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Triassic stretching directions in Iberia and North Africa inferred from magnetic fabrics
Author(s) -
Soto Ruth,
CasasSainz Antonio M.,
OlivaUrcia Belén,
GarcíaLasanta Cristina,
IzquierdoLlavall Esther,
Moussaid Bennacer,
Kullberg José Carlos,
RománBerdiel Teresa,
SánchezMoya Yolanda,
Sopeña Alfonso,
TorresLópez Sara,
Villalaín Juan José,
ElOuardi Hamidou,
GilPeña Inmaculada,
Hirt Ann M.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1111/ter.12416
Subject(s) - geology , transtension , lineation , paleontology , extensional definition , tectonics , rift , classification of discontinuities , sinistral and dextral , seismology , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Abstract During the Triassic, Iberia and western North Africa displayed a unique situation in relation with the Central and North Atlantic opening and westward expansion of the Tethys. Unravelling the stretching direction in Triassic deposits of the studied area can help in our understanding of this scenario. The tectonic setting is characterized by localized basins with strong thickness variations greatly influenced by previous post‐Variscan mechanical discontinuities. In this work, we revise and compile magnetic fabric data from eight Triassic depocentres in terms of defining the stretching direction (i.e. magnetic lineation), resulting from extensional deformation of this period. Data show the importance of the opening of the Atlantic rift as the leading process during the Triassic. Dextral transtension can explain the deflection of the extensional direction observed in most studied depocentres that is caused by the activity of previous major oblique faults.