I.

Paleozoic in NE Sonora

'
/ " .
. :.f.
u C.=J p

! tJ

Nt
I+ +ii i OIIJ D

,.,
[2] e §
1.
I [Z2\ c . B

0 PK

, 1 3
/
,, " 2 4
/
/
/, ...
-:-" I f

•
I
0
L- L

n f
9 ,\
·- u

I
f

Fig.2.-
I logical map of the
-Mestefias. Pk: Meta
Precambrian rocks;
Cambrian (Bolsa Fo
Upper Cambrian (Ab
D: Devonian; M: Mi
(Escabrosa Formati
nsylvanian (Horqui
c: Late Cretaceous
roe s y ;
trusives rocks (granites) ;
E: scree deposits 1 Q: Qua t e rnary ·. ·. ·: +
deposits; 1: anticlinal axis; 2: · ·
. synclinal axis; 3: dips; 4: f aults;
5: measured section.

I > ...
i]
• /

filiij4
- Pf.!_( j B IBf112 [go 0
o416
upper
03 tB1. 1- 11 11! 11 Dosmoinosian 1-'"'-rr-_...,.r+-
t--"_..'-n-_. 17

812 E2:d fr±lEJ 10 l 14

[m
. 6 cill- J

, ....,,..-v J 1
hill 5 E25i3 9 EB;j 13
Fig. 3.- Stratigraphic logs of the Sierra
Mestenas. 1: schists; 2: quartzites;
3: argillites; 4: detritic limes-
tones; 5: oolithic limestones; 6: 131

fine grained limestones; 7 sands-

tones; 8: limy sandstone; 9: re- g
cristallyzed limestones; 10: nodu- t--•·-....-'--..1 a
lar limestones; 11: sandy limes-
tones; 12: dolomitic limestones; ......
13: coarse grained limestones; 14
..
chert nodules; 15: aplitic dike;
16: Recent deposits.
Numbers on the side of the logs in-
dicate the samples. .........-.__....i

.-_r
I- 13
__..._ :r.-.. 1%
I - J- 11 135

0 /I
//
I 1 / I .._...._...__
1'- _,, I
upper , (I) ·
Oevonie..n -j- I
..LLLLL
·"'-" - .r....:&. 14

[l i.-
- J jl -
•.I • .l •
-I . - ..>:-·
Cambria11 -d._: .:·:_. 22
•
It - • 23
ri-" ...1..
:- .... ·.··
· Fig. 3
!.-
logs of the Sierra Mesete-
nas. 1: schists; 2: quart2
j_tes; 3: argillites: - 4:
detritic·limestone
 -- - 3 -

will be describe in that first part.

Sierra Meste'Xas shows a com p lete sequence, while El Tule contains
Devonian and Mississippian rock,L Upper Pennsylvanian and Permian sequence
are described in Cerro La Horita.
Each sequence in th is are a has bf.•eu faulted, folded and intruded by igneous
rocks. However a rather complete composite sect ion for the Paleozoic rocks
of Northern Sonora can be propose on basis of the observation made in these
three distinct ranges <a____!.l_:
,,...

· A) The Paleozoic sequence in Sierra

The stratigraphy we describe in th e first part of this paper is based on

exposures of rocks in the Sierra Hest e rias area (fig. 2, 3), which contains
--- - -
the most complete Paleozoic section in the Cananea area.
Five sections were studied in det a iled (see location of sections on figure
3) and give the genero.

l) section n·l.
Located in the central part of the sierra, this sequence is the oldest one
(with section n•2) exposed in Northeautern Sonora.
From bottom to top (fig. 3 ; 1) :
• 10 m calcarenite, light brown, coarse grained, thin bedded, cross-stra-
tified (less than 10 cm). Include oolitic and microconglomerat i c beds
with dark gray .
• 20 m oolitic limestone partly dolomiti c with mineral nucleus .
• 5 m sandy limestones, fine-grained, abundant light brown siltstone
patches.
2 m oolitic limestone.
l m fine grained limestone and micaceous siltstone.
4
11 55 m grey weathering, thin bedded-oolitic-limestone mottled by brown
dolomitic and siliceous laminae and ret i culat;"ons ; interb e dded with
: I

I
.p
thinner silty cross-bedded micaceous s h ale. Abundant trilobite frag-
I:
I I ments.
15 m sandy oolitic limestone and interbedded bro '4'"n shaly silt s tone.

I
A 2 m thick •,,1h ite aplitic sill cuts the sequence, and forms the contact

fl wi th uppe r rocks. This sequence correl a teG with Abrigo

)
 _) 2.

fr o op (fig. 3 ; 2) :
n eas red Precambrian staurotid (2 cm long - 1/2cm diametes) schist
co nt ai n: muscovite, quartz, sericite, tourmaline, biotite. Unconfonnable
contact at top.
45 m orthoquartzite, brown-weathering, thin bedded (10-20 cm), coarse
grained. Abundant cross-stratified beds.
15 m oolitic dolomitic limestone, grey, with sparitic matrix, interbedded
brown sandy siltstone and few conglomerate lenses.
10 m siltstone, thick-bedded (1 m), yellowish.
r-
i
I • l
40 m siltstone and interbedded bioclastic limestone and oolitic limes-
J;. ' ( -
I -
I\ I---: .,.)
tone. Contain abundant quartz crystals and grade upward into dolomitic
I
t-
•1 shale and dolomite with small scale cross-bedding. AbundRnt tribolite
1-°-
\
I<'. "•' i -, ' I

\ fragments, sponge spicule, sp. remains and algal fragments (Chan-

ce lleria sp.).
7 m limestone fine-grained, grey upward (3 m) into white dark gray
sandy 1 imes tone and white, fine-grained, th in-bedded sands tone.
3 m nodular limestone, grey, impure with yellow weathering s1ltstone and
thin-bedded fossiliferoust shale. Gastropods and Lamellibranchiata
remains ; Brachiopods : Rh*pidomelln sp., Atrypa aff. A. devoniana (WEB-
I '
STER ) , M1c1cro1pirifer sp. ; Strophonella punctulifera (HALL) ; corals :
Pach h llum voodmani ; Bryoza Fenestella sp. ; Stromatolite :
Alveolites sp. and
7 m limestone, grey, fine-grained interbedded yellowish siltstone.
5 m calcareous sandstone, yellow, thin-bedded with platy sandstone and
\ . sandy shale. Abundant fauna : Hexagonaria sp. Rhipidomella sp. and
\ Bryozoa.
: \. 2 m sandy limestone, black and micaceous sandstone, lenses and laminae
l ,,, r' ''n''j
calcite and quartz abundant ; few corals.
I ' ,-. I : ' '. I 1'
2 m dolomite, thick-bedded, Rrey.
:._,,I .p J tr
J0 .• 4 m dolomitic limestone, grey, thin-bedded (30-40 cm) contain abundant
"' \ calcite vein ; fauna very rich, Bryozoa (Fenestell.n sp.), Ostracods,
\ cri ::oi<lr, .
5 m reddish, medium-bedded (50-60 cm) fossiliferous limestone (crinoids)
and interheddM grey dolomitic limestone.

IA . 7 m c :>lcor<!nit e, white, fine-grnined, abun da nt crinoids (4 m::: diameter),

 - 5 -

l rn calcarenite, grey, coarse grained.

4 rn dolomitic limestone white and pinkish.
I . 8 m limestone dark grey medium bedded (30-40 cm) with black chert
concretions. Abundant Brachiopods and corals : Sychnoelasmas sp. at base.

I Some limestone lenses ( 10 cm thick)

stems (1 cm diameter).
containing very abundant crinoids

I 2 m limestone, grey, black-chert nodules.

5 m 1 irnestone, 1 ight grey, fine grained, contains irregular black-chert

I- beds (5-20 cm thick). Partly dolomite. Abundant crinoid stems.

5 m limestone, grey, fine grained, contain bedded pink chert nodules,
crinoid stems (Fenestella sp.) and Ostracods.
• 15 m limestone, grey, medium-bedded (40-60 cm) abundant but poorly
preserved Bryozoa, Brachiopoda, corals and crinoid stems.

I
A fault cuts the sequence. The higher Pennsylvanian rocks poorly exposed

I will be stooied in other section.

The basal sequence is correlated with the Bolsa quartzite of Southern
Arizona, then 10 m represent the Abrigo Limestone ; the overlying 26 m
represent the middle Devonian (Givetian - Frasnian - Fammenian) Martin
Formation ; the upper part represent the base of the Escabrosa Limestoue
with a Lower Mississippian age.

3) Section n°3 (fig. 3 3).

This section is located dn · the way from Rancho Baltazar to Rancho la Mesa.
The basal sequence consists of Cambrian strata unrneasurec, reddish cross-
itratified sandstone with an overlying 8 m thick sequence of greenish fine
laminated shale containing abundant tribolites fragments (pygidium,
I

.1 cephalon of Tdcrepicephdus sp., Crepi'fephalua sp., Drumupiu sp., Pseuda-

gnostu• sp., .Agnostus sp., Maladia sp., Heteorapis sp ..
{ I- f:, r (.. . r; ( !.
1'· /Jtl 1, :-··-; H

'
I I

A fault contact with Mississipian sequence is observed.

50 m reddish gray, coarse-grained, thick bedded crystalline limestone with
few c al cite veins 10 m snndy limrstone!'l, yellowi sh , c o nn:c gr.<: ined, thin
bedded, contain poorly preserved crinoid stems, Brachiopods, Zaphrentid
corals, Litbostrotionella sp. and large bryozoa (us much as 30 cm long)
parallel to the stratification. Few azoic sandstone lenses .
. 7-G m bearing dolomite.
 - 6 -

10 m limestone, grey, thick-bedded, sometimes dolomitic, coarse grained,

1
with crinoid stems.
15 m grey dolomite contain corals and foraminifers Endo th yridae
Kndothyr.a sp ..
10 m limestone, grey, thin beddccl and interbedded white calcarenite (with
abundand crinoid stems) and yellowish sandy limestone (with Spirife-
r id ae) .
• 10 m coarse grained 1 imestone, abundant crinoid stems and corals (Za-
phrentidae, Homallophyllites cf. (WHITE).
4 m fine-grained, grey limestone, containing: Crinoid stems, Zaphren-
t idae, Fenestella sp. Abundant black chert nodules in the upper 10 m.
This sequence is correlated with the Abrigo fnJ; for the lower unit and the
base of Escabrosa Lima of Mississippian age for the upper one.

4) Section 4.

This section located on the northeastern flank of the range is well exposed
but highly faulted and is not illustrated in figure n° 3.
On basis of discovered fossils this section could represents the more
complete sequence cf Pennsylvanian rocks in the area. From SW to
NE we have observed
l\ (. 70 m of limestone, white, granular, cliff-forming and massively
--.. . . j ) compose d 1arge 1 y o f'- cr1no1
, '\.:. \ . J . . d stems f ragments.
I
- This unit represents the which is in
fault contact with the Middle Pennsylvanian strata composed from the base
to the top of the sequence by
. 10 m thin-bedded, gray limestone, regular bedding with few chert nodules
and calcite veins near the base. Some very fossiliferous beds. Contain,
.\ :
Crinoid stems, Brachiopods fragments, corals, rare gastropods and
\
"· Ostracods, and abundant microfauna : Globivalvulina ap.,
\,.
' .\ sp., Tetraxis sp., Climacammina sp., Paleotextularia sp., Millerells sp.,
O?:awsinella sp., Fusulina novamexicana (NEEDHAM) on F. bouwieueis ROSS
and SABINS, some Bryozoa : Fenestella sp ..

This fossil assemblage indicates an Upper Desmoinesian (Myatchkovian).

I Lower Pennsylv,anian strata are composed by

 - 7 -

12 m grey, fine to coarse grained, dolomitic limestone and interbedded

thin-bedded 00-40 cm) sandy shale. some microfauna : Syringo-
pora s p. and an abundant imacammina sp., Tuber it ina sp. ,
GlobivalvulinB sp., Glomospira sp., Syzrania sp., Tetrataxis sp., Globi-
valvulina granuloaa, Staffella sp., Endothyra sp., Fusulinella sp.,
microfauna fragments include : crinoid stems, Brschiopods fragments,
Gastropods, Ostracods, Sponge spines, Bryozoa : Fenestella sp ..

The microfauna indicates a middle Desmoinesian (Podolskian). Tiiis

sequence is cropping out in a fault contact with Mississipian strata
composed of :
12 m of coarse-grained bioclastic limestone to dolomitic limestone, with
crinoid
5 m of calcarenite with abundant macrofauna :
corals: Michelinia sp., Chdochonus cf. beecheri (GRABAU), Syringopora
sp., Cyathopsidae : Ve3icullophyllum sp., Brachiopoda :Compos¥tatrinuclea
(HALL), Rhipidomella cf. R. jenseyensis WELLER, Leioclema sp., Dichotrypa
sp., Spirifer aff. S. tenuicostatua HALL, sp., Dalmanellacea
algaes and 5-7 cm diameter G3stropods. Tiie thin-section shows Fcnestella
sp., Archimedeo sp. fragments, and iarlandia sp., Tuberitina sp., lt.amaena
Sp ..

