The Geology of Iberia: A Geodynamic Approach: Volume 4: Cenozoic Basins (Regional Geology Reviews)

Pursuing an innovative, global approach, this unique book provides an updated review of the geology of Iberia and its continental margins from a geodynamic perspective. Owing to its location close to successive plate margins, Iberia has played a pivotal role in the geodynamic evolution of the Gondwanan, Rheic, Pangea, Tethys and Eurasian plates over the last 600 Ma of Earth’s history. The geological record starts with the amalgamation of Gondwana in the Neoproterozoic, which was succeeded by the rifting and spreading of the Rheic ocean; its demise, which led to the amalgamation of Pangea in the late Paleozoic; the rifting and spreading of several arms of the Neotethys ocean in the Mesozoic Era and their ongoing closure, which was responsible for the Alpine orogeny. The significant advances in the last 20 years have increasingly attracted international interest in exploring the geology of the Iberian Peninsula. This volume focuses on the Cenozoic basins of the Iberian Geology and consequently the most recent sedimentary features in the Iberian Geology apart of the active ones. In this book, you will find a detailed explanation of the alpine foreland basins, the extension of the west Mediterranean as well as the latest magmatism in Iberia. Editors and Volume Coordinators 6 Contributors 6 Preface 10 Contents 13 1 Introduction 16 Abstract 16 References 19 2 Alpine Foreland Basins 21 Abstract 21 2.1 South Pyrenean Foreland and Basque–Cantabrian Paleogene Basins 21 2.1.1 Introduction 22 2.1.2 Preliminary Concepts 22 2.1.2.1 Basin Margins and Depositional Systems 23 2.1.2.2 Basin Subdivision and Terminology 24 2.1.2.3 Chronostratigraphic Scales 25 2.1.2.4 Influence of Global Climatic Events 25 2.1.3 Record of the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum in the Southern and Western Pyrenees 27 2.1.3.1 Introduction 27 2.1.3.2 Impact of the PETM on the Large Benthic Foraminiferal Communities 29 2.1.3.3 Environmental Impact of the PETM in the Pyrenees 30 2.1.4 The Foreland Carbonate Margin 31 2.1.4.1 Carbonate Margins of the Early, Pre-foreland Stage (Paleocene–Lower Ypresian) 32 2.1.4.2 Carbonate Margins in the Foreland Stage (Lower Ypresian–Lower Bartonian) 34 2.1.5 Siliciclastic Systems 40 2.1.5.1 Siliciclastic Systems of the Early, Pre-foreland, Stage (Paleocene to Early Ypresian) 40 2.1.5.2 Siliciclastic Systems of the Underfilled Foreland Basin Stage (Early Ypresian to Late Lutetian) 42 2.1.5.3 Siliciclastic Systems of the Overfilled Foreland Marine Basin Stage (Bartonian to Priabonian) 49 2.1.6 Sedimentary Imprints of the Geodynamic Basin Evolution 51 2.1.6.1 Orogenic Driven Sedimentary Sequences 51 2.1.7 Additional Remarks 52 2.2 Guadalquivir Basin 54 2.2.1 Introduction 54 2.2.2 Updated Chronostratigraphy and Geometry of the GB Sedimentary Infill 57 2.2.3 Sedimentary Record of Geodynamic Processes in the GB 58 Acknowledgements 61 References 61 3 Extension in the Western Mediterranean 74 Abstract 74 3.1 Introduction 75 3.2 Betic Cordillera Intermontane Basin Sedimentary Infill 76 3.2.1 Introduction 76 3.2.2 Inner Basins 76 3.2.2.1 Granada Basin 76 3.2.2.2 Guadix Basin 79 3.2.2.3 Lorca Basin 80 3.2.2.4 Fortuna Basin 82 3.2.3 Outer Basins 82 3.2.3.1 Bajo Segura Basin 82 3.2.3.2 Águilas-Cabo Cope 84 3.2.3.3 Vera Basin 85 3.2.3.4 Sorbas Basin 86 3.2.3.5 Tabernas Basin 88 3.2.3.6 Almería-Níjar Basin 88 3.2.3.7 Cabo de Gata 90 3.2.3.8 Poniente Basin 93 3.2.3.9 Pliocene Basins in the Málaga Province 94 3.2.3.10 General Patterns of the Sedimentary Record 94 3.3 Betic Cordillera Intermontane Sedimentary Basin Structure and Tectonic Evolution 97 3.3.1 Introduction 97 3.3.2 Western Basins 98 3.3.2.1 Ronda Basin 98 3.3.2.2 Málaga Basin 98 3.3.3 Central Basins 100 3.3.3.1 Granada Basin 100 3.3.3.2 Guadix-Baza Basin 101 3.3.4 Elongated Sedimentary Basins in the Eastern Betic Cordillera 101 3.3.4.1 The Almanzora Corridor and the Huércal-Overa Basin 101 3.3.4.2 The Alpujarran Corridor and the Tabernas and Sorbas Basins 103 3.3.5 The Southeastern Basins 103 3.3.5.1 The Poniente Basin 103 3.3.5.2 The Almería-Níjar Basin 103 3.4 The Alborán Sea Basin 103 3.4.1 Formation of the Alborán Basin 104 3.4.2 Basin