Abstract
In NW Mexico, zeolite deposits of potential economic interest occur in continental sediments related to mid-Tertiary basin and range tectonism. In central Sonora, where the stratigraphic column is thicker (e.g. in the Moctezuma Basin), two superposed sequences of sediments are distinguished on the basis of their lithology and stratigraphy. They are known as the Baucarit Formation. The lower sequence, Miocene in age and 300 to 400 m thick, is indurated and consists mainly of sandstones and conglomerates. The upper one, of variable thickness, consists of clays. Zeolites occur in both sequences as alteration products of volcanic glass in beds of white intercalated rhyolitic tuff. Previously known outcrops of zeolitites from Rio Batepito (erionite), Tetuachi and San Pedro Ures (heulandite group), Divisaderos (chabazite) and several other newly discovered occurrences are described in this work in terms of mineral association, physical properties (porosity, thermal behaviour) and chemical characteristics (major and trace elements for individual crystals and bulk rock). Heulandite-group minerals are also present as cement (30% by volume) of the sandstones from the lower sequence. Amygdales and veins from basaltic flows intercalated within the lowest sediments contain a large variety of zeolite species: chabazite, stilbite, phillipsite, mesolite, erionite, thomsonite, heulandite and analcime. Zeolites in the pyroclastic beds intercalated in the upper sequence represent the highest economic potential because they are essentially monomineralic and constitute up to 80% in volume of the whole rock. Because of the inhomogeneous distribution of amygdales, zeolites in the basaltic flows have a low economic interest.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aiken, J.L., Kistler, R.B. (1992) General geology of the Magdalena Basin, Sonora, Mexico. In: Clark, K.F., Roldàn-Quintana, J., Schmidt, R.H. (eds.) Geology and mineral resources of Northern Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico. Guidebook. El Paso Geol. Soc., pp. 367–376
Alberti, A., Brigatti, M.F. (1985) Dependence of chemistry on genesis in zeolites: multivariate analysis of variance and discriminant analysis. Am. Mineral. 70: 805–813
Aleksiev, B., Djourova, E.G. (1975) On the origin of zeolite rocks. C.R. Acad. Bulgare Sci. 28: 51–520
Alietti, A., Brigatti, M.F., Poppi, L. (1977) Natural Ca-rich clinoptilolites (heulandites of group 3) new data and review. Neues Jahrb. Mineral. Monatsh. 11: 493–501
arbarick, K.A., Pirela, E. (1984) Agronomic and horticultural uses of zeolites: a review. Zeo-agriculture, International Committee on Natural Zeolites, Pond, W.G., Mumpton, F.A. (eds.). Brockport, New York
Barth-Wirshing, U., Höller, H. (1989) Experimental studies on zeolite formation conditions. Eur. J. Mineral. 1: 489–506
Bartolini, C., Morales, M., Damon, P., Shaffiqullah, M. (1992) K-Arages of tilted Tertiary volcanic rocks associated with continental conglomerates, Sonoran Basin and Range Province, Mexico. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. with Program (Cordilleran Section) 24: 5:6
Bergero, D., Rumello, G., Sarra, C., D'Angelo, A. (1995) Effect of natural clinoptilolite or phillipsite in lactating dairy cows feeding. In: Sofia Zeolite Meeting'95. Abstr.
Bockoven, R.T. (1980) Reconnaissance geology of the YécoraOcampo area, Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico. Ph.D. Thesis, University Texas, Austin 197 pp.
