The Iberian Massif of western Asturias and Lugoa record of landscape forming processes during 107 time-scales

  1. J. Alvarez-Marrón 1
  2. S. Fernández 2
  3. R. Menéndez 2
  4. R. Grobe 3
  5. F. Stuart 4
  6. U.A. Glasmacher 3
  1. 1 Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra Jaume Almera
    info

    Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra Jaume Almera

    Barcelona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01nsd7y51

  2. 2 Universidad de Oviedo
    info

    Universidad de Oviedo

    Oviedo, España

    ROR https://ror.org/006gksa02

  3. 3 Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Heidelberg
  4. 4 Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre
    info

    Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre

    Glasgow, Reino Unido

    ROR https://ror.org/05jfq2w07

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Journal:
Geotemas (Madrid)

ISSN: 1576-5172

Year of publication: 2012

Issue Title: VIII Congreso Geológico de España, Oviedo, 17-19 de julio, 2012.

Issue: 13

Pages: 1682-1685

Type: Article

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Abstract

The transient landscape in western Asturias and Lugo that has developed on continental basement rocks of the Iberian Massif contains information about both past and present controls on the topography. The use of a geomorphological analysis based on Geographic Information Systems, together with low temperature thermochronology and cosmogenic isotopes dating techniques, allow the identification of several landscape components with different age and geodynamic significance. These include; 1) long-lived, low-relief paleosurfaces with low denudation rates, interpreted as related to a period of low relief and elevation from 100-45 Ma, 2) small and incised coastal catchments with steep valley slopes, evolving with moderate average denudation rates related to a Neogene episode of slow uplift, and 3) a raised marine wave-cut platform along the coast recording on-going very low uplift rates since 1.5 Ma. Our data from the area indicate that exhumation rates were largest prior to the Early Cretaceous, during the Mesozoic rifting in the Atlantic and Bay of Biscay. The rates were one order of magnitude lower during the subsequent relative tectonic stability initiated since continental break-up and post rift evolution of the continental margins. The inefficient erosional system has prevailed during surface uplift initiated in the Eocene.

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