig. 8. Cathodoluminescence (CL) images of typical zircon grains from (a, b) orthogneiss boudins, (c, d) the “Chipilín” gneiss, and (e) an amphibolite. Numbers are 207Pb/206Pb ages of
(small) individual laser spots in Ma or εHf(i) values (large spots in CH-02 and CH-03).
partially erased on CL images probably due to later stage recrystalliza-
tion processes. Consequently, their U-Pb isotope ratios yield strongly
discordant ages, but some of the cores have apparent 207Pb/206Pb ages
N1.4 Ga, indicating inheritance from an Early Mesoproterozoic
continental component similar to some of the detritus in the overlying
Jocote unit (González-Guzmán et al., 2016a; Weber et al., 2008) or
other metasedimentary sequences in the region (e.g., Martens et al.,
2010; Weber et al., 2012). Forty-two out of 47 analyzed laser spots
yield a Concordia age at 911.2 ± 9.2 Ma or an upper Concordia intercept
age (forced to a lower intercept at 250 ± 10 Ma that corresponds to the
age of granitic intrusions close by) at 919 ± 13 Ma (Fig. 9g). Noteworthy,
(1) no significant number of laser spots yielded ages around 1000 Ma
(Fig. 9h), as observed in the abovementioned samples, and (2) the
Concordia age corresponds to the second age population mainly of meta-
morphic rims of sample 9511-9 and it seems the data suggest an increas-
ing influence of the ca. 0.9 Ga event from west to east of the study area.
The Th/U values of the ~0.9 Ga zircons range from 0.16 to 1.6 with an av-
erage at 0.7. These values are not very helpful to decide whether zircon is
either of igneous or metamorphic origin, in particular when the U con-
tents are low (as low as 21 ppm; 150 ppm by average). However, consid-
ering the CL images a metamorphic origin is preferred for interpretation.
6.2. Deformed amphibolite, mafic gneiss, and migmatite
In order to constrain the age of the deformed mafic rocks, zircons
from nine amphibolite, hornblende-biotite gneiss, and migmatite
189
(paleo-, melano-, or mesosome) samples were analyzed. It needs to be
noted that some of the mafic samples contained few zircons, which
may have been derived from mm-sized neosome veinlets that could
not be separated from the rock. Such special circumstance was consid-
ered in the interpretation of the data.
Sample 1203-1b is banded hornblende- and biotite-bearing quartz-
feldspar gneiss from the Candelaria unit. Two types of zircon are
distinguished on CL images: (1) short- to long prismatic well-developed
bi-pyramidal zircon with oscillatory zoning and (2) zircon with diffuse
internal structure (recrystallization) or cores with bi-pyramidal sub-
rounded to elliptic forms (Fig. 8e). The former yield Ordovician whereas
the latter Stenian-Tonian ages (~1 Ga). Twenty-seven out of 40 analyzed
laser spots yield a Concordia age of 454.9 ± 3.1 Ma. The remaining data
are from inherited zircon or mixed ages of which an upper intercept age
of 971 ± 90 Ma is calculated (Fig. 10a).
Sample 1203-2c is a folded amphibolite adjacent to the dated felsic
gneiss boudin (1203-2a, see above). Only nine zircon grains were
obtained of which five yield a concordant age at 457 ± 20 Ma and
four laser spots date inherited components resulting in an upper
intercept age at 1014 ± 140 Ma (Fig. 10d).
Hosting the other felsic gneiss boudin analyzed in this study (1205-
1b, see Fig. 4a), the biotite-hornblende gneiss sample 1205-1c contains
large (N200 μm) zircon grains either with well-developed oscillatory
zoning or zircon with large cores and overgrowth rims, also with oscil-
latory zoning (Fig. 11f). Ten out of 27 analyzed laser spots yield a
Concordia age of 451 ± 9 Ma but with a low probability of 0.14
190 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199

(a) 1203-2a, orthogneiss boudin (b) n

0.19 Candelaria river 1120

12
1080
0.18
10
Pb/ U

1040
238

0.17 Conc. Age = 8

1000 Age ±2σ fraction
1016.9 ± 4.2 Ma 970.4 ± 14 0.32
206

960 MSWD = 0.59, p.= 0.98 1008 ± 7.4 0.68 6

0.16
n = 21 relative misfit = 0.97
920 4
Conc. Age =
0.15
880 965 ± 7.5 Ma 2
MSWD = 0.59, p.= 0.93, n = 11
0.14 0
1.3 1.5 1.7 1.9 2.1 800 900 1000 1100 1200

(c) 1205-1b, orthogneiss boudin (d) 10

north of El Triunfo 1080
0.18
1040 8

Conc. Age =
Pb/238U

0.17
950 ± 8 Ma 1000 Age ±2σ fraction 6
MSWD = 1.3 953.1 ± 16 0.25
p.= 0.12 960 998.3 ± 6.4 0.75
206

0.16 Conc. Age = relative misfit = 0.94

n = 14 4

920 1005.1 ± 7.5 Ma

MSWD = 0.27, p.= 0.98
0.15 2
880
n=8

0.14
1.3 1.5 1.7 1.9 800 900 1000 1100 1200
7
(e) 9511-9, felsic gneiss (f)
0.18
Belisario Dominguez 1050 6

Conc. Age = 5
0.16
896 ± 7 Ma 950
Age ±2σ fraction
Pb/ U

MSWD = 0.9 4
238

907.1 ± 20 0.27
p.= 0.61 1004 ± 13 0.73
n = 12 850
0.14 Upper Intercept at relative misfit = 0.88 3
206

