La estratigrafía y la fauna de la sección de Francás (Tarragona)

The stratigraphy anld fossils range the Francás section (Tarragona) are given. Atter fauna1 assemblage the section can't be oilder than Tortonian

Nuevas aportaciones micropaleontológicas al conocimiento del Neógeno del Baix Llobregat (Barcelona)

Se aportan nuevos conocimientos al estudio geológico y micropaleontológico del subsuelo del área metropolitana de Barcelona, acompañándose de una lista de especies de Foraminíferos que se han encontrado en los materiales neógenos estudiados

Invertebrados y micropaleontología en la evolución de la Cuenca del Guadalquivir (España) y la Plataforma del Algarve (Portugal)

Based upon the depositional sequences in the Guadalquivir basin and the bio-events defined (foraminifera and nanoplancton) we present the synthesis of the paleontological results in correlation with the Neogene of Algarve (Portugal). We present the most representative outcrops for micropaleonlologic results, as well as paleoenvironmental correlations between Algarve and the Guadalquivir basin

La relación foraminíferos-sedimento en los niveles finos del Mioceno medio de la Depresión Prelitoral Catalana (noreste de España)

El análisis sedimentológico de las muestras procedentes de niveles de grano fino (arcillas limosas y limos arcillosos), del Mioceno medio en el Alt Penedés y el área de Tarragona, pone de manifiesto que estos niveles tienen un carácter granocreciente positivo. Estos datos están de acuerdo con la variación de la relación entre foraminíferos planctónicos y bentónicos En el diagrama C-M la mayoría de las muestras aparecen reunidas en dos grupos: 1) sedimentación por suspensión uniforme y 2) sedimentación por suspensión pelágica. El primer grupo comprende dos tipos de sedimentos. Uno con predominio de foraminíferos bentónicos, típico de condiciones marinas normales. El otro presenta claros indicios de episodios hiposalinos: abundancia de foraminíferos aglutinados y cistes de Lingulodinium marchaerophorum. En el segundo grupo se pueden distinguir dos tipos de sedimentos. Uno refleja condiciones marinas normales con abundancia y diversidad de foraminíferos planctónicos. El otro presenta una menor diversidad, con predominio de los foraminíferos bentónicos que evidencian la existencia de condiciones deficitarias de oxígeno

Las asociaciones de microfauna como indicadores de cambios paleoambientales en los ciclos fluvio-lacustres Miocenos (NE de la Cuenca del Duero, España)

The siliclastic and carbonate deposits are interbedded in the Villadiego area (Miocene, NE Duero Basin). They have been subdivided into two high-rank depositional sequences: DDS and CDS. The sedimentary analysis of these units and the study of the microfauna content, mainly ostracods, led to the identification of lacustrine-fluvial interaction systems. The sedimentary characteristics reveal the existence of fluvial systems of gravel, flood plains and lacustrine systems that were interconnected and intimately related in north-south direction. In the sedimentological analysis, thirteen types of fluvial and lacustrine lithofacies and six genetic facies associations were recognized. The top of DDS is the result of lake level risings. The CDS shows a deepening-shallowing cycle. The ostracod micropaleontological analysis of the sediments have been studied, with the aim of reconstructing the palaeoenvironmental evolution of this area. These microfauna assemblages integrated with the analysis of the sedimentary facies allowed to conclude the existence of lakes with a water-bearing level of few tens of meters. A change in the chemical conditions of the waters, which evolved from oligohaline and carbonated to mesohaline and sulphated is concluded.Los depósitos siliciclásticos y carbonatados se encuentran intercalados en el área de Villadiego (Mioceno, NE cuenca del Duero). Se han subdividido en dos secuencias de depósito de alto rango: DDS y CDS. El análisis de estas unidades sedimentarias y el estudio del contenido de microfauna, principalmente ostrácodos, condujo a la identificación de sistemas de interacción lacustre-fluvial. Las características sedimentarias revelan la existencia de los sistemas fluviales de grava, llanuras de inundación y sistemas lacustres que estaban interconectados e íntimamente relacionados en dirección N-S. En el análisis sedimentológico se reconocieron trece tipos de litofacies fluviales y lacustres y seis asociaciones de facies genéticas. La parte superior del DDS es el resultado de levantamientos del nivel del lago. El CDS muestra un ciclo de profundización-somerización. Los sedimentos se han estudiado mediatne análisis micropaleontológico de ostrácodos, con el objetivo de reconstruir la evolución paleoambiental de esta zona. Estos conjuntos de microfauna integrados con el análisis de las facies sedimentarias permiten concluir la existencia de lagos con un nivel acuífero de pocas decenas de metros. Se concluye que existió un cambio en las condiciones químicas de las aguas, que evolucionaron a partir de oligohalinos y sin gas a mesohalino y sulfatadas

