Abstract
ABSTRACTAn interdisciplinary study of Miocene successions in the eastern External Betic Zone (South Iberian Margin) was carried out. Evidences of syn-sedimentary tectonic activity were recognized. The results enabled a better reconstruction of the stratigraphic architecture (with an improved chronostratigraphic resolution) in the framework of the Miocene foredeep evolution of the eastern EBZ. Two main depositional sequences were dated as uppermost Burdigalian-upper Serravallian p.p. and middle-upper Tortonian. p.p., respectively. The vertical and lateral diversification of lithofacies associations and thicknesses resulted from the syn-depositional tectonic complexity of the area. A great variety of sedimentary depositional realms is due to different subsidence rates, and the growing of anticlines and synclines during the Langhian p.p.-Serravallian. After a regression with an early Tortonian erosional gap, platform to hemipelagic realms developed during the middle Tortonian. The end of the sedimentation coincided with the emplacement of an important olisthostrome-like mass consisting of Triassic material related to either the development of thrust systems or diapirs emerged in the middle-late Tortonian, during the nappe emplacement. Correlations with other external sectors of the Betic Chain, and the external domains of the Rif, Tell, and northern Apennine Chains highlighted a similar Miocene foredeep evolution during the building of these orogens.
Highlights
The study area belongs to the eastern External Zone of the Betic Cordillera (Spain, Figure 1(A))
The previously defined Tap Formation has been divided into the Lower and Upper Tap Formations separated by a recognized unconformity with a related gap of about 3 Ma
The Lower Tap Formation was subdivided into 5 lithofacies (G to N) and shows more lateral and upward lithofacies variations compared to the Congost Formation
Summary
The study area belongs to the eastern External Zone of the Betic Cordillera (Spain, Figure 1(A)). The External Betic Zone (EBZ) consists of the Mesozoic to Tertiary sedimentary cover of the South Iberian Margin (Figure 1(B)) This passive Alpine margin started to develop during the Mesozoic rifting of the western Tethys that caused the formation of deep and shallow marine pelagic successions separated by normal faults. In the Miocene many intramontane basins developed whose geometry and stratigraphic architecture were controlled by re-arrangements of blocks and faults These intramontane basins were related to the evolution of the North Betic Strait (or Proto-Guadalquivir Foreland Basin) that represented a foredeep area connecting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea during a part of the Miocene (Sanz De Galdeano & Vera, 1992)
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