Contents

1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1

2. Stratigraphy of the area .............................................................................................................. 4

3. Structure of the area .................................................................................................................... 8

4. Geological evolution of the area ............................................................................................ 25

5. References ..................................................................................................................................... 29
K1510837

1. Introduction

In this study I have undertaken field mapping in Oliana which is located in the Eastern
Pyrenees. North East Spain, approximately 70 km North East of Lleida and approximately 45
km South of the Andorran-Spain border, which can be identified on Figure 1.

Figure 1. Google Earth magnified section of NE Spain showing the location of the mapping area and the main town Oliana
(42°4’0.84” N 1°18’51.25” E) (Google Earth, 2009).
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Geologically, Oliana is located in the South Central Unit (SCU) in the Central and East
Pyrenees. The SCU is a trapezoidal shaped thrust sheet with strata cover ranging from
Mesozoic to early Tertiary age (Burbank, 1992). The SCU extends approximately 65 km North-
South and approximately 90 km East-West (Burbank, 1992). Seismic undertaken by the
ECORS Pyrenees team, showed the axial zone of the Pyrenees formed through piggyback
thrusting movement producing a crustal-scale duplex structure (Burbank, 1992). See location of
ECORS profile line on Figure 2.

Figure 2. Generalized geological map of the Pyrenees showing major structural units. Dashed lines represent buried thrusts and major anticlines. Box shows
Figure 3 location. (Burbank, 1992)

Overall the Pyrenees is formed of an orogenic doubly-verging accretionary prism. Large scale
(100s of kilometers) thrust systems and folds mainly in the upper crust are present throughout
the Pyrenees (Mochales et al., 2012). Mochales et al. (2012) defines three major structural
zones across the extent of the Pyrenees; the North-Pyrenean Zone, the Axial Zone and the
South-Pyrenean Zone. In this study we focused on the central area of the South-Pyrenean
zone. They identify the South Pyrenean Central Unit (SPCU), as a set of imbricate thrust sheets
in a piggyback sequence with South verging folding present. The SPCU was conveyed
Southward amid Eocene times (Mochales et al., 2012), coinciding with Burbank’s (1992)
interpretation of the formation of a crustal-scale duplex structure.

The SCU is bordered by the foreland Ebro basin to the South and South East. In the West the
SCU is bordered by a group of thrusts and anticlines which separate it from the Gavarnie thrust
sheet (Burbank, 1992) see Figure 2.

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In the East the Segre thrust separates the SCU from the Cadi thrust sheet (Burbank, 1992), see
Figures 2 and 3. The Nogueres thrust sheet marks the Northern most extent of the SCU. The
Nogueres thrust sheet represents the Axial Zone, and consists of Devonian – Cretaceous
basement and Mesozoic to early Tertiary cover (Burbank, 1992), see Figure 3.

Figure 3. Simplified geologic map of the Eastern SCU and adjacent Pedraforca Unit showing the structural separation. The zoomed
section is a geologic map showing major thrusts and stratigraphic units in the Oliana area. The conglomeratic units are linked to
thrusting and show a break-back sequence of thrusting (Burbank, 1992)
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 2. Stratigraphy of the area

The earliest stratigraphic unit observed is the late Cretaceous Montsec

limestone, age derived from Vergés and Muñoz, (1990). See Figure 4
showing the relationship and approximate age of all units.

Montsec limestone

The Montsec limestone is light-dark grey in colour, hard and consolidated.

Very fine grained, due to very fine grain size the sorting, roundness and
packing is undeterminable. Carbonate cement, interpreted by effervescent
reaction with hydrochloric acid. Extensive fracturing present. Wackestone;
Dunham’s classification.

The next stratigraphic sequence observed is the late to early Paleogene

red beds which overlie Hercynian basement rocks. Sierra Marginales
limestone proceeds the red beds, dated as lower Eocene by Vergés and
Muñoz, (1990).

Sierra Marginales limestone

The Sierra Marginales material is white in colour, hard and consolidated.

Very fine grained, due to very fine grain size the sorting, roundness and
packing is undeterminable. Carbonate cement, interpreted by effervescent
reaction with hydrochloric acid. Millimetric coiled fossils present.
Centimetric white-grey coloured clasts/nodules present. Wackestone;
Dunham’s classification.

