Petrologic and Rb-Sr Isotopic Study of the Chiquimula Pluton, Southeastern Guatemala

The calcalkaline White Hill Intrusive Suite, central Takitimu Mountains, western Southland, New Zealand

“…The White Hill Intrusives resemble subvolcanic intrusive suites in other calcalkaline island arc terranes (Fiske et al 1963;Cater 1969;Clemons & Long 1972). The similarities in chemistry and mineralogy between the intrusive suite and the Takitimu Group suggest they were probably comagmatic.…”

Along and across arc geochemical variations in NW Central America: Evidence for involvement of lithospheric pyroxenite

“…The Chiquimula plutonic complex consists of gabbroic through granitic rocks, which yield a whole-rock Rb/Sr age of 50 ± 9 Ma and an initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of $0.706 (Clemons and Long, 1971), close to the value measured for sample G1 of 0.70596 (Feigenson et al, 2004). On the other hand, a biotite whole-rock Rb/Sr isochron from a granitic sample produced an age of 95 ± 1 Ma (two sigma), whereas a K/Ar age of 83.9 ± 1.7 Ma was obtained on "the same material" (Clemons and Long, 1971). Assuming an initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr of 0.706 and using the Rb and Sr concentrations measured by ICP-MS, which generate a very high 87 Rb/ 86 Sr ratio of 9.56, we obtained an age of 9.5 Ma for granitic sample G3.…”

Pacbitun (Belize) and ancient Maya use of slate

“…In Belize, slates can be found in the Saiita Rosa Group of beds, at locations skirting the Maya Mountains, including the vicinity of Pacbitun. Elsewhere in the Maya subarea of Mesoamerica, slate occurs within the El Tambor Formation, part of the Chiquimula pluton in southeastern Guatemala (Clemons & Long 1971); sediments overlying the formation include phyllites. Similar granitic plutons extend into northern Honduras.…”