Journal of South American Earth Sciences 19 (2005) 537–546

www.elsevier.com/locate/jsames

Pliocene marine deposits at Punta Maldonado, Guerrero state, Mexico

Edgar Juárez-Arriaga, Ana Luisa Carreño*, José Luis Sánchez Zavala
Instituto de Geologı́a, UNAM. Circuito Exterior, C.U., Delegación de Coyoacán, 04510 D.F. Mexico
Accepted 15 June 2005

Abstract
Diverse and abundant Foraminifera and Ostracoda assemblages were recovered from a measured stratigraphic section at Punta
Maldonado, Guerrero state, Mexico. The planktonic species indicate an early Pliocene age, between 5.3 and 3.6 Ma; an early late Pliocene
(around 2.4 Ma) planktonic assemblage also was recorded from isolated deposits. These ages contradict the Cretaceous–Paleogene age
previously assigned to the sedimentary succession at Punta Maldonado. All indicators—benthic assemblages, ichnofacies, lithology, grain
size, primary structures, mineralogy, body rock geometry, and facies—suggest deposition in the foreshore and offshore transition zones of a
storm-dominated shallow siliciclastic shelf. The Ostracoda and Foraminifera indicate deposition around the outer neritic/upper bathyal
boundary, which suggests an uplift of 320–400 m in the area during the Pliocene. This study represents the first report of Pliocene marine
rocks in the southwestern coast of Mexico; the data presented contribute to regional geotectonic models.
q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Biostratigraphy; Foraminifera; Middle American trench; Ostracoda; Storm; Transgressive

Resumen
Un conjunto diverso y abundante de foraminı́feros y ostrácodos fue recuperado de una sección estratigráfica del área de Punta Maldonado,
Estado de Guerrero, México. Las especies planctónicas indican una edad del Plioceno temprano, entre 5.3 y 3.6 Ma, mientras que un
conjunto planctónico del Plioceno tardı́o temprano de aproximadamente 2.4 Ma, fue recobrado en un depósito aislado. Estas edades
contradicen la edad cretácica tardı́a-paleogénica previamente establecida para la sucesión sedimentaria de Punta Maldonado. Todos los
indicadores—conjunto bentónico, icnofacies, litologı́a, tamaño de grano, estructuras primarias, mineralogı́a, geometrı́a de los cuerpos de
roca y facies—indican depósito dentro de la facies de costa afuera y las facies de intermarea en una plataforma somera siliciclástica
influenciada por tormentas. Los ostrácodos y foraminı́feros indican ambiente de depósito en los lı́mites de la plataforma externa/batial
superior sugiriendo un levantamiento de 320–400 m durante el Plioceno. Por vez primera se consigna y describe la presencia de rocas
marinas del Plioceno en la costa sudoccidental de México lo que representa una contribución importante a los modelos geotectónicos
regionales.
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Palabras clave: Biostratigrafı́a; Foraminifera; Ostracoda; Tormenta; Transgresivo; Trinchera Mesoamericana

1. Introduction

The western coast of Mexico, particularly the middle and

* Corresponding author. Tel.: C52 55 56224312x185; fax: C52 55
55506644.
E-mail addresses: eja@geologia.unam.mx (E. Juárez-Arriaga), ana-
car@servidor.unam.mx (A.L. Carreño), jlsz@servidor.unam.mx
(J.L. Sánchez Zavala).
0895-9811/$ - see front matter q 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2005.06.004
southern portions, is well known for its volcanic,
volcaniclastic, and metamorphic rocks; however, with the
exception of Miocene–Quaternary marine sediments in the
Middle American trench (Fisher, 1961; Ross and Shor,
1965; Karing et al., 1978), sedimentary successions are
almost unknown. Shark teeth belonging to the genus
Carcharodon (Meyer, 1840; Maldonado-Koerdell, 1948)
538 E. Juárez-Arriaga et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 19 (2005) 537–546

appear in the first published report that indicates the
presence of marine rocks on the coast of Michoacán.
Pleistocene onshore marine rocks from coastal deposits in
Oaxaca were documented by Palmer (1926, 1928a, b) and
Palmer and Hertlein (1936). Miocene–Pliocene marine
rocks from Marı́a Madre (Chiñas-Laló, 1963; Carreño,
1985; McCloy et al., 1988) and the Marı́a Cleofas Islands
(Pérez-Guzmán, 1985) also have been recorded.
The most complete geological reconnaissance work on
the Pacific coast of Mexico was performed by Durham et al.
(1981), who report seven areas with late Cenozoic
sedimentary rocks. Four of these were considered marine
Neogene basins, and one was assigned a Pleistocene age.
The same authors assign a Paleocene age to rocks cropping
out at Punta Maldonado.
The purpose of this article is to document the presence of
marine strata at Punta Maldonado, Guerrero and, on the basis
of the microfossil assemblage, determine the age and deposi-
tional history of the sedimentary succession preserved there.