+23
1003 /-18 Ma
750 MSWD = 0.78, n = 21 2
0.12

0.10
0.9 1.1 1.3 1.5 1.7 1.9 2.1 800 900 1000 1100 1200

(g) CH-2/CH-3 (h) 926 ± 11 Ma

1300 18
0.22 “Chipilin” gneiss
16
east of Motozintla
14
Pb/ U

1100
12
238

0.18
10
Conc. Age =
206

8
900 911.2 ± 9.2 Ma
0.14 MSWD = 0.7, p. = 0.98, n = 42 6

4
Upper Intercept at 919 ± 13 Ma ~1.17 Ga ~1.43 Ga
2
MSWD = 0.52, (forced to 250 ± 10 Ma)
0.10 0
1.0 1.4 1.8 2.2 2.6 3.0 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400
207
Pb/235U 207
Pb/206Pb age (Ma)

Fig. 9. U-Pb isotope data of felsic orthogneiss samples from the Candelaria unit (a–f) and the banded “Chipilín” gneiss (g, h): (a, c, e, f) Wetherill Concordia diagrams of U-Pb isotope data
and (b, d, f, h) corresponding relative probability and histogram plots of 207Pb/206Pb ages applying the unmix algorithm of Isoplot 3.75 (Ludwig, 2012). (Stippled error ellipses are data not
used for age calculation; errors on age calculations are 2σ, error ellipses are plotted at the 1σ level; MSWD = mean standard weighted deviates of Concordia ages correspond to MSWD of
concordance and equivalence; p. = probability of concordance and equivalence).
 650
(a) 1203-1b Conc. Age = 0.20 1203-2c 1100
0.10 1205-1c
1100 454.9 ± 3.1 Ma 550
0.18 0.09
MSWD = 0.83, p.= 0.998
550
0.16
(d) 0.08
(g)
900
n = 27 900
450
Pb/238U

Pb/238U
0.14 0.08 Intercepts at Intercepts at
Intercepts at 0.12 700 0.06
700 450 446 ± 63 & 350 429 ± 67 &
462 ± 13 & 1019 ± 140 Ma 1037 ± 93 Ma
0.10 0.07
206

971± 90 Ma

206
0.08 500 0.04 250
MSWD = 0.15 MSWD = 2.6
500
MSWD = 1.05
0.06 0.06 300 Conc. Age = 150
0.04 0.02
300 350 457 ± 20 Ma Conc. Age = 451 ± 9 Ma
MSWD = 0.16, p.= 0.997, n = 5 50
MSWD = 1.5, p.= 0.14, n = 10
0.02 0.05 0.00 0.00
0.0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2.0 2.4 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8

(b) R0401 Conc. Age = R0103 1205-2

B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199

1100 540 0.09
0.18 446.5 ± 3.8 Ma 540
0.085 MSWD = 0.91, p.= 0.66 0.085 (e) (h) 500
900 n = 26

Pb/238U
0.14
Pb/ U

0.07
238

Intercepts at 0.075 460 400

700 0.075 460
429 ± 11 &
0.10
924 ± 85 Ma

206
206

500
MSWD = 0.8 0.05 Conc. Age =
0.065 0.065 Conc. Age = 300
0.06 380 380 449.5 ± 3.4 Ma 443.9 ± 2.9 Ma
300
MSWD = 0.86, p.= 0.77
MSWD = 1.2, p.= 0.18 n = 31
0.02 0.055 n = 19
0.055 0.03
0.0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2.0 0.35 0.45 0.55 0.65 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

(c) R0302 0.082 Conc. Age = R0202 R0206 600

1100
0.18 449.9 ± 4.3 Ma 0.095
0.09 550
0.078 MSWD = 0.56, p.= 0.95 480 (f) (i)
900 n = 11 0.085

Pb/238U
0.14
Pb/ U

500
0.08
0.074
238

Intercepts at
700
450
0.075
0.10
441 ± 19 & 440
0.07
206

959 ± 66 Ma 0.070
206

500 0.065 400

MSWD = 0.8
Conc. Age = Conc. Age =
0.06 0.066 0.06
300
400 350
452.6 ± 5.8 Ma 0.055 452.5 ± 2.7 Ma
MSWD = 0.23, p. = 1.0 300 MSWD = 0.81, p.= 0.82
0.02 0.062 n = 25 n = 26
0.05 0.045
0.0 0.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 2.0 0.42 0.46 0.50 0.54 0.58 0.62 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2
207
Pb/235U 207
Pb/235U 207
Pb/235U 207
Pb/235U

Fig. 10. Wetherill Concordia diagrams of U-Pb isotope data of deformed amphibolites and other magmatic mafic gneisses of the Candelaria unit (errors on age calculations are 2σ, error ellipses are plotted at the 1σ level; MSWD = mean standard
weighted deviates of Concordia ages correspond to MSWD of concordance and equivalence; p. = probability of concordance and equivalence).

