Southward migration of volcanic activity in the Sierra de Las Cruces, basin of Mexico? - A preliminary K -Ar dating and palaeomagnetic study

K-Ar dates and palaeomagnetic data are reported for a suite of volcanic rocks from Sierra de Las Cruces, Basin of Mexico. The NNW -SSE volcanic range is predominantly built of dacitic lavas, pyroclastic units and lahars and constitutes the western limit of the basin. This preliminary study was desig...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Mora Alvárez, G., Caballero Miranda, C., Urrutia Fucugauchi, J., Uchiumi, Sh.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:1991
País:México
Institución:UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL AUTÓNOMA DE MÉXICO
Repositorio:Geofísica Internacional
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:revistagi.geofisica.unam.mx:article/1202
Acceso en línea:http://revistagi.geofisica.unam.mx/index.php/RGI/article/view/1202
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Edades K-Ar
Paleomagnetismo
Cuenca de Mexico
Sierra de las Cruces
Estratigrafía volcánica
K-Ar age
Palaeomagnetic dating
Basin of Mexico
Volcanic stratigraphy
Migration of volcanic activity
Mexican Volcanic Belt
Descripción
Sumario:K-Ar dates and palaeomagnetic data are reported for a suite of volcanic rocks from Sierra de Las Cruces, Basin of Mexico. The NNW -SSE volcanic range is predominantly built of dacitic lavas, pyroclastic units and lahars and constitutes the western limit of the basin. This preliminary study was designed to investigate the volcanic stratigraphy of the Sierra and to document an apparent spatial migration of volcanic activity along the range. The sampling profile followed the trend of the Sierra. The five units selected for the study comprised four andesitic flows and a basaltic flow. Results are summarized below in terms of K-Ar dates and magnetic polarity chrons: Unit, Date (Ma), Polarity, Polarity Chron: Ajusco, O.39±O.l6, Normal, Brunhes; Ajusco, Intermediate (R), Brunhes; M. Contreras, l.92±O.13, Reverse, Matuyama; D. Leones, l.79±O.1O, Intermediate (N), Matuyama; Huixquilucan, 2.76±O.l9, Normal, Gauss; Peñas Cuatas, 2.87±O.15. Results document an apparent southward migration of volcanic activity and suggest an age range of Pliocene to Plcistocene for the formation of the Sierra de las Cruces. This spatial-temporal migration correlates with apparently similar trends of volcanic activity in the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt. Further studies are required to establish any regional characteristics and implications.