Abstract
The southern margin of the Iberian continent comprises a complex geological history, which can be traced back into the Proterozoic when a gneissic basement was formed. A cover of Nevado-Filabride rocks was deposited onto this Proterozoic basement during the Palaeozoic. The Permian intrusion of the Bédar granite suggests that the Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks now exposed in the Betic Cordilleras have been affected by the Hercynian orogeny, similar to that of Palaeozoic rocks in the adjoining Ossa Morena zone. The Hercynian basement was probably covered by Alpujarride carbonates in the Mesozoic, when rifting opened Tethys and intruded 140 Ma old basic dyke swarms. The Palaeozoic basement of the Betic Cordilleras comprises a suture of Late Cretaceous subduction (80-85 Ma B.P.). This can be inferred from (HP,LT)-metamorphic facies obducted in coeval thrust slices of Nevado-Filabride rocks. The Nevado-Filabride nappes include Mesozoic carbonates transformed into marbles (Macael). The suture was probably annnealed after the closure of Tethys. The Mesozoic boundary between Africa and Europe and the rifting in Tethys ceased during the Palaeogene when the Atlas Mountains were formed (36 Ma B.P.). Subsequently, relative movements between Africa and Europe in the Neogene were accommodated by strike-slip faults. These define the Iberian microplate moving eastward by Atlantic spreading and possibly subducting under Italy. Neogene deformation of Iberia is most intensive in southeastern Spain due to emplacement of a mantle diapir under the Alboran area. This occurred early in the Neogene (Aquitanian) and caused nappe spreading involving Alpujarride and Malaguide rocks. The subsequent Neogene history has now been studied in great detail and is reviewed here. It involves clear examples of calc-alkaline volcanism - most probably not related to subduction, seismic motion along strike-slip faults within the Iberian microplate, and syntectonic deposition in intermontane Neogene basins.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 153-184,189-236 |
| Journal | Earth-Science Reviews |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 3-4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 1991 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The basis for this synthetic review was laid by intensive field surveys in southeastern Spain by the author over the past decade, including two 4-month field seasons in 1979 (Feb.-April, August-Sept. ) and 1988 (May-August). I have attempted to include the best maps and line drawings available. About half of them were kindly provided by colleagues and I gratefully acknowledge their courtesy. In particular, I thank Drs. J.H. Behrmann, J. Bergman, F. Moseley, Th.B. Roep, G.P. Salisbury, M. Tanke, R. Vegas, professor J.J. Hermes and the late professor J.M. Fontbot6 for critical comments and help. My understanding of the Nevado-Filabrides was con- siderably improved by discussions and field trips with doctorandus W.A. Zevenhuizen. The field work of 1988 was partially funded by the Liljewalchs Foundation of Uppsala University and the Swedish Natural Science Research Council under grant nrs. 82147 and G-PD 1861-101, respectively. Christina Wern-str~Sm improved some of the drawings and Bertel Gi~Ss made the photographic prints of my field slides. An early version of the manuscript was efficiently wordprocessed by Kersti Gl~Sersen. Much of the results of geological surveys in southern Spain could not have been achieved without the warm hospitality of many anonymous farmers and inn-keepers. I myself am enormously indebted to the late Pepe Segurez Nieto and his wife Emilia Segura Segura of Turrillas, and the Montes family of Nijar, for their tender care over the years.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Earth and Planetary Sciences