Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389

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Geochronology and geochemistry of Grenvillian igneous suites

in the northern Oaxacan Complex, southern Mexico: tectonic
implications
J. Duncan Keppie c,*, J. Dostal a, K.L. Cameron b, L.A. Solari c,
F. Ortega-Gutierrez c, R. Lopez d
a
Department of Geology, St. Marys University, Halifax, NS, Canada B3H 3C3
b
Department of Earth Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
c
Instituto de Geologa, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria Mexico, Delegacion Coyoacan, 04510 Mexico
DF, Mexico
d
Geology Department, West Valley College, Saratoga, CA 95070, USA

Accepted 18 October 2002

Abstract

Chemical and U
/Pb isotopic analyses of metaigneous rocks in the northern Oaxacan Complex in southern Mexico
indicate that they form part of two granitic
/gabbroic suites intruded at
/1157
/1130 and
/1012 Ma, which were
metamorphosed under granulite facies conditions between
/1004 and 980 Ma. Although the older suite has both
within-plate and arc geochemical signatures, the arc characteristics (enrichment of La and Ce relative to Nb, Ta, and
Th) are inferred to result from crustal contamination, a conclusion consistent with their negative o Nd signatures. The
younger suite is spatially associated with anorthosites (from which we were unable to acquire a protolith age),
suggesting that collectively it forms part of anorthosite
/mangerite
/charnockite
/granite (AMCG) suites. The tholeiitic
nature of the mafic rocks along with the within-plate character of the felsic rocks suggests that they were intruded
during extension related to either farfield backarc rifting, rifting above a slab window, or anorogenic intercontinental
rifting. Potentially correlative AMCG suites are widespread in Mexico, the Grenville Province of eastern Canada and
northeastern USA, and the Andean massifs of Colombia, however, Pb isotopic data most closely resemble those in
South America. These data are consistent with published hypotheses that suggest Oaxaquia represents an exotic terrane
derived from Amazonia.
# 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Geochronology; Geochemistry; Igneous; Grenvillian; Oaxaquia; Mexico

1. Introduction

The
/1 Ga rocks of the Oaxacan Complex of

southern Mexico represent the largest exposure
* Corresponding author. Fax: /52-5-622-4303
E-mail address: duncan@servidor.unam.mx (J.D. Keppie). (10 000 km2) of the basement of the Oaxaquia

0301-9268/02/$ - see front matter # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
PII: S 0 3 0 1 - 9 2 6 8 ( 0 2 ) 0 0 1 6 6 - 3
366 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
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Fig. 1. Location of the Oaxacan Complex of southern Mexico in relation to Oaxaquia.
composite terrane (Fig. 1). Oaxaquia is defined as
a Precambrian
/Paleozoic composite terrane that
extends beneath Mesozoic and Cenozoic rocks
from the Ouachita Orogen along the backbone of
Mexico to southern Mexico (Ortega-Gutierrez et
al., 1995), and may extend into the Chortis block
of Honduras, which may have lain south of
Mexico until the Eocene (Schaaf et al., 1995;
Keppie and Ortega-Gutierrez, 1999). Thus, the
combined size of Oaxaquia and the Chortis block,
1 000 000 km2, makes it important in reconstruc-
tions of Rodinia.
There are generally two schools of thought
about the location of Oaxaquia/Chortis in Rodinia
reconstructions (Fig. 2). One school believes that
Oaxaquia represents a southern continuation of
the Grenville Orogen of eastern and southern
Laurentia (De Cserna, 1971; Shurbert and Cebull,
1987) forming a connecting segment between
Laurentia and either Antarctica (Moores, 1991;
Dalziel, 1992), the Albany
/Fraser
/Musgrave
belts of Australia (Brookfield, 1993; Karlstrom et
al., 1999; Burrett and Berry, 2000), or Siberia
(Sears and Price, 2000; Fig. 2, location #1). The
other school infers that Oaxaquia is an exotic
terrane that originally lay off either eastern
Laurentia or Amazonian, and was transferred to
southern Laurentia in the Permo-Carboniferous
during the formation of Pangea (Fig. 2, location
#2 or #3; Keppie, 1977; Ballard et al., 1989; Yanez
et al., 1991; Keppie and Ortega-Gutierrez, 1995;
Ortega-Gutierrez et al., 1999; Keppie and Ortega-
Gutierrez, 1999; Keppie and Ramos, 1999; Ramos
and Aleman, 2000; Cawood et al., 2001; Keppie et
al., in press). On the other hand, Ruiz et al. (1999)
have proposed a split model based upon whole-
rock Pb isotope data, in which they divide
Oaxaquia along the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt
and correlate the northern part with Texas, and
the southern part with Colombia. On the other
hand, Cameron et al. (2002) show that feldspar Pb
isotope data for Oaxaquia fall on a linear array
(distinct from Texas) that probably result from
mixing of two end-members, which supports the
concept of Oaxaquia as a single block. This paper
presents the results of geochronological and geo-
 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389 367

Fig. 2. One Ga reconstruction of Rodinia showing the three possible locations (1
/3) for Oaxaquia (OX) and the Chortis block (CH)
modified after Keppie and Ramos (1999), Dalziel et al. (2000) Sears and Price (2000). Inset is an enlargement of location #3 (modified
after Dalziel, 1994);
/1 Ga orogens are shaded and stars indicate the locations of AMCG complexes. Abbreviations: A, Arequipa
massif; CA, Carolina and Goochland terranes; CM, Coats Land/Maudheim/Grunehogna terrane; D, Dalradian of Scotland and
Ireland; E, Ellsworth
/Whitmore Mountains; M, Moine of Scotland; R, Rockall Plateau; SF, Sao Francisco craton; SM, Santa Marta
massif; SO, Sunsas Orogen.

chemical analyses of igneous rocks from the
northern part of the Oaxacan Complex (Fig. 3),
which bear on this problem.
2. Geological setting
Prior to our recent studies, research indicated
that the northern Oaxacan Complex consists of
paragneisses (marbles, calcsilicates, quartzofelds-
pathic and graphitic gneiss) and orthogneisses
(anorthosite, charnockite, amphibolite, and peg-
matite; Anderson and Silver, 1971; Ortega-Gutier-
rez, 1984), that were involved in a single folding
event (Kesler and Heath, 1970; Kesler, 1973)
accompanied by granulite facies metamorphism
with peak temperatures and pressures of 700
/
825 8C at 7.2
/8.2 kb under restricted PH2O
conditions (Mora et al., 1986). The oldest dated
charnockite yielded a U
/Pb age of
/1113 Ma
(Silver et al., 1994) with pegmatites giving con-
cordant U
/Pb zircon ages of 10509/20, 9759/10,
and 9609/15 Ma (Anderson and Silver, 1971;
Ortega-Gutierrez et al., 1977). K
/Ar cooling
368 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389

ages on hornblende, muscovite, biotite and K
/
/927, 925, 875, and 775 Ma, respectively (Fries
feldspar from cross-cutting pegmatites yielded et al., 1962; Fries and Rincon Orta, 1965).

