Provenance analysis and thermochronology of the Chivillas Formation, Mexico: a record of basin formation and inversion in the southern Sierra Madre Oriental during the Early Cretaceous–Palaeogene

Sandstone petrography, zircon and apatite U-Pb geochronology, geochemistry of Early Cretaceous siliciclastic turbidites interbedded with basalt (Chivillas Formation) in the southern Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico, indicate local provenance from westerly basement sources. Three main detrital populations were observed both geochronology: Meso–Neoproterozoic, Carboniferous–Permian, Cretaceous. Apatite Sr/Y vs light rare earth element discrimination diagrams that most Precambrian grains have affinity high-grade metamorphic rocks Phanerozoic igneous rocks. These results are consistent derivation exposed crystalline sources within Acatlán-Oaxacan block including Grenvillian Oaxacan Complex, East Mexico Arc, continental arc. The compositional disparities individual samples reflect differences source turbiditic flows comprising Chivillas Formation. We surmise various rivers northern drained into basin during Furthermore, fission-track analyses sandstones yielded mostly 42–40 Ma ages (Eocene) post-date shortening Mexican orogen Oriental. Thermal models calculated based on track lengths rapid exhumation at 46–36 Ma, which is time development Tehuacán Valley reactivation Oaxaca Fault System as a normal fault.