Orbital cycles, differential subsidence and internal factors controlling the high-frequency sequence architecture in a Sinemurian shallow carbonate platform (Mallorca island, Spain)

Abstract

The ~125 m thick lower to lowermost upper Sinemurian peritidal to shallow subtidal platform carbonates in the Llevant Mountains of Mallorca (Spain) have been analysed from four stratigraphic sections, to provide new data on the hierarchical stacking pattern of high-frequency depositional sequences. Due to the fact that in shallow water environments the stacking of carbonate facies can be controlled by external (allocyclic) and internal (autocyclic) processes, deciphering the dominant controls on the high-frequency sequence architecture of these platforms is a challenge. The studied carbonates encompass a high variety of facies representative of open lagoon, internal bars, restricted lagoon and tidal flats with local beach sands. Based on a detailed analysis of vertical facies trends and bounding surfaces, large-, medium- and small-scale sequences have been identified within the long-term transgressive-regressive facies cycle defined by the entire succession. Large-scale sequences (~10–30 m thick) and medium-scale sequences (~1–10 m thick) are generally shallowing-upward sequences bounded by sharp facies changes to relatively deeper facies, and have been related to sea-level variations driven by long- (~400 kyr) and short- (~100 kyr) eccentricity cycles respectively. The overprinting of differential subsidence (probably related to extensional tectonic) and carbonate production and accumulation processes varied throughout time, controlling the lateral continuity and preservation potential of the ~100 kyr medium-scale sequences. Shallowing-upward, locally aggradational, small-scale sequences (~0.3 to 5 m thick) are very variable in number and thickness and cannot be correlated between sections, pointing out that their most important controlling factor was the internal processes (hiatuses and erosion related to subaerial exposure at the peritidal caps, lateral migration of internal bars, local wave and currents patterns, depositional and erosional processes related to spring tides and storms) in the frame of a complex mosaic of facies within the studied platform.