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La Caldera Tilzapotla
La Caldera Tilzapotla
www.elsevier.com/locate/jvolgeores
a
Instituto de Geologa, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico D.F. 04510, Mexico
Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, Campus Box 399, Boulder, CO 80309-0399, USA
Abstract
The Tilzapotla caldera constitutes the first discovery of a major Tertiary collapse volcanic structure south of the Mexican
Volcanic Belt. Although it is spatially associated with silicic ignimbrites in a region relatively distant from the extensive
ignimbritic province of the Sierra Madre Occidental (SMO), it is among the largest collapse calderas documented in Mexico. The
caldera is defined by a 33 24 km semi-elliptical structure that encircles the largest exposures of the Tilzapotla ignimbrite and
corresponds to the structural margin rather than the topographic rim. A central uplifted block limited by NW-trending faults is the
main indication of a resurgent stage. The caldera structural margin is surrounded by extensive exposures of Cretaceous marine
sequences that structurally define a broad elliptical dome (45 35 km) originated in the first stage of the caldera evolution.
There is evidence showing that the 34 Ma Tilzapotla ignimbrite represents the climatic event of the caldera collapse. It is
constituted by a massive sequence of crystal vitric tuff with conspicuous euhedral biotite and abundant quartz. The intra-caldera
facies is intercalated with mega- and meso-breccias of limestone and anhydrite fragments derived from the slumping of the caldera
wall during the caldera collapse. The overlying sequence includes post-collapse ignimbrites as well as amphibole and pyroxene
bearing dacitic to andesitic lava flows. The age (33 to 32 Ma) and isotopic signatures of these lava flows indicate a resurgent event
related with the input of more primitive magmas into the magma chamber.
The rectilinear northeastern and southwestern segments of the structural margin of the caldera correspond to NW-trending
tectonic lineaments that are part of a regional strike-slip system, active at the time of the caldera formation. We interpret that the
NW tectonic structures defined zones of weakness that accommodated the caldera collapse in the northeastern and southwestern
segments of the caldera structural margin.
D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: collapse caldera; resurgent caldera; strike-slip tectonics; ignimbrite; mega-breccia; Mexico
1. Introduction
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +52-5-616-0557; fax: +52-5-5506644.
E-mail address: dantez@servidor.unam.mx
(D.J. Moran-Zenteno).
1
Present address: Centro de Geociencias, Universidad Nacional
Autonoma de Mexico, Campus Juriquilla, Queretaro, Qro., 76230
Mexico.
0377-0273/$ - see front matter D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2004.04.002
Although the Tilzapotla caldera is a volcanic structure with a remarkable semi-elliptical expression in
satellite images (Fig. 1), it was not recognized as a
major volcanic structure until recently (Moran-Zenteno
et al., 1998), probably due to the paucity of studies
98
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
Fig. 1. Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) image of the Tilzapotla caldera area. Tz = Tilzapotla ignimbrite, Tr = Rodarte ignimbrite, Tg = Gallego
ignimbrite, Ts = El Salto lava flows, Th = hypabyssal rocks, Gd = Coxcatlan granodiorite intrusion, Km = marine Cretaceous rocks. The caldera
structural margin and main tectonic lineaments are indicated. The area where the elliptical dome is recognizable is encircled by a finer dashed
line. Satellite image is provided by Industrias Penoles Mining Company.
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
99
Fig. 2. (A) Sketch map of the central part of the northern Sierra Madre del Sur showing the distribution of Tertiary volcanic rocks and the main
Cenozoic tectonic features in the region. (B) Distribution of the ignimbritic rocks attributed in this study to the Tilzapotla caldera, including the
distribution of the outflow sheet remnants of the Tilzapotla ignimbrite.
