Paleogeografía y tectónica del Mesozoico de México

Abstract

A review of the geologic history from the Trassic to the Cretaceous is presented. In accordance with existing bibliography and the author's experience, the tectonic processes leading to the formation of different rocks during the period from 225 to 60 m.y. ago, are shown by means of stratigraphic description. Therefore, the sea/earth relationship (paleogeography) shows the uneven distribution of rocks, marine as well as continental (terrigenous and volcanic). Some considerations on the origin of geosynclines are made, in the sense that these could be of tectonic origin or stratigraphic units, products of deformation processes in the subduction areas, which are sometimes related to the effect of plate collisions or caused by the plates themselves.

In somes cases, paleogeographic maps should be considered as models, since it is impossble, given the actual information, to restore past geologic events. In many cases, especially those of Mesozoic rocks or even older rocks, the original evidence of the deposit was altered or eroded, in the first case by different tectonic processes and metamorphism; and in the second, when the rocks remained emerged by distinct orogenies and subjected to subaerial or submarine erosion processes.