Major controls on carbonate deposition during the evolution of a continental basin: Pliocene-Pleistocene of the Guadix Basin (Betic Cordillera, southern Spain).

Sila Pla Pueyo, Elizabeth H. Gierlowski-Kordesch, César Viseras, Jesús M. Soria

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Sequence stratigraphy, based on climatic, tectonic, and base level parameters, can be used to understand
carbonate sedimentation in continental basins. The uppermost continental fill of the Guadix Basin (Betic
Cordillera), containing both siliciclastics and carbonates, is investigated here. In its central sector a thick
succession of fluvio-lacustrine sediments appear, hosting several important Pliocene and Pleistocene
macrovertebrate sites (Fonelas Project). The need to characterize the stratigraphic and sedimentologic context
of these important paleontologic sites has lead to litho-, magneto- and biostratigraphic studies. These data,
together with the sedimentologic analysis of the Pliocene and Pleistocene siliciclastic and carbonate successions,
establish a sedimentary model for the fluvio-lacustrine sedimentation of the two last stages of sedimentation in
the Guadix Basin (Units V and VI). Unit V comprises mostly fluvial siliciclastic sediments with less abundant
carbonate beds interpreted as floodplain lakes or ponds. The latter, Unit VI, is dominated by vertically-stacked,
carbonate palustrine successions. Using two pre-existent continental stratigraphic models, the influence of
climate, tectonism, and stratigraphic base level during the last 3.5 Ma on the sedimentary evolution of the fluviolacustrine
system in the Guadix Basin, especially the carbonate sedimentation patterns, is outlined
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)97-114
Number of pages18
JournalSedimentary Geology
Volume219
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009

Keywords

  • Base level
  • Palustrine
  • Tectonism
  • Continental carbonates
  • PALEOCLIMATE
  • Quaternary

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