Depositional processes on oceanic island shelves – Evidence from storm‐generated Neogene deposits from the mid‐North Atlantic

Oceanic islands – such as the Azores in the mid‐North Atlantic – are periodically exposed to large storms that often remobilize and transport marine sediments along coastlines, and into deeper environments. Such disruptive events create deposits – denominated tempestites – whose characteristics reflect the highly dynamic environment in which they were formed. Tempestites from oceanic islands, however, are seldom described in the literature and little is known about storm‐related sediment dynamics affecting oceanic island shelves. Therefore, the geological record of tempestite deposits at oceanic islands can provide invaluable information on the processes of sediment remobilization, transport and deposition taking place on insular shelves during and after major storms. In Santa Maria Island (Azores), a sequence of Neogene tempestite deposits was incorporated in the island edifice by the ongoing volcanic activity (thus preserved) and later exposed through uplift and erosion. Because it was overlain by a contemporary coastal lava delta, the water depth at the time of deposition could be inferred, constituting an excellent case‐study to gain insight on the still enigmatic processes of insular shelf deposition. Sedimentological, palaeontological, petrographic and palaeo‐water depth information allowed the reconstruction of the depositional environment of these sediments. The sequence typifies the characteristics of a tempestite (or successive tempestites) formed at ca 50 m depth, in a steep, energetic open insular shelf, and with evidence for massive sediment remobilization from the nearshore to the middle or outer shelf. The authors claim that cross‐shelf transport induced by storm events is the main process of sediment deposition acting on steep and narrow shelves subjected to high‐energetic environments, such as the insular shelves of open‐sea volcanic islands.     

The channel between Gran Canaria and Tenerife: constructive processes and destructive events during the evolution of volcanic islands

Seismic, sidescan sonar, bathymetric multibeam and ODP (Ocean Drilling Program) data obtained in the submarine channel between the volcanic islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife allow to identify constructive features and destructive events during the evolution of both islands. The most prominent constructive features are the submarine island flanks being the acoustic basement of the seismic images. The build-up of Tenerife started following the submarine stage of Gran Canaria because the submarine island flank of Tenerife onlaps the steeper flank of Gran Canaria. The overlying sediments in the channel between Gran Canaria and Tenerife are chaotic, consisting of slumps, debris flow deposits, syn-ignimbrite turbidites, ash layers, and other volcaniclastic rocks generated by eruptions, erosion, and flank collapse of the volcanoes. Volcanic cones on the submarine island flanks reflect ongoing submarine volcanic activity. The construction of the islands is interrupted by large destructive events, especially by flank collapses resulting in giant landslides. Several Miocene flank collapses (e.g., the formation of the Horgazales basin) were identified by combining seismic and drilling data whereas young giant landslides (e.g., the Güimar debris avalanche) are documented by sidescan, bathymetric and drilling data. Sediments are also transported through numerous submarine canyons from the islands into the volcaniclastic apron. Seismic profiles across the channel do not show a major offset of reflectors. The existence of a repeatedly postulated major NE-SW-trending fault zone between Gran Canaria and Tenerife is thus in doubt. The sporadic earthquake activity in this area may be related to the regional stress field or the submarine volcanic activity in this area. Seismic reflectors cannot be correlated through the channel between the sedimentary basins north and south of Gran Canaria because the channel acts as sediment barrier. The sedimentary basins to the north and south evolved differently following the submarine growth of Gran Canaria and Tenerife in the Miocene.     

The effects of source lithology, transport, deposition and sampling scale on the composition of southern California sand