1999). Volcanic rocks of this belt range in composition from basaltic-andesite to rhyolite. Coeval batholiths are broadly exposed along the exhumed
continental margin of southern Mexico. Both, the
Tertiary plutonic and volcanic belts represent the wide
magmatic arc of the Sierra Madre del Sur. It was
originated during subduction episodes along the Pacific margin previous to, and in part contemporary,
with the margin truncation attributed to the displacement of the Chortis block (Ross and Scotese, 1988;
Pindell et al., 1988; Ratschbacher et al., 1991; Herrmann et al., 1994; Schaaf et al., 1995; Moran-Zenteno
et al., 1999). The Tertiary magmatism of the Sierra
Madre del Sur is partially coeval with the major
episodes of Oligocene ignimbrite volcanism of the
northern and southeastern Sierra Madre Occidental
(McDowell and Clabaugh, 1979; Nieto-Samaniego et
al., 1999, Ferrari et al., 2002; Aranda-Gomez et al.,
2003). The region where the Tilzapotla caldera is
100
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
Fig. 3. Geologic map of the Tilzapotla caldera area. Distribution of Mesozoic units was based on the geologic map published by Consejo de
Recursos Minerales (Rivera-Carranza et al., 1998). Sections A B and C D presented in Fig. 5 are indicated as solid lines.
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
101
Fig. 4. Structural sketch map showing the caldera margin, the resurgence block and the related tectonic lineaments. Solid lines indicate those
segments with direct evidence of the position of the structural margin. Fault data and striations from selected localities are shown in equal area
nets, lower hemisphere. Plunges that portray the structural interference between the dome structure and the Laramide folds are shown in the
inset. Solid and open circles indicate plunges measured in marine beds distributed south and north of the caldera, respectively.
102
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
Fig. 5. Schematic N S and E W trending sections through the Tilzapotla caldera. Vertical scale is exaggerated to enhance resurgence features.
The ring fault projection is shown vertical for convenience. Note changes in altitude of Tilzapotla and Rodarte ignimbrites produced by the
uplift of the central block.
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
103
caldera display left lateral to oblique kinematic indicators (Fig. 4). These faults also affect the volcanic
rocks of the caldera indicating that strike-slip faulting
continued after the caldera formation.
3. Volcanic stratigraphy
The most extensive volcanic cover related to the
Tilzapotla caldera is continuously distributed within
the caldera, over an area of 700 km2. Outcrops of the
outflow facies are discontinuously distributed to the
northeast and south of the caldera (Figs. 2B and 3).
Due to the regional dissection, the outflow facies
represent less than 30% of the total area of the volcanic
cover and only incomplete sections are preserved.
The base of the volcanic sequence is not exposed
within the structural margin of the Tilzapotla caldera. A
maximum exposed thickness of 1500 m, including the
caldera forming ignimbrite and lava flows of the resurgence, has been estimated for the central segment of the
caldera. Pyroclastic and lava flows were grouped based
on lithological similarities or when contrasting flow
units of a continuous sequence could not be separated
due to scale restrictions (Figs. 3 and 6). The outflow
volcanic sequence has a maximum preserved thickness
of 50 m in the proximal facies. Ash fall deposits are
preserved only where they lie between ignimbrites. Precollapse pyroclastic deposits were only observed in
restricted outcrops near the eastern ring segment (km
147.5, highway 95). They are represented by a 3-m-thick
layer of altered ash fall tuff that underlies the extracaldera facies of the Tilzapotla ignimbrite.
K Ar, Rb Sr and Ar Ar dates from the volcanic
units of the Tilzapotla caldera obtained in this study are
listed in Tables 1A, 1B and 1C. K Ar dates for the
whole volcanic sequence range from 35.5 to 32.6 Ma,
whereas those for the ignimbrites representative of the
climatic event range from 35 to 34 Ma. A 34.26 F 0.09
Ma Ar Ar date was calculated from individual analyses of 21 sanidine grains (Table 1B, Fig. 7) from the
middle part of the of the Tilzapotla ignimbrite. There is
a previously reported K Ar date of 31.9 F 1 Ma for a
biotite concentrate of the intra-caldera Tilzapotla ignimbrite (Alba-Aldave et al., 1996; Moran-Zenteno et
al., 1999) (sample SOL5), but replicate analyses of the
K content of this sample provided a corrected date of
35.1 F 1 Ma. This corrected date is more compatible
104
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
Fig. 6. Generalized composite stratigraphic sections of the central eastern and the western zones of the Tilzapotla caldera, as well as the extracaldera section observed south of Valle de Vazquez. Since the thickness of volcanic units is variable, those indicated are only representative.