191
192 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199
(Fig. 10g), eight spots have younger, discordant ages suggesting meta-
morphic overprint and lead loss during a subsequent thermal event.
The remaining data are from inherited zircon cores or have mixed
ages. An upper intercept age is calculated at 1037 ± 93 Ma.
Sample R0103 is a banded biotite-hornblende gneiss (migmatite)
from the same outcrop. Zircon grains have different sizes and shapes,
different kinds of cores, sometimes with visible oscillatory zoning,
sometimes with patchy recrystallization, and in addition with
overgrowth rims (Fig. 11a). Nineteen out of 38 analyzed laser spots
yield a Concordia age of 449.5 ± 3.4 Ma (Fig. 10e). The zircon cores
have essentially Stenian-Tonian ages but some recrystallized cores
yield Ordovician or mixed ages. Besides, some zircon grains show
additional lead loss or have rims yielding Permian ages (Fig. 11a) that
reflect the time of intrusion of nearby Permian granitoids and later
stage metamorphic overprint.
Sample 1205-2 is a typical amphibolite from the deformed
Candelaria Unit but with abundant zircon grains, which are mostly
elliptic and sub-rounded, showing weak concentric zoning on CL images
(Fig. 11d). All analyzed laser spots have Ordovician ages yielding a
Concordia age of 443.9 ± 2.9 Ma (Fig. 10h).
Fig. 11. CL images of typical zircon grains from amphibolites and other magmatic mafic gneisses. Numbers are 207Pb/206Pb ages of individual laser spots.
Sample R0401 is a hornblende-biotite gneiss from the type locality
of the Candelaria migmatite. In order to detect the protolith age, the
sample was taken from the paleosome, however, small neosome
veinlets cannot be excluded. The zircon grains vary from short to long
prismatic and on CL images they display either zoned internal structure,
patchy recrystallization, or clearly defined and partly resorbed cores
with overgrowths (Fig. 11b). The high luminescent cores yield an
upper Concordia intercept at 924 ± 85 Ma (Fig. 10b). Overgrowth
rims, long prismatic zoned zircon grains, and recrystallized zircon
yield Ordovician ages with a Concordia age at 446.5 ± 3.8 Ma
(Fig. 10b). The former reflects the protolith age, the latter the time of
anatexis.
Twenty-five zircon grains from amphibolite sample R0202 that was
also chosen for metamorphic P-T estimates (see Section 4.2) were
measured and they all together yield a Concordia age at 452.6 ±
5.8 Ma. Sector zoning and patchy luminescence of many irregular zircon
grains (Fig. 11b) suggests metamorphic zircon growth (Corfu et al.,
2003). Other zircon grains are subrounded and most of the former
oscillatory zoning is erased. Thus, the age is most likely related to upper
amphibolite facies metamorphism and not to magmatic crystallization.
 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199
Amphibolite R0206 is another sample used for geothermobarometry.
Twenty-six out of 35 analyzed laser spots yield a Concordia age at
452.5 ± 2.7 Ma (Fig. 10i). The Ordovician zircon grains display either
oscillatory zoning indicating igneous origin or zoning typical for meta-
morphic zircon (Fig. 11d). Inasmuch as there is no age difference, coex-
istence of both types of zircon (igneous and metamorphic) in the same
sample suggests the presence of anatectic veinlets of neosome in the
metamorphic rock. Only one grain is inherited from a ~ 1.0 Ga host
rock (Fig. 11d).
Finally, sample R0302 is another migmatic amphibolite of which mi-
croprobe data are presented in Section 4.2. The zircon grains are either
small (b 50 μm) euhedral, short prismatic, bi-pyramidal with weak os-
cillatory zoning, or larger, long prismatic to sub-rounded and elliptic
grains, having high luminescent sectors (Fig. 11e). The small euhedral
zircon grains yield a Concordia age at 449.9 ± 4.3 Ma, the large ones
have Stenian-Tonian ages and give an upper Concordia intercept age
at 959 ± 66 Ma (Fig. 10c). The small size and form of the Ordovician zir-
con grains suggest that they grew in the anatectic liquid of the quartz-
feldspar veinlets, whereas the larger Stenian-Tonian zircons are from
inherited components.
7. Geochemistry of amphibolite
To characterize the magmatic protoliths of the deformed mafic rocks
(mainly amphibolite) from the Candelaria unit, major and trace element
data of whole rock samples are presented together with data of similar
rocks reported by Estrada-Carmona et al. (2012, Appendix B, supple-
mentary file). In chondrite-normalized REE plots and multielement
plots (spider diagrams) normalized to primitive mantle (after Sun and
McDonough, 1989, Fig. 12) the chemical compositions of the amphibo-
lites are comparable to those from typical E-MORB's (evolved mid-
ocean ridge basalt). The analytical procedures as well as considerations
on element mobility and additional classification and tectonic discrimi-
nation diagrams are included in Appendix B (supplementary file).
8. Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotope systematics
Fig. 13a shows the Hf isotope ratios of all analyzed samples in a
176
Hf/177Hf vs. time isotope evolution diagram. Felsic orthogneiss and
anorthosite samples together with two zircon grains from the
orthogneiss analyzed by isotope dilution analyses have initial Hf isotope
ratios between 0.282142 and 0.282308, corresponding to εHf(i)
between 0.0 and +5.5, mainly in the range of Hf-isotope ratios of typical
anorthosite-mangerite-charnockite suite rocks from Oaxaquia (Fig. 13a,
Weber et al., 2010).
Of particular interest are the two samples from the banded Chipilín
gneiss (see. Fig. 4d): whereas the initial isotope ratio of the whole
rock sample from the felsic gneiss band is indistinguishable from the
Oaxaquia-type rocks, the whole rock sample from the mafic band is
more radiogenic yielding εHf(919Ma) of + 6.2 and εNd(919Ma) of + 3.2.
On the other hand, zircon grains from both samples (CH-02 and CH-
03) that were analyzed by laser ablation MC-ICPMS have negative
εHf(i) between − 3.2 and − 11.5 and depleted mantle model ages
(two step) between 1.87 Ga and 2.18 Ga that are significantly older
than those from the whole rock samples (1.39 Ga and 1.59 Ga) or zircon
from typical Oaxaquia rocks. It is widely accepted that most of the Hf
from a rock is concentrated in zircon, for which reason this huge differ-
ences between whole rock and zircon is an uncommon feature. Howev-
er, both samples only contain little amount of small zircon crystals,
suggesting that most Hf of the rock was originally hosted in other
phases like rutile, which is now mostly converted to titanite (see
Fig. 5e). The zircon grains, instead, are inherited from older continental
rocks and, whereas the U-Pb system was reset by recrystallization
around 920 Ma, the Hf-isotopic compositions remained unchanged.
The pre-Ordovician amphibolites have present-day 176Hf/177Hf
values that correspond to positive εHf0 values between + 3.0 and
193
(a)
100
Rock/Chondrite
10
this study E-MORB
(1) N-MORB
1
La Ce Pr Nd Pm Sm Eu Gd Tb Dy Ho Er Yb Lu
50 (b)
Rock/P Mantle
10
1
Th Nb Ta La Ce Nd Zr Hf Sm Eu Ti Gd Y Yb
Fig. 12. (a) Chrondrite normalized REE and (b) primitive mantle normalized trace element
patterns of amphibolites from the Candelaria unit (normalization values and E-MORB and
MORB references after Sun and McDonough, 1989). (1) Data from Estrada-Carmona et al.
(2012).
+7.2. Similarly the Nd isotope ratios yield εNd0 values between +1.2
and + 4.2 (Table 2). Recalculated to an assumed magmatic age of
about 600 Ma, the resulting εHf(600 Ma) values are between + 6.6 and
+11.8 and the εNd(600 Ma) values lie between +4.2 and +8.0, suggest-
ing together with relatively high 147Sm/144Nd values (0.147–0.195,
Fig. 13b) that all amphibolites originated from strongly to moderately
depleted sources. The most radiogenic values (sample 1205-2a)
plot near the depleted mantle evolution line at 600 Ma (Fig. 13a) and
will plot far above it if recalculated to 1.0 Ga, which implies that
magmas were separated from a depleted mantle source during the
Neoproterozoic probably after Tonian times. The lower values of most
amphibolite samples indicate also a significant amount of crustal
contamination, which is consistent with an interpretation in terms of
E-MORB magmas as suggested from the chemical data.
Using the isotopically most radiogenic amphibolite (1205-2a:
εHf(600 Ma) = 11.8 and εNd(600Ma) = 8.0) as an endmember for the
E-MORB magmatism and the average of felsic gneiss boudins as an
endmember for crustal contamination (εHf (600 Ma) = − 7.6 and
εNd(600 Ma) = − 4.0), the other analyzed amphibolites plot close to
a hypothetical mixing line on a εHf(600 Ma) vs. εNd(600 Ma) diagram
(Fig. 13c), suggesting mixing of not more than 6% of continental
crust to the magmas coming from the depleted source used for the
model.
The crustal contamination of a basaltic parental magma is further
documented by inherited zircon grains that have significantly lower
176
Hf/177Hf values compared to the whole rock: three dated zircon
grains from sample 1203-2c (numbered triangles in Fig. 13a) were ana-
lyzed for Lu-Hf isotopes with isotope dilution analyses. One ca. 1.0 Ga
old zircon grain (#5) has a 176Hf/177Hf(996 Ma) of 0.282230, which is
within errors indistinguishable from an Ordovician zircon grain (#6)
yielding a 176Hf/177Hf(464 Ma) of 0.282243, indicating that this zircon
194 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199

