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Palaeoshoreline for the Late Cretaceous marine platform in the Iberian Trough (Leonese Area, Spain) deduced from outcrop and subsurface analysis

  • Research Article
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Central European Journal of Geosciences

Abstract

The location of the Late Cretaceous paleoshoreline in the Leonese Area (Iberian Trough, Spain) has been investigated by seismic analysis through isobath and isopach maps.

The succession can be divided into two depositional sequences: DS-1 and DS-2. These sequences are composed of fluvial systems at the base, with paleocurrents that flowed eastward and north-eastward. The DS-1 sequence (Late Albian-Middle Turonian) shows intertidal to subtidal and offshore deposits at the top, while the DS-2 sequence (Late Turonian-Campanian) presents intertidal to subtidal, tidal flat and shallow marine and lacustrine deposits at its top.

The stratigraphic cyclicity based on systems tracts shows that these two depositional sequences exhibit remarkable eustatic control. Both sequences start at the base with a significant sedimentary supply from fluvial systems, related to eustatic fall episodes, and conclude at the top with transgressive periods. The evolution of the basin reveals the history of base-level changes and associated shifts in depositional trends during successive stages.

The deeper sectors of the DS-1 sequence are located towards the northeastern part of the study area while the proximal portion of the basin-margin is located to the southwest. The paleoshoreline is placed in a direction oriented at 120. The variations in thickness are elongated in orientations between 030 and 050 and are mainly related to paleovalleys and tributary fluvial networks that supply sediment through the shoreline. It is possible that these variations may be related to active synsedimentary faults.

Depocenters move toward the northeast and east during the DS-2 sequence while the proximal portion of the basin-margin moves to the southwest. The paleoshoreline has an orientation of 155 direction and moves basinward. The isopach maps show a group of corridors oriented at 130–140 and 165–170, interpreted as result of accumulation of sandy bodies such as inter and subtidal bars. The fluvial systems are transversal to the paleoshoreline direction.

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  1. Departamento de Tecnología Minera, Topográfica y de Estructuras., Universidad de León, C/ Jesús Rubio 2, 24004, León, Spain

    Antonio Herrero-Hernández & Fernando Gómez-Fernández

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Herrero-Hernández, A., Gómez-Fernández, F. Palaeoshoreline for the Late Cretaceous marine platform in the Iberian Trough (Leonese Area, Spain) deduced from outcrop and subsurface analysis. cent.eur.j.geo. 4, 395–415 (2012). https://doi.org/10.2478/s13533-011-0067-6

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