Fig. 3. Geological map and structural section of the northern Oaxacan Complex.
 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389
Our recent studies (Solari et al., 2002) have
documented that the northern Oaxacan Complex
may be divided into a series of thrust slices (from
bottom to top; Fig. 3): (#1) anorthosite, gabbro-
norite, jotunite, and monzodiorite; (#2) cumulitic
mafic gneiss and charnockite; (#3) migmatitic
orthogneiss; (#4) paragneiss intruded by metasye-
nite, charnockite, and anorthosite. Anorthositic
dykes intrude the migmatitic orthogneiss suggest-
ing limited relative displacement between units 1
and 3 (Solari et al., 2002). On the other hand,
larger displacement across the Phanerozoic, E-
vergent, phyllonitic thrust zone between units #3
and #4 is suggested by the lack of clear correla-
tion. These studies indicate that the northern
Oaxaca Complex underwent a complex tecto-
nothermal history involving migmatization at
/
1100 Ma (Olmecan event) and granulite facies
metamorphism and deformation between
/1004
and 980 Ma (Zapotecan event; Solari et al., 2002).
All of the slices and structures were refolded by
upright-steeply inclined, NNW-trending folds dur-
ing the Phanerozoic. Early Ordovician rocks that
rest unconformably upon the northern Oaxacan
Complex were deformed by N-trending upright
folds of latest Paleozoic
/early Mesozoic age
(Centeno-Garcia and Keppie, 1999). U
/Pb geo-
chronological analyses presented here indicate at
least two episodes of intrusion for most plutonic
igneous units: ]/1130
/1157 Ma (generally upper
intercept ages for mafic rocks, metasyenite and
charnockite) in the upper thrust slice and
/1012
Ma (anorthosite, mafic cumulatic gneiss, gabbro-
norite, jotunite, garnet-bearing charnockite) in the
lower two thrust slices.
3. Petrography
Several phases of regional metamorphism of
Precambrian age have been preserved in the rocks
of the northern Oaxacan Complex. An older
migmatization event is restricted to the thrust slice
#3, but was mineralogically replaced by younger
regional granulite facies metamorphism that is
pervasive throughout the complex. On the other
hand, amphibolite to greenschist facies recrystalli-
zation preferentially affected the lower slices and
369
localized shear zones. The high-grade metamorph-
ism and deformation is responsible for the general
granulitic textures and banded or foliated appear-
ance of the rocks.
3.1. Upper thrust slice (#4)
In the abundant quartzofeldspathic lithologies
of the upper slice this metamorphism produced the
entire orthopyroxene series of granitic rocks
(charnockites to enderbites), which are character-
ized by the strongly perthitic (mesoperthite) and
antiperthitic nature of the feldspar, the common
presence of garnet and the rutilated nature of
much of the quartz, which gives a bluish to
purplish aspect to many of these rocks. Hornble-
nde is very common, especially in the syenitic units
where the amphibole coexists with quartz and
mesoperthite with or without ortho- and clinopyr-
oxene. The typical, massive, green charnockite
contains alkali feldspar
/quartz
/orthopyroxene
/
clinopyroxene
/hornblende
/ore9/garnet
/biotite.
Mafic lithologies in the upper slice are char-
acterized by granoblastic to strongly foliated,
hydrous and anhydrous parageneses with ortho-
pyroxene, clinopyroxene, plagioclase, hornblende,
and opaque ore. The following assemblages were
found in textural equilibrium: plagioclase
/
orthopyroxene
/hornblende
/phlogopite9/ore, pla-
gioclase
/clinopyroxene
/hornblende
/ore, clin-
opyroxene
/plagioclase
/ore, orthopyroxene
/
hornblende
/plagioclase
/phlogopite
/ore, plagi-
oclase
/garnet
/orthopyroxene
/hornblende, plagi-
oclase
/orthopyroxene
/clinopyroxene
/hornble-
nde, and very rarely the high pressure assemblage
plagioclase
/garnet
/clinopyroxene
/quartz
/
orthopyroxene
/ore. Garnet and quartz are both
present only in rocks where orthopyroxene and/or
ilmenite reacted with plagioclase to form the high
pressure assemblage clinopyroxene
/garnet
/
quartz. Biotite and phlogopite generally form
late mineral coronas around ilmenite or occupy
irregular spaces between the other phases. The
abundant and widespread hornblende and mica
were probably stable at granulite facies due to
their high content of titanium or by a strongly
magnesian composition in intermediate rocks.
Garnet without quartz not uncommonly coexists
370 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389
with the two pyroxenes and hornblende, and could
have been stabilized by a more aluminous or
ferrian compositions. Plagioclase has extinction
angles and a negative sign indicating a composi-
tion in the andesine range in most of the mafic
rocks. An anorthosite body in the upper thrust
slice at Union Zaragoza consists mainly of plagi-
oclase with minor orthopyroxene, perthite, clino-
pyroxene and quartz and accessory apatite, ore,
biotite and garnet.
3.2. Lower thrust slices (#1 and #2)
Pure anorthosite in the lowest thrust slice has a
granoblastic texture composed of antiperthitic
andesine with apatite, ilmenite, and rarely quartz
as accessories. Antiperthite may be coarsely lamel-
lar with up to 30% orthoclase exsolution. Asso-
ciated mafic and felsic gneisses in the lower two
thrust slices are characterized by anhydrous as-
semblages and garnet upto several centimeters in
size and forming upto 60% of the rock. Most mafic
minerals were altered during retrogression, which
obscures nature of the granulitic assemblages.
Nevertheless, two-pyroxene garnetiferous assem-
blages predominate and a single sample yielded
inverted pigeonite, probably inherited from the
original magmatic mineralogy. As in the upper
slices, the high pressure assemblage clin-
opyroxene
/garnet
/quartz was very rarely devel-
oped.
Retrogressive metamorphism formed spectacu-
lar simple, double and triple coronas of amphi-
boles, micas, and epidote around pyroxenes and
titaniferous hornblende. Anthophyllite, cumming-
tonite and tremolite are the most common amphi-
boles together with uralite in the inner coronas,
whereas brown or green biotite and epidote
formed the outer rims. The retrogressive meta-
morphism proceeded into the greenschist facies
with chlorite, epidote, calcite and white mica
forming veins and patches throughout these rocks.
Talc preferentially replaced orthopyroxene as
pseudomorphs. Most alkali feldspar was converted
to microcline, whereas white mica, epidote, calcite
and leucoxene are alteration products in the
anorthosite.
4. Geochronology
U
/Pb geochronological analytical methods fol-
low procedures outlined in Lopez et al. (2001).
Seven samples were selected for isotopic analysis:
gabbro, metasyenite, and charnockite from the
upper thrust slices, and anorthosite and associated
meta-gabbronorite, mafic gneiss and charnockite
from the lower thrust slices (Fig. 3). All samples
have been affected by Grenvillian granulite meta-
morphism and associated deformation at
/980
/
1004 Ma (Solari et al., 2002).
4.1. Upper thrust slice (#4)
Zircons from the metagabbro (sample #66A98)
are generally colorless and clear, and range in
shape from elongate with aspect ratios of 1:2 (Fig.
4b) to equant to tabular. Cathodoluminescence
reveals that many of the grains have complex
internal zoning that may be igneous in origin (Fig.
4a: image 66A98); however, all zircons are multi-
faceted (Fig. 4b) and this presumably reflects
metamorphic modification and/or growth. The
five analyzed fractions are 1
/2% discordant but
have 207Pb/206Pb ages that range from 1145 to
1077 Ma (Table 1). Two youngest fractions are
abraded whereas the three oldest are not; thus in
this sample at least, there is no evidence that
abrasion either decreases discordance or selectively
removes the metamorphic component of the
zircons. There is no systematic age distinction
between the tabular and elongate zircons (no
equant crystals were analyzed). A regression of
the five fractions yields intercepts of 12579/71 and
10219/39 Ma (Fig. 5a) with a probability of fit of
0.21. The lower intercept lies within error of the
age of the Grenville event, and the poorly con-
strained upper intercept is interpreted as the
minimum age of crystallization of the gabbro.
Charnockite (sample 5998) was collected within
the uppermost paragneiss thrust slice (#4). It
contains both equant and elongate (aspect ratios
as high as 1:4) zircons. Individuals from both
populations showed igneous growth zoning (Fig.
4a: image 5998), and no correlation was found
between morphology and age (Table 1). Six single
zircons were analyzed, and the results illustrate
 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389 371

Fig. 4. (a) Cathodoluminescence images of zircons from the northern Oaxacan Complex (white bar on each image corresponds to 100
mm scale); (b) photomicrographs for some of the analyzed zircons (scale is provided in each image).

