From back-arc rifting to arc accretion: the Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous evolution of the Guerrero terrane recorded by a major provenance change in sandstones from the Sierra de los Cuarzos area, central Mexico

Correlating the Arperos Basin from Guanajuato, central Mexico, to Santo Tomás, southern Mexico: Implications for the paleogeography and origin of the Guerrero terrane

“…Similarly to the Santo Tomás-Tejupilco assemblage, metasandstones of the Esperanza assemblage are characterized by a high percentage of monocrystalline quartz and low to moderate amounts of feldspar and volcanic lithic grains (Figs. 7B-7E) (Martini et al, 2011;Palacios-García and Martini, 2014). Volcanic grains are almost exclusively felsic and suggest a sedimentological disconnection with sources of the Guerrero terrane.…”

“…At Guanajuato, the Arperos Basin displays a marked provenance asymmetry. The eastern margin of this basin is composed of Tithonian-Aptian quartz-rich and calcareous metaturbidites of the Esperanza assemblage, which were derived from sources in the North American continental mainland (Martini et al, 2012;Palacios-García and Martini, 2014). Such a provenance is highlighted by the presence of ca.…”

“…1), and a ca. 150-130 Ma zircon population derived from Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous rhyodacitic volcanic rocks localized at Guanajuato and Toliman (Martini et al, 2012;Palacios-García and Martini, 2014) (Fig. 1).…”

“…On the other hand, sandstones with percentages of monocrystalline quartz >30% are unusual in deposits derived from the Guerrero terrane, because of the lack of available quartz-rich sources exposed during the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous (Centeno-García et al, 2008;Martini et al, 2011). High per centages of monocrystalline quartz generally result from the recycling of quartz-rich meta sedi mentary and metaigneous rocks of the North American continental mainland (Martini et al, 2011;Palacios-García and Martini, 2014). Contributions from the North American mainland in the metasandstones of the Ojo de Agua assemblage are documented by the presence of sparse Middle Jurassic zircon grains derived from the Nazas volcanic province or Nazas-derived younger deposits.…”

“…12), which has been interpreted as a submarine fan complex deposited on the eastern margin of the Arperos Basin (Martini et al, 2011;Palacios-García and Martini, 2014). Similarly to the Santo Tomás-Tejupilco assemblage, metasandstones of the Esperanza assemblage are characterized by a high percentage of monocrystalline quartz and low to moderate amounts of feldspar and volcanic lithic grains (Figs.…”