This study contributes to the understanding of the evolution of
the Neogene basins on the western coast of Mexico.
approximately 206 km southeast of Acapulco and 52 km
northwest of Pinotepa Nacional, Oaxaca state (INEGI,
1989a, b; Fig. 1). Neogene marine rocks form low cliffs and
extend throughout a short beach around the El Faro fishing
camp. Other isolated outcrops are distributed along the
coast, north and south of El Faro. Geological reconnaissance
of the area indicates that the exposures near El Faro preserve
a complete sedimentary sequence. A composite section was
constructed and located using a global positioning system
and INEGI’s topographic maps.
The Punta Maldonado area is part of the Sierra Madre del
Sur physiographic and morphotectonic provinces, in which
metamorphic rocks of the Xolapa complex have been
reported (Ortega-Gutiérrez, 1981). The Middle American or
Mesoamerican trench, which is 4 km deep, extends parallel
to the coast, approximately 60 km offshore, from Jalisco to
Panama and constitutes the morphological expression of
Mesoamerican subduction. Many well-lithified marine
terraces rise 10 to 35 m above sea level, dipping 58N
(Malpica-Cruz et al., 1991).

3. Previous work

2. Study area
The study area is located near the border between
Guerrero and Oaxaca, Mexico. Punta Maldonado is in
the Municipio of Cuajinicuilapa, Guerrero state, situated
Durham et al. (1981) were the first to report the presence
of the Foraminifera genus Aragonia in the sandstone cliffs
cropping out at Punta Maldonado and suggested these rocks
were Upper Cretaceous–Eocene in age. After a tsunami
devastated the area in 1990, several members of the Instituto

Fig. 1. Location map of Punta Maldonado, Guerrero state, of Pliocene localities: (a-a 0 ) Arroyo La Fortuna (Loc. IGM-3394), (b-b 0 ) Punta Maldonado (Loc.
IGM-3401), (c-c 0 ) Faro Viejo (Loc. IGM-3395), (d-d 0 ) Arroyo La Presa (Loc. IGM-3396), (e-e 0 ) Arroyo La Vaca (Loc. IGM-3397), (f-f 0 ) Punta Tecoyame
(Loc. 3398), (g-g 0 ) Cantil Punta Tecoyame (Loc. IGM-3399), and (h-h 0 ) Cueva del Tigre (Loc. IGM-3400). The black dot corresponds to the Cementerio
locality (Loc.IGM-3402).
 E. Juárez-Arriaga et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 19 (2005) 537–546
de Geologı́a (UNAM) carried out a geological reconnais-
sance to estimate the extent of the damage caused by the
tsunami (Centeno-Garcı́a, 1990). At approximately the
same time, the regional oceanographic setting was
reconstructed (Malpica-Cruz et al., 1991; Malpica-Cruz
and Padilla-Arredondo, 1994), and this work suggested that
the marine strata cropping out at Punta Maldonado should
be considered as a new Cenozoic lithostratigraphic unit.
Campa-Uranga et al. (2000) informally use the name
Punta Maldonado Formation and relate it to hydrothermal
vents deposited during the Neogene. Werre-Keeman and
Bustos-Dı́az (2001) also use this name for the Neogene
sedimentary rocks. Later, Campa-Uranga and González--
Morán (2002) assigned the Punta Maldonado sequence a
late Miocene age and suggested that the presence of mixed
organisms, some of hydrothermal vent origins and some
from a coastal lagoon, indicated downward transport
through a submarine canyon. In none of these papers has a
formal description of the unit been provided.
4. Material and methods
Neogene marine rocks at Punta Maldonado have a
restricted distribution; however, the rocks informally
referred to the Punta Maldonado Formation are distributed
sparsely along the coast from the mouth of the Copala River
in Guerrero, south as far as Las Culebras (Padilla-
Arredondo, pers. comm., 2002) in Oaxaca state. Outcrops
concentrate mostly along the coast, immediately north and
south of the El Faro fishing camp at Punta Maldonado,
where they form low cliffs for almost 3 km.
It is not possible to measure a continuous section;
therefore, a composite section was constructed (Fig. 2).
Along with the coastal exposures, some outcrops occur in
the river beds at the following localities: Arroyo La Fortuna
(Loc. IGM-3394), Faro Viejo (Loc. IGM-3395), Cementerio
(Loc. IGM-3402), Arroyo La Presa (Loc. IGM-3396),
Arroyo La Vaca (Loc. IGM-3397), Punta Tecoyame (Loc.
IGM-3398), Cantil de Punta Tecoyame (Loc. IGM-3399),
and Cueva del Tigre (Loc. IGM-3400). Samples were taken
from these exposures to assess their marine character and
biostratigraphic position (Fig. 1).
Samples were processed with traditional micropaleonto-
logical techniques for calcareous microfossils. Ostracoda
and benthic and planktonic Foraminifera specimens are
housed in the Micropaleontological Collection of the
Instituto de Geologı́a, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de
México (IGM-673-Mi to IGM-764-Mi).
