The Minorca Basin: a buffer zone between the Valencia and Liguro-Provençal Basins (NW Mediterranean Sea)

Type Article
Date 2016-08
Language English
Author(s) Pellen Romain1, 2, Aslanian DanielORCID1, Rabineau MarinaORCID2, Leroux EstelleORCID3, Gorini Christian3, Silenziario Carmine4, Blanpied Christian5, Rubino Jean-Loup5
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, Ctr Brest, GM, BP 70, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
2 : IUEM UBO, UMR6538, CNRS, Domaines Ocean, F-29280 Plouzane, France.
3 : Univ Paris 06, UPMC, UMR 7193, ISTEP, F-75005 Paris, France.
4 : Schlumberger House, Gatwick Airport, W Sussex, England.
5 : CSTJF, TOTAL, TG ISS, Ave Laribeau, F-64018 Pau, France.
Source Terra Nova (0954-4879) (Wiley-blackwell), 2016-08 , Vol. 28 , N. 4 , P. 245-256
DOI 10.1111/ter.12215
WOS© Times Cited 17
Abstract Detailed analyses of seismic profiles and boreholes in the Valencia Basin (VB) reveal a differentiated basin, the Minorca Basin (MB), lying between the old Mesozoic Valencia Basin sensu strico (VBss) and the young Oligocene Liguro-Provençal Basin (LPB). The relationship between these basins is shown through the correlation of four Miocene-to-present-day megasequences. The Central and North Balearic Fracture Zones (CFZ and NBFZ) that border the MB represent two morphological and geodynamical thresholds that created an accommodation in steps between the three domains. Little to no horizontal Neogene movements are found for the Ibiza and Majorca Islands. In contrast, the counterclockwise movement of the Corso-Sardinian blocks induced a counterclockwise movement of the Minorca block towards the SE along the CFZ and NBFZ, during the exhumation of lower continental crust in the LPB. This new understanding implies pure Neogene vertical subsidence in the VBss and places the AlKaPeCa northeastward of the present-day Alboran Area.
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Pellen Romain, Aslanian Daniel, Rabineau Marina, Leroux Estelle, Gorini Christian, Silenziario Carmine, Blanpied Christian, Rubino Jean-Loup (2016). The Minorca Basin: a buffer zone between the Valencia and Liguro-Provençal Basins (NW Mediterranean Sea). Terra Nova, 28(4), 245-256. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1111/ter.12215 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00333/44417/