• 10· m of light-grey, coarse grained dolomitic limestone corals : Caninia

sp., Caninophyllum sonorenae EASTON; Homallophyllites calceolus (WHITE),
' . .
Dipterophyllum sp., Syringopora sp., few large Brachiopoda .
. 7 rn of thin-bedded, dark-gtay elastic to dolomitic limestone and some
thin-bedded siltstone. Poorly preserved fauna.

This part of the section containing a very abundant and well

fauna, has a Lower Mississippian age (Upper Tournaisian).
I n f a ult contact the Middle Pennsylvanian strata are com posed by :
10 m of coarse grained, light grey limestone and interb ed ded reddish
siltstone (0,5 to 1 m thick), black chert nodules and irregular be d s and
c o arse grained grey
I
- 8 -

I
10 m of coarse grained white limestone (calcarenite) and interbedded
reddish quartz shaly and sandy limestone (4 beds: o ,s to 1,5 m thick).
.. Brachiopod prints (7 cm wide), and mud noduLes.
1

I 5 m thick .white coarse grained limestone. Different levels contain either

crinoid stems, Brachiopoda or Bryozoa fragments.

I 'I • 5 m thick gray limestone, partly elastic, abundant fauna : crinoid stems;
corals : Lophophyllidium ep., Caninia sp., sp., Chactetcs
milleporaceus Edwards and Haime ; Bryozoa : Archimedes kayserlingi STUCK,
Fenestel la sp. ; BrachiopodJi : Spirifer rockymontanos MARCOU, Crurithyris
sp., Punctospirifer sp., Composita sp., Linoproductus sp ..
7 m of grey, medium grained-thin to medium bedded (20-50 cm) sparry
\ limestone with few elastic beds and lenses. The thin section is an
oolitic limestone, with crinoid stems fragments nucleus. Few gastropods,
Gl ivalvulina p. ; Permodiscus sp ..
'-
. 3 m thick black y limestone.
5 m of silty limestone with reddish silt pelletB .
• 12 m thick grey, very fossiliferous limestone, medium to thick bedded
(0,3-lm thick) containing brown chert beds (sometimes more than 50%).
Rich macro fauna Bryozoa : Streblascopora sp., Mnychella sp. corrals

.
Au lopora s p., Lophophyllidium ep., Caninophyllum sp., Caninia torquia
Brachiopods : Spirifer occidentalis GIRTY, Diehema bovidens (MORTON),
Dyctioclostua sp.
Microfauna : Ostracods, Brachiopod spines, crinoid stems, gastropods
fragments, Bryozoa, sp., Climacammina •
sp., Globivalvulina sp., Tuberitina sp., S
-+------
Fusulina sp.. /
The top of the section represents a quite sequence, lower-...._-.....--,1s Lower
Middle Pennsylvanian in age am the top Upper Middle Pennsylvanian (Upper
Desmoinesian).
An anticline structure with a NW-SE axis and Mesozoic or Tertiary faults
were observed in the northern part of the range.

S) Section n°S (fig. 3:4).

It ls located on the northe3stern flank of the Sierra l'1.2stenas and about 2

km sou theast of se ction 4. This sequence is faulted with the cliff-f orm in g
highest point of the range from t he base to th e top of the
ss a uepce . w5 hgv e ob se r vr d :
 - 9 -

3 m thick fine-grained limestone containing abundant calcite veins and

I
few ostracod fragments.
i· 4 m of fine-grained, microspnrry limestone contnining abundant crinoid
stems in some lenses. Basal 30 cm are yellowish and reddish shales.
Brach iopods, Ostracod and crinoi_d / fragments are abundant ; Algae : Eugo-
nophyl luD ep., and Tnberinita ep. Globivalvulina sp., Climacammina sp.,
Ft1su1 i ne 11 n s p . and Staff e 11 a s p . g n i zed .
2 m white, thick-bedded limestone with abundant chert nodules
contains Gastropods external prints .
. 4 m grey, fine-grained, microsparry limestone. Abundant microfauna :
Bryozoa fragments, crinoid stems, Ostracod and Gastropods, Algae : Eugo-
I \"': nophyllum sp., Ankichodium sp. and Foraminifera such as sp.,

\ Archaeodiscu• sp., Tetrataxie sp., Staffella sp.,

I \., and Fusulinclla famula THOMPSON.
l i mes t one w i th mi c r i t i c cement . Poorly

I preserved fauna.
5 m thich fine-grained, thick-bedded limestone.

I + 0,5 m thick massive chert bed containing a juvenarium of Schubertella.

10 m thick light grey, microsparry limestone contains chert nodules.
Fauna : Brachiopods, Bryozoa, crinoid stem fragments and : Globivalvulina
sp., Millerella sp., Eostaffella sp., Fusulinella sp.
needhami THOMPSON.
,. 5 m thick grey, firre:g·rained limestone with abundant crinoid stems and
Brachiopoda. Sparry and Tetrataxis sp., Tuberitina sp. and
abundant Fusulinidae ghosts are observed in the thin section.
10 m thick fine-grained, limestone with chert nodules and many calcitic

I \
\.
,..t eo s; i..QD
sp.) and Algae such
Ca lciver tell idae (Dip lospherina
p. were recognized.
. IQ
l artly dolomitic limestone with abundanl:t
crinoid stems and Fusulinids. Brachiopod spines, Ostracods, Bryozoa,
Gastropods Algaes and Foraminiferas as Tuberi-
I tin:.t sp., C.'!llcitornel , Syz:r a nia sp., Tetruta::do sp.,
sp., Globivalvolina and Fusulin!l sp. fragments were
I observed in the
• 5 m thick dolomitic limestone, with abundant chert veins and nodules,

I poorly preserved mncrofuuna.

 - 10 -

Thin-section study : or sparry cement oolites and fossiliferous

fragmentp. macr debris with : Komia sp., Globivalvulina
, sp., Syzrania sp., Tuberitin11 sp., Tetrataxis sp., Bradyina sp. and!.:_
' nautiliformis, Climacammina sp., Calcitornella sp., Eostaffella sp.,
Paeudontaffella sp., Millerella sp., Endothyra bovmani BRADY, Staffella
sp . , Fusulina sp. and Fusulinaarizonensis ROSS and SABINS, Schubertella sp.
Tiiis Staffella rich level will be found in diverse localities in northern
Sonora, and represents a relativelly good a marker bed.
4 m thick light grey limestone, coarse grained, contains numerous chert
nodules. Retuculariacea and Productus spines, Fusulina sp. were re-
cognized
• 2 .m thick platty shally limestone •

. 110 m thick very recrystallized limestone, beds 50 cm thick. Crinoid

sterns and few Endoth yr id al.
l l
• 10 m thick coarse grained, sparry limestone with chert nodule some

\
Brachiopod and crinoid very rich lenses.
' I
10 m thick coarse grained with fine-grained and fossiliferous lenses
(Brachiopod lenses, Fenestella sp., Endothyra sp).
6 rn thick grained limestone, calcite veins and chert nodules .
. 5 m thick grey, fine-grained limestone contains calcite veins, massive
chert nodules (30 cm in diameter):
15 m thick coarse-grained, elastic, shaly limestone with abundant Algaes:
Cuneiphycus sp., Evlania sp., Foraminifers : Climacammina sp., Staffella
s p . and Reticulariaceae spines.

Til e top of the section is hurried by recent deposits, and not observable.
of the section
--·-···-·· ·- ... . .
---·
the base is (kiddle. Desrnoinesian (Fueulinell-;), then
------·----------, . ··-- ·-· --
(Fusulina) ) Two marker beds are recognized : the Komia
· · ·--
-- ----·--·

- ...... . · -·· •... ---·-··-- . .• -:::/"

St affella bea-r ing-beds. Tiiey caracterize a probable mud flat. The top
f h e section with Cuneiphycus and is probably younger than Des-
es1 an .

: the sequence observed in the Sierra i s a quite

Pa leozoic succession extending from the Cambri a n to the Pennsyl-
va n ie

'!' n is p ztfo r m type sequence could be correlat(:d with t he southe rn Arizon .'.i
c oeval sequen ce st udied in detail b y ma ny prev io us authors.
 - 11 -

Upper Pennsylvanian and Permian rocks are not recognized in this range and
Mesozoic sequence were deposited disconfonnably on top of the Pennsylvanian
Horquilla Limestone. Many faults with a N-45E trend cut the area and N-45W
trending faults are separating the Pennsylvanian and Mississipian rocks.

B) 1,'he Paleozoic sequence in Sierra El Tule (fig. 4 , 5).

Located on the American Boundary, the Sierra El Tule is the southward

geographic extension of the Huachuca Mountains.
Tnree sections were measured in that area (see fig. 4).

1) Section 1 oriented NW-SE on the southern part of the range. We

<v
D have observed : from the base to the top of the sequence (fig. 4 , 5 : 1) :
. "·.1
20 m thick light-grey dolomitic limestone, contain stromatolits : Alveo-
lites sp., Fsvoaites sp. ; Bryozoa : Amphipora ramosa PHILIPS ; Staphy-
:' lopora sp. and sp. Brachiopod.
-This assemblage is Upper Devonian (Givetian-Frasnian) .
• Disconformity.
30 m of white, coarse grained, mediumto thick bedded (50 cm-2 m) Crinoid

I ,
bearing limestone.
• 15 m thick dark grey, fine-grained limestone and interbedded detritic
/ limestone.
30 m of grey, thick-bedded
<'- ..
(2-3 m) cliff forming limestone, contains
\\ numerous corals : Sychnoelasma konincki : observed thin-sections show an
/ oolitic limestone Das ye lads algaes, and Stacheioides
-- sp. fragments.
Sychnoclasma occurs in Lower Mississipian times
35 m thick grey-medium bedded (50 cm-1 m) limestone with few elongated
chert nodules.

I 5 m thick dark, fine-grained limestone.

15 m of grey, medium to thick-bedded (l-3 m) limestone containing

I nume rous chert nodules. Millerells sp. and S=hubcrtelln sp. were identi-
f ·ed.

5 of grey, l im e stbne, bnse me dium bedded (50 cm-1 m) lln<l the upper
25 m, cliff-forming, thick bedded (1-2 m) limestone with
sp.
This is li gh tly folded clo ng a N-4 5°W t rending anticline.
 - 12 -

2) Section 2 (fig. 4 , 5:2).

r-, I Located on the NE flanc of the range, this s.e ction is similar to the one
\ previously described. This 140 m thick sequence is composed by limestone,
'--
and dolomitic limestone with Lower Carboniferous corals Sycbnoelasma
' ; ·:i konincki, Michelinia expansa and Upper Mississipian-Lower Pennsylvanian

"' foraminifers : Millerella sp., Globivalvulina sp., Endothyra sp., Plectos-

taffella sp., and incertae sedis : Astcroarchnediacua post ru5osus (Reit-
e, U-",. ,.,. ·
\ \ / (o:f i) v :.-1.,., ,
lingeri and Middle Pennsylvanian fauna: Climacll!llmina sp., GloVivalvulina
sp., Diploapherina sp. and Staffella sp ..

\
The sequence is faulted against dark, dolomitic limestone with chert
nodules.
,O
....
3) Section 3 (fig. 4, 5:3).

This section about 300 m thick is located on the SE flanc of the range.
At the base, we have recognized :
(/ . 10 m of very fine-grained 1 imestone interbedded with sandy limestone.

( . 90 m thick reddish to yellowish azoic sandy shales.

I • 50 m of light pinkish grey limestone, thick beds (40 cm) with numerous

\
chert nodules.

" \i
\ I
At the base we have found, Algae, Globivalvulina sp., Tetrataxis sp., and
' \ Fueulinella sp. fragments, and upward Chaetetes milleporaceous Edwards &
\' \ 1
· \
< • '
Haime is associated with Tetrataxie sp., Globivalvulina l!lp., Bradyina
I

\ sp., Endothyra sp., Millerelh sp., Staffella sp. and Fuaulina sp.
l (..J
1
The presence inel la while
' :t;us ulina is · -

l Staffella could indicate a shallow water deposit close to emersion .

. 10 m of grey limestone, with less abundant chert nodules, Bradyina sp.,

L Endothyra sp., sp., Paleonubecularia sp. are the most impor-

tant fauna species found in thin-section.

I \ 80 m snndy 1 imestone and interbedded fine-grained limestone and shale.

Climl!ca=ioa sp., sp., sp. are the most common associated
wi th sp. poorly preserved.
The top of the sequence is composed of medium-bedded grey limestone and
i s in fault contact with Devonian rocks ( Fb).
i' hi s .>equcn cc ia f old e d by n NE ·· S'J axis ant ic line <lnd the
I
- 13 -
I
I In the Sierra El Tu le, the Paleozoic rocks range from Upper Devdni an to
Upper Pennsylvanian.
I
C) Paleozoic rocks in Cerro La M:>rita (fig. 6 , 7).
I
This range is very complex on the structural point of view. Normal faults

I {
trending N and N-45W are dissecting the range into different blocks. Into
,. . ., . .
the southwestern part of the range, the Paleozoic sequence is overthrusting
the late Cretaceous sequence represented by shales and sandstones (Rangin,
1977). A thin slice of Precambrian metamorphic rocks is exposed at the

I leading edge of the thrust-fault. Along the northeastern flank of the range
the same Paleozoic sequence is topped disconformably by Lower Cretaceous
sediments of the Bisbee Group (Ransome, 1904).
I Three distinct sections was studied and are documenting the stratigraphy of

• this range .

