Unidades Tectonicas y Estructura Del Sector Meridional De Sierra Espuna (Cordillera Betica, Murcia)

Abstract

There are five tectonic units in the south part of Sierra Espuña; The upper one belongs to the Malaguide Complex, below there are three units of an intermediate character between the Malaguide and Alpujarride complexes, and in the lowest position exists one Alpujarride unit. Several thrust sheets, formely distinguished in previous papers, affecting the Malaguide unit do not exist, merely corresponding to stratigraphic features. The tectonic transport of the units, as indicate the minor structures, show two directions, towards the SSE and the E, according the present coordinates. These units has been affected by reverse faults and folds facing to the S, SE and E, forming an arc convex to the S, feature than can be formed later, caused for the movement of a left strike-slip and normal fault, affecting the SE border of Sierra Espuña. This sierra has undergo an important uplift, at least of 825 m in some points, from the Late Miocene to the present. The existence of intermediate units between the Malaguide and Alpujarride complexes, show that the paleogeographic passage between both complexes was not sharp, but gradual.