The Miocene record of the Betic Cordillera uplift in Los Guájares valley (Granada province, S Spain)

Abstract The Los Guájares valley is located about 35 km south of Granada in the Internal Zones Betic Cordillera. Miocene deposits this area consist six sedimentary units separated by unconformities, which are exposed small and laterally discontinuous outcrops overlying metamorphic rocks Alpujárride Complex. lowest unit comprises upper Serravallian marls with planktonic foraminifera filling neptunian dykes covering Triassic dolomitic marbles These reflect deep marine deposition on basement under a local extensional regime. Uplift region led to emergence continental red alluvial-fan conglomerates foothill breccias. unit, shoreline conglomerate oyster banks, indicates relative sea-level rise. Shallow-marine conditions continued during following early Tortonian age, consists calcareous sandstones hermatypic corals. Small patch reefs developed composed sandy limestones corals ( Porites, Tarbellastraea, Thegioastraea ) oysters, coralline algae most distal areas. coral some heads Albuñuelas, near locality, only record buildups Mediterranean. last lower conglomerates, siltstones accumulated front delta. Oyster banks concentrations Turritelines suggest high nutrient levels delta-front paleoenvironments. emerged afterwards, onset compressional geodynamic regime central Cordillera since bodies formed predominantly erosional context.