1) NE-SW oriented section of the southwestern flank of the outcrop (fig.

7: 1).

I The base of the section is bounded by the Laramian thrust exposed in the

.. range .
On top of this thrust, we measure a 220 m thick sequence. From bottom to
top

•
I (
r\,)

,....._
5 m thick white,
crinoid stems.
coarse grained limestone with abundant

. 6 m thick, fine-grained medium bedded, limestone (biomicrosparite) with

chert nodules. They contain poorly preserved Brachiopoda, and numerous
Bryozoa. The microfauna is abundant : Globivalvulina sp., Diplospherina

I
',
sp., Glomol'lpira sp., Tetnstaxis sp., Textularidae •/Endothyra/ sp., Eostaf-
i\

•
',, fella sp. and Fusulinella sp . )
10 m of pinkinsh gray Fusulinids limestone and interbedded very fine
grained limestone containing poorly preserved Brachiopods, Gasteropods,
Ostracods and Crinoid stems. Hicrofauna is abundant : Tetratal!is sp.,
Glob ivt£lvulina sp . , Climacmm:1inll sp., Millerelln sp., Eoechubertell l:l sp.,
Endothyr ll ap., Funul ina hayene ia ROSS and SABINS and
ROSS and SAB ms . /
 ")
-\--
- - ... -1- , ... :a. f :=ra
i- .... r - - ,

I,
·- -
\ ) ' V\
& 2 y G, I {,I{ i'\
g.s-<. N
Iii . 3J 4 (;1,.sc

v 1'
0
s
J I

Cii. ej../ G
.3I 'J S"' I J8f.. ,.;

Fig. 6.- Geological

sketch map of Cerro 1--.--/..___ ___.._ _ _
La Morita area. .. \C

.SJ?n. .
1: Recent deposits; , #I

2: Upper Cretaceous,_,. ,...

3: Lower Cretaceous·!
(Morita Formation);.
';)-=·- ... .
j, l,
··;··= :
··);. __ _. .....__, , ..__,. .. ./" 1
, ••

4: Lower Cretaceous · ...... - ,__ - ' 1

(Glance Formation) ;
5: Upper Paleozoic
6: Precambrian :::crii lS...:.:.:::J 1
'l
sts; 7: thrust l au l ;
8: decoll e.ment; 9:
normal faul t; 10:
Ej 2 1
anticline a x is and f\\:"I 9
relative dip; 11:
paved road; 12: riol ;[[]] A.J- . \·· ··10 2. {,,,
13 and 1 4 : measured 4 ····· ··
sections. :'.::\ ..
!.;,- "-
Os - - - 11 "-. 3 ::3-·
· · - ··---"12 Fig.6 .-/ J (' 1
r--.::1 ...
@.,.+1-"";«.f.,. :-/ -·
13 .
1-4

A
\ I
 - 14 -

3 to 4 m thick, pinkinsk crinoid bearing dolomitic, limestone. The

, ic rofauna is very abundant : Tetrataxis sp., Climacmnmina sp., Diplos-
sp., Endothyridae, Fuaulina ROTH and SKINNER ou F.
:! r i :r:on l! n::ds ROSS and SABINS an<l l?e de'k.inde:1 l .n pocudo?tiat u rn ROSS snd TYR-
E L. The algae Komia sp. is observed.
thick, yellowish to pinkish, azoic, sandy shales.
thick, reddish shaly limestone, containing chert nodules, Ostracod
fragm e p ts, crinoid stems. Brachiopods, Bryozoa, Algae : Dasycladacea and
o a i a sp . . We have distinguished a pedologic crust and disolved clasts,
r

ey indicate a shallower water, close to emersion.

o f azoic, fine-grained sandstone.
of limestone and interbedded sandy limestone containing abundant
o ss iliferous fragments and the algae sp., Microfauna is repre-
e ed by Calcivertellidae, SyErania sp., Eola1ciodi1cue sp. and Fuaulina
In the upper part, the algae Jeoaia sp. became very abundant and could
st itute a marker bed. The emersion process continue and the microfauna
s com posed with Tetrataxis sp., Millerella sp., and Paeudoataffella sp.
of marly limestone with few chert nodule. 'The fossil fragments are
en, the (milieu est I
o f pinkisk shale and sandstone.
o f shaly limestone with elongated chert nodules containing Staffella
The emersion process is confirm with the presence of Staffelh sp.
evelopped in poor oxygenated waters such like mud pounds)·/
of pink shaly santlsl:one.
of gray limestone with Staffella sp.
o f reddish to yellowish sandy limestone with a poorly preserved
Presence of Tetrataxia sp., and sp.
fine grained sandy limestone with small chert nodules and Brachio-
sp., Corals : Caninostrotion sp., Bryozoa : Fenes-
FISHER.
o •ld recognized an oolitic facies, the oolite nucleus composed with
sp., Glomospirn sp., Displospherin& op., Syxr nnia sp.,
y: n a ap., small sp. and abund nnt St a f f (!il:'.l sp. This Staf-
e ar i ng b e d could constitute a marker bed in the sequence.
of pi nk to yellowish sandy shale.
5 of 1;:hit e, coarse grained limestone only c 7 w i t h oolitc H ! a
ceme nt and r eworked
 - 15 -

o f pinkinsh sandy shale.

o f pellet containing abundant Staffella sp.
'
of sandstone.
of grey limestone. The fossil fragments are abundant and finely
r o ken .
2 m of sandy shale.
Sm of fine-grained limestone with mud nodules. K.omia sp., Climacammina
sp., Glomospira sp., Diplospherina sp., Tetrataxis sp., Calcivertellidae,
Tubiphytes sp., Triticites culloaensi• DUNBAR which caracterize a
mud-pound. Tubiphyteo and Tricites indicate new free water sedimen-
tation. }
2 m of yellow . and pink sandy shale.
4 m of gray limestone with Epimaetopora sp., Globivalvulioa sp., and
Triticite11.
3 m of sandy limestone .
. 4 m of fine-grained, grey limestone with small poorly preserved forami-
nifera .
. 3 m of pink.shale .
. 5 m of grey, limestone containing Triticitea sp., Schubertella sp.,
Spiroplectamminn sp., Syzrania sp., Calcivertellids, and small fora-
mini fers.
I
. 2 m yellow shale .
. 4 m of fine-grained limestone containing a rich microfauna : Schubcrtella
<- ...
sp., Clim.ac4!lmlina ep. -, Bradyina sp., Globivalvulina sp., Tetrataxis sp.,
Beeigordius sp., Tubcritina sp., Palaeonubecularia sp., Triticites cf.
T. ventricosus (MEEK and HAYDEN) and Schwagerina sp .
. 3 of pink sandy shale.
of microsparite limestone.
S of shale.
3 m of grey siliceous limestone with Productidal spines, Ostracods
Ca lc!v e rtellidae, sp., sp., Syzrsnia sp.,
Dip lo n ph e ri r.n sp., sp., sp.
_ o f s andy limestone.
0- 2 m of fine - grained, grey limestone.
Th e top o f this sequ e nce is topped with a fault and a repeated ser·1c
c.:x
 - 16 -

d defined with the different fauna associations an Upper Pennsyl-

ag e for th is sect ion.
soli nella sp. and Wedekindellina sp. are Upper Carboniferous (Middle
s o i nesian) in age, while Fustil i na sp. is Upper Desmoinesian, the coral
sp. is Missourian in age, Triticites indicates an Upper
arbo niferous nge and Schvagerinn ep. born at the end of the Carboniferous
a d beginning of the Permian time.

2) N-S section in the northern part of the outcrop (fig. 7:2).

From bottom to top, we could recognized

_so m thick, white grey limestone and interbedded reddish sandy limestone
containing Brachiopod spines, Crinoid stems, Diplospherina sp., Bradyina
sp., Globivalvulina sp.
Q
\ - 75 m thick, red to pink shale and interbedded (every 10 m) grey limes-
- I I
I
tone, irregularly dolomitized (microsparite to sparite). They contain :
\

I
Brachiopod spines, Bryozoa : Fenestella sp., Algae : Anchickodium sp. and
) Foraminifera : Tuberitina sp., Globival,'"Ulina sp., Tetrataxis sp., Clima-
,.;)'1 \
\
I cammina sp., Schubertella sp., Triticitea off T. creeckenaia THOMPSON,
lverens is SABINS and ROSS.

I -100 m of grey limestone with some chert nodules. The abundant macro fauna
- is poorly preserved, we could identifie : Brachiopods Rynchonella sp.;

'< • '
- , . - -·- - ··· --- ·- - · · ·- -
-7
I .I' ,. ·
/

I
I
I
I
I
 Te r ebratula sp. Gastropods : Worthenia sp. s p. ,

Glabrocingulum sp.,Paleostylus sp.,Murchisonia sp.;Echinodermata:

Archaeocidaris spines; bryozoa: Fenestella sp. and ostracods.

We note the presence of the foraminifers: Tube ri t i na

sp.,Globivalvulina sp. and Geinitzina sp.

-20 m of coarse -grained, sandy, elastic limestone containing

many fragments. Calcitic veins are abundant.Poorly

preserved macrofaun• <Archaeocidaris spines) is observed but

abundant microfauna and microflora are recognized: Fenestella

sp.<bryozoa); Eugonophyllum sp., Komia sp. (algae>; Tuberitina

s p. ,

sp.,
Tetrataxis

Climacammina· sp.,

Endothyra
sp., Paleotextularidae,

Cornuspira sp., Paleonubecularia

sp., Schubertella sp., Triticites
r
Globivalvulina sp.,

Syzrania
cullomensis

DUNBAR and CONDRA , Schwagerina sp.

I -15 m of grey limestone with abundant calcitic veins and

poorly preserved microfauna CGlomospira sp.,Schubertella sp.). We

observe one bed <3 to 4 m thick) of oolitic azoic limestone.

I -15 m thick, white, coarse grained, crinoid-bearing limestone

(bed:2-3m thick) and inter bedded grey limestone

I <microsparite>.The later contains abundant algae <Dasycladaceae):

Epirnastopora sp. and Fusulinella sp.(middle Desmoinesian).The

I exotic occurrence of this bed can be interpreted as:(1) a horst

I
I

'
I
I
I
structure,(2) a tectonic slice included into the Permian sequence
I during the Laramian thrust faulting.The first hypothesis seems to

I be the more atractive considering the very important

range tectonism in this area.

basin and

I / -20m of pinkish grey, well beddedC10-40 cm thick> limestone. A

Lower Permian microfauna was found: Geinitzina sp.

-10m of pinkish grey sandy limestone <beds:10-30cm thick>

containing Cornuspira sp.,Tuberitina s p. and abundant

Calcivertellidae.

'- -150m

locally
thick

dolomitic,

Archaeocidaris spines,
of cliff-forming,

with numerous calcitic

bryozoa, ostracod,
fine-grained

veins.They
limestone,

contain

Climacammina sp. and

'•
Globivalvulina sp.

-50m of fine-grained limestone containing abundant chert

nodules and Diplospherina sp.,Climacammina sp., Globivalvulina

I sp., Geinitzina sp.

-20m of grey,well be4ded limestone with brown chert beds and

nodules containing Archaeocidaris spines.

At the top lies disconformably the Glance Conglomerate of Early

C retaceous age,which is mainly composed by schist, sandstone and

• uartzite pebbles within a cemented matrix.

I
I
I
Upper Pennsylvanian to Lower Permian.

3) NE-SW section on the northern part of the Cerro

1/ccf{v•-. de la

Morita (fig.7:3)

From bottom to top, we have recognized:

- unmeasured thickness of grey, well bedded<0.5-1.Sm

thick)limestone with crinoid stems, Globivalvulina

sp.,ostracod fragments.

-90m thick reddish calcareous sandstones containing

Archaeocidaris spines and foraminiferal fragments.

-100m thick cliff-forming, light grey limestone with gastropod

fragments: Worthenia s p. , Euornphalus sp., Warthia s p. ,

Palaeostylus sp.; brachiopods such as: Spiriferrella sp.and

Productoidae. An abundant microfauna is recognized: 6itzG;)

sp., Diplospherina sp., Globivalvulina sp., · Endothyra sp.,

Tubiphytes sp.,Schubertella s p. , Boultonia s p. and

Staffellidae fragments. Brachiopod spines, Fenestella sp. and

Dasycladae algae are present.

 lo

The same sequence than above is repeated tectonically by a

I fault This 50m thick sequence contains: Glabrocingulum sp.,

I Stegocoelia sp., Glyptospira sp.and Murchisonia sp.

with Rynchonella sp. and Terebratula sp.

associated

I -20m thick grey limestone with chert nodules, numerous calcite

veins,were found at the top of the sequence. Here, Boultonia sp.,

'-I Geinitzina

Permian age.
sp. and Tubiphytes sp. indicate a Lower and Middle

I l The Cerro de la Morita sequence beginning in Middle

I
Pennsylvanian time extends up to the base of the Permian. The
I sequence is not continuous, due to the intense deformation which

I : affects the range.

