Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-ndw9j Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T17:08:14.791Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Diapiric deformations in the Quaternary deposits of the central Ebro Basin, Spain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

J. L. Simón  and
A. Soriano
J. L. Simón
Affiliation:
Departamento de Geomorfología y Geotectónica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
A. Soriano
Affiliation:
Departamento de Geomorfología y Geotectónica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

From a study of 24 outcrops in Neogene and Quaternary deposits of the central Ebro Basin, a number of diapiric deformations have been recognized, two principal types being differentiated: domal or pillow structures, and piercement or intrusive structures. The former are incipient diapirs of gypsum. Piercing structures have reverse faulted contacts not caused by halokinesis; here Neogene marls are the active plastic material, contrasting with the competent behaviour of gypsum. These intrusive structures are viscous diapirs which easily pierce the non-consolidated, low strength Quaternary gravel overburden and submit it to a horizontal compressive stress. As a consequence, reverse faults and flexures develop in it. Generally normal faults and tension cracks do not appear. Underlying gypsum beds are frequently pulled up into diapirs and they constitute the structural core.

Density contrast and conditions for plastic flow exist at the marl–gravel boundary. It seems to have been specially common at the time of Quaternary fluvial sedimentation, so that much deformation is synsedimentary. Diapiric phenomena have been very active during early to middle Pleistocene time, becoming weaker afterwards.

Type
Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 123 , Issue 1 , January 1986 , pp. 45 - 57
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alberto, A., Gutiérrez, M., Ibáñez, M. J., Machín, J., Peña, J. L., Pocoví, A. & Rodríguez, J. 1984. El Cuaternario de la Depresión del Ebro en la región aragonesa. Cartografla y sintesis de los conocimientos existentes. Universidad de Zaragoza & Estación experimental de Aula Dei. 217 pp.Google Scholar
Berner, H., Ramberg, H. & Stephanson, O. 1972. Diapirism in theory and experiment. Tectonophysics 15, 197–218.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bomer, B. & Riba, O. 1962. Deformaciones tectónicas recientes por movimientos de yesos en Villafranca de Navarra. In I Coloquio Internacional sobre las Obras Públicas en los terrenos yesiferos. Tomo V, Comunicacion Tema 6, pp. 13–21. Madrid: Servicio Geológico de Obras Públicas.Google Scholar
Davidson, J. F. & Harrison, D. 1963. Fluidized particles. London: Cambridge University Press. 155 pp.Google Scholar
Freeman, P. S. 1968. Exposed middle Tertiary mud diapirs and related features in south Texas. In Diapirism and Diapirs (ed. Braunstein, J. and O'Brien, G. D.), pp 162–82. Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists.Google Scholar
Gutiérrez, M., Simón, J. L. & Soriano, A. 1983. Tectónica cuaternaria en el área de La Almunia (Prov. de Zaragoza). Cuadernos del Laboralorio Geológico de Laxe 5, 421–8.Google Scholar
Leiva, A., Sanz, M. & Trilla, J. 1978. Limitaciones naturales a la explotabilidad de las terrazas del Ebro en los alrededores de Zaragoza. 3a Conferencia Nacional sobre Hidrologia General y Aplicada, pp. 7–17. Zaragoza: Salón Bienal Monográfico del agua. SMAGUA-78.Google Scholar
Mensua, S. & Ibáñez, M. J. 1977. Sector central de la Depresión del Ebro. Mapa de terrazas fluviales y glacis. In III Reunión Nacional del Grupo Español de Trabajo del Cuaternario, 18 pp. Zaragoza: Dpto de Geografia.Google Scholar
Michel, J. P. 1962. Description de formations quaterriaires semblables á des ‘diapirs’ dans les alluvions anciennes de la Seine et de la Marne près de Paris. Bulletin de la Societé Geologique de France 4, 795–9.Google Scholar
Musgrave, A. W. & Hicks, W. G. 1968. Outlining shale masses by geophysical methods. In Diapirism and Diapirs (ed. Braunstein, J. and O'Brien, G. D.), pp. 122–36. Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists.Google Scholar
O'brien, G. B. 1968. Survey of diapirs and diapirism. In Diapirism and diapirs (ed. Braunstein, J. and O'Brien, G. D.), pp. 1–9. Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists.Google Scholar
Paine, W. R. 1968. Recent peat diapirs in the Netherlands: a comparison with Gulf Coast salt structures. In Diapirism and Diapirs (ed. Braunstein, J. and O'Brien, G. D.), pp. 271–4. Tulsa: American Association of Petroleum Geologists.Google Scholar
Pinilla, A. & Alonso, J. J. 1969. Estudio sedimentológico de la zona aragonesa de la Cuenca terciaria del valle del Ebro. V: Análisis de las arcillas con mïcroscopio electrónico. Anales de Edafologia y Agrobiologia 28, 895–906.Google Scholar
Ramberg, H. 1981. Gravity Deformation and the Earth's Crust. London, New York: Academic Press. 452 pp.Google Scholar
Riba, O. & Llamas, R. 1962. Los terrenos yesíferos Triásicos y Terciarios de las proximidades de Estada (Huesca). In I Coloquio Internacional sobre las Obras Públicas en los terrenos yesiferos. Tomo V, Comunicacion Tema 6, pp. 107–21. Madrid: Servicio Geológico de Obras Públicas.Google Scholar
SolÉ, L. 1953. Terrazas Cuaternarias deformadas en la Cuenca del Ebro. Memorias de la Real Academia de Cienciasy Artes de Barcelona (Tercera época) 31, 16–23.Google Scholar
Trusheim, F. 1960. Mechanism of salt migration in northern Germany. Bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists 44, 1519–40.Google Scholar
van Zuidam, R. A. 1976. Geomorphological development of the Zaragoza region, Spain. Processes and landforms related to climatic changes in a large Mediterranean river basin. Enschede: International Institute for Aerial Survey and Earth Sciences (I.T.C.). 211 pp.Google Scholar