The Spanish Central System is a Cenozoic pop-up with an E W to NE SW orientation that affects an the crust (thick-skinned tectonics). It shows antifonn geometry in the upper crust with thickening in the lower crust. Together -with the Iberian Chain it constitutes the most prominent mmmtainous structure of the Pyrenean foreland.The evolutionary patterns concerning the paleotopography of the interior of the Peninsula can be established by an analysis of the fo11owing data: gravimetric, topographical, macro and micro tectonic, sedimentological (infilling of the sedimentary basins of the relative foreland), P T t path from apatite fission tracks, paleoseismic and instrumental seismicity.Deformation is dearly asymmetric in the Central System as evidenced by the existence of an unique, large (crustal-scale) thrust at its southern border, while in the northern one there is a normal sequence of north verging thrusts, towards the Duero Basin, whose activity ended during the Lower Miocene. This deformation was accomplished lUlder triaxial compression, Oligocene Lower Miocene in age, marked by NW SE to NNW SSE shortening. Loca11y orientations of paleostresses deviate from that of the regional tensor, follo-wing a period of relative tectonic quiescence. During the Upper Miocene Pliocene, a reactivation of constrictive stress occurred and some structures underwent rejuvenation as a consequence of the action of tectonic stresses similar to those of today (lUliaxial extension to strike slip -with NW SE shortening direction). However, the westernmost areas show continuous activity throughout the whole of the Tertiary, with no apparent pulses. At the present time there is a moderate seismic activity in the Central System related to faults that were active during the Cenozoic, with the same kinematic characteristics.
The Northwest and Central-West Iberian Peninsula configure an intraplate area far from the active plate boundaries, where the Variscan basement crops out extensively (Iberian Massif). This area of the Iberian Peninsula has been traditionally considered a seismically stable region; however, it presents a moderate intraplate seismicity which indicates the presence of active structures and the occurrence of potentially damaging earthquakes. The scarcity of Mesozoic and Cenozoic deposits makes very difficult to track the record of the more recent tectonic activity and the characterization of active tectonic structures within the Iberian Massif. Nevertheless the seismic sequences of 1995-1997 in Lugo (5.1 mb; IV) and 2003 in Zamora (4.2 Mw) provided important information about the orientation of the present stress tensor, and the distribution of the hypocenters informed about the rupture geometry of the fault planes. The present work integrates geological, geomorphological, structural, and seismological data in order to define the main potentially active faults in the region. Faults trending NE-SW to N-S are potentially active as strike-slip, in some cases with a reverse component, under a NW-SE to N-S compression.
(M.A.S.D.); amunoz@ucm.es (A.M.M.); ssainz-maza@fomento.es (S.S.M.A)Received: 12 January 2015 / Accepted: 5 July 2015 / Available online: 20 July 2015 AbstractThe origin of the intraplate volcanism in the Calatrava Volcanic Province (CVP) is controversial. On the basis of its geochemical signature, it has been ascribed to an "aborted" rift, implying lithospheric thinning. However, the volcanism occurred during the generalized Cenozoic NW−SE-oriented compressive tectonic regime. On the other hand, on the basis of evidence for its deep-seated origin, it has been linked to the existence of a baby-plume detached from an active megaplume below the Canary-Azores Islands and the western Mediterranean. In order to understand better the aforementioned geodynamic scenarios for the origin of the CVP, we address here the study of the lithosphere in the CVP and its vicinity by means of gravity analysis and 2+1/2D modeling. Gravity modeling results do not support the rifting model adopted for the intraplate volcanism occurred in the CVP because the crust shows a quasi-constant thickness. Density models suggest the existence of a sub-crustal, anomalous low-density block that could be underplated magmatic material at the base of the crust, suggesting that only a minor part of it intruded up into the crust and erupted. The localized magmatism of the CVP can be related to the combination of two factors: active, the gentle folding of the Iberian lithosphere and associated uplifting of the Variscan basement due to the NW-directed transmission of compressive stresses in the upper plate yielded by the subduction/collision in the south Iberian margin. The formation of the lithospheric folding in the Calatrava region results in a decrease of the pressure beneath the swell of the antiform that is likely to bring about basaltic magmatism below the swell; and one passive, the existence of a Variscan right-lateral shear band, which yields a weakened crust that facilitates the ascent of the magmatic materials. The relatively small volume, but large extension, of the volcanic outcrops could be associated with the preferential ascent of the magmas along the weakened crust of this NW−SE-trending Variscan shear band.Keywords: Calatrava, intraplate volcanism, gravity modeling, lithosphere structure, upward continuation Resumen El origen del volcanismo intraplaca en la Provincia Volcánica de Calatrava (CVP) es controvertido. En base a su signatura geoquímica se ha atribuido a la formación de un rift "abortado", implicando un adelgazamiento litosférico. Sin embargo, el volcanismo se desarrolló durante un régimen tectónico compresivo orientado NW-SE que fue generalizado en la región de Calatrava durante el Cenozoico. Por otro lado, en base a las evidencias de su origen profundo, se le ha relacionado con la existencia de una mini-pluma desconectada de una mega-pluma activa debajo de los archipiélagos de Canarias y Azores, y en el Mediterráneo occidental. Con el propósito de contribuir a la discriminación entre los escenarios geodinámicos mencionados...
Keywords: Geotechnics Geophysics Shear wavesResults obtained by SASW and PS-logging (in-hole) seismic techniques are compared with the relatively new ReMi (Refraction micro tremor) method at a common site with a well-known soil profile: a recently constructed high-speed railway embankment. PS-logging is the most accurate technique in identifying the soil profile of the embankment followed by Re-Mi and SASW. Mean shear wave velocity estimations are also higher for PS-logging, followed by SASW and ReMi, while mean deviation is similar in each technique. The ReMi technique has provided very accurate results in the study of the embankment profile, which in addition to its high operability and its fast data processing, makes it a very convenient technique for extensive geotechnical surveys.
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