Boles, J.R. (1972) Composition, optical properties, cell dimension and thermal stability of some heulandite group zeolites. Am. Mineral. 57: 1463–1493
Cameron, K.L., Nimz, K.L., Kuentz, D., Niemeyer, S. and Gunn, S. (1989) The southern Cordilleran basaltic andesite suite, Mexico and the USA: a link between Tertiary continental arc and flood basalt magmatism in North America. J. Geophys. Res. 94; B6; 7817–7840
Cho, M., Maruyama, S., Liou, J.G. (1987) An experimental investigation of heulandite-laumontite equilibrium at 1000 to 2000 bar Pfluid. Contrib. Mineral Petrol. 97: 43–50
Cochemé, J.J., Aguirre, L., Bevins, R.E., Robinson, D., Münch, P. (1994) Zeolitization processes in basic lavas of the Baucarit Formation, northwestern Mexico. Rev. Geol. Chile 21: 2:217–231
Cochemé, J.J., Demant, A., Aguirre, L., Hermitte, D. (1988) Présence de heulandite dans les remplissages sédimentaires liés au “Basin und Range” (Formation Báucarit) du Nord de la Sierra Madre Occidental (Mexique). C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris 307: II:643–649
Coombs, D.S., Ellis, A.J., Fyfe, W.S., Taylor, A.M. (1959) The zeolite facies, with comments on the interpretation of hydrothermal syntheses. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 17: 53–107
Demant, A., Cochemé, J.J., Delpretti, P., Piguet, P. (1988) Geology and petrology of the Tertiary volcanics of the northwestern Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico. Bull. Soc. Géol. France 8: 4: 737–748
Demant, A., Cochemé, J.J., Montigny, R., Joron, J.L. (1993) The Tertiary Yecora caldera, Sonora, Mexico. 3rd symposium on Sonoran geology, field guide and papers, UNAM-UNISON (eds.) 10pp.
Drewes, H.D. (1988) Tectonics of southeastern Arizona. US Geol. Survey Prof. Paper. 1144
Dumble, E.T. (1900) Notes on the geology of Sonora, Mexico. Am. Inst. Min. Eng. Trans. 29: 122–152
Fritz, B. (1981) Etude thermodynamique et modélisation des réactions hydrothermales et diagénétiques. Sci. Geol. Mem. (Strasbourg) 65. pp. 197
Gonzalez-Sandoval, J. (1987) Geologia del deposito de zeolitas “El Cajon”, municipio de Rayon, Sonora. In: Conferencia National sobre Zeolitas, Secretaria de Fomento Industrial y Comercio (éd.) Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, pp. 22–30
Iijima, A. (1978) Geological occurrences of zeolites in marine environments. In:Sand, L.B., Mumpton, F.A. (eds.) Natural zeolites: occurrence, properties, use, Pergamon, Oxford pp. 175–198
King, R.E. (1939) Geological reconnaissance in northern Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 50: 1652–1722
Lenzi, G., Passaglia, E. (1974) Fenomeni di zeolitizzazione nelle formazioni vulcaniche della regione sabatina. Boll. Soc. Geol. Ital. 93: 623–645
McDowell, F.W., Clabaugh, S.E. (1979) Ignimbrites of the Sierra Madre Occidental and their relation to the tectonic history of western Mexico. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap. 180: 113–124
McDowell, F.W., Roldán-Quintana, J. (1991) Timing of Late Tertiary extension in central Sonora, Mexico. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. with Programs 23: 5:A247
Miranda-Gasca, M.A., De Jong, K.A. (1992) The Magdalena MidTertiary Extensional Basin. In: Clark, K.F., Roldan-Quintana, J., and Schmidt, R.H. (eds.) Geology and mineral resources of Northern Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico. Guidebook. El Paso Geol. Soc. Field Conference, pp. 377–384
Montaño, T.R., Espinoza-C., J.M., Calmus, T., Huerta-L., C.I. (1993) 3rd symposium on Sonoran geology, abstract volume, Gonzalez-L. and Vega-G. (eds.) 210pp
Montigny, R., Demant, A., Delpretti, P.. Piguet, P., Cochemé, J.J. (1988) Chronologie K/Ar des séquences volcaniques tertiaires du nord de la Sierra Madre Occidental (Mexique). C. R. Acad. Sci. Paris, D: 304: 987–992
Morales, M., Bartolini, C., Damon, P., Shafiqullah, M. (1990) K-Ar age dating, stratigraphy and extensional deformation of Sierra Lista Blanca, central Sonora, Mexico. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. with Program 22: 7:A364