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
105
Table 1A
K Ar and Ar Ar and Rb Sr dates
Location
Mineral
Rock
40
99j11V57U
18j19V33U
99j10V58U
18j21V15U
99j14V54U
18j03V24U
99j24V30U
10j33V51U
99j10V39W
biotite
ignimbrite
4.389 10
10
7.14
35.1 F 1.0
biotite
ignimbrite
3.851 10
10
6.45
34.1 F 1.1
biotite
ignimbrite
4.022 10
10
6.62
34.7 F 1.0
biotite
ignimbrite
3.843 10
10
6.40
34.3 F 1.5
sanidine
ignimbrite
Single crystal
Ar Ar datea
99j13V34U
18j26V32U
plg
ignimbrite
0.154 10
10
0.27
32.6 F 2.5
sanidine
rhyolite
2.742 10
10
4.41
35.5 F 1.0
plg
andesite
0.307 10
10
0.51
34.4 F 1.4
plg
andesite
0.298 10
10
0.52
32.8 F 1.6
Tz 63-02
99j72V42U
18j43V45U
99j17V06U
18j26V37U
99j17V61U
18j26V41U
99j17V10W
plg
andesite
Ar Ar plateau
ageb
32.75 F 0.1
Tz 62-02
18j27V05W
99j17V09W
plg
andesite
Ar Ar isochron
ageb
33.43 F 0.1
Sample
Tilzpotla ignimbrite
Sol 5
Sol 9
Tz25-98
Tz145-01
SOL 2
Ar* (mol/g)
K (%)
Age (Ma)
34.26 F 0.1
18j22V33W
Rodarte ignimbrite
Tz187-01
Hypabyssal and
El Salto lava flows
Tz4-99
Tz17-99
Tz18-99
18j17V09W
Sample
Location
Mineral
Rb (ppm)
Sr (ppm)
87
Sr/86Sr
Age (Ma)
Coxcatlan granodiorite
Bv 21
Bv 21
99j27V29W
18j29V47W
biotite
WR
693
103
10
193
0.793522
0.705937
32.18 F 1
K Ar and Ar Ar dates obtained in this study for different volcanic units. K Ar dates were carried out in the Laboratorio Universitario de
Geoqumica Isotopica (LUGIS) at the National University of Mexico (UNAM). Ar Ar analytical data of sample Sol 2.
a
Data in Table 1B.
b
Data in Table 1C.
groundmass seems to have been originally vitroclastic, there are no preserved fractions of unaltered
glass. The phenocryst fraction includes quartz, broken plagioclase, minor sanidine, and conspicuous
euhedral biotite. The lithic fraction is dominated
by fragments of crypto-crystalline texture and, in a
minor proportion, by porphyritic lava and sub-volcanic fragments. Phenocrysts range from 15 to 50
(vol.) %, being quartz and plagioclase the most
106
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
Table 1B
49
Ar 39Ar laser total fusion single-crystal age data for 21 sanidine grains of sample Sol 2, J = 0.004784 F 0.25%
Tilzapotla ignimbrite
Unit
39
40
Tilzapotla,
99j10.6548V,
18j22.5526V
1.90e 14
3.09e 14
2.16e 14
2.59e 14
3.96e 14
4.22e 14
3.67e 14
4.15e 14
4.34e 14
2.23e 14
3.17e 14
3.36e 14
3.80e 14
1.86e 14
2.29e 14
3.84e 15
1.53e 14
1.73e 14
9.96e + 15
2.25e 14
3.08e 14
97.3
87.2
97.7
97.1
91.7
97.1
98.3
97.1
97.6
98.5
98.3
97.9
89.1
95.4
96.4
74.3
95.2
96.8
83.4
79.6
99.6
3.975
3.979
3.984
3.984
3.991
3.994
3.996
3.997
3.998
4.001
4.002
4.002
4.005
4.008
4.010
4.016
4.017
4.017
4.028
4.030
4.075
Ark (mol)
Ar*/39Ark
K/Ca
K/Cl
60.46
75.70
60.75
66.62
73.96
66.31
65.49
67.93
66.09
70.22
73.10
75.64
68.97
69.16
65.23
3.80
70.22
41.05
60.86
60.46
75.36
88.89
53.22
96.53
91.16
109.29
111.23
120.19
91.41
120.48
92.94
125.31
104.6
76.98
117.79
51.73
47.30
48.85
120.05
90.09
99.01
134.59
34.06 F 0.07
34.10 F 0.08
34.14 F 0.06
34.14 F 0.06
34.20 F 0.06
34.23 F 0.05
34.24 F 0.05
34.25 F 0.05
34.26 F 0.05
34.29 F 0.06
34.29 F 0.05
34.30 F 0.06
34.32 F 0.07
34.35 F 0.07
34.36 F 0.07
34.42 F 0.26
34.42 F 0.08
34.42 F 0.06
34.51 F 0.13
34.53 F 0.11
34.91 F 0.05
Weighted mean
age = 34.26 F 0.09 Ma
Analyses in italics are not used to calculate the weighted mean age.
