TECTONIC EVOLUTION OF THE BETIC CORDILLERA: AN OVERVIEW

PDF (English)
Publiée : Ιαν 1, 2004
DOI : https://doi.org/10.12681/bgsg.16563
F. Alonso-Chaves
Dep. Geodinàmica y Paleontologia, Univ. de Huelva
J. I. Soto
Institute Andaluz Ciencias de la Tierra and Departamento de Geodinàmica, CSIC-Granada Univ.
M. Orozco
Institute Andaluz Ciencias de la Tierra and Departamento de Geodinàmica, CSIC-Granada Univ.
A. A. Kilias
Department of Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki
M. D. Tranos
Department of Geology, School of Geology, Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki
Résumé

The Betic (Southern Spain) and the Rif (Morocco) mountain chains, connected through the Gibraltar Strait, shapes a W-E elongated and arcuate Alpine orogenic belt. The Alborân Sea, in continuity to the east with the South Balearic Basin, is located in the inner part of this alpine belt. The Iberian and African continental forelands bound the region as a whole to the north and south, respectively, and to the east it is connected to the oceanic Sardine-Balearic Basin. The peculiarities of these westernmost Mediterranean chains result from: (1) its position between two large convergent plates -Africa and Europe- that have had variable directions of relative motion since the late Cretaceous; and (2) the Neogene westward migration of the orogenic hinterland and its simultaneous "back-arc"-like extension, generating the Alborén Sea basin. The complexes and large paleogeographic terrains traditionally recognized in the Betic and Rif chains belong to four pre-Neogene crustal domains: the South-Iberian and Maghrebian passive continental paleomargins (External Zones of the orogen), the Flysch Units, and the Alborân Crustal Domain composed mainly of a pre- Miocene metamorphosed thrust-stack (Nevado-Filabride, Alpujârride, and Malaguide complexes, from bottom to top). The boundaries between the main metamorphic complexes of the Alborân Domain are extensional detachments, which finally developed under brittle conditions and are commonly sealed by middle-to-late Miocene marine-to-continental sediments. They, nonetheless, are not the most recent structures in the Alborân Domain, because upright, E-W open folds warp the extensional detachments, and finally, high-angle normal faults and strike-slip faults, many of which are still active, offset folds and extensional detachments. The tectonic evolution of the Betic  Alborân orogenic system shows close similarities with the one depicted in other arcuate-shaped, Alpine mountain ranges in the Mediterranean, such as the Hellenic Arc and the Aegean Sea. Like in the westernmost Mediterranean, a thickened (pre Miocene) crust is bounding there a thinned, continental (?) basin. Extension is also formed here in a "back-arc" setting, being developed simultaneously with the N-S convergence between the African and European plates.

Article Details
  • Rubrique
  • Tectonics and Geodynamics
Creative Commons License

Ce travail est disponible sous licence Creative Commons Attribution - Pas d’Utilisation Commerciale 4.0 International.

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.

Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g. post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal. Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (preferably in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.