Infilling 104 3.4.3 Structure and Tectonic Evolution 106 3.4.4 Physiography and Morphology 106 3.4.5 Potential Geological Hazards 106 References 107 4 Cenozoic Basins of Western Iberia: Mondego, Lower Tejo and Alvalade Basins 117 Abstract 117 4.1 Introduction 117 4.2 The Mondego Cenozoic Basin (Onshore) 120 4.2.1 Upper Campanian to Early Ypresian Tectono-Stratigraphic Stage 120 4.2.2 Lutetian to Lower Chattian Tectono-Stratigraphic Stage 121 4.2.3 Upper Tortonian to Quaternary Tectono-Stratigraphic Stage 130 4.3 The Lower Tejo Cenozoic Basin (Onshore) 132 4.3.1 Lutetian to Lower Chattian Tectono-Stratigraphic Stage 132 4.3.2 Upper Chattian to Lower Tortonian Tectono-Stratigraphic Stage 133 4.3.3 Upper Tortonian to Quaternary Tectono-Stratigraphic Stage 134 4.4 The Alvalade Cenozoic Basin (Onshore) 136 4.4.1 Lutetian to Lower Chattian Tectono-Stratigraphic Stage 136 4.4.2 Upper Chattian to Lower Tortonian Tectono-Stratigraphic Stage 136 4.4.3 Upper Tortonian to Quaternary Tectono-Stratigraphic Stage 136 4.5 The Cenozoic Offshore Mainland Portugal (Western Iberian Margin) 137 Acknowledgements 138 References 138 5 Cenozoic Sedimentation Along the Piedmonts of Thrust Related Basement Ranges and Strike-Slip Deformation Belts of the Iberian Variscan Massif 143 Abstract 143 5.1 Introduction 143 5.2 The Intraplate Compressive Deformation of the Iberian Peninsula Since the Middle Campanian, Recorded by the Associated Relief and Sedimentary Successions 145 5.3 Identification of the Main Cenozoic Tectonic Systems in Iberia 147 5.4 Cenozoic Tectono-Stratigraphic Stages and Episodes of Tectonic Deformation 148 5.5 Thrust Related Cenozoic Sedimentation 148 5.5.1 Cenozoic Piedmonts of the Cantabrian Pyrenees 148 5.5.1.1 El Bierzo Depression and Cenozoic Deposits of the NW Iberia 148 5.5.1.2 Boinas Cenozoic Basin 154 5.5.1.3 The Oviedo Basin 155 5.5.2 Late Cenozoic Piedmonts of the Spanish–Portuguese Central System 155 5.5.2.1 The Northern Border of the Madrid Cenozoic Basin 155 5.5.2.2 Southern Border of the Duero Cenozoic Basin 162 5.5.2.3 Amblés Sub-basin 163 5.5.2.4 Coria Sub-basin 164 5.5.2.5 Southern–Eastern Border of the Mondego Cenozoic Basin 164 5.5.2.6 Northern Border of the Lower Tejo Cenozoic Basin 165 5.5.2.7 Ponsul-Moraleja Sub-basin 166 5.5.3 Piedmont Sedimentation of the Guadalupe Range 166 5.6 Strike-Slip Fault Related Late Cenozoic Small Basins 167 5.6.1 As Pontes NW–SE Right-Lateral Strike-Slip Fault Related Cenozoic Small Basins 167 5.6.2 Bragança–Vilariça–Manteigas NNE–SSW Left-Lateral Strike-Slip Fault Related Cenozoic Small Basins 169 5.6.3 Verín–Régua–Penacova NNE–SSW Left-Lateral Strike-Slip Fault Related Cenozoic Small Basins 169 5.6.4 Leiria-Porto de Mós-Pinhal Novo NNE–SSW to N–S Left-Lateral Strike-Slip Fault Related Cenozoic Small Basins 170 5.6.5 Nazaré–Caldas da Rainha–Lourinhã NNE–SSW Fault Small Basin 170 5.6.6 Plasencia–Messejana Strike-Slip Left-Lateral Fault-Related Cenozoic Basins 170 5.6.6.1 Cañaveral Pull-Apart Basin 170 5.7 Conclusions 171 Acknowledgements 172 References 172 6 The Neogene-Quaternary Alkaline Volcanism of Iberia 178 Abstract 178 6.1 Introduction 178 6.2 The Valencia Trough 179 6.2.1 The Catalan Volcanic Zone (CVZ) 181 6.2.2 The Valencia Volcanic Zone (VVZ) 185 6.2.3 The Columbrets Volcanic Zone (CoVZ) 186 6.3 The Campo de Calatrava Volcanic Province (CCVP) 187 References 190 The Geology of Iberia: A Geodynamic Approach 194 Front Matter ....Pages i-xv Introduction (Juan C. Braga, Pedro P. Cunha)....Pages 1-5 Alpine Foreland Basins (Antonio Barnolas, Juan C. Larrasoaña, Victoriano Pujalte, Birger Schmitz, Francisco J. Sierro, María P. Mata et al.)....Pages 7-59 Extension in the Western Mediterranean (Jesús Galindo-Zaldívar, Juan C. Braga, Carlos Marín-Lechado, Gemma Ercilla, José M. Martín, Antonio Pedrera et al.)....Pages 61-103 Cenozoic Basins of Western Iberia: Mondego, Lower Tejo and Alvalade Basins (Pedro P. Cunha)....Pages 105-130 Cenozoic Sedimentation Along the Piedmonts of Thrust Related Basement Ranges and Strike-Slip Deformation Belts of the Iberian Variscan Massif (Pedro P. Cunha, G. de Vicente, F. Martín-González)....Pages 131-165 The Neogene-Quaternary Alkaline Volcanism of Iberia (Joan Martí, Xavier Bolós)....Pages 167-182 Back Matter ....Pages 183-184