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Strain partitioning and relief segmentation in arcuate fold-and-thrust belts: a case study from the western Betics

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Abstract

Purpose

Within arcuate orogenic belts, strain is commonly partitioned between arc-parallel stretching and arc-perpendicular shortening. Arc-parallel stretching can be accommodated by arc-oblique strike-slip faults and arc-perpendicular normal faults, whose localization in fault systems may provoke significant along-strike structural relief drops.

Methods

In this work, we have studied the Ubrique area, located in a frontal segment of the external western Betics (northern branch of the Gibraltar Arc), where one of the most significant relief discontinuities along the orogenic grain is defined.

Results

We have found that this discontinuity is determined by two main types of structures: (1) arc-parallel, kilometric-scale folds and reverse faults that control the conformable relief of the fold-and-thrust belt; (2) the tectonic lineation related to the SW segmentation of this relief, which is composed of the Colmenar fault and the Ubrique Normal Fault Zone (UNFZ).

Conclusions

This tectonic lineation seems to have localized arc-parallel extension. Qualitative and quantitative geomorphological analyses together with the age of the deformed rocks indicate that these structures have been active from the Tortonian to Holocene. Our results suggest that post-Serravallian outward radial thrusting and arc-parallel stretching accommodate a strain partitioning typical of progressive arcs, thus suggesting that the Gibraltar Arc is still protruding.

Resumen

Objetivo

En cinturones orogénicos arqueados, la deformación está normalmente repartida entre estiramiento paralelo y acortamiento perpendicular al arco. El estiramiento paralelo al arco puede estar acomodado por fallas de salto en dirección oblicuas y fallas normales perpendiculares al arco, cuya localización en sistemas puede provocar importantes bajadas bruscas del relieve a lo largo de las directrices estructurales.

Métodos

En este trabajo, hemos estudiado el área de Ubrique, localizada en un segmento frontal de las Béticas externas (rama norte del Arco de Gibraltar), donde una de las discontinuidades más importantes del relieve a lo largo de las directrices del orógeno ha sido definida.

Resultados

Hemos encontrado que esta discontinuidad está determinada por dos tipos principales de estructuras: (1) pliegues de escala kilométrica y paralelos al arco y fallas inversas que controlan el relieve conforme del cinturón del pliegues y cabalgamientos; (2) la lineación tectónica relacionada con la segmentación del relieve hacia el SO, la cual está compuesta por la falla de Colmenar y la Zona de Falla Normal de Ubrique (UNFZ).

Conclusiones

Esta lineación tectónica parece haber localizado la extensión paralela al arco. Análisis geomorfológicos cualitativos y cuantitativos junto con la edad de las rocas deformadas indican que estas estructuras han sido activas con posterioridad al Serravaliense. De hecho, nuestros resultados sugieren que este modo de reparto de la deformación, típico de arcos progresivos, ha sido activo hasta el Holoceno, sugiriendo así que el Arco de Gibraltar continúa protruyéndose.

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Acknowledgements

This research is supported by projects RNM-0451 and CGL2013-46368. We also thank Ana Crespo-Blanc and an anonymous referee for their detailed and constructive comments.

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  1. Departamento de Sistemas Físicos, Químicos y Naturales, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Carretera de Utrera km 1, 41013, Seville, Spain

    A. Jiménez-Bonilla, I. Expósito, J. C. Balanyá & M. Díaz-Azpiroz

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  1. A. Jiménez-Bonilla
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  2. I. Expósito
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  3. J. C. Balanyá
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  4. M. Díaz-Azpiroz
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Correspondence to A. Jiménez-Bonilla.

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Jiménez-Bonilla, A., Expósito, I., Balanyá, J.C. et al. Strain partitioning and relief segmentation in arcuate fold-and-thrust belts: a case study from the western Betics. J Iber Geol 43, 497–518 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41513-017-0028-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41513-017-0028-0

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