5. Lithostratigraphic description of Punta Maldonado
Section
The cumulative thickness of the Punta Maldonado
formation is approximately 83 m; the thickness of
539
the measured stratigraphic section (Punta Maldonado
locality IGM-3401; Fig. 2) is 12 m. The lower limit of the
unit was not observed and may rest unconformably on rocks
of the Xolapa complex (Ortega-Gutiérrez, 1981). The
composite section was measured along 3 km of cliffs
south of El Faro (16819.324 0 lat. N-98833.695 0 long. W).
The base of the section is below sea level and therefore was
not observed (Fig. 2).
Six units, separated by irregular erosive discontinuities,
were identified (Fig. 2). Generally, the sandstones bodies
contain subrounded to subangular quartz grains with
potassium feldspars, mica, and foraminiferal shell bioclasts.
Unit I is 1.5 m thick at its base and consists of 0.5–0.8 m
of fine-grained, well-lithified, slightly bioturbated (approxi-
mately 30% of the exposed area), low-angle, cross-stratified
sandstones, which transitionally become a 0.45 m thick
structureless sandstone with lenses of subrounded quartz
grains in a fine- to medium-grained sandstone matrix.
Skolithos isp. exclusively constitutes the ichnofacies.
Upsection, this unit consists of 0.5 m of fine-grained
structureless sandstone.
Unit II is 0.8 m and consists of a subrounded quartz
pebble and cobble conglomerate with a subangular,
medium-grained sandstone matrix. Unit II cuts into Unit I
along an erosive surface (Fig. 2). We interpret this unit as a
paleochannel fill.
Unit III has a maximum thickness of 2.1 m. It lies
unconformably on Unit II and is cut by Unit IV. It consists
of fine-grained, well-lithified laminated sandstone; the
laminations vary from 0.5 to 0.8 cm.
Unit IV is 1 m thick. It consists of a structureless, fine-
grained sandstone that suggests volcanogenic influences
(Fig. 2).
Unit V is 3.1 m thick and divided into two subunits
according to its lithology and fossil content; the contact
between these units is transitional. The base of Unit V
erosionally overlies Unit IV. The lower subunit of Unit V
consists of 0.3 m of medium- to fine-grained, highly
fossiliferous sandstone, characterized by subangular quartz
grains of low sphericity and minor potassium feldspar,
calcite, biotite, and lithic fragments. Thin beds of
disarticulated mollusk valves showing bimodal orientations
suggest stratification; otherwise, the unit is structureless
(Fig. 3). These strata contain vertebrate, plant, and coal
fragments. The upper subunit of Unit V consists of 2.7 m of
sandstone. In comparison with the lower subunit, the upper
subunit contains fewer lithic fragments, mica, and detritic
calcite, whereas its fossil content increases with well-
represented micromollusks, sponges, and bryozoans.
Characteristically, more than 60% of the exposed area is
bioturbated (Fig. 2). Ichnofossils include Ophiomorpha
nodosa, Skolithos isp., and Thalassinoides isp. (Fig. 4).
Unit VI is 3.2 m in total thickness. It caps the measured
section and is composed of a sandy shale that rests
unconformably along an erosive surface, which at its base
has accumulations of mollusk shells, sparse echinoderms,
 540
E. Juárez-Arriaga et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 19 (2005) 537–546
Fig. 2. Measured stratigraphic section at Punta Maldonado (Loc. IGM-3401), Guerrero state. Arrows show locations of micropaleontology samples. The first column represents the bathymetry of deposit inferred
from the foraminiferal biofacies (TransZtransitional; I NerZinner-neritic; M NerZmiddle-neritic; O NerZouter-neritic; U BatZupper bathyal). The second column represents the relative percentage of the
neritic (continuous line) compared with the outer neritic-upper bathyal biofacies (dotted line). The third column illustrates a characteristic species of the inner-neritic foraminiferal biofacies, Bulliminella curta,
and an outer neritic-upper bathyal biofacies, Uvigerina peregrina. The outraced assemblages are represented by Cypridopsis vidua, a mixohaline species, and Radimella sp., a shallow neritic species.
 E. Juárez-Arriaga et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 19 (2005) 537–546
Fig. 3. Contact between Units IV and V, represented by an irregular surface.
Near the base of Unit V, a thin bed with disarticulated mollusks’ valves
with bimodal orientation is observed. Unit V is characterized by high
bioturbation, which increases near the top.
gastropods, annelid tubes, and indeterminate shell frag-
ments (Fig. 2). Megafossils are absent in the middle and top
of Unit VI. Beds of Quaternary age, consisting of alternating
paleosoils and shale, cap the unit. Where erosion has been
Fig. 4. Thalassinoides isp. at the Punta Maldonado section.
541
intense, the Quaternary beds erode down to the middle part
of Unit VI.
6. Microfossils
The planktonic Foraminifera recovered throughout the
section are sparse, particularly in contrast with the high
abundance and variety shown by the benthic Foraminifera
and Ostracoda (Table 1). This abundance and diversity
suggests near-shore deposition. Smear slides were studied
for calcareous nanoplakton, but their low abundance and
poor state of preservation (fragmented and diluted) limit
their utility in this study.