0.28300 0.5130
(a) amphibolite (b)
Chipilin gneiss 0.5128
1205-2a anorthosite
0.28280 CH 0.5126
UR orthogneiss (boudin)

Nd/144Nd
(1)
2 Oaxaquia (zircon)
0.5124
Belize (det. zircon)(2)
0.28260 1203-2c

143
0.5122
amphibolite (3)
0.5120 amphibolite (4)
0.28240 De anorthosite (4)
Hf/177Hf

ple 0.5118
te 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.20
d
m 147
Sm/144Nd
0.28220
6 5 an
176

tle 14

10 (c)
0.28200
6

εHf(0.6 Ga)
2
0.28180
-2

y
rra
la
ria
-6

st
0.28160

re
r
Te
0 400 800 1200 1600 -10
-10 -6 -2 2 6 10
Time (Ma) εNd(0.6 Ga)

Fig. 13. (a) 176Hf/177Hf vs. time diagram, illustrating isotopic evolution of whole rock and zircon (triangles) samples from the Candelaria unit. Stippled red and blue lines correspond to
zircons from orthogneiss and amphibolite, respectively. (1) Zircon and whole rock isotope dilution data from Weber et al. (2010) and (2) detrital zircon isotope dilution data from
Weber et al. (2012). CHUR = the evolution lines of the chondritic uniform reservoir after Bouvier et al. (2008); DMM = depleted model mantle after Vervoort et al. (2000). – Filled
circles and squares are whole rock data, filled triangles are zircon data. (b) 147Sm/144Nd vs. 143Nd/144Nd diagram showing data from this work (symbols same as in a) and from
(3) Estrada-Carmona et al. (2012) and (4) Cisneros de León et al. (2017). (c) εNd vs. εHf diagram recalculated to an assumed age of 600 Ma for amphibolite protoliths. The terrestrial
array is as follows: εHf = 1.50 × εNd + 1.57 (Vervoort et al., 2011). A theoretical mixing line is included for a two-component mixture with the following parameters: endmember A
(depleted amphibolite 1205-2a) εNd(600 Ma) = +8.0; εHf(600 Ma) = +11.8; assuming 10 ppm Nd and 2 ppm Hf; endmember B (enriched basement boudins) εNd(600 Ma) = −4.1;
εHf(600 Ma) = −7.6; assuming 75 ppm Nd and 10 ppm Hf). For further explanations see text.