I On the southeastern flank is cropping out an overturned

sequence Mississippian to Middle Pennsylvanian in age <Asteroar-

"I ...
chaediscus

reverse

the range.
sp.
"'""
:Atokan>.
...
This overturned sequence could be the

flank of an anticline which affects the southern part of

This fold is apparently coeval with the southeastern

I " I
verging thrusting of the Upper Paleozoic rocks on top of Upper

Cretaceous strata. At the sole of this overthrust,a small slice

I of Precambrian schist is jammed at the contact <Taliaferro,1933;

I
I
I
 2.'

Rangin,1977>.Another evidence for this tectonic event is the Loma

Blanca " klippe " located at the front of the Cerro de la Morita

thrust. This small ''klippe'' is composed of grey well bedded

limestone dipping to the southwest. They contain chert nodules

and close to the contact, the rocks are recrystallized.Within

, this

(studied
small allochthonous sequence we have found many brachiopods

sp.,Ectochoristites
by G.Alencaster de' - Feli:<,

sp.<Pennsylvanian)
UNAM>:Anthracospirifer

but also fusulinids:

I
Fusulinella sp., Fusulina sp.and other microfauna: Tetrataxis

I sp., Climacammina sp., Globivalvulina sp.,all this association

indicating an Upper Pennsylvanian to Lower Permian age.

The Cerro de la Morita is affected by N-S and NW-SE trending

faults could correspond to the small recurrent faulting of

I the large hypothetical transcontinental fractures described by

Silver and Anderson <1974>, Davis <1979) and Tardy (1980) as

< · ...,

probable Jurassic in age and with an horizontal

I displacement of 850km. We will discuss later on this hypothesis •

I
I CONCLUSION

I
I
I
 The stratigraphic sections of northeastern Sonora are

c ompiled on the plate I.

- Precambrian rocks outcrop on the southwestern flank of the

.
Sierra "'
las Mestenas, and in a thrust slice on the southeastern of

Cerro la Morita. It consists of staurotide micaschists dated 1680

+! - 20 Ma (Anderson and Silver,1970).

- Cambrian rocks are well exposed in Sierra but do

n ot outcrop into another place.Overlying disconformably the

Precambrian, they are composed: at the base by a thick elastic

sequence mainly represented by pink cross-bedded quartzite; then

up section, by a carbonated sequence consisting of centimetric

interbeds of shale and limestone. They contain abundant trilobite

fragments which confirm a middle to Upper Cambrian

- Ordovicico-Silurian and Lower to middle Devonian rocks were

n ot found in northern Sonora.

- Upper Devonian rocks observed on the soutwestern flank of

Si erra el Tule, disconformably overlie Cambrian rocks on

s o uthwestern Sierra "'

Mestenas. This carbonated platform type

seq uence, partly dolomitic, is rich in brachiopods, bryozoans of

· v etian-Frasnian age.

-Mississippian rocks outcrop in Sierra el Tule and are

•
 11.- PALEOZOIC ROCKS IN CENTRAL SONORA.

r-
The central Sonora Paleozoic rocks are cropping out from

Hermosillo into the West to the Sierra Madre Occidental foothills

into the East.

'
Previous works.

The presence of Paleozoic rocks in central Sonora was first

reported by A. Remand de Corbineau (1865). Then Aguilera <1896)

and Dumble (1896) have done some field work and have published

their results in 1900. Angerman have made some

reconnaissance in southern Sonora and Flores (1929> have studied

• various areas in central Sonora and the geology along the railway

track from Nogales

'<:.. ...

to Guaymas. King (1934,1939) publish a

I reconnaissance geological map of central part of Sonora and

Menicucci (1975) give a new geological interpretation of Mazatan-

I Matape area <east of Hermosillo). Numerous new works have been

I done since the 80';we will use their results later on.
 The outcrops in cental Sonora are isolated the basin
and range structure affect strongly the area.

Various str a tigraphic logs are studied and described here; Lower

Paleozic rocks weref'tudied in Sierra San Juan de Dias, on the

southern flank of Cerro Cobachi and Sierra Martinez. Upper

Paleozoic rocks are randomly distributed all over the area and

are well developed Cpl.II>.

A.- Sierra San Juan de Dias (fig.8>.

In that area, we describe a sequence composed by Upper Cambrian

to Ordovician, Devonian and Mississippian strata.

1> Cerro Sonora section <ENE-WSW> (fig.9Al.

In this locality we have recognized a carbonated and elastic

sequence dipping 30°W and composed from bottom to top:

"""' ....
-300-SOOm of ribbon , limestone, with recrystallized bedded

chert.

-100-150m of black siliceous limestone partly brecciated

(sedimentary breccia) and interbedded pinkish, very fine-

grained and sandy cross-bedded lenses. They contain

few trilobite fragments.

 I , • ., . , ,

Fig. 8.- Geological sketch map of the

Sierra San Juan de.Dias. 1: Ca bro-
/ Ordovician; 2: Devonian; 3: Mi slssi-
·.. .pian; 4: scree deposits; 5: Te tiary
·volcanic rocks; 6: Tertiary in rusive
7: Recent deposits; 8: aminated

Nr .' -- - - ---
:µnestones; A-B: measured sect on .

CJ a
I
.
3

[il] 1

v v v
v v v v
v v \; v v \/
v v v y v \/
v'V\IVV V ,•

vvvvvV
v y v \/ v
v " v ·v v
v' v v

..v ". .

0 1
. \.
'
I
I
I
-150-200m thick of thin-bedded, grey limestone with a sparry
I matrix and containing sponge spines. Few pinkish sandy beds

I are intercalated.
-150m of pinkish pl atty limestone and grey

I recrystallized limestone. The irregular and angular clasts

have a microsparite structure and contain many sponge spines.

The shape of the clasts could indicate a reworked deposit.

-conformably, we have recognized a 20m thick recrystallized

•1 rey limestone, containing numerous mud pebbles.The thin-

I sectiohs indicate a biosparite structure with micritic clasts

and containing dolomite fragments. Ostracods, crinoid stems

I and a radial algae Nuia siberica MASLOV,1954 are found. This

I Upper Cambrian - Lower

for the first time in Mexico.

Ordovician algae is recognized here

I -Som of brecciated, regular bedded l101estone, with a. sparitic

matrix and angular rnicritic and rnicrosparitic clasts

"', ""
containing undetermined trilobites, brachiopods, conodonts,

I gastropods and ostracods.

top of the sequence pinkish sandy limestone

Nuia sp. is always observed.

containing
At

sponge
the

I spines, trilobite fragments, conodonts and the algae Nuia sp.

Clasts are not abundant but well rounded.In the thin-sections

I we have observed a mud-supported intraclastic skeletal

'=--
 21-

wackes tone.

-10-20m of grey dolomitic azoic limestone. Siliceous beds are

abundant.No fossils were recognized here.

The top of the sequence is formed by 50 m thick micritic

grey limestone dipping 50 to 60°W, and deposited

disconformably on top of the underlying sequence. Few clasts

are formed by a sponge spine bearing micrite and others are

sparitic one. Brachiopods Chonetacea: Plicochonetes s p. ,

RU•Josochonetes sp.<?>, gastropods and crinoids stems are

present in the limestone and even in the chert nodules. This

fauna indicates a Tournaisian age <Lower Mississippian).

-20-30m of fine-grained, thinly bedded (30cm> limestone with

bedded nodular cherts.

-20m of medium to thick bedded (1-1.5m> fractured limestone

with chert nodules.

-80m of grey, medium bedded C1m> limestone. Chert nodules are

scarce, crinoid stems abundant.

-30m of sandy limestone with few elongated chert nodules.

-520m of grey recrystallized limestone. Beds are 30 to 50cm

thick. Chert nodules are scarce. Brachiopods: Punctospirifer

sp. ,Cleiothyridina sp.: corals and crinoid sterns are present.

The thin section show the evolution from a crinoid-bearing

micrite to a crinoid-bearing sparite with some areas completely

dolomitized. Microfauna are scarce.

-100m of sparry dolomitic limestone with few chert nodules.

Beds are 20 to 30cm thick. Those limestones contain brachiopods

and crinoid stems, bryozoa, Tournayellidae and Earlandia sp.

(foraminifera: Hyperamminidae>. This faunistic association

could indicate a Lower Visean age.

Here this section is cut by a fault and continues upsequence

with 200m thick of black, dolomitic, elastic, fractured, fine-

grained limestone. The thin section observation indicates a

micritic recrystallized limestone containing pellets and tension

cracks. Their presence could define a shallow water deposit.

The bryozoa Amphipora ramosa Philips,1951: the algae Evlania

prava, ostracods, Calcisphaera sp., Nodosinella (or Kamaena

s p. ) and the Morravaminidae Labyrinthoconus clausmuelleri

VACHARD,1979 indicate a reefal and lagoonal deposit of Lower

Givetian age.

This cross-section measured in the Cerro Sonora begins at its

base with reworked deposits sometimes siliceous and brecciated

con taining an abundant Cyanophycea blue algae: Nuia siberica
ASLOV, 1954. This algae known in USSR, is recognized also in the

s o ut hern Franklin Mts,the Marathon region <El Paso Group) and the

s o uthern front range of Colorado <USA> <Toomey and Klements,

19 66) and is generally associated with Girvanella sp. The living

period of this algae is the Cambra-Ordovician boundary .It could

indicate a Lower Ordovician organic mound development (like

sponge mound structures).

Then an unconformable platform-type Mississippian sequence

is developped. A platform-type Upper Devonian sequence containing

Labyrinthoconus sp.is faulted with the Mississippian sequence.

2> The Puerto del Oregano section (fig.9B>.

On the northeastern Sierra San Juan de Dias, another

ississippian sequence was observed.

,._ ...
At the base, lamin•ted limestone are cropping out; this

imestone, about 150m thick, grades upward· into a thick bedded

- 1 .Sm), grey, siliceous limestone partly dolomitic, dark and

ac t urated containing numerous chert nodules. They consist

0 folded and selectively eroded, centimetric discontinuous

a y ers of limestone. The resistant layers are locally silicified

/
 dolomitized, and contain mi cro :;iranular
0 quartz and
e a morphism silicate such as wollastonite and calcitic garnets

( con tact metamorphism). The fold axis do not show a

•r eferential trend and could be synsedimentary < s 1 ump in •J >•

h ose laminated limestone are azoic; their stratigraphic

position is problematical but could represent the basal part

I.., of the fossiliferous sequence. They could either be of Early

Paleozoic age <Siluro-Devonian?> or of Mississippian-Permian

age.

Stratigraphically on top of those laminated limestone we

have recognized a thick Mississippian sequence composed from

bottom to top by:

-10m of fine grained limestone with a rich coral fauna:

/./
<Cyathopsidae) Cladochonus sp., sp.; brachiopods;

gastropods;abundant crinoid stems and bryozoa.In the thin

,-; ...
section we have foupd a micritic limestone with Endothyra

'
s . and Paleoberesella sp.

-3-4m of blue grey mud pebbles-bearing limestone, partly sandy

I a affected by sedimentary boudinage. In thin sections, it

s a dolomitic microsparite with Endothyra sp., Paleoberesella

s . , bryozoa and crinoid stems.

 -Sm of dar k , sandy limestone containing elongated black chert

nodules. Brachiopods, crinoid stems and the colonial coral:

Hexagonaria sp. The microfauna is represented by Stacheoides

s p. Upward, we have recognized inter bedded sedimentary

breccias constituted by centrimetric crinoid-bearin 1 1

limestone.

-4m of creme,medium bedded (40cm),very sandy limestone with

chert nodules and abundant crinoid sterns. Some

are observed.

-4m of dark sandy limestone with crinoid stems and small

corals, few chert nodules and intercalated pinkish sandy

layers.

-6m of dark brownish chert nodules-bearing limestone beds 1m

thick and light grey in color.

-3m of micritic, medium bedded C30-40cm) grey limestone

containing black chert nodules.

-1.Sm of yellow sandy azoic limestone

-Sm of grey, dolomitic limestone with crinoid sterns,

containing an hematite bed (50cm>

-3m of recrystallized limestone with chert nodules. They

contain crinoid stems, coral fragments, bryozoa, Endothyra

s p. , Earlandia vulgaris, Archaediscus sp. and conodont

debris.
-10m of black siliceous limestone

-Sm of recrJstallized limestone

- 3m of creme sandy limestone

-6m of si1iceous limestone. Few micritic limestone beds

contain poorly preserved brachiopods and Pseudoammodiscus sp.

-20m of pinkish sandy limestone.

The top of the section was not measured and is composed by

the same azoic sandy limestone.

The microfauna: Earlandia s p. , Paleoberesella s p. ,

Pseudoammodiscus sp. and the coral fauna indicate a Lower

Mississippian age <Upper Tournaisian- Lower Visean> for this

section.

The observed Paleozoic section in the Sierra San Juan de Dios

s the following:

* a Cambra-Ordovician partly detritic, highly reworked,

arb onated sequence containing Nuia sp.

