Thin skinned tectonics in the Ponga region (Cantabrian Zone,NW Spain)

The Variscan thrust and associated fold structures of the Ponga Region (Cantabrian Zone, NW Spain) are interpreted in terms of thin skinned tectonics, with a dominant eastward transport direction.A 2.5 km thick sequence of Paleozoic rocks was deformed by an east vergent thrust system that includes an imbricate fan and a duplex. The thrust surfaces have a very irregular map outcrop pattern due to the existence of a set of folds (longitudinal and transverse systems). A strike-normal balanced section illustrates the geometry of the thrusts and their related folds. The minimum value of accumulate transport is about 62 km. A tear fault can be recognized in a transverse cross-section.A later out-of-sequence thrust system (e.g. Peña Ten Thrust) with dominant southward direction is superimposed upon the earlier eastward verging thrust system. These thrust reactivate the earlier lateral structures as frontal structures.

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Zusammenfassung Die Vartszische Front und damit verbundene Faltenstrukturen des Pongagebietes (Kantabrische Zone, NW Spanien), werden mit Hilfe von »thin skinned tectonic« mit dominierendem ostwärts gerichtetem Transport interpretiert. Eine 2,5 km mächtige Folge paläozoischer Gesteine wurde durch ostvergente überschiebung deformiert. Dabei wurde ein Schuppenfächer und eine Duplexstruktur ausgebildet.Das Ausbei\en der überschiebungsbahn an der Oberfläche ist duch die Existenz longitudinaler und transversaler Faltensysteme sehr unregelmä\ig. Ein Profil senkrecht zum Streichen verdeutlicht die Geometrie der überschiebungen und Faltensysteme.Die gesamte Transportweite beträgt mindestens 62 km.In einem diagonalen Profil kann eine »tear fault« festgestellt werden.Ein späteres überschiebungssystem (z. B. Peña Ten überschiebung), mit hauptsächlich Südwärts gerichtetem Transport hat das frühere Ostwärts vergierende System überprägt. Das jüngere überschiebungssystem hat die älteren Lateralstrukturen als Frontstrukturen reaktiviert.

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Resumen La estructura de la Región del Ponga (Zona Cantábrica, NO de España) es interpretada en el contexto de su situación en la zona externa de una cordillera, y consiste en un sistema de cabalgamientos que han sido emplazados predominantemente hacia el Este con un conjunto de pliegues asociados. Las superficies de cabalgamiento muestran un trazado cartográfico muy irregular debido a la existencia de un conjunto de pliegues transversales a ellos. La Ventana Tectónica del Río Monasterio representa una estructura lateral de estos mantos. El desplazamiento mínimo calculado en una sección a través de la parte central de la región es de 62 Km.Posteriormente, tiene lugar el emplazamiento hacia el Sur de un nuevo sistema de cabalgamientos que reactivan estructuras laterales del sistema previamente emplazado, pasando a constituir estas las estructuras frontales de los nuevos cabalgamientos.Estas estructuras fueron formadas durante la orogénesis varíscica y afectan a un conjunto de materiales Paleozoicos de 2.5 Km. de espesor.

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Coal basins in the Cantabrian Mountains, northwestern Spain

The Cantabrian Mountains, containing about 70% of the total coals of the country and 95% of the anthracitic and bituminous resources, is the most important coal-mining district of Spain. Coal-bearing successions are Late Carboniferous in age and their deposition took place in a syn-orogenic context during the Hercynian activity, mainly in three different time-successive locations: foreland basins, intrathrust basins and intramontane fault-controlled basins. Foreland deposition occurred in strongly asymmetrical basins located ahead of thrust sheets units. Intrathrust basins resulted from folding and tightening of these units during or after their emplacement. Intramontane and fault-controlled basins were developed along lineaments with strike-slip movements and as a result of fold and fault reactivation. Peat mires in foreland and intrathrust coal basins mainly occupied broad areas on abandoned delta and fan delta lobes. Coals in intramontane and fault-controlled basins were related with alluvial fan and lacustrine environments. Coal ranks vary from high volatile bituminous coals to anthracite, depending on the structural location of the coalfields. Hydrothermal activity seems to be the most important factor in coal evolution.     