Ar Ar analytical data of samples Tz 63-02 and Tz 62-02. Ar Ar dates were carried out at the Thermochronology Laboratory of the USGS
Denver (see Appendices A and B for analytical procedures).
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
107
Table 1C
Ar Ar samples Tz 63-02 and Tz 62-02
Unit/location
T (jC)
% 39Ar
of total
Radiogenic
yield (%)
39
Ark
(mol 10
Ar*/39Ark
Apparent
K/Ca
Apparent
K/Cl
3.959
3.861
3.826
3.856
3.865
3.860
0.07
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
0.06
1949
33.62 F 0.22
3069
32.80 F 0.08
2356
32.50 F 0.17
623
32.75 F 0.24
453
32.82 F 0.14
1786
32.78
Plateau age = 32.75 F 0.11
Isochron age = 32.52 F 0.36
3.970
4.036
3.954
3.972
4.053
4.074
4.004
2.38
1.47
0.67
0.45
0.42
0.46
1.08
1438
33.74 F 0.05
0
34.29 F 0.03
0
33.60 F 0.06
6792
33.75 F 0.04
2999
34.44 F 0.06
1296
34.62 F 0.06
1422
34.03
No plateau Isochron
age = 33.43 F 0.13
40
12
mg
0.344868
1.397529
0.869966
0.530456
0.253340
0.232592
3.628751
Apparent age
(Ma F 1r)
108
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
Fig. 7. Graphic representations of Ar Ar data obtained from samples: (a) Sol 2 of the Tilzapotla ignimbrite; (b) Tz 62-02 and (c) Tz 63-02 of the
El Salto lava flows. The Sol 2 age was obtained from the total fusion of 21 single crystals of sanidine. See data in Tables 1B and 1C and
analytical procedures in Appendix A.
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
109
Fig. 8. Blocks of limestone embedded in the Tilzapotla ignimbrite of the mega-breccia interval from localities at the southeastern segment of the
ring fault.