The Transverse Ranges of southern California represent an uplifted and variably dissected Mesozoic magmatic arc, and Mesozoic to Holocene sedimentary and volcanic strata deposited in convergent and transform tectonic settings. Modern sand within part of the Western Transverse Ranges represents: first-order sampling scale of the Santa Monica and the San Gabriel Mountains; second-order sampling scale of the Santa Clara River draining both mountain ranges; and third-order sampling scale of the beach system between the mouth of the Santa Clara River and the eastern Santa Monica Mountains, and turbidite sand of the Hueneme-Mugu submarine fan. Source lithology includes plutonic and metamorphic rocks of the San Gabriel Mountains, and sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Santa Monica Mountains. First-order sands have large compositional variability. Sand from local coastal drainage of the Santa Monica Mountains ranges from basaltic feldspatholithic to quartzofeldspathic. Sand of the San Gabriel Mountains local drainages has three distinct petrofacies, ranging from metamorphiclastic feldspatholithic to mixed metamorphi/plutoniclastic and plutoniclastic quartzofeldspathic. Second-order sand is represented by the main channel of the Santa Clara River; the sand has an abrupt downstream compositional change, from feldspathic to quartzofeldspathic. Third-order sand (beaches and deep-sea turbidite samples) of the Santa Monica Basin is quartzofeldspathic. Beach sand is more quartz-rich than is Santa Clara river sand, whereas turbidite sand is more feldspar-rich than is beach sand. Deep-sea sand has intermediate composition with respect to second-order samples of the Santa Clara River and third-order samples of the beach system, suggesting that (1) the Santa Clara River is the main source of sediments to the marine environment; and (2) local entry points from canyons located near local drainages may generate turbidity currents during exceptional flood conditions. Petrologic data of modern sand of the study area are highly variable at first- and second-order scale, whereas third-order sand is homogenized. The homogenized composition of deep-marine sand is similar to the composition of most ancient sandstone derived primarily from the Mesozoic dissected magmatic arc of southern California. This study of the Western Transverse Ranges illustrates the effects of source lithology, transport, depositional environment, and sampling scale on sand composition of a complex system, which provides insights regarding actualistic petrofacies models.     

The geology of Howth and Ireland's Eye,Co. Dublin

The Cambrian sediments in Howth and Ireland's Eye to the northeast of Dublin have been mapped and the submarine deltaic Censure Group and the overlying Nose of Howth Group, which consists of interbedded turbidites and olistostromes, have been distinguished. Large scale sedimentary disruption has accompanied detachment of quartzitic sandstone beds in the Censure Group, where the bases of detached blocks have slump features while their tops generally do not. This contrasts with the chaotic sedimentary breccias in the olistostromes of the Nose of Howth Group. Blocks in the Censure and Nose of Howth Groups are up to 450 m and 700 m across respectively. The turbidies have come from the southeast and east whereas the slumping appears to have been generated from the southwest. Slumping during sedimentation was followed closely by large-scale folding and sliding of sedimentary or tectono-sedimentary origin, and the bulk appearance of the sediments is due to these sedimentary and tectono-sedimentary mechanisms. The main structure is an easterly facing, steep plunging syncline which locally is associated with a poorly preserved cleavage. This structure predated the main penetrative cleavage which is not axial planar to it.     

Sedimentology of the Middle Marker (3.4 Ga), Onverwacht Group,Transvaal, South Africa

The Middle Marker is a thin (3–6 m) sedimentary unit at the base of the Hooggenoeg Formation in the 3.4 Ga old Onverwacht Group, Barberton Mountain Land, South Africa. The original sediments consisted largely of current-deposited volcaniclastic detritus now represented by green to buff-colored silicified volcaniclastic rock and fine-grained gray chert. Black chert, possibly formed by the silicification of a non-volcaniclastic precursor, makes up a significant part of the unit. The Middle Marker is underlain and overlain by mafic and commonly pillowed volcanic flowrock. Although the original sediment has been replaced by and/or recrystallized to a microquartz, chlorite, sericite, carbonate and iron oxide mosaic under lower greenschist-grade metamorphism, sedimentary textures and structures are remarkably well preserved. Textural pseudomorphs indicate the primary volcaniclastic sediment consisted of a mixture of crystal, vitric and lithic debris. Middle Marker sediments were deposited as a prograding, cone-flanking volcaniclastic sedimentary platform in a relatively-shallow and locally current/wave-influenced subaqueous sedimentary environment. Available paleocurrent data indicate a largely bimodal, orthogonal distribution pattern which is quite similar to both ancient and modern shallow marine/shelf systems. Diagnostic evidence for tidal activity is lacking. As felsic volcanic activity waned, an extensive airfall blanket of fine-grained volcanic ash and dust was deposited in a low-energy subaqueous environment. The sedimentary cycle was terminated with a renewal of submarine mafic volcanism. Middle Marker volcaniclastic sediments accumulated in an anorogenic basin removed or isolated from the influence of continental igneous and metamorphic terranes. Although compositionally dominated by a volcanic source, Middle Marker sediments owe their final texture and sedimentary structures to subaqueous sedimentary rather than volcanogenic processes.     