The last deglaciation in the Picos de Europa National Park (Cantabrian Mountains,northern Spain)

A sedimentological and geochemical study of the Lago Enol sequence (Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain), together with detailed geomorphological mapping, provides a first record of glacier evolution and climate change over the last 40 ka in the Picos de Europa National Park. The Enol glacier retreated from its maximum extent prior to 40 ka BP as demonstrated by the onset of proglacial lacustrine sedimentation in two glaciated depressions: the Comella hollow to the north (before 40 ka BP) and the Lago Enol (before 38 ka BP). These results support previous evidence that the maximum extent of southern European glaciers occurred earlier than in northern Europe. Alternation of homogeneous and laminated proglacial sediments during the glacier retreat illustrate a dynamic glacial evolution during the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 (40–26 ka BP). A slight warming is detected at 26 ka ago with the change from proglacial sediments (in a lake located in contact to the glacier) to glaciolacustrine sedimentation (in a non‐contact or distal lake). Finally, the onset of organic‐rich sediments took place at 18 ka ago. This last transition occurred in two phases, similarly to the North Atlantic Last Termination, suggesting a link between North Atlantic Deep Water formation oscillations and palaeohydrological variability in the Cantabrian Mountains. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Ordovician volcanism of the Peloritan Mountains (Sicily): Implications for evolution of Palaeozoic basins in the Calabrian-Peloritan Arc

The palaeontologically dated Ordovician associations of the Peloritan Mountains consist of metasilts, metapelites, calc-schists and metavolcanic rocks. These rocks form a portion of a terrigenous-volcanic-carbonate sequence of Cambro-Ordovician to Carboniferous age. This Palaeozoic sequence occupies the lower tectonic position in a Variscan orogen, affected by later Alpine deformation. The upper portion of this orogen is formed by low to high grade metamorphic rocks and some rare magmatic rocks. The Ordovician section of the sequence is divisible into a lower part (probably Arenigian), characterized by frequent and extensive within-plate alkaline metabasalts, and an upper part characterized by metadacites and metarhyolites intercalated with metasediments, commonly carbonates. The chemical characteristics of the metavolcanic rocks and the composition and structure of the metasediments indicate the persistence of tensional conditions during the Lower Ordovician. In contrast, the Upper Ordovician was marked by reducing tension, stagnation of basaltic magmas at different crustal levels, and consequent formation of dacitic and rhyolitic melts by partial melting of the surrounding crust. A comparison of the Ordovician sequences of the Peloritan Mountains with those of the Calabrian Palaeozoic basins shows several geodynamic similarities. Among other circum-Mediterranean basins, only that of north-western Bulgaria shows good analogies.     

Tectonothermal evolution of a foreland fold and thrust belt: the Cantabrian Zone (Iberian Variscan belt,NW Spain)

Analysis of the conodont colour alteration index and the Kübler index of illite allowed us the characterization of four types of very low‐ or low‐grade metamorphism in the Cantabrian Zone (CZ) and determination of their regional and temporal distribution. These types are: (1) an orogenic Variscan metamorphism present only in restricted areas of the western and north‐western parts of the CZ where epizonal conditions are reached; (2) a burial metamorphism that appears in the basal part of some nappes, where anchizonal conditions are sometimes achieved; the thermal peak preceded emplacement of the nappes; (3) a late‐Variscan metamorphism in the southern and south‐eastern parts of the CZ; a cleavage, cutting most of the Variscan folds, is associated with this metamorphism, which has been related to an extensional episode; (4) a contact metamorphism and hydrothermal activity associated with minor intrusive bodies. The extension continued after the Variscan deformation giving rise to hydrothermal activity during Permian times.     

