Abstract
ABSTRACT A new geological map at 1:50,000 scale of La Reforma Caldera Complex has been produced applying modern survey methodologies to volcanic areas. This map aims to represent a reliable and objective tool to understand the geological evolution of the region. La Reforma Caldera Complex is a Pleistocene nested caldera located in the central part of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico. The twelve formations defined within the Quaternary volcanic record were grouped into three phases (pre-caldera, caldera, and post-caldera). The pre-caldera phase (>1.35 Ma) is characterized by scattered eruptions, mostly occurred in submarine environment. The caldera phase (1.35–0.96 Ma) groups several distinct explosive and effusive eruptions that formed the present-day caldera depression. The post caldera phase includes scattered effusive eruptions (ended at 0.28 Ma) and resurgence, characterized by several hundred meters of uplift of the central block within the caldera depression.
Highlights
Introduction and previous studiesGeological maps have to be objective and detailed because they represent a fundamental tool to understand the geological evolution of a given area, and, when mapping is conducted at relatively high scale, they provide a sound basis for detailed studies aimed at assessment of natural hazards, and exploitation of geothermal potential and/or ore deposits
La Reforma Caldera Complex is located in the central part of the Baja California peninsula, 35 km to the NW of the town of Santa Rosalía (Demant, 1984)
Along with the Aguajito Caldera (Garduño-Monroy, Vargas-Ledezma, & Campos-Enriquez, 1993) and the Tres Vírgenes volcanic complex (Avellán et al, 2018) La Reforma caldera complex represents a manifestation of the Quaternary volcanism in the central part of the Baja California (Figure 1)
Summary
Geological maps have to be objective and detailed because they represent a fundamental tool to understand the geological evolution of a given area, and, when mapping is conducted at relatively high scale, they provide a sound basis for detailed studies aimed at assessment of natural hazards, and exploitation of geothermal potential and/or ore deposits. We present the first contribution of this project with the revised geology and stratigraphy of La Reforma caldera complex that was assisted by 40Ar/39Ar and U-Pb geochronology (Table 1) from previous studies and new data from the PhD work of García-Sánchez (2019) This new map will set the basis for modern studies in the area, which will be helpful to future prospecting for ore deposits and geothermal potential areas, as well as paleogeographic reconstructions of marine depositional systems and mineralization
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