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The influence of basement structure on the evolution of the Bicorb-Quesa Diapir (eastern Betics, Iberian Peninsula): contractive thin-skinned deformation above a pre-existing extensional basement fault

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Abstract

On the basis of an analysis of structural surface data in addition to previously available and new magnetotelluric data, it was possible to reconstruct the evolution of Bicorb-Quesa Diapir. This was initiated as a reactive diapir in relation to a basement fault. The reactive diapir was rejuvenated by a thin-skinned compression during the Paleogene and rose during an extensional early-middle Miocene phase. Later, in the middle Miocene, the diapir was squeezed and then, in the late Miocene, was extensionally reactivated. The current reconstruction allows us to analyse a diapir affected by a thin-skinned contractional deformation located on top of a pre-existing basement fault. Our study highlights the role played by the geometric relationship between the propagation direction of the cover deformation and the basement fault.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by the project INTECTOSAL (CGL2010-21968-C02-01) of the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, the “Grup de Recerca de Geodinàmica i Anàlisi de Conques” (2005SGR-000397) and (PIER-CO2 CGL2009-07604). Midland Valley is gratefully acknowledged for providing software. We are very indebted to reviewers Tim Dooley, Menno de Ruig and Reinhard Greiling for improving an early version of the manuscript.

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  1. Group of Geodynamics and Basin Analysis, Departament de Geodinàmica i Geofísica, Facultat de Geologia, Institut GEOMODELS, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    M. Rubinat, E. Roca, M. Escalas, P. Queralt, O. Ferrer & J. J. Ledo

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  1. M. Rubinat
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  2. E. Roca
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  3. M. Escalas
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Correspondence to M. Rubinat.

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Rubinat, M., Roca, E., Escalas, M. et al. The influence of basement structure on the evolution of the Bicorb-Quesa Diapir (eastern Betics, Iberian Peninsula): contractive thin-skinned deformation above a pre-existing extensional basement fault. Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) 102, 25–41 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00531-012-0789-9

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