Tectono-thermal evolution in a region with thin-skinned tectonics: the western nappes in the Cantabrian Zone (Variscan belt of NW Spain)

 The palaeotemperature distribution in the transition from diagenesis to metamorphism in the western nappes of the Cantabrian Zone (Somiedo, La Sobia and Aramo Units) are analysed by conodont colour alteration index (CAI) and illite crystallinity (IC). Structural and stratigraphic control in distribution of CAI and IC values is observed. Both CAI and IC value distributions show that anchizonal conditions are reached in the lower part of the Somiedo Unit. A disruption of the thermal trend by basal thrusts is evidenced by CAI and IC values. There is an apparent discrepancy between the IC and CAI values in Carboniferous rocks of the Aramo Unit; the IC has mainly anchizonal values, whereas the CAI has diagenetic values. Discrepant IC values are explained as a feature inherited from the source area. In the Carboniferous rocks of the La Sobia Unit, both IC and CAI indicate diagenetic conditions. The anchimetamorphism predated completion of emplacement of the major nappes; it probably developed previously and/or during the early stages of motion of the units. Temperature probably decreased when the metamorphosed zones of the sheets rose along ramps and were intensely eroded. In the context of the Iberian Variscan belt, influence of tectonic factors on the metamorphism is greater in the internal parts, where the strain and cleavage are always present, than in the external parts (Cantabrian Zone), where brittle deformation and rock translation are dominant, with an increasing role of the burial on the metamorphism. Received: 11 May 1998 / Accepted: 19 January 1999     

New radiometric and geomorphologic evidences of a last glacial maximum older than 18 ka in SW European mountains: the example of Redes Natural Park (Cantabrian Mountains,NW Spain)

Abstract

The first numerical age determinations from radiocarbon dating establish the chronology of glacial events in Redes Natural Park (Cantabrian Mountain, NW Spain). A core drilled in an ice-dammed deposit provided a minimum age of 28 990 ± 230 years BP for the maximum glacial expansion (phase I). Another core from a cirque bottom-fill provided organic sediment with 20 640 ± 300 years BP, a minimum age for the first glacial retreat (phase II). Radiometric dating of proglacial deposits interpreted as synchronous with the last glacial maximum phase in neighbouring Cornelia basin (Picos de Europa), yield ages of 40 480 ± 820 years BP. The chronological data presented in this work are consistent with the model of glacier evolution established in the Pyrénées, with a glacial maximum phase for the last glacial period older than 18 ka. © 2002 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS. AU rights reserved.     

Development of slaty cleavage in a mudstone unit from the Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain

A 200 m thick mudstone unit in the Carboniferous of the Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain, exhibits an increase in intensity of the slaty cleavage from top to bottom which appears to be correlated with a decrease in the mean grain size, average bed thickness and quartz: mica ratio. Anastomosing cleavage domains, formed by pressure solution and by kinking and rotation of the detrital micas, become closer spaced, wider and more continuous towards the finer-grained base of the unit. Growth of strongly oriented new micas within the cleavage domains also appears to be correlated with the intensity of the domain development and hence with the initial lithology. Clay minerals have been completely replaced throughout the mudstone by muscovite, paragonite and pyrophyllite during low-grade metamorphism. The growth of an oriented mica fabric, however, is restricted to samples with well-developed cleavage domains.     

Diagenesis of Pennsylvanian phylloid algal mounds from the southern Cantabrian Zone (Spain)