As a whole, microfossils constitute a characteristic
tropical assemblage, and even when their occurrence is
inconsistent or their abundance low, several Atlantic/Car-
ibbean species are found. The benthic assemblage is similar
to the Pliocene ones reported from Isla Marı́a Madre
(Carreño, 1985; McCloy et al., 1988), Isla Tiburón and
Punta Mita (Gastil et al., 1999), and other Baja California
localities (Cronin, 1987). It also resembles modern species
recorded in the Gulf of California (Swain, 1967), Sonoran
and Baja Californian lagoons (Benson, 1959; Benson and
Kessler, 1963; McKenzie and Swain, 1967), and Nicaragua
(Swain and Gilby, 1967).
7. Age
Despite the tropical character of the planktonic for-
aminiferal assemblage preserved at Punta Maldonado, most
of the index species used in studies by Blow (1969), Bolli
and Saunders (1985), and Berggren et al. (1995) are absent.
Therefore, low latitude biozonations could not be carried
out. However, it is possible to use some species considered
by Bolli and Saunders (1985) as restricted to the Caribbean
region. The Punta Maldonado species, with presumably
restricted Atlantic/Caribbean distributions and/or affinities,
are not typically robust forms but instead have weak keels
and are smaller in size. A similar condition was reported
from Isla Marı́a Madre (Carreño, 1985).
The cooccurrence of Globigerinoides obliquus extremus,
Globorotalia menardii menardii, G. menardii “A” of Bolli,
G. menardii cultrata, G. acostaensis, G. humerosa, and
Neogloboquadrina dutertrei s.l. at the Punta Maldonado
section permits a correlation with the Globorotalia
margaritae zone of the lower Pliocene (Bolli and Saunders,
1985). This zone also can be recognized in strata from
localities such as Arroyo La Fortuna, Cueva del Tigre, Faro
Viejo, Arroyo La Presa, Arroyo La Vaca, and Cantil de
Punta Tecoyame.
From an outcrop of green shale (1 m thick) located
approximately 150 m north of Punta Maldonado (Cemen-
terio locality), rare specimens of Hastigerina aequilateralis
were obtained whose FAD, according to Bolli and Saunders
542 E. Juárez-Arriaga et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 19 (2005) 537–546
Table 1
Checklist of recovered microfossils housed in the Micropaleontological Collection of the Paleontological Museum of Instituto de Geologı́a of UNAM
Foraminifera
Bolivina argentea Cushman, 1926 IGM-673-Mi
Bolivina interjuncta Cushman, 1926 IGM-675-Mi
Bolivina seminuda Cushman, 1911 IGM-677-Mi
Bulimina marginata d 0 Orbigny, 1826 IGM-678-Mi
Buliminella elegantissima (d’Orbigny) IGM-680-Mi
Cancris comunis Cushman and Todd, 1942 IGM-682-Mi
Cassidulina subglobosa Brady, 1881 IGM-684-Mi
Cibicidoides mckannai (Galloway and Wisslery) IGM-686-Mi
Cibicidoides sp. IGM-688-Mi
Criboelphidium sp. IGM-690-Mi
Elphidium crispum (Linneo) IGM-692-Mi
Eponides parantillarum Galloway and Heminway IGM-694-Mi
Fursenkoina compressa (Bailey) IGM-696-Mi
Glabratellina albida (McCulloch) IGM-698-Mi
Globigerinoides conglobatus (Brady) IGM-700-Mi
Globigerinoides ruber (d’Orbigny) IGM-702-Mi
Globigerinoides trilobus sacculifer, (Brady) IGM-704-Mi
Globobulimina pacifica Cushman IGM-706-Mi
Globorotalia humerosa Takayanagi and aito IGM-708-Mi
Globorotalia menardii cultrata (d’Orbigny) IGM-710-Mi
Globorotalia pseudopima Blow IGM-712-Mi
Hanzawaia depaloi Finger and Lipps IGM-714-Mi
Hastigerina aequilateralis Brady IGM-716-Mi
Miliolina spp.
Nodosaria sp. IGM-719-Mi
Nonionella grateloupi (d’Orbigny) IGM-721-Mi
Planulina ariminensis d 0 Orbigny IGM-723-Mi
Pulleniatina obliquiloculata (Parker and Jones) IGM-725-Mi
Reussella spinulosa (Reuss) IGM-727-Mi
Textularina spp.
Uvigerina cf. excellens Tood IGM-730-Mi
Uvigerina obesa Cushman IGM-732-Mi
Uvigerina sp. IGM-734-Mi
Ostracoda
Ambostracon glauca (Skogsberg), IGM-736-Mi
Aurila conradi californica Benson and Kessler, IGM-738-Mi
Aurila sp. A. jollaensis (LeRoy), IGM-740-Mi
Bairdia sp. cf. B. simuvillosa Swain, IGM-742-Mi
Cativella dispar Hartmann, IGM-744-Mi
Cyprideis currayi Swain, IGM-746-Mi
Cytherella ovularia Swain, IGM-748-Mi
Cytheromorpha sp., IGM-750-Mi
Loxocorniculum sculptoides Swain, IGM-752-Mi
Paracytheridea granti LeRoy, IGM-754-Mi
Paracytheroma hartmanni Swain and Gilby, IGM-756-Mi
Pellucistoma sp. cf. P. scrippsi Benson, IGM-758-Mi
Potamocypris mazatlanensis? Swain, IGM-760-Mi
Puriana pacifica Benson, IGM-762-Mi
Radimella confragosa (Edwards), IGM-764-Mi
R. mariae Carreño, IGM-766-Mi
Stenocypria? sp., IGM-767-Mi
Xestoleberis hopkinsi Skogsberg, IGM-769-Mi
(1985), occurs approximately at the base of the Globor-
otalia tosaensis tosaensis zone. These specimens enable a
correlation with the late upper Pliocene and suggest that
early upper Pliocene evidence is absent from Punta
Maldonado.
