Volcanic Processes in Central Mexico

Central Mexico lies astride the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, a continental arc formed by the subduction of the Cocos and Rivera plates beneath the North American Plate. Within this region, volcanic activity ranges from persistent stratovolcanoes such as Popocatépetl and Nevado de Toluca to monogenetic fields exemplified by Parícutin and the Michoacán–Guanajuato volcanic field. Magma genesis is controlled by slab dehydration, mantle wedge melting and crustal assimilation, producing a spectrum from basaltic andesite to dacite. The evolution of magmatic systems is recorded in complex plumbing architectures, where deep mafic melts intrude and hybridise with upper-crustal silicic mushes. Caldera collapse and ignimbrite formation at sites like Acoculco have created high-potential geothermal reservoirs. Surface processes include effusive flank eruptions, explosive Plinian events and phreatomagmatic interactions. Seismic swarms, ground deformation and geochemical proxies such as radon release and ultra-low frequency electromagnetic perturbations serve as key monitoring tools. The interplay of tectonics, hydrothermal circulation and magma recharge underpins both volcanic hazards for densely populated centres and opportunities for geothermal energy development, with global relevance for volcanic arcs elsewhere.

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Recent petrological studies of Popocatépetl have used detailed analyses of orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene populations to resolve two distinct magmatic environments: a deep mafic reservoir crystallising high-Mg phases at temperatures exceeding 1,000 °C, and a shallower evolved reservoir at ∼970 °C where hydrous basalts interact with silicic mush. Crystal textures and geochemical zoning reveal frequent recharge-induced mixing, indicating that episodic injections of mantle-derived melts maintain the long-lived plumbing system and influence eruption dynamics.

Seismological investigations in the Michoacán–Guanajuato monogenetic field have re-located multiple low-magnitude earthquake swarms beneath Tancítaro and Parícutin. These swarms, occurring in clusters at depths between 8 and 15 km, are interpreted as repeated attempts of stalled magma to ascend through established conduit networks. The persistence of such swarms highlights the likelihood of future monogenetic eruptions, emphasising the need for permanent seismic monitoring to improve forecasting in densely settled volcanic areas.

Long-term geochemical and thermal modelling at Nevado de Toluca has delineated how variations in magma injection rates, intrusion temperatures and extrusive–intrusive ratios control the dominant eruptible magma composition over 1.5 Ma. A subtle increase in silica content through time is attributed to declining recharge flux and progressive growth of upper-crustal reservoirs. This work demonstrates that the petrologic mode of stratovolcanoes is governed not only by source chemistry but also by the dynamics of magma throughput and storage, with implications for assessing eruptive behaviour in other arc systems.

Volcanic Processes in Central Mexico publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in volcanic processes in central mexico across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt: A regional volcanic arc formed by the oblique subduction of the Cocos and Rivera plates beneath central Mexico.

Magma hybridization: The mixing and chemical interaction between distinct magmas or between magma and crystal mush within a volcanic plumbing system.

Monogenetic volcano: A volcano that erupts only once, producing a single edifice such as a cinder cone or maar.

Plumbing system: The network of magma reservoirs, dykes and conduits through which magma ascends from source to surface.

Caldera: A large, often circular depression formed by collapse of the crust following the evacuation of a magma chamber.

References

1. New Insights into the Simulations of Electric Currents for Discharges and ULF Magnetic-Field Perturbations: Applications to the Popocatepetl Volcano and a Micro-Discharge Model. Remote Sensing (2023).
2. Geology of the late Pliocene – Pleistocene Acoculco caldera complex, eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (México). Journal of Maps (2018).
3. Integrated Stress Field Estimation and Implications for Enhanced Geothermal System Development in Acoculco, Mexico. Geothermics (2021).
4. A Pyroxenic View on Magma Hybridization and Crystallization at Popocatépetl Volcano, Mexico. Frontiers in Earth Science (2020).
5. Repeated seismic swarms near Paricutin volcano: precursors to the birth of a new monogenetic volcano in the Michoacán-Guanajuato volcanic field, México?. Bulletin of Volcanology (2023).
6. The Long-Term Life-Cycle of Nevado de Toluca Volcano (Mexico): Insights Into the Origin of Petrologic Modes. Frontiers in Earth Science (2020).
7. Petrology, magnetostratigraphy and geochronology of the Miocene volcaniclastic Tepoztlán Formation: implications for the initiation of the Transmexican Volcanic Belt (Central Mexico). Bulletin of Volcanology (2010).