The Pennsylvanian phylloid algal mounds exposed in the Cervatina Limestone of the Cantabrian Zone (NW Spain) developed during the highstands of high-frequency shallowing-upward cycles and lack evidence of subaerial exposure at their tops. Mound core facies are composed of massive bafflestones with variable amounts of calcite cements and anchicodiacean phylloid algae with cyathiform thalli preserved in growth position. Through standard petrographic, isotopic (δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C), major and trace element (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Sr) and cathodoluminescence analyses, five calcite cement phases (cement 1 (C1)–cement 5 (C5)) have been identified filling primary and secondary pores. Early marine diagenesis is represented by micritization and non-luminescent to mottled-dull luminescent high-Mg calcite fibrous marine cement (C1). A dissolution phase then occurred and created vuggy and moldic pores. Based on the absence of field or petrographical or geochemical evidence of exposure, it is inferred that dissolution occurred in near-surface undersaturated marine waters with respect to aragonite related to progressive organic matter oxidation. Secondary porosity was subsequently filled by dull-bright-dull bladed high-Mg calcite (C2), which precipitated in the early shallow burial from marine-derived pore waters. Remaining porosity was occluded by shallow-burial precipitates consisting of non-luminescent scalenohedral low-Mg calcite (C3) followed by non-ferroan dull luminescent calcite spar (C4). Latter phases of calcite spar exhibiting non- and dull luminescence (C5) are associated with burial calcite veins. Low δ¹⁸O values (around ?8‰), moderately depleted δ¹³C values (around 0.5‰) and the homogeneity of trace element contents of carbonate matrix, cements and vein-filling calcites suggest burial isotopic re-equilibration and recrystallization, probably in Early Permian times during post-thrusting orocline formation.     

Depositional facies and stratal geometry of an Upper Carboniferous prograding and aggrading high-relief carbonate platform (Cantabrian Mountains, N Spain)

Seismic‐scale continuous exposures of an Upper Carboniferous (Bashkirian–Moscovian) carbonate platform (N Spain) provide detailed information about the lithofacies and stratal geometries (quantified with differential global positioning system measurements) of microbial boundstone‐dominated, steep prograding and aggrading platform margins. Progradational and aggradational platform‐to‐slope transects are characterized by distinct lithological features and stratal patterns that can be applied to the understanding of geometrically comparable, high‐relief depositional systems. The Bashkirian is characterized by rapid progradation at rates of 415–970 m My^?1. Characteristic outer‐platform facies are high‐energy grainstones with coated intraclasts, ooids and pisoids, moderate‐energy algal‐skeletal grainstones to packstones and lower energy algal packstone and boundstone units. The Moscovian aggradational phase is characterized by aggradation rates of 108 m My^?1. Coated‐grain shoals are less common, whereas crinoidal bars nucleated in well‐circulated settings below wave‐base. Boundstones form a belt (30–300 m wide) at the platform break and interfinger inwards with massive algal‐skeletal wackestones (mud‐rich banks). The progradational phase has divergent outer‐platform strata with basinward dips of 12° to 2°. Steep clinoforms with dips of 20–28° are 650–750 m in relief and possibly sigmoidal to concave in the lower part. The basinward‐dipping outer‐platform strata might be depositional for less than 6°, consistent with lithofacies deepening seaward. The basinward dip is attributed to the downward shift of upper‐slope boundstone, forced by late highstand and relative sea‐level fall, and to compaction‐induced differential subsidence during progradation. The aggradational phase is characterized by horizontally layered platform strata. Clinoforms steepen to 30–45° reaching heights of 850 m and are planar to concave. The evolution from progradation to aggradation, at the Bashkirian–Moscovian boundary, is attributed to increased foreland‐basin subsidence and decreased boundstone accumulation rates. Progradation was primarily controlled by boundstone growth rather than by highstand shedding from the platform top. Within the major phases, aggradational–progradational increments are produced by third‐ to fourth‐order relative sea‐level fluctuations.     

New radiometric and geomorphologic evidences of a last glacial maximum older than 18 ka in SW European mountains: the example of Redes Natural Park (Cantabrian Mountains,NW Spain)

The first numerical age determinations from radiocarbon dating establish the chronology of glacial events in Redes Natural Park (Cantabrian Mountain, NW Spain). A core drilled in an ice-dammed deposit provided a minimum age of 28 990 ± 230 years BP for the maximum glacial expansion (phase I). Another core from a cirque bottom-fill provided organic sediment with 20 640 ± 300 years BP, a minimum age for the first glacial retreat (phase II). Radiometric dating of proglacial deposits interpreted as synchronous with the last glacial maximum phase in neighbouring Comella basin (Picos de Europa), yield ages of 40 480 ± 820 years BP. The chronological data presented in this work are consistent with the model of glacier evolution established in the Pyrénées, with a glacial maximum phase for the last glacial period older than 18 ka.     