The planktonic Foraminifera suggest that the Neogene
marine rocks cropping out at Punta Maldonado correspond
to the lower Pliocene, between 5.3 and 3.6 Ma. However,
Bolivina costata d’Orbigny IGM-674-Mi
Bolivina interjuncta bicostata Cushman and McCulloch IGM-676-Mi
Bolivina spp.
Buliminella curta Cushman IGM-679-Mi
Buliminella subfusiformis Cushman IGM-681-Mi
Cancris sagra d’Orbigny IGM-683-Mi
Cassidulina tortuosa Cushman and Hughes IGM-685-Mi
Cibicidoides pseudoungerianus (Cushman) IGM-687-Mi
Criboelphidium poeyanum (d 0 Orbigny) IGM-689-Mi
Dentalina communis (d’Orbigny) IGM-691-Mi
Elphidium sp. IGM-693-Mi
Eponides sp. IGM-695-Mi
Fursenkoina spp. IGM-697-Mi
Globigerina bulloides d’Orbigny IGM-699-Mi
Globigerinoides obliquus extremus Bolli and Bermúdez IGM-701-Mi
Globigerinoides trilobus (Reuss) IGM-703-Mi
Globobulimina auriculata Bailey IGM-705-Mi
Globorotalia acostaensis Blow IGM-707-Mi
Globorotalia menardii ‘A 0 Bolli IGM-709-Mi
Globorotalia menardii menardii (Parker, Jones and Brady) IGM-711-Mi
Hansenisca sp. IGM-713-Mi
Hanzawaia sp. IGM-715-Mi
Lagena sp. IGM-717-Mi
Neogloboquadrina dutertrei (d’Orbigny) IGM-718-Mi
Nonionella atlantica Cushman IGM-720-M
Orbulina universa d’Orbigny IGM-722-Mi
Planulina exorna Phleger and Parker IGM-724-Mi
Reussella pacifica Cushman and McCulloch IGM-726-Mi
Sphaeroidinellopsis sp. IGM-728-Mi
Trifarina carinata (Cushman) IGM-729-Mi
Uvigerina hannai Kleinpell IGM-731-Mi
Uvigerina peregrina Cushman IGM-733-Mi
Virgulina aff. complanata Egger IGM-735-Mi
Ambostracon vermillionensis Swain, IGM-737-Mi
Aurila convergens Swain, IGM-739-Mi
Bairdia sp., IGM-741-Mi
Basslerites sonorensis Benson and Kessler, IGM-743-Mi
Caudites rosaliensis (Swain), IGM-745-Mi
Cypridopsis vidua (O.F. Müller), IGM-747-Mi
Cytherelloidea sp. Swain, IGM-749-Mi
Cytherura johnsonoides Swain, IGM-751-Mi
Orionina pseudovaughani Swain, IGM-753-Mi
Paracytheridea pichilinguensis Swain, IGM-755-Mi
Paradoxostoma sp. IGM-757-Mi
Perissocytheridea meyerabichi (Hartmann), IGM-759-Mi
Pterygocythereis delicata Coryell and Fields, IGM-761-Mi
Radimella cardonensis (Swain and Gilby), IGM-763-Mi
R. labyrinthus Carreño, IGM-765-Mi
Radimella spp.
Trachyleberidea henryhowei McKenzie and Swain, IGM-767-Mi
the presence of H. aequilateralis, which represents the late
upper Pliocene, might indicate that significant portions of
the unit were eroded intensely. This interpretation is
consistent with the inferred high-energy paleoenvironmen-
tal setting, as we discuss subsequently. Alternatively,
Pliocene regressive-transgressive cycles may have produced
discontinuous deposits. According to this interpretation,
the 1.2 Ma indicated by the absence of the Globorotalia
 E. Juárez-Arriaga et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 19 (2005) 537–546
miocenica zone (Bolli and Saunders, 1985) could represent
a regressive interval.
8. Paleoenvironment
Foraminifera and Ostracoda are scarce at the base of the
measured section and become abundant and diverse higher.
