Synthesis of the quaternary in the almeria littoral neotectonic activity and its morphologic features, western betics, Spain

Abstract

A sequence of marine and continental Quaternary episodes is established, as are their interrelationships. The zone's tectonics have, in most cases, remained active to the present and control the factors All the Tyrrhenian levels containing Strombus bubonius are affected by the many faults that cross the lateral fringe and continue onto the shelf. Among these are: the Loma del Viento Fault, (N120°E. a normal fault with certain leftward characteristics): the El Alquian faults (N140°, 160°E, which coincide, according to several authors (Bousquet, 1979), with the surface feature of a great dextral deep accident); and the Carboneras Fault, or the Serrata Fault, (N40°, 45°E, left strike-slip fault). Given the varying behaviour of the shoreline, we have chosen to divide it into four sectors: Campo de Dalias, El-Alquian-Cabo de Gata, Mojacar—Garrucha. and Campo de Nijar-Serrata. Due to its geographical location, no marine-continental relationships exist in the latter. A chart has been made in an attempt to synthesize the most significant stratigraphic, genetic and tectonic characteristics of each sector. Lastly, the influence of tectonics on the distribution and heights of the Quaternary shorelines is clearly shown in a chart of the transgressive maxima of the Tyrrhenian episodes.