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
110
Table 2
Major element chemical analyses
Sample
SiO2
TiO2
Al2O3
Fe2O3
MnO
MgO
CaO
Na2O
K2O
P2O5
LOI
Total
1.17
0.65
0.97
0.73
0.63
0.68
0.95
0.86
0.69
0.65
0.78
0.60
0.76
0.72
0.60
0.60
17.87
17.00
15.7
16.79
17.24
18.08
18.11
16.95
16.83
17.51
17.73
16.32
17.35
18.11
16.46
16.33
7.57
5.30
5.62
5.56
5.98
6.34
6.75
5.78
5.40
5.72
6.69
6.24
6.36
6.83
4.88
4.75
0.11
0.08
0.192
0.10
0.10
0.06
0.05
0.05
0.07
0.09
0.08
0.12
0.13
0.10
0.14
0.05
3.63
2.53
2.17
2.44
2.72
1.29
1.41
2.06
2.25
2.60
1.30
2.41
2.29
3.29
1.01
1.20
6.85
5.22
4.99
5.21
5.61
4.21
5.29
5.01
4.94
5.77
5.00
5.17
5.79
5.25
4.05
3.97
3.43
3.66
3.2
3.81
3.85
3.49
3.53
3.20
4.16
4.27
3.96
3.61
4.28
4.28
4.03
3.39
1.38
1.94
2.11
1.79
2.01
2.45
1.65
2.21
2.04
1.51
2.07
1.95
2.05
1.66
2.77
2.85
0.29
0.16
0.159
0.18
0.16
0.15
0.25
0.32
0.19
0.20
0.26
0.16
0.25
0.20
0.17
0.16
1.06
1.49
1.82
1.54
1.97
2.53
1.67
2.10
0.90
1.27
1.74
2.77
1.62
1.83
1.17
2.61
100.74
100.13
99.94
100.03
100.17
99.67
100.70
99.86
100.20
100.25
100.34
100.44
100.40
99.53
100.24
100.17
rocks
0.38
0.82
0.29
0.71
0.73
0.44
0.46
0.41
0.64
0.51
0.36
0.54
14.47
17.38
14.56
16.89
17.97
17.35
14.43
16.81
15.53
14.33
15.57
14.29
3.41
6.23
2.57
6.20
6.77
5.30
4.49
4.95
4.76
4.96
3.92
4.41
0.087
0.11
0.07
0.10
0.18
0.10
0.05
0.06
0.09
0.06
0.02
0.05
0.636
2.60
1.11
2.24
2.55
1.88
1.55
0.69
1.39
0.92
0.35
1.75
2.42
5.50
2.42
5.35
6.48
3.40
3.05
2.78
3.44
3.39
2.46
3.14
2.63
3.61
3.52
4.09
3.71
3.53
2.59
3.35
3.54
2.10
4.00
3.45
4.71
1.65
3.59
2.05
2.11
3.28
1.55
2.84
3.38
4.01
3.19
3.53
0.09
0.22
0.11
0.22
0.19
0.15
0.17
0.13
0.11
0.10
0.08
0.11
2.44
1.49
1.10
1.59
3.86
4.57
6.36
3.16
1.17
2.20
1.23
1.50
100.68
99.93
100.07
100.23
99.71
101.35
100.37
100.02
100.36
100.80
100.35
100.13
Tilzapotla ignimbrite
SOL2
64.09
SOL5
68.32
Hz1
65.56
Hz2
67.74
Hz3
64.79
Tz25-98
68.50
Tz49-99
63.32
Tz105-00
67.48
Tz112-00
64.01
Tz112V-00
65.37
Tz145-01
69.11
0.49
0.48
0.55
0.55
0.52
0.37
0.46
0.53
0.42
0.46
0.40
14.06
14.34
14.97
14.84
14.53
15.03
13.67
14.97
13.29
14.69
14.66
3.47
3.59
4.61
4.28
4.71
3.28
3.98
4.54
3.92
3.63
3.56
0.04
0.02
0.06
0.11
0.07
0.036
0.04
0.08
0.07
0.09
0.04
1.04
1.40
1.71
1.55
1.70
0.58
0.60
1.49
1.06
0.40
1.19
5.84
3.67
2.35
3.03
3.01
2.7
5.12
3.78
5.43
4.36
2.13
3.54
1.99
2.49
3.37
2.29
3.02
0.52
3.23
0.22
0.33
2.84
2.74
4.14
5.04
3.55
4.82
5.251
5.41
3.74
3.76
4.12
4.05
0.07
0.05
0.06
0.07
0.06
0.085
0.09
0.17
0.09
0.11
0.08
5.39
4.68
3.85
1.89
4.63
1.00
7.15
0.77
8.30
7.20
2.20
100.75
102.68
101.25
100.96
101.12
99.86
100.30
100.77
100.57
100.75
100.25
Rodarte ignimbrite
Tz53-99
70.84
Tz185-01
70.07
Tz187-01
69.83
Tz188-01
68.65
0.39
0.56
0.40
0.58
12.49
15.51
14.73
15.67
2.28
3.05
3.78
3.39
0.075
0.05
0.05
0.06
0.976
0.43
0.56
0.05
2.97
1.75
2.52
2.26
2.84
4.33
2.66
4.31
3.99
4.10
4.55
3.87
0.078
0.05
0.05
0.12
3.11
0.60
1.10
0.70
100.04
100.50
100.22
99.66
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
111
Table 2 (continued)
Sample
SiO2
Gallego formation
Bv1
69.05
Tz53-99
70.84
Tz182-01
66.42
Tz17b-02
72.88
Tz17c-02
74.37
Tz27-03
66.73
TiO2
Al2O3
Fe2O3
MnO
MgO
CaO
Na2O
K2 O
P2O5
LOI
Total
0.29
0.391
0.64
0.15
0.16
0.66
14.7
12.49
16.35
12.72
12.99
15.28