some of the problems common in interpreting concordant within analytical uncertainty; how-
geochronological of the Mexican Grenvillian gran- ever, their Pb
/Pb ages differ by more than 100
ulites. Four of the six analyzed fractions are million years (fractions 1a and 1b). The two oldest
 372
Table 1
U
/Pb geochronological data for samples of the northern Oaxacan Complex, southern Mexico
206
Description% Weight U Total Com. Pb/204Pb Atomic ratiob Age (Ma)b %Dis.
(ug) (ppm) Pb Pb (pg) raw dataa
(ppm)
207
Pb*/206Pb* 207
Pb*/206Pb* 208
Pb*/ 206
Pb*/238U 206
Pb*/ 207
Pb*/ 207
Pb*/235U 206
Pb*/238U 207
Pb*/235U 207
Pb*/206Pb*
206 238 235
%error %error Pb* %error U U %error
%error %error %error

66A98, Gabbro Host

1, dm, elong. 19 327 63 12 3381 0.07792 0.13 0.08226 0.19199 0.19 2.0627 0.24 1132 1137 11459/3 1.1
(1)
2, dm, eqm (4) 21 205 39.7 46 1108 0.07729 0.09 0.06368 0.18892 0.20 2.0133 0.22 1116 1120 11299/2 1.2

J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
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3, dm, flat, (6) 13 177 33.3 19 1479 0.07761 0.14 0.05573 0.18875 0.35 2.0199 0.38 1115 1122 11379/3 2.0
4, dm, 1:2, abr, 15 151 28.4 37 702 0.07601 0.20 0.04766 0.18265 0.44 1.9143 0.48 1081 1086 10959/4 1.3
(4)
5, dm, flat, (2) 23 242 44.2 28 2226 0.07532 0.07 0.08351 0.17989 0.19 1.8682 0.20 1066 1070 10779/2 1.0
5998, Charnockite
6, dm, elong, 22 143 29 4 8848 0.07840 0.21 0.13203 0.19606 0.23 2.1195 0.31 1154 1155 11579/4 0.3
abr, (1)
7, dm, equant, 9 182 39 33 617 0.07839 0.22 0.14594 0.19565 0.25 2.1147 0.34 1152 1154 11579/4 0.4
abr, (1)
8, dm, equant, 8 218 44 19 1161 0.07793 0.15 0.10073 0.19476 0.45 2.0927 0.48 1147 1146 11459/2 /0.2
abr, (1)
9, dm, equant, 15 184 33 6 5445 0.07508 0.07 0.08884 0.17889 0.16 1.8518 0.18 1061 1064 10719/2 0.9
abr, (1)
10, dm, elong, 17 254 45 8 5981 0.07412 0.07 0.08944 0.17603 0.11 1.7990 0.13 1045 1045 10459/2 0.0
abr, (1)
11, dm, elong, 16 251 45 21 4186 0.07350 0.15 0.14556 0.17004 0.28 1.7233 0.32 1012 1017 10289/3 1.6
abr, (1)
6098, Syenitic Granulite
12, dm, elong, 64 92 19 33 2034 0.07636 0.07 0.19232 0.18170 0.17 1.9132 0.18 1076 1086 11059/2 2.6
(2)
13, dm, 1:2, 87 65 13.6 14 4824 0.07714 0.06 0.20047 0.18928 0.16 2.0133 0.17 1117 1120 11259/2 0.7
abr, (6)
14, dm, 1:2, 37 68 15 35 863 0.07713 0.41 0.213127 0.18931 0.44 2.0133 0.61 1118 1120 11259/8 0.6
abr, (1)
15, dm, flat, 44 82 17.3 53 788 0.07813 0.14 0.171668 0.18523 0.33 1.9954 0.36 1095 1114 11509/3 4.8
(2)
16, dm, elong, 16 86 19 36 455 0.07873 0.24 0.21166 0.18544 0.60 2.0129 0.64 1097 1120 11659/5 5.9
gb, (1)
6498, Mafic Granulite
17, elong, abr 26 77 15 39 409 0.07270 0.33 0.12624 0.16501 0.21 1.6540 0.39 985 991 10059/7 2.1
(7)
18, elong, abr 29 54 9 28 2938 0.07255 0.17 0.11245 0.16368 0.38 1.6373 0.42 977 985 10019/4 2.4
(3)
19, elong (1) 61 44 8 33 1671 0.07265 0.20 0.11348 0.16668 0.19 1.6696 0.28 994 997 10049/4 1.0
20, elong, abr 14 93 16 21 1281 0.07280 0.25 0.09469 0.16747 0.74 1.6812 0.77 998 1001 10099/5 1.0
(1)
OC9810, Charnockite
21, elong, abr 42 105 17 24 8771 0.07263 0.12 0.04608 0.16854 0.18 1.6878 0.21 1004 1004 10049/3 0.0
(1)
22, elong, abr, 19 90 17 38 482 0.07254 0.38 0.11871 0.16798 0.65 1.6802 0.77 1001 1001 10019/8 0.0
gb (1)
Table 1 (Continued )

206
Description% Weight U Total Com. Pb/204Pb Atomic ratiob Age (Ma)b %Dis.
(ug) (ppm) Pb Pb (pg) raw dataa
(ppm)
207
Pb*/206Pb* 207
Pb*/206Pb* 208
Pb*/ 206
Pb*/238U 206
Pb*/ 207
Pb*/ 207
Pb*/235U 206
Pb*/238U 207
Pb*/235U 207
Pb*/206Pb*
206 238 235
%error %error Pb* %error U U %error
%error %error %error

23, elong, (1) 15 100 17 10 1676 0.07285 0.12 0.08150 0.16758 0.51 1.6834 0.52 999 1002 10109/3 1.1
6398, meta-Gabbronorite
24, elong, 1:3, 39 82 14 23 1426 0.07264 0.24 0.088666 0.16441 0.34 1.6466 0.41 981 988 10049/5 2.3
abr, (3)
25, elong, 1:2, 17 77 13.46 24 592 0.07292 0.30 0.069865 0.16702 0.69 1.6793 0.75 996 1001 10129/6 1.6
abr, (1)

J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
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26, elong, abr, 43 65 11 20 1438 0.072143 0.19 0.07729 0.16590 0.33 1.6502 0.38 989 990 9909/4 0.1
(1)
6298, Anorthosite
27, frag, abr, 83 32 6 35 800 0.072574 0.19 0.19235 0.16407 0.50 1.6418 0.54 979 986 10029/4 2.3
(10)
28, frag, abr, 93 30 6 21 1375 0.072525 0.12 0.29647 0.16543 0.33 1.6542 0.35 987 991 10019/3 1.4
(8)

*, Denotes radiogenic Pb; %, dm, diamagnetic; abr, abraded; rnd, round; stby, stubby; elong, elongate; (1:2), aspect ratio; number in parenthesis is number of grains
analyzed. All fractions were analyzed using the 205Pb:235U mixed isotopic tracer.
a
The highly radiogenic 206Pb:204Pb ratios coupled with the small sample size of many fractions documents the low Pb background in our lab.
b
Decay constants used 238U /1.55125/10 10; 235U/9.48485/10 10, 238U/235U/137.88. Errors on the U:Pb ratio used for plotting on the concordia diagram are
9/0.4% based on replicate analyses of Geostandard 91500 and other zircons (see Lopez et al., 2001). Errors on the U:Pb ratio are in percent (%), and calculated using the
program PBDAT (Ludwig, 1991) with two sigma errors on the measured isotopic data. The calculated errors shown are generally better than 0.4%, which indicate the
analytical precision of our lab. The 207Pb*:206Pb* age uncertainties are two sigma and also from the program PBDAT (Ludwig, 1991). Total processing Pb blank amount
varied between 2 and 30 pg during the course of this study, but were usually B/10 pg. Initial Pb compositions are from feldspar separates from the dated samples.