A geometrical and kinematical approach to the nappe structure in an arcuate fold belt: the Cantabrian nappes (Hercynian chain,NW Spain)

In northwest Spain thrust sheets occur in an arcuate fold belt. The fault style consists of an array of thrusts, merging downdip into a single décollement surface. Most of the thrust sheets were initiated as thrusts cutting across flat lying beds. Folds above the hanging-wall ramps and some minor structures indicate that the body of the nappes has been subjected to an inhomogeneous simple shear parallel to bedding (y = 1.15), with slip concentrated along bedding planes. This allows the rocks forming the nappe to remain unstrained. At the base of the nappes a thin zone of deformed rock exists. The thrust sheets die out laterally against an anticline-syncline couple, oblique to the thrust direction. A geometrical analysis shows that if anticline and syncline axes are oblique, the thrust sheet was emplaced with a rotational movement, which can be evaluated. As deformation progressed two sets of folds were formed: a circumferential set, following the arc, and a radial set. An arcuate trace of the thrust structures remains after unfolding the radial folds. With a rotational emplacement, the displacement vector for successive points has a progressively greater length, and forms a progressively lower angle with the thrust. The main thrust units are broken into several slices with rotational movements, so that each unit was curved as it was being emplaced, producing a first tightening of the arc. Later folding increased the arc curvature to its present shape. The palaeomagnetic data available support the above conclusions.     

Internal structure and kinematics of Variscan thrust sheets in the valley of the Trubia River (Cantabrian Zone, NW Spain): regional tectonic implications

The Variscan Belt in western Europe shows an arcuate geometry that is usually named Ibero-Armorican Arc. The nucleus of this arc, known as the Asturian Arc, comprises the Cantabrian Zone which is a foreland fold and thrust belt. The Trubia River area is located in the inflexion zone of the Asturian Arc, which is a strategic structural position for unraveling the geometry and kinematics of the Variscan thrust sheets and related folds. Geological mapping, construction of stratigraphic and structural cross sections, analysis of kinematic indicators, and estimate of shortening for each cross section have been carried out. This area consists of two major antiform-synform pairs related to two imbricate thrust systems. These folds are asymmetric, tight, and their axial traces follow the trend of the Asturian Arc. They have been interpreted as fault-propagation folds. The emplacement directions measured in the Trubia River area change from north to south and converge towards the core of the Asturian Arc. The minimum shortening estimated ranges between 16.4 and 17.6 km, which corresponds to 56.9 and 59.4%. The complex cross-cutting relationships between folds and thrusts suggest that, in general, the different structural units followed a forward-breaking sequence of emplacement, with some breaching and a few out-of-sequence thrusts. The analysis of the transport vectors together with the disposition of the fold axes and post-thrusting faults that deform the thrust stack are evidence of a late deformation event that is partially or totally responsible for the arcuate form of the Asturian Arc. The timing of the Asturian Arc, amount of shortening, and sequence of emplacement of the structures are in accordance with previous regional studies of the Cantabrian Zone.     

The metamorphic evolution of the Muxia-Finisterre region (Galice,NW Spain) during the Hercynian Orogenesis