Téléchargements
Les données relatives au téléchargement ne sont pas encore disponibles.
Références
Alonso-Chaves, F.M. 1995. Evolución tectónica de Sierra Tejeda y su relación con los procesos de engrosamiento y adelgazamiento corticales en las Cordilleras Béticas. Ph. Thesis, Univ. Granada, 265 pp.
Alonso-Chaves, F.M., Garcia-Duefias, V., and Orozco, M., 1993. Fallas de despegue extensional miocenas en el area de Sierra Tejeda (Béticas centrales). Geogaceta (Geol. Soc. Spain), 14,116-118.
Azanón, J. M., Crespo-Blanc, Α., and Garcia-Duefias, V., 1997. Continental collision, crustal thinning, and nappe forming during the pre-Miocene evolution of the Alpujarride Complex (Alboran Domain, Betics). J. Struct. Geol., 19, 1055-1071.
Azafìón, J.M., Garcia-Duefias, V., Goffé, G., 1998. Exhumation of high-pressure metapelites and coeval crustal extension in the Alpujarride complex (Betic Cordillera). Tectonophysics, 285, 231-252.
Bakker, H. E., De Jong, Κ., Helmers, Η., and Bierman, C, 1989, The geodynamic evolution of the Internal Zone of the Betic Cordilleras (southeast Spain): A model based on structural analysis and geothermobarometry. J. metamorpbic Geol., 7, 359-381.
Balanyâ, J.C., and Garcia-Duefias, V., 1987, Les directions structurales dans le Domaine d'Alborân de part et d'autre du Détroit de Gibraltar. C. R. Acad. Se. Paris, 304, 929-933.
Balanyâ, J.C., Garcla-Dueflas, V., and Azafión, J.M., 1997, Alternating contractional and extensional events in the Alpujarride nappes of the Alborân Domain (Betics, Gibraltar Arc). Tectonics, 16, 226-238.
Chalouan, Α., and A. Michard, 1990. The Ghomarides nappes, Rif coastal range, Morocco: A variscan chip in the Alpine belt. Tectonics, 9,1565-1583.
Comas, M.C., Garcia-Duerlas, V., and Jurado, M.J., 1992, Neogene Tectonic Evolution of the Alboran Sea from MSC data. Geo-Marine Lett., 12, 157-164.
Comas, M.C., Piatt, J.P., Soto, J.I., and Watts, A.B., 1999, The origin and tectonic history of the Alboran Basin: Insights from Leg 161 results. In: Proceedings ODP, Scientific Results, Zahn, Ζ., Comas, M.C., and Klaus, Α., eds., Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, TX., p. 555-580.
Crespo-Blanc, Α., M. Orozco, and V. Garcia-Duefias, 1994, Extension versus compression during the Miocene tectonic evolution of the Betic chain. Late folding of normal fault systems. Tectonics, 13, 78-88.
de Jong, K., 1991. Tectono-metamorphic studies and radiometric dating in the Betic Cordilleras (SE Spain): with implications of extension and compression in the western Mediterranean area. Ph.D. Thesis Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam.
Delgado, F., Estévez, Α., Martin, J.M., and Martin-Algarra, Α., 1981. Observaciones sobre la estratigrafia de la formation carbonatada de los mantos Alpujârrides (Cordilleras Béticas). Estud. Geol., 37,45-57.
Dercourt J. and 18 others, 1986. Geological evolution of the Tethys belt from the Atlantic to the Pamir since the Lias. Tectonophysics, 123, 241-315.
Dewey, J. F., 1988. Extensional collapse of orogens. Tectonics7, 1123-1139.
Dewey, J.F., Helman, M.L., Turco, E., Hutton, D.H.W., and Knott, S.D., 1989, Kinematics of the western Mediterranean. In: Alpine tectonics. Coward, M.P., Dietrich, D., and Park, R.G., eds., Geological Society [London] Special Publication, 45, 265-283.
Galindo-Zaldivar, J., Gonzalez-Lodeiro, F., and Jabaloy, Α., 1989, Progressive extensional shear structures in a detachment contact in the Western Sierra Nevada (Betic Cordilleras, Spain). Geodinamica Acta (Pans), 3, 73-85.
Garcia-Casco, Α., and Torres-Roldân, R.L., 1996. Disequilibrium induced by fast decompression in St-Bt-Grt- Ky-Sil-And Metapelites from the Betic Belt (Southern Spain). J. Petrol., 37, 1207-1239.
Garcia-Duefias, V., and Martinez-Martinez, J.M., 1988. Sobre el adelgazamiento Mioceno del Dominio Cortical de Alborân. El despegue extensional de Filabres. Geogaceta (Geol. Soc. Spain), 5, 53-55,
