Oaxaquia, a Proterozoic microcontinent accreted to North America during the late Paleozoic

Grenville-age granulite facies rocks in southern, central, and northeastern Mexico have distinctive geologic features that suggest a common tectonic evolution. Paleontologic data from the overlying sedimentary sequences indicate that Oaxaquia was not part of Laurentia during most of the Palaeozoic. Oaxaquia was probably emplaced to its present position during late Paleozoic time. The concept of a Mesoproterozoic "Oaxaquia' microcontinent extending for about 1000 km in Mexico needs to be considered in the reconstruction of the Grenville orogen as a whole and for the Paleozoic tectonic interactions between eastern Laurentia and western Gondwana. -from Authors