Carlos L. Liesa

University of Zaragoza | UNIZAR · Department of Earth Sciences

The lacustrine El Castellar Formation in the Castillo de Aliaga section (Early Cretaceous Galve sub-basin, eastern Spain) features two carbonate successions of marl and limestone, separated by a mudstone and marl interval. Sequence analysis revealed small-scale (44 elementary sequences), medium-scale (ten complete and two incomplete parasequences),...

La Fosa de Morés (Rama Aragonesa de la Cordillera Ibérica) está rellena por materiales de edad triásica (facies germánica) que se superponen discordantes sobre materiales paleozoicos plegados y fracturados. La cuenca está delimitada por dos grandes fallas de dirección NW–SE, la falla normal de Purroy, invertida localmente, y la falla inversa de Ino...

La Formación Villanueva de Huerva en la subcuenca de Aguilón (NE de España) es una unidad sinrift Valanginiense Hauteriviense inferior que incluye un intervalo cíclico con 88 secuencias de profundización-somerización lacustre controladas por el ciclo de precesión. Las facies carbonatadas tienen como componente mayoritario dolomita. Sus característi...

La Formación El Castellar (Hauteriviense superior-Barremiense basal) en el perfil Castillo de Aliaga (subcuenca de Galve, NE España) está constituida principalmente por margas y calizas lacustres. El análisis espectral de series temporales (en el dominio de profundidad) de susceptibilidad magnética y litología muestra la presencia de tres ciclos es...

The Cretaceous is widely considered to have been a period subjected to super-greenhouse conditions. Here, we provide multiscale sedimentologic evidence of glaciers developing at mid-paleolatitudes (∼45°N) in continental Iberia during the Hauterivian cold snap. Striated and faceted ice-rafted glacial dropstones (cobble to boulder size) and striated...

The Lower Cretaceous (Barremian) Camarillas Formation in the Galve Sub‐basin of eastern Spain is an exceptionally muddy, synrift, aggradational then retrogradational paralic succession. Deposition within these arid, equatorial paralic systems was strongly controlled by crustal rifting of the Iberia plate linked to the geodynamic evolution of the At...

The Calamocha fault is an 18-km-long, NNW–SSE striking pure normal fault that moves down the northern sector of the Jiloca graben with respect to the Neogene infill of the Calatayud basin (central Iberian Chain). Its structure and kinematics are characterized by means of detailed geological mapping, morphotectonic analysis and data recording at the...

The northern sector of the Teruel Basin (Spain) houses a dense and continuous record of late Neogene mammal fossil sites, as well as numerous biostratigraphic and magnetostratigraphic information making it a reference basin to define and refine the European mammal biostratigraphy from the Vallesian to the Villafranchian. The Neogene mammal chronolo...

Many works in the last decades underline the role of evaporites, not just as a conditioning factor but as the engine for subsidence and eventually basin inversion. The western Mediterranean alpine ranges are being investigated in this regard because of the presence of discontinuous units of Permian to Triassic evaporites, deposited in the western T...

Large bolide impacts seem to have strongly affected biological evolution, causing detrimental effects on the biosphere. The best-known case is the Chicxulub impact (Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico), the most probable trigger of the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary (KPB) mass extinction. Nevertheless, after four decades of intensive research, a consensus on...

Paleoclimate reconstructions are mostly based on continuous oceanic records, but continental records, controlled by global and regional conditions, are paramount in identifying long- and short-term climatic variability between regions and investigating forcing mechanisms. Here we present a high-resolution lacustrine log from a western Mediterranean...

The NNW-SSE trending Sierra Palomera fault is characterized as an active, nearly pure extensional fault with mean transport direction towards N230°E, consistent with the ENE-WSW extension trajectories of the recent to present-day regional stress field. Its macrostructure is described from surface geology and magnetometric and electromagnetic survey...

The reconstruction of the latest Jurassic–Early Cretaceous evolution of the Torrelapaja Subbasin (Cameros Basin, Spain) resulted in the characterization of three synrift sequences (SS-1, SS-2 and SS-3) bounded by major unconformities. Three major NW-SE normal faults combined with smaller scale faults of variable direction (around NE-SW) controlled...