Garcia-Duefias, V., Martinez-Martinez, J.M., Orozco, M., and Soto, J.I., 1988, Plis-nappes, cisaillements syn- à post-metamorphiques et cisaillements ductiles-fragiles en distension dans les Nevado-Filabrides (Cordillères Bétiques, Espagne). C. R. Acad. Se. Pans, 307, 1389-1395.
Garcia-Duefias, V., Balanyâ, J.C., and Martinez-Martinez, J.M., 1992, Miocene extensional detachments in the outcropping basement of the northern Alboran basin (Betics) and their tectonic implications. Geo-Manne Lett., 12, 88-95.
Goffe, Β., Michard, Α., Garcia-Duefias, V., Gonzâlez-Lodeiro, F., Monié, P., Campos, J., Galindo-Zaldivar, J., Jabaloy, Α., Martinez-Martinez, J.M., and Simancas, F.,1989, First evidence of high-pressure, lowtemperature metamorphism h the Alpujarride nappes, Betic Cordillera (SE Spain). Eur. J. Mineral., 1, 139-142.
Gómez-Pugnaire, M.T., and Fernândez-Soler, J.M., 1987. High-pressure metamorphism in metabasites from the Betic Cordilleras (SE Spain) and its evolution during the Alpine orogeny. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 95, 231-244.
Johnson, C, Harbury, N., and Hurford, A.J., 1997, The role of extension in the Miocene denudation of the Nevado- Filâbride Complex, Betic Cordillera (SE Spain). Tectonics, 16, 189-204.
Kilias, Α., Falalakis, G., and Mountrakis, D., 1999. Cretaceous-Tertiary structures and kinematics of the Serbomacedonian metamorphic rocks and their relation to the exhumation of the Hellenic Hinterland (Macedonia, Greece). Int. J. Earth Sc, 88, 513-531.
Lonergan, L., and Piatt, J.P., 1995. The Malaguide-Alpujarride boundary: A major extensional contact in the Internal Zone of the eastern Betic Cordillera, SE Spain. J. Struct. Geol., 17, 1655-1671.
Lonergan, L., and White, N., 1997, Origin of the Betic-Rif mountain belt. Tectonics, 16, 504-522.
Loomis, T., 1972. Contact metamorphism of pelitic rocks by the Ronda ultramafic intrusion, southern Spain. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 83, 2449-2474.
Malinverno, Α., and Ryan, W.F.B., 1986, Extension in the Tyrrhenian Sea and shortening in the Apennines as result of arc migration driven by sinking of the lithosphère. Tectonics, 5, 227-245.
Martinez-Martinez, J.M., Soto, J.I., and Balanyâ, J.C., 2002, Orthogonal folding of extensional detachments: structure and origin of the Sierra Nevada elonagted dome (Betics, SE Spain). Tectonics, 21, 3-1 -3-22.
Martinez-Martinez, J.M., Soto, J.I., and Balanyâ, J.C., 2004, Elongated domes in extended orogens: A mode of mountain uplift in the Betics (SE Spain). In: Gneiss domes in orogeny, Whitney, D.L, Teyssier, C, and Siddoway, CS., eds., Geological Society of America, Special Paper, 380, Boulder, Colorado, in press.
Mayoral, E., Crespo-Blanc, Α., D az, M.G., Benot, C, and Orozco, M., 1994. Rifting miocène du Domaine d'AIboran: datations de sédiments discordants sur les unités alpujarrides en extension (Sud de la Sierra Nevada, Chaîne Bétique). C. R. Acad. Se. Paris, 319, 581-588.
Monié, P., Galindo-Zaldivar, J., Gonzâlez-Lodeiro, F., Goffe, Β., and Jabaloy, Α., 1991,40Ar/39Ar geochronology of Alpine tectonism in the Betic Cordilleras (southern Spain). J. Geol. Soc. London, 148, 289-297.
Monié, P., Torres-Roldân, R.L., and Garcia-Casco, Α., 1994. Cooling and exhumation of the Western Betic Cordilleras, 40Ar / 39Ar thermochronological constraints on a collapsed terrane. Tectonophyscis, 238, 353-379.
Morales, J., Serrano, I., Jabaloy, Α., Galindo-Zaldivar, J., Zhao, D., Torcal, F., Vidal, F., and Gonzâlez-Lodeiro, F., 1999. Active continental subduction beneath the Betic Cordillera and Alboran Sea. Geology, 27, 8735-8738.
Orozco, M., and Alonso-Chaves, F.M., 2002. Estructuras de colapso extensional en el Dominio de Alborân. Region de La Axarquia-Sierra Tejeda (provincias de Malaga y Granada). ISBN: 84-607-5712-9. Granada, 124 p.
