Mesozoic sequence stratigraphy and paleogeographic evolution of northeast Mexico

Abstract

The Monterrey-Saltillo area of northeast Mexico is the juncture of two distinctly different Mexican tectono-stratigraphic provinces, the eastern Gulf of Mexico province and the western Pacific Mexico province, where Gulf of Mexico-driven versus Pacificdriven tectono-stratigraphic processes can be compared and contrasted. Each of these provinces are large subregions that have distinctive and separate tectonic evolutions, and different resulting stratigraphic packaging. They are characterized by distinctive structural belts and structural styles and basement. The different stratigraphies record a subregional response to the interaction of provincial tectonics (i.e., convergent versus divergent margins), eustatic changes in sea level, and sediment type and supply. The Monterrey-Saltillo area contains elements related to both Gulf of Mexico passive-margin development (principally the stratigraphy) and Pacific-related convergent margin (arc) tectonism (chiefly the structure). Thus a complete understanding of the area is critical in linking together two somewhat disparate geologic provinces in Mexico.In the Gulf of Mexico province, the tectonic evolution is dominated by passivemargin development associated with the opening of the Gulf of Mexico, overprinted by nonigneous Laramide orogenic effects. The stratigraphic evolution is dominated principally by eustasy in as far as thick regional accommodation cycles can be correlated throughout the Gulf of Mexico. I propose that the Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous stratigraphy of northeast Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico area in general can be subdivided into four major, second-order depositional supersequences (~15 m.y. duration), defined as large regionally correlative, retrogradational to aggradational-progradational accommodation packages. Each supersequence exhibits systematic vertical stacking patterns and associated lateral facies shifts within subordinate third-order sequences (1-3 m.y. duration) and component lateral-vertical facies and systems tracts. The four supersequences are supersequence 1-upper Bathonian to lower Kimmeridgian (158.5-144 Ma); supersequence 2-lower Kimmeridgian to Berriasian (144-128.5 Ma); supersequence 3-Valanginian to lower Aptian (128.5-112 Ma); supersequence 4-lower Aptian to upper Albian (112-98 Ma). (Note that these ages are not certain.) Second-order supersequence boundaries, condensed sections, transgressive surfaces, and second-order systems tracts have been identified in outcrops of the Sierra Madre Oriental, biostratigraphically dated, and correlated with the northern U.S. Gulf of Mexico stratigraphic section. The identification of these components is based on (1) gross shelf to basin relationships of onlapping and offlapping facies; (2) stacking Goldhammer, R. K., 1999, Mesozoic sequence stratigraphy and paleogeographic evolution of northeast Mexico, in Bartolini, C., Wilson, J. L., and Lawton, T. F., eds., Mesozoic Sedimentary and Tectonic History of North-Central Mexico: Boulder, Colorado, Geological Society of America Special Pa...

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