Later Lutetian aged deposition of Alveolina carbonate was replaced by

Bartonian-early Priabonian in age Igualada Marls (Burbank, 1992).

Marl

The Igualada Marl is white/grey/yellow in colour, which is poorly

consolidated. Very fine grained, well sorted, well rounded, close packing
and random orientation of grains present. Has a strong effervescent
reaction with hydrochloric acid, indicating carbonate presence.

In the upper sequence of the Marl, reef limestone beds are present, which
are white/off-white in colour, consolidated and moderately hard. Very fine
grained, due to the very fine grain size the sorting, roundness and packing
is undeterminable. Carbonate cemented, strong effervescent reaction with
hydrochloric acid.

Figure 4. Stratigraphic column for the Oliana

4 area showing unit thickness and their
relationships. Thickness data for Marl derived
from Burbank, 1992. Thickness data for Montsec
limestone derived from Vergés and Muñoz,
1990.
Description:

Lithics: 10-15%; millimetric - centimetric coral and shells extensively present. Possible Bryozoan
and bivalves.

Quartz: 5-10%; Grey-white colour, angular, translucent, glassy lustre, scratches steel, 6 mohs
scale, small fractures, no cleavage.

Calcite: 70%; Grey-white colour, angular, translucent, vitreous lustre, 3 mohs scale, small
fractures, one-two cleavages visible, possible twinning present.

Wackestone; Dunham’s Classification

Conglomeratic units

Conglomeratic units precede the marl and are separated into four main sequences. They’re
differentiated by clast composition & colour, matrix, cementation and dip angle caused by
progressive structural processes.

Conglomerate 1 (C1) overlies the marl sequence conformably and is well cemented. Mostly
matrix supported but in areas of bigger clasts, clast supporting is present. The matrix is a
carbonate, strong effervescent reaction with hydrochloric acid. It is medium-coarse grained and
grey-blue in colour.

The clasts in C1 are predominately rounded – sub-rounded, grey coloured siliciclastic clasts
with occasional inclusions of ochre and brown clasts, with sizes ranging between <5cm-40cm.

Conglomerate 2 (C2) overlies C1 unconformably, it is well cemented and predominately clast

supported. The matrix is a carbonate, strong effervescent reaction with hydrochloric acid. It is
fine-medium grained and grey/purple in colour.

The clasts in C2 are sub-rounded and Ochre, brown, purple and blue in colour, with sizes
ranging between <1cm-15cm.

C2 can be differentiated from C1 by the grey/purple coloured, finer grained matrix. Other
differentiating factors are the larger range of clast colours and smaller clast size.

Conglomerate three (C3) overlies conglomerate two unconformably, it is well cemented and
matrix supported. The matrix is fine-medium grained and ranges from pink, blue and yellow in
colour.

The clasts in C3 are predominately sub-rounded and are ochre, grey, blue, pink and purple in
colour. Clast size ranges between <2cm-20cm.

C3 can be differentiated by the coloring of the matrix, higher frequency of siliclastic and
carbonate clasts and wider range of coloured clasts.

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 Conglomerate four (C4) overlies all of the surrounding material, it is well cemented and clast
supported. The matrix is a carbonate, strong effervescent reaction with hydrochloric acid. It is
fine-coarse grained, laminated in areas and grey/pinkish in colour.

The clasts in C4 are predominately rounded-well rounded and are grey, brown, ochre and red in
colour. Unconsolidated microdiorite clasts are present also. Clasts size ranges between <5cm-
50cm approximately.

C4 can be differentiated mainly by the presence of unconsolidated centimetric microdiorite

clasts.

Figure 5. Amalgamated field photographs of C1 on the left through to C4 on the right. C1 photograph (42° 2'26.27"N 1°15'45.62"E) photograph taken looking West. C2 photograph taken
looking Northeast (Stokes, 2017). C3 Photograph taken looking East (Stokes, 2017). C4 photograph (42° 4'37.59"N 1°16'24.85"E) Photograph taken looking North, locality 6.2.

Clast roundness and variation throughout the conglomeratic units may be due to washing of the
conglomeratic units around the edge of the Oliana Anticline during deposition.