grain lost all its radiogenic lead during Ordovician metamorphism
whereas the Hf-isotopes remained unaffected. The third analyzed zircon
grain (#2) is Ordovician, too, but its initial Hf-isotope ratio is higher
(176Hf/177Hf(445 Ma) = 0.282699) and it plots close to the Hf-isotope
evolution line of the whole rock sample, suggesting that this zircon crys-
tallized from the host rock probably during anatexis.
9. Discussion
9.1. Evidence for latest Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic basement
evolution
Since Late Mesoproterozoic granulite facies basement was first de-
scribed in the Guichicovi Complex west of the Tehuantepec Isthmus
(Murillo-Muñetón, 1994; Ruiz et al., 1999; Weber and Köhler, 1999),
its continuation towards the southeast into the Chiapas Massif was in-
ferred mainly from inherited zircon in orthogneisses of the CMC and
Sm-Nd depleted mantle model ages similar to those from the
Mesoproterozoic basement (Schaaf et al., 2002; Weber et al., 2005).
However, medium- to high-grade Permo-Triassic metamorphism ham-
pered further interpretation of the basement rocks, for example, those
from the Custepec unit in the central CMC (Estrada-Carmona et al.,
2009; Weber et al., 2007). Some Ordovician-Devonian cooling ages
(Ar-Ar hornblende and white mica) reported from the El Triunfo
Complex, instead (Estrada-Carmona et al., 2012; Pompa-Mera, 2009),
indicate that the Permo-Triassic metamorphism did not exceed
greenschist facies and that the El Triunfo Complex was at higher crustal
level at this time. Therefore, the El Triunfo Complex is suitable for
looking further back into the geologic history. However, nothing is
known so far whether a major tectonic suture separates the El Triunfo
Complex from the rest of the CMC or if the crustal level gets continuous-
ly deeper towards the NW.
The results of U-Pb zircon dating from felsic orthogneiss samples
imply that at least part of the Candelaria unit represents ~1.0 Ga base-
ment. Besides that, Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd isotope data indicate that
orthogneiss from the Candelaria unit and massif-type anorthosites are
isotopically similar to typical Oaxaquia rocks of Late Mesoproterozoic
age. The occurrence of massif-type anorthosite with economically im-
portant rutile-bearing ilmenitite lenses (Cisneros de León et al., 2017)
– although they could not be convincingly dated so far – leads us to hy-
pothesize that the gneisses of the Candelaria unit together with the
massif-type anorthosite and associated rocks were formerly a Rodinia-
type basement inlier similar to those defining Oaxaquia (e.g., Cameron
et al., 2004; Keppie et al., 2003; Schulze, 2011; Weber and Hecht, 2003).
Obviously, later metamorphic overprints destroyed possible former
granulite facies mineral assemblages. However, rutile inclusions in titanite
from the “Chipilín” gneiss together with clinopyroxene relicts observed in
some samples from the Candelaria unit may suggest former granulite fa-
cies conditions. The same goes for the anorthosite that contains abundant
rutile that is mostly retrogressed to ilmenite and titanite. Exsolution of
baddeleyite and zircon from rutile also indicates high Zr-content and
therefore relatively high temperatures (Cisneros de León et al., 2017).
Interestingly, some zircons of the orthogneiss boudins from the
western study area display weak disturbance in the U-Pb isotope sys-
tem that is well-marked in sample 9511-9 from northeast of Belisario
Domínguez, giving a second probability density maximum for
207
Pb/206Pb ages at 907 ± 20 Ma (see Fig. 9f). Most zircon grains from
the banded “Chipilín” gneiss in the eastern study area yield a Concordia
age at 911 ± 9 Ma, or an upper intercept age at 919 ± 13 Ma, and
~1.0 Ga zircon is absent. As CL images from these zircon grains indicate
metamorphic origin, we interpret that the “Chipilín” gneiss displays a
mid-Tonian metamorphic overprint that affected other gneisses in the
region to a minor extent. This leads us to suspect that this overprint is
structurally controlled i.e., reactivation of former tectonic sutures.
 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199
A Tonian metamorphic event around 920 Ma was yet not reported
from Oaxaquia, although there are quite some lines of evidence like
(1) titanite from the Novillo gneiss yielding a 928 ± 2 Ma U-Pb age
(Keppie et al., 2006) and (2) six garnet – whole rock ages between
933 ± 6 and 911 ± 12 Ma from the Guichicovi Complex (Weber and
Köhler, 1999). It is important to note that widespread hydration of gran-
ulite to amphibolite in rocks from the northern Guichicovi Complex,
was explained in terms of the lower crust position above a subduction
zone (Weber and Hecht, 2003). Although there is no clear evidence
for an active continental margin of Tonian age like arc-related igneous
rocks, in a global geodynamic context, the ca. 920 Ma metamorphic
overprint is best explained in terms of circum-Rodinia subduction that
started after the supercontinent Rodinia was assembled (e.g., Evans
et al., 2016; Li et al., 2008, and references therein). Obviously, such a hy-
pothesis needs further proof but this is beyond the scope of this
contribution.
Most of the amphibolite samples analyzed from the Candelaria unit
also contain an inherited Stenian-Tonian zircon component. It remains
unclear, however, to what extent the mafic rocks of the Candelaria
unit belong to the Stenian-Tonian basement or to what extent they
are E-MORB protoliths that intruded the crust subsequently by under-
plating, assimilating part of the Proterozoic lower crust. From the isoto-
pic point of view, like strongly positive initial εHf and εNd values, there
is evidence to suggest that the E-MORB amphibolites are younger than
the Rodinia-type basement. Indirect evidence for the age of this proba-
bly rift-related magmatism comes from secondary zircon coronas
around rutile and ilmenite found in anorthosite and related rocks that
yielded U-Pb dates around 600 Ma (Cisneros de León et al., 2017) and
a similar Ediacaran depositional age of the Jocote unit, into which
these magmas probably intruded syn-sedimentarily (González-
Guzmán et al., 2016a). On the other hand, due to strong deformation
and folding of these amphibolites, an Ordovician age can be discarded.
