Geochronology and geothermometry of the Laramide metamorphism in the Cambrian metabasalts from the Cerro Rajón Formation, Caborca region, northwest Mexico.

Early Cambrian volcanic rocks characterized by pyroclastic and lava flows of basaltic composition form the Cerro Rajón Formation are exposed in the Caborca region, northwest Sonora, Mexico. These rocks underwent greenschist facies metamorphism characterized by a metamorphic paragenesis of actinolite, sphene, chlorite, epidote and calcite with minor interstitial albite. This mineralogical association was characterized by electron microprobe analysis. Metamorphic temperatures were calculated by amphibole-plagioclase geothermometry, which indicates temperatures as high as 548 ± 40 °C. U Pb geochronology of the pluton that may cause the metamorphism yielded an age of 71.1 ± 0.4 Ma, and an average estimated temperature of 664 ± 40 °C. Preliminary pressures in this intrusive show an average of 3.08 ± 1.5 kbar. Two metamorphic events where identified by 40Ar/39Ar geochronology. Metabasalt samples from the western part of the study area yielded ages from 55.89 ± 0.6 Ma to 60.26 ± 0.33 Ma, while an age of 81.37 ± 0.81 Ma was obtained from a sample collected in the eastern part. Combined results suggest that Laramide intrusives metamorphosed the Neoproterozoic and Cambrian rocks in the Caborca region. • Caborca Cambrian volcanism is affected by Laramide metamorphism. • 40Ar/39Ar geochronology results show metamorphism ages of ∼60 Ma. • An U-Pb zircon age of 71.1 ± 0.4 Ma is reported for a nearby Laramide intrusive. • Cambrian metabasalts show greenschist facies metamorphism (T < 548 °C). • Caborca block successions were rapidly exhumed by basin and range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]