Evidence for washing was found in interbedded yellow sandstone material in C1 in the form of
ripple marks; approximate location of the ripple marks is marked by a red dot on Figure 7. The
ripple marks displayed in Figure 6 are sinuous and asymmetrical, which indicate unidirectional
current flow. Height and amplitude measurements have been labeled; a flow direction was
recorded with a strike of 108° which is South West.

Interbedded material was extensively present throughout C1-C3 and less present in C4.
Interbedded material includes marl, red & yellow sandstone, siltstone and limestone.

6
 Northwest Southeast

Figure 6 Field photograph of sinuous ripple marks in interbedded yellow sandstone in C1. Height measurement 5cm, amplitude measurement 10cm and flow
direction strike recorded was 108°. (42° 2'22.39"N 1°15'10.63"E) Photograph taken looking Northeast, locality 2.2.

Figure 7. Geologic map of Oliana, showing major structures and stratigraphic units (Burbank, 1992). Location of the ripple marks and the
possible washing path of the conglomerates around the Oliana anticline. This washing may of contributed to the clast makeup and formation
of the conglomerates.

7
 3. Structure of the area

The structural geometry of the area surrounding Oliana is dominated by thrusting. Two main
thrust sheets control the formations present, the Sierra Marginales and Montsec both of which
are part of an imbricated break-back sequence trending E-W.

Out-of-sequence thrusting (OOST) is defined by Morley, (1988) as the occasional displacement

on existing faults behind the deformation front due to the mass formed by continued frontal
thrust imbrication, or the formation of new structures. In Oliana, OOST forms the break-back
system that the Sierra Marginales and Montsec thrusts follow. Figure 8 shows the normal thrust
and break-back thrusting processes.

Figure 8. (A) In-Sequence deformation where deformation propagates towards the foreland over time, with progressive thrusts in front of each other (Morley, 1988). (B) Break-back
(OOS thrusting) sequence where deformation propagates towards the hinterland over time (Morley, 1988). This break-back sequence is present in the Oliana area with the Sierra
Marginales and Montsec thrust following this sequence.

Morley, (1988) gives four possible reasons for OOST formation. Which are the: Coulomb wedge
model, overriding continental plate deformation sequence, thrust propagation obstacle and
synchronous thrusting.

The Coulomb wedge model is applicable to the Oliana area. The Coulomb wedge model
predicts that if the proper taper is not present in the wedge, it will shorten internally and thicken
until a push-from-the-back force can be conveyed (Morley, 1988). OOS back and fore thrusting
maintain the critical taper in the wedge, another way to maintain this is to increase the angle of
basal detachment which is present in the Southern Pyrenees (Morley, 1988). Burbank, (1992)
conveys that the break-back imbricate system shows a restricted amount of shortening and
increased the structural relief which subsequently increased the thrust wedge taper. Burbank,
(1992) goes on to say that the OOS character shown by the thrust sequence for the SCU
supports the thrust wedge theory prediction.

8
 Figure 9 shows the Sierra Marginales thrusts and Montsec thrust following the break-back
imbricate sequence of thrusts, shown in Figure 8.

Figure 9. Structural cross section across the area constructed using original fieldslip data. The Northern most Sierra Marginales is the first thrust, in-sequence deformation would predict that the
proceeding thrust would propagate in front of the first Sierra Marginales towards the foreland. But the following Sierra Marginales thrust propagates behind and towards the hinterland, as does the
next Sierra Marginales and Montsec thrust. Showing a break-back imbricate thrusting sequence.

9
 The overall dip of bedding is South to South East, shown on Figure 10. This is due to the thrusts
being predominately in the Northern portion of the mapping area and a Northward thrusting
direction. Subsequently producing Southward dipping beds.

Contoured stereonet showing the overall trend of bedding in the area surrounding Oliana, with the
mean axis calculated

Mean axis girdle

Figure 10. Contoured stereonet of structural bedding data in the area. This data represents a South/Southeast overall dip direction of bedding. Overall dip to the South/Southeast due to thrusts
being predominately located in the Northern portion of the mapping area (Holcombe, 2017)

10
The Oliana anticline is Kilometric in scale and trends NE-SW, it formed by the progressive
stacking of imbricates over the floor thrust, forming a large scale duplex structure (Vergés and
Muñoz, 1990). The growth and progression of the Oliana anticline was synchronous with the
break-back sequence of the surrounding Sierra Marginales and Montsec thrust sheets, and with
clastic system deposition (Vergés and Muñoz, 1990). Forming angular unconformities between
C1-C3, which will addressed later in this section.