Coal clasts associated with extreme floods are prone to survive and maintain their large size, contrary to the general belief that distance from the parent peat layer reduces the size of transported clasts. Contrary to apparent logic, moreover, a second flood event favors the preservation potential of such soft organic clasts, this being the minima...

The NNW-SSE trending Teruel Basin rift is the largest Late Miocene-Quaternary extensional intracontinental structure located within the central-eastern Iberian Chain (Spain). The structural and morphotectonic study carried out in the central-northern part of this half graben basin (north of Teruel city) has allowed us to analyse rift segmentation,...

Abstract The northern part of the eastern margin of the extensional Neogene Teruel Basin (central-eastern Spain) consists of a non-linear, zigzag fault zone made of alternating ca. 2 km long, NNW-SSE trending segments and shorter NNE-SSW ones. Good outcrop conditions made possible a comprehensive integrated stratigraphic and structural study, espec...

During the Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, Iberia experienced extensional and transtensional stresses leading to a complex rifting time interval. Africa–America–Europe relative motions determined the definition of the Iberian plate boundaries and the generation of rifted sedimentary basins and sub-basins along its continental margins and in the...

This work presents the study of an outcrop in the Galve Subbasin where two angular unconformities (D1 and D2) within the Upper Jurassic have been recognized. They are in relation to the activity of synsedimentary normal faults. The D1 angular unconformity, with a very local development, is located at the upper part of the Villar del Arzobispo Forma...

The E–W trending, nearly pure extensional Valdecebro fault zone is a transverse structure at the central sector of the N–S Teruel graben. It was activated by the Late Ruscinian (Early Pliocene, ca. 3.7 Ma), giving rise to structural rearrangement of the graben margin. Until the Late Pleistocene, it has accommodated a net slip ca. 205 m, with slip r...

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...

Introducción Las tasas de actividad y subsidencia en el entorno del sector central de la Cuenca del Ebro asociadas a la disolución de materiales evaporíticos son ampliamente conocidas (ver por ejemplo Simón et al., 2009). Considerando que la prevención y ordenación del territorio es el mayor factor de éxito en minimizar las afec-ciones, la presenci...

A review of the onset of the synrift sedimentation and synsedimentary extensional tectonics of the Oliete sub-basin (north- western Maestrazgo basin, East Spain) is presented here based on new data acquired after extensive sedimentological, struc- tural and palaeontological analysis of the Barremian Blesa Fm. The lower boundary of the Blesa Fm is a...

The Iberian Chain is an intraplate mountain range, oblique to the northern (Pyrenean) and southern (Betic) active margins of the Iberian Plate. It developed by positive inversion of the extensional Mesozoic Iberian basin, caused by compression both normal (NNE to NE) and parallel (SE to SSE) to its boundaries. The main, NNE to NE compression (Middl...

The Iberian Chain is an intraplate mountain range, oblique to the northern (Pyrenean) and southern (Betic) active margins of the Iberian Plate. It developed by positive inversion of the extensional Mesozoic Iberian basin, caused by compression both normal (NNE to NE) and parallel (SE to SSE) to its boundaries. The main, NNE to NE compression (Middl...

The relationship of independence, interaction or linkage between two neighbouring intraplate active extensional faults, the Teruel and Concud faults, are investigated from structural and paleoseismological data, and the results are discussed to improve seismic hazard assessment for the region. This paper provides the structural and paleoseismologic...

Evaluation of karst hazards benefits from the integration of different techniques, methodologies and approaches. Each one presents a different signature and is sensitive to certain indicators related to karst hazards. In some cases, detailed analysis permits the evaluation of representativeness either from isolated approaches or by means of integra...

The Concud Fault is a ~14-km-long active fault that extends close to Teruel, a city with about 35,000 inhabitants in the Iberian Range (NE Spain). It shows evidence of recurrent activity during Late Pleistocene time, posing a significant seismic hazard in an area of moderate-to-low tectonic rates. A geophysical survey was carried out along the mapp...

The tsunami deposit (up to 3 m thick) of the Cretaceous Camarillas Formation in the Galve sub-basin (eastern Spain) is characterized by a large lateral extent (35 km(2)) and facies uniformity, consisting in fine to coarse subarkosic-arkosic sandstones. At the scale of outcrop observation, different lithofacies were distinguished and related to sedi...