* a metarnorphozed and folded, Siluro-Devonian <?> carbonated

se • u ence
 a) At the base, irregul a rly interbedded reddish to brown

r adiolarian cherts and black platy argilites containing a Middle

to Upper Ordovician graptolite fauna.

Radiolaria are poorly preserved and were not studied.

Graptolite genera were recognized such as Climacograptus sp.,

'
Ortho•Jraptus s p. and Dicranograptus s p. <Peiffer-

Rangin,1980)(fig.12>. J.F. Riva from the Laval University in

Quebec have subsequently studied our collection of graptolites

giving a · Middle Ordovician age for this fauna CN. gracilis

biozone). He recognized: Climacograptus bicornis, Climacograptus

bicornis tridentatus, Dicranograptus cf furcatus, Cryptograptus

tricornis, Drthograptus calcaratus cf vulgatus or acutus,

Corynoides and Glossograptus ciliatus(?).

Another graptolite fauna found by Ketner (1983) in the

eastern part of the area were studied by Riva. Located in a chert

layer at the top of siliceous sequence, he described Upper

Ordovician graptolite of the Cl.1. supernus sous zone of the D.

ornatus zone as follow: Cl. hastatus, Cl. longispinus supernus,

Cl. miserabilis, Dicellograptus cf ornatus and Plegmatograptus

nebula.

Higher into the section some white and dark cherts could be

/
 A
8

D. cf. furcotus

0. ca/cera tus cf. acutus

A_ Dicronograptus x10
8 _ Orthograptus x10
Ct
2
J
4 C/imacogroptus x10

l 6
6
7
8
bicornis

l Cr_ Cryptograpcus x 10
Flg.12

I Cr C3 C4 C5

Crypcograptus tricornis

)
Graptolite assemblage
area.
Silurian in age <Ketner, 1986).

All this sequence is highly folded.

b) At the top, with an apparent stratigraphic continuity,

lies a sandy carbonated sequence containing baritic beds and an

Upper Devonian brachiopod. We observed few hundred meters of

intercalated creme barytic sandstone and massive nodular baryte

about 100-150rn thick. The latter contains crinoid stem fragments

and internal and external molds of Dziedusyckia sp. <Noll, 1981>

and radiolarians of the Holoeciscus assemblage < Poole et al.,

1983>. The occurrence of this brachiopod indicate a shallow water

oversalted deposit <paleorelief,gulf or hydrothermal vents> were

CaC03 is diagenetically replaced by BaS04. This brachiopod is

found in few places around the world: Shoshone Range

<Nevada,USA>: Europe <3 areas> and now Sonora <Dutro, written

communication). . .. .
Up section, the detritic and shaly sequence (inter bedded

black and red radiolarian cherts, coarse sandstones, graywackes,

black argilites and very fine grained black limestone> located at

the top of the baryte beds contains few azoic turbiditic coarse

grained Mississippian limestone lenses.

top of Cerro Guayacan, we have observed a Sm thick

 \

r ecrystallized grey limestone. It have a sparry matrix and

c ontains some quartz nucleus oolites. Sponge spines crinoid

stems and the algae Epimastopora sp. indicate an Upper Paleozoic

a ge <Mississippian?>. The contact between those sequences could

b e a reverse fault or a low dipping fault. But locally we could

n otice an unconformity as suggested also by Noll (1981).

Two different hypotheses are here proposed.

<a> Those Mississippian limestones are interbedded in the

assemblage. This latter is Ordovician to Mississippian <or

in age and the unconformity observed suggests the

e x istence of a tectonic event between Devonian strata and

Mississippian (or younger?) ones.

Cb> Those limestones are not interbedded into the deep

sequence but represent a platform-type deposit, lying

unconformably on top of the folded sequence. Even in that case,

a Lower Mississippian tectonic event is observed.

The trend of the lower sequence fold axes is striking NNE/SSW.

The upper limestone is recrystallized but not folded.

Northern part of Cerro Cobachi: the quarzo-carbonated

s, e sequence.

In that area, a thick quarzo-carbonated sequence is cropping

t . We have recognized from North to South and bottom to top:

-an unmeasured azoic dark grey limestone, recrystallized,

,,,_
partly sandy, with cross-bedding and abundant calcitic veins;
- 80m of unconformable light to dark grey limestone containing

elongated chert nodules. Those nodules can locally form bedded-

chert layers.
Upward, the limestones are intercalated with quartzites;

-about 100m thick white quartzite and intercalated reddish to

brown limestone;
- 300m of coarse grained dolomite composed of grey sparry

olomite not cemented and containing 1 to 1.5cm wide, poorly

r eserved crinoid stems;

-600m of more consolidated thinly bedded black limestone and
.....
intercalated bre,cciated and thick bedded limestone in

pebbles get 5 to 30cm in diameter;

-250m of white to blue cherty cliff-forming limestone

crinoid stems.

sequence is tentatively dated Devonian <or older) to

 ss · ssippian, and is not folded.

e c ently Ketner (1986) have described, in the same area, a

'- C::LJ..1 11.n o-Ordovician quartzitic sequence •Jradding up to a lower

v i ci an limestone containing some conodonts; the white

ar tzite described is middle Ordovician and the upper limestones

a e Middle to Upper Devonian and Mississippian. This author

co mpares this sequence to the coeval one present in the Great

Basin, and which one could represent an intermediate slope <or

'
rni ogeoclinal) facies assemblage.

3) The western part of Cerro Cobachi: the carbonated

sequence.

The section was done from East to West along a carbonated

sequence dipping 30° to the SE. N-S trending faults are repeating

the sequence. From base to top we have observed:

-about 300 to 450m thick recrystallized limestones containing

t
"' abundant chert nodules;

-100m of creme shale and shaly recrystallized and azoic

limestone;

-250m of g_rey recrystallized limestone with elastic, pink

lenses containing crinoid stems and Schwagerinidae fragments;

of bioclastic grey limestone, partly brecciated ,

containing abundant fossil fragments. micritic clasts contain

crinoid stems, bryozoa and poorly preserved Parafusulina sp.

pieces.

-25 to 30m thick light grey to pinkish limestone with abundant

crinoid stems. The Schwagerinidae wall is sometimes well

preserved and we have observed a thick keriotheca and cuniculi,

but those Parafusulina sp. could not be defined to the species.

-500 to 600m of light grey limestone with bedded chert. Those

middle bedded <0.5-1m thick) limestones contains abundant

Fusulininae. This biomicrite contains crinoid stems, Climacammina

sp. and fusulinids with large proloculus, alveolar keriotheca and

cuniculi defined as Parafusulina sonoraensis DUNBAR.

-the upper limestone intercalated with sandstone, shale and

sandy limestone, is recrystallized and the fusulinid fragments

poorly preserved but could an Upper permian age.

The fusulinid sp.) bearing limestone indicates a

lower to middle Leonardian age.

4) conclusion for the biostratigraphy study of Cerro Cobachi.

 In despite of the complex tectonic history of this area ,the

various sequences described in Cerro de Cobachi are apparently

arranged in the following way:

<a) an Ordovician to Mississippian slope <miogeoclinal>

assemblage composed by limestone, quartzite, dolomite and coarse

grained limestone.

Cb) an Ordovician to Mississippian <?> siliceous deep-water

assemblage composed by a dark graptolitic shale unit (middle

Ordovician age>; bedded light and dark cherts, sandy carbonated

and barytic sequence <late Devonian age), and a mixed carbonated

and cherty sequence <Mississippian age).

(c) a carbonated platform-type sequence containing abundant

middle Permian fusulinids.

The contact between those three sequences is not clearly

<- ... .

observed in this range but it is possible that thrust- faults

between the deep-water sequence and the slope or

one. This thrust contact is sealed by a biotite

granodiorite intrusive.

It is interesting to notice that the deep-water sequences are

strongly faulted and folded with a NNE/SSW trend axis while the
(1983) as Chester ta Marrowian in age (late Mississippian ta
early Pennsylvanian).

2) On the southwestern part of the area we have observed

fossiliferous limestones. This sequence,first described by King

(1939) is a carbonated assemblage resting on top of yellow

carbonated sandstones and shales. This limestone is a grey

microsparite, partly dolomitic,with well developed dissolution

structures present at the bedding surface. They contain few chert

nodules. We have collected and then recognized the age of the

polyp colonies and corals, described as Richmond CPalaeophyllum

sp., Calapoecia sp., Streptelasma sp., Heliolites sp.> <Upper

Ordovician) <King, 1939). On top of this sequence we have

observed brecciated limestones and interbedded sandstones.

This unfolded sequence is normal faulted with the deep-water

assemblage,and intruded by a granodiorite .However the original

·<- or.

between these two assemblages of Paleozoic rocks

could be a thrust. This sequence be representative of the

intermediate slope environment or even platform itself.

3) On the southeastern part of the area,south of the Los

Chinos ranch and along the small gravel track to El Cobre mine we
 have observed the deep-water folded assemblage. An intermediary
I sequence is faulted with the latter one, and is composed by:

I not
- brecciated limestones at the base,

rounded. The cement

the clasts of which
is elastic and presents some
are
cross-

I bedding structures;

-very fine grained siliceous limestone with a banded structure

composed of alternate creme and black centimetric, fractured

beds. They show a cryptocrystalline structure;

-Sm thick of white quartzite and recrystallized limestone;

-very fine grained, dark grey, fragmented meddium bedded

<O.S-1m thick> azoic limestone;

-recrystallized, elastic and meddium grained limestone

containing few crinoid stems;

-an unmeasured sandy, coarse grained limestone containing

fusulinids and interbedded with fine grained dark grey limestone

"'i < r i no id stems.The fusulinid-bearing limestone are poorly

stratified. They contain . dolomite crystals, well rounded quartz

grains and an abundant fauna: gastropod, lamellibranche,

brachiopod, ostracod, bryozoa, conodont, algae fragments. The

microfauna is diversified and we distinguish: Globivalvulina

scafoidea, Calcivertella sp., Calcitornella sp., Hemigordius

simple:<, Tetrataxis sp., Endothyra sp., Climacammina sp. and

 Fusulinella sp. This association would indicate an Upper
Moscovian Podolskian- Myatchkovian) or a middle Pennsylvanian

j ai;ie <Desmoinesian>.

This sequence, not observed in another area could represent

the unfolded slope assemblage, the base of which is not dated.

ls the quartzite coeval with the iimilar bed in northern Cerro

Cobachi? The contacts between all those different unities are not

observed. Are the Pennsylvanian beds interbedded in the sequence

or platform-type deposits? Are the basal breccias a marker level

for an Upper Mississippian or Lower Pennsylvanian tectohic event?

It seems that we get here the unfcilded slope assemblage, the

upper part of which is dated middle Pennsylvanian, and could

represent the autochthonous sequence for the allochthonous deep-

water assemblage.

the northern part of the area, the Cerro las Rastras

is characterized by the following assemblage:

At the base we have observed a thick ionglomerate .

It contains oolitic clasts and angular radiolarian chert

pebbles.Those chert clasts are the same than the bedded one

belonging to the underlying folded sequence. We have also

collected in the same conglomerate angular limestone pebbles

containing a well preserved microfauna: Spongiostromidae,

Calcivertella sp., Calcitornella sp., Paleonubecularia sp.,

Lasciodiscus sp., Ozawainella sp., Millerella sp., Staffella sp.,

Pseudoendothyra sp., Syzrania bella, Fusulinella sp. and

Parawede k indellina sp. This faunistic association indicates a

Moscovian age <middle Pennsylvanian-Desmoinesian). The basal beds

of the Cerro las Rastras deposits are intercalated with limy

microconglomerates and brecciated limestone and sandy shales.

Then we observe f rorn base to top:

-40m of grey, medium bedded (1m thick> limestone containing

chert nodules. They have a sparitic structure and contain relicts

of crinoid stems, brachiopods and poorly preserved corals:

-50m of limestone containing crinoid stems, corals and small

wel f rounded and well sorted chert nodules;

-15-20m of very recrystallized, microsparitic to micritic

limestone with few crinoid stems:

-40 to 50m of very fractured grey limestone with

calcitic dikes. They contain abundant quartz grains and crinoid

stems. Chert nodules are abundant and partly as bedded chert:

-5-10m of micritic to sparitic fractured limestone,containing

stems. Chert nodules are absent;

 folded sequence.

5) Conclusion relative with the Los Chinos area ••

In that area we were able to differenciate:

Ca> a deep-water siliceous, folded assemblage, Ordovician to

Lower Permian in age;

(b) an unfolded Upper Ordovician reefal limestone sequence

that could represent a part of the slope or platform sequence;

(c) a middle Pennsylvanian sequence, not folded <slope or

I platform assemblage);

(d) an Upper Pennsylvanian- Lower Permian platform sequence

I with a basal conglomerate and interbedded with sedimentary

I . breccia.
The tectonic between those different assemblages

I ( are difficult to observe. The conglomerate is clearly deposited

unconformably

gradding up to
-...
on top of the deep-water folded assemblage and

a platform-type sequence. We think a

is

major

I tectonic event middle Pennsylvanian in age and younger than early

Permian is present here. We notice also that the autochthonous<?>

I carbonated sequence (pre and post orogenic) are not folded while

only the allochthonous siliceous sequence is strongly folded with

a NNE-SSW trend axis. Is this phase coeval with the Antler

 :

I
I
I
orogeny described in southwestern USA?
I
I D> The other Paleozoic outcrops described in central Sonora.