Rare nonmarine Ostracoda occur throughout the section and
are slightly more abundant near the top. There are neither
middle-upper bathyal nor psicrospheric species, and the
preserved benthic Foraminifera and Ostracoda assemblages
consist of species characteristic of neritic warm to temperate
environments, as well as upper bathyal species. Shallow
inner neritic (Fig. 2) foraminiferal biofacies (Ingle, 1977)
are characterized by Buliminella curta Cushman,
B. elegantissima (d’Orbigny), B. subfusiformis Cushman,
Criboelphidium poeyanum (d’Orbigny), and Reussella
pacifica Cushman and McCulloch. The inner-outer neritic
assemblage is represented by dominant Cancris comunis
Cushman and Todd, C. sagra (d’Orbigny), Eponides
parantillarum Galloway and Heminway, Hanzawaia cf.
depaloi Finger and Lipps, Nonionella atlantica Cushman,
N. grateloupi (d’Orbigny), Planulina ariminensis
(d’Orbigny), P. exorna Phleger and Parker, Reussella
pacifica Cushman and McCulloch, and R. spinoulosa
(Reuss).
Species that belong to the typically outer neritic-upper
bathyal biofacies (Ingle, 1977), with a minimum depth of
150 m, were recorded throughout most of the Punta
Maldonado section (Fig. 2). Nevertheless, specimens are
scarce and broken and show signs of dilution and
dissolution. The sole exception is an assemblage recovered
at Unit VI, which is represented by abundant and well-
preserved Bolivina argentea Cushman, B. seminuda
Cushman, Cassidulina tortuosa Cushman and Hughes,
Cibicidoides pseudoungerianus (Cushman), C. mckannai
(Galloway and Wissley), Trifarina carinata (Cushman),
Uvigerina peregrina Cushman, U. hannai Kleinpell, and
Globobulimina pacifica Cushman (Table 1).
The lithological characteristics and character of the
paleontological assemblage suggests that the mixture of
biofacies was produced by the reworking of bottom
sediments in this high-energy paleoceanographical setting.
We therefore infer the depositional environment using
thaphonomic characteristics of the benthic assemblage (e.g.,
abundance, preservation), the upper depth limit of the
species recorded at each level, and the lithological features
of the section.
Throughout the section, Ostracoda are represented by an
assemblage formed of the mixture between outer and inner
neritic species (Fig. 2; Swain, 1967). The most abundant and
well preserved are Cyprideis currayi Swain, Cytherella
ovularia Swain, Orionina pseudovaughani Swain, Para-
cytheridea pichilinguensis Swain, Perissocytheridea meyer-
abichi (Hartmann), and Puriana pacifica Benson, as well as
543
several species of Ambostracon, Aurila, Basslerites,
Loxoconcha, Loxocorniculum, Radimela, Trachyleberidea,
and Paradoxostoma genera (Table 1).
At some levels, particularly in Units I and V, scarce
nonmarine Ostracoda (i.e., Cypridopsis vidua) and char-
ophyte oogonie are recorded in association with wood,
plants, and vertebrate bone fragments (only in Unit V).
Macrofossils are not particularly abundant throughout the
section and are represented by mollusk, echinoderm,
sponge, and bryozoan fragments. The best preserved
macrofossils are found near the base of Unit V, where a
thin bed preserves disarticulated mollusk valves with a
bimodal orientation.
The ichnofauna recorded near the base of Units I and V
strongly suggest deposition in a low-energy, nearshore
environment with the Ophiomorpha nodosa ichnofacies,
which represents an upper shoreface setting, dominant in
Unit V (Frey et al., 1978). The macrofossils and
ichnogenera recorded in the Punta Maldonado section
strongly support a very shallow neritic depositional setting,
which we interpret on the basis of the benthic microfossil
biofacies.
Sandstone and sandy shales constitute the rocks at the
Punta Maldonado section with fine (0.1–0.6 mm) to coarse
grains (O1 mm) composed mainly of quartz, mica,
feldspars, and bioclasts (foraminifera and micromolluscan
shells and other megafossil fragments). Conglomerates also
are preserved.
The presence of sharp, planar to gently undulating
erosive bases; locally channeled, intraformational conglom-
erate and pebble layers; and parallel lamination associated
with low-angle cross-stratification and bioturbation in the
five sandstone units indicates storm deposition. This
indication suggests that each sandstone unit represents a
single storm event, each of which included the processes
associated with storm deposition: initial erosion, deposition,
and post-storm reworking.
According to the sedimentological characteristics of Unit
I (Fig. 2), the bioturbated cross-stratification and medium to
coarse pebbly sandstone strata at Unit I represent post-storm
reworking of the shoreface. Such reworking would be
associated with density currents formed through physico-
chemical variations that occur during the storm event,
causing channels to form parallel to the current direction in
the sediment water interface. The evidence for this process
is the presence of lenses of subrounded quartz grains in a
fine- to medium sandstone matrix. In addition to its low
density, the genus-form Skolithos isp., which Seilacher
(1967) calls diagnostic of very shallow, high-energy coastal
environments, reinforces the interpretation that post-storm
deposition occurred in the shoreface. Unit I contains rare
and poor preserved planktonic Foraminifera, whereas
benthic Foraminifera and Ostracoda are present in slightly
greater abundance and poorly to moderately preserved. As a
whole, the microfossils constitute a characteristic inner
neritic biofacies characterized by species such as
544 E. Juárez-Arriaga et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 19 (2005) 537–546
Fig. 5. Schematic model representing the bathymetric evolution of Punta
Maldonado through the early Pliocene. (A) Deposition in an inner- to
middle-neritic environment with storm influence; (B) deposition in an
inner-neritic environment under weather conditions; (C) transitional inner-
neritic environment with storm influence; and (D) medium neritic-outer
neritic environment with deposits in calm water. Notes: A-A 0 is a
hypothetical section, s.l.Zsea level, and depths are given in meters.