373
374 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389

Fig. 5. U
/Pb analyses of zircons plotted on concordia diagrams from the northern Oaxacan Complex: (a) metagabbro (sample
#66A98); (b) metasyenite (sample #6098); (c) charnockite (sample #5998); (d) garnet
/clinopyroxene mafic gneiss (sample #6498); (e)
charnockite (sample #OC9810); (f) meta-gabbronorite (sample #6398); (g) anorthosite (sample #6298).
 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389
fractions are concordant or essentially so, and
have 207Pb/206Pb ages of 11579/4 Ma (Fig. 1). This
is a minimum age for the sample, but we interpret
it as near the crystallization age because the
207
Pb/206Pb age was replicated. We interpret re-
maining fractions to have been disturbed by a
granulite metamorphic event at
/1004
/980 Ma.
A regression line with a forced lower intercept of
990 Ma passes through or at least touches the
error ellipses of all six fractions, including fraction
1b that is concordant at 10459/2 and fraction 2
concordant at 11459/2 (Fig. 5b). We cannot
completely rule out the possibility that the con-
cordance of these two points has geologic signifi-
cance; however, there is no independent evidence
to support that interpretation.
Metasyenite (sample 6098) was also collected
within the paragneisses of slice #4. It contains
clear, colorless, equant, tabular, and elongate
(aspect ratios as high as 1:2) zircons that show
igneous growth zoning (e.g. Fig. 4a: image 6098).
The analyzed zircons have rather complex U
/Pb
systematics with four fractions having similar
207
Pb*/235U ages between 1114 and 1120 Ma but
widely differing 207Pb/206Pb and 206Pb*/238U ages
(Table 1). Fractions 9 and 10 (Fig. 4b) have
identical 207Pb/206Pb ages and are the least dis-
cordant (B/1%). A regression of those two and
fraction C yields an upper intercept of 11319/10
Ma that we interpret to be near the crystallization
age of the sample (Fig. 5c). Fractions 12 and B,
which have older 207Pb/206Pb ages, may have
contained an inherited component that experi-
enced Pb loss.
4.2. Lower thrust slices (#1 and #2)
Garnet
/orthopyroxene mafic gneiss (sample
#6498) from thrust slice #2 immediately overlying
the anorthosites contains extremely abundant
zircons with as many as 50 visible in a single
thin-section. Most are elongate with aspect ratios
as high as 1:4, and some of the grains appear to
have igneous zoning (Fig. 4a: images 6498a and b).
A regression of the four analyzed fractions yields
an upper intercept of 10129/12 Ma (Fig. 5d) with a
probability of fit of 0.78. Due to the apparent
375
igneous zoning, we interpret the upper intercept to
represent the time of intrusion.
Charnockite (sample OC9810) was collected
from a 100 m thick layer within the mafic gneiss
of thrust slice #2. The zircons are tabular to
elongate (aspect ratios as high as 1:3), and some
show zoning, which may be igneous but is more
ambiguous than in the samples discussed pre-
viously (Fig. 4a: image OC9810). Of the three
analyzed fractions, two are concordant with
207
Pb/206Pb ages of 10049/3 and 10019/8 Ma
(Fig. 5e, Table 1), and we interpret these as
metamorphic ages. Fraction D, which has a
207
Pb/206Pb age of 10109/3 Ma may contain a
component of protolith zircon.
Metagabbronorite (sample 6398) was closely
associated with anorthosite in the lowest thrust
slice. Most zircons from this sample are elongate
with aspects ratios of about 1:2
/1:3 (Fig. 4b). One
of the three fractions analyzed is concordant with
a 207Pb/206Pb age of 9909/4 Ma (Fig. 5f). The two
remaining fractions are about 2% discordant and
have somewhat older 207Pb/206Pb ages. It is temp-
ing to interpret the age of the fraction concordant
9909/4 Ma as that of granulite facies metamorph-
ism, but the morphologies of all the analyzed
fractions were similar (Fig. 4b).
Anorthosite (sample 6298) contains zircons that
are irregular in shape and rounded, and the
crystals lack clear igneous zoning (Fig. 4a: image
6298). Regression of the two analyzed points yields
an upper intercept of 9999/9 Ma (Fig. 5g), and we
believe this age is dominated by the granulite
metamorphic component.
These results indicate that the older igneous
units ( /1100 Ma) are located in the upper two
thrust slices. In contrast, there are no 207Pb/206Pb
ages or upper intercept ages from the lower two
thrust slices older than 1012 Ma, and it is difficult
to resolve the protolith igneous and metamorphic
age components of these rocks. Sample 6498
shows fairly clear igneous growth zoning (Fig.
4a) and its upper intercept age of 10129/12 Ma
maybe close to the protolith age. The zircons from
the remaining samples from the lower thrust slices
are probably dominated by the metamorphic
component.
376 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389
5. Geochemistry
Samples were analyzed for major and trace
elements by X-ray fluorescence at the Regional
Geochemical Center at St. Marys University,
supplemented by those on the dated samples,
which were performed at the University of Cali-
fornia at Santa Cruz. The precision and accuracy
of the data have been reported by Dostal et al.
(1986, 1994). Representative samples were then
chosen for the analysis of rare-earth elements
(REE), Th, U, Ta, Zr, Nb, and Y by inductively-
coupled plasma-mass spectrometer at Memorial
University of Newfoundland. The analytical error
of the trace element determinations is 2
/10% and
for the major elements is B/5%. Representative
whole-rock analyses are given in Table 2.
5.1. Upper thrust slices (#3 and #4)
Igneous rocks in the upper thrust slices crop out
in the northern part of the area and may be
subdivided into intermediate and mafic rocks
(charnockites and metagabbros).
5.1.1. Charnockites
These rocks (OX-9-11, OX-15, OX-63-67, C-42)
are mafic to intermediate in composition with SiO2
ranging from 48 to 63 wt.%, and straddle al-
kaline
/subalkaline boundaries on the Zr/TiO2
versus SiO2 (Fig. 6) and alkalies versus SiO2
diagrams. All the rocks are quartz-normative,
have low MgO, Ni, Cr (Table 2) and Mg#
(MgO/MgO/FeOtot in mole%; 0.21
/0.45). They
are, however, high in K2O (3
/5 wt.%) and plot
into the high K or shoshonitic field on a K2O
versus SiO2 diagram (Fig. 7). They also contain
elevated concentrations of Ba ( /2000 ppm), Sr
(300
/700 ppm), Zr (500
/900 ppm) and Nb (
/25
ppm) and have high Ti/V ratios (65
/85; Fig. 8).
Several major elements correlate with SiO2: TiO2,
P2O5, MgO, CaO and CaO/Al2O3 decrease while
K2O and total alkalies (Na2O and K2O) increase
with increasing of SiO2 (Fig. 7). K2O/Na2O ratio is
typically /1 and correlates positively with SiO2
(Fig. 7a). The decrease of CaO, MgO and CaO/
Al2O3 with increasing differentiation (as exempli-
fied by SiO2 increase) is indicative of crystal-
lization dominated by clinopyroxene. Antithetic
variations of P and Ti with SiO2 imply the
fractionation of apatite and Fe
/Ti oxides, respec-
tively. The REE patterns of these rocks are
subparallel and enriched in light REE (LREE;
Fig. 9a), with Lan
/125
/300 and (La/Yb)n
/5
/
10. Those with high REE contents show a slight
negative Eu anomaly. The mantle normalized
trace element patterns of the rocks are also
subparallel and display a distinct enrichment in
La and Ce relative to Nb, Ta and Th, and in Ba
relative to Rb and Th (Fig. 10a). In general, the
rocks possess many similarities to recent shosho-
nites and also resemble the orthopyroxene series
(charnockite
/mangerite to quartz mangerite) of
the anorthositic suites (Rock et al., 1988; Wyman
and Kerrich, 1989; Conradie and Schoch, 1988).
Unfortunately, their relationship to the Union
Zaragoza anorthosite, whose age has not been
determined, is presently unknown. Compared with
shoshonitic lamprophyres and shoshonites, the
rocks have low Th contents and Mg# (Owen et
al., 1992). On the other hand, some of the felsic
rocks have some alkaline arc affinities, such as
enrichment of La and Ce relative to Nb, Ta, and
Th, and in Ba relative to Rb and Th. Although this
signature is characteristic of volcanic arcs, it may
also be the result of crustal contamination (Forster
et al., 1997). The latter is suggested by the negative
o Nd values of the Oaxacan charnockites (ca. /1.5;
Patchett and Ruiz, 1987; Ruiz et al., 1988). The
low Th content and Th/La ratio of the rocks
probably reflect the effect of granulite facies
metamorphism that generally leads to a depletion
of Th (Dostal and Capedri, 1978; Rudnick and
Taylor, 1987).
According the classification of Muller and
Groves (2000) based upon Zr/Al2O3 versus TiO2/
Al2O3 plot, the rocks were emplaced in a within-
plate setting. The samples also plot in the within-
plate granite field on Nb
/Y and Rb
/(Y/Nb)
diagrams (Fig. 11). In this respect, they are similar
to many Grenvillian plutons in the Grenvillian
magmatic belt that have within-plate composi-
tional affinities (Owen et al., 1992). Like many
similar bodies in the Grenville Province, the
parental magma was probably derived from a
Table 2
Chemical analyses of metaigneous rocks from the northern Oaxacan Complex, southern Mexico

