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Abstract:The Granjeno Schist is a meta-volcanosedimentary upper Paleozoic complex in northeastern Mexico. We suggest different tectonic settings for metamorphism of its serpentinite and talc-bearing rocks based on petrographic and geochemical compositions. According to the REE ratios (La N /Yb N = 0.51-20.0 and La N /Sm N = 0.72-9.1) and the enrichment in the highly incompatible elements Cs (0.1 ppm), U (2.8 ppm), and Zr (60 ppm) as well as depletion in Ba (1 -15 ppm), Sr (1 -184 ppm), Pb (0.1 -14 ppm), and Ce (0.1 -1.9 ppm) the rocks have mid-ocean ridge and subduction zones characteristics. The serpentinite contains Al-chromite, ferrian chromite and magnetite. The Al-chromite is characterized by Cr# of 0.48 to 0.55 suggesting a MORB origin, and Cr# of 0.93 to 1.00 for the ferrian chromite indicates a prograde metamorphism. We propose at least two serpentinization stages of lithospheric mantle for the ultramafic rock of the Granjeno Schist, (1) a first in an ocean-floor environment at sub-greenschist to greenschist facies conditions and (2) later a serpentinization phase related to the progressive replacement of spinel by ferrian chromite and magnetite at greenschist to low amphibolite facies conditions during regional metamorphism. The second serpentinization phase took place in an active continental margin during the Pennsylvanian. We propose that the origin of the ultramafic rocks is related to an obduction and accretional event at the western margin of Pangea.

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We applied both the ordinary linear regression (OLR) and the new uncertainty weighted linear regression (UWLR) models for the calibration and comparison of a XRF machine through 59 geochemical reference materials (GRMs) and a procedure blank sample. The mean concentration and uncertainty data for the GRMs used for the calibrations (Supplementary Materials) (available here) filewere achieved from an up-to-date compilation of chemical data and their processing from well-known discordancy and significance tests. The drift-corrected XRF intensity and its uncertainty were determined from mostly duplicate pressed powder pellets. The comparison of the OLR (linear correlation coefficient r∼0.9523–0.9964 and 0.9771–0.9999, respectively, for before and after matrix correction) and UWLR models (r∼0.9772–0.9976 and 0.9970–0.9999, respectively) clearly showed that the latter with generally higher values of r is preferable for routine calibrations of analytical procedures. Both calibrations were successfully applied to rock matrices, and the results were generally consistent with those obtained in other laboratories although the UWLR model showed mostly narrower confidence limits of the mean (slope and intercept) or lower uncertainties than the OLR. Similar sensitivity (∼2.69–46.17 kc·s−1·%−1 for the OLR and ∼2.78–59.69 kc·s−1·%−1 for the UWLR) also indicated that the UWLR could advantageously replace the OLR model. Another novel aspect is that the total uncertainty can be reported for individual chemical data. If the analytical instruments were routinely calibrated from the UWLR model, this action would make the science of geochemistry more quantitative than at present.

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The Mesa Virgen Calerilla (MVC) is located in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico. The most intense volcanism, which occurred during the Eocene, formed extensive ignimbrite deposits exposed in some parts as lava spills of rhyolitic (felsic) composition. This felsic volcanism may represent much of the MVC. This study describes wholerock geochemistry and mineralogy data from felsic volcanic rocks in the MVC to address their petrogenesis and tectonic setting. The MVC covers a compositional spectrum ranging from trachyte, dacite, to high-silica rhyolite. The petrography and mineral assemblages indicate that the felsic rocks are composed of K-feldspar (sanidine), quartz, plagioclase, and biotite. The felsic volcanic rocks have a composition of 64.08-78.17 wt% (SiO 2 ) adj , 0.14-0.69 wt% (TiO 2 ) adj , and 0.11-0.62 wt% (MgO) adj with 12-54 Mg number [Mg# = 100 × (Mg 2+ /[Mg 2+ + Fe 2+ ])]. These felsic volcanic rocks showed enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREE; [La/ Sm] N = 3.80-7.19), and are depleted in heavy rare earth elements [HREE; (Tb/Yb) N ratios 0.35-1.84], along with negative Ba, Nb, Sr, P, Eu, and Ti anomalies. The geochemical characteristics and petrogenetic modelling indicate that felsic volcanic rocks are derived from partial melting process of an upper-middle continental crust. The tectono-magmatic model and multidimensional tectonic discrimination diagram indicate that an extensional-related setting prevails for the MVC.

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The Compostela area is located in the western Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt, which consists of volcanic rocks that produced during the Pliocene to Recent volcanism. In this paper, we present petrography, whole‐rock major‐ and trace‐element concentrations, Ar–Ar ages, and Sr–Nd isotopic data of volcanic rocks from the Compostela area in the south of the city of Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. These volcanic rocks are of intermediate composition and belong to the transitional series: basaltic trachyandesites [52.72–53.94 wt% SiO2; 0.69–2.53 wt% MgO] and subalkaline series: low‐Si [55.11–60.94 wt% SiO2; 0.79–2.74 wt% MgO] and high‐Si [61.60–62.71 wt% SiO2; 0.36–0.80 wt% MgO] andesites. The 40Ar/39Ar dating of two basaltic trachyandesites yields plateau ages of 1.05 ± 0.15 Ma and 1.07 ± 0.17 Ma and the andesites yielded a plateau age of 2.42 ± 0.36 Ma. These results indicate that the studied rocks were formed during the Pleistocene in two discrete episodes. The basaltic trachyandesites show enriched light rare earth elements patterns relative to high rare earth elements [(La/Yb)N = 5.81–8.07] with negligible Eu anomalies. The andesites display enriched large‐ion lithophile elements (Ba, K) with anomalies of Nb (Th/Ce) and Ti in the three groups identified in the subalkaline series. The basaltic trachyandesites appear in a tight cluster of initial 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.703519–0.703882) as compared to the basaltic andesite 87Sr/86Sr (0.704073) and positive ɛNd(t) values of +5.6 to +3.4, respectively, indicating that the basaltic trachyandesites were derived from intermediate magmas from a shallow mantle source. Geochemical modelling reveals that both basaltic trachyandesite and andesite rocks were derived by a process of crystal fractionation accompanied by assimilation of crustal rocks at the lower or middle level. Geochemical ratios and multidimensional discrimination diagrams, combined with the cross‐section of the subduction zone indicates that basaltic trachyandesites were generated from a rift and/or Ocean Island Basalt‐type source, whereas andesites were generated from a slab‐derived source in a subduction environment.