Compositional signatures of the Cenozoic sedimentary successions of the Malaguide Complex (Betic Cordillera, Spain)

Abstract

The studied Cenozoic sedimentary successions consist of deposits from continental/shallow-water to deep-marine environments of the Malaguide Complex (Betic Cordillera) outcropping in the Sierra Espuña area (SE Spain). The aim of this study is to characterize the composition, source area(s) provenance and weathering processes of these sedimentary successions from the pre-orogenic (Paleocene-Early Oligocene) to the synorogenic (Late Oligocene-Early Miocene) stage using petrological and geochemical methodologies. The studied sandstones are mainly quartzolithic with abundant metamorphic and sedimentary lithic fragments. In particular, the composition of samples from the pre-orogenic cycle is mainly carbonate with important siliciclastic components that occur within the medium to fine grained arenites. The composition of samples from the syn-orogenic cycle is characterized by a sharp change from carbonate to siliciclastic terms. Thus, the composition of the overall sandstone samples is very heterogeneous and suggests a source area mainly characterized by the Malaguide basement and lower units of the Internal Betic Zone, that partially compose the Mesomediterranean Microplate. The geochemical proxies suggest a provenance mainly from felsic source area with a minor supply from mafic rocks in some samples of the syn-orogenic stage. Furthermore, palaeoweathering indices indicate low to moderate weathering conditions for the sources. The Cenozoic sedimentary successions of the Malaguide Complex played an important role in the geodynamic evolution of the Betic Cordillera that represents the key tectonic element of the western domains of the Mesomediterranean Microplate.

Unravelling hinterland and offshore palaeogeography from pre-to-syn-orogenic clastic sequences of the Betic Cordillera (Sierra Espuña), Spain

“…The tectonic stacking and the alpine metamorphism of the IBZ is the response to a continental collision (Guerrera and Martín-Martín, 2014) Filabride oceanic branch (subducted bellow the MM) (e.g., Perrone et al, 2006;Critelli et al, 2008;Perri, 2014;Perri et al, 2013Perri et al, , 2016b (Fig. 1D).…”

Sedimentary history and palaeogeography of the Cenozoic clastic wedges of the Malaguide Complex, Internal Betic Cordillera, southern Spain

“…The more accepted paleogeographic-geodynamic model for the western-central Mediterranean area (Martín-Martín et al, 2006a,b, 2020aPerrone et al, 2006;Critelli et al, 2008;Perri, 2014;Perri et al, 2013Perri et al, , 2016bGuerrera and Martín-Martín, 2014;Critelli, 2018;Guerrera et al, 2019) implies the existence of the Mesomediterranean Microplate (MM) in the western Tethys, during Mesozoic-Cenozoic times, bounded by two oceanic branches (Nevado-Filabride-Liguride-Piamontese, to the north; Maghrebian Flysch Basin -MFB-, to the south). The closing of the northern oceanic branch meanwhile a subduction (Cretaceous-Paleogene) was the responsible of the eo-Alpine phase of the pedimediterranean mountain chains (Alps, Pyrenees, Iberian Range, etc.…”

“…The tectonic stacking and the alpine metamorphism of the IBZ is the response to a continental collision (Guerrera and Martín-Martín, 2014;Guerrera et al, 2019;Martín-Martín et al, 2020a,b) of the Mesomediterranean Microplate (MM: responsible of the Alpujarride and Malaguide Complexes) against the South Iberian Margin (External Betic Zone -EBZ-subdivided in the Subbetic and Prebetic units) involving the Nevado-Filabride oceanic branch (subducted bellow the MM) and the Campo de Gibraltar Complex (CGC) derived from the Maghrebian Flysch Basin (MFB) (e.g., Critelli, 1993Critelli, , 2018Perrone et al, 2006;Critelli et al, 2008Critelli et al, , 2017Perri, 2014;Perri et al, 2013Perri et al, , 2016bGuerrera et al, 2019)) (Fig. 1B).…”