Late Miocene–Pleistocene tectono-sedimentary evolution and subsidence history of the central Betic Cordillera (Spain): a case study in the Guadix intramontane basin

Abstract

The Guadix Basin became established as an intramontane basin in the central sector of the Betic Cordillera at the beginning of Late Miocene time. Its geodynamic evolution starts with a unit of Tortonian marine sediments and is completed by a unit of Late Turolian–Pleistocene continental sediments. In the two units, six depositional sequences have been differentiated whose boundaries, in most cases, coincide with tectonic events. Geohistorical diagrams show the results of quantitative analyses of subsidence in the northern sector of the basin and permit correlation of the main events with significant changes in the history of subsidence and uplift. A period of strong subsidence occurred at the beginning of Tortonian time causing the formation of a marine basin 800 m deep. The mid- and end-Tortonian tectonic events involved periods of uplift leading to shallowing in the basin. After continentalization at the end of the Tortonian, the basin was uplifted continuously from Late Turolian to Late Pleistocene times, finally accumulating sediments at a height of 1000 m.