9.2. Deformation and competence contrast
At a first glance isoclinal D1 folding and prograde metamorphism
suggest regional shortening in a convergent tectonic setting. However,
folding in amphibolite and granulite facies rocks during rifting or oro-
genic collapse, or accompanying pluton emplacement, is a common
phenomenon at all scales (Harris et al., 2002). Boudins and pinch-and-
swell structures (mostly asymmetric) observed elsewhere in the
Candelaria unit suggest extension during ductile and probably also
non-coaxial deformation. An extensional tectonic setting should there-
fore be considered also for the formation of tight and isoclinal folds
(Harris et al., 2002).
Interestingly, the observed boudin structures in the Candelaria unit
indicate that the quartz-feldspar gneiss is the competent layer and the
amphibolite the incompetent matrix that deformed faster. Mafic rocks
are known to be more competent than felsic rocks in the upper crust.
At higher temperature of the lower crust, however, the viscosity of a
dry metagranite (charnockite) is getting higher than the viscosity of a
metagabbro (Talbot, 1999; Talbot and Sokoutis, 1992).
These observations lead us to suspect that the Candelaria unit was
affected by extension at middle to lower crustal level, followed by basal-
tic underplating, intrusion of magmas from the depleted mantle, uplift,
further extension and deposition of the Ediacaran Jocote unit
(González-Guzmán et al., 2016a) above this thinned Proterozoic crust
prior to the Ordovician tectonothermal event.
9.3. The Ordovician tectonothermal event
Besides Permian arc magmatism, the late Ordovician tectonothermal
event is by far the most important in the El Triunfo Complex. González-
Guzmán (2016) defined this event as “Mochonian Orogeny” according
to the local Mochó tribe native in the Motozintla to El Triunfo area. As re-
ported by Estrada-Carmona et al. (2012) and González-Guzmán (2016)
195
the gabbroic to granitic Motozintla suite intruded the El Triunfo
Complex between ~452 and ~446 Ma. Zircon data from a total of nine
amphibolite, biotite-amphibole gneiss, and migmatite samples from
the El Triunfo Complex yield ages ranging from ~ 457 Ma to ~ 444 Ma
(Fig. 10) indicating regional medium- to high-grade metamorphism
and anatexis contemporaneous with crystallization of the
abovementioned plutonic suite. These ages are obtained from zircon
overgrowth around inherited Stenian-Toninan cores or recrystallized
(metamorphic) zircon, and from oscillatory-zoned zircons, often both
occurring within the same rock (Figs. 9e, 11). Whereas the former
form either under subsolidus conditions (metamorphic overgrowth
and recrystallization) or under supersolidus conditions (magmatic
overgrowth) during anatexis, the latter are most likely from neosome
veinlets crystallized from the anatectic melt that penetrated the
amphibolite.
In regional metamorphic terranes, partial melting can be triggered
by an externally derived H2O-rich fluid leading to fluid-induced melt-
ing, or by hydrate-breakdown melting involving dehydration reactions
and decomposition of a hydrous phase like muscovite, biotite or amphi-
bole (e.g., Berger et al., 2008; Brown, 2013; Rubatto et al., 2009). Both
amphibole and biotite are present in most mafic rocks from the
Candelaria unit. However, fluid-absent hydrate-breakdown melting is
not indicated because the neosome does not carry a peritectic anhy-
drous phase such as garnet or pyroxene that appears as a side product
of incongruent melting reactions (e.g., Vielzeuf et al., 1990). Instead,
biotite- and hornblende-bearing leucosome without anhydrous
minerals in a biotite- and hornblende-bearing host suggest fluid-
present melting (e.g., Brown, 2013). Additionally, the P-T estimates
from calcic amphiboles and the results from plagioclase-hornblende
geothermometric calculations indicate peak temperatures not
above ~ 660 °C, which is insufficient for fluid absent melting.
Due to the fact that crystalline rocks of the middle and lower crust
have very low porosity, the amount of fluid necessary to produce signif-
icant amount of melt can only be achieved by an external H2O-rich fluid
source. Such fluids can be extracted from subsolidus dehydration reac-
tions of (1) pelitic sediments or (2) hydrated basaltic igneous rocks, or
(3) from crystallization fluids of nearby plutonic rocks. The Motozintla
plutonic suite, which has arc-like chemical characteristics (González-
Guzmán, 2016), crystallized contemporaneously with the neosome
and metamorphic zircon of the Candelaria unit. Therefore, it is a poten-
tial source for crystallization fluids, whereas fluids from dehydration re-
actions from the Jocote metasedimentary rocks would have been
consumed in situ by anatexis of these rocks themselves. Dehydration
of hydrated basaltic and metasedimentary rocks from the subducting
plate are also possible sources for external fluids. Thus, it is plausible
to suggest that regional metamorphism that reached partial melting of
the Candelaria unit in the late Ordovician is the result of subduction
along a convergent continental margin and not rifting along a passive
margin as proposed earlier (Estrada-Carmona et al., 2012).
9.4. Considerations on paleogeography
The discovery of ~1.0 Ga outcrops together with massif-type anor-
thosite in the southern Chiapas Massif (Cisneros de León et al., 2017)
imply Rodinia-type basement in the El Triunfo Complex. It remains un-
known, however, if this basement continues into the central CMC that is
strongly affected by Late Permian high-grade metamorphism or if a
major tectonic suture separates the El Triunfo Complex from the rest
of the CMC. It is also likely that left-lateral displacement related to the
branched Polochic-and Tonalá fault systems disrupted the El Triunfo
Complex into different discrete blocks that may occur elsewhere along
the southern border of the North American plate. However, the discov-
ery of the 1.0 Ga basement of the El Triunfo Complex is an important
second pinpoint besides the Guichicovi Complex (e.g., Weber and
Köhler, 1999) to favor Rodina-type basement probably for the entire
southern Maya block and to consider it as part of Oaxaquia.
196 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199