Mineral chemistry and crystal growth-deformation relationships in metapelites, orthogneises and metabasic rocks from the Muxia-Finisterre region show that this area has been affected by plurifacial regional metamorphism during the Hercynian Orogenesis. Paragenetic evolution seems to be related to a change of the metamorphic gradient towards relatively lower P_s conditions in the mesozone, while this character is less evident in catazonal rocks. In both cases there was a continuous increase in T and decrease in {ie657-02}.The metamorphic climax was reached during the second metamorphic episode (M₂). This event took place during and even after the second deformation phase (P₂). The latter gave rise to the main foliation observed in studied rocks (S₂) which almost practically erased signs of previous schistosity. Relationships between metamorphic evolution and different geotectonic models are discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Mineralchemismus und die Beziehungen Kristallwachstum-Deformation in Metapeliten, Orthogneisen und metabasischen Gesteinen aus der Muxia-Finisterra-Region, zeigen eine Beeinflussung dieses Gebietes durch eine plurifazielle Regionalmetamorphose während der herzynischen Orogenese.Die paragenetische Entwicklung scheint mit einer Veränderung des metamorphen Gradienten in Richtung niedrigerer P_s-Bedingungen in der Mesozone einherzugehen, während dies in katazonalen Gesteinen weniger deutlich ist.In beiden Fällen gab es eine kontinuierliche Zunahme der Temperatur (T) bzw. Abnahme des {ie657-01}.Der Höhepunkt der Metamorphose wurde während der zweiten metamorphen Episode (M₂) erreicht. Dieses Ereignis fand statt während und sogar nach der zweiten Deformationsphase (P₂). Letzteres verursachte die Hauptschieferung (S₂) in den untersuchten Gesteinen, die die Merkmale einer älteren Schieferung nahezu ausgelöscht hat.Beziehungen zwischen metamorpher Entwicklung und verschiedener geotektonischer Modelle werden diskutiert.

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Résumé Les compositions chimiques des minéraux ainsi que leur relation croissance-déformation dans les métapélites, ortho-gneiss et métabasites de la région Muxia-Finisterre, suggèrent que cette secteur a subi un métamorphisme régional plurifacial lors de l'Orogenèse Hercynienne. L'évolution des paragenèses semble être liée à un changement du gradient métamorphique vers des conditions de P_s relativement plus basses dans la mésozone, ceci étant moins évident dans les roches catazonales. Dans les deux cas il y a eu une augmentation continue de la T et une diminution de la {ie657-03}. Le paroxisme du métamorphisme a été atteint lors du deuxième épisode métamorphique (M₂). Cet événement a lieu généralement pendant ou légèrement après la deuxième phase de déformation (P₂). Celle-ci donne la foliation principale de la roche (S₂), laquelle a presque entièrement effacé les marques d'une schistosité pré-existante. Des relations entre l'évolution métamorphique et différents modèles géotectoniques sont discutées.

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Facies differentiation caused by wrench deformation along a deep-seated fault system (León line, Cantabrian Mountains, North Spain)

The “León line” is a deep-seated fault system in the Variscan orogen of the Canta-brian Mountains. This fault system appears to have been active at least from the early Devonian to the end of the Carboniferous. Vertical as well as horizontal movements resulted in a strikingly different development of facies conditions to the north and south of the Leon line.     

Contact metamorphism in the Los Santos W skarn (NW Spain)

Summary The intrusion of the Lower Permian Los Santos-Valdelacasa granitoids in the Los Santos area caused contact metamorphism of Later Vendian-Lower Cambrian metasediments. High grade mineral assemblages are confined to a 7 km wide contact aureole. Contact metamorphism was accompanied by intense metasomatism and development of skarns, and it generated the following mineral assemblages: diopside, forsterite, phlogopite (±clintonite) and humites and spinel-bearing assemblages or diopside, grossular, vesuvianite ± wollastonite in the marbles, depending on the bulk rock composition. Cordierite, K-feldspar, andalusite and, locally, sillimanite appear in the metapelitic rocks. Mineral assemblages of marbles and hornfelses indicate pressure conditions ranging from 0.2 to 0.25 GPa and maximum temperatures between 630 and 640 °C. ¹³C and ¹⁸O depletions in calcite marbles are consistent with hydrothermal fluid–rock interaction during metamorphism. Calcites are depleted in both ¹⁸O (δ¹⁸O = 12.74‰) and ¹³C (δ¹³C = −5.47‰) relative to dolomite of unmetamorphosed dolostone (δ¹⁸O = 20.79‰ and δ¹³C = −1.52‰). The δ¹³C variation can be interpreted in terms of Rayleigh distillation during continuous CO₂ fluid removal from the carbonates. The δ¹⁸O values reflect hydrothermal exchange with an externally derived fluid. Microthermometric analyses of fluid inclusions from vesuvianite indicate that the fluid was water dominated with minor contents of CO₂ (±CH₄ ± N₂) suggesting a metamorphic origin. Fluorine-bearing minerals such as chondrodite, norbergite and F-rich phlogopite indicate that contact metamorphism was accompanied by fluorine metasomatism. Metasomatism was more intense in the inner-central portion of the contact aureole, where access to fluids was extensive. The irregular geometry of the contact with small aplitic intrusives between the metasediments and the Variscan granitoids probably served as pathways for fluid circulation.     

