Guerrero terrane of Mexico: Its role in the Southern, Cordillera from new geochemical data

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 1993 Guerrero terrane of Mexico: Its role in the Southern, Cordillera from new geochemical data Elena Centeno-García; Elena Centeno-García 1Department of Geosciences, University of ,Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Joaquín Ruíz; Joaquín Ruíz 1Department of Geosciences, University of ,Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Peter J. Coney; Peter J. Coney 1Department of Geosciences, University of ,Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. Jonathan Patchett; P. Jonathan Patchett 1Department of Geosciences, University of ,Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Fernando Ortega-Gutiérrez Fernando Ortega-Gutiérrez 2Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México D.F. 04510, México Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1993) 21 (5): 419–422. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1993)021<0419:GTOMIR>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Elena Centeno-García, Joaquín Ruíz, Peter J. Coney, P. Jonathan Patchett, Fernando Ortega-Gutiérrez; Guerrero terrane of Mexico: Its role in the Southern, Cordillera from new geochemical data. Geology 1993;; 21 (5): 419–422. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1993)021<0419:GTOMIR>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The Guerrero terrane makes up most of the western part of Mexico, is one of the largest terranes of the North American Cordillera, and is characterized by an Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous volcanic-sedimentary sequence of are affinity. Metamorphic rocks that crop out in the western area of the terrane (Arteaga complex) may represent its basement. They are mostly composed of terrigenous sediments (Varales Formation) with minor basaltic pillow lavas, chert, tuff, and limestone. Initial ϵNd values (+13) and rare earth element (REE) values for pillow lavas of the Arteaga complex are characteristic of mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB). In contrast, the Varales Formation sedimentary rocks from the Arteaga complex have negative initial ϵNd (-6.2 and -7.2) and are enriched in light REEs. These data indicate that the sediments of the Varales Formation were supplied from an evolved continental crust. The overlying Jurassic(?)-Cretaceous arc-related rocks have initial ϵNd (+7.9 to +3.9) and REE patterns similar to those of evolved intraoceanic island arcs. These data show that the evolution of the Guerrero terrane had an early pre-Cretaceous(?) stage, which consisted of an oceanic crust receiving sediments from a continental source, and a Cretaceous stage, which was the development of an island arc.The oceanic-continental isotopic signature of the Arteaga complex is different from other western North American Cordilleran terranes (e.g., Alexander, Wrangelfia) that are more completely "oceanic" in affinity. Nevertheless, the extensive Jurassic(?).Cretaceous arc represents additions of juvenile material to the western North American Cordillera. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.