Interacción entre vulcanismo, tectónica y sedimentación en una plataforma carbonatada somera: Ejemplo en el Tethys occidental (Jurásico Medio, sureste de la Cordillera Ibérica)

Abstract

In the southeastern Iberian Range, several mainly volcaniclastic rocks resulting from submarine eruptions can be found interbedded in the Lower‒Middle Jurassic carbonate succession. The geological mapping of the outcrop­ping volcanic rocks reveals that they follow three well marked lineaments of cortical weakness (Teruel, Caudiel and Alcublas Fault Zones), probably caused by the faulting related to the opening and sea‒floor spreading of the Ligurian and Alpine Tethys oceans. The present work introduces the results of the study, which aims to evaluate the tectonosedimentary evolution of a shallow submarine setting affected by volcanism during the Aalenian‒Bajocian boundary (Middle Jurassic). This site, known as “Caudiel volcanic outcrop”, is located at the southeastern part of the Caudiel Fault Zone. The presence of positive subaqueous volcaniclastic reliefs, added to shallow marine plat­forms, strongly affects the depth‒dependent carbonate sedimentation: it induces substantial changes in lithofacies compared to other neighboring areas, or even directly prevents the sedimentation. Moreover, episodic normal fault activity generated a dynamic topography over time, with variable rates of both subsidence and uplifting throughout different areas. The Caudiel outcrop represents a good ancient example of interaction between multiple factors (volcanism, tectonism and sedimentation) in shallow carbonate platforms, where the accommodation changes and the sedimentation rates seem to be subordinate to the local tectonic disturbances.