Structure, age, and tectonic evolution of the Gulf of Mexico

The Gulf of Mexico is an isolated oceanic basin whose nature, structure and age are not fully elucidated, mostly because seafloor spreading isochrons have been identified in this so far. We compiled processed all publicly available marine magnetic data to produce a new anomaly map the Mexico. This reveals fan-like set intermediate-wavelength (>100 km) anomalies related spreading. Our anomaly-based plate reconstructions (1) support counterclockwise rotation Yucatán Block around pole located NW Cuba, (2) accommodate fracture zone trends depicted by gravity data, (3) suggest that Continent-Ocean Boundary lies immediately south Houston anomaly, close shoreline, implying crust underlies significant part Sigsbee salt province. attempt identify intermediate wavelength comparison with filtered Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scales dates onset before Tithonian (>150 Ma) its cessation at Berriasian (∼140 Ma).