Sample Upper thrust slice Lower thrust slice

Charnockites Syenite Metagabbros OX-56 OX-57 OX-58 OX-59 OX-60 OX-61 OX-62 C-37 6398 6498 OC9810

OX-9 OX-10 OX-11 OX-15 OX-63 OX-64 OX-65 OX-66 OX-67 C-42 6098 OX-39 OX-41 OX-42 OX-43 66A98

SiO2 (wt.%) 62.48 60.87 54.62 60.05 63.11 63.12 48.34 49.00 60.00 53.02 59.6 43.53 45.93 44.73 46.71 48.9 37.80 35.42 58.38 46.16 46.68 62.11 56.37 53.10 36.4 36.9 59.4
TiO2 1.15 1.44 2.34 1.63 1.12 1.04 2.93 3.00 1.10 2.43 1.19 0.86 1.62 1.02 2.17 1.903 6.41 9.02 1.56 4.75 3.45 1.33 1.24 2.20 9.519 5.99 1.54

Al2O3 14.38 13.90 13.90 12.88 14.59 14.66 14.58 14.44 18.41 13.55 18.0 17.08 14.34 17.46 14.17 14.2 7.96 5.09 14.44 12.31 10.50 15.11 14.45 20.19 4.2 5.8 14.8
Fe2O3 7.49 9.32 11.69 10.63 7.32 6.87 14.10 13.00 3.99 12.12 4.6 12.91 13.04 11.84 14.40 14 20.40 26.58 12.04 15.46 24.18 6.71 11.46 5.36 26 36 12.3

MnO 0.11 0.13 0.15 0.16 0.11 0.10 0.22 0.21 0.06 0.17 0.066 0.28 0.26 0.24 0.34 0.277 0.30 0.40 0.25 0.22 0.40 0.09 0.19 0.07 0.373 0.906 0.223

J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389

MgO 1.07 3.86 2.33 1.49 1.02 0.96 5.15 5.00 0.95 3.01 1.14 10.16 6.94 8.68 5.85 5.3 4.99 7.19 1.15 3.14 1.91 1.37 2.51 1.59 7.4 1.1 0.696
CaO 3.31 0.00 5.39 4.07 3.23 3.14 8.36 8.08 2.32 5.89 2.45 8.94 10.42 9.15 10.14 11.5 11.08 8.51 4.11 7.80 5.76 2.67 3.27 7.20 9.7 6.4 3.6

Na2O 3.37 3.21 3.39 3.16 3.67 3.56 2.65 2.76 4.54 3.45 4.34 2.56 3.05 3.02 3.57 3.2 1.35 0.95 2.43 2.48 1.39 2.74 2.25 5.04 1.0 1.2 2.8
K2O 4.71 3.86 3.36 3.64 4.72 4.72 1.51 1.72 6.84 3.29 6.48 0.67 0.98 0.83 0.46 0.945 1.01 0.36 3.65 1.73 2.16 4.34 3.56 1.50 0.347 1.02 3.8

P2O5 0.37 0.49 0.95 0.56 0.37 0.35 0.85 1 0 1.21 0.341 0.08 0.24 0.1 0.27 0.278 5.85 3.89 1.22 2.77 2.12 1.07 0.92 1.38 4.7 2.91 0.822

L.O.I. 0.29 0.2 0.2 0.39 0.1 0.1 0.20 0 0 0.1 0.39 1.28 1.03 1.31 0.09 0.13 0.74 0.19 0.6 1.15 0.19 1.35 1.9 0.88 0 0 0.37
Totals 98.72 97.28 98.33 98.66 99.36 98.61 98.88 98.20 98.21 98.24 98.77 98.35 97.85 98.38 98.16 100.73 97.89 97.60 99.83 97.96 98.75 99.64 98.12 98.51 99.92 97.28 10035

Mg # 22.05 45.9 28.30 22.32 22.21 22.26 41.97 44.08 32.79 33.73 33.93 60.92 51.31 59.21 44.58 43.08 32.63 34.87 15.91 28.69 13.52 26.67 30.25 37.01 36.42 5.92 10.36
Cr (ppm) 18 6 8 18
/ 13 37 36 10 2 5 83 103 66 63 58 2
/
/ 13 1 0 10 1 12 9 4

Ni
/
/
/
/
/
/
/
/ 2
/ 29 216 39 154 17 100
/
/
/
/
/
/
/ 4 24 3 38

Co 6 18 25 14 10 12 51 37
/ 27 47 89 81 71 54 89 44 60 6 31 34 18 13 18 73 60 98

Sc 22 19 9 18 12 18 10 15 17 5 6.32 11 6 4 16 39.16 6 19 11 11 25 18 24 8
/ 1.56 31.72

V 87 120 219 118 62 75 337 315 48 226 38 280 715 282 788 400 72 243 10 118 36 63 46 48 217 17 20
Cu 7 12 14 11 6 6 21 20 4 19 41 14 43 56 87 218 37 34 16 36 30 8 21 10 47 46 51

Pb 20 17 18 15 19 20 6 6 19 16 18.26 7 3 4 4 3.54 5 9 5 8 12 6 6 1 5 3.03 9.26

Zn 120 141 175 167 104 104 154 146 58 181 76 111 123 212 180 162 262 363 117 274 431 69 177 76 596 540 229

Sn 4 3
/ 2
/ 3
/
/ 4
/
/ 2 2
/ 3
/ 1
/
/ 9 1
/ 3 2
/
/
/

Cs 0.4
/ 0.1
/
/
/ 0.1
/
/
/
/ 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.02
/ 0.2 0.2 0.2
/ 0.1 0.2 0.8 0.13
/
/
/
Rb 112 112 87 89 105 105 22 41 70 80 45.33 17 7 16 3 7.33 7 3 30 31 25 35 33 16 9 9.61 47.61

Ba 2388 2036 2325 2266 2644 2737 625 581 2667 2306 2891 335 202 313 275 139 1285 181 4545 2206 3377 4482 4424 824 579 511 4313
Sr 385 345 615 336 393 393 485 473 515 711 458.74 319 202 340 286 277.12 714 439 501 1059 382 549 505 1483 494 128.11 440.99

Ga 18 17 16 15 17 19 14 15 19 14
/ 13 14 14 13
/ 2
/ 32 12
/ 25 17 21
/
/
/
Ta 1.2
/ 1.7
/
/
/ 1.0
/
/
/ 0.67 0.3 0.8 0.4 0.6 1.05 1.0 1.4 0.8
/ 1.02 0.66 0.7 0.51
/ 2 2.68

