Aggradational directions and biofacies in the youngest postorogenic deposits of southeastern Spain. A contribution to the determination of the age of the east Mediterranean coast of Spain

Abstract

The younger Tertiary rock sequence in the basin of Vera—on the east coast of southern Spain—terminates with large-scale, ≈ 40 m high foreset deposits, which are interpreted by the author as deltaic sediments. This interesting rock complex shows fluviomarine features and lateral interfingering of facies. The majority of the sediments is conglomeratic with sedimentary structures which permit recognition of the (original) direction of transport. One finds almost exclusively directions indicating an eastern origin, i.e., a transport of detritus from the present sea to the present land. The thick conglomeratic facies passes laterally, from east to west, into a finer-grained facies with a marine-brackish mixed fauna. Along the western margin of the basin again thin conglomeratic layers are found. It is concluded that the east coast of Spain near Vera is of Quaternary age, since a marine pelitic intercalation of the deltaic sediments can be determined as younger Pliocene on the basis of Foraminifera.