The development of the Oliana duplex, thrusting and deposition over time are shown in Figure
11 from Burbank, (1992).

Figure 11. (A) Partially restored cross section time of C1 deposition. Future thrusts represented by dashed lines. Sierra Marginales thrust (I) beginning to
deform, C1 on lapping thrusted material. (B) Partially restored cross section at start of deposition of C4, position of Oliana duplex conveyed from deformation
and altitudinal relationships at base of C4. C1-C3 deformed by imbricate thrusting of Sierra Marginales and Montsec and by development of Oliana duplex. C4
is undeformed showing, marking end of major thrust movement and duplex movement. (C) Balanced cross section from well and seismic data. Break-back
sequence visible through Sierra Marginales I and II through to Montsec (Burbank, 1992).

11
 The Sierra Marginales thrust is part of a break-back thrusting sequence which has led to the
formation of imbricates. The main Sierra Marginales thrust sheet is located in the South West,
sitting between C1, C2 and C4, see Figure 12. See Figure 1 in appendix for fieldslip key.

Figure 12. Amalgamation of four fieldslips in the Southwest portion of the mapping area, showing the Sierra Marginales thrusting C1 to the North. Sierra Imbricates
are present in the main sheet. C2 has truncated the Sierra Marginales thrust to the far Southwest and C4 has infilled behind after the main thrusting movement
halted.

12
 The largest (km in scale) Sierra Marginales imbricate in the mapping area is located in the North
East, see Figure 13. It is surrounded by C2 and C3 and merges with the Montsec thrust to the
North/North East.

Figure 13. Amalgamation of two fieldslips in the Northeastern corner of the mapping area. Showing the main Sierra Marginales imbricate thrusting C2 to the North. C3 was
deposited over the Sierra Marginales thrust and C2. The Sierra Marginales thrust meets with the Montsec thrust to the Northeast.

13
 Approximately 400m North East of the Eastern tip of the main Sierra Marginales sheet two
‘knife’ structures are located, composed of Sierra Marginales limestone surrounded by C1.
These isolated autochthonous structures are most likely imbricates split from the South West
Sierra Marginales thrust sheet by erosion.

Structures 1 and 2 are most likely continuations of the main thrust between the Sierra
Marginales sheet and C1. Continuation of secondary thrusting action is possible but less likely
due to the fault geometry, see Figure 14.

Figure 14. Amalgamation of two fieldslips in the central portion of the mapping area. Two ‘knife’ structures composed of Sierra Marginales material most likely were
connected to primary thrust, forming the main Sierra Marginales sheet. But became separated due to erosion.

14
 South of Peramola other smaller imbricates are present, see Figure 12. These imbricates are
large 100s of meters to kilometer in scale crag/cliff structures. They are largely recognizable by
their ‘knife’ shape and with the southern side being typically steeper than the Northern. Figures
15 and 17 show the imbricate structures in the field and their geometries. Figure 16 shows a
simplistic interpretation of imbricate thrusting.

Figure 15. Field photograph of Sierra Marginales imbricate. (42° 3'50.94"N 1°15'26.37"E)
Photograph taken looking East, locality 25.2.

Figure 16. Field photograph of Sierra Marginales imbricate.( 42° 3'38.76"N

1°15'34.42"E) Photograph taken looking Northeast/East.

Figure 17. Diagram showing the formation of break-back imbricate thrusts coming off a single floor thrust and the impact on the units involved.

15
C1 is thrusted by the Sierra Marginales thrust seen on Figure 18. This is supported by Vergés
and Muñoz, (1990); that C1 has been deformed by the Oliana anticline and thrusted to the North
by the Sierra Marginales floor thrust. C1 sits conformably over the marl sequence.

Figure 18. Amalgamation of two fieldslips in the Southwestern portion of the mapping area. Showing Sierra Marginales thrusting C1 Northward and C1
overlying the marl conformably to the Southeast.

