Multi-stage, Upper Eocene-Oligocene anatexis in the Xolapa metamorphic belt (Puerto Escondido, Mexico): Dynamics of the Xolapa Complex as the decoupled lower crust of the Chortís Block upper crust during its tectonic migration

Three successive strain regimes spanning up to ~16 million years were identified from the field, structural and geochronological analyses in Upper Eocene-Oligocene migmatites of the Xolapa Complex around the Puerto Escondido longitude (~97°W), in southern Mexico. A west-facing asymmetric folding affecting diatexites at ca. 38–31 Mad defines Regime A. Regimes B and C affected younger metatexites. Regime B recorded an outward extension at ca. 31–25 Ma, whereas Regime C occurred at ca. 25–22 Ma as NE-directed thrusting. By coupling the Upper Cretaceous-Oligocene tectonic framework of southern Mexico with the dynamics and timing of the identified strain regimes, we interpret that Regimes A to C recorded distinct stages of the separation and eastward migration of the Chortís Block, viewed as a continuous geodynamic episode. According to our proposal, the upper and lower crust of Chortís adjacent to nuclear Mexico were vertically decoupled before its separation by the presence of pre-Eocene crustal anisotropies. Regime A occurred when the Chortís Block rode over the Xolapa Complex during its initial eastward escape. Since this episode, the Chortís Block (upper crust) was captured by the Caribbean plate, whereas the Xolapa Complex (lower crust) remained as the southernmost North America plate. Chortís eastward migration and the consequent unloading of its decoupled lower crust triggered anatexis, isostatic adjustments, and diachronous uplift of the Xolapa Complex (Regime B). The progressive substitution of Chortís by its thinner lower crust in the tectonic configuration next to nuclear Mexico gradually enhanced the local convergence rate between the Farallon/Cocos plate and just-severed North America. The Farallon/Cocos plate was accreted to North America (Regime C) after a critical lengthening of the uprising lower crust along the southern Mexican margin. The local increase of the convergence rate promoted the landward consumption of the Xolapa Complex by subduction erosion since 22 Ma.