Buliminella curta, B. elegantissima, B. subfusiformis,
Criboelphidium poeyanum, Reussella pacifica, Cyprideis
currayi, and Perissocytheridea meyerabichi. This associ-
ation strongly reinforces the interpretation that deposition
occurred between the proximal area of the storm and the
shoreface (Figs. 2 and 5a).
Upsection at Unit II, a pebble and gravel conglomerate
cuts the lower beds (Figs. 2 and 5a) and represents an
erosive surface probably associated with rip currents that
developed between the shoreface and the offshore transi-
tional zone. The dominance of subangular quartz grains of
low sphericity reinforces the interpretation that, during peak
storm flow, transported material from the continent caused
currents that, together with the wave action, deposited
reworked material (Howard and Reineck, 1981). No fossils
were recovered. Unit III, represented by parallel-laminated,
medium- to fine-grained, mainly horizontal to very low-
angular stratification (hummocky?) (Fig. 2), may represent
an interval of waning storm deposition (Reading and
Collinson, 1996). Planktonic Foraminifera are considerably
more abundant here than in lower strata, which suggests
deposition occurred somewhat far from the coast in a deeper
water environment. Benthic Foraminifera (Buliminella
elegantissima, Bulimina marginata, Cancris comunis, C.
sagra) and Ostracoda (Cyprideis currayi, Cytherella
ovularia, Orionina pseudovaughani, Paracytheridea pichi-
linguensis, Perissocytheridea meyerabichi, Puriana paci-
fica) are abundant but show low diversification and
constitute a typical inner neritic assemblage. This finding
reinforces the interpretation of deposition in a shallow-
water environment, probably in the distal part of the storm
(Fig. 5b). A lenticular bed characterized by well-sorted
(Unit IV), medium-grained sheet sandstones devoid of
fossils cuts these strata. The upper boundary of this sandy
unit is covered by Unit V by means of an irregular surface,
which we interpret to represent erosion.
Unit V consists of a structureless, fine-grained, highly
fossiliferous and strongly bioturbated sandstone. In its lower
part, thin parallel beds of mollusk shells with bimodally
oriented valves suggest the presence of oscillatory currents
associated with post-storm deposition. Near the top, this unit
becomes highly bioturbated (more than 60% of the surface
area; Kelts et al., 1982), which obliterates physical evidence
of storm deposition. Three ichnogenera were recorded—
Skolithos isp., Thalassinoides isp., and Ophiomorpha
nodosa—which strongly suggests a Skolithos ichnofacies
and, in turn, a shallow marine environment with a hard
substrate, influenced by waves. In contrast, the high degree
of bioturbation of the strata suggests post-storm/fair weather
deposition (Fig. 5c). Throughout this sandstone unit,
microfossils are well preserved. Planktonic fossils are less
abundant than benthic; the latter are represented by a
mixture of inner- to middle-neritic species, including
abundant and well-preserved Ostracoda (Ambostracon,
Aurila, Basslerites, Cyprideis, Loxoconcha, Radimela,
Trachyleberidea, Paradoxostoma, and Perissocytheridea)
and Foraminifera (Bulimina marginata, Cancris sagra,
Eponides parantillarum, Hanzawaia depaloi, Nonionella
grateolupi, N. atlantica, and Planulina exorna, as well as
several species of the genera Buliminella, Elphidium, and
Criboelphidium). Nonmarine Ostracoda (i.e., Cypridopsis
vidua) and charophyte oogonie also are well preserved and
ubiquitous though less abundant than marine microfossils,
which suggests minimal transport from a freshwater source.
The presence of wood, plants, and vertebrate bone
fragments associated with abundant sponges, bryozoans,
and mollusks suggests the transport of continental fossils to
the coast by fluvial systems.
The presence of continental fossils in this shallow water
environment is the result of transport and accumulation
during the storm event. Abundant bioturbation, presumably
produced during fair weather intervals, obscures sedimen-
tary textures associated with the storm.
As noted previously, Unit VI is the top of the section and
rests over an irregular erosive surface. It is formed of
structureless, fossiliferous, sandy shales, which in turn are
capped by paleosoils. Planktonic Foraminifera are abundant
and well preserved, indicating a deposit far from the coast or
characterized by deeper water than the other units (Fig. 5d).
