Estratigrafía del tránsito Cordubiense-Ovetiense (Cámbrico Inferior) en la Cadena Ibérica Occidental (España)

Laburpena

This work presents a study of the Embid Formation, the oldest formation cropped out in the Occidental Iberian Chain (NE Spain). This outcrop is placed in the nucleus of the Moros structural unit (ALVARO et al., 1992), located in the nonheastern contact ofthis Chain with the Calatayud-Teruel Teniary basin, between Villalengua and Torrijo de la Cañada localities (Zaragoza Province). We have studied two sections of the Embid Formation (To1 and To2). The first one, 250 m. thick, is the most complete and shows the best exposition of the area. It is proposed as the hipostratotype of the Embid Formation in this Chain. In To1, four terms (E1 to E4) of this formation and other at the beginning of the Jalón Formation (J1) have been recognized, according to the sandstone/shale ratio. The ichnofossils and other sedimentary structures studied here suggest, for terms E2 and E4-J1, a litoral to shallow sublitoral environment (tidal flat and tidal channels, influenced by tidal and wave effects), and a sublitoral (circalitoral) environment with episodic levels influenced by storms currents and/or hard tides, for the terms E1 and E3. The northeastwards To2 section, 150 m. thick, shows a similar evolution, but a more distal character. The wide development of subtidal sand bodies as well as the low diversity and wealth of biogenic structures, suggest a shoreface sedimentation, with a intercalated episode influenced by tidal action. The materials of this section are assigned to the Embid Formation for its lithology, the lack of white quarzites (that characterize the underlying Bámbola Formation) and the ichnofossil record. In spite of palichnological, lithological and sedimentological affinities between both profils, we can not give an accurate correlation of both sequences. The section To1 records a shallower episode (E2), reaching subaerial exposure in the Cordubian-Ovetian transition. It is the first time this episode has been recognized in the Iberian Chains, and it is considered as a local process. A second shallower episode is placed in the transition of the Embid-Jalón Formations (E4-J1). It has been recognized in other outcrops of the Iberian Chains and LIÑAN & GAMEZ (in press) have proposed a correlation of this regressive episode with the Woodlands Regression (BRASIER, 1985). On the other hand, Astropolichnus ichnogenus is recorded in different levels of same section (200 m. separated), for the first-time in the Iberian Chains. This fact will force to reconsider the accuracy of this ichnofossil as biostratigraphical marker. Finally, a progresive eastwards distallity of the sediments is inferred by comparison with similar outcrops of the Oriental Iberian Chain, by the existence of the first local shallower episode, placed in the more suroccidental outcrop of the basin (To1), and by the northeastwards paleocurrents directions. These data support the existence of an emerged area beside the occidental margin of the Cantabrian-Iberian Basin as was pointed by LOTZE (1961), and also proposed in the cantabrian sector of this basin by ARAMBURU el al. (1992).