Transgressive rocky coasts in the geological record: Insights from Miocene granitic rocky shorelines and modern examples

Rocky shorelines are commonly punctuated, with alternating high relief cliffs and incised embayments which host “pocket beaches”. While multiple cases of ancient rocky associated low ravinement surfaces have been documented in the geological record, deposits formed pocket beaches joint-cut coves more rarely described. This poses question “are coastlines their not preserved or they previously overlooked? Here we document exhumed examples granitic shoreline systems diverse morphologies from Early Miocene northern Austria, compare them modern UK, Corsica, Spain Norway. The offer a good opportunity to characterize these sedimentary systems, provide diagnostic criteria for recognition discuss main controls on occurrence preservation rock record. From stratigraphic sedimentological analysis, its comparison examples, interpret that form get during rapid rates combined tectonic eustatic sea-level rise, along lithological, structural weathered “weakness” zones affected by normal wave energy conditions interrupted storms. These results mechanism predicting potential distribution transgression coasts, implications exploration around highs coastal management.