16
 The thrusting of C1 to the North is evident from drag faulting near the thrust fault, see Figure 19.
Figures 20 and 21 display simplified diagrams of the drag fault formation and the relationship in
the field between C1 and Sierra Marginales thrust.

Figure 19. Field photograph of Sierra Marginales imbricate with drag faulting present near the base of the imbricate. The drag faulting shows thrust movement to the North, fitting
with the Northward thrusting of C1 by the Sierra Marginales thrust. (42° 3'35.76"N 1°15'38.62"E) Photograph taken looking East, locality 23.8.

Figure 20. Diagram showing drag faulting formation.

Figure 21. Diagram of Sierra Marginales thrusting, direction of the drag faulting and possible proximal location for the
thrust fault due to drag faulting indicating proximal contact.

17
 C2 overlies C1 and the main Sierra Marginales thrust unconformably. Seen in the South
Western corner of Figure 18 by the lack of a thrust between C2 and the Sierra Marginales
thrust. In the North East C2 is thrusted Northward by a Sierra Marginales imbricate seen in
Figure 22.

This view of the thrusting and conglomeratic unit relationship agrees with Vergés and Muñoz,
(1990) that C2 unconformably overlies the Sierra Marginales floor thrust and previous clastic
unit. To the North C2 is thrusted by the Sierra Marginales imbricate system.

Figure 22. Amalgamation of two fieldslips in the Northeastern portion of the mapping area. Showing Sierra Marginales imbricate thrusting C2 Northward, compared to C2 truncating the
main Sierra Marginales thrusting.

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 A large (100s of meters) open syncline is present in C2 South of the NE Sierra Marginales
imbricate, shown in Figure 23. Shown on Figure 23 the Southern limb is inclined and is dipping
at approximately 20°, this is due to the development of the Oliana duplex during deposition. The
Northern limb is also inclined but at a larger angle and over a shorter distance, due to the
thrusting Northward by the Sierra Marginales imbricate thrust.

Figure 23. Field photograph of C2 strata forming an open synclinal structure in the valley. Strata to the South is inclined due to the development of the Oliana duplex. The
Sierra Marginales imbricate thrust is thrusting C2 Northwards, shown by drag faulting present near the thrust fault. (42° 5'54.47"N 1°17'13.51"E) Photograph taken looking
West, locality 17.3.

The development of the open syncline present in C2, duplex growth and thrusting is shown in
Figure 24. In stage one, the Sierra Marginales floor thrust has developed and the Oliana duplex
is beginning to develop. An imbricate thrust off the Sierra Marginales floor thrust has formed and
is deforming the Marl, forming a mini basin setting. C1 is deposited and has started to be
deformed. In stage two, the duplex development and imbricate thrusting is continuing, furthering
the deformation of C1. C2 has been deposited over C1 unconformably and has started to
become deformed. In stage three, the duplex development and Sierra Marginales imbricate
thrusting is close to halting. Marl, C1 and C2 are now completely deformed and have eroded off
the top of the Sierra Marginales material. Drag faulting is present on the thrust fault margin and
the Sierra Marginales limestone is now visible at the surface.

19
Figure 24. Diagram showing the progressive formation of the open syncline in C2, accounting for the development of the Oliana duplex and Sierra Marginales
imbricate thrusting.

20
 C3 unconformably overlies C2 and the previous Sierra Marginales thrust. Further North C3 is
being thrusted North by the Montsec thrust, shown on Figure 25. This concurs with Vergés and
Muñoz, (1990); C3 thrusted hind wards by the Montsec thrust and unconformably overlying the
previous clastic unit and thrusts. The thrust action by the Montsec has uplifted the Northern
extent of C3. The southern extent is not uplifted, but is inclined due to deposition onto the Sierra
Marginales imbricate.

Figure 25. Amalgamation of two fieldslips in the Northeastern portion of the mapping area. Showing C3 overlying the Sierra Marginales imbricate thrust and C2. Also the Montsec thrusting
C3 and Sierra Marginales Northward to the Northeast of the pinch out of C3.

21
 Two large synclines are present in C3 approximately 1.3 km South/South East from Roca Alla.
In the proximal area of El Tossal, this can be identified on Figure 25. The structure of the main
syncline is an elongated bowl shape. This structure likely formed due to thrusting action of the
Montsec to the North. The location and structural geometry are depicted in Figures 26 and 27.