Nb 21.6 25 29.2 27 18 17 17.3 17 8 24 8.53 3 8.7 2.4 6.2 5.97 16.9 25.2 11.1 32 17.6 9.6 10.4 5.31 14 22.00 16.86

Hf 15.3
/ 11.96
/
/
/ 4.2
/
/
/ 3.54 1.5 3.1 1.8 2.9 2.34 1.4 1.8 8.3
/ 28.3 10.61 1.9
/
/ 17.66 10.84
Zr 636 711 593 884 603 567 338 320 695 499 376 66 133 79 145 130 141 168 1090 530 2968 1783 302 17.43 296 3658 1767

Y 50.8 67 85.7 62 44 44 63.4 50 19 66 19 23.8 53.9 18.6 42.0 32 90.1 66.2 74.1 58.0 85.4 29 26.8 14.73 122 79 21
Th 2.3 4.0 2.8 4.0 3.0 3.0 0.2
/ 1 2 0.89 0.4 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.85 0.5 0.4 0.5
/ 0.6 0.40 0.3 0.18 1 0.98 0.58

U 0.97 1 0.9 2
/ 2 0.2
/ 1
/ 0.23 0.4 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.40 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.5 3.0 0.24 0.1 0.07
/ 0.76 0.42

La 63.10 68 100 71 50 56 41.86 36 67 77 76.28 7.46 18.64 8.33 11.35 17.42 96.85 67.30 33.26 66.00 55.56 30.32 34.61 20.40 89 67.04 41.20
Ce 137.22 148 221 155 162 143 97.73 147 209 101 152.96 18.68 47.03 16.63 29.80 38.80 230 167.32 76.79 86 131.69 71.15 72.99 45.51 255 170.73 94.52

Pr 18.68
/
/
/
/
/ 14.39
/
/
/ 17.93 2.97 6.77 2.30 4.58 5.18
/
/ 11.98
/ 20.17 10.77 10.67 6.55 34 25.85 13.44
Nd 75.63 65 99.10 50 49 43 63.75 41 58 74 70.49 14.07 28.56 10.82 21.24 22.43
/
/ 56.47
/
/ 48.81 50.26 21.85 132 125.41 61.27

Sm 14.46
/ 24.94
/
/
/ 13.84
/
/
/ 10.10 3.61 7.36 2.80 6.08 5.68 30 25.90 12.09
/ 20.18 9.88 9.57 5.85 29 25.82 12

Eu 4.26
/ 4.61
/
/
/ 3.63
/
/
/ 5.34 1.23 2.03 1.19 1.83 1.64
/
/
/
/
/
/
/ 2.51 8 6.54 10
Gd 12.44
/ 20.66
/
/
/ 12.92
/
/
/ 7.29 3.83 8.30 3.28 6.87 5.49 30 22.69 12.33
/ 19.34 7.85 8.47 5.10 28 23.16 10

Tb 1.66
/ 2.70
/
/
/ 1.94
/
/
/ 0.93 0.61 1.42 0.52 1.15 1.06 3.74 2.68 1.86
/ 2.53 1.03 1.03 0.58 3 3.62 2
Dy 9.90
/ 16.08
/
/
/ 11.27
/
/
/ 4.45 3.94 9.46 3.16 7.30 6.95 18.60 13.67 12.31
/ 14.95 5.39 5.13 2.91 19 21.23 9

Ho 1.97
/ 3.24
/
/
/ 2.33
/
/
/ 0.67 0.86 2.06 0.69 1.58 1.50 3.36 2.46 2.87
/ 3.16 1.12 0.94 0.52 3 4.29 1.64
Er 5.10
/ 8.52
/
/
/ 6.30
/
/
/ 1.67 2.33 5.68 1.96 4.36 4.31 7.43 5.70 8.37
/ 9.00 3.15 2.25 1.18 8 12.19 4

377
Tm 0.70
/ 1.12
/
/
/ 0.88
/
/
/ 0.21 0.32 0.82 0.26 0.60 0.62 0.82 0.64 1.26
/ 1.32 0.48 0.28 0.14 0.84 1.76 0.59

Yb 4.28
/ 6.66
/
/
/ 5.24
/
/
/ 1.27 1.99 5.33 1.74 3.73 4.02 4.26 3.62 8.38
/ 8.92 3.25 1.53 0.76
/ 11.80 4
Table 2 (Continued )

378
Sample Upper thrust slice Lower thrust slice

Charnockites Syenite Metagabbros OX-56 OX-57 OX-58 OX-59 OX-60 OX-61 OX-62 C-37 6398 6498 OC9810

OX-9 OX-10 OX-11 OX-15 OX-63 OX-64 OX-65 OX-66 OX-67 C-42 6098 OX-39 OX-41 OX-42 OX-43 66A98

Lu 0.71
/ 1.11
/
/
/ 0.84
/
/
/ 0.19 0.30 0.80 0.29 0.60 0.64 0.62 0.53
/
/ 1.54 0.54 0.23 0.10 0.61 1.98 0.63
J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
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 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389
Fig. 6. Zr/TiO2 /0.001 vs. SiO2 (wt.%) diagram of Winchester
and Floyd (1977) for the metaigneous rocks of the northern
Oaxacan Complex. Ab, alkali basalt; Sub-Ab, subalkaline
basalts; TrAn, trachyandesites. Squares, metagabbro in the
upper thrust slice; Circles, charnockite in the upper thrust slice;
Diamonds, jotunite (mafic-intermediate rocks in the lower
thrust slices).
mixed mantle-lower crustal source and was em-
placed in an extensional setting (Bourne, 1991).
5.1.2. Metagabbros
The metagabbros (OX-39-43) have SiO2 ranging
from 42 to 47 wt.% and a large spread of Mg#
from 0.60 to 0.45. They display a tholeiitic
fractionation trend of increasing TiO2 (0.9
/2.2
wt.%) with Fe/Mg ratio accompanied by low Ti/V
ratios (B/30; Fig. 8). They are low in incompatible
trace elements (Table 2). Their REE patterns are
relatively flat (Fig. 9b) with Lan
/20
/60 and (La/
Yb)n ranging from 2 to 3. The flat LREE segment
of the pattern for these rocks probably reflects the
role of clinopyroxene. Their mantle-normalized
patterns are concave with peaks at La and Ce and
display a variable depletion of high-field-strength
elements (Zr
/Nb
/Ta
/Ti; Fig. 10b). Their highly
variable concentrations of Mg, Cr, Ti and Zr are
consistent with field and petrographic observa-
tions that some of these rocks are probably, in
379
part, cumulates. They are tholeiitic gabbros similar
to those found in the lower crust (Quick et al.,
1994; Sinigoi et al., 1994; Voshage et al., 1990).
5.2. Lower thrust slices (#1 and #2)
The mafic-intermediate rocks (OX-55-62, C-36-
38) that are closely associated with anorthosite
show a significant range of chemical compositions
as exemplified by a variation of SiO2 from 35 to 62
wt.% and Mg# from 0.13 to 0.35. The rocks have
very high TiO2 (1.2
/9.0 wt.%), Fe2O3 (5.4
/27
wt.%) and P2O5 (0.9
/5.9 wt.%), reflecting presence
of Fe
/Ti oxides and apatite whereas a wide range
of Al2O3 (5
/20 wt.%) is due to significant varia-
tions of their plagioclase contents. Compared with
common basaltic rocks, CaO (2.5
/11 wt.%) and
MgO (1.1
/7 wt.%) are low relative to Fe2O3
(Table 2). The abundances of Ba and Sr span a
wide range, but are typically high (up to 4400 and
1050 ppm, respectively). Concentrations of Rb are
usually low and, in conjunction with high Sr and
K, result in low Rb/Sr (0.03
/0.14) and high K/Rb
ratios (up to 800). Concentrations of Sc, Cr, Co
and Ni are all low (typically B/50 ppm) and in
many cases Cr and Ni are below the detection limit
(
/5 ppm). The abundance of V is also low,
mostly below 100 ppm, while Ti/V ratios are
uniformly high (/100; Fig. 8), which distinguish
jotunites from most basaltic rocks (Owens et al.,
1993). The REE abundances are highly variable
(Fig. 9c). In general, LREE contents increase with
increasing P2O5. Correlation of P2O5 with LREE
is probably due to accumulation of apatite. The
samples can be further subdivided into a group
with high Zr and a flat heavy REE pattern and the
second group with a sloping heavy REE (HREE)
pattern and lower Zr concentrations. The high
concentrations of Zr and flat HREE patterns
probably reflect an accumulation of zircon, in
addition to apatite and garnet. The samples with
lowest total REE concentrations display a positive
Eu anomaly. The mantle-normalized trace element
patterns of the rocks of this unit show a distinct
enrichment of Ba relative to Rb and Th and an
enrichment of La and Ce relative to Nb
/Ta (Fig.
10c). The patterns of samples with flat HREE
380 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389