Old soils and land surfaces on the Galápagos islands

Summary Modern rock dating tells that the Galápagos Islands are geologically very young. No rocks have yet been discovered older than two million years. Nevertheless old landscapes with rounded forms exist side by side with more or very recent volcanoes and lava flows and a number of old marine terraces are distinguisable. Red soils have formed only in the old landscapes (high areas of the oldest islands and on the oldest coastal terraces). Their profile has been preserved only in remnants that have escaped erosion. These red soils are the oldest soils on the islands. There are none on the more recently formed W islands. On the other hand, the islands of Baltra, Santa Fé, Española and the flat coastal region of Santa Cruz display a homogeneous marine terrace extensively covered with pebbles and red soil. The said islands are thought to be fragments of submarine lava flows lifted above sea level (Mac Birney and Williams 1969).The many young marine terraces, on the island of Isabella in particular, show no signs of once having been connected. They seem to have originated as the result of recent tectonic events on the islands or, if they were formed by eustatic sea-level fluctuations, were later moved to their present position by local tectonic activity.     

Geochemical evidence for melting of carbonated peridotite on Santa Maria Island, Azores

The islands of the Azores archipelago emerge from an oceanic plateau built on lithosphere increasing in age with distance from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from 10 to 45 Ma. Here, we present the first comprehensive major and trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope data from Santa Maria, the easternmost island of the archipelago, along with published data from the other Azores islands situated much closer to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge axis. We can show that the distinctively more variable and more enriched trace element ratios at Santa Maria combined with a relatively small range in Sr–Nd–Pb isotope ratios are the result of low degrees of partial melting of a common Azores mantle plume source underneath thicker lithosphere. This implies that melt extraction processes and melting dynamics may be able to better preserve the trace element mantle source variability underneath thicker lithosphere. These conclusions may apply widely for oceanic melts erupted on relatively thick lithosphere. In addition, lower Ti/Sm and K/La ratios and SiO₂ contents of Santa Maria lavas imply melting of a carbonated peridotite source. Mixing of variable portions of deep small-degree carbonated peridotite melts and shallow volatile-free garnet peridotite could explain the geochemical variability underneath Santa Maria in agreement with the volatile-rich nature of the Azores mantle source. However, Santa Maria is the Azores island where the CO₂-rich nature of the mantle source is more evident, reflecting a combination of a smaller extent of partial melting and the positioning at the edge of the tilted Azores mantle plume.     

Stratigraphy, Chronology, and Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of the Quaternary Sedimentary Infilling of a Volcanic Tube in Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

La Cueva del Llano is a volcanic tube of Pleistocene age on Fuerteventura Island, in the Canary Islands. Part of it is infilled with sediments of external origin. These deposits are exceptional in stratigraphic complexity and thickness compared with other known tube infillings, and they comprise nine stratigraphic units deposited in five phases. In Phase I, which has not been dated, sedimentation of cinder from a nearby cone occurred. Phase II began ca. 16,830 ± 900 ¹⁴C yr B.P., whereas phase IV dates to 9280 ± 370 ¹⁴C yr B.P. The interpretation of sedimentary features shows that phases III and V correspond to a dry climate, similar to the present one, whereas the climate was much wetter during phases II and IV. This paleoclimatic sequence agrees with those suggested by the study of deposits formed in other sedimentary environments, not only in Fuerteventura but on other islands of the Canary group and the Sud-Maroc region.     

川西马尔康—金川地区晚三叠世松潘甘孜残留洋盆复理石建造沉积特征与沉积模式

西康群是松潘-甘孜复理石沉积盆地的主体,分布范围广、岩性单调,强烈的构造变形和褶皱叠加导致地层原始的沉积序列、沉积构造破坏殆尽,基于野外露头的沉积学研究较少,巨量复理石的沉积模式也没有合理的解释。详细研究了川西马尔康-金川县一带西康群典型剖面的沉积构造、砂板比、古流向、砂岩粒度及矿物组成,讨论了西康群的沉积环境及沉积模式。认为该区复理石沉积环境属于海底扇扇中-扇端,局部存在砂质碎屑流或等深流的参与和叠加改造;存在两期次的海底扇,其触发机制均为海平面下降,导致三角洲向陆架边缘进积形成海底扇,而随着冲积平原及三角洲复合体的逐渐消耗,沉积物供应量逐渐减小,海底扇的规模及影响范围逐渐缩减,形成两期向岸退积的海底扇沉积。松潘-甘孜盆地复理石建造属于受周缘造山带提供多源或线源,多期次叠加的,以细粒浊积体为主的海底扇,海岸冲积平原及三角洲复合体经过二次搬运使得砾级粗粒沉积物进一步破碎,形成中-细粒砂岩及泥岩为主的扇体沉积。     

