Carbonate sedimentology in the external zones of the Betic Cordillera

Abstract

The Betic External Zones are made up of para-autochthonous and allochthonous units (Prebetic and Subbetic respectively). In the former, we will recognize sequences, mainly from the Cretaceous, deposited on shallow carbonate platforms, close to the Iberian continent. The Subbetic Zone is mainly composed of Jurassic-Cretaceous carbonate sequences with predominant hemipelagic, pelagic and shallow-water deposits that we will visit. The Prebetic and Subbetic made up the South Iberian Continental Margin which, due to extensional stages associated with the opening of the Hispanic Corridor from the Pliensbachian, favoured a graben and semi-graben sea-bottom development, with differential subsidence, and consequently important lateral facies changes.