Paleomagnetism Group

Some of the main research lines are:

Rock Magnetism and Tectonics
The research studies are based on the magnetic properties characterization of rocks and minerals in order to document the spatial and temporal geomagnetic field changes in the past. The research is focused to the origin and evolution of the geomagnetic field in order to develop paleomagnetism applications in fields such as geophysics, geology, archeology, as well as in mineral resources exploration and prospecting

Paleomagnetism and Tectonics
The paleomagnetic studies are one of the main tools in plate tectonics and ocean floor spread research, since the paleomagnetic method allow the measurement of movement of lithospheric plates and determine paleocoordinates (referred to paleomagnetic poles). The interpretation of the ocean magnetic anomalies, that jointly with radiometric dating, is the basis of the geomagnetic polarity scale, has allowed the determination of the age of the oceanic crust, as well as the velocity and direction of movement of the lithospheric plates.
This research line is developed by us mainly in the study of continental plates and its movement in the region of Mexico and Central America. Our research is particularly focused on the tectonic and paleogeographic evolution problems concerned with the Pangea super continent ensemble, origin and evolution of Gulf of Mexico and Caribe region; the evolution of California Gulf and Baja California Peninsula; as well as other main geologic features such as East Sierra Madre, West Sierra Madre and Volcanic transmexican belt. In the last years paleomagnetic studies has been concentrated in research of the characteristics and process involved in orogenic belts formation. Studies in deformed regions in active margins and inside the continents have documented the occurrence of block rotations along their vertical axis. Studies on accretion terrane phenomena along continental margins and transform and transcurrent failing process, have led to the development of tectonostratigraphic terrane concept.

Magnetic properties of rocks and minerals
Some iron minerals such as loadstone, Ti poor titanomagnetites, hematite, pyrrotite and goethite, are able to preserve a remanent magnetization, which constitutes the basis of the paleomagnetic record in rocks. The origin of remanent magnetization may be due to different process such as temperature changes involved in magma cooling (plutonism and volcanism) or in metamorphic processes. This research line is focused to the study of the different remanent magnetization acquisition process and characteristics of magnetization and magnetic minerals. The studies also have a high potential for several applications such as modeling and interpretation of magnetic anomalies, mineral ore and petroleum fields prospecting, as well as for finding other secondary mineral associations.

Geomagnetic field secular variation and paleointensity
This research line is about the study of the geomagnetic field spatial and temporal features and their intermediate period changes that are in the paleosecular variations and in the documentation of the paleointensity changes of the geomagnetic field. The study of the paleosecular variations include studies of the historic period, starting from observatory data and recent geological Periods, based on the records on volcanic rocks, lacustrine sediments and archeological materials.