Fig. 7. Variations of K2O (wt.%), CaO (wt.%), CaO/Al2O3 (wt.%), and TiO2 (wt.%) relative to SiO2 for the metaigneous rocks of the
northern Oaxacan Complex.

display a positive Zr anomaly while the others
show no Zr anomaly or show a negative anomaly.
These rocks are closely comparable with those
of many mafic lithologies associated with anortho-
site massifs around the world (Owens et al., 1993;
Greenough and Owen, 1995; Geringer et al., 1998;
Icenhower et al., 1998), particularly oxide-apatite
gabbronorites and jotunites (mainly orthopyrox-
ene monzodiorites), in their mineral assemblages
(plagioclase
/clinopyroxene
/orthopyroxene
/
ilmenite
/magnetite
/apatite), their high Ti, Fe, P
and K but low Mg contents, and their high Ba, Sr,
LREE, Zr, Nb and low Cr and Ni. The low Mg#
as well as low Cr, and Ni abundances argue that
these rocks are not primary mantle melts. The
mineralogical and geochemical characteristics
have been explained as either evidence for partial
melting of mafic granulites of the lower crust or
extensive fractional crystallization of a mantle-
derived magma (Owens and Dymek, 1992). Our
data are consistent with the model invoked by
Icenhower et al. (1998) where the oxide-apatite
gabbronorites and jotunites were probably derived
from an enriched mantle source by partial melting
followed by a fractionation of olivine and ortho-
pyroxene. The fractional crystallization was ac-
companied by an increase of the concentrations of
P and Ti, which caused an extension of the
orthopyroxene stability field relative to that of
olivine. Fractional crystallization yielded the series
 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389 381

Fig. 8. V vs. Ti/1000 diagram of Shervais (1982) for metaigneous rocks of the northern Oaxacan Complex. Squares, metagabbros in
the upper thrust slice; Circles, charnockite in the upper thrust slice; Diamonds, jotunite (mafic-intermediate rocks in the lower thrust
slices).

of rocks ranging from anorthosites, leuconorites,
oxide-apatite gabbronorites to jotunites. Most
models for emplacement of such mafic magma
into continental crust are connected with incipient
rifting or mantle upwelling.
6. Origin of Oaxacan within-plate suites
The results presented in this paper indicate that
there are two igneous suites of
/1157
/1130 and
1012 Ma ages in the northern Oaxacan Complex.
Although the chemistry of the older suite has both
within-plate and volcanic arc characteristics, the
enrichment in La and Ce relative to Nb, Ta, and
Th, is inferred to result from crustal contamina-
tion, a conclusion borne out by the negative o Nd
values. The younger suite is closely associated with
anorthosite suggesting they form part of the same
igneous event, in which case they may be classified
as an anorthosite
/mangerite
/charnockite
/granite
(AMCG) suite. On the other hand, the Union
Zaragoza anorthosite in the upper thrust slice
could be associated with either intrusive event or
a third episode. If further geochronological work
establishes that the Unon Zaragoza Anorthosite is
temporally associated with the older igneous suite,
then the rocks of the upper thrust slices may be
part of an older AMCG suite. The older suite is
presently located above the younger suite. This
may be a consequence of thrusting during the
granulite facies tectonothermal event dated at
382 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389

Fig. 9. Chondrite-normalized rare-element patterns for the metaigneous rocks of the northern Oaxacan Complex: (a) charnockites of
the upper thrust slices; (b) metagabbros of the upper thrust slices; (c) mafic-intermediate rocks of the lower thrust slices. Normalizing
values after Sun (1982).

/1004
/980 Ma or a subsequent deformational
event. On the other hand, the younger intrusive
suite could have been injected at lower structural
levels. There is also evidence of an earlier migma-
tization event dated at
/1100 Ma (Solari et al.,
2002). Taken together, these data indicate that
episodes of rift-related, within plate magmatism
immediately preceded tectonothermal episodes.
These data complement those from elsewhere in
Oaxaquia. In the southern Oaxacan Complex, an
arc complex was intruded by a
/1117 Ma, rift-
related granite followed by granulite facies meta-
morphism at 9889/5 Ma (Keppie et al., 2001). East
of the Oaxacan Complex in the Guichicovi Com-
plex (Fig. 1), the granulite facies metamorphism
occurred at 9869/4 Ma (Ruiz et al., 1999; Weber
and Kohler, 1999). In the Huiznopala Gneiss of
east
/central Mexico (Fig. 1),
/1200
/1150 Ma
arc magmatism was followed by intrusion of an
anorthosite/gabbro complex followed by granulite
 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389
Fig. 10. Primitive mantle-normalized abundances of trace
elements in the metaigneous rocks of the northern Oaxacan
Complex: (a) charnockites of the upper thrust slices; (b)
metagabbros of the upper thrust slices; (c) mafic-intermediate
rocks of the lower thrust slices. Normalizing values after Sun
and McDonough (1989).
facies metamorphism at
/1000 Ma (Lawlor et al.,
1999). At Novillo,
/11759/16 Ma, arc or backarc
magmatism preceded intrusion of an 11329/34
383
Ma, AMCG suite followed by granulite facies
metamorphism at
/980 Ma (Cameron et al.,
2002). Pb isotope data for feldspars separated
from igneous suites in all these inliers plot on a
tight linear array inferred to represent mixing
between two end-member sources that were ad-
jacent throughout the 1.2
/1.0 Ga period (Ca-
meron et al., 2002). These data indicate that the
Mexican Pb isotopes are more similar to the
Andean massifs than the Grenville Province, and
suggests that the variation in the Pb isotopic
signatures may be related to other factors, such
as variations in the relative proportions of Ar-
chean and juvenile material contributing to the
source of the magmas. This conclusion does not
support the idea of dividing Oaxaquia along the
Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt based upon empiri-
cal correlation of whole-rock Pb isotopic signa-
tures (Ruiz et al., 1999). This together with the
synchroneity of events throughout these areas is
consistent with the concept of a single Oaxaquia
terrane (Ortega-Gutierrez et al., 1995). Further-
more, the main,
/1004
/980 Ma tectonothermal
event in Oaxaquia is apparently absent in Texas
which has a distinct Pb isotopic signature (Smith et
al., 1997) suggesting that Oaxaquia is an exotic
terrane (Keppie and Ortega-Gutierrez, 1999).
Three extensional tectonic settings have gener-
ally been inferred for the AMCG and within-plate
magmatism in the Grenville Province: anorogenic
or incipient intercontinental rifting, intra- or back-
arc rifting, and convective thinning of the sub-
continental lithosphere following crustal thicken-
ing (Windley, 1993; Corrigan and Hanmer, 1997;
Rivers, 1997). Arc magmatism in Oaxaquia may
have overlapped the emplacement of the
/1157
/
1130 Ma complex, and a rifted arc model is viable
for the older igneous suite. Although the location
of the
/1012 Ma AMCG complex within a
juvenile arc favors a rifted arc environment,
synchronous arc magmatism in Oaxaquia has not
been recorded. On the other hand, the observation
that the younger
/1012 Ma Oaxacan AMCG,
within-plate complex immediately precedes an
orogenic event would appear to eliminate the third
model. However, convective thinning of the sub-
continental lithosphere can also occur where a
ridge collides with a trench, which can lead to
384 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389
Fig. 11. Variations of (a) Nb vs. Y; and (b) Rb vs. (Y/Nb) in felsic metaigneous rocks of the northern Oaxacan Complex. Fields are
after Pearce et al. (1984): VAG, volcanic arc granites; syn-COLG, syn-collisional granites; WPG, within-plate granite; ORG, ocean
ridge granite.
development of a slab window associated with
rifting and a switch from arc to rift magmatism
(Brown, 1998). It is also possible that synchronous
arc magmatism may exists in adjacent parts of
Rodinia. In order to evaluate these possibilities, we
have compiled a correlation chart to compare
AMCG and within-plate complexes, tectonother-
mal events and arc magmatism in potentially
correlative 1 Ga orogenic belts (Fig. 12).
Fig. 2 shows that most of the
/1 Ga AMCG/
within-plate complexes are located in the Grenville
Province of eastern Laurentia, the Sveconorwe-
gian Orogen of southern Baltica and in the
Andean massifs, such as the Santa Marta massif
and the Merida Andes. Their absence is notable in
the Grenville Orogen of Texas (Mosher, 1998),
Cuyania (a terrane presently in western Argentina
that may have originated in the Ouachita Embay-
ment: Thomas and Astini, 1996), in the Arequipa
massif of Peru (Wasteneys et al., 1995), and in the
Sunsas Orogen of Bolivia (Litherland et al., 1986).
They are rarely reported in Antarctica (Tingey,
1991). The two AMCG/within-plate suites in the
Oaxacan Complex appear to be synchronous with
1170
/1120 and 1025
/1010 Ma suites in the
Grenville Province, however, the age of the
AMCG suite(s) in the Andean massifs in currently
unknown (Restrepo-Pace et al., 1997) making
temporal comparisons impossible. Arc magmatism
appears to have ceased throughout the adjacent
/
1 Ga orogens by
/1150 Ma, with an exception in
the Sveconorwegian orogen where syntectonic,
calcalkaline magmatism has been dated at
/
1040 Ma (Bingen et al., 1993), and
/920 Ma
arc magmatism in the Oaxacan Complex (Ortega-
Obregon, 2002). On the other hand, the Avalonian
basement appears to be made up of a juvenile
/
1.2
/1.0 Ga arc (Murphy et al., 2001), and so could
be representative of arc activity adjacent to the
/
1012 Ma AMCG/within-plate complexes in Oax-
aquia and the Grenville Province. Thus, several
tectonic settings appear to be possible for the
/
1012 Ma AMCG suite in Oaxaquia: an intra-arc
rift, a backarc rift, or a slab window rift. These
environments would allow access of hot mantle to
the base of the crust, which would induce partial
melting and AMCG/within-plate magma produc-
tion. All of these environments require that
Oaxaquia be placed on the periphery of Rodinia
with a subducting ocean on one side. Whereas
most
/1 Ga orogens are dominated by remobi-
lized basement, Oaxaquia appears to be a juvenile

