Incremental slip history of a thrust: diverse transport directions and internal folding of the Utrillas thrust sheet (NE Iberian Chain, Spain)

Abstract

A kinematical model for the Utrillas thrust is proposed, including reconstruction of the incremental slip history, progressive internal deformation and tectono-sedimentary relationships at the Montalbán (foreland) and Aliaga (piggy-back) Tertiary basins. A 3D geometrical model of the main thrust surface, defined by ramps oriented NE-SW, east-west, NW-SE and north-south, is reconstructed from cross-sections. Besides, the thrust sheet is internally deformed by two main, frequently superposed fold sets, trending NW-SE to NNW-SSE (earlier) and east-west (later), respectively. A total 'arrow' (finite horizontal displacement) of about 5.9 km towards N0328E is estimated by means of schematic, plan-view retrodeformation of the distinctly oriented ramps making its front. Orientation and cross-cut relationships of mesoscopic kinematical indicators at the thrust front provide a scenario of successive transport directions towards the ENE, NNE and north, which is consistent with the progressive development of internal folding, as well as with the evolution of intraplate compressive stress fields through Tertiary times.

Strain indicators and magnetic fabric in intraplate fault zones: Case study of Daroca thrust, Iberian Chain, Spain

“…Temporal heterogeneity of Alpine compressional stress fields (Capote et al, 2002;Liesa and Simón, 2009), therefore acting at different angles with respect to the inherited thrust surface, probably gave rise to distinct, successive transport directions. Such scenario has been accurately reported in other thrust sheets within the Iberian Chain (Utrillas thrust, Simón and Liesa, 2011). Also, strain partitioning can be invoked for explaining the kinematic variability noticed within the rock fault band, in the light of the transpressional model commonly applied to the overall NW-SE trending structures in the central Iberian Chain (Casas et al, 1998;De Vicente et al, 2009) and, specifically, to the Daroca fault zone (existence of E-W striking, en-échelon segments: Colomer, 1987;Colomer and Santanach, 1988).…”

“…The kinematic evolution of the Daroca fault zone could be even more complex if we take into account the possibility of a further compressional stress field oriented close to E-W (the so called Altomira compression in regional models of Cenozoic stress evolution: Muñoz and De Vicente, 1998;Simón and Liesa, 2011). It is recorded in Lower-Middle Miocene materials of the Mijares and southern Teruel basins (Simón and Paricio, 1988), and it could also explain the eastwards transport directions here reported for the Daroca thrust.…”

Tectono‐sedimentary evolution of Jurassic–Cretaceous diapiric structures: Miravete anticline, Maestrat Basin, Spain

“…maps of Villarluengo and Argente; Gautier, 1979;Martín & Canérot, 1977). This structure has been traditionally interpreted as a normal fault bounding the Cretaceous Galve sub-basin (Liesa et al, 2006), inverted in its SE part along the E-W trending Cobatillas thrust (Simón, 2004;Simón & Liesa, 2011) (see location in Figure 2).…”

“…Geological map of the study area made using remote sensing mapping (for the Masías de Ejulve, Castel de Cabra, Miravete and Cañada Vellida areas) combined with 1:50.000 IGME Magna geologic maps of Argente (Martín & Canérot, 1977), Montalbán (Canérot et al, 1977), Alfambra (Olivé et al, 1981) and Villarluengo (Gautier, 1979) and the map published in Simón and Liesa (2011)…”

Wadi Fatima Thin-Skinned Foreland FAT Belt: A Post Amalgamation Marine Basin in the Arabian Shield

“…Although a dominant orientation of the tectonic transport vector prevails, in detail the sense of motion of each thrust sheet may vary in its orientation spatially and/or through time (e.g. [62]. Moreover, in few exposures the NW to NNW stretching lineations overprint attenuated older WSW stretching lineations.…”