Variations of fluvial tufa sub-environments in a tectonically active basin, Pleistocene Teruel Basin, NE Spain

Abstract

The Pleistocene Tortajada fluvial deposit occurs in the eastern active margin of the Teruel Basin. It developed in the early stages of opening of the basin and at present is disconnected to the Alfambra River. The preserved deposits show that the fluvial system consisted in three different sub-environments including: Upper Terraces, Ponds and Cascades. The main facies are framestones of stems, phytoclastic rudstone, framestone of bryophytes, peloidal and filamentous stromatolites, mudstone and detrital (conglomerates and slope-breccias) facies. These facies are arranged in three different sequence types, all of them showing a lower detrital term followed by pond and, in cases, cascade deposits. The microfacies analyses reveal that both biotic and abiotic processes performed an important role in the deposition within the river. Isotopic analyses (δ18O from − 8.58‰ to − 6.70‰ VPDB and δ13C from − 7.44‰ to − 3.97‰ VPDB) are indicative of meteoric water within a hydrologically open system. The carbonate hinterland rocks, together with a semi-arid to sub-humid climate favored carbonate accumulation within the river.

Our results point out that the location, morphology and sedimentary sequences of the Tortajada fluvial system had an important tectonic control. The situation of the main and secondary faults controlled the paleomorphology of the river floor. Thus cascades are found in areas of important step faults, whereas the spaces between faults were occupied by fluviatile/lacustrine areas. In addition the development of the different sedimentary sequences was also a reflection of movements of these faults. In short, our study may confirm that tectonism is an important control on tufa development.