Mesozoic to Cenozoic sedimentation, tectonics, and metallogeny of Sonora, Mexico
Abstract
We will embark on a five-day journey through northern, western, and central Sonora, in which we will see excellent examples of mostly Mesozoic to Cenozoic tectonics, sedimentation, and metallogeny. On Day 1, we will visit the porphyry copper deposit at Ajo, Arizona, and several Pleistocene cinder cones and maar craters in the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve. On Day 2, we will see L- and L-S tectonites at the type locality of the Mojave-Sonora megashear in Sierra Los Tanques, Noche Buena orogenic gold deposit, Ediacaran Gamuza beds in Caborca, and have an overview of the Carnero detachment fault on the south side of Sierra La Gloria. Day 3 will explore faults and related sedimentary and volcanic rocks associated with the late Miocene oblique opening of the Gulf of California rift and visit outcrops that record late Miocene timing constraints for flooding of the Gulf of California seaway, including several localities on southern Isla Tiburón accessible only by boat. Day 4 will visit exposures of Permian sedimentary to Paleogene igneous rocks in Hermosillo (Cerro La Campana); Puerto del Sol detachment fault zone; Aconchi batholith and a hot spring localized on a Basin and Range normal fault; Santa Elena low-sulfidation epithermal gold mine; and the Upper Jurassic Cucurpe Formation. On Day 5, we will visit several exposures of different crustal levels of the Magdalena-Madera metamorphic core complex, including the spectacular stretched pebble conglomerates in Arroyo Amolares.
Additional Information
© 2019 The Geological Society of America. Manuscript Accepted by the Society 5 July 2019; Published September 04, 2019. We would like to thank Keith Howard (USGS), Carlos M. González-León (UNAM), and Jon Nourse (Cal Poly Pomona) for helpful reviews that improved the quality of this manuscript considerably, and Phil Pearthree (Arizona Geological Survey) and the GSA editorial staff for their capable editorial handling. We are grateful to Jon Nourse for contributing some of his unpublished work to the field guide. J. Price would like to thank Gary Parkison for introducing him to the wonders of Sonoran geology; Ralph Fitch and Randy Moore for allowing him to map a fantastic project area near Caborca; James Hagadorn, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, for advice on Ediacaran locations near Caborca; Raul Diaz, Silver One Resources, for help with logistics; and Carlos González-León for help with scouting out field-trip stops. S. Bennett is grateful to Michael Oskin for introducing him to the spectacular geology of the Gulf of California. These recent scientific discoveries would not have been possible without the strong collaborations, enthusiastic conversations, and tremendous friendships with Michael Oskin, Rebecca Dorsey, Paul Umhoefer, Michael Darin, Lisa Skinner, Joann Stock, Arturo Martín-Barajas, Alexander Iriondo, the staff at the Prescott College Kino Bay Center, and the Molina Villa-Lobos family of the native Seri tribe.Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 103044
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20200506-135644008
- Created
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2020-05-06Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2021-11-16Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Series Name
- Field guide (Geological Society of America)
- Series Volume or Issue Number
- 55