Characteristic features of the occurrence of gas-fluid emanations on the northeastern slope of Sakhalin Island, Sea of Okhotsk

This paper summarizes the results of combined studies in the areas of the occurrence of gas-fluid emanations in the water column, on the seafloor, and in the upper part of the sedimentary section on the northeastern slope of Sakhalin Island (Sea of Okhotsk). The phenomena typical of methane seeps were characterized in detail: the presence of acoustic anomalies, high concentrations of methane in the water and sediments, and the specific features of the sedimentary section (the textural and structural features, the character of the mineral inclusions and gas hydrates, and the chemical composition). The component composition of the gases (including the accompanying gas hydrates), which is almost free of heavy hydrocarbon homologues of methane; the light carbon isotopic compositions of the methane and carbonate concretions; and the low temperatures of the near-bottom water and sediments suggest that the occurrence of numerous methane emanations is related to gas generation in the upper part of the sedimentary sequence. No evidence was found for the existence of a deep center of gas formation within the seafloor area considered. Typical submarine mud volcanic edifices were also not found.     

Fossil mammoths from Santa Cruz Island, California

Mammoth remains on Santa Cruz Island, one of the four Northern Channel Islands of California, are very sparse, in marked contrast to those reported from Santa Rosa and San Miguel Islands of the same island group. A probable major reason for this scarcity is that Quaternary deposits are greatly restricted on Santa Cruz Island. It is proposed, contrary to popular opinion, that fossils found on Santa Cruz Island were derived from animals which died on the island, and were not transported there by humans. Reasons for this conclusion are that the size and geological context of the fossils are similar to those of the largest mammoth fossils of Santa Rosa Island, and that, in spite of extensive investigations by many persons, mammoth remains have not been found in middens, either on the islands or on the adjacent mainland.     

南海表层沉积物中细粒组分的稀土元素地球化学特征

对南海表层沉积物中的细粒组分进行电感耦合等离子体质谱法测试, 探讨南海稀土元素分布特征及其影响因素.结果表明, 南海表层沉积物中稀土元素分布主要与陆源物质输入、生物活动和火山物质补给密切相关.南海细粒组分的配分模式与中国黄土的接近, 与周边的珠江、湄公河等河流输入物质也有相似性, 而与南海碱性玄武岩存在显著差异, 表明南海沉积物主要来自于周边大陆.稀土元素趋势分析表明, 珠江口往外至海南岛南部海域中沉积物朝东南方向向陆坡输送; 台西南至珠江口往外海域沉积物大多向南输运; 吕宋岛西部海域包括黄岩岛附近海域的火山物质主要向西北方向输送, 向西可达113°E、向北可至20°N附近; 南海南部沉积物整体上向南沙海槽西北部附近海域输送.      

火山海岸与环境反馈——以海岛火山海岸为例

海南岛火山海岸以沿小火山口形成的海蚀地貌和全新世火山爆发使局部海湾抬升为海岸阶地、河口堵流并形成深切海湾以及促进了珊瑚礁发育为特征。火山活动改变了海岸带的地势、坡度、动力条件、沉积特征以及海岸演变趋势,火山海岸发育受到构造内动力、波浪、潮流、风化作用等外动力以及生物作用的多重影响。火山岩岩性和时代反映出北部湾湾底的现代拉张构造活动。夏威夷火山海岸的环境效应以造陆和板块移动形成岛链、近期熔岩流喷溢改变地貌和大气质量等为特征。现代日本鹿儿岛火山碎屑喷发物掩埋道路和建筑物并促发泥石流灾害,改变着火山海岸作用过程。对比研究火山海岸及其环境效应,及时预报并进而制定有效的防灾、减灾对策。     

Numerical analysis of the hydrogeologic controls in a layered coastal aquifer system, Oahu, Hawaii, USA

 The coastal aquifer system of southern Oahu, Hawaii, USA, consists of highly permeable volcanic aquifers overlain by weathered volcanic rocks and interbedded marine and terrestrial sediments of both high and low permeability. The weathered volcanic rocks and sediments are collectively known as caprock, because they impede the free discharge of groundwater from the underlying volcanic aquifers. A cross-sectional groundwater flow and transport model was used to evaluate the hydrogeologic controls on the regional flow system in southwestern Oahu. Controls considered were: (a) overall caprock hydraulic conductivity; and (b) stratigraphic variations of hydraulic conductivity in the caprock. Within the caprock, variations in hydraulic conductivity, caused by stratigraphy or discontinuities of the stratigraphic units, are a major control on the direction of groundwater flow and the distribution of water levels and salinity. Results of cross-sectional modeling confirm the general groundwater flow pattern that would be expected in a layered coastal system. Groundwater flow is: (a) predominantly upward in the low-permeability sedimentary units; and (b) predominantly horizontal in the high-permeability sedimentary units. Received, October 1996 Revised, August 1997 Accepted, September 1997     