2.35
2.28
5.14
1.52
1.36
4.85
0.06
0.08
0.04
0.05
0.04
0.05
0.78
0.98
0.43
0.40
0.51
1.09
2.44
2.97
3.09
1.36
0.94
2.90
3.49
2.84
3.46
3.24
2.38
3.35
3.48
3.99
3.31
3.91
4.75
3.22
0.11
0.08
0.16
0.06
0.03
0.16
3.71
3.11
1.20
3.84
1.74
2.10
100.46
100.04
100.24
100.13
99.27
100.34
Whole rock chemical composition of representative samples of the volcanic sequence in the study area. Analyses were carried out by XRF at the
Laboratorio Universitario de Geoqumica Isotopica (LUGIS) at UNAM.
ash fall tuff. The most extensive outcrops are distributed near Coaxintlan (Fig. 3).
Fig. 9. TAS diagram showing the composition of representative samples of different volcanic units of the Tilzapotla caldera. See data in Table 2.
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
112
Table 3
Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic data of selected samples of the Tilzapotla ignimbrite, lava flows of the resurgence and hypabyssal rocks of the study area
Sample
Rb
Sr
Rb/Sr
87
87
Rb/
Sr
87
Sr/
Sr
2rmean
86
87
Sr/
Sri
86
Sm
Nd
147
143
144
144
144
Sm/
Nd
Nd/
Nd
2rmean
143
Nd/
Ndi
0.1
0.15
0.06
0.289 0.703773 F 13
0.424 0.703890 F 10
0.174 0.703534 F 10
0.703634
0.703685
0.703450
0.512858 F 5
0.512820 F 6
0.512900 F 6
0.512828
0.512793
0.512871
Ignimbrites
Sol 2
Tz 25-98
Tz 53-99
0.512571 F 4
0.512586 F 5
0.512588 F 5
0.512539
0.512557
0.512562
0.512778
0.512769
0.512631
0.512598
0.512580
0.512748
0.512740
0.512601
0.512570
0.512556
113
197
131
255
227
133
0.44
0.87
0.98
1.161 0.707132 F 15
2.511 0.706688 F 9
2.85 0.707227 F 15
0.706586
0.705476
0.705851
Hypabyssal rocks
Bv12
98
Bv17
89
Tz 4-98
223
Tz 48-99
194
Tz 136-01
143
374
471
141
213
208
0.26
0.19
1.58
0.91
0.69
0.758
0.547
4.576
2.635
1.989
Sample
206
Pb/204Pb
207
Pb/204Pb
0.704097
0.704044
0.707560
0.706480
0.705518
F 17
F 15
F 11
F9
F 11
F5
F 12
F5
F4
F5
208
Pb/204Pb
38.516
38.515
38.445
38.626
38.451
38.440
38.602
38.557
38.811
38.696
38.822
The Sr, Nd and Sm isotope ratios were determined using a Finnigan MAT262 mass spectrometer equipped with eight faraday collectors, installed
at the Isotope Geochemistry Laboratory (LUGIS) of the National University of Mexico. The isotopic measurements were made in a static
collection mode. Analysis of Rb were carried out using a single collector NBS mass spectrometer. Rb, Sr, Sm and Nd, were loaded as chlorides
and measured as metallic ions. Values of 2r(m) (2r(m) = 2rabsMn) were calculated from 60 individual isotopic determinations for Rb, Sr and Nd
and 20 for Sm. The measured 87Sr/86Sr values were normalized to an 86Sr/88Sr value of 0.1194, and those of 143Nd/144Nd to an 146Nd/144Nd ratio
of 0.7219. The 87Sr/86Sr of the NIST-SRM987 and 143Nd/144Nd of the La Jolla-standard throughout this study were 0.710235 F 18 ( F 1rabs,
n = 237) and 0.511878 F 21 ( F 1rabs, n = 134). Pb samples were loaded with a mixture of silica gel and phosphoric acid and runs consisted of
100 individual measurements. Laboratory mean values of standard NIST-NBS981 (Pb) (206Pb/204Pb = 16.89 0.04%, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.43 0.05%,
208
Pb/204Pb = 36.51 0.07%, n = 23) (0.13% fractionation per mass unit). Pb isotope ratios presented in table are present-day values.