I We present here a compiled stratigraphic log based on our

observations in various points of Central Sonora.

1) Sierra Agua Verde <see location on plate II>.

Stewart et al.(1984> describe a Lower to Upper Cambrian and

even Lower Ordovician detrital sequence which is correlated with

the terrigenous detrital and carbonated rocks <slope or

miogeocline assemblage) of the Caborca area.

Two cross-sections we Fe measured and described as

Mississippian terranes.

a) Puerto de Matape: southwestern flank of the range:

The base of the outcrop is recrystallized, a granitic

intrusion cuts trough the sequence. From base to top we have

observed a N30 W dipping serie:

-20m of thick bedded, recrystallized, grey limestone with

poorly preserved crinoid stems ;

I
 -30m of pinkish sandy azoic limestone with fluidal structure,

medium bedded <30cm to 1rn thick>;

-20m of madium bedded sparry grey limestone and

'
interbedded pinkish thin bedded sandy limestone;

-25m of pinkish grey, sandy limestone thickly bedded (1-3m).

An abundant iron oxide gives a strong red colour to the sequence

and is similar to the hematite bed found in Puerto del Oregano
<Sierra San Juan de Dias);
-10m of biodetritic, coarse grained, black limestone

' containing crinoid stems and corals CSyringopora sp.>;beds are

0.5 to 1m thick;

-50m of grey microsparitic, fine grained limestone with pink

sandy flame structures. They contain irregular black chert

nodules. The limestone contain crinoid stems; corals: Caninia

torquia, Koninckophyllum sp., Rylstonia sp., Vesicullophyllum

sp., Amigdallophyllum sp., Dibunophyllum sp.; and some undefined

( brachiopods:
-Then progressively, those limestone grade upward into grey

sandy azoic limestong a carbonated ,pink to red, coarse

grained cement. they get 20 to 30m thick;

-With an apparent conformity outcrop 50 to 60 m of limestone

with bedded and folded Csynsedimentary) altered chert and

 50

sandstone. The limestone are very detrital and azoic:

-20m of grey coarse grained calcarenite and sandstone lenses.

The different fossils founded, mainly corals, indicate a

Visean <Lower Mississippian) age .This sequence contain i ng mainly
carbonated rocks, could represent a platform sequence but the
detrital amounts, found herein, indicate that this sequence
receive some slope sediments, even turbidites with cherts and
sandstones : we observe here the Mississippian slope assembl a ge

which follow the Stewart's Cambrian sequence.

b) Cerro Tutunde; northern flank of the Sierra Agua Verde

(fig.15).

base to top,we observe with a N50W dipping:

. -30 to 35m of grey, sandy, azoic limestone the base of which

is covered with recent deposits:

-20m of dark grey, fine-grained, compact and sometimes sandy

( limestone. They contain crinoid stems and corals:

calceolus <WHITE> and Triplophyllites

<Homallophyllites) sp.;
... ' .
-40m of grey, meddium grained limestone with bedded chert <2-

3 cm thick) and corals and crinoid stems:

-unmeasured conglomerate with a greenish matrix and composed

 of Paleozoic limestone pebbles:

-Mesozoic volcanic rocks lie on top.

The observed corals are Visean Clower Mississippian) in age

C\ nd th e fiequ<? ncc 15 ell p l a tfor m- type one · with some detrital

<slope) influence.

This area is cut by many faults but two main patterns can be

distinguished: a WSW-ENE one and a NNW-SSE one parallel to the

basin and range recent faults . r

The sequence in Sierra Agua Verde described as a miogeoclinal

sequence in the Lower Paleozoic tim e <C am brian-O r dovician) could

have a platform-type facies with slope influence in the

Miss.issippian time.
!
. ·i

2) The Cerro Prieto outcrop is located on the way to rancho La

Sevidena, South of Matape. The base is composed of very

·/ recrystallized limestone with poorly preserved, thin chert lenses

and beds. They get a laminated structure .Then we have observed a

light grey, thick .limestone containing crinoid stems-

bearing lenses and sandy pink crinoidal limestone lenses. Few

poorly preserved corals and chert nodules are irregularly

 5'2;
present.Tentatively we will attribute a Misiissippian age to this
outcrop.

3> The Cerro Tepupa outcrop, located on the southern flank of

l
J

the Pressa del Novillo , is a small Mississippian limestone block

with crinoid stems and brachiopods. NW-SE and NE-SW faults limit

this small block.

4> The Cerro Azogue: San Pedro de la Cueva outcrop <fig.16).

This outcrop is located on the eastern side of the El Novillo
Presa. The western flank is cut by NNW-SSE faults. The eastern

flank is unconformably overlain by the Tertiary volcanic rocks of

Sierra Madre Occidental.

The cross-section was done in a N-S direction along the main

scarp. The dip is 30°SE. We recognize from base to top:

-50m of pinkish to grey limestone very fine grained and

compact. The beds are 2m thick and have a nodular structure. The

lenses of black limestone are elongated and flattened with the

( stratification. They are interbedded with lighter siltstone and
contain many calcitic veins. Fossils are scarce, crinoid stems,
worm tubes,
-.
.,
brachiopod, ostracod and bryozarian fragments;
-20m of conformable light creme siltstone containing few
brachiopods, crinoid stemi and ostracod fragments. Angular quartz

grains are numerous; iron oxide is abundantJ

-the carbonate siltstone progressively grade upwards with

limestone and the pure calcarenite beds are thicker. We observe

f
about 170m thick of those limestone regularly and thickly bedded

C3-4m). They contain corals CCaninia sp.), crinoid stems and

bryozoa;

-20m of siltstone and shales and interbedded dolomite and

limestone beds. The fauna is abundant; brachiopods: Schizophoria

sulcata SANDERS or Brachythyris sp. and corals: Amplexizaphrentis

sp., Homallophyllites calceolus <WHITE>. The microfacies are

various: biomicrite with crinoid stems, bryozoa , Earlandia sp.J

oomicrosparite with crinoid stems, bryozoa, Earlandia sp.,

Pseudostaffella sp., Millerella This fauna indicates an Upper

Tournaisian (Mississippian) age;

-30-40m of thick bedded limestone containing abundant and

various brachiopods: Tylothyris sp., Schellewienella sp. or

Actinoconchis sp. The latter is large, flat and with a fine

longitudinal ornamentation on surface. Microfauna is represented

IJ
by sp. and Endothyra sp;

-25m of fine grey limestone with lenses of

calcarenite. They contain chert nodules and few levels rich with
 crinoids, corals and brachiopods. The latter are represented by
Rhipidomella sp., Perditocardinia dubia CHALL>. This biomicrite

contains sponges as : St ache o i des s p. , Mamet e 11 a s p. and the

foraminifers Tournayellidae :Endothyranopsis sp. and Endothyra

f
sp. This microfauna confirms a Lower Visean age;

-25m of thickly bedded biosparitic limestone:

-15m of dark grey, detrital limestone with locally abundant

chert nodules and containing crinoid stems and brachiopods;

-25m of thickly bedded biosparitic limestone with scarce chert

,,...
nodules, few crinoid stems and the brachiopod: Werria sp.or
Orthotetes sp.;
- about 75m of limestone and interbedded siltstone with cross-

bedding and beds of dolomite. Those limestones are detrital and

grade upward to a microconglomerate;

- an top we observe,lying with an unconformity a conglomerate

with angular Paleozoic pebbles of limestone and sandy, greenish

to pinkish detrital matrix.

Another conglomerate lies on top, with an angular

( unconformity. It reworkes quartzites, grauwackes and andesite

Those conglomerates
.. .. founded
pebbles. The red matrix is detrital •
.
in various place in the area

anounce the early Mesozoic continental deposits.

 -80m of light grey,recrystallized limestone containing crinoid
stems, bryozoa and few chert nodules. They are interbedded with

sandy partly dolomitic, f ine-gra.ined, pinkish limestone

c on ta i n i n g c r i n o i d s t ems ( 1 c mJi'> • Th e mi c r o s c o p i c s t u d y i n d i cat e

for the former, a biomicrite with brachiopod, crinoid, bryozoa

fragments and the foraminifers: Climacammina sp., Millerella sp.,
Endothyra sp., Paleotextularia sp. and Staffella sp. of
Pennsylvanian age for the latter we observe the same
microfacies with Glomospira sp. and some algaes not found before:
-150m of alternated thick beds of limestone and pink marly and

sandy limestone. Those limestone are micritic, partly dolomitic

and contain bryozoan relicts, crinoid stems and abundant
undefined fragments. The marly limestone contain in a micritic

matrix few quartz grains. Fragments are abundant and small and

could indicate a local turbiditic deposit. We have recognized

ostracod fragments, sponge spines, bryozoa and Chaetetes sp.;

-20m of massive grey limestone containing chert nodules and

the Pennsylvanian tabulate coral Chaetetes milleporaceous
<EDWARDS-HAIME>;

.. .
-10m of dark grey, micritic limestone very rich with ostracod,
crinoid and bryozoa fragments. sp. and a possible
Goniatites section are recognized;
 -110m of pinki$h grey limestone containing Lophophyllidium sp.

with its central lophophore, and large brachiopods. Up the

sequence, the limestone contain dark and elongated chert nodules;

- upwards, the sandy limestone disappear and white to grey

recrystallized azoic irregularly grained limestone outcrop on

about 70m thick;

-30m of thick bedded, recrystallized, microsparitic limestone

with calcitic veins and few micas;

-70m of thick bedded , recrystallized limestoner

- lying on top with an apparent conformity, outcrop a SOm
thick meddium bedded (1-2m> limestone containing fusulinid

fragments and an abundant foraminifera fauna: Globivalvulina sp.,

Tetrataxis sp., Climacammina sp., Geinitzina sp., Diplospherina

sp.; Tuberi tina sp. and the algae Tubyphi tes obs cur us MASLOV.

They caracterize the Permian deposits. The fusulinids are

abundant. We could define Schubertellidae and Schwagerinidae with

large proloculi, thick keriotheca, cuniculi and, for some

samples, without phrenotheca. Septas are more or less folded

close to center and poles ,and chomata are observed. We

determine Parafusulina sp.·, Cuniculinella sp., Eoparafusulina sp.

and poorly preserved Pseudofusulinella sp. fragments;

' -150m of thick bedded (5-6m) pinkish grey limestone. They

contain abundant crinoid stems over 100m from base and abundant
large fusulinids over the higher 50m. Irregular silicic lenses
are observed. Those micritic limestones contain an abundant

microfauna composed of Globivalvulina sp., . l t z1na

Ge1n1 . sp.,
various species Tetrataxis sp.,Diplospherina sp., Climacammina

sp. and Deckerella sp. The algae Epimastopora sp., Tubyphites

sp.,and a possibly Eogoliolina sp. are observed. Fusulinids are

abundant. They get a thin to thick keriothecal wall, cuniculi,

1 a r g e p r o l o c u l us , 5 t o 6 " t u r n s,L' , an d ha 1 f t o f u l 1 h i g h o f t he
"turn" septa, axial fillings and phrenotheca. Cuniculinella sp.,
Schwagerina sp., Parafusulinella sp. and some Schubertellidae are
recognized;

-80m of microsparitic limestone with few pink sandstones and

chert. lenses. A poorly preserved fauna is observed: sponge

spines, crinoid stems, bryozoa and conodont fragments.

-80m of microsparitic to sparitic limestone with rare crinoid

stems;

-20-25rn of grey micritic well bedded (50cm> limestone with

chert nodules. They contain poorly preserved and weathered
corals, grastropods, br.c:hiopod fragments;

-25m of pink, azoic sandy limestone;

-1m of pink grey micritic limestone containing abundant

 Fusulinininae.Thin section study indicate the presence of crinoid
stems, Epimastopora sp., Climacammina sp., Staffella sp.,
Cuniculinella sp. The later get a large proloculus, chomata in

the first "turns", phrenotheca and thick keriotheca. Cuniculi are

numerous. Dolomite grains and recrystallisation are observed:

-40m of fine grained azoic limestone:

(
\
i
-25m of sandy, pinkish grey azoic thick bedded limestone
containing numerous calcitic veins;

-25m of reuystallized limestone containing abundant dolomite

grains and wollastonite;
-75m of light grey, azoic, completely recrystallized
limestone;

-100m of micritic limestone with abundant quartz and calcite

grains. Microfauna is poorly preserved: Climacammina sp.,
Tetrataxis sp.

-80m of microsparitic, grey limestone containing abundant

calcitic vein , few crinoid stems and fenestellid bryozoa;

-200m of sandstone with a micritic matrix, grey, silicified

and with abundant mineralization traces.
.. .