西藏沙丁、荣布地区三叠系—老第三系沉积地质特征

研究区从三叠纪到老第三纪,发育的岩石地层主要有确哈拉群（Ｔ３）、希湖群（Ｊ１－２）、拉贡塘组（Ｊ２－３）、多尼组（Ｋ１）、竟柱山组（Ｋ２）和牛堡组（Ｅ２－３）。在沉积相上,经历了从深水沉积到浅水直至陆相沉积的演变,发育有冲积扇、河流、湖泊、三角洲（潮汐）、障壁海岸、浅海、深海和火山碎屑流沉积。古地理分析表明,研究区晚三叠世古地理轮廓是一个从东南向西北和东北方向由浅水碳酸盐台地及深水陆层海底扇沉积共同发育的沉积盆地;早中侏罗世,演变成为一个由深水砂质浊积岩和细屑浊积岩组成的水下席状体沉积;进入中晚侏罗世,其古地理表现为一个陆屑浅海有障壁海岸;到了晚白垩世,研究区表现为以含煤沉积为特征的三角洲相沉积。     

塔中西北部上泥盆统东河砂岩与志留系砂岩中重砂矿物特征与地质意义

沉积物中重矿物分布受物源区、构造抬升与剥蚀作用、古地貌以及沉积古气候、古环境等多种因素影响,因此沉积重砂矿物的研究可应用于物源区、沉积环境的分析,阐明构造旋回与沉积作用的响应关系。本文通过对塔中地区中1井等6口探井上泥盆统东河砂岩和志留系柯坪塔格组砂岩中重砂矿物分析,提出了塔中东河砂岩重砂矿物主要来自稳定的基底再沉积及花岗岩来源,但受近源的基性火山岩及岩浆期后热液作用影响较大;志留系下砂岩重砂矿物主要来自下覆碳酸盐岩、花岗岩和搬运再沉积物,总体形成于稳定的、多物源的构造-沉积环境,物源方向可能是东南至西北方向。     

Basal Waitemata Group lithofacies: rapid subsidence in an early Miocene interarc basin, New Zealand

The abrupt transition from coastal and shallow shelf sediments to bathyal sediments provides a record of rapid subsidence and deepening of the early Miocene Waitemata basin. Basal shallow marine strata (Kawau Subgroup) accumulated upon a highly dissected surface that overlies deformed Mesozoic metagreywacke. The early Miocene coast was characterized by an embayed and cliffed shoreline with numerous sea stacks and islands. Kawau Subgroup lithofacies, which include pocket beach, shallow shelf and base-of-cliff talus deposits, reflect rapidly changing coastline configuration and water depths as the rugged bedrock surface was buried. The response to continued rapid subsidence and transgression in Waitemata basin was a decrease in the supply of coarse clastic sediment. Beach gravels were locally displaced to greater water depths by avalanching down steep bedrock slopes. The first bathyal turbidite facies, which abruptly overlie the shallow-water Kawau Subgroup, include locally derived sediment gravity flows commonly ponded by remnant bedrock submarine highs. When this local supply of sediment had been exhausted, coarse sediment starvation ensued and bathyal muds accumulated. With the resumption of sediment supply and gradual burial of submarine bedrock relief, submarine fans coalesced and increased in lateral extent. Subsidence of the Waitemata basin to bathyal depths is thought to have occurred in less than a million years. From the above hypothesis, a general model of sedimentation is proposed.     

