The Geology of Iberia: A Geodynamic Approach: Volume 5: Active Processes: Seismicity, Active Faulting and Relief (Regional Geology Reviews)

Adopting a 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; and 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 final volume of the __Geology of Iberia__ focuses on the active geological processes in Iberia including seismicity and active faulting as well as the modern landscapes in the Iberian Peninsula. Editors and Volume Coordinators 6 Contributors 6 Preface 11 Contents 14 1 Active Processes in Iberia: An Introduction 17 Abstract 17 References 18 2 Active Deformation in the Iberian Peninsula from Geodetic Techniques 20 Abstract 20 2.1 Permanent Networks 20 2.2 Non-permanent Networks 23 References 23 3 Seismicity of the Iberian Peninsula 25 Abstract 25 3.1 Introduction 25 3.2 Historical Seismicity: Characteristics of Seismicity in the Iberian Peninsula 26 3.2.1 Distribution of Intensities 26 3.2.2 Estimation of Magnitude 27 3.2.3 Seismic Sequences 27 3.2.4 Additional Information 28 3.2.5 Early Instrumental Data 28 3.2.6 The Great Earthquakes of the Iberian Peninsula 31 3.3 Instrumental Seismicity and Seismotectonics of Iberia 33 3.3.1 Pyrenees 35 3.3.2 Iberian Chain 37 3.3.3 Western Iberia 37 3.3.4 Southwest-Iberian Margin 37 3.3.5 Betic Cordillera 38 3.3.6 Alborán Basin 40 References 41 4 Active Faults in Iberia 47 Abstract 47 4.1 Introduction 48 4.2 Active Faults in Mainland Portugal (West Iberia) 49 4.2.1 NNE–SSW Strike-Slip Faults in the Northwestern Iberian Massif (Northern Portugal) 49 4.2.2 ENE–WSW Reverse Faults Bounding the Portuguese Central Range (Central Iberian Massif) 52 4.2.3 Reverse Faulting in the Southwestern Iberian Massif. Example of the Vidigueira–Moura Fault (Southern Portugal) 52 4.2.4 Porto–Coimbra–Tomar Fault 53 4.2.5 Lower Tagus Valley Fault System 53 4.2.6 Active Faulting in the Algarve (S Portugal) 54 4.3 Active Faults in the Spanish Iberian Massif and the Cantabrian Mountains 55 4.3.1 Galicia and Cantabrian Mountains 56 4.3.2 Spanish Iberian Massif 57 4.4 Active Faults Within the Pyrenees 58 4.4.1 Normal Faults Within the High Pyrenees 60 4.4.2 Faults Within the Northwestern Pyrenees 61 4.4.3 Faults with Associated Seismicity Within the Southwestern Pyrenees 61 4.4.4 Faults Within the Eastern Domain 61 4.4.5 Other Possibly Active Faults 62 4.5 Slow Active Faults Along the Extensional Northeastern Margin of the Iberian Peninsula 62 4.5.1 Active Faults in the Transverse Ranges and Empordà Basin 63 4.5.2 Active Faults in the Catalan Coastal Ranges 63 4.5.3 Active Faults in the Maestrat Basin 66 4.5.4 Active Faults in the Mediterranean Sea 67 4.6 Active Faults in the Iberian Chain 67 4.6.1 The Concud Fault 67 4.6.2 The Jiloca Graben and Its Northwards Prolongation: Sierra Palomera, Calamocha, Daroca and Munébrega Faults 69 4.6.3 The Teruel Graben: Sierra de El Pobo, Teruel and Valdecebro Faults 69 4.6.4 Concluding Remarks 70 4.7 Active Faults in the Betic Cordillera 70 4.7.1 The Eastern Betic Shear Zone (EBSZ) 72 4.7.2 The Norteastern Sector of the Betic Cordillera (Prebetic Area) 76 4.7.3 The Betic Central Region 76 4.7.4 The Western Sector of the Betic Cordillera 79 References 79 5 Active Landscapes of Iberia 90 Abstract 90 5.1 Introduction 91 5.2 Relief Evolution and Associated Geodynamic Processes in Mainland Portugal (Western Iberia) 92 5.2.1 Main Evolutionary Phases of the Landscape 92 5.2.2 Plateaus and Mountains of Northern Portugal 93 5.2.3 Portuguese Central Range and Adjacent Piedmonts 96 5.2.4 Plateaus of Southern Portugal 97 5.2.5 Mesozoic Onshore Terrains Uplifted During the Cenozoic 97 5.2.6 Relief of the Mondego, Lower Tagus–Alvalade Cenozoic Basins and the Algarve Region 99 5.3 Relief and Active Processes in the Cantabrian Mountains 100 5.3.1 Alpine Exhumation of the Cantabrian Mountains 101 5.3.2 Uplift Rates Estimated Through Marine Terrace Dating 101 5.3.3 Estimated River Incision Rates 103 5.4 Origin and Evolution of the Pyrenees Topography 103 5.4.1 General Description of the Internal Structure and the Present-Day Relief of the Pyrenees 103 5.4.2 Evolution of the Pyrenean Orogen 105 5.4.3 Activity of Tectonic Structures During the Postorogenic Phase 105 5.4.4 Onset of the Present-Day Drainage System 107 5.4.5 Main Drainage Divide Dynamics 108 5.4.6 Present Day Uplift? the Debate on the Isostatic Compensation of the Chain 108 5.5 Relief Evolution of the Iberian Chain 110 5.6 Active Landscape of the Betic Cordillera 115 5.6.1 Eastern Betics 117 5.6.2 Central Betics 119 5.6.3 Western Betics 121 5.6.4 Ages and Rates of the Uplift and Denudation in the Betics 122 5.6.5 Quaternary Coastal Uplift of the Betic Littoral 124 References 128 Outline placeholder 0 Volume 1: General Introduction and Cadomian Cycle 138 Volume 2: The Variscan Cycle 138 Volume 3: The Alpine Cycle 138 Volume 4: Cenozoic Basins and Volcanism 139 Volume 5: Active Processes: Seismicity, Active Faulting and Relief 139 Front Matter ....Pages i-xvii Active Processes in Iberia: An Introduction (José Miguel Azañón, João Cabral)....Pages 1-3 Active Deformation in the Iberian Peninsula from Geodetic Techniques (Patricia Ruano, Rui Manuel Silva da Fernandes)....Pages 5-9 Seismicity of the Iberian Peninsula (Daniel Stich, José Manuel Martínez-Solares, Susana Custódio, Josep Batlló, Rosa Martín, Paula Teves-Costa et al.)....Pages 11-32 Active Faults in Iberia (Carlos Sanz de Galdeano, José Miguel Azañón, João Cabral, Patricia Ruano, Pedro Alfaro, Carolina Canora et al.)....Pages 33-75 Active Landscapes of Iberia (Jorge Pedro Galve, José Vicente Pérez-Peña, José Miguel Azañón, Diamantino M. Insua Pereira, Pedro P. Cunha, Paulo Pereira et al.)....Pages 77-124 Back Matter ....Pages 125-126