The tsunami deposit (up to 3 m thick) of the Cretaceous Camarillas Formation in the Galve sub-basin (eastern Spain) is characterized by a large lateral extent (35 km2) and facies uniformity, consisting in fine to coarse subarkosic–arkosic sandstones. At the scale of outcrop observation, different lithofacies were distinguished and related to sedime...

his work describes soft-sediment deformation structures (clastic dykes, load structures, diapirs, slumps, nodulizations or mudcracks) identified in three sections (Concud, Ramblillas and Masada Cociero) in the Iberian Range, Spain. These sections were logged from boreholes and outcrops in Upper Pliocene-Lower Pleistocene deposits of the Teruel-Conc...

The recognition of seismically-induced soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) in sedimentary successions characterized by different facies, and hence by different rheology, is challenging. This is the case for high porosity and high permeability aeolian facies interbedded with muddy wet interdune deposits and alluvial conglomerates and sandsto...

The NW-SE to NNW-SSE striking Concud Fault and the N-S striking Teruel Fault are extensional structures showing a right relay arrangement. The hectometre-scale offset produced by both structures in the Neogene materials of the Teruel basin is transferred to each other by means of a relay ramp dipping towards NNW. In this study we present new inform...

A new trench excavated at the southern sector of the Concud Fault provided evidence of three palaeoseismic events dated to ca. 21, 18 and 13–3 ka BP, respectively. The two youngest ones had not been detected in previous studies. The results extend the total recorded palaeoseismic succession for the fault: eleven events since ca. 74 ka BP to the pre...

Ground penetrating radar surveys (GPR) present numerous application fields due to its high resolution and depth range depending upon the used central frequency antennas. Both penetration and resolution permits the study at scales between milimetric to decametric range. The evaluation of research objectives permits the choosing of high to low freque...

The Concud Fault is located at the junction between the Jiloca and Teruel grabens (central-eastern Iberian Chain, Spain). The Late Pleistocene activity of this fault has been well logged from structural and palaeoseismological trench studies, but only scattered data of the Late Pliocene seismic activity exist. The Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene sy...

At mantle/cover evaporite karst settings, evidences of surficial subsidence are usually strongly dependent on geomechanical properties and spatial inhomogeneities within the cover series. In infrastructure assets, affected by karst processes, the evaluation of mitigation or engineering solutions requires a 3D reconstruction of the underground, kars...

The propagation of solution cavities located below alluvial deposits produce surficial evidences that, in some cases, cannot be representative of their actual extension at depth. Cavity propagation through heterogeneous media, for example with interbedded cemented levels, can produce changes in the propagation of deformation producing the identific...

In palaeoseismological trench studies, precise correlation of sedimentary units between fault blocks has an unquestionable value for accurately inferring the amounts of coseismic displacement and hence for assessing seismic hazard. A methodology based on laser analysis of particle size and mineralogic composition by X-ray diffraction is proposed in...

The Central Ebro Basin is the southern Pyrenean foreland basin ; endorheic sedimentation allowed precipitation of evaporites during Cenozoic times and solution of evaporites underlying the alluvial Quaternary sediments favors the present-day development of mantle karst. In urban areas, collapse sinkholes and subsidence can affect infrastructures, a...

A thick multiple-bed tsunami deposits consisting of sandstones and conglomerates has been discovered and investigated in the Camarillas Formation (~ 130.6-128.4 Ma, Barremian age) in eastern Spain. The tsunami deposit is interbedded within red mudstones deposited in mud flats of a back-barrier system. It crops out along seven kilometres in length a...

Several faults in the Teruel and Jiloca grabens (Iberian Chain, NE Spain), particularly the targeted Concud fault, show evidences of recent, continuous activity, despite their scarce instrumental and historic seismic record. Three trenches are studied in two locations (central and southeastern sectors of the Concud fault, respectively). After compa...

Alluvial fans and shallow carbonate lakes interfered in the Teruel half-graben during the Late Miocene-Pliocene. Tectonic influence is recorded in alluvial and lacustrine-palustrine successions, with long-term climate changes being recorded in detail in the isotopic signatures of carbonates. Episodes of tectonic activity induced alluvial fan progra...