Similar basement inliers occur in the Northern Andes (Cardona et al.,
2010; Cordani et al., 2005; Ramos, 2010) and along almost the
entire central and southern Andes (Ramos, 2010). Although some of
the ~ 1.0 Ga basement inliers of Northern Andes are allochthonous
and display significant Mesozoic right-lateral displacement, the
Mesoproterozoic Putumayo orogen, mostly buried beneath the Andean
foreland is considered autochthonous with respect to northeastern
Amazonia (Ibanez-Mejia et al., 2011). Recently ~1.0 Ga granulite facies
basement was also discovered from wells offshore NW Venezuela
(Baquero et al., 2015), suggesting that similar basement inliers are not
local occurrences with exotic character only. They rather represent an
orogenic belt extending along NW South America from Venezuela to
Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru including Oaxaquia, which formed by in-
teraction of NW Amazonia with Baltica in the Late Mesoproterozic, dur-
ing assemblage of the Rodinia supercontinent (Fig. 14a, Cardona et al.,
2010; Ibanez-Mejia et al., 2011; Li et al., 2008; Weber et al., 2010;
Weber and Schulze, 2014). It is widely accepted that supercontinent as-
semblage is followed by circum-supercontinent subduction (e.g., Evans
et al., 2016, and references therein), of which the ca. 920 Ma metamor-
phic zircon-growth or recrystallization observed in zircons from the
Chipilín gneiss possibly is an evidence. Such a scenario requires a paleo-
geographic position of this portion of Oaxaquia close to the outer limit of
Rodinia (Fig. 14a) as suggested earlier also from similar garnet ages as
well as hydration and regression observed in the Guichicovi Complex
(Weber and Hecht, 2003).
Little is known about the breakup of Rodinia from the Mexican base-
ment except some alkaline basaltic dikes intruding the Stenian-Tonian
Novillo gneiss in Tamaulipas (northeastern Mexico) at ~ 546 Ma that
were interpreted in terms of rift basalts comparable to their Late
Neoproterozoic counterpart in Baltica (Keppie et al., 2006; Pisarevsky
et al., 2008). The Jocote unit, recently proven to be of Ediacaran age
(González-Guzmán et al., 2016a), is so far the only documented Late
Neoproterozoic rift basin deposit in southern Mexico. Together with
(1) the intrusion of E-MORB magmas into both Candelaria and Jocote
units, (2) structural features that suggest crustal extension prior to
Ordovician magmatism, as well as (3) indirect age evidence from
~ 600 Ma old exsolved zircon detected in anorthosite (Cisneros de
León et al., 2017), the geologic record of the El Triunfo Complex can
now be considered to include Rodinia breakup during the Late
Neoproterozoic (Fig. 14b).
High-grade metamorphism and anatexis triggered by an external
fluid, implies a convergent margin setting for the El Triunfo Complex
during the Late Ordovician. The new evidence presented in this
paper contrasts with interpretations where Oaxaquia including the
Maya block and the Acatlán Complex are placed on the southern
margin of the Rheic Ocean in Ordovician times (Estrada-Carmona
et al., 2012; Keppie, 2004; Keppie et al., 2008; Morales-Gamez
et al., 2008).
The Maya block has for long been correlated with the Mérida Andes
of Venezuela (Bellizzia and Pimentel, 1994). Van der Lelij et al. (2016)