In cerro Santa Teresa , the base of the sequence is composed of

a thick sequence. Chaetetes milleporaceous and
Lophophyllidium are the best macrofaunal relicts found. A strong

recrystallized facies observed up the Pennsylvanian sequence

indicate the of a local fault which could have eroded

all the Upper Pennsylvanian sequence <not found here). On top,we

determine microorganisms of Permian age <Tubiphytes sp.,

Geinitzina sp., Pseudofusulina sp. and Parafusulina sp.)

On the southern flank of the Sierra, outcrops a small grey

limestone bed containing few oolitic clasts. A rich fauna is
recognized: bryozoa, crinoid stems, Glomospira sp. and
Asteroarchaediscus postrU•JOSUS which indicate an Upper
Serpukhovian or Bashkirian age late Mississippian-early

Pennsylvanian). A tectonic event brings Permian limestones

directly on top. All the Upper Pennsylvanian sequence is not

found. The very thick Permian sequence contains here: the algae

Tubiphytes sp., the foraminifera Geinitzina sp., and abundant

Schwagerinidae <Cuniculinella sp., sp., Dunbarinella

sp., Schwagerina sp.) of Wolfcampian <Asselian-Sakmarian> age.

....
On the western flank of the Sierra, a rounded block containing

Boultonia sp. could indicate a basal Leonardian age for an eroded

higher sequence.

The lithologic study of the Sierra Santa Teresa section reveals

the presence in central Sonora of a platform-type sequence

similar to the coeval one present in northeastern Sonora.This

Pennsylvanian and Permian sequences are here not disturbed and

are dipping 30°W.

6) The Sierra Martinez outcrop was studied by Menicucci

<1975>. He described a carbonated sequence with few sandy and
shally beds containing a typical platform fauna studied by M. Lys

Qrsay Univ., France):Deckerella sp., Schwagerinidae,

Parafusulina sp., Cuniculinella calx THOMPSON and WHEELER or

Parafusulina imlayi DUNBAR. This fauna indicates an Upper
Wolfcampian to Lower Leonardian age.

7) Cerro de la Tinaja section.

Located north of the...,l..,Lano Colorado village, this section is

limited on its southeastern flank by a reverse fault from
andesites .Along its northeastern flank, the sequence is covered
by the Sierra Madre Occidental Tertiary volcanism.
 The section is about 150-200m thick and dip 20-30°ENE. From
bottom to top we have observed:
-2-3m of coarse grained, light grey, poorly bedded sparitic

limestone. They contain few crinoid stems;

-5-6m of red to yellow sandy and shally limestone containing

abundant calcitic veins. Beds are 50cm to 1m thick and contain

abundant and large crinoid stems (10cm long, 1-2cm in diameter>;

-those detritic limestone grade upward to 3m of recrystallized

grey limestone < beds: 50cm thick);

-15-20m of poorly bedded, grey limestone with small calcitic
veins. The thin sections indicate a sparitic matrix and the
presence of crinoid stems, bryozoa, Geinitzina sp., Staffella sp.

and the pseudoalgae Stackeia sp. Few dolomite crystals are

observed;

-5m of shally, beige limestone with crinoid stems and bryozoa

-15m of grey limestone with beds about 50cm to 1m thick,

/ containing crinoid stems and fusulinid fragments. The thin

section is a biomicrite with bryozoa, crinoid stems, fusulinid

fragments and the algae Tubiphytes sp. Few meters up in the

section, the biomicrite grades upwards to a biomicrosparite

containing bryozoa, crinoid stems, ostracods, fine and broken
 Staffellidae and abundant Schwagerinidae. Their wall is alveolar
with phrenotheca and could be Pseudofusulina •• Boultonia sp.,
and Schubertella sp. are observed;

-10m of sandy, yellowish, beds 50cm thick limestone,l

I

containing abundant crinoid stems and bryozoa. Few dolomite

crystals are found;

-15m of grey cliff-forming limestone.Beds are 50cm to 2m thick

with abundant small calcitic vein. Crinoid stems and brachiopods

are weathered. Thin section indicate micritic facies with

oolites in a sparitic matrix or cement. Fauna is weathered and we

have found fusulinid fragments and Deckerella sp.

-20m of sandy and marly yellowish, thin bedded C30-50cm)
limestone;

-15-20m of thick bedded, grey limestone containing abundant

Fusulinidae. The micritic to microsparitic facies contain an

abundant fauna: crinoid stems, bryozoa, brachiopods, ostracods,

Globivalvulina sp., Tetrataxis sp., Deckerella sp., Geinitzina

( sp. and the algae Tubyphites sp. Schwagerinidae are

with a thick wall, phrenotheca, cuniculi, regular fluting, high

septa and axial fillings. The different species recognized are:

Parafusulina sonoraensis DUNBAR, Cuniculinella calx DUBAR et

WHEELER, Parafusulina sp.

 Th is sequence with a very late Wolfcampian or basal

e ardian <Upper Sakmarian> age have a platform type facies,

e y similar to the one of Sierra Santa Teresa. The dip of the

se u ence is regular, and undisturbed.

8) Sierra las Pinitos.

Schmidt and Bridges <1978) have studied the sierra Cfig.17-

12). They describe from base

r
to top:

-135m of calcareous and dolomitic mudstone, containing few

crinoid stems;
-131m of blue to white ,massive quartzite with some poorly

preserved gastropods at the top;

-753m of sandy,brown to yellow ,azoic limestone grading

upw a rd s to grey blue limestone containing abundant fossiliferous

fragments. The thin section study show the presence of

Epimastopora sp., Schwagerinidae, Parafusulina sp., Parafusulina

( imlayi DUNBAR, Cuniculinella calx THOMPSON and WHEELER and

Deckerella an age of Upper Wolfcampian <Lower Sakmarian

to Upper Sakmarian>; .....- ... ·

-then they observed 1060 to 2000m very fine calcareous

 a il ites , regularly bedded and azoic.

9>The Cerro de Willard sebtion (fig.17-1>.

A cementery is located on the outcrop.We have observed a 220m

ick section.

-At the base, 15m of biosparitic pinkish grey limestone are

ell stratified with beds about 10 to 30 cm thick,and containing

s om e che'rt nodules. They contain thick crinoid stems, external

o lds, poorly preserved of brachiopods and Fusulinidae.The later

1ave a large proloculus, and phrenotheca. Cuniculi are not
o bserved. This specie could be Pseudofusulina sp.

-6m of grey limestone with abundant chert levels, essentially

at the base and where they have a chaotic aspect.

-200m thick of grey limestone with chert nodules, and

containing crinoid stems and poorly preserved fusulinids;

- near the top of the section, a 15-20m thick grey, detritic

( limestone without any chert amount is observed.We have found

there the gastropod Bellerophon sp.

A· Leonardian age can be proposed for this section.

 10) The Cerro Valuarte section (fig.17-3): Cerro San

ancisco.

Located on the southern edge of the Sierra San Juan de Dios

i
• is outtrop is composed of recrystallized limestone with a

s r ong contact metamorphism, and a 70° east dipping.

Three samples from the top of the section contain ,crinoid

s em s, ostracods, bryozoa, ' Tubiphytes sp., Climacammina sp.,

eck erella sp., Globivalvulina sp., Geinitzina sp., Schubertella

s Boultoniinae and Skinnerella biconica, Parafusulina

s i nneri, Schwagerina arta, Cuniculinella calx <with thick

!

s i rotheca, cuniculi, chornata) and Pseudofusulina obtusa <with r

"
enotheca, and axial fillings).

The Boultoniinae and all the species found indicate a Lower

_e age CArtinskian>.

i
1 1) Cajon Sobechi section (fig. 17-11). 'l

l'.
This outcrop shows a facies different or the coeval seque n ces i{
!

_.... ':
I:'
.. :i::!:;Z de!!"i:ic d2posits a re here obs e r1,1 e d: so nd s ton e, sa r.dy

with mud pebbles, quartzite; conglomeratic levels are q

Ji
b edded in the section. This section contain few undefined ,: J
J
)
t
i
\
I
lI
'I
\
 corals and spiriferids of Permian age.

Above the unconformity, a basal conglomerate contains limestone

and quartzite pebbles and another one unconformable on the former
with elastic pebbles.

On top dark red siltstone are unconformable.

12> Recently, Pubellier <1987> describe Upper Paleozoic

<Mississippian-Permian) rocks at Cerro el Palmar in an
allochthonous position. Here, the sequence was first describe as
Upper Cretaceous.

In Sierra Chiltepin the same autjor describe Cambrian rocks

with Trilobite ,while Himanga ) had found a Cretaceous

CONCLUSION

The ... ....of central Sonora are divided in various

Paleozoic strata
coeval facies ,probably t•ctonically juxtaposed.

(1) A siliceous deep water assemblage is composed by

graptolitic ihales,radiolarian cherts,barite, and carbonates. The

complete sequence is folded with a NNE-SSW trend axis. This

sequence is thought to be Ordovician to Mississippian in age.

<2> A quartzo-carbonated sequence extends from Lower

Cambrian to Mississippian and even middle Pennsylvanian<?> in

age. The assemblage is composed by detritic limestones,

quartzite, dolomite, skarn, and sandy marls,and could represent

the slope or miogeoclinal assemblage.It is affected by broad

scale folding only.

C3> A carbonated sequence ,mainly composed by sandy and

shally carbonated rocks is middle Pennsylvanian to middle Permian

•
in age. The undisturbed sequence is not folded , ,but shows a
stratigraphic gap in the Upper Mississippian, which could

indicate a tectonic event related with the Acadian phase or

Antler orogeny recognized in western USA.

The contact between those three different assemblages were

not clearly observed into the field. The unconformity and

presence of a at the base of the carbonated sequence

in Cerro las Rastras could postdate an important tectonic event

that could be corralated with the Acadian phase or Antler

orogeny.
More detailed study in the Sierra San Juan de Dies and in the los
Chinos area could probably help to a better understanding of this
tectonic event.A northern to norteastern trend for the

displacement of those terranes is the most •

111.-GENERAL CONCLUSION.

This biostratigraphic study conducted on the Paleozoic rocks

of NW Mexico reveals a complex geologic history, later ly

complicated by Mesozoic tectonic events,marked by thrusting and

folding as well as speculative continental strike slip fault zone

to the opening of the gulf of Mexico.

In despite of these superposed tectonic signatures and without

any definitive evidence for the age and amount of motion along

these strike slip faults, we shall tentatively and briefly

discuss a model for the paleogeographic evolution of this

area.

Lower Precambrian rocks are composed of metamorphic

 1-o
associations <gneiss, schists> folded by the Mazatzal event <1650
Ma> and recognized in northeastern Sonora and the Caborca area

<Cooper and Arellano, 1946>. Upper Precambrian rocks cropping out

in the Caborca area are represented mainly by shallow water

deposits (quartzite, sandstone carbonate> and are

rest"ing disconformably on the Lower Precambrian.

The Paleozoic story of Sonora is marked by the deposit of

three distinct coeval sequences,subsequently juxtaposed and

deformed (fig: 18). rwe have recognized, (1) a platform or

carbonated shelf sequence present in Northeastern Sonora, along

the southern margin of the north American craton and extending
through central Sonora:<2> a transitional sequence ,extending
from the Caborca area to central that could represent the

contihental slope of this a deep marine sequence

characterized by siliceous rich deposits.

1> The carbonated shelf sequence composed by dolomite,

quartzite, limestone, shale and minor sandstone and conglomerate

are Cambrian to middle Permian in age. The synthetic

c. •

stratigraphic log do not major sedimentation breaks

.
,except the one marked by the gap of the Upper Ordovician
 I<@
e
D
<:@
<
l.
<. ><
·-
a
(I')
<
0..

<<<.\

......
m

9- r-·
a.
e
f'-•

.a:
...
u r"-•
C:!I

0
u

a
z
<1'.
z
<(
-
...•
...
:
(.)
v:. .. .
0..
a:
u.J
a..
(/)
(/) .....
z
I (/)
(/)
•
..a
lilt
<1'.
a..
(/) ::z:
I ·eCl1
(/)
z <( ft
•
(/) a: U)
(/)

:::;:
cc
....
;;?:!!
C: CD
<1'.
u z N
IQ
·-"'
c.
..r:
"'O -0
·;;:; c:
ti) cQ

·-·-
Fig. 18.- Schematic cross section illustrating the palinspastic
and tectonic relatioships of the various Paleozoic sec-
tions in Sonora.
In Cambrian Mississippian time the NE Sonora shelf is
composed by a basal sequence of late Precambrian-Lower
Ordovician carbonated sequence resting disconformably
(dl) on early Precambrian metamorhpic rocks (PK-X) , and
a carbonated upper sequence of Devonian-Mississippian age
unconformably (d2) on the lower sequence.
During the same time interval the continental slope is
characterized by sandstones (dots) and sandy limestones.
The Cobachi deep basin is marked by radiolarian cherts,
graptolitic shales and sandstones. It is fringed south-
ward in Sinaloa by a still speculative island arc.
In the Mississippian interval the deep water facies are
probably thruste<l on the slope deposits. This Mississippian
(?) tectonic event did not affect the platform deposits
cropping out northward and can be the result of the colli-
sion of the Sinaloa island arc with the continental margin
of North America.
After cessation of this tectonic event late Paleozoic car-
bonated sequences are deposited disconformably (d3) on the
previously deformed units. A flysch sequence is also deposi-
ted in Sinaloa and could outline the displaced continental
margin.