Figure 26. Google Earth ariel image of the Montsec thrust sheet, C3 and Sierra Marginales imbricate. Bowl structure of C3 unit forms open syncline, hinge of minor syncline found to the Southwest
may form part of larger syncline to North (Google Earth, 2009).

Figure 27. Google Earth ariel image facing West, black arrow on Figure 25 marks the
viewpoint. Showing bowl shape geometry of C3, location of surrounding thrust sheets
and syncline trace (Google Earth, 2009).

22
 C4 overlies all of the previous clastic units and thrusts. No major thrusting present and a
maximum dip of 5° show little deformation by thrusting and duplex formation. Vergés and
Muñoz, (1990) convey that C4 overlies all older clastic units and thrusts. They go on to add that
each clastic unit overlaps a footwall thrust of a younger thrust that truncated them, clearly
showing a break-back thrusting sequence (Vergés and Muñoz, 1990).

Figure 28. Amalgamation of four fieldslips in the Central portion of the mapping area. Showing the expanse of C4 across the area, note no thrusts with C4 either on the Sierra
Marginales to the South or Montsec to the North. Indicating C4 infilled after major thrusting halted and that C4 overlain all previous conglomeratic units and thrusts, making it
the youngest unit.

23
 The angular unconformity relationship between the conglomeratic units is shown by the
progressively decreasing dips from C1-C4. This relationship supports synchronous deposition of
the clastic units with thrust action. Figure 29 shows the clastic units deposited on the Northern
flank with progressively decreasing dips.

Figure 29. Field photograph of C1-C4 on the Northern limb of the Oliana anticline, with progressively decreasing dips. The angular unconformity relationships between C1-C4 are due to
synchronous deposition with thrusting and Oliana duplex development. See Figure 23 to see a basic process involving Marl, C1 and C2. (42° 6'4.07"N 1°17'5.82"E) Photograph taken looking East,
locality 17.2.

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 4. Geological evolution of the area

Pre-Cretaceous

The Hercynian basement is derived from the Variscan Orogeny, dated between Lower
Carboniferous – Lower Permian (Leveridge and Hartley, 2006).

Lower Cretaceous

In the lower Cretaceous an extensional rift basin developed, with normal faults and rift deposits
as a result. These faults and deposits were unconformably overlain by deposits of an Upper
Cenomanian transgressive platform (McClay, 1992). Reactivation of the Lower Cretaceous
extensional faults during the Upper Santonian marks the formation of the first Pyrenean thrusts
(McClay, 1992). See Figures 30 and 31 for the formation of the Bóixols, Montsec and Sierra
Marginales thrusts, during reactivation from the Lower Cretaceous – Upper Oligocene.

Figure 30. Structural sketch of the Pyrenees (McClay, 1992).

Figure 31. Partially restored cross-sections showing Lower Cretaceous

extensional formation. Crustal scale thrust geometry through foreland
basin development stages through to the Upper Oligocene which is the
present section (McClay, 1992).

Upper Cretaceous

In the foreland of these thrusts, E-W basins formed and Santonian – Campanian age turbitditic
deposits infilled these basins (McClay, 1992).

25
The SCU cover thrust sheets (Bóixols, Montsec and Sierra Marginales) were thrusted
Southward by a piggy-back imbricate fan between the Upper Cretaceous (Bóixols) and Upper
Eocene (Sierra Marginales).

The stratigraphic sequence of the foreland continues with the sedimentation of the Garumnian
red bed facies, as the Maastrichtian regression ended, overlying Hercynian basement rocks
(Burbank, 1992 and Sauny et al., 2009). These red beds are 1000 m thick in areas and are
present in the central and eastern Pyrenees with more sparse areas found in the North and
South (McClay, 1992).

Lower Eocene

Throughout the lower –mid Eocene, Southern Pyrenean thrust sheets predominately contained
Mesozoic material, which was conveyed to the South by Piggy-back motion (McClay, 1992).
Fluvio-deltaic material proceeded over the Mesozoic SCU thrust sheets (Sierra Marginales,
Montsec and Bóixols), in the form of a Southward prograding alluvial fan system (McClay,
1992).

