Volcanismo riolitico en el eje neovolcanico mexicano.

Abstract

The Mexican neovolcanic belt runs E-W and bisects central Mexico. It is of Plio-Quaternary age and consists of andesitic stratovolcanoes, silicic volcanic centres and basaltic and andesitic cinder cone fields. Five silicic volcanic centres have been identified, each having produced 10-150 km3 of magma, and mostly showing strong compositional zoning in places from rhyolite to andesite. Other occurrences of rhyolitic volcanism in the area may be related to volcanic centres; others represent isolated events. Volcanic risk and geothermal energy are important economic implications of the belt. The geothermal reservoirs are located in zones of secondary permeability within the local volcanic basement.-R.E.S.