<- ... .
 1-A
,Silurian and Lower Devonian sequences. The hiatus.also marked by
an angular unconformity could the presence in Sonora of

a major tectonic event • In northern Sonora ,this sequence well

developed
is not folded .In central Sonora ,we have found parts
f
of the sequence and the studied outcrops are Ordovician, Upper
Devonian
Middle Pennsylvanian and Lower Permian .All those
sequences are poorly deformed and unrnetamorphosed.A Middle

Pennsylvanian limestone pebble is found in a conglomerate located

at the base of Lower Permian platform type sequence. In that area

,we consider the platform type sequence as the foreland area for
the Paleozoic orogenic belt present southward (fig.19).

2> The transition zone interpreted as the former continental

slope was identified in northwestern and central Sonora. This
sequence is characterized by quartzite, sandstone shale,
dolomite and limestone and is Lower Cambrian to Permian <?> in

age. In northwestern Sonora the sequences related to this

paleoenvironnment are well developed and were correlated to the

coeval sequence in SW USA <Stewart,1984>. In central Sonora it is

represented by poorly deformed elastic turbidites and other

de t r i t i c de po s i ts and we re ·c.o r re 1 ate d wi th the coeval seq u en c e i n

' ..
NW Sonora and SW USA <Ketner,1986). This sequence could represent
 c
A N
'-•o •
A
- . - · - · - · - ·- ·-. -0'·

"()
h

-
1
0 40

't
(J'v"
UNITED STATES 0
--...Jo•
(")
(J
m
' w'
1>
-z. "
.....,
,..._

20.
t./i
....
0
!::!
7- . Gu1.fof
N•

f- c::J

t-:::3 1
..... , _ /
4 5EA

:..: :...;.-.. . :·>! 2 ,ee

c
o +
500 IOOOkrw
Fig.19
Fig. 19.- Schematic palinspastic reconstruction of the Paleozoic
belt of North America.
The Sonora belt is showed with its main palinspastic
units as conne cting the Ouachite-Appalachian belt with
the Cordilleran belt.
1: platform facies; 2: slope or intermediate facies out-
lining the continental margin; 3: deep water assemblages;
4: internal zones (island arcs and ophiolites); 5: thrust
boundary; 6: undefined boundary.
the continental slope fringing the SW platform and the American
craton <fig.19).

3> The deep water deposits found in central Sonora are

l
I

Ordovician to Lower Pennsylvanian in age <Peiffer

Rangin,1980;Poole et al., 1983; Ketner, 1986). They are

characterized by argilite,tuff, radiolarite with minor sandstone

,limestone and quartzite and various baryte beds. Those barytic

sandstone contain brachiopods <Dzieduszyckia;Noll,1981) and

radiolarians Fammenian to middle Pennsylvanian in age This

sequence is highly folded, faulted and covered by the Middle

Pennsylvanian deposits •

These deep water deposits are apparently thrusted northward above

the slope deposits during Paleozoic time.The age of this

tectonism is poorly constrained but probably predates deposition

of the late Paleozoic carbonated deposits widespread all over

Sonora (fig. 18).

South of this Paleozoic belt ,including the slope and deep water

deposits ,is cropping out an island arc terrane widely developped

in Sinaloa CMullan,1978;Clark et al.,1974).

Paleogeographic and tectonic settings of these various terranes

was discussed in Peiffer Rangin (1979).
 1-3
The synthetic map presented in figure 19 shows the possible

distribution and relationships of the distinct palinspastic zones

fringing the North American craton in Paleozoic time,as it was
proposed by Peiffer Rangin <1979).

So a possible connexion apparently existed during Paleozoic time

between the Ouachita-Appalachian belt into the East and the

Cordilleran belt into the West.
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------
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myogeosynclinal belt to the San Andreas fault, southern

California.- GSA Bull.,86, p.205-212.

STEWART J.H., STEVENS C.H., FRISCHE A.E. (1977>.- Paleozoic

paleogeography of the western United States Pacific coast

paleogeography.- SEPM, Pacific sect., 502p.

STEWART J.H., McMENAMIN M.A.S., MORALES-RAMIREZ J.M. <1984).-

Upper' Proterozoic and Cambrian rocks in the Caborca region,

·,
Sonora, Me:<ico. Physical stratigraphy, biostratigraphy,

paleocurrent studies and regional relations.- USGS, Prof. Paper,

'i 1309.

+,·

TALIAFERRO N. (1933).- An occurrence of Upper Cretaceous

sediments in northern Sonora.- 1, p.12-37.

TARDY M. C1980).- Contribution a de la Sierra

Madre Orientale, Mexique.- doct., Univ. Paris VI, 459p.

TELLEZ GIRON C. <1975).- Microfacies y microfosiles del Permico

de las sierras de los Chinos, Sta Rita y la Salada, Chihuahua y

la de Teras, 5Dnora .- IMP, reporte 83p.

TOOMEY D. F. , KLEMENTS K.W. (1966).- A problematical micro

organism from the El Paso group <Lower Ordovician> of west

Texas.- J. Pal.,40, 6, p.1304-1311.

TOVAR J.C. (1969).- Stratigraphic study of the Sierra Sta Rita.-

New Mexico Geol. Soc. guidebook ,The border region ,p.165-170.

VIVEROS M.A. (1965).- Geologia del area Cabullona-Caloso, Mun.

Agua'Prieta, Sonora.- UNAM, Tesis profesional, 80p.

ZELLER R.A. <1965).- Stratigraphy of the Big Hatchet Mnts. area,

New Mexico.- N. Mex. Bur. Min. Resources, Mem. 16, 128p.

 -IGURES CAPTIONS

F 3.1 - Location map.

r-"
F g.2 - Simplified geological map of the Sierra Mestenas.

P : Metamorphic Precambrian rocks; B:Lower Cambrian <Bolsa

F_rmation; A:Upper Cambrian CAbrigo Formation>; D:Devonian;

<Escabrosa Formation); P:Pennsylvanian <Horquilla
F ... rmation) C:Late Cretaceous; :volcanic rocks Crhyolites>;

i11trusives rocks <granites>; E: scree deposits ; Q:Guaternary

aeposits ; 1: anticlinal axis; 2:synclinal axis: 3:dips; 4:faults

: s:measured section.

.v
F-1g.3- Stratigraphic logs of ther-.Sierra Mestenas.

1: schists; 2:quartzites : 3:argillites; 4:detritic limestones:

 85
5: eolithic limestones; 6:fine grained limestonesr ?:sandstones;
s:limy sandstone; 9:recristallyzed limestones; 10:nodular
limestones; 11:sandy limestones; 12:dolomitic limestones;

13:coarse grained limestones; 14: chert nodules; 15:aplitic dike;

16:Recent deposits.
Numbers on the side of the logs indicate the samples.

I
Fig.4- Schematic geological map of the Sierra El Tule.
r
1:Recent deposits; 2: Upper Cretaceous; 3:1ntrusive rocks;
I 4:Pennsylvanian; 5:Mississippian; 6:Devonian; ?:faults; 8:thrust;

I 9:anticline axis; 1o:measured section.

I Stratigraphic logs of the Sierra El Tule.

I coarse grained white limestone; 2:detritic limestone;

?"micritic limestone; 4:thick bedded limestone; s:chert nodules;

I micritic limestone; ?:sandstone,; 8:sandy limestone;

I O•silty shales; 10:sandy limestone with chert nodules;

..... : Devonian.
I
I F'g.6- Geological sketch map of Cerro la Morita area.

·: Recent deposits; 2:Upper Cretaceous; 3:Lower Cretaceous

Jrita Formation); 4:Lower Cretaceous <Glance Formatii{>; 5:Upper

I
I
I
I
 .. ..
..

I
Paleozoic: Precambrian schists: 7: thrust fault:
8:decollement: 9:normal fault: 10:anticline axis and relative
dip; 11: paved road; 12:rios; 13 and 14:measured sections.

Fi 3.7- Stratigraphi'c logs of the Sierra la Morita.

1

1:Upper Cretaceous <sandstones and argillites); 2:recristallized

limestone; 3:micritic limestone; 4:sandstone; s: sandy limestone;

6: cherts; 7:detritic limestone; a:nodular limestone; 9:do1omitic

limestone; 10:breccias.

Fig.8-Geological sketch map of the Sierra San Juan de Dies.

1:Cambro-Ordovician; 2 .: De v on i an ; · 3: Mississippian; 4:scree

deposits; s: Tertiary volcanic rocks; 6:Tertiary intrusive rocks;

?:Recent deposits; 8: laminated limestones; A-B: measured section.

Fig.9- Stratigraphic logs of the Sierra San Juan de Dies.

A:Cerro B:Puerto del Oregano.

1:laminated limestone: 2:pebbly mudstone; 3:rnicritic limestone;

4:nodular limestone; 5:chert J\,QGUle bearing limestone; 6:silty

limestones; 7:recristallyzed limestone.

F;1.10- Geological sketch map of Cerro Cobachi area.

1:Recent depositsf 2:scree deposits; 3:Mesozoic rocks; 4:Lower

Permian; s:conglomerate; 6:Carboniferous deposits; 7:reefal

I
limestones: a:clastic limestones; 9:baryte beds; 1o:siliceous
sequence <sandstones, argillites and radiolarian cherts>;

11:undifferenciated intrusives.

Fig.11-Geological cross sections of the Sierra Cobachi area.

A-A': Gerro Cobachi -1:intrusive rocks; 2:Paleozoic

micritic limestones; 3:sandstone; 4:baryte beds; s:argillites and

sandstone; 3 to 5 :deep water facies.

A-A'': Rancho Guayacan section - 1:deep water facies; 2:

sandstone; 3: baryte beds; 4:siliceous limestone; s: chert

nodules; 6: coarse grained Upper Paleozoic limestone.

Middle Ordovician Graptolites assemblage in the Cobachi

"'rea.

Geological sketch map o£Los Chinos-Las Rastras area.

Same legend as figure 10.

r g.14-Geological cross section of Los Chinos- Las Rastras area.

 I:Los Chinos-El Cobre section:
and Mesozoic C?> with: 1:Tertiary tufs; 2:andesites of
, ch o San Pa b 1 o ; 3 : i n t r us i v e s ;

d:Paleozoic upper fslope or platform type facies with: 4:micritic

5 icoarse grained limy shales; 6:argillite ; 7:coarse

limestone; 8:chert nodules;

deep water deposits with: 9:sandy limestone; 10:

argillite ; 11:sandy shales.

11: Las Rastras section: 2:canglomerate; 3:Upper Paleozoic

micritic limestone; 4: sandstone; 5: baryte beds; 6:argillite

and sandstone Cdeep water assemblage>.

Fig.15- Cerro Tutunde cross section.

1:coarse grained limestone; 2: mi critic limestone;
con9lomerate; 4:argillite; s:interbedded con•Jlomerate;
6:andesites.

Fig.16- Cerro Azogue cross section.

1: mi critic limestone; 2:nodular limestone; 3:mudstone;

4:dolomitic mudstone; s:sparitic ' . )imestone;

limestone; 7:siltstone; 8:dolostone; 9:microconglomerate; 10:1imy

conglomerate; 11:conglomerate with quartzite,graywacke and

 andesite pebbles. I,

Fi9.17- Geological sketch map of Sierra Santa Teresa.

Pennsylvanian: 2: Permian; 3: Recent deposits: M:Mississippian
outcrop.

Fig .18-Schematic cross section illustrating the and

tectonic relationships of the various Paleozoic sections in

Sonora.

In Cambrian Mississippian time the NE Sonora shelf is composed by

a basal sequence of late Precambrian-Lower Ordovician carbonated

sequence resting disconformably <d1) on early Precambrian

'l metamorphic

Devonian
rocks

-Mississippian
<PK-X>, and a carbonated

age resting unconformably Cd2>

upper sequence

on
of

the

I lower sequence.

During the same time interval the continental slope is

characterized by sandstones (dots) and sandy limestones •

The Cobachi deep basin is marked by radiolarian

cherts,graptolitic shales and sandstones.It is fringed southward

"7 ....

in Sinaloa by a still speculative island arc.

In the Mississippian interval the deep water facies are probably

,
 thrusted on the .slope deposits.This Mississippian (?) tectonic

t event did not affect the platform deposits cropping out northward
t( and can be the result of the collision of the Sinaloa island arc

with the continental margin of North America.

After cessation of this tectonic event late Paleozoic carbonated

sequences are deposited disconformably <d3) on the previously

deformed units.A flysch sequence is also deposited in Sinaloa

and cculd outline the displaced continental margin.

Fig.19- Schematic palinspastic reconstruction of the Paleozoic

belt of North America.

The Sonora belt is showed with its main palinspastic units as

connecting the Ouachita-Appalachian belt with the Cordilleran

belt.
1:platform facies ; 2:slope or intermediate facies outlining the

continental margin; 3:deep water assemblages; 4:internal zones

(island arcs and ophiolites>; s:thrust boundary; 6:undefined

boundary.

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