RT Journal Article
T1 Middle Eocene carbonate platforms of the westernmost Tethys
A1 Martín Martín, Manuel
A1 Guerrera, Francesco
A1 Tosquella Angrill, Josep
A1 Tramontana, Mario
AB A study of the paleoenvironmental evolution of themiddle Eocene platforms recognized in the westernmost Tethys has been carried out in the well-exposed middle Eocene succession from Sierra Espuña-Mula basin (Betic Cordillera, S Spain). Eight microfacies (Mf1 to Mf8) have been recognized, based mainly on fossil assemblages (principally larger benthic foraminifera), and rock texture and fabric. The fossiliferous assemblage can beassigned to the ‘subtropical’ heterozoan association or to the low-latitude ‘foralgal facies’, which are dominated by non-framework building, light-dependent biota such as perforate larger benthic foraminifera, coralline algae, and sometimes green algae and solitary corals. Larger benthic foraminifer assemblages, corresponding from euphotic to oligophotic conditions and the large surface showed, suggest a progressive marine ramp under essentially oligotrophic conditions. Eventually, supply of detrital sediments fromthe continent and/or upwellingcurrents increases the nutrients of marine waters. Comparisonwith other Tethyan sectors allows statingthat coral-reef buildups (z-corals) were widespread on shallow platforms of the central and eastern TethysOcean, but these were neither of great dimensions nor dominant because of themuchmore dominant presenceof larger benthic foraminifera.Moreover, these coral constructions were completely absents in the westernmostTethys. The dominance of larger benthic foraminifera and the absence of z-corals in the westernmost Tethys areexplained by particular paleogeographic features due to the occurrence of a narrowand deep oceanic branch (i.e.,the Maghrebian Flysch Basin) connecting the Tethys with the Atlantic Ocean. The various issues regarding themorphological characters and evolution of larger benthic foraminifera in the study area, such as sizes of tests, specificdiversity and/or intraspecific variability, number of appearances and last occurrences during themiddle Eoceneare analyzed and compared with those appearing in other Tethyan sectors. In addition, the early to lateBartonian boundary is recognized in the study area as critical for the biological change as in other shallow-marineenvironments along the Tethys margins.
PB Elsevier
SN 0037-0738
YR 2021
FD 2021
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10272/20812
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10272/20812
LA eng
NO Martín-Martín, M., Guerrera, F., Tosquella, J., & Tramontana, M. (2021). Middle Eocene carbonate platforms of the westernmost Tethys. In Sedimentary Geology (Vol. 415, p. 105861). Elsevier BV. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sedgeo.2021.105861
NO Research supported by: Research Project CGL2016-75679-P, SpanishMinistry of Education and Science; Research Groups and Projects of theGeneralitat Valenciana, Alicante University (CTMA-IGA); University ofUrbino “Carlo Bo”, Research Funds to F. Guerrera and M. Tramontana.The revisions performed by Prof. André Strasser and an annonymous reviewerare also acknowledged.
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 1 jun 2026