Cabalgamientos plegados en el macizo herein ico de la Sierra de Herrera (Cordillera Ibérica)

Abstract

The Variscan structure of the Sierra de Herrera (northern border of the Iberian Chain) is defined by a main anticline, with an outcropping length of 10 kilometers. In its northern limb there are several imbricate thrust sheets, that predate the main fold. These structures show a NW-SE to N-S trend and a constant eastward vergence. The main consequence of the existence of these imbricate sheets is the thickening of the northern limb of the fold, with a 5:1 relationship with respect to the thickness of the primary stratigraphic series. These thrust sheets are probably associated to the main Variscan tectonic event giving rise to the Datos thrust. The whole of Variscan structures interferes with Alpine folding, that shows a main E-W direction in this area