Münch, P. (1993) Pétrologie et géochimie des tufs et des roches volcano-détritiques des bassins miocènes dans la région du Sonora, Mexique. Contribution à l'étude du métamorphisme de très bas degré en contexte distensif. Thesis, University of Aix-Marseille III
Münch, P., Cochemé, J.J., (1993) Authigenic zeolites in the miocène basins of the Northwestern Mexico. Eur. J. Mineral. 5: 1: 171–180
Münch, P., Duplay, J., Cochemé, J.J. (1996) Alteration of acidic vitric tuffs interbedded in the Baucarit Formation, Sonora State, Mexico. Contribution of transmission and analytical electron microscopy. Clays Clay Miner, 44:1:49–67
Nativel, P., Verdier, O., Giret, A. (1994) Nature et diversité des zéolites de Kerguelen. Mém. Soc. Géol. France 166: 31–45
Passaglia, E. (1970) The crystal chemistry of chabazites. Am. Mineral. 55: 1278–1301
Paz-Moreno, F. (1992) Le volcanisme mio-plio-quaternaire de l'Etat du Sonora (NW du Mexique):évolution spatiale et chronologique; implications pétrogénétiques. Thèse d'Université. Université d'Aix-Marseille III 196 pp
Pérez-Vega, M. (1987) panorama general de los afloramientos de zeolitas de la region de Agua Prieta, Sonora. In: II Conferencia National sobre Zeolitas. Secretaria de Fomento Industrial y Comercio (eds.). Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, pp. 31–38
Rios, R., Badilla, R. (1978) Una nueva localidad de zeolitas volcanosedimentarias en México. Bol. Soc. Geol. Mex. 34(2), 5–13
Roldán-Quintana, J. (1979) Geologia y yacimientos del distrito de San Felipe, Sonora. Univ. Nac. Aut. Mexico. Rev. Inst. Geol. 3:2:97–115
Roldán-Quintana, J., McDowell, F.W. (1992) The Baucarit Formation in the Rio Yaqui area, municipality of Onavas, Sonora. In: Clark, K.F., Roldàn-Quintana, J., Schmidt, R.H. (eds.) Geology and mineral resources of Northern Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico. Guidebook. El Paso Geol. Soc., pp. 223–228
Sameshima, T. (1978) Zeolites in tuff beds of the Miocene Waitemata group, Auckland province, New-Zealand. In:Sand, L.B., Mumpton, F.A. (eds.), Natural zeolites, Pergamon, Oxford, 164, pp. 309–317
Samaniego-Villaescusa S. (1987) Geologia del deposito de zeolitas “El Alamo”, municipio de Agua Prieta, Sonora. In: II Conferencia National sobre Zeolitas, Secretaria de Fomento Industrial y Comercio (eds.), Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico
Sheppard, R.A., Gude, A.J. 3d (1968) Distribution and genesis of authigenic silicate minerals in tuffs of Pleistocene lake Tecopa, Inyo County, California. US Geol. Survey Prof. Pap. 597:38 pp.
Sheppard, R.A., Gude, A.J., Griffin, J.J. (1970) Chemical composition and physical properties of phillipsite from the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Am. Mineral. 55: 2053–2062
Surdam, R.C., Sheppard, R.A. (1978) Zeolites in saline, alkaline lake deposits. In:Sand, L.B., Mumpton, F.A. (eds.) Natural zeolites, Pergamon, Oxford, 44, pp. 145–174
Swanson, E.R., McDowell, F.W. (1984) Calderas of the Sierra Madre Occidental volcanic field western Mexico. J. Geophys. Res. 89: B10: 8787–8799
Tchernev, D.I. (1993) Zeolites in solar energy and refrigeration: A review. In: Zeolite'93, Proc. International Zeolite Meeting at Boise, Idaho, USA
Zoback, M.L., Anderson, R.E., Thompson, G.A. (1981) Cenozoic evolution of the state of stress and style of tectonism of the Basin and Range province of the western United States. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London. 300: 407–434
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Cochemé, J.J., Lassauvagerie, A.C., Gonzalez-Sandoval, J. et al. Characterisation and potential economic interest of authigenic zeolites in continental sediments from NW Mexico. Mineral. Deposita 31, 482–491 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196129
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00196129