The role of folding in the development of the Mexican fold-and-thrust belt

Fitz-Díaz, Elisa; Tolson, Gustavo; Hudleston, Peter J.; Bolaños-Rodríguez, Daniel; Ortega-Flores, Berlaine; Vásquez-Serrano, Alberto

doi:10.1130/ges00759.1

Cited by 39 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 45 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…These structures, all affecting Aptian-Albian carbonates, except for the shear zone in the Tolimán area, are distributed along the section and represent different stages of deformation within the MFTB. All fold hinges are sub-horizontal (Fitz-Diaz et al 2012).…”

Section: Analysed Folds and Shear Zonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progressive, episodic deformation in the Mexican Fold–Thrust Belt (central Mexico): evidence from isotopic dating of folds and faults

Fitz-Díaz

Hudleston

Tolson

et al. 2014

International Geology Review

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We used illite Ar/Ar dating to obtain absolute ages of folds and shear zones formed within the Mexican Fold-Thrust Belt (MFTB). The methodology takes advantage of illite dating in folded, clay-bearing layers and the ability to obtain accurate ages from small-size fractions of illite using encapsulated Ar analysis. We applied our approach to a cross-section that involves folded Aptian-Cenomanian shale-bentonitic layers interbedded with carbonates of the Zimapán (ZB) and Tampico-Misantla (TMB) Cretaceous basins in central-eastern Mexico. Basinal carbonates were buried by syn-tectonic turbidites and inverted during the formation of the MFTB in the Late Cretaceous. Results from folds and shear zones record different pulses of deformation within this thin-skinned orogenic wedge.Mineralogical compositions, variations in illite polytypes, illite crystallite size (CS), and Ar/Ar ages were obtained from several size fractions in limbs and hinges of the folds and in the shear zones. 1M d -illite polytype (with CS of 6-9 nm) dominates in two folds in the TMB while 2M 1 -illlite (with CS of 14-30 nm) dominates in the third fold, in the ZB, and in the fold/shear zone. From west (higher grade) to east (lower grade): Ar retention ages indicate shearing occurred at~84 Ma in the westernmost shear zone, folding at~82 Ma in the ZB with subsequent localized shearing at~77 Ma, and Ar total gas ages constrain the time of folding at~64 Ma on the west side of the TMB and~44 Ma on the eastern edge. These results are consistent with the age and distribution of syn-tectonic turbidites and indicate episodic progression of deformation from west to east.

show abstract

Section: Analysed Folds and Shear Zonesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Progressive, episodic deformation in the Mexican Fold–Thrust Belt (central Mexico): evidence from isotopic dating of folds and faults

Fitz-Díaz

Hudleston

Tolson

et al. 2014

International Geology Review

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Our observations differ from the regional structural style adopted by Fitz‐Díaz et al . [, ], who did not identify on their structural maps the regional‐scale folds shown in Figure ; instead, their sections show schematic mesoscopic buckle fold trains across the Zimapán and Tampico‐Misantla basins. What is more, Fitz‐Díaz et al .…”

Section: Structural Field Observationsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…What is more, Fitz‐Díaz et al . [, ] indicate on their structural maps numerous regional‐scale cross faults, for which to our knowledge there is no evidence.…”

Section: Structural Field Observationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanical stability model of progradational carbonate platform margins under tectonic loads: Deformation of Cretaceous carbonate platforms in the Sierra Madre Oriental fold‐thrust belt (east central Mexico)

Contreras

Suter

2015

JGR Solid Earth

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Shortening in the Sierra Madre Oriental fold-thrust belt (east central Mexico) is localized along the margins of Cretaceous carbonate platforms and controlled by mechanical stratigraphy. The platform margins are deformed by imbricate series of thrust ramps, whereas the coeval basins and platform interiors are deformed by map-scale detachment folds. Here we present a finite element model to evaluate the influence of the boundary geometry and boundary conditions on the style of deformation observed at these basinward progradational platform margins. We calculate the stress distribution in a linearly elastic platform-basin transition zone under the action of horizontal tectonic stress, taking into account changes of rock mechanical properties across the platform margin, as well as their dependence on direction, and infer the resulting fracture patterns based on the Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion. Stress concentrations are predicted at the contacts between the massive rocks of the platform margin and the well-layered rocks of both, the platform interior and the adjacent basin. Brittle failure of the platform border can be mostly attributed to three effects: mechanical coupling between the carbonate platform and a substratum of moderate to low viscosity, variations in layering and texture that governed the mechanical properties of the involved carbonates as well as their dependence on direction, and the development of sharp domain boundary corners associated with progradational facies changes. In contrast, the dip of the basement and a possible taper of the overlying Upper Cretaceous shale toward the basin appear to have little influence on the mechanical failure of the platform margin.

show abstract

“…The carbonates were deposited in the Barremian-Cenomanian and the basinal deposits are characterized by deep-water muddy carbonates, whereas the platform rocks are fossiliferous shallow bank deposits (Imlay, 1944;Suter, 1987). Deformation of the area occurred during the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene, with the basins dominated by folding and intense water-rock interaction (see Fitz-Díaz et al, 2011b, for details); while the platforms were thrust dominated and showed much less fluid-rock interaction (Aranda-Gómez et al, 2000;Fitz-Díaz et al, 2012).…”

Section: Geologic Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dating synfolding remagnetization: Approach and field application (central Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico)

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Growth of magnetite has been variably linked to fluid-bearing events or clay diagenesis, and the development of a chemical remagnetization as a result of such events. In this study we examine remagnetized carbonate rocks from the central Sierra Madre Oriental (the Mexican fold-thrust belt) in order to develop a method for dating synfolding remagnetizations. By combining 40 Ar/ 39 Ar deformation ages with new paleomagnetic results, we present a quantitative method for absolute dating of synfolding remagnetization. We find that the history of the central Sierra Madre Oriental involved two separate remagnetization events in our study area; synfolding remanence acquisition ca. 77 Ma (Late Cretaceous) in the Zimapán Basin and a younger synfolding remagnetization event ca. 44 Ma (mid-Eocene) in the Tampico-Misantla Basin. The growth of magnetite leading to chemical remagnetization detected in these limestones is interpreted as the result of rock interactions with an Fe-bearing fluid.

show abstract

The role of folding in the development of the Mexican fold-and-thrust belt

Cited by 39 publications

References 45 publications

Progressive, episodic deformation in the Mexican Fold–Thrust Belt (central Mexico): evidence from isotopic dating of folds and faults

Progressive, episodic deformation in the Mexican Fold–Thrust Belt (central Mexico): evidence from isotopic dating of folds and faults

Mechanical stability model of progradational carbonate platform margins under tectonic loads: Deformation of Cretaceous carbonate platforms in the Sierra Madre Oriental fold‐thrust belt (east central Mexico)

Dating synfolding remagnetization: Approach and field application (central Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About