Geological map of the distribution of igneous Cenozoic rocks in central Tampico-Misantla Basin

Abstract

We present a geological map that shows the distribution of Cenozoic igneous rocks in the central portion of the Tampico-Misantla Basin in eastern Mexico at 1:500,000 scale. This map covers an area of ~25000 km2, including part of the States of Veracruz, Hidalgo, and Puebla. It was made as background information for the geophysical exploration of the CONACYT Fronteras de la Ciencia project 1787 “Un acercamiento a los Yacimientos no Convencionales a partir de Métodos Electromagnéticos de exploración”. This map resulted from the compilation of cartographic and geochronological (28 K-Ar isotopic ages) information from available literature, complemented and improved with photogeology and regional reconnaissance tours along several roads that cross the region. Main Cenozoic units were recognized during fieldwork. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying igneous rocks, especially intrusive bodies, as this was one of the main goals of the CONACYT Project, by using geophysical methods, and characterizing the geometry of the basin. The map is now available to the community interested in the Cenozoic evolution of east-central Mexico. Besides that, it will be the basis of the research that the group is carrying out in the Eastern Mexican Alkaline Province and the eastern Sierra Madre Oriental Cenozoic magmatism.