Algunos aspectos de la estructura de la Zona Subbética (Cordilleras Béticas. España meridional)

Abstract

Analysis of sedimentation and tectonics of the Subbetic zone of the Betic Cordilleras leads to the conclusion that sedimentation and subsequent deformation are largely governed by a Wilson cycle (Wilson, 1966, 1968) that began the opening of the Tethyan rift in the Pangaea continent during the Pliensbachian, 180 Ma ago. The resulting ocean began to close again in the Cretaceous, a process that led to a collision between Iberia and African elements in the Burdigalian, which was followed by strike-slip movement along a shear zone between the two plates which continues to this day. It is argued that the collision led to general uplift of the Subbetic zone as shown by the termination of deep water pelagic and hemipelagic sedimentation in the entire zone, and that the subsequent strike-slip movements along a system of anastomosing faults loo to very intense deformation localized along separate fault zones, and to the opening of pull-apart basins with characteristic sedimentation sequences.