Upper Eocene

Deposition throughout Upper-Eocene on the Alveolina limestone was replaced by Igualada

marls, dated as late Bartonian-early Priabonian in age (Burbank, 1992, Vergés and Muñoz,
1990).

Figure 32. Time-distance summary of deposition, thrusting and duplex development. C1-C4 are shown with consideration to the thrusts
they overlie or thrusted by. The horse motion and sequence shown is speculative (Burbank, 1992). The relationships described through
the structural section are well displayed in this diagram.

26
The upper part of the marl sequence consists of lower Priabonian reef limestone (Burbank,
1992).

The marl sequence is followed by lower Priabonian Cardona marine evaporitic material; gypsum
and salt. Which marks the change from marine to terrestrial conditions (Burbank, 1992). Both
can be identified on Figure 32.

The Mesozoic thrust sheets overthrusted the autochthonous Cardona evaporite sequence, and
mark an important period where the break-back reactivation of the Sierra Marginales and
Montsec thrusts occurred (Vergés and Muñoz, 1990). This reactivation cross-cut the piggy-back
imbricate fan first formed in the Upper Cretaceous (Vergés and Muñoz, 1990), see Figure 33.

Figure 33. Schematic diagram showing age of piggy-back thrust sequence and
the break-back reactivation of the Sierra Marginales and Montsec (Vergés and
Muñoz, 1990).

The separate conglomeratic units (C1-C4) overlie thrusts, where the previous conglomeratic unit
is thrust by the younger thrust thrust hind wards from the previous (McClay, 1992).
Synchronously with thrusting and deposition of the conglomeratic units was the development of
the Oliana duplex, which is evident from the angular unconformity relationship between the
conglomeratic units (Muñoz and Vergés, 1990).

Lower Oligocene

The Cardona marine evaporitic material is proceeded by 1,000+ meters of upper Eocene –
lower Oligocene conglomerates, which prograde southward and integrate with the gypsum and
lacustrine strata to the South and Southeast (Burbank, 1992).

27
North and Southward thrusting away from the Axial zone from the convergence between the
Iberian and Eurasian plate, forming the Ebro basin in the South (Mochales et al, 2012). Through
the Early Paleogene the Pyrenean direction was an E-W elongate interpolate embayment
(Mochales et al, 2012). Through the Paleocene a large transgression occurred in the South
Pyrenees, but proceeding this was a siliclastic producing channel from the East (Mochales et al,
2012). Where the conglomeratic material may have derived from.

Closing of the marine entrance occurred in Priabonian age (Mochales et al, 2012), which was
most likely the beginning of the evaporitic material production phase. Once the predominate
convergence had halted, expansive terrestrial conditions came about (Mochales et al, 2012),
where C1-C4 began to form.

Cover thrusts stack onto the allochtonous Ebro Basin thrusts (Mochales et al, 2012). Which
form an imbricate ramp and flat system replacing a single floor thrust front, throughout the
Southern Pyrenees (Mochales et al, 2012). This is seen in the Sierra Marginales and Montsec
break-back imbricate system in Oliana. Current structures originated from NNW-SSE
compression derived from Iberian and Eurasian collision (Mochales et al, 2012).

28
 5. References

Burbank, D., VERGÉS, J., MUOZ, J. and BENTHAM, P. (1992). Coeval hindward- and forward-
imbricating thrusting in the south-central Pyrenees, Spain: Timing and rates of shortening and
deposition. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 104(1), pp.3-17.

Google Earth 7.3. 2009. Mainland Spain, Portugal, France and Switzerland with a zoomed
section focused on Oliana area showing surrounding towns 42°4’0.84” N 1°18’51.25” E, 2D
map, viewed 6 July 2017. http://www.google.com/earth/index.html

Google Earth 7.3. 2009.4.83 km NW of Oliana, C3 bowl structure with Montsec and Sierra
Marginales thrusting 42° 6'4.72"N 1°16'44.02"E, elevation 1600 m. 3D Satellite map, viewed
25 October 2017. http://www.google.com/earth/index.html

Google Earth 7.3. 2009. 4.80 km NW of Oliana, alternate view of C3 structure looking West 42°
6'9.93"N 1°17'2.67"E, elevation 950 m. 3D Satellite map, viewed 25 October 2017.
http://www.google.com/earth/index.html

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