La Formación Arcillas de Morella (Aptiense Inferior), Cadena Ibérica oriental (España): caracterización sedimentológica

Abstract

The detail stratigraphy, sedlmentology and paleontology of the Arcillas de Morella Formation allows us to better understand the sedimentary environment in the northwestern part of the Maestrazgo Basin during the Lower Aptian.

We have recognized five facies associations interpreted as no-marine marshy mud flats with low energy and channels of low sinuosity interrupted by episodic channel fill facies of high-energy multi episodic with main retrogradaron trends. At the base and top of studied interval are carbonate and clastic tidal flat facies respectively. A fluvial channel with tidal influence fades is found into upper tidal flat. There is fossil community (reptiles, fishes and conipheral trees) in the Arcillas de Morella Formation that provides . unique paleocHmatlc and paleogeographic information such as an arid climate and subtropical. The siliciclastic tidal flat with minor fluvial channel influence shows an evolution towards marine environments and suggests a regional marine transgression