Mexico takes the sixth place in the world in terms of area, on its territory there are high mountains, deep depressions and plains. But it is noteworthy not only this. An amazing country is called the cradle of civilizations: at a time when Europe was still far from many scientific discoveries, the Maya Indians already applied their knowledge in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, alchemy and in other sciences. Until now, many of the mysteries of this amazing and wise tribe have remained unsolved.
The Indians knew about the rich bowels of their state, then it was not yet called Mexico, they mined minerals in an open way, processed them and used them in their households. Conquistadore conquerors were amazed at how many locals made of silver and precious stones, as well as iron.
The minerals of Mexico are very diverse. This is due to the fact that there are volcanoes in the country (both now active and extinct). During the outpouring, magma enters not only the surface, but also inside the earth, where various processes take place and intrusive rocks are formed.
Geological structure
Why Mexico is rich in minerals, a brief review will not work, because in the country there are a large number of different geological structures that affect the formation of rocks.
The territory of Mexico is located on such large geological units as:
- Folded zones of the east, west - Sierra Madre.
- Paleozoic folding of the south of the Sierra Madre.
- Block of the Baja California Peninsula.
- Sonor block.
- Mexican trough.
- Plate Yucatan.
Folded areas of the east and west of the Sierra Madre
These are the largest structural elements of Mexico. The eastern fold zone of the Sierra Madre is located at northern latitude between 19 ° and 20 °. Between the folding there are structures of the Transmexican volcanic belt, where there are many active volcanoes. They were formed by Neogene-Quaternary volcanics. In this territory, Mesozoic-Early Cenozoic foldings can be distinguished, which occur on crystalline schists and Precambrian gneisses. Non-metamorphosed Paleozoic sedimentary deposits are represented by carbonate rocks of the Lower and Middle Paleozoic. Triassic and Jurassic multi-colored sandstones, evaporites, mudstones, clays and limestone form Mesozoic complexes.
The western fold zone of the Sierra Madre stretches from the northern border of Mexico to the volcanic zone. This folding is composed mainly of volcanic Late Cretaceous, Cenozoic rocks, which include basalts and andesites. Deposits of copper, silver and lead-zinc ores can be confined to the outlying volcanic rocks of the Cretaceous period.
Paleozoic folding of the south of the Sierra Madre
This folded structure is located within the Trans-Mexican folded belt and the shelf zone of the Pacific Ocean. Early Paleozoic intrusive and metamorphic rocks are distinguished here, as well as Early Jurassic continental sedimentary strata, Jurassic marine sediments.
Baja California Peninsula Block
In the west of the block, rocks of the Mesozoic age are located, and granitoid batholiths occupy the largest part. A layer of clastic volcanic and marine deposits passes above these formations. The California Gulf Rift is formed by complex folded-thrust structures.
Sonor block
The block is located between the Gulf of California and the western part of the Sierra Madre. It is composed of granitoids and metamorphic rocks of Precambrian origin, as well as carbonate rocks of the Ordovician-Carboniferous.
The Sonorsky block is characterized by the fact that Cretaceous stocks of granites and hypabyssal rocks where deposits of copper-porphyry ores are found here are found.
Mexican Trough
The Mexican foredeep is in front of the Cordillera fold belt. For the most part, clastic rocks of Paleogene and Neogene are found. Gentle structures in reefogenic chalk limestones have accumulated hydrocarbon minerals.
Yucatan Plate
Fully composed of carbonates of Neogene and Paleogene. Oil deposits are confined to Cretaceous rift deposits in the west of the plate.
Relief
The relief and minerals of Mexico depend on geological structures. The relief of the country is quite complicated: it contains mountains, plateaus and plains. Most of the country is occupied by the highlands and the internal plateau. In turn, the plateau is divided into two parts: the Central Mesa and the Northern Mesa. The name "Mesa" comes from the Spanish "table".
Central Mesa is surrounded on all sides by mountain systems. It is almost completely covered with volcanic products, on this flat plain there are many basins of ancient lakes. Central Mesa reaches a height of 2600 meters to the south.
The Western Sierr Madre is a powerful mountain range rugged by deep river canyons. Sierra rises sharply when moving to the Gulf of California, but in the direction of the internal plateau, the heights change gradually. Such sharp elevation changes in the relief can be explained by the fact that there are numerous faults with a crystalline basement emerging on the surface. The tops of the mountains are smoothed by sedimentary rocks.
The California Peninsula is a narrow and mountainous stretch of land. Ranges reach 3000 meters above sea level.