Paleomagnetic and paleoenvironmental implications of magnetofossil occurrences in late Miocene marine sediments from the Guadalquivir Basin, SW Spain

Although recent studies have revealed more widespread occurrences of magnetofossils in pre-Quaternary sediments than have been previously reported, their significance for paleomagnetic and paleoenvironmental studies is not fully understood. We present a paleo- and rock-magnetic study of late Miocene marine sediments recovered from the Guadalquivir Basin (SW Spain). Well-defined paleomagnetic directions provide a robust magnetostratigraphic chronology for the two studied sediment cores. Rock magnetic results indicate the dominance of intact magnetosome chains throughout the studied sediments. These results provide a link between the highest-quality paleomagnetic directions and higher magnetofossil abundances. We interpret that bacterial magnetite formed in the surface sediment mixed layer and that these magnetic particles gave rise to a paleomagnetic signal in the same way as detrital grains. They, therefore, carry a magnetization that is essentially identical to a post-depositional remanent magnetization, which we term a bio-depositional remanent magnetization. Some studied polarity reversals record paleomagnetic directions with an apparent 60-70 kyr recording delay. Magnetofossils in these cases are interpreted to carry a biogeochemical remanent magnetization that is locked in at greater depth in the sediment column. A sharp decrease in magnetofossil abundance toward the middle of the studied boreholes coincides broadly with a major rise in sediment accumulation rates near the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC), an event caused by interruption of the connection between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. This correlation appears to have resulted from dilution of magnetofossils by enhanced terrigenous inputs that were driven, in turn, by sedimentary changes triggered in the basin at the onset of the MSC. Our results highlight the importance of magnetofossils as carriers of high-quality paleomagnetic and paleoenvironmental signals even in dominantly terrigenous sediments.This study was funded by the Guadaltyc project (MINECO, CGL2012–30875), ARC grant DP120103952, and NSFC grant 41374073

Impact of restriction of the Atlantic-Mediterranean gateway on the Mediterranean Outflow Water and eastern Atlantic circulation during the Messinian

Messinian foraminiferal stable oxygen and carbon isotopes of the Montemayor-1 core (Guadalquivir Basin, SW Spain) have been investigated. This record is exceptional to study the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) impact on the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and global climate during the Messinian because the core is near the Guadalhorce Corridor, the last Betic gateway to be closed during the early Messinian. Our results allow dating accurately its closure at 6.18 Ma. Constant benthic d18O values, high difference between benthic and planktonic d18O, and low sedimentation rates before 6.18 Ma indicate the presence of a two-layer water column, with bottom winnowing due to an enhanced Mediterranean outflow current. The enhanced contribution of dense MOW to the North Atlantic Ocean likely fostered the formation of North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW). After 6.18 Ma, benthic d18O values parallel that of the global glacioeustatic curve, the difference between benthic and planktonic d18O is low, and sedimentation rates considerably increased. This indicates a good vertical mixing of the water column, interruption of the MOW, and a dominant glacioeustatic control on the isotopic signatures. According to the role of MOW in the modern Atlantic thermohaline circulation, the reduction of the MOW after the closure of the Guadalhorce Corridor might have resulted in a decreased NADW formation rate between 6.0 and 5.5 Ma weakening the AMOC and promoting northern hemisphere cooling. After the Gibraltar Strait opening, the restoration of the MOW and related salt export from the Mediterranean could have promoted an enhanced NADW formation