Héctor López-Loera

Magnetic characteristics of fracture zones and constraints on the subsurface structure of the Colima Volcanic Complex, western Mexico

Detailed magnetic anomaly surveys over the central and southern sector of the Colima rift, western Mexico, are used to investigate the subsurface structure and faults and/or fractures in the volcanic terrains formed by activity in the Colima volcanic complex (CVC). The CVC is located within the large north-south Colima rift in western Mexico. The Colima rift is a major active tectonic structure, trending perpendicular to the Middle America Trench and related to subduction of the Rivera and Cocos plates. Volcanic activity in the CVC has migrated southward toward the trench. Analyses of faults and recent deformation in the CVC and Colima rift are of major interest in volcano-tectonic studies and for hazard assessment. Structural analyses and fault mapping, however, are difficult because young volcanic and pyroclastic rocks obscure structural features and stratigraphy. Most of the southern Colima rift is covered by volcanic avalanches and volcaniclastic units, which have resulted in resurfacing of the volcanic terrains. Here we show that magnetic anomalies permit identification of faults and mapping of volcano-sedimentary and volcanic units. Total magnetic field measurements spaced every 0.5 km along 8 profiles, with an overall length of 284.5 km and covering the CVC sector of the Colima rift, have been obtained. We recognize fractures and fault zones of local and regional character from their characteristic magnetic anomaly response. Large mapped structures include the north-south Montitlan, northeast-southwest La Lumbre, and east-west La Escondida faults, which can be traced across the area from the magnetic profiles. Fault magnetic anomalies are modeled by lateral contrasts in terms of step models assuming thin dipping elongated zones along the fault planes. The study shows that faults in the CVC volcanic terrain can be investigated by magnetic surveying.

Rock magnetism and microscopy of the Jacupiranga alkaline-carbonatitic complex, southern Brazil

This study of the Cajati deposit provides evidence that the ore was neither purely hydrothermal, nor volcanic in origin, as previous workers have proposed. The ores were formed from magnetite-rich magmas, hydrothermally altered and intruded at an indicated crustal depth in excess of 500 m. The mineralogical and textural association between magnetite and magnesioferrite in the carbonatite, and between the titanomagnetite and magnesioferrite-Ti mineralization in the pyroxenite of hedenbergite, seems to be analog mineralizations strongly related to the ionic substitution of Fe2+ by Mg. Relatively high Q ratios (≥5) for Jacupirangite-pyroxenite may indicate a thermo remanent magnetization (TRM) by the ore during post-metamorphic cooling, however it can also be developed from chemical remanent magnetization (CRM). Vector plots for the pyroxenite samples show reasonably linear and stable magnetic components. The intensity decay curves show that only two components of magnetizations are likely present. Continuous susceptibility measurements with increasing temperature show that the main magnetic phase seems to be magnetite. Maghemite is probably produced during the cooling process. Susceptibility recorded from low temperature (liquid nitrogen (-196°C)) to room temperature produces typical curves, indicating Verwey transition of magnetite. Hysteresis parameters point out that nearly all values fall in a novel region of the Day plot, parallel to but below magnetite SD + MD mixing curves.