Eastern Sierra Madre is a combination of mountain ranges with heights from 1000 to 3000 m. Sierra is covered by a thickness of sedimentary rocks. To the coastal lowlands when moving east (to the Gulf of Mexico), the mountains abruptly break off.
The Transverse Volcanic Sierra, the largest and highest mountain system of the Earth, is located on the southern outskirts of Central Mesa from east to west. Here is one of the largest volcanoes - Orisaba. Its regular cone rises 3,000 meters from the base, and its height is 5,700 m above sea level, which is slightly higher than Mount Elbrus.
Further, when moving south, the Transverse Volcanic Sierra breaks off with a deep hollow of tectonic origin. Across the Valsas River lies the Southern Sierra Madre. It stretches parallel to the Pacific Ocean. Unlike other mountain systems, there are no active volcanoes, it is composed mainly of sedimentary rocks.
The Teuantepec Isthmus is relatively low, its height in some places reaches 650 m. Behind it lies the Chiapas mountain system. This complex mountain range covers the entire southeast of Mexico. Chiapas is conditionally divided into two parts: the highland of the same name and the Sierra Madre ridge.
The largest lowland in Mexico is Tabasco; it is located near the Gulf of Mexico and is covered by marine sediments.
Having examined in detail all the structures and topography, one can answer the question of why Mexico is rich in minerals. This mainly depends on the processes that took place on the territory of the modern state thousands of years ago: plate movements, volcanic eruptions, glacier movements, etc.
What is rich in Mecca. Minerals
We can say that in the country there are almost all minerals. Why is Mexico rich in minerals? This is due to the diversity of the relief. There are significant reserves of such minerals as iron, mercury, gold, silver, antimony ores, copper, zinc, graphite, bismuth, and others. In addition, the country is producing oil and gas. The following will describe the economically important minerals of Mexico briefly.
Oil and gas
About 350 oil and about 200 gas fields have been explored in the state. Most of the reserves are concentrated within the Gulf - the Mexican oil and gas basin.
There are a lot of deposits in the territory, but all of them are relatively small, only a few have an oil reserve of more than 100 million tons, gas - more than 100 billion m³. Mexico is second only to Venezuela in Latin America in reserves of this valuable raw material.
In the Mexican oil and gas basin, five areas can be distinguished:
- Northeast region. Located in the trough of the Rio Bravo del Norte.
- Tampico Tuspan. Previously, this area was the richest in reserves. The area of Posa Rica with Upper Cretaceous reef limestones was especially notable.
- Veracus.
- South. Located off the coast of Tabasco Campeche. Now it ranks first in oil reserves.
- Yucatan.
Coking coals
The main mining site is the Sabinas basin. Almost all large deposits are confined to sediments of the Cretaceous period.
Sulfur
The deposits are confined to the sulfur-bearing province of the Gulf of Mexico. Native sulfur was formed due to gas emissions of volcanoes located near the Teuantepek Isthmus. In terms of reserves of this mineral, Mexico is one of the first places in the world.
Gold, silver, polymetallic ores
Minerals in Mexico, such as gold, silver and polymetallic ores, are always together. The skarn metal belt stretches from the northwest to the southeast. It begins with large deposits of copper and silver (Kananea region). Next are the "nodes" of deposits of gold, silver and polymetallic ores. These are such deposits as El Potosi, Zacatecas.
Mercury
Metal deposits were discovered in areas of modern volcanism. Deposits: El Oro, Taxco, Mineral del Monto, Winzuko.
Iron ore
This type of mineral is usually found together with antimony and titanium ores. There are not so many territories rich in intrusive minerals, but they play an important role in the country's economy. Deposits: Manzanillo, Durango.
Graphite
It is mined mainly in the state of Sonora. It was formed due to the impact of granitoid intrusions on coal seams.
Fluorite
In Mexico, 11% of all reserves of this mineral are concentrated. Deposits: Zacualpan, La Barra, Guadalajara, Paila, Aguacile, San Marcos and others.
The main minerals of Mexico are not only the above types, but also such as gypsum, rock salt, opal, strontium.
Why is Mexico rich in minerals? The short answer is: due to the presence of a variety of geological structures in the country, the manifestation of intense volcanism. Therefore, here you can find in various quantities almost all minerals. Some of these minerals and rocks play an important role in the country's economy. For example, silver, sulfur, fluorite and oil.
The vast area of such a state as Mexico, features of the relief, minerals, rich history - all this makes the country unique.