Aptian— Albian tectonic pattern of the Basque— Cantabrian Basin (Northern Spain)

During the Aptian and Albian thick terrigenous and carbonate successions of sediments up to 5000 m thick, including shallow water rudist limestones (Urgonian facies), were deposited in the Basque– Cantabrian Basin of northern Spain as a result of an intense rift-related subsidence. Based on criteria from surface and subsurface data, syn-sedimentary faults, folds, angular unconformities, diapirs and sub-basins are distinguished within the Urgonian successions. Faults are grouped into N– S, E– W, NW– SE and NE– SW families and most are normal and strike-slip. Folds are gentle anticlines and synclines related to major faults. The angular unconformities have small hiatuses, poor lateral continuity and they are associated with either folds or tilted blocks. Diapirs are related to the intersection of major basement faults and in at least one instance the diapir was fossilized by Late Albian times. Strong differential subsidence controlled by basement faults determined the division of the basin into many subbasins of different sizes, which acted as depocentres (e.g. Bilbao). Despite the tectonic inversion which affected the basin during the Tertiary and created thrusts in their margins and centre, the present position of the syn-sedimentary tectonic structures gives approximate clues about the broad structural style and this reveals the original model of basin extension. Features characteristic of strike-slip identified in different parts of the basin are displaced geological lines, wrench corridors, drag effects, thickness shifts, paired uplifts and basins, vaulting of ‘slabs’, decreasing displacements, horsetail and fault splays, ‘chessboard’, oroflexural bending, pull-apart geometries, in-line horst slices, and restraining/releasing bends. Sinistral strike-slip movements along major NW– SE faults are supposedly responsible for transtension, which characterized the basin particularly during the Albian. In this scenario, the main wrench movements would have concentrated along the Oiz domain (Biscay Tertiary Synclinorium) and is a situation that has more in common with the strike-slip model proposed by some workers for the western Pyrenees, than with the simple extension models proposed for the northern margin of the Bay of Biscay.     

Geochemistry of the polymetamorphic mafic-ultramafic complex at Cabo Ortegal (NW Spain)

The Paleozoic Cabo Ortegal complex (Galicia, NW Spain) contains (1) a mafic rock series, now high-grade metamorphic rocks, that is equivalent to modern continental plateau basalts; this can be deduced from its trace element ‘fingerprint’, the [La/Sm]_a ratio of 3.25 and the quartz normative composition, (2) a younger mafic rock series equivalent to modern (Icelandic) ‘plume’ tholeiites, as can be inferred again from the trace element ‘fingerprint’, the [La/Sm]_a ratio of around unity and the olivine normative composition, (3) an ultramafic rock series that was the melt phase and then the residual phase in two subsequent melting events as can be inferred from the low La, Sm, K, and Rb contents compared with the high [La/Sm]_a and K/Rb ratios. The data are fitted into an evolution model of continental rifting, mantle-plume diapirism and rejuvenation of the lowe, crust.     

Volcanism and Tectonic Evolution in the North Qilian Mountains during Ordovician Period

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