Relative uncertainties for 87Rb/86Sr was F 2% and for 147Sm/144Nd F 1.5% (1r). Relative reproducibility (1r) for Rb, Sr, Sm and Nd
abundances was F 4.5%, F 1.8%, F 3.2%, and F 2.7%, respectively. Total procedure blanks were 0.15 0.59 ng for Rb, 0.57 31 ng for Sr,
0.27 19 ng for Sm, 1.05 22 ng for Nd. Chemical blank for Pb was 94 pg.
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
113
Fig. 10. 87Sr/86Sri 143Nd/144Ndi diagram showing initial isotopic ratios of representative samples of volcanic rocks of the Tilzapotla caldera.
Initial ratios were calculated for t = 34 Ma. Analyses were carried out in the Laboratorio Universitario de Geoqumica Isotopica (LUGIS), UNAM.
5. Discussion
5.1. Regional stratigraphic and tectonic implications
The geochronology and distinctive features in the
petrography of the Tilzapotla ignimbrite allow to
differentiate it from other silicic ignimbrites in the
region. Although there is an overlap in the ages of the
114
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
cover. Based on similar crystal abundance and composition, at least three main flow units and one ash fall
deposit, associated with the collapse ignimbrite, were
recognized in the extra-caldera sequences preserved
east of the caldera, in the Valle de Vazquez-Chinameca
sector (Fig. 6). The massive character of most of the
intra-caldera facies of the Tilzapotla ignimbrite preclude the estimation of the number of the individual
flow unit deposits and speaks for their emplacement in
a short time interval. Slumping episodes of the caldera
inner wall are depicted mainly in the uppermost
stratigraphic levels of the ignimbrite, where they are
intercalated with meso- and mega-breccia lenses. Normal faults, near parallel to the structural margin,
cutting the breccia deposits in the caldera margin are
indicative of minor episodes of subsidence reactivation, after the main deposition episodes of intra-caldera
ignimbrite and breccias.
The size of the caldera and the structural relationships along its margin are suggestive of an overall
piston subsidence of the caldera floor. Structural
discontinuities associated with NW-trending lineaments seem to have defined the nearly rectilinear
northeastern and southwestern segments of the caldera
structural margin (Fig. 4). There are indications in the
region of left-lateral displacement along NW-trending
lvarez et al.,
faults, in late Eocene time (Alaniz-A
2002). Temporally and locally NW-trending faults,
limiting the Tilzapotla caldera, had a vertical component associated with the collapse. Fault plane kinematic indicators, affecting the Tilzapotla ignimbrite,
show that the left-lateral displacement continued after
the collapse in the caldera area.
5.2.3. Volume estimation
The estimation of the total volume of the Tilzapotla
ignimbrite is restricted by the incomplete exposure of
the intra-caldera facies and the poorly preserved
outflow sheet. The maximum exposed thickness of
the intra-caldera facies, near the southeastern segment
of the caldera ring fault, is about 600 m. If we assume
a conservative thickness of 1000 m and a caldera area
of 550 km2 defined by the ring fault zone, we obtain a
minimum volume of 550 km3 for the intra-caldera
facies. This volume includes the host rock breccia
accumulations derived from the slumping and caving
of the caldera walls. The contrasting topography at the
time of the caldera formation and the erosion effects to
115
the original thickness make difficult a realistic estimation of the outflow sheet volume. The preserved
outflow exposures suggest that they could have been
continuously distributed in an area of about 4500 km2.
