Digital geologic map and geochronologic, geochemical and geothermal database of the south-eastern part of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Mexico

Abstract

We present a first interactive digital geological map of the southeastern part of the Sierra Madre Occidental at its borders with the Mesa Central. The area of the geological cartography covers approximately 120,000 km2 that includes part of the states of Jalisco, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes and Durango. The geology has been compiled in ArcGIS through an interpretation of all the information available in the literature, integrated with our own geological mapping. Published maps were georeferenced and, as far as possible, the traces of the geologic limits and structures with a clear morphological expression were refined using digital elevation models and satellite images available in Google Earth. The map includes 15 geological units and the main tectonic structures. The informal geological units used in the map are chronostratigraphic and lithological and are designed to highlight the main magmatic episodes that shaped the region. The age assignment for each unit has been compared with a geochronological database that includes 304 ages. The lithological classification of each polygon has been compared for consistency with a geochemical database compiled from the literature that includes 313 samples. We also added a layer of information with the main hot springs of the region and their temperature.