Durango volcanic field
Mexico · Americas
About
Durango volcanic field is a volcanic field in north-central Mexico (Durango), east of the Sierra Madre Occidental. The field covers a surface area of 2,100 square kilometres (810 sq mi). The volcanic field is located in the Tepehuano terrane. Volcanism in the area was accompanied by tectonic extension. There are around hundred cones in the field. Some volcanic rocks have been affected by faulting; buried faults are also found. The San Luis-Tepehuanes fault system is associated with the field. The whole field is covered by lavas, which are about 10 metres (33 ft) thick and reach a total volume of 20 cubic kilometres (4.8 cu mi). Magma ascent has been controlled by northwest-trending faults. Volcanism in the wider territory was related to the subduction of the Farallon plate until 29 mya. Later tectonic changes caused a start of more alkaline volcanism. The volcanoes have erupted basanite. The main components of the rocks at La Breña-El Jagüey are clinopyroxene, ilmenite, olivine, plagioclase and titanomagnetite, with rocks sporting variable textures. The participation of water in the formation process of these magmas is debatable; the rocks may have been influenced by sediments from the uppermost part of the subducting Farallon slab. These rocks are of mafic intraplate geochemistry. The rocks contain mantle xenoliths. The most prominent volcanic centres of the field are the La B
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