(a) SP (b) SP

Oax WA
BA BA WA

AM SF
Oax

G AM
C
R
LAU
ca. K LAU
ca. 600 Ma
920 Ma

(c) AMCG suites

Mesoproterozoic arc terranes
LAU Rheic Rodinia Orogens (Grenville Belts)
SP
Ocean Rodinia-type peri-Gondwanan terranes
WA Paleozoic Gondwana margin
F
n Y Avalonian terranes
ea MA
s Oc Ac S Southern Chiapas Massif Complex
tu
Oax

Pu
e (El Triunfo Complex)
Famatinia

Iap G AM
Plate movement
At
na

ca.
rc

450 Ma Ar Sunsas

Fig. 14. Neoproterozoic to Ordovician geotectonic reconstruction of western Rodinia and Gondwana (modified and reinterpreted considering previous reconstructions after Murphy et al.,
2004; Li et al., 2008; Pisarevsky et al., 2008; Keppie et al., 2012; Torsvik et al., 2012; Van der Lelij et al., 2016; Weber and Schulze, 2014; Weber et al., 2012). Note, the Amazon craton is
shown in its present-day orientation within South America with the South Pole (SP) towards the top of the image. (a) Tonian: Rodinia established, Oaxaquia sitting between Amazonia and
Baltica facing the ocean and possible subduction towards the south. Abbreviations: AM = Amazonia, BA = Baltica-Sveconorwegian, C = Congo, G = Greenland, LAU = Laurentia, Oax =
Oaxaquia, R = Rio de la Plata, SF = São Francisco, WA = West Africa. (b) Ediacaran. Incipient rifting between Laurentia, Baltica, and Amazonia/Oaxaquia with a superplume beneath the
triple junction. (c) Late Ordovician. Famatinian active continental margin facing the Iapetus Ocean extents along NW Amazonia to Central Venezuela. Unlike previous models, opening of
the Rheic Ocean and separation of Avalonian type terranes from the Gondwana margin occurred in the Cambrian to Early Ordovician further northeast not involving Oaxaquia and other
peri-Gondwanan terranes of the NW Amazonia realm. Abbreviations: Ac = Acatlán Complex, Ar = Arequipa, At = Antofalla, CA = Colombian Andes, Ch = Chortís Block, F = Florida, G =
Garzón Massif, MA = Merida Andes, Oax = Oaxaquia, Pu = Putumayo, Y = Yucatán.
 B. Weber et al. / Lithos 300–301 (2018) 177–199
reported new evidence from the Mérida Andes and the Santander Mas-
sif of Colombia indicating that they represent an Early Paleozoic active
margin, which lasted from ~ 500 Ma to ~ 415 Ma coeval with the
Famatinian arc and related intrusions in Peru (Bahlburg et al., 2009). Al-
though there is some difference in the interpretation of timing, over-
whelming accordance is found between Mérida Andes and Santader
Massif of NW South America (Van der Lelij et al., 2016) and the southern
Maya block (Chiapas, Guatemala, Belize) like (1) Rodinia-type base-
ment inliers, (2) early Ordovician to late Silurian igneous rocks,
(3) Barrovian medium to high-grade metamorphism, (4) anatexis of
Grenvillian orthogneiss at ~ 450 Ma (comparable with Micarache
orthogneiss of the Mérida Andes protolith age at 1009 ± 9 Ma and
anatexis at 454 ± 10 Ma, Van der Lelij et al., 2016), and (5) Permo-
Triassic arc magmatism.
That is why we place the southern Maya block, along with Oaxaquia,
Chortís, and the Acatlán Complex at the NW Gondwana margin that is
interpreted to be the extension of the Famatinian arc (Fig. 14c) in agree-
ment with the model of Van der Lelij et al. (2016). Similar to NW South
America, magmatism in the southern Maya block ceased in the late Silu-
rian to earliest Devonian (Martens et al., 2010; Steiner and Walker,
1996; Weber et al., 2012).
10. Conclusions
1. Metaigneous rocks of the El Triunfo Complex, namely the
Candelaria unit, contain orthogneisses of late Stenian to early
Tonian age (~ 1.0 Ga) indicating, together with Nd and Hf isotope
evidence, that the basement of the southern Chiapas Massif is re-
lated to Rodinia assemblage similar to Oaxaquia or other Precam-
brian inliers along the northwestern and western margin of
Amazonia.
2. A locally observed ~ 920 Ma metamorphic overprint is possibly
related to subsequent circum-Rodinia subduction.
3. The El Triunfo Complex was intruded by E-MORB magmas that
differ by their Nd and Hf isotopic composition from the gneisses,
suggesting a rift-related event during Rodinia breakup and open-
ing of the Iapetus Ocean probably contemporaneous with the de-
position of the Jocote unit above thinned continental crust during
the Ediacaran.
4. Medium- to high-grade metamorphism and anatexis with peak con-
ditions at ~ 650 °C and ~ 6 kbar affected the El Triunfo Complex at
~450 Ma contemporaneous with the intrusion of the granitic to gab-
broic Motozintla plutonic suite. This major regional tectonothermal
event is interpreted in terms of an active continental margin such
as the Famatinian arc.
Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi.
org/10.1016/j.lithos.2017.12.009.
Acknowledgements
This contribution was supported by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y
Tecnología (CONACYT, Convocatoria Ciencia Básica 2012, project
#180588). We would like to thank Sergio Padilla-Ramírez Centro
de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada
B.C. (CICESE), México, for running the clean lab, Susana Rosas-
Montoya, Victor Pérez-Arroyo, and Gabriel Rendón-Márquez (all
CICESE) for their help with sample preparation and to Luis
Gradilla-Martínez (CICESE) for performing CL images. Many thanks
to Peter Schaaf and Gerardo Arrieta, Laboratorio Universitario de
Geología Isotópica (UNAM) for assistance running TIMS. Many
thanks go to the reviewers Mauricio Ibanez-Mejia (Rochester, NY)
and Roelant van der Lelij (Geological Survey of Norway) and to Lith-
os editor Marco Scambelluri for their positive and constructive revi-
sions of the manuscript. This is a contribution to IGCP 648
“Supercontinent Cycles and Global Geodynamics”.
197
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