Mezcalera Ocean

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The Mezcalera Ocean is an inferred ancient ocean preserved in rocks in western Mexico. The Mezcalera oceanic plate was likely subducted and consumed into the mantle allowing the Guerrero Terrane to be accreted to western Mexico in the Early Cretaceous. [1]

Speculative reconstructions suggest that Mezcalera plate experienced slab rollback in the east along the Mexican Craton and simultaneously subducted in the west beneath the Guerrero Terrane. [2]

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References

  1. Martini, Fitz, Hudleston, Solari, Lawton, Tolson (2012). Latest The Late Cretaceous fold-thrust belt in the Pena de Bernal-Tamazunchale area and its possible relation to the accretion of the Guerrero Terrane. Geological Society of America, Field Guide 25. p. 25. ISBN   9780813700250.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. Tectonic Evolution of Northwestern Mexico and the Southwestern USA. Geological Society of America, Special Paper 374. 2003. p. 131. ISBN   9780813723747.