Stress evolution and structural inheritance controlling an intracontinental extensional basin: The central-northern sector of the Neogene Teruel Basin. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liesa, Carlos L.; Simón, José L.; Ezquerro, Lope; Arlegui, Luis E.; Luzón, Aránzazu
• Is Part Of: Journal of structural geology. Volume 118(2019)
• Page Start: 362
• Page End: 376
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Fracture -- Paleostress -- Stress partitioning -- Normal fault -- Extensional basin; Geology, Structural -- Periodicals; Géomorphologie structurale -- Périodiques; Geology, Structural; Periodicals; 551.805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jsg.2018.11.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8141

Abstract

Abstract: The Teruel Basin is a NNE-SSW trending intracontinental extensional basin located in central-eastern Iberia. It is asymmetrically bounded to the east by a major fault zone, but intrabasinal faults with diverse orientation (NNE-SSW to NE-SW, E-W, or NW-SE) also appear. Offsets of the successive sedimentary units and of two planation surfaces reveal that tectonic activity initiated at the border faults, while intrabasinal ones mainly developed in a later stage. Fractures on a map scale show a prevailing N-S strike in Neogene synrift rocks, while a dense network made of four main fracture sets (NE-SW, E-W to ESE-WNW, N-S and NNW-SSE), likely inherited from Mesozoic rifting stages, is observed in pre-rift units. The results of palaeostress analyses indicate an overall predominance of σ3 directions around E-W, although two stress episodes have been distinguished during the Late Miocene-Pleistocene: (i) triaxial extension with σ3 E-W; (ii) almost 'radial' extension (σ1 vertical, σ2 ≈ σ3 ) with a somehow prevailing σ3 ENE-WSW. A scenario in which the evolving extensional stress field was able to gradually activate major basement structures with different orientation, inherited from previous tectonic events, is proposed as responsible for the evolution and overall pattern of both the eastern active margin and central parts of the central-northern sector of the Teruel Basin. Highlights: Diverse orientation, border and intrabasinal faults in the Neogene Teruel basin. Use of stratigraphical–geomorphological markers for analysing fault activity. Characterization of Neogene deformation and structural inheritance from fracturing. Structural inheritance and evolving stress systems as controls on basin evolution.