Orozco, M., Alonso-Chaves, F.M., and Nieto, F., 1998. Development of large north-facing folds and their relation to crustal extension in the Alborân domain (Alpujarras region, Betic Cordilleras, Spain). Tectonophysics, 298, 271-295.
Orozco, M., Alvarez-Valero, A.M., Alonso-Chaves, F.M., and Piatt, J.P., 2004. Internal structure of a collapsed terrain. The Lujar syncline and its significance for the fold- and sheet-structure of the Alborân Domain (Betic Cordilleras, Spain). Tectonophysics, in press.
Piatt, J.P., and Vissers, R.L.M., 1989, Extensional collapse of thickened continental lithosphère: a working hypothesis for the Alboran Sea and Gibraltar Arc. Geology, 17, 540-543.
Piatt, J.P., and Whitehouse, M.J., 1999. Early Miocene high-temperature metamorphism and rapid exhumation in the Betic Cordillera (Spain): evidence from U-Pb zircon ages. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 171, 591-605.
Piatt, J.P., Van der Eeckhout, B., Janzen, E., Konert, G., Simon, O.J., and Weijermars, R., 1983, The structure and tectonic evolution of the Aguilón nappe, Sierra Alhamilla, Betic Cordilleras, SE Spain. J. Struct. Geol., 5, 519-535.
Piatt, J.P., Soto, J.I., Whitehouse, M.J., Hurford, A.J., and Kelley, S.P., 1998, Thermal evolution, rate of exhumation, and tectonic significance of metamorphic rocks from the floor of the Alboran extensional Basin, Western Mediterranean. Tectonics, 17, 671-689.
Piatt, J.P., Allerton, S., Kirker, Α., Mandeville, C, Mayfield, Α., Platzman, E.S., and Rimi, Α., 2003. The ultimate arc: Differential displacement, oroclinal bending, and vertical axis rotation in the External Betic-Rif arc. Tectonics, 22, 1017, doi: 10.1029/2001TC001321.
Piatt, J.P., Kelley, S.P., Carter, Α., and Orozco, M., Timing of tectonic events in the Alpujârride Complex, Betic Cordillera, S. Spain. J. Geol. Soc. London, in review.
Puga, E., Diaz de Federico, Α., and Nieto, J.M., 2002, Tectonostratigraphic subdivision and petrological characterisation of the deepest complexes of the Betic zone: A review. Geodinamica Acta (Paris), 15, 23-43.
Royden, L.H., 1993. The tectonic expression of slab pull at continental convergent boundaries. Tectonics, 12, 303-325.
Seber, D., Barazangi, M., Ibenbrahim, A, and Demnati, A. 1996. Geophysical evidence for lithospheric delamination beneath the Alboran Sea and the Rif-Betic mountains. Nature, 397, 785-790.
Sosson, M., Morillon, A.C., Bourgois, J., Féraud, G., Poupeau, G., and Saint-Marc, P., 1998. Late exhumation stages of the Alpujarride Complex (western Betic Cordilleras, Spain): new thermochronological and structural data on Los Reales and Ojén nappes. Tectonophysics, 285, 253-273.
Soto, J. I., 1991. Estructura y evolución metamòrfica del complejo Nevado-Filâbride en la terminación oriental de la Sierra de los Filabres (Cordilleras Béticas), Ph. Thesis, Univ. Granada, 274 pp.
Soto, J.I., and Platt, J.P., 1999, Petrological and structural evolution of high-grade metamorphic rocks from the floor of the Alboran Sea basin, Western Mediterranean. J. Petrol., 40, 21-60.
Tubia, J.M., and Gil Ibarguchi, J.I., 1991. Eclogites of the Ojén nappe: A record of subduction in the Alpujârride complex (Betic Cordilleras, southern Spain). J. Geol. Soc. London, 148:801-804.
Tubia, J.M., Cuevas, J., Navarro-Vilâ, F., Alvarez, F., and Aldaya, F., 1992, Tectonic evolution of the Alpujarride Complex (Betic Cordillera, southern Spain). J. Struct. Geol., 14, 193-203.
Weijermars, R., 1985. Uplift and subsidence history of the Alboran Basin and a profile of the Alboran Diapir (WMediterranean).
Geol. Mijnb., 64, 349-356.
Zeck, H.P., Monié, P., Villa, I.M., Hansen, B.T., 1992. Very high rates of cooling and uplift in the Alpine belt of the Betic Cordilleras, southern Spain. Geology, 20, 79-82.
Articles les plus lus par le même auteur ou la même autrice