The thickness of the preserved outflow sheet varies
from 50 m, near the northwestern caldera ring, to 5 m
in the more distal outcrops. Assuming an average
thickness of 10 m for the outflow sheet, a volume of
45 km3 can be estimated for the outflow facies. Given
these conservative assumptions and taking into account the caldera size volume correlation inferred by
Smith (1979), the total figure of 600 km3 must be
considered a minimum.
5.2.4. Post-collapse and resurgent stages
Ash flow units of the Rodarte ignimbrite display
evidence of post-collapse and pre-resurgence volcanism. Erosive contacts among pyroclastic flow units
are indicative of a reduction in the volcanic activity
following the major ash flow events related to the
caldera collapse. In the Mesa del Rodarte area, ignimbrite layers are in a subhorizontal position but to the
south, at the margin of the uplifted block, they are
tilted to the northeast. This fact and the higher
topographic position of equivalent ignimbrite layers
over the central block are indicative of pre-resurgence
emplacement. The remnants of conglomerate and
agglomerate sequences of the Salitre formation over
the central block are indicative of fluvial and debris
flow accumulations, coeval with volcanism and previous to the resurgence stage. There are no remnants
of lacustrine sediments preserved within the caldera.
Lava flows of the El Salto formation are mainly
distributed on topographic highs in the central area of
the caldera, but they also display a continuous distribution to lower topographic positions. The elongated
shape of the lava flows flanked by older units and the
intercalation of auto-breccias and debris flow deposits, suggest that they descended along relatively steep
narrow canyons.
The gradual change in composition of the resurgence lava flows of the Salto formation from dacitic to
more intermediate indicates the extrusion of magma
coming from deeper levels of a zoned magma chamber or the input of new magma. The relatively large
difference in isotopic signatures between the collapse
ignimbrites and lava flows of the resurgence, as well
as the variability in isotopic ratios of hypabyssal
116
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
rocks, favors the assumption of the chamber replenishment by more primitive magma.
The most conspicuous indication of resurgence is
the NW elongated uplifted block in the central part of
the caldera (Figs. 4 and 5). The outline of the
resurgent block does not completely coincide with
the ring fault zone as in other resurgent calderas
characterized by piston subsidence (i.e. Lindsay et
al., 2001). The rectilinear SW and NE margins of the
uplifted block are near parallel to the major axis of the
caldera, but in an inner position relative to the
structural margin. The regional tectonic fabrics of
NW-trending regional faults, imposed by strike-slip
tectonics, seemed to have controlled the elongated
shape of the block (Lipman, 1984). Pre-existing
fractures in the caldera floor were probably the cause
of a block uplift style rather than a better defined
dome, involving the whole floor of the caldera. Most
lava flows and hypabyssal bodies have a source
associated to the resurgent block boundaries. Lava
flows and hypabyssal intrusions of the caldera are
located where the resurgence block boundary coincides with the ring fault zone.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to Gerardo Aguirre Diaz for
valuable suggestions and fieldwork assistance during
the first stage of this study. We also acknowledge
Enrique Gonzalez and Barbara Martiny for helpful
discussions and assistance during fieldwork. Fred
McDowell, Zinzuni Jurado and Ken Rubin made
helpful suggestions that greatly improved the manuscript. The following persons provided support in
sample analyses, fieldwork and preparation of figures
and diagrams: Margarita Reyes, Patricia Giron,
Rufino Lozano, Peter Schaaf, Rodolfo Corona,
Gabriela Sols, Juan Julio Morales, Sol Hernandez,
Gabriela Guzzy, Esther Leyva, Ahiram Monter and
Armando Alcala. Financial support came from the
Direccion General de Asuntos del Personal Academico, UNAM (Grant PAPIIT IN104802) and resources
from the Instituto de Geologa, UNAM.
Appendix A .
40
Ar 39Ar geochronology
D.J. Moran-Zenteno et al. / Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 136 (2004) 97119
Appendix B . K Ar geochronology
After drying at 110j C overnight, the mineral
fractions were split in two parts, one for K determinations and the other for Ar measurement. K was
obtained following the method of Sole and Enrique
(2001). Briefly, 100 mg of sample were fused with
117
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