Beidellite-nontronite clays in Neogene sediments from Cuitzeo-Charo lacustrine basin Michoacán, México: Geological setting and paleoenvironmental implications

Lacustrine and fluviolacustrine deposits of the Charo sequence crop out extensively along tens of kilometres, and they overlie the Miocene volcanic sequences of the Mil Cumbres Complex in an E-W oriented basin. Eastwards of Morelia city (central Mexico), layers of non lithified clayey sediments of a...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Isabel Israde-Alcántara, Jasinto Robles-Camacho, José Manuel Domínguez
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2008
País:México
Institución:Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo
Repositorio:Redalyc-UMSNH
OAI Identifier:oai:redalyc.org:94313262003
Acceso en línea:https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=94313262003
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ciencias de la Tierra
Neogene
diatomite
Beidellite
stratigraphy
Cuitzeo basin
Descripción
Sumario:Lacustrine and fluviolacustrine deposits of the Charo sequence crop out extensively along tens of kilometres, and they overlie the Miocene volcanic sequences of the Mil Cumbres Complex in an E-W oriented basin. Eastwards of Morelia city (central Mexico), layers of non lithified clayey sediments of about 3 m in thickness are overlaid by massive diatomite deposits developed during the Miocene-Pliocene in the Cuitzeo palaeolake. Major outcrops are located south and east of the village of Charo at the Las Pulgas, Lomas Blancas and Tzitzimeo sites; all having similar mineralogical facies and strati graphic correlation. Field studies, petrography and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) indicated that the parent rock was mainly of andesitic composition with minor daciticrhyolitic components. The source of the raw material was located in the upper topographic levels of the present horst-graben system. The diagenetic clays were identified as smectites. The central part of the Las Pulgas column shows a beidellite-nontronite (B-N) association. Likewise, 27A1-NMR and Móssbauer spectroscopies confirm the B-N character. Interlaid and overlying diatomite strata indicate a lacustrine environment, favourable to the development of secondary clays. The stability of lacustrine conditions gave place to an incipient stratification (smectite-illite), better developed in the middle part of the clayey levels.