Remagnetization in the Monterrey Salient (NE Mexico) and regional tecto-magnetic events in the Mexican Fold-Thrust Belt

In the 1980's, carbonate remagnetizations became widely recognized, with many units re-analyzed to examine these later magnetization events. In this study we focus on the Lower Cretaceous La Peña-Cupido formations transition from the Monterrey Salient in Northeast Mexico, at the external most part of the Mexican Fold-Thrust Belt in this area. The remagnetization observed is carried by single domain (SD) magnetite, resulting from chemical growth of magnetite in a range of superparamagnetic (SPM) to SD grain sizes. In order to determine the relative remagnetization age, local km-scale folds were sampled for paleomagnetic fold tests. The application resulted in 8 syn-folding (1 a regional test) and 4 pre-folding remagnetizations (1 a regional application). Syn-folding results are found in the N-S to NW-SE trending portion of the Monterrey Salient and pre-folding results in the E-W trending segment of the belt. By combining syn-folding results with Ar/Ar illite ages of folds, a remagnetization age of 51 + 4 Ma is obtained in folded limestone samples. Relatively strong ferrimagnetic signals from sites with syn-folding remagnetizations suggest that more magnetite growth occurred in these folds, as compared to pre-folding sites where paramagnetic and diamagnetic signals are more dominant. Based on the relative timing of remagnetization, deformation progressed from the SW to the NE in northern Mexican Fold-Thrust Belt. Prior results (Nemkin et al., 2015) from the central Sierra Madre Oriental, to the south, showed two remagnetization events; 77 Ma and 44 Ma from W to E. Based on the timing of remagnetization in the new study area, folding and remagnetization in the Monterrey Salient occurred in between these events to the south.