Road Log Geology of Mexico: Baja California

Mexico was assembled from multiple small continental fragments which rifted away from the early Amazonian continent during the Middle and Late Precambrian Era. Many small island arcs developed as Pangea started to assemble. These island arc fragments were shuffled and rearranged by spreading centers, subduction zones, transform faults, and rotation throughout the Paleozoic Era. Assembly took place during the Mesozoic Era. Final assembly was completed when collision of the Yucatan terrane occurred with southeastern Mexico.

Baja California Peninsula is the westernmost tectonic province of Mexico. The peninsula extends 1300 km south-southeast from the US boundary to Cape San Lucas in the south. The peninsula is bounded on the east by a complex structural depression whose floor lies below sea level and deepens toward the southeast. The structural depression is the result of the displacement of the San Andreas Fault. The peninsula is divided from north to south into three morpho-tectonic sub-provinces called the Peninsular Ranges, the central region, and Southern Cap Region.

Chapter 1 presents the physiographic provinces of Mexico. Chapter 2 discusses the tectonic evolution of Mexico. Chapter 3 begins the presentation of Baja California by introducing the geologic origins of the Gulf of California, marine incursions, and sedimentary patterns. Chapter 4 begins the road log geology of northwestern Baja California. Chapter 5 continues the road log excursion through central Baja California. Chapter 6 continues with the northern Baja California Sur's road log. Chapter 7 presents the Central Baja California Sur road log. Chapter 8 continues with the Southern Baja California road log, and Chapter 9 ends the book with Baja California's paleo-tectonic summary.