Distribution and tectonic implications of Cretaceous-Quaternary sedimentary facies in Solomon Islands

Sedimentary rocks of the Solomon Islands-Bougainville Arc are described in terms of nine widespread facies. Four facies associations are recognised by grouping facies which developed in broadly similar sedimentary environments.A marine pelagic association of Early Cretaceous to Miocene rocks comprises three facies. Facies Al: Early Cretaceous siliceous mudstone, found only on Malaita, is interpreted as deep marine siliceous ooze. Facies A2: Early Cretaceous to Eocene limestone with chert, overlies the siliceous mudstone facies, and is widespread in the central and eastern Solomons. It represents lithified calcareous ooze. Facies A3: Oligocene to Miocene calcisiltite with thin tuffaceous beds, overlies Facies A2 in most areas, and also occurs in the western Solomons. This represents similar, but less lithified calcareous ooze, and the deposits of periodic andesitic volcanism.An open marine detrital association of Oligocene to Recent age occurs throughout the Solomons. This comprises two facies. Facies B1 is variably calcareous siltstone, of hemipelagic origin; and Facies B2 consists of volcanogenic clastic deposits, laid down from submarine mass flows.A third association, of shallow marine carbonates, ranges in age from Late Oligocene to Recent. Facies C1 is biohermal limestone, and Facies C2 is biostromal calcarenite.The fourth association comprises areally restricted Pliocene to Recent paralic detrital deposits. Facies D1 includes nearshore clastic sediments, and Facies D2 comprises alluvial sands and gravels.Pre-Oligocene pelagic sediments were deposited contemporaneously with, and subsequent to, the extrusion of oceanic tholeiite. Island arc volcanism commenced along the length of the Solomons during the Oligocene, and greatly influenced sedimentation. Thick volcaniclastic sequences were deposited from submarine mass flows, and shallow marine carbonates accumulated locally. Fine grained graded tuffaceous beds within the marine pelagic association are interpreted as products of this volcanism, suggesting that the Santa Isabel-Malaita-Ulawa area, where these beds are prevalent, was relatively close to the main Solomons chain at this time. A subduction zone may have dipped towards the northeast beneath this volcanic chain. Pliocene to Pleistocene calcalkaline volcanism and tectonism resulted in the emergence of all large islands and led to deposition of clastic and carbonate facies in paralic, shallow and deep marine environments.     

北大巴山地区斑鸠关组砂岩地球化学特征对物源和构造环境的限定

北大巴山是南秦岭造山带的重要组成部分,保留较完整的地层记录。长期以来,斑鸠关组被认为形成于相对稳定的构造环境。本文通过对斑鸠关组砂岩的沉积序列和地球化学分析,详细分析其物源区和形成构造环境。沉积学特征表明,斑鸠关组砂岩主要为一套深水沉积的细砂岩、粉砂岩和泥岩组合序列,形成于海底扇。砂岩中交错层理恢复的古流向表明,其物源主要来自于北侧。地球化学分析表明,斑鸠关组砂岩SiO_2为61.54%～84.35%,主要为成熟度较低的岩屑砂屑岩。稀土元素标准化配分曲线呈现轻稀土富集、重稀土平坦和Eu负异常的特征。砂岩的风化蚀变指数为51～67,Th/U比值为3.36～7.02,表明砂岩物源区经历了较弱的风化作用。Zr/Sc和Th/Sc比值指示斑鸠关组砂岩没有经历沉积再旋回,为近源沉积。砂岩物源区组成判别图表明,斑鸠关组物源主要为长英质岩石。砂岩源区构造环境判别图以及特征指数表明,斑鸠关组源区形成于大陆岛弧和被动大陆边缘环境。综合区域资料,表明斑鸠关组形成于大陆岛弧相关环境,非大陆裂谷。     

Resedimented carbonate and volcanic rocks in the Berriasian-Hauterivian of the Subbetic (Alamedilla, Betic Cordillera, southern Spain)

Sedimentary rocks of the Lower Cretaceous in the Subbetic of the Alamedilla area (province of Granada) were studied. In this area, a significant amount of redeposited sediments within the Carretero Formation were recorded. Resedimented material is mainly composed of Jurassic oolitic limestones and volcanic rocks, as well as of Neocomian hemipelagic sedimentary rocks (marly limestones and marls). All these redeposited sediments corresponding to rock fall and debris flow originated as the result of significant slopes in a very sharp submarine topography. Volcanism and the resultant volcanic edifices created this sharp slopes making up in some cases guyots. The volcanism was mainly active in the Middle Jurassic, although it persisted locally until Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, and controlled the sedimentation in this area of the Subbetic basin during most of the Mesozoic. The proposed genetic model is in agreement with a base-of-slope apron model with two significant special features: (1) the provenance of the clasts mainly from Jurassic outcrops with oolites deposited in guyots and isolated marine platforms, and volcanic submarine rocks, and (2) the palaeobathymetry of the deposits, relatively shallow and sporadically affected by storm waves.