Alkaline Rocks and Carbonatites of the World

Setup during HiTech AlkCarb: an online database of alkaline rock and carbonatite occurrences

Bernal De Horcasitas

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Occurrence number: 
108-00-011
Country: 
Mexico
Region: 
Tamaulipas
Location: 
Longitude: -98.47, Latitude: 22.77
Carbonatite: 
No

A volcanic plug rising almost vertically for 600 m, Bernal de Horcasitas is surrounded by an apron of basalt lavas, and lies in the plain about 15 km south of Sierra de Tamaulipas. The rock consists of clinopyroxene, biotite, nepheline, alkali feldspar, plagioclase, which is probably albite, and accessory apatite. A chemical analysis indicates 17% normative nepheline and 23% alkali feldspar. Xenoliths of biotite granite and syenite are present.

References: 

HEIM, A. 1934. El Bernal de Horcasitas, a volcanic plug in the Tampico Plain, Mexico. Zeitschrift fur Vulkanologie, 15: 254-60.
ROBIN, C. 1976. El vulcanismo de las plancies de la Huasteca (Este de Mexico). Datos geoquimicos y petrograficos. Boletin Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Instituto de Geologia, 96: 55-92

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith