Messinian coral reefs and erosion surfaces in Cabo de Gata (Almeria, Spain)

Abstract

Excellent exposures in Cabo de Gata area reveal two major Messinian depositional sequences, the Reef Complex and the Terminal Complex, which are overlying a complicated erosional morphology with several terraces on the volcanic basement. A typical Porites reef developed on the 200 m platform and originated extense fore slope deposits adosed to the terraced volcanic basernent. This Reef Complex is severely truncated by an important erosion surface, which also presents a terraced morphology (80,160,220 m) and follows similar trends than the erosion surface on the volcanic basement. This intra-Messinian erosion surface is onlaped by the Terminal Complex, consisting in alternating layers of oolites, stromatolites and Porites thickets. Hypothetically, layers of evaporites could had been associated to the stromatolites in the lower section of the Terminal Complex before the pre-Pliocene erosional episode.