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Revista mexicana de ciencias geológicas
On-line version ISSN 2007-2902Print version ISSN 1026-8774
Rev. mex. cienc. geol vol.22 n.2 Ciudad de México Jul. 2005
Artículos
Geology of Las Cumbres Volcanic Complex, Puebla and Veracruz states, Mexico
Geología del Complejo Volcánico Las Cumbres, estados de Puebla y Veracruz, México
1Instituto de Geología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, 04510, Mexico, D.F., Mexico, Actually at Centro de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Veracruzana, Francisco J. Moreno 207, Col. Zapata, 91090 Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. srre@servidor.unam.mx
Las Cumbres Volcanic Complex (LCVC) is part of a nearly NE-SW aligned volcanic range formed by the Cofre de Perote extinct volcano to the north, and the active Citlaltépetl volcano to the south. This volcanic range is one of the most striking morphological features in the eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. This geological study describes the different volcanic structures and associated deposits forming the LCVC, which was built upon Cretaceous limestones and Tertiary intrusive rocks of syenitic composition. The LCVC geological map includes ten lithostratigraphic volcanic units, some of which include members representing different eruptive periods. The LCVC history has been subdivided in four stages: The fi rst and older stage (~600 ka) consists of thick andesitic lava fl ows that formed the Las Cumbres stratovolcano, with an estimated volume of 200 km3. The second stage (350 - 40 ka) is represented by the collapse of the east fl ank of the Las Cumbres stratovolcano. This eruption completely modifi ed the morphology of the Las Cumbres volcano and produced debris avalanche and pyroclastic deposits, as well as lava fl ows with a minimum volume of 50 km3. The third stage (40 - 20 ka), include the rhyolitic fall deposits of the Quetzalapa pumice, the debris avalanche deposits from the small fl ank collapse at the Sillatepec dome, and the extrusion of the dacitic Chichihuale dome. Its estimated volume is 20 km3. The fourth stage (<20 ka) was dominated by intense monogenetic activity, particularly to the north of the LCVC, with scoria cones showing a regional NE-SW orientation. According to the mineralogy and chemistry of the rocks presented in this paper, processes of assimilation and contamination might have affected the LCVC magmas.
Key words: volcanism; volcanic complex; Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt; volcanic stratigraphy; Veracruz; Puebla; Mexico
El Complejo Volcánico de Las Cumbres (CVLC) es parte de la cordillera volcánica formada por el extinto volcán Cofre de Perote en el norte y el volcán activo Pico de Orizaba o Citlaltépetl en el sur. Este rasgo fi siográfi co es uno de los más sobresalientes en la parte oriental de la Faja Volcánica Transmexicana y constituye el parteaguas entre el Altiplano Mexicano y la Planicie Costera del Golfo. El presente estudio geológico describe las diferentes estructuras volcánicas que constituyen el CVLC, cuyo basamento está formado por calizas del Cretácico Superior, así como por rocas terciarias de composición sienítica que intrusionan a las calizas. En el mapa geológico se representan diez unidades litoestratigráfi cas de origen volcánico derivadas de la actividad de los diferentes centros de emisión que conforman el CVLC. La historia eruptiva del CVLC se subdivide en cuatro etapas. La primera y más antigua (~600 ka) está constituida por potentes fl ujos de lava de composición andesítica que formaron el estratovolcán Las Cumbres, con un volumen total de aproximadamente 200 km3. Durante la segunda etapa (350 - 40 ka) ocurrió el colapso del fl anco oriental del estratovolcán Las Cumbres. Este evento modifcó completamente la morfología del volcán y produjo depósitos de avalancha, derrames de lava y depósitos piroclásticos con un volumen mínimo de 50 km3. La tercera etapa (40 - 20 ka) incluye los depósitos riolíticos de caída de la Pómez Quetzalapa, el colapso de dimensiones moderadas del fl aco norte del domo Sillatepec y la extrusión del domo dacítico Chichihuale. El volumen de magma implicado durante esta etapa se estima en 20 km3. Durante la cuarta etapa (<20 ka) predominó una intensa actividad monogenética, especialmente en la porción norte del CVLC. A escala regional los conos de escoria muestran una orientación predominante de NE-SW. De acuerdo con los análisis mineralógicos y geoquímicos presentados en este artículo se infi ere que ciertos procesos de asimilación y contaminación pudieron afectar a los magmas del CVLC.
Palabras clave: vulcanismo; complejo volcánico; Faja Volcánica Trans-Mexicana; estratigrafía volcánica; Veracruz; Puebla; México
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Financial support for this study was provided by the Instituto de Geología (UNAM) and UNAM-PADEP grants 030313 and 030338. Radiocarbon ages were determined at the University of Arizona in Tucson by Chris Eastoe and Austin Long. Mike Sheridan kindly provided the 40Ar/39Ar date from Las Cumbres which was determined by Steven Ownby from the University of Michigan. Discussions in the field with Mike Sheridan, Jean-Christophe Komorowski, Gerardo Carrasco, Claus Siebe, José Luis Macías, Lee Siebert and Bernard Hubbard were really helpful to improve this paper. Special thanks to Rufino Lozano and Patricia Girón for XRF analyses, and to Juan T. Vázquez for preparation of thin sections. Kevin Scott provided the 14C date from Patlanalán. Partial support was provided by CONACyT (project 42644). I am especially indebted to reviewers G. Carrasco and J.L. Macías for through discussion and L. Ferrari and T. Orozco for editorial handling.
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Received: May 10, 2004; Revised: September 29, 2004; Accepted: January 28, 2005