/1.4
/1.0 Ma composite arc terrane, a feature
mainly found in the outboard Grenvillian terranes,
the allochthonous Appalachian terranes, and the
Andean terranes (Fig. 12). Based upon faunal
affinities in Lower Paleozoic rocks in Oaxaquia
(Robison and Pantoja-Alor, 1968; Robison, writ-
 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389 385

Fig. 12. Correlation chart for events between 1200 and 900 Ma in Oaxaquia and potential correlatives. References for data: Baltica
(Larson, 2000, and references therein); Grenville (Rivers, 1997; Aleinikoff et al., 2000, and references therein); Blair River (Miller and
Barr, 2000); Goochland (Aleinikoff et al., 1996); Texas (Mosher, 1998, and references therein); Oaxaquia (this paper and Keppie et al.,
2001, and references therein); Cuyania (Baldo et al., 1997, and references therein); northern Andean massifs (Aleman and Ramos,
2000, and references therein); Arequipa (Wasteneys et al., 1995); Sunsas (Tassinari et al., 2000, and references therein); Musgrave
(White et al., 1999, and references therein); Coats Maud Land, Antarctica (Tingey, 1991, and references therein); Natal-Namaqua
(Jacobs et al., 1993; Thomas et al., 1993, and references therein); East Antarctica (Tingey, 1991, and references therein).

ten communication 1998; Boucot et al., 1997),
Keppie et al. (2001) favored a provenance for
Oaxaquia off northern Amazonia (location #2 in
Fig. 2). Given the lack of tectonic events in
Oaxaquia between the
/1004
/980 Ma Zapotecan
Orogeny and the Lower Paleozoic, such a prove-
nance may reasonably be extended back to
/1
Ga.
However, recent work suggests that the juxta-
position of eastern Laurentia and Arequipa
/
Amazonia may not be valid. Thus, Ramos and
Aleman (2000) show a Brasiliano orogenic belt
between the Peruvian Arequipa massif and the
Amazon craton (Fig. 2 inset), which implies that
they cannot have been juxtaposed until the Neo-
proterozoic. Furthermore, Loewy et al. (2000)
have shown that the correlation between the
Scottish Dalradian and the Peruvian Arequipa
massif proposed by Dalziel (1994) is not supported
by recent data (Fig. 1 inset). These results allow
several options for the provenance of Oaxaquia
and the Chortis block. They may be placed any-
where around the northern, western and southern
margins of Amazonia with an open ocean farther
386 J.D. Keppie et al. / Precambrian Research 120 (2003) 365
/389
outboard (c.f. Keppie and Ortega-Gutierrez, 1999;
Keppie and Ramos, 1999; Ramos and Aleman,
2000). They could be placed adjacent to the
Arequipa massif as a microcontinental-juvenile
arc terrane within a Grenville ocean (Location
#3 in Fig. 2; e.g. Keppie and Ortega-Gutierrez,
1999). They could also be placed outboard of the
eastern margin of Laurentia and Baltica (Location
#3 in Fig. 2; e.g. Cawood et al., 2001).
The
/980
/1004 Ma Zapotecan event correlates
both temporally and in P
/T conditions with that
in the Andean massifs (Arequipa, Santa Marta
and Merida Andes: Wasteneys et al., 1995; Re-
strepo-Pace et al., 1997), with the allochthonous
Appalachian massifs (Goochland and Blair River
terranes: Aleinikoff et al., 1996; Miller and Barr,
2000), and with the 1060
/1000 Ma Sveconorwe-
gian orogeny in Scandinavia (Romer and Smeds,
1996; Romer, 1996). Although it is synchronous
with the Rigolet event in the Grenville Province,
the Rigolet effects are limited to the margin of
the orogen (Rivers, 1997). Current data are
insufficient to resolve these alternative options
for the provenance of Oaxaquia. More data
from Oaxaquia and northern South America
are required to provide better constraints on
correlations.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Dr Joaquin Ruiz and Dr
Pedro Restrepo-Pace for their constructive reviews
of the manuscript. Funding for various aspects of
this project were provided by CONACyT grants
(0255P-T9506 and 25705-T), PAPIIT grants
(IN116999 and IN10799) to J.D. Keppie and F.
Ortega-Gutierrez, NSERC grant to J. Dostal, a
NSF Grant EAR 9909459 to K.L. Cameron, and
MEXUS grant to K.L. Cameron and F. Ortega-
Gutierrez. We would like to thank Pete Holden for
assistance with analyses, Elena Centeno-Garcia
for assistance with sample collection, Carlos
Ortega for sample preparation, and Jose Luis
Arce for drafting some of the figures.
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