• Title/Summary/Keyword: Zacatecas

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A Study on Geology and Mineralization in San Luis Potosi, Mexico (멕시코 산 루이스 포토시주의 지질 및 광화작용에 대한 고찰)

  • Oh, Il Hwan;Heo, Chul Ho
    • Journal of the Korean earth science society
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    • v.40 no.2
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    • pp.163-176
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    • 2019
  • The Potosinian geological basement in central Mexico is comprised of the Upper Paleozoic metamorphic rocks, which crop out on the Sierra de Catorce nucleus located in the northeastern part of the state. The sedimentary sequence that covers unconformably the Paelozoic basement is represented by an Upper Triassic marine sedimentary sequence, correlating to the Zacatecas Formation and the Upper Triassic continental Huizachal Formation red beds, which in turn are covered either by La Joja Formation Jurassic red beds or by Upper Jurassic marine sediments. This sequence is overlain by the conformable Cretaceous calcareous marine sedimentary rocks in all the state of San Luis Potosi. The Cenozoic sequence unconformably covers some of the aforementioned rocks and is represented by undifferentiated volcanic rocks as well as by marine clastic rocks. The existing intrusive igneous rocks are felsic to intermediate composition, and they intrude the metamorphic basement and sedimentary rocks. Conglomerates with evaporitic sediments were deposited during the Pleistocene. The Quaternary sequence includes basalt flows, piedmont deposits, alluvium, and occasionally evaporites and caliche layers. In the state of San Luis Potosi, a great diversity of mineral deposit types is known as both metallic and nonmetallic. The host rocks of these deposits vary from one another including formations that represent from Paleozoic up to Tertiary. The mineralization age corresponds approximately to Tertiary (75%), and is mainly epigenetic. Conclusively, the data on geology and mineralization in San Luis Potosi, Mexico are helpful to predict a hidden ore body and select promising mineralized zone(s) when the domestic company makes inroads in the mining sector of Mexico.