This paper presents new litho, chrono and magnetostratigraphic data from cores of 23 exploratory boreholes drilled in the Abalario and marshlands areas of the lower Guadalquivir basin (the western sector of the Guadalquivir foreland basin, SW of Spain). The lithologic logs of these boreholes identify four main sedimentary formations, namely: Almonte Sands and Gravels, Lebrija Clays and Gravels, Marismas Clays and Abalario Sands, respectively interpreted as proximal-alluvial, distal-alluvial, alluvial-estuarine and aeolian. From radiocarbon and magnetostratigraphic data, these formations were dated as Late Pliocene to Holocene. In the marshlands area, three main sedimentary sequences are present: a Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene sequence of the Almonte and Lebrija (lower unit) formations, a Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene sequence of the Lebrija (upper unit) and Marismas formations, and a middle Holocene to present-day sequence of the upper Marismas Formation. The three sequences began as a rapid alluvial progradation on a previously eroded surface, and a subsequent alluvial retrogradation. In the third sequence, shallow estuarine and marsh sediments accumulated on top of the alluvial sediments. The aeolian sands of the Abalario topographic high developed coeval to alluvial and estuarine sedimentation after the first alluvial progradation, and continuously until the present. Correlation with the surrounding areas show that the sequences are the result of the forebulge uplift of the northern margin of the basin (Sierra Morena) and the adjacent Neogene oldest sediments of their northern fringe, both form the main source area of the study formations. This uplift occurred simultaneous to the flexural subsidence (SSE tilting) of the southern part of the basin, where sedimentary aggradation dominated.
IntroducciónEl Abalario es el relieve litoral que queda limitado entre las poblaciones costeras onubenses de Mazagón al oeste y Matalascañas al este, y se extiende hacia el interior hasta el valle de La Rocina ( fig. 1) En conjunto forman una potente sucesión de más de 250 metros de espesor, de estructura ligeramente inclinada y de espesor creciente hacia el sureste. Sólo algunos sondeos de la parte occidental de El Abalario alcanzan las margas miocenas. En el resto del área de El Abalario, las margas están a una profundidad desconocida, por debajo de los sondeos más profundos. Sobre ellas se disponen gradualmente los depósitos arenosos de la Fm. Huelva, sin ninguna apreciable ruptura sedimentaria. Hacia el norte, la parte superior de la Fm. Huelva grada lateralmente a los depósitos arenosos de la Fm. Bonares, principalmente desarrollada fuera del área de estudio. Ambas formaciones quedan cubiertas por los sedimentos clásticos más gruesos de la Fm. Almonte. Por encima se desarrollan las arenas de la Fm. El Abalario, que configuran el relieve actual. El estudio mejora el modelo geológico existente y la conexión de unidades con los sectores vecinos.Palabras clave: Litoestratigrafía, Sedimentología, Plioceno, Cuaternario, Bajo Guadalquivir. ABSTRACTThe study of new and ancient boreholes in El Abalario area (Lower Guadalquivir basin) permitted to identify four main plio-quaternary formations above the Miocene marls, namely: Huelva Sands, Bonares Sands, Almonte Sands and Gravels, and El Abalario Sands. Respectively, they are interpreted as shallow marine, deltaic, alluvial and eolian sediments, together forming a marine to continental sequence that reaches a thickness of more than 250 metres. All sediments are arranged as a gentle dipping and thickening structure to the southeast. Only a few boreholes of the western border of El Abalario reach the top of the Miocene marls. In the rest of the Abalario area the Miocene marls are confined to an unknown level bellow the deepest boreholes. Upward, the marls grade to the Huelva sands, without any appreciable break in the sediments. To the north, the upper part of the Huelva formation grades to the Bonares sands, which is mainly developed outside the study area. Both formations are covered by the coarse clastic deposits of the Almonte formation. At the top, El Abalario sands recover all previous deposits and configure the current relief. This study improves the early existing geology profile and the connection with the surrounding areas.
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