Resumen: La prospección magnetométrica y electromagnética, junto con datos geológicos de superficie, ha permitido caracterizar una estructura compleja en el borde oriental activo de la fosa del Jiloca. Paralelas a la falla de Sierra Palomera, aparecen dos alineaciones de fallas normales localizadas hacia el interior de la fosa, una antitética y otr...

This paper presents a field-based stratigraphic architecture research from the Aptian of Spain in which high-frequency (7 cycles/Ma), moderate to high-amplitude (8–127 m) sea-level oscillations are evidenced by the repeated incision of palaeovalleys in a carbonate platform developed during the late Early Aptian in a rift setting. Global eustacy, te...

The study of active faults in intraplate areas presents some handicaps due to their typically wide interseismic periods, being their importance very often overlooked within the instrumental and historical record of seismic events. In such cases, seismic activity must be assessed from paleoseismic record studies. Large recurrence intervals also sign...

Terra Nova, 24, 407–416, 2012 Lacustrine sedimentation is very sensitive to climate changes and its cyclicity analysis allows a better quantitation of the time of sedimentation than other methods. Climate and tectonic influence on sedimentation in a synrift basin is interpreted from the spectral analysis of a 49-m-thick series, which includes 88 de...

Among the conspicuous extensional structures that accommodate the onshore deformation of the Valencia Trough at the central-eastern Iberian Chain, a number of large faults show evidence of activity during Pleistocene times. At the eastern boundary of the Jiloca graben, the Concud fault has moved since mid Pliocene times at an average rate of 0.07-0...

An aeolian dune field migrating to the east encroached on the toes of alluvial fans in the Teruel Basin (eastern Spain) during a short interval in the Late Pliocene (ca 2·9 to 2·6 Ma), when Northern Hemisphere glaciation and strong glacial–interglacial cycles began. Preservation of the dune field was controlled by syn‐sedimentary activity of a norm...

La Base de Datos de Fallas Activas de Iberia (QAFI) es una iniciativa del Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME) para construir un repositorio público de información científica sobre fallas con actividad en los últimos 2,6 Ma (Cuaternario). Además, la QAFI persigue facilitar la transferencia de conocimiento geológico al ámbito tecnológico de...

Quaternary Active Faults Database of Iberia (QAFI) is an initiative lead by the Institute of Geology and Mines of Spain (IGME) for building a public repository of scientic data regarding faults having documented activity during the last 2.59 Ma (Quaternary). QAFI also addresses a need to transfer geologic knowledge to practitioners of seismic haza...

A total of ten dinosaur tracks-bearing strata have been found associated to clastic and carbonate levels of the synrift Barremian Camarillas Formation, in the Galve sub-basin (NE Spain). Based on the sedimentological study of seven stratigraphic sections, several facies associations have been differentiated in a mixed siliciclastic carbonate succes...

This reply tackles the three main points of discussion of the comment, carefully distinguishing those constructive contributions from the potentially confusing ones. (1) We accept that we should have utilised previously published datings of the middle terrace, even if we consider them to be less reliable than the used ones, so broadening the slip-r...

Resumen: En este trabajo se realiza una prospección geofísica con diversas técnicas en el sector de El Hocino, al NW de la ciudad de Teruel, con el objetivo de localizar una de las ramas en que se desdobla la falla de Concud (límite NE de la fosa del Jiloca), en una zona donde no aflora en superficie. En el sector de la falla se identifica una anom...

New Aptian stratigraphic units from the western margin of the Maestrazgo basin are proposed. The Las Parras de Martín sandstone Formation, which contains the Morrita and Galve Members, is secondarily built up of sandy limestones. It was deposited in different kinds of shallow marine sedimentary environments and in paleogeographic terms it represent...

The Concud fault is a 13.5km long, NW–SE striking normal fault at the eastern Iberian Chain. Its recent (Late Pleistocene) slip history is characterized from mapping and trench analysis and discussed in the context of the accretion/incision history of the Alfambra River. The fault has been active since Late Pliocene times, with slip rates ranging f...

The presence of carbonate clinoform foresets that drape an antecedent relief associated to incised-valleys is illustrated as an important architectural element of carbonate platforms. These features are not platform margins related to the carbonate production of the platform or major tectonic features and we propose the term platform pseudo-margin...