Benthic Foraminifera are abundant, well preserved, and
dominated by a mixture of upper bathyal species (Bolivina
costata, B. argentea, B. seminuda, B. interjuncta, Cassidu-
lina subglobosa, C. tortuosa, Cibicidoides pseudounger-
ianus, C. mckannai, Trifarina carinata, Uvigerina
peregrina, U. hannai, and Globobulimina pacifica) and
Ostracoda neritic species (Ambostracon glauca, A. vermil-
lionensis, Caudites rosaliensis, Cativella dispar, and
Orionina pseudovaughani, as well as several species of
Radimella, Aurila, and Cytherura). These species indicate
that deposition occurred near the outer neritic and upper
 E. Juárez-Arriaga et al. / Journal of South American Earth Sciences 19 (2005) 537–546
bathyal boundary, and thus, they constitute the deepest
deposits of the section (Figs. 2 and 5d).
9. Discussion
A mixture of tropical (Globigerinoides and keeled
species of Globorotalia) and subtropical morphotypes of
Neogloboquadrina dutertrei and nonkeeled globorotaliids
(Ingle, 1977; Carreño, 1985) characterizes the planktonic
foraminiferal assemblage in this section. The variations in
dominance among groups indicate fluctuations of water
surface temperature between 20–25 8C (Ingle, 1977). The
Ostracoda assemblage is composed of species that inhabit
neritic environments of the warm-temperate Pacific and the
Gulf of California. Their presence indicates that most of the
section experienced paleoclimatological conditions similar
to those that occur today in the area, including warm, humid
summers, dry winters, and significant storm influence.
The pollen record from Site 493 (Leg 66 of the DSDP)
suggests that by the early lower Pliocene, the climate was
warm and dry. After a hiatus, toward the late lower
Pliocene, precipitation and stream activity increased, and by
the upper Pliocene, the climate became colder and drier, as
indicated by the virtual disappearance of taxa related to the
tropical Sapotacea and oak species, as well as the scarcity of
ferns (Fournier 1982). The end of the Pliocene also shows a
marked hiatus, in agreement with data presented herein.
During the Quaternary, the climate was dominated by an
increase in precipitation and consequent transport by stream
currents, as evidenced by the significant increase of fern
spores and high counts of oak and alder pollen, which
indicate humid climates (Fournier 1982).
In accordance with the distribution of the planktonic
Foraminifera throughout the Punta Maldonado section and
its estimated age, it seems that at least during the lower
Pliocene, the unit represents deposition interrupted by
erosive surfaces and structures produced by the high-energy
dynamics of storms. Therefore, it is hard to explain the
presence of Hastigerina aequilateralis, which indicates an
upper Pliocene age, in an isolated and thin exposure.
Nevertheless, Butt (1982) documents Site 493, at the
continental basement located some 16 km offshore of Punta
Maldonado at a water depth of 675 m, as an early Miocene
transgression with marine sediments that contain benthic
Foraminifera and indicate that depths go from neritic to
upper bathyal. At the end of the early Miocene, the site
subsided from mid-bathyal to lower bathyal environments,
whereas during the middle Miocene-Quaternary, uplift
occurred to the present-day water depth of 670-m.
According to these data, the transgression that started in
the area during the early Miocene must have reached Punta
Maldonado by this time; nevertheless, no identified
evidence can demonstrate marine deposition and subsequent
erosion in the Miocene. In contrast, our evidence suggests
that at least in the early Pliocene, marine deposition
545
occurred in Punta Maldonado and displayed a transgressive
pattern otherwise associated with a generalized uplift of the
Middle American continental margin, possibly suggesting
local subsidence along the margin of the continental plate.
This process was followed by erosion and subsidence,
which produced marine deposits of the late Pliocene.
10. Conclusion
A marine sedimentary sequence that crops out at Punta
Maldonado, Guerrero state, is described in detail for the first
time. Our data contradict the Late Cretaceous-Paleogene
age reported by Durham et al. (1981). Sedimentological and
micropaleontological data indicate deposition in a neritic
environment, with offshore and foreshore facies influenced
by storm events. Unfortunately, the small size of the
outcrops, their reduced thickness, and their sparse distri-
bution do not enable us to recognize all the sedimentological
features conventionally associated with storm deposits.
Ichnofossils and fragments of wood and bones occur
throughout the Punta Maldonado section, and the rocks
show a pervasive volcanic influence. We do not find any
mineralogical evidence to support the hypothesis that these
deposits were associated with hydrothermal vents, as
proposed by Campa-Uranga et al. (2000).
Our results, together with data from DSDP Leg 66,
indicate that during the Pliocene, the area was uplifted 320–
400 m, which may be related to the subduction of the Cocos
plate under the North America plate.
Acknowledgements
We thank Sonia Ángeles and A. Altamira from the
Instituto de Geologı́a, UNAM, for MEB microphotography.
We also thank Magdalena Alcayde for reviewing the
English of an early version. J. Helenes (CICESE) criticized
an early version; his suggestions and recommendations
greatly improved the final manuscript, for which we are
deeply indebted. We extend thanks to G. Padilla-Arredondo
(CIBNOR) for permission to use some of the micro-
paleontological samples and information, as well as to D.E.
Fastovsky (Rhode Island University) for the final review of
the manuscript. For their useful comments on the
manuscript, we thank two anonymous reviewers.
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